TOVP Pujari Room Grand Opening & Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Appearance Day Celebration (Album of photos)
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TOVP Pujari Room Grand Opening & Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Appearance Day Celebration (Album of photos). This will be the largest pujari space of its kind in the world at a size of 2.5 acres, with over 20 dedicated rooms for Deity Seva designed under the scrutiny and guidance of Their Graces Jananivas and Pankajanghri Prabhu’s, ISKCON Mayapur’s Head Pujaris.

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ToVP Pujari Floor Grand Inauguration -Video
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A moment of happiness, bliss, gratitude, appreciation, wonder – no words to describe the emotions and sentiments that everyone experienced, walking through the most grand, largest in the world, Pujari floor at the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. Graced by several stalwarts who are the pillars of ISKCON movement, whose life & soul is to live […]

The post ToVP Pujari Floor Grand Inauguration -Video appeared first on Mayapur.com.

TOVP Pujari Room Opening (Album of photos)
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TOVP Pujari Room Opening (Album of photos). Gopi Gita: The streets are lined with rangoli and marigold petals. Verandas and archways are decorated. Radhanath Maharaj, Gopal Krishna Maharaj and others speak about Srila Prabhupada’s dear desire 50 years ago to have this temple built.. how it will magnify Lord Caitanya’s blessings all around the world. Wealthy families set up their inner dressing rooms before they move into a house. Similarly, the personal dressing rooms and kitchen of the Deities is getting set up before They move in 2022 - TOVP opening date.

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Grand Opening of the TOVP Pujari Floor (live video)
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Grand Opening of the TOVP Pujari Floor (live video)
ISKCON is celebrating today another milestone event at the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in preparation for the opening in 2022: The Grand Opening of the fully completed Pujari Floor. On February 13, 2020, in observance of the 146th anniversary of the appearance of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati and in preparation for the relocation of our beloved world Deities into Their new home, the Pujari Floor is being inaugurated with great pomp and celebration.

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Celebrating Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s Appearance Day
Giriraj Swami

Today is the auspicious appearance day of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja. When our Srila Prabhupada first came to America, we had no idea of Vaishnava etiquette or culture; we had no idea how to honor the appearance day of the spiritual master. In 1970, soon after I had joined the Boston temple, Srila Prabhupada explained that the appearance day of the spiritual master is honored as Vyasa-puja, the worship of Vyasa. Srila Vyasadeva compiled the Vedic scriptures, and according to shastra, one cannot understand transcendental knowledge by independent study of books; one must study the Vedic literature under the guidance of a spiritual master. The Mundaka Upanishad (1.2.12) instructs, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum evabhigacchet: in order to understand the transcendental science, one must—it is emphatic (eva)—one must approach a spiritual master. And Lord Krishna Himself, in the Bhagavad-gita (4.34), states,

tad viddhi pranipatena
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth.” First is pranipat: surrender. Then pariprasna: submissive inquiry. And seva: service.

Srila Vyasadeva compiled the Vedic literature to give knowledge to the conditioned souls so they can be liberated from the miseries of material existence, and the spiritual master repeats the same message. He speaks from the Vedic scriptures; he explains them so the disciples can understand them; and he engages the disciples in service to Krishna. Just like we sing: saksad-dharitvena samasta-sastrair, the disciples worship the spiritual master on the same level as God; they honor him as much as the Supreme Lord. But the spiritual master never thinks that he is God. Rather, he considers himself to be the most humble servant of the servants of the servants of the servants of the servants of God, Krishna. So he doesn’t ask them to engage in his service, but he asks them to engage in Krishna’s service. But, out of respect for the spiritual master, out of appreciation and gratitude for what he has taught them and done for them, the disciples honor him, especially on his appearance day.

So, when I was in Boston in 1970, Srila Prabhupada explained to the devotees that his spiritual master’s appearance day was about to take place and that the disciples should write homages, or offerings, to him. I was a new devotee and didn’t know much about Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, but I considered the subject very seriously as far as I could, and my first thought was how great Srila Bhaktisiddhanta must have been be for such a great personality as His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to have surrendered to him. How great he must have been that Srila Prabhupada found him worthy of his own surrender. And then I thought of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s instruction to Srila Prabhupada to come to the West and preach the message of Krishna consciousness in English, and I thought it was really by the mercy of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja that Srila Prabhupada came to us and gave us the knowledge of the Bhagavad-gita, gave us the holy name of Krishna, gave us the beautiful life of Krishna consciousness, and engaged us in loving service to Krishna. I felt it was really due to his mercy that Srila Prabhupada came and that we were being delivered by Srila Prabhupada.

So we all wrote little offerings to Srila Prabhupada’s guru maharaja. They were collected, and then Srila Prabhupada explained how we observe Vyasa-puja. We fast in the morning and come together and glorify the spiritual master, perhaps read the homages that we have written in his honor, offer puspanjali, offer bhoga, offer arati, and then honor prasada.

Some years later, after having served in India for about three years, I became very sick with jaundice and Srila Prabhupada said that as long as I remained in Bombay I would not be able to recover. So eventually I came to Los Angeles, and I happened to be present for Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s appearance day, celebrated in Srila Prabhupada’s presence. Srila Prabhupada had a very high seat made for his guru maharaja. He had his own vyasasana in the temple room, but he arranged for a bigger and higher seat for his guru maharaja, for the picture of his guru maharaja. He led the disciples through puspanjali and arati, and he had all the food preparations that his disciples had made offered to his guru maharaja’s picture on his guru’s vyasasana. He said this was the one day when we offer food directly to his guru maharaja. And so we observed his Guru Maharaja’s Vyasa-puja in his personal presence in Los Angeles.

We are indebted to His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura for sending Srila Prabhupada to us, for it is by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada that we have been elevated from the material condition and engaged in the loving service of the Lord.

Jaya om visnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacarya astottara-sata sri srimad bhaktisiddhanta saravati thakura prabhupada ki jaya!
Jaya om visnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacarya astottara-sata sri srimad bhaktivedanta swami prabhupada ki jaya!

Hare Krishna.

[From a talk by Giriraj Swami by telephone to Mauritius, February 14, 2009]

Sneak Peak of TOVP Pujari Floor
- TOVP.org

​The TOVP Pujari Floor Grand Opening is taking place right now!

Here are some pre-ceremony photos to illustrate the beauty and ornateness of this immense 2.5 acre Deity seva facility, the largest in the world. Watch the entire ceremony live or recorded at www.mayapur.tv.

All photos below are courtesy of H.G. Kalasamvara das.

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

The post Sneak Peak of TOVP Pujari Floor appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Vasant Pancami – The First Day of Spring. A video in Preparation for the Grand Opening of the TOVP Pujari Floor
- TOVP.org

This is a video in preparation for the Grand Opening of the TOVP Pujari Floor on February 13, 2020.

Watch live on www.mayapur.tv. For more information go to: https://m.tovp.org/pfvideo

The post Vasant Pancami – The First Day of Spring. A video in Preparation for the Grand Opening of the TOVP Pujari Floor appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

How can knowing Krishna as the proprietor, enjoyer and benefactor bring us peace?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

From: TUSHAR VORA

I read in BG. 5.29, that one who understands that Krishna is the Supreme and beneficiary of all activities is relieved from all miseries and attains peace. What is the import of this statement? How is it practically possible simply by knowing this fact that one attains to peace?

To hear the answer, please click here
 

Transcription :

Transcribed by: Keshavgopal Das

Question: How can knowing Krishna as the proprietor, enjoyer and benefactor bring us peace?

Answer: It is not simply knowing the fact that Krishna is the Supreme enjoyer and proprietor of all that one will attain peace. It is by accepting and living this fact one would attain peace.

If we look at our lives, we are motivated by two primary desires: we want to be possessors and we want to be enjoyers. We try to possess by gaining property, money, post etc. and then enjoy what we possess. Ultimate hope is that the possession and enjoyment will be good for us. It will lead to happiness and long-term benefit.

From BG 5.29, accepting the fact that Krishna is the enjoyer and possessor of everything frees us from the endless craving and doomed struggle of becoming possessors and enjoyers. Why is this struggle on our part doomed? Because everyone wants to become possessor and enjoyer, but the sources of this world are limited. So, it is practically impossible to become possessor and enjoyer of everything. Without knowledge of 5.29, people will always be competing for the resources of this world and there can never be peace.

When we understand that it is only Krishna who is the possessor of everything and He will provide whatever we need as part of our quota, we will be happy and peaceful. If we try to enjoy ourselves, it will simply create trouble for ourselves. Same as when we give water to the root of the tree the leaves and twigs are also nourished. If we water the root of this Universe, Krishna, we will also be peaceful and happy.

Having faith in God, that He is our well-wisher is same as having faith in a doctor that he is our well-wisher. However, the doctor will not be able to cure us just by having the faith that he is our well-wisher. We have to cooperate with his treatment. Similarly, Krishna is a doctor, and we simply need faith that He is suhridam (well-wishing dear friend) and we need to cooperate with His treatment.

If we understand that the mansion is owned by its master and we are simply supposed to cooperate the master by serving him nicely, then the master will also take good care of us because the master is a dear well-wisher of us.

End of transcription.

The post How can knowing Krishna as the proprietor, enjoyer and benefactor bring us peace? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Narottam Das Thakura’s Appearance Festival in Vrindavan (Album of photos)
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Narottam Das Thakura’s Appearance Festival in Vrindavan (2020) (Album of photos)
Srila Narottam Das Thakur is one of the main saints of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas. He was the son of King Krishnananda Datta of Kheturigram in Bangladesh, but he renounced everything and came to Vrindavan. He was a Sanskrit scholar and preached relentlessly, removing the misconceptions of the age. He composed various songs that are considered equivalent to the Vedic scriptures. One of his Deities, Sri Sri Radha Braja Mohan from Kheturigram festival, preside in Vrindavan in an area known as Gyan Gudri. We observed his appearance day through his beautiful bhajans, followed by katha and an amazing feast. Over 200 devotees attended the festival.

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Mayapur GBC Org/Dev meeting
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The organisation development committee is a sub-committee of the GBC, which made a presentation on the first day of the GBC meeting in Mayapur.

There are around twenty members of this committee and they are very active through the year thinking of ways to improve the organisation and structure of ISKCON.

Throughout the day, there was lively discussion on suggestions how to best move forward into the future.

How can an introvert practice bhakti when it is so social and public?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

I can’t think when I am with too many people. And I find public harinam kirtan distracting. But when I try to be alone, devotees say that I will go into Maya. But I feel more disoriented when I am with many people and more focused on Krishna when I am alone. How can I practice bhakti?

Answer Podcast

 
Transcription :

Transcriber: Keshavgopal Das

Question: How can an introvert practice bhakti when it is so social and public?

Answer: If one is an introvert, then it is part of one’s psychophysical nature and one needs to practice bhakti accordingly. Practicing bhakti does not mean going against our basic bodily nature. For introverts, we can find out appropriate services suiting to introvert nature and use those in Krishna’s service. Writing, editing, shastra study, teaching etc., these services are those where introverts generally flourish.

In general, important is that one should not remain unengaged. Association of devotees help in protecting us to become a puppet of one’s mind. This is because in association of others somebody is watching. However, this does not mean that association is the only way to practice bhakti. This is one way which works for many people. Association is also safe for many people.
As introvert, we can choose those services which allow us to remain absorbed more and more.

With respect to kirtans, it is not necessary to do kirtans with hands raised, dancing, smiling looking at others. That is certainly one of way of doing kirtans, but introverts can also do kirtan by closing their eyes, fold their hands, even if introverts dance that can be done inconspicuously. Any seemingly public activity like kirtan can also be done in a way which increases one’s inner absorption.

As far as association is concerned, an introvert may want to find out other introverts and associate with them. In the association of introverts, there will not be a constant pressure to talk something. There will be time in between the talks. There will be time to process the contents of our own consciousness. For extroverts, they talk continuously. For them the focus of action is external, but for introverts the focus is internal. Introverts generally think deeply about their thoughts and then they will speak. I am not saying that either of this way is better or worse. It is just that these are different natures of people. Bhakti Vinod Thakura also says (based on Srila Rupa Goswami’s Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu) that we should have like-minded devotee association (sajatiyashye snigdhe sadhau sangah svato vare). So, introverts can choose to have association of introverts.

It may not be very easy to find people who are introverts but with some search within an association, one may be able to find out. Extroverts find it delighting to be engaged in group conversation, but introverts would like conversation with one or two people at a time. Such a trait is not a form of a weakness, but just that it is a one trait. Introverts need time to think between meeting with people. Often, introverts tend to be deep thinkers. If their introversion is carefully channelized in devotional services e.g. writing or editing, they may find it fulfilling. It is not necessary to be always with people, speak something, be in a large group. Also, other devotees should make it a necessity that somebody with introvert nature should not be engaging with large groups. Besides writing or editing, there could be other services also which one can do.

Often, some of the great insights in world history have come from introverts. Since they think deeply about concepts, they are able to give better explanation of existing things, give new concepts. In the devotee community, the introverts should protect themselves from Maya’s attack by keeping them properly engaged because they may be alone and if attacked by Maya, there will be no one to take care of them. They should have some other sympathetic devotee guide who understands their nature and keep a connection with them in case they are under Maya’s influence.
Introverts may need some facility in the understanding community of devotees. If may be difficult initially because in the early days of devotion everybody has to conform to a standard behaviour in order to be recognized as devotee. Although, there need to be conformity in many aspects in the initial days, but it is not that a kshatriya has to behave like a brahmana (or a brahmana as a kshatriya) in order to qualify as a devotee. Being spiritual does not mean that we have to conform to exactly in the same ways. For introverts, it may take some time for the devotee community to understand, so one will need devotees who understands introverts and associate more with such devotees. Also, introverts should not associate with those devotees who are constantly disagreeing and discouraging because such an attitude will dishearten, and one may unnecessarily give up bhakti.

To summarize, introverts need not reject association itself but reject association of those who discourage and disprove of their introvert nature. At the same time, introverts need to choose ways to practice bhakti which are in harmony with the nature. Bhakti is not restricted to only social and public activities, it is much more beyond that. If we chose something which is in line with our nature, we can always continue to practice bhakti.

End of transcription.

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Saturday, February 8th, 2020
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Mayapura, India

Gaining Control

Here in Mayapura, every day is happily broken up by walks within the campus, from the samadhi, to the temple, to the elephant’s space, the auditorium, and then back to my accommodation in the Gada Building.  Those walks are like a lubrication for me.  My time in the auditorium averages six long hours.  It's cool down there and I'm realizing that I could seize up from sitting on a coldish bench.  I have come upon a great discover—a pillow.  I will use one, devotedly.   https://www.instagram.com/p/B8Vn0fegrf_/?igshid=131sffnn81wzy

Another great discovery came from the theatrical perspective.  For a performer, the most important thing is observation.  There is nothing more real than this.  An actor observes, and therefore, has some reference point.  Whatever I may have gained, as some kind of an actor, has come from watching people in action.

In the course of a day, I have options on how often and how much I can eat.  We are provided three meals per day.  A disciplined mind might ask: Do I really need three meals every day? 

I can say that (at my age) it's not that difficult to get by with two, if not one meal, with a snack here and there.  Today, my breakfast was hefty, but lunch was light—dates and cashews; just a few.

Another area that requires some control, from my side, is the way in which I'm walking.  I still catch myself moving with a bit of a limp.  I must be deliberate in correcting this most foundational act of motion.  Come on, Swami, get your act together!

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Friday, February 7th, 2020
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Mayapura, India

Nityananda At the Heart

It was announced that all attendees should come with medical masks on during the morning sadhana, (unless I heard wrong).  I'm not sure of the practicality of such a recommendation for guarding oneself from the current dreaded coronavirus going around.  I can understand the need for protection, but how can this be accomplished?  I can't see someone giving a class with a mask on, can you?  How about someone leading kirtan (a chant)?

We'll put that to the side for the moment.

Today, devotees of the Vaishnava tradition have enjoyed the celebration of the birth anniversary of Sri Nityananda.  He is loved for His big heart in demonstrating compassion for the two lowly drunken brothers, Jagai and Madhai.  He had an extrovertedness that was admired, as he was quite fearless in sharing the gift of bhakti devotion with anyone and everyone. 

A half-day fast was honoured in His name.  Many choices were offered at feast-time, but frankly I am always more impressed with the option of a simple kichari (a rice-lentil dish) and steamed veggies I then mix into it).  Dessert is the devotees you get to associate with at meal time.

A hot topic that came up at our table was the approval versus non-approval of female gurus.  Our table was for this, and we felt that the con group is lingering in unfairness.  Our beloved guru, Prabhupada, was so very encouraging, saying that if one is conversant in the science of Krishna Consciousness, then he or she is qualified as teacher.

May the Source with with you!
4 km


Thursday, February 6th, 2020
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Mayapura, India

The Commencement

Weather conditions are so nice,  although a little coolness is felt on our feet from the tile floors.  "Get your socks," I recommended to Corrado while we were pacing around in the Prabhupada Samadhi.  He came back with a hoodie as a second layer.  His feet were fine.  https://www.instagram.com/p/B8QNIRzDnXy/?igshid=l7k2ndkqjolq

So around and around we went, chanting softly on our japabeads as we revered the murti (image) of our guru on our right, while walking in a clockwise direction.

A pujari priest came to offer a sweet, a piece of burfi, a pleasant-tasting cooked-down milk.  This milk is 100 percent ahimsa (slaughter-free) sourced from a happy cow.  This is a standard routine—the kindness of a priest—receiving some mercy from God in what is called prasadam.

My meetings for leaders have not yet begun, but practices for our drama have commenced.  We have become active with three major components to a drama's formation: movement, voice and character.  And it is a collective effort that is allowing the story of Bhishma to unfold. People with backgrounds in martial arts, dance and voice are contributing to the production.

"We are opening the scene with a three-layered cake, meaning that our first image reveals Krishna bearing the divine chakraor disc.  Behind him are a row of dancers representing the Ganges River.  Out of its waters emerges layer Number 3: three princesses and a mighty warrior by the name of Bhishma."
And that's how we start,”  I expressed again.

"We have to honour time, disciples and fun.  We must open our ears to all that needs to be heard.  Let's keep that spirit."

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Wednesday, February 5th, 2020
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Kolkata, India

History Notes

At Kolkata Airport, we heard over the loudspeakers, "Subash Chandra Bose", the actual name of the airport.  I took the opportunity to tell Corrado about this  war-time hero, who was largely responsible for liberating India from British rule.  There is more to the story during Gandhi's time, when India achieved its independence.  Bose played a major role during the negotiations which, from his standpoint, were not up for discussion.  His message to the British was to go home.

Corrado and I were standing at the baggage claim and were most delighted when our luggage come down that carousal first.  What good fortune!  We were thrilled to see two comrades show up, actors for our production "Grandsire", and both from South Africa.  Once we had gathered the four of us, Jambhavan, Cronje, Corrado and myself, we seemed then to be destined to journey on the bumpiest road on earth to reach Mayapura.  https://www.instagram.com/p/B8No7G8A2i0/?igshid=1j3vaqrccl0yv

Our driver, Vinay, at one point, needed to take a break, have some snacks, and fuel up, and that presented the opportunity to get some walking in, aiming toward the sacred dham. When Vinay was ready for Cronje and I, he picked us up and on we went. But while we walked, we talked about history again and Cronje gave me the rundown on South Africa's gloomy and glory days involving the Dutch Boers, the French settlers, the Zulu interaction, British invasion, and the concentration camps.  He took me right up to Nelson Mandela in the history lesson. 

Our final hour in the taxi had us absorbed in dozing, chanting and reflecting on the history of Sri Chaitanya which is not mundane.

May the Source be with you!
3 km

Tuesday, February 4th, 2020
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Mumbai, India

Discovery of Something Small

We were in the air on Air Canada Flight 846.  14 hours.  Straight.  That's the way to do it.  All passengers apart from the airline staff were ticket holders, except for at least one.  It was a house fly.

I spotted him clinging onto the drape that separated passengers from staff and the public washroom.  A free ride, for sure.  I wonder which port he boarded at?  Was it Canada?  The U.S.?  Europe?  And how long ago?  Is family with this fellow? I'm not absolutely sure of its gender, to be honest.  I wouldn't know how to tell.  I wasn't sure if he was alive while hanging there.  I grabbed the end of the drape and ruffled it.  Sure enough, the fly went ‘in flight’ while ‘on the flight’.

I mentioned to the woman standing behind me—in queue for the washroom—of my find.  "You wouldn't believe what I just saw?  A fly."

"You're kidding me!"  she said with some genuine level of amazement.  "I've never seen that!"

I was trying to strike up a friendship with a new person, and to some extent—the fly.  I wasn't about to go much deeper into the discovery or into my philosophy with a comment like: “Here is a spirit soul—an anti-material entity trying to find its way in the world for some food, sleep, sex, and defense, and then dying to graduate into a new body with new experiences."

I would say that citing a fly was a ‘high-light’ for me and a ‘high-flight’ for it. 

I also met, on this flight, families from Brampton whom I chatted with.  They were humans. 

May the Source be with you!
0 km


Monday, February 3rd, 2020
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Toronto, Ontario

Do I Like India?  It Depends

I'm off to India again, this time with Corrado.  Do I like India?  Yes and no, like any place on this planet.  I love spiritual India, her sacred places, retreats.  Overall, people are nice.  They go the extra yard/metre to win the favour of a swami. 

You have to make the most of any place where you are.  And India, with her dense population, noise, contaminants in the air, and traffic can be one big hurdle.  I have come to the point where I try to overlook that side and view the faces of smiles and wonder, which pierce through all of the mayhem. 
If India wanted to, it could clean up its act.  Have you ever been to the airports in Delhi or Mumbai?  They are state-of-the-art.  They show what a bit of determination can do. 

I love one story of determination as outlined in the Gita.  The sparrow was all in a frenzy when a wave from the ocean swooped up and stole her nest of eggs from a tree branch.  In retaliation, she was resolute in pecking away and drying up the ocean, which simply laughed at her.  The great eagle bird, Garuda, saw the commotion and the determination of his little sparrow friend.  He stood stout and strong against the ocean and threatened, "Ocean, bring back the eggs or I'll dry you up."  The mighty ocean complied. 

Yes, India, with all its optimistic energy, can change for the better, and match up to its powerful spiritual tradition.  Come to think of it, I wish North America, Europe, and all other places who profess to be ‘developed’ could adopt more of the finer values in life.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Sunday, February 2nd, 2020
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Scarborough/Milton, Ontario

Things Going On

I had a marvelous time at the Scarborough ISKCON Centre enjoying both the soup and the company.  This should not be mistaken for a soup kitchen, (even though at meal time, a soup extraordinaire is, in fact, on the menu), but a centre of spiritual power, where people come together to hear about themselves through the message of the Gita

The folks here are reading and discussing the Gita's Chapter 11 which resembles, in some way, a freak of nature.  Awesome images of multi-headed forms fill the sky, as a vision of warrior Arjuna, throws him into a realm of meekness.  But humility cannot be a bad thing. 

I remember on my third Canada walk witnessing the incredible visuals of the Northern Lights.  I may not come close to seeing what Arjuna saw, but it is about the only reference I can personally make.  Lights in greens  and pinks danced across the sky, and was reflected on a lake's waters, as loons cried out their haunting sound.  I was humbled. 

In the evening, I was driven to Grace Church on Main Street in Milton.  There, I was asked to tell of the wondrous story of our seventy-year-old guru, Prabhupada, when he came to the New World, and also to convey any personal exchanges I had with him.  Personally, I never spoke to him, yet I heard him speak, saw him eat, walk, chant and live. 

And while I really enjoy devotional activities out here in central Canada, an email came giving a glowing report of the first sangha(gathering) out west on Vancouver Island in the town of Ladysmith.  Thank you Gordon, Gadadhar.

May the Source be with you!
0 km

Saturday, February 1st, 2020
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Toronto/Milton

Nice Couple

For a third consecutive day, our Govinda's Restaurant was put to good use.  It catered two hundred guests at the YMCA on Thursday.  Last evening, we held an appreciation dinner for our drama troops of the January 1st  "The Gita” production.  That was nice.  And then today, I sat with members of the wedding party for Narayani and Kent, feasting like crazy after marrying them.  Govinda's keeps busy.

Now, about the wedding, held in the temple room—it was simple and sweet.  Narayani and her family hail from South Africa.  I gave her diksha initiation some years ago.  Kent, her bridegroom, has roots in  China, and in 2018 he joined me on my first leg of my walk on the Bruce Trail in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  Both he and she first met at the bank where they work. 

As conductor and ‘solemnizer’ of the ceremony, I asked the couple, sitting there on royal-looking chairs, if they would like to make up their own vows.  I asked Kent first.  This put the both of them on the hot seat but they were loving it. 

He said, "I'll mess it up."

"Okay, I'll make up the lines," I said.  "Pleases repeat after me, "I Kent...what is your last name?"

"Tse." (which sounds like ‘say’)

I repeated myself and added the last name.  "I Kent Tse..."  which sounded like “can’t say.” That had everyone in a roar.

Anyway, they are nice people.  I had Kent's parents next to me while driving.  I wish our new couple well.  Good human beings.  It was suggested they have four children. 

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Friday, January 31st, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


 Toronto, Ontario

Soul Search/Research

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust's publication, The Science of Self Realization, is one of its most popular books, either in hard or soft copy, and it continues to be a good introduction to bhakti-yoga.  In 1968, an article appeared in the Montreal Gazette.  Our guru, Prabhupada, read with interest the topic on soul research, which appears in the SSR.  He did respond to it.  Here is an excerpt from that Gazette Headliner.

Heart Surgeon Wants to Know What a Soul Is

WINDSOR- A world-famous Canadian heart surgeon says he believes the body has a soul which departs at death and the theologians ought to try to find out more about it.

Dr. Wildfred G. Bigelow, head of the cardiovascular surgery unit at Toronto General Hospital said that "as a person who believes there is a soul, he thought the time had come "to take the mystery out of this and find out what it is..."

There are certain cases where you happen to be present at the moment when people pass from a living state to death and some mysterious changes take place.  One of the most noticeable is the sudden lack of life or luster to the eyes.  They become opaque and literally lifeless.

Said Bigelow, "in modern medicine when something was encountered that could not be explained, "the watchword is discover the answer, take it into the laboratory, take it somewhere where you can discover the truth." 

“The central question,” said Bigelow, was "where is the soul and where does it come from?"

As mentioned, Prabhupada responded to the article with an elaboration based on Vedic wisdom.  It was informative. 

May the Source be with you!
0 km

Thursday, January 30th, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Toronto, Ontario

Lines

I still catch myself addressing people I meet with a "Happy New Year!”  Soon, in two days only, the calendar flips a page to reveal another month, making New Year's totally irrelevant.  But you're not going to get me to say, "Happy Valentines Day."  It's just not the thing monks say to anyone.

To compensate for this great lack of etiquette, I can say to my fellow colleagues and community members, "Happy Nityananda's Day" or "Happy Shiva Ratri" in reference to saints in our lineage.  "Happy Gaura Purnima" is another one coming up.  The glory goes on. 

Now today, for further preparation of my India trip, I poked my head into the Army Surplus Store and snooped around.  The owner of the place makes everyone smile with his salutations.  It's never a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Easter."  He's been using a mantra, however, and that's what gets the snickers going.  "All merchandise has to go!"  The additional one is, "We're going to be moving,"  and he says it in a strong (unrecognizable to me) accent.  The funny thing is he’s been greeting his clients with these lines for ten years, mentioned one friend.  Another line which is supposed to invoke some empathy is: "It's a big job moving all the goods."

"Yeah, right!" respond the doubting minds. 

You do have to hand it to him.  He's determined to get cash and card.  A steady flow of browsers and shoppers enter and exit.  Everyone who comes in receives a greeting of that mundane sort and it's quite okay.

Anyway, I'm sold on one item.  A duffel bag was my purchase for carrying some theatre props.  All in my service to guru and God. 

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Wednesday, January 29th, 2020
→ The Walking Monk


Toronto, Ontario

Corrado and I

Corrado and I are preparing for the India trip, and before we do so, we are needing to pick up a few things.  Yes, things like bows and arrows, and swords, and perhaps some other weaponry.  Nothing too lethal, mind you.  It's more like goods made of rubber and synthetics for a scene of conflict in our up-and-coming drama, "Grandsire."  The Vedic texts that I draw my script from demonstrate colourful battle scenes.  The story will be about Grandsire Bhisma.  We will stage it, film it, and then take it around a bit. 

Corrado and I hiked to McCaul and Queen Streets, to Malabar's Costume House where we picked up the best of their rubber swords.  They look good on the stage from a distance.

The man behind the counter was curious.  "How long have you been with the order (as a monk)?"

"Since '73," I said.

"I have so much respect for you guys," he remarked.  He also told us he would go to India one day.

"When you decide, I'll give you some tips as to where to go," I offered.  I got the impression it may take some years before such a dream materializes.  He's got a good heart and a good dream.

"I heard Delhi is not the place?"

"If you want cars and noise, it's the perfect place," I said reassuringly. 

He read my card and on the backside it had the maha mantrawhich he scanned.

"So guys, what's a couple of monks doing with some rubber swords?" 

I told him of my dramas, my walks and about our food.  "Check out Govinda's Restaurant.  It'll kill the maya, the illusion within you.

May the Source be with you!
4 km