Friday, March 6th, 2020
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Stouffville, Ontario

About Others

When I was in Mayapura, India, I saw a piece of myself on someone's table.  I'll clarify.  An artist had a booth where he was displaying his wares—copies of painted portraits of bhakti-yogis  Well, I was in that pile of twenty or so.  I picked one up off of his display table, to have a look.

That's me, alright, I thought, and reasoned within.  Actually, I was separated from the portrait, just as my body is separated from my soul.  My body, a temporal object, is what some identify as me.  It's fallacious, at best.  The resemblance of the portrait to my physical self was striking. 

Now, lets put me aside—at least the body—and consider others.

I sent a message to my sister, Connie, whose birthday is today.  She's a year and a half my junior. I talked to a woman who had all kinds of questions about life, about the deities, about destiny.  She was a visitor who had her questions answered.  She went away with a Gita and some cake prasadam.  She was happy. There were more ‘others’.  In my brief walk, I greeted all the pedestrians who passed by me.  Our neighbours, basically.  It left a good feeling.

Then in the late afternoon, Paripoorna, a South Indian practitioner, drove me from the park where I was strolling, to Stouffville, where I met a new but growing community, with lots of kids.  I talked of my early days when I became a monk.  I believe that although I spoke somewhat about myself, my intent was to enthuse them toward self-improvement.

May the Source be with you!
2 km


Thursday, March 5th, 2020
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Toronto, Ontario

The Sun

The sun was beckoning to me in the second half of the afternoon.  It shone strong like a laser from the westerly direction.  It was directly blinding me, as I ambled along Bloor Street, and it created silhouettes of moving pedestrians, some who passed me to the right, some to the left.

I took to a park bench in Queen's Park, by the war memorial plaque, and sat there for five minutes.  Inscriptions on it indicated places where Canadian soldiers fell during the last century's two wars.  Italy was at the top of the list.  I didn't know our forces went there.

I shifted to Philosopher's Walk, nestled in the throng of classy Victorian buildings at the university.  There must be lots of philosophies, as many as there are people.  That could be 7.7 billion.  Too much population, don't you think?  They say it took 200,000 years of human history for the world's population to reach 1 billion and only 200 years more to reach 7 billion.

That is shocking!  I think that many bears would be more fun.

Finally, I swerved over on foot through posh Yorkville.  People are generally happy,  I believe it’s the sun that's doing it for them.  We could all do with a little more vitamin D.  We could all do with a little more kindness.  We could all do with a little more walking, which invokes adventure, introspection and a sense of feeling good in both body and spirit. 

May the Source be with you!
4 km 





Wednesday, March 4th, 2020
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Toronto, Ontario

Back in the Swing

Back in the swing of things.  I'm walking on the streets to be nice to this body, a vehicle of honour.  With our bodies, we express ourselves best, or worst.  At best, we serve humanity, nature and the brains behind creation.  At worst, we self-serve and indulge in that which destroys us.  Take your pick.

I walked down Roxborough.  Two young men in a parked van gave me that look of curiosity.  They rolled down the window.  I thought they wanted to talk to me.  I wasn't sure so I stopped and took two steps back.  "Did you guys wanna say something to me?"

Smiles adorned their faces.  It seemed, I amused them.  Respectfully, the passenger reached to the windshield wiper.  "No! We are just having a look at this."  He held in his fingers a half-curled yellow summons slip.  Most likely a $30 fine for parking overtime.

I said, "They have no mercy." 

This morning, I was sitting in the office when one of the regular attendees popped in with his summons slip, asking if we could do something about it.  "I simply came for darshan (viewing Krishna's deity) and I got this," he said, while holding out that bright yellow paper.  He was upset at receiving it.  He hadn’t really look at the signs which read no parking before 10.  It was 9:31 a.m.  Anyway, “No mercy!”

The meter man/woman has been on the warpath, challenging everyone with a car.  I guess no one should relax.  You've got to keep on the move.  The city needs the money.  It has found sitting ducks, that is those with a car.  I feel for the ducks, although I'm not a car lover.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020
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Toronto, Canada

Clean Those Babies

Air Canada Flight 43 came in for a smooth landing.  We couldn't even feel it when the wheels touched the runway.  After being picked up, we saw snow around all along the 401 Highway, but our driver, Jaya, said it's been a mild winter.  Both Corrado and I were struck by jet lag, as you can imagine after a long fourteen hours of soaring in the air.  Anyway, I would rather that, than break up the journey with a stop-over somewhere.

We reached the ashram.  The deities in the temple room looked beautiful, as usual.  Govinda's Restaurant was hopping.  I spent some hours there playing a kind of musical chairs meeting people, emailing, catching up, in general.  After that rather sedentary experience, I hankered for some physical work.  Rain was coming down like crazy so no outdoor walking for me; it wouldn’t be an option until the downpour let up.

That hankering was actually a wish, maybe even a form of communication with Him.  I heard the kitchen needed some love.  I came to its door and saw an eager pile of dirty pots needing some love.  So, I accepted the invite, like some kind of monk, and tackled the pile, rendering some menial service.

Dwarkanath, our principle cook, came by.  Together we tackled, like football team-mates,  and brought down the pile of prasadampots.  It was good swishing around my hands and arms in the water, scrubbing, and then spraying clean those babies.

May the Source be with you!
0 km


Monday, March 2nd, 2020
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Noida, India

Putting A Closure to Our Trip

Schools from the area went on a field trip (that's what we called it in my day) to the ISKCON Temple/Ashram.  The specific reason for the visit was to come and see our play in the auditorium.  Over 200 students occupied the space for the special event.  I say ‘special’ because our "Gita" presentation has some real contemporary elements to it, plus our cast is interestingly cosmopolitan.

The show went remarkably well.  The dozen or so teachers came up to the stage one by one to offer their feedback.  All positive.  I guess if you can present all which is foundational in the Gita's message, plus make it entertaining, you've got a winner.

For one month now, our troupe has been working together.  Much was accomplished over this time—the building up of camaraderie, discipline, fun—a family feel. 

Today we part and go our respective ways.  Corrado and I are destined for Canada.  We had a time to reflect on all that transpired.  https://www.instagram.com/p/B9RZ6M_gIGh/?igshid=1pkxs0m6d0xyo

About walking!  I ventured off a bit beyond Krishna Jayanti Park, to the tree nursery, and then into a massive field of grass, soft and springy under the feet.  That was a good discovery until I saw human excrement.  I was told that there's a shortage of toilets in India.  Now I see it is true.

I still love the people.  Generally they are a warm kind of folks.  I'm sure my monk attire is helpful.
Corrado and I checked in at the Delhi Airport, readying ourselves for the direct fourteen-hour flight. 

May the Source be with you!
3 km

Caring for cows
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The Vedas have profoundly rich poetry that suggests cows and hymns are all tied with rituals, most centrally to yajna, which is crudely translated as sacrifice. It really has to do with the idea that human beings are in particular function of maintenance of the cosmic order, and cows are essential to humans performing that function.


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Meditations from The Living Name (audio)
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Sacinandana Swami: It is my great pleasure to share the audio recordings of the meditations and exercises from The Living Name with you. The recordings are designed to inspire your personal japa and kirtan practice, and to enable you to achieve full absorption. Sincerely wishing you all the best,

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Sri Gaura-purnima
Giriraj Swami

We welcome you to the most auspicious celebration of Sri Gaura-purnima, the appearance day of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna Chaitanya. According to Vedic scriptures, the Absolute Truth is realized in three features: Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. The impersonalist speculators want to merge and become one with God, one with the impersonal brahmajyoti, which is nothing but the transcendental effulgence emanating from the divine body of Sri Krishna. Beyond the impersonal Brahman is Paramatma, the Lord within the heart; the purusa-avataras—Karanodakasayi Vishnu, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, and Ksirodakasayi Vishnu—are the soul of the universe, the soul of creation, the soul of souls. And beyond realization of the impersonal Brahman and localized Paramatma is realization of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, who is the source of Paramatma and Brahman.

That same Krishna who appeared about five thousand years ago appeared again some five hundred years ago as Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Why is it that Krishna, who came five thousand years ago and spoke the Bhagavad-gita and exhibited so many pastimes, came again? In the authorized scripture Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Lord Krishna’s thoughts after He had manifested His pastimes on earth five thousand years ago are recorded. These thoughts explain why He came again five hundred years ago as Sri Krishna Chaitanya.

We are all sitting here by the mercy of Sri Krishna Chaitanya and His followers in disciplic succession, especially His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. And practically every activity that takes place here is based on the instructions and example of Krishna Chaitanya. You can hardly find any aspect of the Krishna consciousness movement that is not based on His teachings and precedents. So it is very important—essential—to understand Him, because without understanding Him we cannot really progress very well toward the ultimate goal of life.

We read from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Three: “The External Reasons for the Appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu,” text 13. After describing the advent of Lord Krishna on earth, Sri Caitanya-caritamrta describes, beginning with text 13:

TEXTS 13–16

Lord Krsna enjoys His transcendental pastimes as long as He wishes, and then He disappears. After disappearing, however, He thinks thus:

“For a long time I have not bestowed unalloyed loving service to Me upon the inhabitants of the world. Without such loving attachment, the existence of the material world is useless.

“Everywhere in the world people worship Me according to scriptural injunctions. But simply by following such regulative principles one cannot attain the loving sentiments of the devotees in Vrajabhumi.

“Knowing My opulences, the whole world looks upon Me with awe and veneration. But devotion made feeble by such reverence does not attract Me.”

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

After His appearance, Lord Krsna thought that He had not distributed the transcendental personal dealings with His devotees in dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, and madhurya. One may understand the science of the Supreme Personality of Godhead from the Vedic literature and thus become a devotee of the Lord and worship Him within the regulative principles described in the scriptures, but one will not know in this way how Lord Krsna is served by the residents of Vrajabhumi. By following scriptural injunctions one may enhance his appreciation for the glories of the Lord, but there is no chance for one to enter into personal dealings with Him. Giving too much attention to understanding the exalted glories of the Lord reduces the chance of one’s entering into personal loving affairs with the Lord. To teach the principles of such loving dealings, the Lord decided to appear as Lord Caitanya.

TEXT 19

yuga-dharma pravartaimu nama-sankirtana
cari bhava-bhakti diya nacamu bhuvana

TRANSLATION

“I shall personally inaugurate the religion of the age—nama-sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy name. I shall make the world dance in ecstasy, realizing the four mellows of loving devotional service.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

The Lord came to introduce the yuga-dharma, the recommended process for self-realization, or God realization, in the present age, and that is nama-sankirtana, the chanting of the holy names of the Lord.

TEXT 20

apani karimu bhakta-bhava angikare
apani acari’ bhakti sikhaimu sabare

TRANSLATION

“I shall accept the role of a devotee, and I shall teach devotional service by practicing it Myself.”

PURPORT

When one associates with a pure devotee, he becomes so elevated that he does not aspire even for sarsti, sarupya, samipya, or salokya, because he feels that such liberation is a kind of sense gratification. Pure devotees do not ask anything from the Lord for their personal benefit. Even if offered personal benefits, pure devotees do not accept them, because their only desire is to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead by transcendental loving service.

COMMENT

This is a very important point. Externally one may engage in devotional service, and that is very good, but what really matters in devotional service is the consciousness. We are living in the material world, which is composed of and influenced by the three modes of material nature: tamo-guna, rajo-guna, and sattva-guna—the modes of ignorance, passion, and goodness. Beyond even sattva-guna is suddha-sattva, or the state of vasudeva, which is transcendental to all three modes. Within the material world no one can be in pure ignorance, pure passion, or pure goodness. There is always some mixing of the different modes. Only when one comes to the transcendental platform is one freed from the influence of the modes.

Srila Prabhupada has explained different mentalities that one can have in the practice of devotional service. The same principles are enunciated in the Third Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srila Prabhupada has phrased his explanation in a way that we can easily understand and relate to. Someone engaged in devotional service under the influence of the mode of ignorance will think, “I’m the only devotee. No one else here is a real devotee. I am the only one who is doing anything of value; everyone else is useless.” That is devotional service influenced by the mode of ignorance. In devotional service influenced by the mode of passion, one thinks, “I want to be the best devotee. I want to be known for being the best devotee.” Someone influenced by the mode of goodness will think, “I want to go back home, back to Godhead.” And someone who is transcendentally situated in pure devotional service will think, “I just want to please Krishna.”

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to teach and show by His personal example pure devotional service in which a devotee has no selfish desire even to go back to Godhead. As Srila Prabhupada says, the pure devotee considers liberation of going back to Godhead to be sense gratification. He wants only to serve the Lord. That is pure devotional service. That is what Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to teach and exemplify, and that is what Srila Prabhupada also taught and exemplified and wanted us to follow.

PURPORT (continued)

Therefore, when the Lord took the place of the incarnation of Kali-yuga to spread the glories of chanting Hare Krsna . . .

COMMENT

This is an important point—that Krishna Himself does not come in every Kali-yuga as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Krishna Himself doesn’t come in every Dvapara-yuga. There is a yuga-avatara, or incarnation, every Satya-yuga, every Treta-yuga, every Dvapara-yuga, and every Kali-yuga, but only once in a day of Brahma, which is about four billion three hundred twenty million years, will Krishna, the original Personality of Godhead, come in Dvapara-yuga, and only once in a day of Brahma will Krishna come again as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in Kali-yuga—the Kali-yuga immediately following the Dvapara-yuga in which Krishna appears. So we can just imagine how fortunate we are to be living in the Kali-yuga in which Krishna consciousness appeared.

When Lord Chaitanya was present, He predicted, prthivite ache yata nagaradi-grama, sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama: “In every town and village on the surface of the earth, My name (Krishna’s name) will be preached.” That prediction seemed almost inconceivable. Yes, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu spread Krishna consciousness throughout India, but the idea of spreading Krishna consciousness throughout the world seemed impossible. Even followers of Lord Chaitanya thought He might be speaking in some poetic or metaphorical way, not that it would actually happen. In Sri Caitanya-mangala, Srila Locana dasa Thakura explains that Lord Chaitanya appeared and preached in Navadvipa to establish the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra as the religious process for the Age of Kali. Lord Chaitanya said, “I want to flood the whole world with the chanting of the holy names. I will personally preach and flood India with the holy name. Later, my commander-in-chief devotee [senapati bhakta] will come, preach in distant countries, and flood the world with the chanting of Hare Krishna.” Senapati means “commander-in-chief.”

A very special soul would be entrusted to do this otherwise impossible assignment. And that, we know, was His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He left this world in 1977, only thirty-three years ago. So anyone older than thirty-three years was on the planet at the same time as Srila Prabhupada, the senapati bhakta who was personally sent by Krishna, by Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. And we are sitting in a temple within his society that was established by one of his direct disciples, Sripada Tamal Krishna Goswami. We have an amazing opportunity, so we should understand how fortunate we are to have this opportunity and take full advantage of it. How? We first have to understand what that means. We have to understand what Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada came to give us, so we can recognize it and accept it.

Lord Chaitanya said, “I shall accept the role of a devotee, and I shall teach devotional service by practicing it Myself.” In the purport Srila Prabhupada says: “Therefore, when the Lord took the place of the incarnation of Kali-yuga . . .” In other words, the Lord Himself doesn’t personally come to be the yuga-avatara in every Kali-yuga.

PURPORT (concluded)

When the Lord took the place of the incarnation of Kali-yuga to spread the glories of chanting Hare Krsna—the system of worship recommended in this age—He also distributed the process of devotional service performed on the platform of transcendental spontaneous love. To teach the highest principles of spiritual life, the Lord Himself appeared as a devotee in the form of Lord Caitanya.

COMMENT

Now I will read from another section of Caitanya-caritamrta about two of the most important principles of devotional service that Lord Caitanya taught and that we are meant to learn and adopt. This discussion took place between Lord Chaitanya and the Mayavadi sannyasis in Benares. In the Shankara-sampradaya it is expected that sannyasis will study Vedanta, and Varanasi is full of Mayavadis, full of followers or so-called followers of Shankaracharya. When Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to Varanasi, He performed hari-nama-sankirtana, nagara-sankirtana, and hundreds and thousands of people joined Him, but the Mayavadi sannyasis, impersonal sannyasis who want to realize Brahman, could not understand the transcendental activities of the Lord. They thought that the Lord’s activities were material. That’s why they are called Mayavadis, because they themselves are material, on the material platform, and they see the Lord—His name, His form, His qualities, His pastimes, His service—as material, as maya, and therefore they are called Mayavadis. They think that the Deity is material, that in the beginning we may focus on the Deity but that when we are advanced enough, we go beyond the Deity and merge and become one with the impersonal light. In other words, they are atheists.

There is a very nice verse in the Padma Purana saying that anyone who thinks that the Deity is just stone, who thinks that the guru is an ordinary human being, who thinks that a Vaishnava belongs to a certain caste or community, is a resident of hell. That word is used, naraki.

arcye visnau sila-dhir gurusu nara-matir vaisnave jati-buddhir . . .
sri-visnor namni mantre sakala-kalusa-he sabde-samanya buddhir . . .
yasya va naraki sah

“One who considers the worshipable Deity of Lord Vishnu to be mere stone, the spiritual master to be an ordinary human being, a Vaishnava to belong to a particular caste, and the mantra of the holy name of Vishnu, which destroys all impurities, to be a material vibration, is a resident of hell.” (Padma Purana)

So just consider, if you think that the Deity is made of stone—of course, in theory we may say the Deity is Krishna, but to what extent do we actually believe that the Deity is Krishna, as shown by our behavior? If one thinks that the spiritual master is an ordinary person—and again we may outwardly show respect, but the real test is to what extent we follow the master’s instructions. If we think that a Vaishnava belongs to a certain community or ethnic group, for example, if I think, “That’s an American Vaishnava,” or an African Vaishnava, a Mexican Vaishnava, or Bengali Vaishnava or Gujarati Vaishnava—that is a hellish mentality (naraki sah).

To really benefit from what Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada came to give us, we have to understand what they taught and practiced so that we can follow their instructions and example. I was discussing Lord Chaitanya speaking with the Mayavadi sannyasis. There was a meeting of all the sannyasis of Varanasi, and the leader of the Mayavadi sannyasis asked Lord Chaitanya, “Why don’t you study Vedanta? All sannyasis are supposed to study Vedanta.” Lord Chaitanya replied, guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasana: “My spiritual master considered Me a fool, and therefore he chastised Me.”

This shows what should be the mood of a disciple in relation to the spiritual master. As Srila Prabhupada said, one should always feel himself to be a fool and be ready to be chastised by the guru. In the bodily concept of life we feel insulted, “How dare he call me a fool! Doesn’t he know who I am?” One of Lord Chaitanya’s chief disciples was Srila Sanatana Gosvami, a very learned scholar. He was fluent in Sanskrit and Persian and knowledgeable in scriptures and philosophy, but when he approached Lord Chaitanya, he told Him, “In ordinary dealings people call me a learned scholar, pandit, but I am such a pandit that I do not even know who I am or what is the goal of life. So please instruct me.”

When we come to that position where we feel that we are fools who need to be instructed, we can approach a spiritual master. The same sort of incident took place in the Bhagavad-gita. In the beginning Arjuna was speaking with Krishna more or less on an equal level, talking as friends. Krishna was telling Arjuna that he should fight, and Arjuna was coming up with so many reasons why he should not fight. From a certain point of view, the reasons may have sounded good, but in the end Arjuna came to the point where he admitted he really didn’t know what he should do. And then he told Krishna (like Sanatana Gosvami, in a way), “Now I am confused about my duty.” Sisyas te ’ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam: “Now I am surrendering to You as Your disciple. Please instruct me.”

karpanya-dosopahata-svabhavah
prcchami tvam dharma-sammudha-cetah
yac chreyah syan niscitam bruhi tan me
sisyas te ’ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam

“Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because of miserly weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me for certain what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered unto You. Please instruct me.” (Gita 2.7) And from that point, when Arjuna surrendered to Krishna as his spiritual master, Krishna was able to instruct him and spoke the Bhagavad-gita.

Guru more murkha dekhi’ karila sasana. Lord Chaitanya said, “My spiritual master considered Me to be a fool, and He chastised Me. He told Me, ‘You are not qualified to study Vedanta philosophy.’ ” Was Lord Caitanya unqualified? He is Krishna Himself. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna says, vedanta-krd veda-vid: “I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.” But Lord Chaitanya was showing us the example that we should not be so proud that we think we can understand Vedanta, because in Kali-yuga you really can’t understand Vedanta. So He was setting the example. “My spiritual master considered Me a fool and said, ‘You are not qualified to study Vedanta philosophy, and therefore You must always chant the holy name of Krishna.’ ” And Lord Chaitanya said, “I took the instructions of My spiritual master to heart and I always chant the holy name, but while chanting, I lose Myself, thus I laugh, cry, dance, and sing just like a madman. I began to think that My knowledge was being covered, so I approached My spiritual master for clarification.”

I will read that verse and purport. It is a very short purport. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter 7: “Lord Caitanya in Five Features.”

TEXT 80

“I saw that I had become mad by chanting the holy name, and I immediately submitted this at the lotus feet of my spiritual master.”

PURPORT

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as an ideal teacher, shows us how a disciple should deal with his spiritual master. Whenever there is doubt regarding any point, he should refer the matter to his spiritual master for clarification. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that while chanting and dancing He had developed the kind of mad ecstasy that is possible only for a liberated soul. Yet even in His liberated position, He referred everything to His spiritual master whenever there were doubts. Thus in any condition, even when liberated, we should never think ourselves independent of the spiritual master, but must refer to him as soon as there is some doubt regarding our progressive spiritual life.

COMMENT

There are details in how to apply this, but it is the principle that even when we are liberated, we are not independent. We are still subservient to the spiritual master and are meant to be under his control.

Lord Chaitanya’s spiritual master was very pleased because he could understand that Lord Chaitanya had developed ecstatic love for Godhead. This is the benefit of chanting the holy names of Krishna properly. There are offenses to be considered when one chants the holy name, and if one commits offenses while chanting, one will not get the desired result. Caitanya-caritamrta says bahu janma, that one can chant the holy name for many lifetimes, hundreds of lifetimes, thousands of lifetimes, but that if one’s chanting is infested with offenses, he will not get pure love of Godhead, which is meant to be the result of the chanting. So it is understood that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was chanting without offense. Of course, He was Krishna, but as a devotee He was chanting without offense. Therefore He developed ecstatic symptoms of love of Godhead, and his spiritual master was very pleased. It is said that the spiritual master takes more pleasure when he sees a disciple advance than when he advances himself. If a disciple becomes a pure devotee, then the spiritual master can say that his mission is a complete success.

I will just skip ahead to an important verse and purport, a short purport:

TEXT 91

bhala haila, paile tumi parama-purusartha
tomara premete ami hailan krtartha

This is Lord Chaitanya’s spiritual master speaking to Him:

TRANSLATION

“It is very good, my dear child, that You have attained the supreme goal of life by developing love of Godhead. Thus You have pleased me very much, and I am very much obliged to You.”

PURPORT

According to the revealed scriptures, if a spiritual master can convert even one soul into a perfectly pure devotee, his mission in life is fulfilled. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura always used to say, “Even at the expense of all the properties, temples and mathas that I have, if I could convert even one person into a pure devotee, my mission would be fulfilled.”

COMMENT

We have heard about Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, that he constructed a beautiful marble temple in Calcutta, the Bhag Bazaar Gaudiya Matha, to preach Krishna consciousness, but that his disciples, who were quite neophyte and materialistic, began to fight over the property—who would occupy which room, who would have which position. When he was on parikrama in Vrindavan—this was one of the rare times that Srila Prabhupada got to be with his spiritual master personally—Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura told him, “There will be fire in this Gaudiya Matha.” He could see that there would be the fire of conflict and party interest. And he said, “I have built this beautiful marble temple, but now I am seeing that my disciples are quarreling. If I could, I would sell the marble and use that money to print books.” Then he told Srila Prabhupada, “I had a desire to print some books. If you ever get money, print books.” And that direct instruction from his spiritual master became Srila Prabhupada’s guiding principle in his mission. Of course, he did everything, because it is all part of the process: he established Deities, he established farm projects, he established schools, he did everything, but he took the instruction of his spiritual master to print and distribute books to heart. So, Prabhupada is quoting his guru maharaja here:

PURPORT (concluded)

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura always used to say, “Even at the expense of all the properties, temples and mathas that I have, if I could convert even one person into a pure devotee, my mission would be fulfilled.” It is very difficult, however, to understand the science of Krishna, what to speak of developing love of Godhead. Therefore if by the grace of Lord Caitanya and the spiritual master a disciple attains the standard of pure devotional service, the spiritual master is very happy. The spiritual master is not actually happy if the disciple brings him money, but when he sees that a disciple is following the regulative principles and advancing in spiritual life, he is very glad and feels obliged to such an advanced disciple.

COMMENT

Of course, we accept money to use in Krishna’s service, but not at the expense of following the regulative principles of devotional service. Therefore Srila Prabhupada presents this dichotomy. The two don’t have to be opposed to each other, but they can be, because money is such a thing that even devotees who are trying to make advancement get bewildered. Money is such a thing.

On a morning walk on Juhu Beach, Srila Prabhupada said that money is simply a botheration. It is simply trouble. To get money is a problem, to hold onto the money is a problem, and when you lose the money, that’s also a problem. At every stage, money is a problem. So here Srila Prabhupada says that the spiritual master is not actually happy if the disciple brings him money, but when he sees that a disciple is following the regulative principles and advancing in spiritual life, he is very glad and feels obliged to such an advanced disciple.

Reading this reminded me of an incident in Juhu. Many of you may know that Srila Prabhupada established a big, beautiful temple at Juhu Beach in Bombay. One evening Srila Prabhupada was sitting on the terrace of one of the buildings at the back. This was before we actually got permission to build anything on the property. There were some tenement buildings with some tenants, and one of the tenants left. So at least we had one apartment where Srila Prabhupada could stay. So, he was sitting on the terrace one evening, and his disciple Haridas was fanning him. At seven o’clock Srila Prabhupada said to Haridas, “Did you hear that?” Haridas strained to hear, he said, “No.” Srila Prabhupada said, “You don’t hear the sound of kirtan coming from the temple?” Haridas Prabhu listened and said, “No, Srila Prabhupada, I don’t.” And Srila Prabhupada said, “That is exactly the point. There is no kirtan in the temple. It is arati time, but there is no kirtan in the temple. Where are all the devotees?” Haridas Prabhu said, “Well, Srila Prabhupada, they must have gone to the city to collect for the project and haven’t come back yet.” Actually, there was a little speculation there, because it just so happened that that night we were performing kirtan on the request of one of our best life members and donors when his mother passed away, so it wasn’t quite what Haridasa said, but Prabhupada’s point is very instructive.

Srila Prabhupada said, “This was not my idea, that the devotees should go to the city and collect all day and night. Our process is to please Krishna. They may go at nine in the morning and return by five in the evening, and then chant in front of the Deities. Otherwise they will become like karmis. Then Srila Prabhupada asked Haridas, “Do you know why we were successful in getting this land?” There had been a big struggle. If any of you have read Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta—and I do recommend that every devotee read it—the owner of the land, Mr. Nair, was a prominent person in Bombay. He had been the sheriff, owned one of Bombay’s three English daily newspapers, and was wealthy and influential. So, Srila Prabhupada asked Haridas, “Do you know why we were successful and Mr. Nair wasn’t? We are successful because we try to please Krishna and Krishna is merciful and reciprocates with us. Otherwise, Mr. Nair was much more powerful than we. He had money, influence, his own daily newspaper¾he had contacts, so many politicians and government officers. And who were we? We had no money, no influence, and no support. Yet we were successful because we were simply trying to please Krishna, following the regulative principles of devotional service¾by Krishna’s grace.

“So, we should come and sing and dance in front of the Deities and please Them, and by Their grace we will get all success. We are not successful by our own strength; we are successful by Krishna’s grace.”

This is a very important principle in devotional service: whatever we do, we should do for the pleasure of Krishna and depend on His mercy. We cannot be successful by our own independent endeavors. There is a saying that without the mercy of Lord Chaitanya, even easy things become difficult, and that with the mercy of Lord Chaitanya, even difficult things become easy. So we should endeavor to please Lord Chaitanya, to please the Deities, to please Srila Prabhupada, by following their instructions and adopting their mood. And by that endeavor, under proper guidance, we will be successful in our own personal spiritual lives and successful in preaching, in spreading the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

On this auspicious occasion we pray to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu and Their associates to bless us to free us from the anarthas and avidya within our hearts, to purify our hearts and empower us to serve Them properly as They would like. That’s the only way we can be successful.

Upon his arrival in America, Srila Prabhupada wrote a beautiful poem. Not knowing anyone, not having any money, not having any influence, he prayed to Lord Krishna—the same mood was there from the very beginning, until the very end— “How will I be able to convince them of Your message? Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of passion and ignorance. How will I convince them?” It is a beautiful poem, and we should study it. It is in Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta. We should study whatever we can about Srila Prabhupada. In his poem, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta.” Bhakti means “devotion” and vedanta means “knowledge,” or the end of knowledge. He said, “I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, but I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge. But You are the most expert mystic, and Your causeless mercy can make everything possible. I am simply praying for Your mercy so that I will be able to convince them about Your message.”

And then, at the very end, he said, “I am just like a puppet in Your hands.” Just like a puppet. What life does a puppet have? None. It is a limp doll. So, that was Prabhupada’s humility. He wrote, “I am just like a puppet in Your hands, so if you have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance. O Lord, make me dance as You like.”

That should be our mood—just puppets in the hands of our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, the previous acharyas, the Deities. “Make me Your puppet. I have no capacity on my own. Make me Your puppet, O Lord, and make me dance as You like.” In that mood we can get this priceless treasure that Lord Chaitanya came to the world to give and that Srila Prabhupada came to the West and travelled all over the world to give us. We pray for their mercy that we may open our hearts to the gift they came to give us and see it in the proper mood. When we truly accept it in our hearts, then we can also give it to others, share it with others, and that’s the second half—to accept it and then to share it.

Hare Krishna.

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Gaura-purnima, February 28, 2010, Houston]

The Sun and the Moon
Giriraj Swami

Walking at Butterfly Beach this evening, I saw the almost full moon in the sky before me, and turning my head, the sun behind me. And I thought of a beautiful verse, especially relevant on the eve of Gaura-purnima:

vande sri-krsna-caitanya-
  nityanandau sahoditau
gaudodaye puspavantau
  citrau sandau tamo-nudau

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto Sri Krsna Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who are like the sun and moon. They have arisen simultaneously on the horizon of Gauda to dissipate the darkness of ignorance and thus wonderfully bestow benediction upon all.” (Cc Adi 1.2)

Happy Gaura-purnima!

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Your Gift to Matchless Gifts
→ KKSBlog

A humble request.

In the summer of 1966, with the help of just two followers, Srila Prabhupada rented a storefront in New York City’s Lower East Side at 26 2nd Avenue. The storefront was previously a curio shop named “Matchless Gifts”. This is where Srila Prabhupada would headquarter ISKCON and Krishna Consciousness would burgeon from here: Matchless Gifts at 26 2nd Avenue, New York City. Later on in his life, Prabhupada often fondly remembered those early days, as he saw the Hare Krishna Movement quickly grow into the worldwide movement which we see today.

Since that time, Matchless Gifts at 26 2nd Avenue has become a beacon of Krishna Consciousness in New York City. Moreover, to followers of the Hare Krishna movement all over the world, it is a sacred place of pilgrimage, a tirtha (holy place).

I would now like to invite you to show your appreciation by giving to Matchless Gifts, to cover their costs like rent and maintenance. Please follow the link below to find their donate page

Give to Matchless Gifts

The article " Your Gift to Matchless Gifts " was published on KKSBlog.

Public Programs Suspended (COVID -19 PRECAUTIONS)
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!


In response to the pandemic status of the COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus), the 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 its 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 Temple management is moving forward with this recommendation.

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

1.    All community programs will be discontinued temporarily until further notice namely: The Sunday Feast program, Tuesday Sangha, Evening of Bhakti, KCS, Festivals, all children’s programs and the Govinda's Restaurant will remain closed.

2.    No prasadam distribution will occur within the temple premises either within the temple hall, Govinda's dining hall or the community spaces in the basement.

3.    No accommodation will be available for overnight stay at the ashram. Non- residents should refrain from entering the ashram spaces (unless performing specific deity service).

4.    The Temple will remain open for darshan during the regularly scheduled times ONLY (click HERE for schedule; please note there will be no extended darshan timings on Sunday).

5.    Unauthorized kitchen access is restricted.

Deity service will continue as always and will be managed by our pujari department without any disruption. Kitchen will remain open only for Deity offerings.

Also note:

For the safety of others, if anyone in your household is feeling sick we strongly urge all members of that household to avoid visiting the Temple for at least 2 weeks until after the last patient has completely recovered.

For those who have recently returned from international travel or have come in contact with such, please refrain from coming to the Temple.

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

The Temple will provide ongoing updates on our website and via our social media feeds. 

Temple security will be monitored via the multiple security cameras that were recently installed in addition to security guards during this phase.

These unprecedented measures will be disruptive. We trust, however, that all members of our community will understand that they are necessary and being implemented for the benefit of all. 

 

Temple Council, Board & GBC

The most important day of the year
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 1 March 2020, Washington DC, United States of America, Sunday Feast Lecture)

The darkness of kali yuga is everywhere around us, but it is also within us. This is the main problem! It is said that when we are looking at a jewel, that ornament appears to look more beautiful when placed against a blackish background. So in this way, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur explained that at the time of the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, kali yuga had become darker. It is said that kali yuga showed its darker feature during this time, just to highlight the golden avatar. So now Krsna has appeared in a non-blackish form, He has become golden. This is because He has appeared in the mood of Srimati Radharani, who is also golden. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Krsna in the mood of a servant, a devotee who was fully absorbed in the loving service of the Lord, and which devotee could ever be greater than Srimati Radharani?

For many of us, this may be an obscure incarnation of the Lord or maybe an incarnation which we did not ever know about until we came to ISKCON. Krsna, everybody knows. Janmashtami, everybody celebrates. But what day of the year is considered even greater than Janmashtami? Gaura Purnima! But why is Gaura Purnima more important than Janmashtami? The reason is because Krsna says – sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami ma sucah – Abandon all varieties of religion and surrender unto Me. So we all know this verse very well, but who can actually live it? It is impossible! So what do we do now? (baby cries in the background) Oh yes, we cry! (laughter)

By good fortune, we may hear about transcendental knowledge. And even if by that good fortune we become attracted to that transcendental knowledge, it is still very difficult to surrender. So this is a significant predicament, of how can we follow this process when it may appear that we are just not in the mood. This is where we acknowledge, that we require some mercy. How can we chant the Hare Krsna mahamantra everyday? Well, we must pray to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, pray to Him that somehow or other we get some inspiration or strength to surrender. And we approach Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in this regard because He is the most merciful incarnation of the Lord.

The article " The most important day of the year " was published on KKSBlog.

The Joy of Devotion – Full Documentary (video)
→ Dandavats



The Joy of Devotion - Full Documentary (video)
Fifty years ago, a 70-year-old spiritual teacher from India arrives in the West and settles among the hippies of New York’s Lower East Side. From a tiny storefront, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami starts a revolution of consciousness influencing tens of thousands in the U.S. and worldwide. But what happens to his movement after their charismatic leader’s passing? Will it survive? Will it change? Can an ancient Eastern spiritual tradition be relevant in the modern 21st century?

(This post has been viewed 330 times so far)

Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Appearance—The Exoteric and Esoteric Reasons
→ Karnamrita's blog

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so to not listen, mute your speakers.)
Chaitanya and Krishna lila photo ChaitanyalilaandKrishnalila_zps0ffbcc5f.jpg

[reposted a few times from 3-15-14] There are many ways to know a person. One can know a person by guessing what they might, or should, be like, study the person from a distance—say from the Gossip column, Internet, or Facebook— hear about them from others who may, or may not, know them, or we may directly experience the person through a loving personal relationship.

The last way is the best because if we love a person we will discover, and they will reveal to us, all their secrets. It is similar with Krishna. Even though he is both infinite and inconceivable he has the prerogative to reveal himself to those who love him purely and selflessly. In regard to Krishna, and specifically Shri Chaitanya, there is both an exoteric (apparent) as well as an esoteric (hidden) reason for his appearance.

PART ONE, THE CONFIDENTIAL, HIDDEN REASONS:

The closer we come to Krishna the more we will know about him, by his grace. And there are many ways to explain the necessity of the Lord’s various forms and energies. For example, great devotees have looked very carefully at Krishna, and discovered another person, Radha, or devotion personified, who is most dear to Krishna. There is Krishna, and his energies, all of which come from Radha.

And looking even more closely at the Divine Couple, pure devotees have found that Radha and Krishna have combined together to become one, in the person of Shri Chaitanya. Such pure souls, such as the Six Goswami’s of Vrindavan, Shri Krishnadas Kaviraja, and others, have shared their experience with us in their writings, and given us the logic of their love, referenced by the Vedic scriptures.

THE LORD'S DESIRES ARE ALWAYS FULFILLED

If we study the lila, divine activities, of Radha and Krishna as revealed in the Shrimad Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Charitamrita commented on our Gaudiya Vaishnava acharyas including Shrila Prabhupada, we will understand that there must be a Lord Chaitanya to fulfill Krishna’s unmet need. Krishna is perfect, complete, and full in himself, so when he wants to experience something, he manifests a situation and spiritual body accordingly.

read more

The bhakti movement
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 7 January 2017, Brisbane, Australia, Home Program Lecture)

We must understand that we all depend on the sankirtana movement; we all depend on the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Nobody should think, “Oh, but I am from a different background! See, I am doing this on the strength of my own culture.” No, culture is hollow. Culture has become empty; empty rituals without any meaning.

Prabhupada however gave us the meaning of all of this Vedic literature, and Prabhupada is the representative of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the carrier of the sankirtana movement. It is the sankirtana movement that is the life of transcendental knowledge, that brings it all back to our heart. This is not just a Vedic revival movement. This the hidden movement of the Vedic culture – the bhakti movement – now given with great mercy to everyone. It is the one movement in this age of kali that can bring real spiritual life to all. 

The article " The bhakti movement " was published on KKSBlog.

Two Thieves Try to Kidnap Nimai
→ Dandavats



"In His childhood the Lord was profusely decorated with gold ornaments. Once upon a time He was playing outside His house, and two thieves passing on the street saw the opportunity to rob the Lord and therefore took Him on their shoulders, pleasing Him by offering Him some sweetmeats. The thieves thought they would carry the child to the forest and then kill Him and take away the ornaments.


Read More...

Busy days of meeting folks and presenting the ‘Cow…
→ Dandavats



Busy days of meeting folks and presenting the ‘Cow Care’ book in Delhi, Chandigarh, and Pune… Now comes Mumbai…
Left: Dr. Bibek Debroy, prominent person in the Indian central government and prolific translator of Sanskrit literature; top right: presentation in Punjab University, Chandigarh (after which they informed that they will request all 190 colleges in their charge to order a copy); bottom right: Prof. Shrikant Bahulkar, Sanskrit scholar at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, who is helping our OCHS Bhagavata Purana research project with important bibliographic work.

(This post has been viewed 0 times so far)

The newly renovated Chippiwada ISKCON temple in Delhi
→ Dandavats



Krishna Kshetra Swami: A few days ago in Delhi I had opportunity to visit the newly renovated Chippiwada ISKCON temple, Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha Mandir. This is where Srila Prabhupada stayed when working on his Bhagavatam (1st Canto), visiting the printer, distributing his BTG, etc., between times that he stayed in Vrindavan. Prabhupada's room (directly above the temple, hence the cone marking the location of the deities) is fully renovated, as is the temple room; altogether some 85% of the building is now redone.

(This post has been viewed 352 times so far)

Sun Love Feast – Mar 8th 2020 – Vedic discourse by His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami
→ ISKCON Brampton

About HH Bhaktimarga Swami:

Over forty years ago it was a youthful quest for life that led Chatham, Ontario born Bhaktimarga Swami, (formerly John Peter Vis), to adopt an Eastern order of monastic life that landed him in the Hare Krishna movement. Since that time, as a celibate monk, Swami has evolved as an instructor of bhakti-yoga and mantra meditation. His presentation on this subject of life, based on the popular Hindu text, “Bhagavad-gita” is lively, candid and informative.

With a background in fine arts, Swami also developed a passion for the performing arts. Even in the course of his duties as a monk, he expands his portfolio and manages to take an active role in theatrical productions from epics of ancient Indian origin. Casting, scripting, and directing morality theater takes him annually to venues from North America to India and Africa.

Finally, Bhaktimarga Swami achieved a remarkable feat in 1996 when he went the way of a pilgrim and walked on foot cross country from west to east and then back for a return journey from Cape Spear, Newfoundland to Vancouver Island in 2003, going full circle. He likes to share of his unique experiences and fond memories on the road after trekking 16,000 kms. Swami is a consistent feature in “The Longest Road”, a recent National Film Board documentary detailing the history of the people who shaped or were shaped by the Trans Canada Highway, the world’s longest continuous maintained road.

Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 

And Be Happy!!

ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one
who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.
 ~ Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.17




11.00 - 11.15      Tulsi Puja
11.15  - 11.30     Guru Puja
11:30 - 11:55     Aarti & Kirtan
11.55  - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers
12.00 - 12:55    Vedic discourse
  1.00 - 1.30      Closing Kirtan
  1.30 - 2.00     Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast

COMING UP AHEAD

Papamocani Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Thu Mar 19th, 2020
Breakfast................  on Fri Mar 20th, 2020 b/w 7:20am – 11:24am

Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or
simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures
and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.By constantly ‘exercising’ our minds through
regular japa we can train our senses to push the threshold of contentment.
English audio glorification of all Ekadasis is available here 


Brahma Samhita Course from March 7th. Please note that there's a prerequisite for joining the course. Registration can be done on:
http://bit.ly/397v3li 
For further information, please contact HG Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi @ premagaurangi.jps@hotmail.com


ONGOING PROGRAMS

Adult Education At The Temple
ISKCON Brampton offers various courses and Seminars for adults. The courses take a personal approach to learning. It encourages the student not only to study thoroughly the contents of Srila Prabhupada’s books but also to clearly understand the philosophy and practically apply it. The course focuses on behaviour and character, nurturing students in appropriate Vaishnava values.
Professionally designed and presented, it draws on the principles of Krishna consciousness
and the best of progressive education. In this way, it is true to ISKCON’s heritage and at the
same time relevant to its mission in contemporary society.

For further information, please contact HG Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi @ premagaurangi.jps@hotmail.com


Sunday School

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates,
quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed
to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).


Monthly sankirtan Festival(MSF)
“One who has life can preach, and one who preaches gets life.”(Previous Acaryas)
Every member of ISKCON should have the opportunity to make advancement in Krishna
consciousness by preaching.We encourage everyone to come out and participate and make
Srila Prabhupada happy.

Please contact:
Dharma Dasa- dharandev58@gmail.com-647.892.0739(Mississauga and Brampton regions)


The Mentorship Program

Please note that registration in the Mentorship System is now a mandatory requirement for all initiation requests at ISKCON Brampton.It

1.Facilitates  and nurtures devotees aspiring for first and second Initiation.
2.One-on-One personal follow up on a regular basis.
3.Systematic training to devotees in matters of Philosophy, Sadhna, Vaishnava behavior, etiquette, Lifestyle and attitudes.

To find details please click here


Gift Shop

Are you looking for some amazing gift items which are less expensive and more beautiful for your
loved ones for festivals or many other occasions??
Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your
visit. It offers textiles, jewelry, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs
inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.

Sunday, March 1st, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Noida, India

I Went For A Walk

I went for a walk.  Tried to.  In my first five minutes of a stroll, one of the congregants, a male, came up to me and wanted to talk.  It started out as a slow-moving walk so I could catch all he was saying about his domestic situation.  It ended up very soon thereafter, as a sit-down on a park bench.  What to do?  He was desperate.  "I saw some of your videos.  You were talking about relationships.  So now here's my story." 

So I concurred.  "Please tell me."

What he told me was basically a horror story between his wife and himself.  Frankly, I get my share of these.  Men sometimes go through hell, like women, in their marriages or relationships.  People are looking to be heard.  And it's a plus if advice can be given.  I have limited counselling skills but I can listen and give advice along the line of coping through sadhana. 

Now something came to me today on the subject of ‘relationships.’  It showed up on my phone.  Check out the short film: "Father and Daughter" produced by Jennings and Thijssen; it was an Oscar winner.  It's touching.  It's artistic.  Moving.  https://youtu.be/CDprY-6IMG4

Tonight our group performed.  Not much to boast about when it comes to walking but the roll out of "The Gita" performance was so well appreciated by the Noida community.  Thank you, Noida!  https://www.instagram.com/p/B9NkMg2gnjG/?igshid=15fp9tlk67by7

May the Source be with you!
3 km

Saturday, February 29th, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Noida, India

Noisy Noida

Noida is noisy.  People let off firecrackers everyday.  I guess it makes some of them happy.  From fairly close by, some of us guests heard a bomb go off.  Well, it certainly sounded like that.  The residents and public seem to take little notice.  But the freaks of nature presented themselves.  Serious thunderclaps resounded in the second half of the day.  Lightning flashes invoked the sky, sounding like a crack and a tear of the most terrifying dimension.  All like a threat.  Very little rain came.  But I cannot complain about the weather as temperatures are moderate—below 20 degrees C.

I led the class from the  8th Canto of the Bhagavatam.  It was nice to see our entire drama troupe in attendance.  They are a good bunch.  Some of the members are a little frivolous at times.  Others take their sadhanamore seriously.  Sadhana refers to one's ‘work-in’.  You've heard of ‘work-out’ for the physical.  ‘Work-in’ is for nurturing the soul.  In the class, we highlighted virtues over vices.

The resident monks are so kind to our group, providing us with the best yoga food ever.  We call it prasadam.  This particular food is blessed.

Now for burning off some of those cells, it’s best to walk.  I found the outdoors tough here, because of the quality of the air; it was not good with all the traffic and noise.  I chose to walk the corridors.  My knees felt great today, thanks largely to Jamuna Jivana, who take to my massage at night. 

May the Source be with you!
0 km