New Gokula
→ Ramai Swami

After my stay at Sydney temple, Kaliya Krsna from New Gokula drove me up to our farm in the Hunter Valley. Like many parts of Australia, which were affected by months of drought, so too was New Gokula.

Fortunately, the farm had some good rain and everything was looking green and fresh. Obviously, more will be needed but at least for the time being the situation was much improved.

I always enjoy my visits there because of the beautiful deities of Sri Radha Gokulananda, Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra and Sri Gaura Nitai. Not to mention the wonderful devotees and cows.

Chanting Means Associating with Krishna
Giriraj Swami

Krishna is absolute. Krishna the person, and Krishna’s words, Bhagavad-gita—there is no difference. Advaya-jnana, no duality. Everything is one, absolute. Krishna is absolute, Krishna’s instruction is also absolute, Krishna’s pastimes absolute. Everything. That is Absolute Truth. There is no difference. In the material world, the name and the thing are different. Suppose here is mango—mango the thing and mango is name. If I simply say “Mango, mango, mango,” there is no mango. There must be the thing, mango. That is duality. This is the world of duality. “Absolute” means the name and the thing are the same. Otherwise, if they’re different, then what is the use of chanting “Krishna”? Krishna chanting means Krishna this word, and Krishna the person are the same. Therefore constant chanting means constantly associating with Krishna. And thus we are becoming purified. Purified. There is no difference.

—Srila Prabhupada, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.19, May 19, 1976, Honolulu

Unprecedented times require unprecedented solidarity
→ simple thoughts

Share

Unprecedented times require unprecedented solidarity.

Never before have I experienced a time where one persons behaviour can impact another so dramatically. 

I don’t think I need to explain how bad the coronavirus crisis is everywhere.

Many services for homeless people are closing.  Schools are closing which immediately impacts low income families. Almost 1.3 million children, about 15% of those in England’s state schools, receive free school meals because they come from low income families.  Official data showed the need was greatest in parts of London, the north and Midlands where more than one in four pupils were entitled to free meals. No school means an unacceptable rise in the number of hungry children. How can that be right?

UK Governments call for the elderly and the vulnerable to self-isolate is the right thing to do, however many people on a low income are not in a position to isolate them selves. The need to house and feed themselves and their families doesn’t afford them that ‘luxury’. The homeless continue to be the first to suffer, closely followed by families on low earning and then the impact reaches out to the general populace.

Can something be done to help? Most certainly YES!  

Volunteers at Food For All are raring to get into action to respond to the need of the day. We are ready to cook 20,000 meals daily at our certified kitchens in Holborn, Central London. We have the infrastructure in place to be able to distribute hot vegetarian meals from the following seven distribution points:

  1. Tower Hamlet
  2. Islington
  3. Camden
  4. Kings Cross
  5. Russell Square
  6. Trafalgar Square
  7. Holborn

With all Government guidelines and safety policies in place, meals will be freshly cooked in three batches throughout the day and served fresh all day. The hot meal will consist of a protein rich, complete meal, the healthy ‘kitchari’ which will provide each person with satisfying nourishment for the day. The health benefits of ‘kitchari’, can be viewed here;

https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/blog-the-banyan-insight/details/what-is-kitchari-why-we-eat-it-for-cleansing/

How can you help?

If you’re fit and healthy, then please come volunteer your time. If you are self-isolating then no need to feel helpless, please consider donating generously to the budget below. For as little as 10p-15p a plate, we can provide a hearty meal to a child or a person in need during these uncertain times.

Each giant pot of kitchari will provide 6,000 meals and will require:

100kg dal – £110

120kg potatoes – £120

30kg carrots – £40

8 large cans tomato purée – £54

Ghee – £25

Spices plus other vegetables – £40

Gas – £60

Plates, spoons, containers – £380

Total: £829 per pot.  

To provide 20,000 meals per day we need £2,500 per day.

These extraordinary times call on each one of us to step up and to reach out to those in the most need.  That any child or adult should go hungry in a prosperous first world country never fails to appal me. 

To be fully operational by the 6th April we need you to galvanise into action now. We are ready to do our part to serve, we await your much needed support.

With kind regards,

Peter O’Grady

Director, Food For All

Gita key verses course 7 – 2.47 – Can I be detached without becoming irresponsible
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast


 

Video:

The post Gita key verses course 7 – 2.47 – Can I be detached without becoming irresponsible appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How to see the current Corona Crisis from a spiritual perspective
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[ISKCON of Bergen County]

Podcast


 

Video:

The post How to see the current Corona Crisis from a spiritual perspective appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Every bit of Devotional Service
→ KKSBlog

Every little bit of devotional service that we do now; is a preparation for a greater service in the future.

Kadamba Kanana Service, Srimad Bhagavatam ŚB 1.15.4, 21 feb 2020

Watch the whole class below or visit our Youtube channel by clicking the link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66JUVABqyXY

SB 1.15.4

sarve tam anunirjagmur, bhrātaraḥ kṛta-niścayāḥ
kalinādharma-mitreṇa, dṛṣṭvā spṛṣṭāḥ prajā bhuvi

Translation
The younger brothers of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira observed that the Age of Kali had already arrived throughout the world and that the citizens of the kingdom were already affected by irreligious practice. Therefore they decided to follow in the footsteps of their elder brother.

Purport
 The younger brothers of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira were already obedient followers of the great Emperor, and they had sufficiently been trained to know the ultimate goal of life. They therefore decidedly followed their eldest brother in rendering devotional service to Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa. According to the principles of sanātana-dharma, one must retire from family life after half the duration of life is finished and must engage himself in self-realization. But the question of engaging oneself is not always decided. Sometimes retired men are bewildered about how to engage themselves for the last days of life. Here is a decision by authorities like the Pāṇḍavas. All of them engaged themselves in favorably culturing the devotional service of the Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. According to Svāmī Śrīdhara, dharma, artha, kāma and mokṣa, or fruitive activities, philosophical speculations and salvation, as conceived by several persons, are not the ultimate goal of life. They are more or less practiced by persons who have no information of the ultimate goal of life. The ultimate goal of life is already indicated by the Lord Himself in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.64), and the Pāṇḍavas were intelligent enough to follow it without hesitation.

The article " Every bit of Devotional Service " was published on KKSBlog.

To Get Rid of Material Pains, One Must Chant Hare Krishna
Giriraj Swami

Srila Narottama dasa Thakura says, samsara-visanale, divanisi hiya jvale, judaite na kainu upaya: “We are always suffering from material pangs, and our hearts are burning, but we cannot find any way out of it.” The materialistic person can also be called a tapasvi, which means someone who is always suffering from material pains. One can get rid of all these material pains only when he takes shelter of the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra. This is also explained by Narottama dasa Thakura: golokera prema-dhana, hari-nama-sankirtana, rati na janmila kene taya. Narottama dasa Thakura regretted that he did not pursue his attraction for the transcendental vibration of the Hare Krsna mantra. The conclusion is that all persons in this material world are suffering from material pains, and if one wants to get rid of them, he must associate with saintly persons, pure devotees of the Lord, and chant the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. That is the only auspicious way for materialistic persons.

—Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.22.15 purport

On Kindness
→ Karnamrita's blog

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed)
Photobucket
[republished from 7-21-11] People we meet or know who impress us the most are those that extend us kindness and heartfelt interest. We may appreciate a person’s beauty, strength, wealth, knowledge, fame, or renunciation (qualities Krishna has in full), but if a person is not kind it stands out like a huge blemish. A lessor person who is kind and friendly appears more valuable, and greater. Of the twenty-six qualities of a devotee given in the great Gaudiya Vaishnava scripture, Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita, we find that kindness to others is the very first quality. Therefore, being a being an advanced devotee of Krishna means to be kind by nature. The six Goswamis disciples of Lord Chaitanya were “popular both to the gentle and with the ruffians”. Everyone appreciated them because of their equanimity and kindness.

read more

On Kindness
→ Karnamrita's blog

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player needed)
Photobucket
[republished from 7-21-11] People we meet or know who impress us the most are those that extend us kindness and heartfelt interest. We may appreciate a person’s beauty, strength, wealth, knowledge, fame, or renunciation (qualities Krishna has in full), but if a person is not kind it stands out like a huge blemish. A lessor person who is kind and friendly appears more valuable, and greater. Of the twenty-six qualities of a devotee given in the great Gaudiya Vaishnava scripture, Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita, we find that kindness to others is the very first quality. Therefore, being a being an advanced devotee of Krishna means to be kind by nature. The six Goswamis disciples of Lord Chaitanya were “popular both to the gentle and with the ruffians”. Everyone appreciated them because of their equanimity and kindness.

read more

What Hare Krishna Means
Giriraj Swami

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu teaches us, na dhanam na janam na sundarim kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye. (Siksastaka 4) Dhanam means wealth . . . But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, na dhanam: “I don’t want money.” Just the opposite. Everyone wants money. He says, “No, I don’t want money.” Na dhanam na janam: “I don’t want many men as My followers.” Just the opposite. Everyone wants. The politicians, the yogis, the swamis, everyone wants, “There may be hundreds and thousands of my followers.” But Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says, “No, I don’t want.” Na dhanam na janam na sundar?? kavitam va jagad-isa kamaye. “Neither I want very nice, beautiful, obedient wife.” Then what do You want? Mama janmani janmanisvare bhavatad bhaktir ahaituki: “Life after life, let me remain a faithful servant of Your Lordship.”

This is Vaishnava. He doesn’t want anything. Why will he want? If he becomes servant of Krishna, then what does he want? Suppose if you become servant of a very, very big man, then what is the question of your want? This is intelligence. . . . There is no question of want. Just try to become servant of God, and all your necessities will be sufficiently fulfilled. This is intelligence. Just like a rich man’s child, does he want anything from father? No, he simply wants father, mother. The father, mother knows what he wants, how he will be happy. That is the duty of the father and mother. Similarly, this is very good intelligence: just to try to become the sincere servant of Krishna. All your necessities of life will be sufficiently supplied. There is no question of asking.

Therefore intelligent devotees do not ask, “Give us our daily bread.” He’s God’s servant, and He will not get your bread? You have to ask from God? No. God is giving bread to the eight million other living entities. Birds, beast, tigers, elephants—they are not going to the church for asking bread. But they are getting it. So if God is supplying everyone food, why He shall not supply you? He is supplying. So we should not go to God for begging some material benefit. That is not actual devotion. We shall go to God for begging how we can be engaged in His service. That should be the begging.

“Hare Krishna” means . . . Hare means, “O energy of God,” and Krishna, “O Krishna, Lord Krishna, please engage me in Your service.” This is Hare Krishna.

Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

It is simply praying, “O my Lord Krishna, O Srimati Radharani, Krishna’s energy, kindly engage me in Your service.” That’s all. All business finished. This is Vaishnava. So, Vaishnava has no necessity. He knows that “I have no necessity. My only business is to serve Krishna.” So he’s happy in all conditions.

—Srila Prabhupada, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.6–7, June 8, 1975, Honolulu

Wednesday, March 18th, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Toronto, Ontario

Don't Shut Down My Feet

They can shut down the accessory stores, the banks, the taverns, the offices and the factories, what of the schools, churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, libraries, and only keep open the essential shops.  But don't shut down the feet and legs.  They are just too precious.  We need to move around.

It was so encouraging to once again see so many people on the walking trails, by the water and creek this time.  Walking: it's so inestimable and beneficial—beyond compare.  Parents are attune to that.  Here at Evergreen Brickworks, moms and dads have their kids off the leash, freely moving about.  After all, who in the three worlds could harness such youthful energy within the four walls of the house.  It is March Break and students are off school now, for several days, and perhaps some additional ones due to corona virus.  Giving them an open field, and in this case, ponds and trails, is a treat.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B95XfxZAmdt/?igshid=11gnaf7haubev

When you hear one kid say to another, "Hey, look at this!" (I was hearing it from a distance) you know that this is one of those iconic mantras which identifies childhood.  It hints at exploration, excitement and adventure.

One more item I would like to share that came out of this morning's Bhagavatam reading.  The passage is from the purport of Canto 10: Ch. 81, Text 13, and expresses that God walks.  According to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura… “Sri Krsna accompanied Sudama on the road for a short distance and finally parted with the brahmana after bowing down to him and speaking some respectful words."

May the Source be with you!
5 km. 


Tuesday, March 17th, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Hamilton, Ontario

Can’t Be All That Bad

As the sun was stretching it’s rays toward the east at late afternoon, I passed by several pedestrians, all having something to say, except for one, who whistled.

One woman, to another, said, “ It’s St. Patrick’s Day, isn’t it?“

As an elderly man with his walking dog looked up at me—after bystanders looked at his pet—and addressed me with a smile, he said, “It’s spring I think.“

“Perhaps,“ I concurred with a mutually hopeful tone.

Down along Designers Lane, I could see a young woman leaning from her three-storey balcony (like a setting from Romeo and Juliet) yelling to her friend at the street level below, “Crazy times, huh!“ For sure she was referring to the virus scare, the shut-downs, emergency hype in the air.

And, of course, there was the guy whistling a happy tune as he walked into the sun’s rays. Whistling is kind of a guy’s thing. In some cultures, whistling is a bad omen attracting evil or ghosts. I don’t think that was this person‘s intent.

It was a good stroll overall, in the late afternoon, happening after a quick in-and-out drive to Hamilton to see my old friend, Visvakarma, who was instrumental in bringing me to my spiritual path.  Jivan Mukta from Toronto drove us to St. Clair Boulevard. Traffic was swift. Roads are more clear. Yes, indeed, businesses are down. The times are crazy, but when you see an abundance of people going around on foot, well, it can’t be all that bad.

May the Source be with you!
5 km 


Monday, March 16th, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Toronto, Ontario

Something Good Will Come

One of the most benevolent of functions is to plan and organize a kirtan, especially in tough times.  Kirtan is, in many ways, another word for ‘healing’, a nourishment for the soul.

Billy and I were talking. Billy is the kirtanenthusiast who runs the ‘Temple Groove’ every alternate Sunday morning. Since indoor social closeness is currently discouraged in favour of social distancing, I suggested to Billy, “Why not bring your Temple Groove group to a park for kirtanfor healing purposes. Everyone is in fear of the coronavirus. Let’s challenge the fear that has arisen in people.“

So Billy and I settled on Friday afternoon for a kirtanat Bellevue Square Park in Kensington Market. He will invite friends. Corrado and I will be there. The temperature will be mild at 13 or 14°C. It allows us time to plan.  People can bring their instruments, their lungs, their eagerness. We will sing from the heart. We will do something grassroots.

It really all came as an idea when I was walking with Corrado this afternoon. I was feeling that more could be done to address what—in the minds of some people—is an apocalypse.

Let’s fear less. Do more.

We walked in loops through the residential streets, putting in time for our daily walk. I believe Corrado lost his bearings. We didn’t follow the grid. If anything, we meandered in circles, which in my experience, lends itself to deeper thought.  It’s like churning. Something good will surface—an idea. It reminds me of the story of the Milk Ocean’s churning. Many auspicious treasures surfaced from the circular and back-and-forth motion. Yogurt becomes butter when you churn it. Anyway, kirtan! Here we come!    https://www.instagram.com/p/B92rJf7AOOE/?igshid=yugaqdadgv33

May the Source be with you!
5 km



Freedom from the grip of kali
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 9 January 2017, Brisbane, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.6)

We may think that we are free because we are making our own choices according to our own liking. But what we fail to see is that when we are not following the four regulative principles closely, we are actually in the grip of kali. This is why Srila Prabhupada formalised the four regulative principles. Pānaṁ (intoxication), dyūtam (gambling), striyaṁ (illicit sex) and śunām (meat eating) are all mentioned as the four types of adharma (irreligion). Therefore, Prabhupada pointed out that we must follow the four regulative principles because otherwise, we are not actually in control of our own mind, but kali will be in control of our mind. 

The article " Freedom from the grip of kali " was published on KKSBlog.

Gita key verses course 6 Do animals have souls? Are humans just evolved animals?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast


 

Video:

The post Gita key verses course 6 Do animals have souls? Are humans just evolved animals? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Live streaming to Youtube
→ KKSBlog

Visit the official Youtube channel “Media Kadamba Kanana Swami” and subscribe to stay updated on the latest videos. Click the link below to visit the channel. Make sure you also click the notification bell to get informed when a live video has started!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPoc6jnExJN4in1lE0YhO8Q

Kadamba Kanana Swami is currently live streaming a series of classes on Caitanya-caritamrta from Durban, South Africa. Below you can watch the first video in this serie. Stay tuned from home!

If you cannot view the video below visit Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS740PNoU5E

The article " Live streaming to Youtube " was published on KKSBlog.

Srila Prabhupada Took Pain to Translate—We Should Take Advantage
Giriraj Swami

We have got Krishna; we have got spiritual master; we have got books, Bhagavata and Gita. Now let us take advantage of it. We have taken much pain to translate these transcendental literatures into English so that you can understand. We have got fifty books. So take advantage. It is not meant for the cats and dogs. It is meant for the human beings. Not a particular class or nation. No. It is meant for all human beings. So take advantage of this knowledge, understand the philosophy of life, that “I am eternal.”

—Srila Prabhupada, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.1, May 21, 1975, Melbourne

Temple Closure Notice
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!


In response to the pandemic status of the COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus), the Temple management of ISKCON TORONTO has already put safety measures in place to reduce the risks and impact on our community and our campuses. These measures are in compliance with the recommendations from Health Canada.

The single highest priority of ISKCON TORONTO will always be the health and safety of our community. Updated recommendations by public health officials state that ‘social distancing’ is the most effective means of protecting visitors, residents and community members from infection.

The following measures are in effect at ISKCON TORONTO following this announcement:

THE TEMPLE WILL REMAIN CLOSED TO ALL VISITORS STARTING SATURDAY MARCH 21ST, 2020 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
There will be no access into the temple; the main doors will remain closed to all guests.

All services at the Temple will be managed by its residents. Deity service and offerings will be managed by our pujaris and residents without any disruption. The kitchen will remain open only for Deity offerings.

Please review the health advisory link from Health Canada for some useful information: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html

Temple Council, Board & GBC
ISKCON TORONTO

Online Classes During Closure
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

During this period where the Temple remains closed to the public (CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION:http://iskcontoronto.blogspot.com/2020/03/temple-closure-notice.html) we will be hosting special online live classes. These will be broadcast on our Facebook page during our normal Sunday Feast time (5:00pm-6:00pm). 

HH Bhaktimarga Swami's class (April 5, 2020) is available here: 

HG Mahabhagvata das class (March 29, 2020) is available here:
https://www.facebook.com/174452304502/videos/1339187866433126/
HG Rupanuga das class (Sunday March 22nd) is available here:
https://www.facebook.com/174452304502/videos/220361962661675/
HH Bhaktimarga Swami's class (March 15, 2020) is available here: 

Govinda Ghosh Disappearance
→ Ramai Swami

Govinda Ghosh, Madhava Ghosh and Vasudeva Ghosh were three brothers, and their sankirtana, congregational chanting, pleased the Lord very much.

Sri Govinda Ghosh was known for his sweet kirtans at the annual Jagannatha Ratha-Yatra festival. He and his two brothers, Vasudeva and Madhava, are eternal associates of Sri Chaitanya and Sri Nityananda. The Lord would immediately begin dancing whenever the Ghosh brothers would sing. The Ghosh brothers preached throughout their lives with music and song.

Since he had no children, Govinda Ghosh wondered who would perform his funeral rites. Sri Gopinatha, Govinda Ghosh’s Deity, appeared in a dream promising that He Himself would do everything. To this day, the Gopinatha Deity arranges for the tirobhava mahotsava (disappearance day festival) of His pure devotee, Govinda Ghosh.

As Kalavati-sakhi, Govinda Ghosh sings sweetly for Radha-Govindaji in Goloka Vrindavana. His samadhi is in the 64 Samadhis area.

TOVP Corona Virus Message
- TOVP.org

Dear TOVP Donors, Supporters and Friends,

Please accept our heartfelt obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We have prepared a special video message for all of you and for all ISKCON devotees worldwide regarding the corona virus pandemic and the unprecedented influence it is having on the entire human race. We are not taking this threat lightly and are exacting measures not only for our personal well-being here in Sridham Mayapur, but also spiritually for the protection of all devotees.

On that note, under the guidance of Their Graces Jananivas and Pankajanghri prabhus we have initiated a daily puja to Lord Nrsimhadeva here at ISKCON’s World Headquarters with special focus on the protection of all devotees from the virus. We have faith that Lord Nrsimhadeva, our divine Protector, will see us through this world calamity and help brings things back to normal in the seva of His and Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

Construction continues unabated here at the TOVP, but we are taking special precautions to maintain the highest levels of hygiene and cleanliness during this challenging time.

Please stay safe and healthy, and follow your local and International Guidelines for avoiding infection and contracting the virus.

Your servants, Ambarisa das – Chairman
Braja Vilasa das – Director of Development


 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
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/

The post TOVP Corona Virus Message appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Know about Krishna—Don’t Be a Cheater
Giriraj Swami

       sri visnuduta ucuh
yuyam vai dharma-rajasya
  yadi nirdesa-karinah
bruta dharmasya nas tattvam
  yac cadharmasya laksanam

 “The blessed messengers of Lord Visnu, the Visnudutas, said: If you are actually servants of Yamaraja, you must explain to us the meaning of religious principles and the symptoms of irreligion.” (SB 6.1.3) The Yamadutas had challenged, “Who are you, interfering in our business? We have come to arrest him.” So, the counterchallenge was, “You said, ‘We are servants of Dharmaraja. It is his jurisdiction. This person is impious. So this is in the jurisdiction of Dharmaraja. He has to try the case and give him punishment—criminal department, law and order. So you cannot interfere with us.’ ” Therefore the challenge was replied by the Vishnudutas, “If you are actually representatives of Dharmaraja, who tries the cases of dharma and adharma, first of all explain what is dharma and what is adharma.”

This is very nice challenge. Suppose if you say, “We are Krishna conscious persons,” one may challenge you, “First of all, explain what you know about Krishna.” That is quite natural. If you do not know about Krishna, you have no right to say that “I belong to the Krishna consciousness movement.” You have no right to say. So, your position is like that. Simply if you have tilak and kanthi [neck beads], that does not mean that you belong to the Krishna consciousness movement. Any cheater can do that. You must know the philosophy. If one challenges, you must reply. Therefore Bhaktivinoda Thakura has sung a song indicating these cheaters. He says, eo ta’ eka kalira cela: “Here is a servant of Kali.” What kind of cela [disciple]? Nake tilaka galaya mala. “He has got a tilak and galaya mala [neck beads]. Bas. That’s all.” He does not know what is the philosophy. If you do not know the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, if you simply mark your body with tilak and kanthi, then you are not proper servant; you are not qualified. So tilak, mala is necessary. Just like a policeman. A bogus man, if he dresses like a policeman, is not a policeman. He must know what is the police law, criminal law, who is to be punished, who is not to be punished, what is criminality, what is innocence. All these things he must know.

—Srila Prabhupada, talk on Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.38, June 4, 1976, Los Angeles

ISKCON Scarborough – Temporary cancellation of Sunday feast programs due to COVID-19
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

In response to the pandemic status of the COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus), we regret to notify you that starting this Sunday (March 22nd, 2020) the Sunday feast program will be discontinued temporarily until further notice.

ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada, M1V4C7
Website: www.iskconscarborough.org
Email:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com

Sunday, March 15th, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Scarborough, Ontario

I Love St

It was nippy but nice.  The sun was strong and people were cheery going down, or up, Yonge Street.  I took to the west side of the street, going north, because that's where the sun was angled.  I was doing my usual routine with Bhativinode from Scarborough.  He would pick me up as soon as he spotted me in my standout saffron.  Off we went to the ISKCON Centre for one of those rituals, a devotional spectacle called abhishek, a bathing of deities using pure substances, including honey, which are then poured over the beautiful icons of Chaitanya and Nityananda, the two godfathers of kirtan. 

I had a chance to speak to the modest-sized group.  Not everyone came.  People are scared to be in public venues,  including spiritual spaces.  I spoke again about corona.  "Now is the time for going inward, for doing what soaps and sanitizers can't do, for what mantras can do—nurture the soul…Mind you, we need both internal and external cleaning."

Later on, I spoke for forty minutes online, the topic being ‘Corona and Karuna’ which translates as ‘No Mercy and Mercy’.  That broadcast was to replace the Sunday Open House talk in front of our usual crowd in Toronto.  It was a first time to talk to a camera only.  https://www.facebook.com/174452304502/videos/256603548684299/

A highlight for today: someone came and donated a large painting of a Krishna monk, rendered in April of '73.  It's just after the time I joined, when our ashram was on Gerrard Street.  The artist is Godfrey.  I love it.

May the Source be with you!
2 km


Saturday, March 14th, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Toronto, Ontario

Corona and Karuna

I was invited to ‘Kirtan Toronto’ in location—Richmond and Spadina—at the residence of host Rikin (aka Rasheshvara Madhava) to conduct a chant-and-chat session.  He told me it would be a small gathering, I guess with corona consciousness in the atmosphere.  I took Corrado with me.  We volunteered to walk from the ashram.  Outdoors is a relatively safe way to go. 

It just so happens that Chinatown is in between these two points.  What did we see?  Well, not the crowds you normally would see.  Restaurants were relatively empty.  A popular bakery we passed by was quiet.  The two shop owners were leaning on the service counter talking.  All those shops that carry knick-knacks had very few customers in the aisles.  I would say it wasn't exactly a Ghost Town on Spadina Avenue, but it sure was not its usual bustling self. 

We arrived at Rikin's and had a meaningful kirtanalong with a vegan meal.  Pierogis were on the menu.  When we talked, we spoke about the power of community, and how important it is for we humans, who are social animals, to bond together for strength, in times that are good and in times of trouble.  We identified that togetherness is essential for our well-being, even if it is recommended that, in the current situation, we stay two metres away from each other.

The scare of corona is really a call for karuna, which literally translates as mercy or compassion.  Let's take the corona challenge as an opportunity to value each other more and show some more RESPECT.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B9v8YpoAsMn/?igshid=3aohsqpber2s

May the Source be with you!
8 km