Bhagavad Gita & the Youth
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By Ankit Sharma

Presently, the young generation is disappointed from the increasing competitive life style, rapid technological advancement, and unending global problems. They are looking for change and hankering for stress free life style. They have accustomed to that, which is easy to use and gives instant result. This Krishna Consciousness is the best possible remedy for their problems. In this regard Srila Prabhupada says, “So our simple method---we go everywhere, all over the world, chant this Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra, and we attract people, especially younger generation, boys and girls” (Arrival lecture, Paris, July 20, 1972). However, the presentation of the message taught by Srila Prabhupada in his commentary famously known as “Bhagavad Gita as it is”, compatible to the youth at present time is a great challenge.

Continue reading "Bhagavad Gita & the Youth
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Saturday, September 14th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Shining Day

The sun was shining, both outside and inside—inside with devotional activities.  Good phone calls dominated the day, and so too did several correspondences, which included news from two rural projects that promote organic growing and animal protection.  Thank God I had little to do today with putting out fires. 

Vyenkat came over.  He arrived in Canada only a few months ago.  He also landed himself in a job he likes.  And for a devotional project, I asked him to upgrade, or fine tune, my PowerPoint on Kirtan Standards.

Positive, too, was the visit by Daniel from Ottawa, another actor for our new drama, “The Embassy.”  Nicholas also came over, so we worked on the production for some time before the final glory of the day set in.

At 6:00 p.m., people were standing by Govinda’s door for an evening of cultural goodness.  Rhitom Sarkar from Kolkata played the slide guitar.  He was phenomenal, and backed up by a tabla player in good form.  Subsequent to this, film-maker Michael Oesch presented, on a massive screen, “Walking the Wisdom of the Road”, a ninety minute documentary giving account of walkers experienced and not.  Out of that time amount, twenty minutes are dedicated to The Walking Monk. https://www.festivalfocus.org/film/170496/the-walking-monk/   

 https://filmfreeway.com/1337731

It had been some time since I had seen this film about introspection through walking. 

“The showing was a world premiere,” announced Indresh, who, along with wife Kishori, manage the facility of Govinda’s. 

Hey, the viewers loved it.  Since delivering the Bhagavatam class in the morning, to meeting some walkers from the film, I found the day to be rich with bhakti.

May the Source be with you!
0 km


Friday, September 13th, 2019
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Hamilton, Ontario

One Hour

To get to Hamilton from Toronto,  takes just a few minutes shy of one hour.   Pradhyumna was my driver, and our destination was St. Joseph’s Health Care/Hospital, where I was to meet Dr. Ikesaks, a specialist in blood-clot issues.

Last April in Mauritius, just after a week-long intense program in South Africa, I felt an incredible pain in my right side.  Apparently, people over sixty-five are more susceptible to some reaction from high altitude and long air flights.  I was one of them.

The doctor was pleased with my general back-to-baseline good health, but encouraged me to stick to the daily blood-thinner pill.  So, it was a diagnosis that revealed a good report, thank God.

The staff at the hospital were pleasant.  Many patients were in the queue, and I imagine it’s like that practically every day.  “Birth, death, old age, disease” are spoken of by Krishna in the Gita, and are standard features of this world.  What can be done?  One must go through it all while preserving a sustained higher consciousness.   https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XTcJogv3J/?igshid=w0lhgl6s386a

Back in Toronto, when nightfall reached us, Pradhyumna and I went for a chilled walk, lucky to avoid precipitation.  People were everywhere in the streets hankering for enjoyment.  I don’t think they’ll get it completely.  Merely focusing any one of our senses on a sense object,  just doesn’t do the job.

Our one hour meander through the downtown was just perfect, duration wise.  Then the rains came! When we got back to the ashram,  Pradhyumna worked his massage magic on my thighs, addressing all the tight spots.  Once complete, it took a good hour to get to sleep.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Thursday, September 12th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Playing God

Each of my thighs continue to have knots that somewhat obstruct smooth movement during the walking process.

“I have them as well,” said Balarama, a massage therapist who came over to massage my legs and feet.  “There is more tightness on your right side than your left,” he continued.  “Because the knots are there, they affect the performance of your knees.”

Balarama is quite the fit-looking person, and he has as a seva(service) acted in our drama productions, often as a well-built ksatriya (warrior). Today he extended his services by working on my lower limbs.

He did credit my leg muscles for being strong, and for this there is every reason that I can hope for more agility.  Yet my machinery will never be perfect.  I’m aging, don’t forget.

Thanks Balarama!

Looks and performance have always been something people cherish.  In the afternoon, Pradhyumna and I drove to Gerrard Street where you find the district of Little India.  There we met up with Nicholas, a photogenic-looking chap who has taken on the role of Krishna in our new production “The Embassy.”  We were trying costumes on Nicholas with what are known as clothing for a bridegroom.

We actually had a blast with the female clerk at Chandan’s, on Gerrard, who laughed and remarked, “Oh, he’s going to play God.  Well, everyone is trying to do that!”  We all laughed, referring to the statement that Krishna is indeed not just ordinary, but extraordinary. 

May the Source be with you!
0 km

Wednesday, September 11th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

At The Square

At Bellevue Square Park in the Kensington area, we chanted.  Plopped on the grass near the newly-arrived piano, Pradhyumna led, then I, and then Karuna.  David played multiple shakers that he had brought, but not all at the same time.  People passed by and some stopped, cracked a smile, moved their pelvis—but only for a moment—and then moved on.  Others nearby, lying down on the grass, relished the mosquito-free atmosphere.  One woman lay there wiggling only her big toe.  Our soft chant had an effect both in subtle measures and otherwise.  No one rejected us.  In fact, the neighbourhood is a very accepting place.

At 8:00 p.m., I was to be on a three-way call with my two actors for our next play, “The Embassy.”

“Guys (to the chanters), it’s time to go,” I said, while a local church’s bell was ringing. “I’ll stay and be Mr. Director, listening to the actors playing Krishna and Duryodhana.”

The sun had set, the light was beginning to fade, and then raindrops began to fall as I was listening.  Most of those ‘pelvis’ people and toe-wrigglers were now up and gone.  A few stragglers kept passing by my stationary spot.

Duryodhana’s words came across strong.  “Go! Go to your stall, with limbs white with the dust from the hooves of your cattle…”

Krishna’s response:  “So be it then.  Hearken then to the message of Yudhisthira!”

It was all so dramatic. The rain forced me to move

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Tuesday, September 10th, 2019
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Montreal/Toronto

A Birthday for a Walker

Today is the day for honouring an avatar by the name of Vamana.  It’s his birthday.  His devotional claim to fame was his powerful movement of walking mystically to span the universe in only two colossal steps, leaving a final third to be gently placed on the head of the influential King Bali.

For me, Vamana is a significant hero in the Vedic walkers category.  Among others are Balarama, the brother of Krishna, and Vidura, the moralist from the epic Mahabharata.  Pilgrimage was common for people in bygone times, even for retired kings, but the aforementioned persons tend to stand out for their substantial efforts in the field of motion by feet.

I was discussing with devotees in Montreal about Vamana.  I hope that the pastimes of Vamana become inspirational to the residents of the ashram in this town.  Let’s see more walking with spiritual intent.

My driver from Montreal to Toronto is Pradhyumna, who is quite the accomplished musician, and whom I’m hoping will become passionate about doing some walking on a daily basis.  It was he who asked, “How about a walk this evening?”

“In honour of Vamana?  Certainly!”  So I took him around along Bloor Street, passing by iconic places in Toronto, such as the old “Honest Ed’s” department store, the music conservatory, Varsity Stadium, Rochdale College, the Royal Ontario Museum, and I also included, for a laugh, “The Poop Café.”

I could see that Pradhyumna was a little out of practise.  He tried quickly.  Humidity was up.  But that humidity brought on some humility, something we all could do more with. 

May the Source be with you!
6 km


Monday, September 9th, 2019
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Montreal, Quebec

Must Walk

"Just meet me at the south-east corner of Atwater and Ste. Catherine's, when you get there," said Gokulananda over the phone.  I had been in one of those seventeen-seater vans operated by Ride Share.  John (a Siberian, from what I could gather) drove a small number of passengers, including myself, from Toronto to Montreal, to the intersection mentioned above.  To ascertain the south-east, I had to look at the sun for directions.

Although my short visit to Montreal was to be for one day only, it was going to be meaningful—an administrative meeting.  B  The drive had been six hours, and lucky me, I had a stretch of four seats in which to go horizontal for a sleep.  But now, I must walk.
y the end of our session, I realized I hadn't invested at all in even an hour's walking.

I conscripted two men from the Montreal ashram to get an hour of leg-motion in.

"Why the walking?" asked one of the men.

"A fish swims.  A bird flies.  A man walks,"  I said, assuredly.  Which reminds me that this Saturday in Toronto, Michael Oesch's film, "Walking the Wisdom of the Road" will be featured, with Michael, himself, as a cross Canada walker, and myself and a group of rookies, who walked as pilgrims in the province of Quebec.  It's an interesting documentary.  It will be shown at ISKCON Toronto this Saturday at 6:00 p.m., and include a live performance by Rhitom Sarkar, a master at playing the Indian slide-guitar.  All are welcome.  I'm looking forward to it.  Tickets are available.  Dinner is included.  Contact 888-218-1040.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Sunday, September 8th, 2019
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Brampton, Ontario

I Began a Trek

I began a trek at 9:00 a.m., going toward the northwest from my starting point, the downtown ashram.  Fernando would pick me up at the 10:30 a.m. spot.  It simply meant I would call him to let him know what distance I had covered of a few streets of Toronto enroute to Brampton.

I moved through Anglo territory, Jewish neighbourhoods, to Portuguese andItalian neighbourhoods, and then Jamaican and Guyanese.  On Arlington Street, I came upon a plum tree.  I plucked one of those blue/black plums.  Several bites of flesh on it were bursts of joy.  On Eglinton Avenue, I noticed an Apostolic church with an open door. 

It was a black preacher, a female, on the pulpit preaching.  I walked by, waved to her through the church window.  She reciprocated.  I took a few steps backward, revealing myself through the open door.  All the parishioners looked back.  I raised my arms saying, “God bless!’ and they also raised their arms along with the sermonist in praise of the One.  It was all done in glee and spontaneity.

I kept going west and just beyond the crossroads of Caledonia, after hundreds of “good morning” exchanges with pedestrians, Fernando pulled up with an ‘at your service’ attitude.  We proceeded to ISKCON Brampton, where I spoke from 11:44 of the Gita, and had great pasta, compliments of Hetan, who’s a new student at the University of Waterloo.   http://www.iskconbrampton.com/2019/09/sun-love-feast-sep-8th-2019-vedic.html

I delivered a second class at ISKCON Toronto, and checked out their new Sunday bistro in the dining room, Govinda’s.

Loved every minute of the day!

May the Source be with you!
8 km


Saturday, September 7th, 2019
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Peterborough, Ontario

Monk Marries Couple

No walking today.  I spent time in travel to Peterborough by wheels, with driver, Ananda Gauranga, and co-passenger, Sushil.  Our mission to this really nice rustic place of 2.5 acres was to marry a couple.  He is from a Hindu background and she, a Christian background.

On the marriage application form, he is listed under denomination as atheist and she, as agnostic.  Now that may look like something very unusual, but it is an age where science rules, and where it is God.  Nevertheless the groom was insistent that I be the minister to marry him and his partner.

Our relationship goes back twenty-five years, when at the age of six, he was painted all blue, and was playing the role of baby Krishna, while I was a blind saint.  We performed with other actors in several venues.  The play "Nandulal" was well liked wherever we went.  His parents were so proud of him then, and now, on his wedding day.  He has gone on to become a physician, as is his new wife.

My short message to the happy community attending was: "Romance has a short shelf-life.  Service between two people is lasting."

After the couple kissed, signed papers and presented gifts, Ananda and Sushil were kind enough to take me to visit my biological brother, Jerry, a resident of Peterborough, a modest city of 80,000.  It was precious time to catch up on life with him.  The six of us siblings were actually close, and we were a ‘normal family’ growing up in post-war Canada.  We all maintained a firm belief in the Supreme, but after talking to Jerry, frankly I'm not sure of his allegiance, though he has devotion and is my bro.

May the Source be with you!
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The 2020 ISKCON Global Conference of Devotee Attorneys
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By Guru Gauranga das

According to ISKCON's general counsel, Devakinandan Prabhu, the 2020 ISKCON Global Conference of Devotee Attorneys will offer devotee attorneys, jurists and law students from around the world the opportunity to meet in person for the first time in order to (1) get to know each other in an atmosphere of collegiality and mutual understanding in devotion to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna, and (2) develop an integrated network of legal service providers capable of serving the 21st-century needs of ISKCON and its devotees. The term "devotee attorney" means any devotee or friend of Krishna, who is an attorney, jurist or law student. Continue reading "The 2020 ISKCON Global Conference of Devotee Attorneys
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Friday, September 6th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Let Quiet Be

I really appreciated all the healthy green foliage on my walk today.  Actually I spent a good two hours trekking under a light rain the entire time.  When that happens, you can be assured that all the wild growth of plants and flowers becomes intensified in beauty and fragrance.  Leaves appear to be ‘shined-up.’  The emission of scent is very enhanced in all its diversity.

The trail that is a stretch between Mount Pleasant Cemetery and Brickworks is particularly appealing.  I found myself alone for most of the time.  Most folks are intimidated by a rainfall, even if it is a light drizzle, and that may account for the very few pedestrians on the path.

Goldfish are about the only signs of moving life.  They wiggle through the waters.  I hear squirrels.  This is their season.  Nuts and other edibles are their cause for pleasure.

Frankly, I felt quite intoxicated by all of this.  I wanted to shout, imploring everyone to be with me.  Another part of me was selfish, thinking: Let quiet solitude be mine for just a little while.

Once out of the ravine, I had traffic next to me, while the odd cyclist, runner and walker swerved around or I around them.  I received pranams (folded palms) from some.  Yes, the world is becoming more ‘Vedic.’

I completed my walk and made my destination the temple where Radha, the ultimate Goddess, is being remembered.  I contemplated that I'm the luckiest monk.

May the Source be with you!
8 km

Thursday, Sept 5th, 2019
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Wasaga, Ontario

Water All Around

Wasaga Beach claims to be the longest unguarded beach in the world.  No lifeguards.  Isn't that something?  It was said that at one time, maybe still today (although the sign we read didn't say that) it was classified as the longest beach on a freshwater body.  That's a great claim.

It was Krsnadasa, my dear Godbrother, and Billy and I who dipped into these waters at Georgian Bay.  Last year at this time, I was in Ukraine, and as a treat took ten minutes to, literally, test the waters with some colleagues.  The jellyfish  were in abundance.  Frankly they were intimidating—very—but here in the fresh water at Wasaga—no sweat.

Now we did not come north to this town just for sense gratification.  It had been a long day of travel and bhakti business talks and the submerge was a reward.  Both in Wasaga and later, in Innisfil, which is situated in the Holland Marsh area, Billy and I made important connections with yoga teachers and others, in planning to insert some glory into the dark era of Kali.  Yes, we've got plans.

By the way, Innisfil is located at the southern edge of another fair-sized body of water, Lake Simcoe.  As I remarked to Billy, who hails from the States, "Well, what do you think?  All this power of water in all directions, including Lake Ontario to the south.  No shortage of H2O.  I hope we can keep it that way.”

As Billy and I drove back to the city, I expressed my satisfaction with our day trip.  Though I got no walking in whatsoever, we did have a dip, and did have a chip (or two) to keep our bodies stimulated.  We are anticipating a day for the Goddess, Radha, tomorrow.  It's her birthday.

May the Source be with you!
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The Heart of a Vaishnava—A Message for Sripada Bhakti Charu Swami’s Vyasa-puja
Giriraj Swami

One of Sripada Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja’s most prominent qualities is his deep love for Srila Prabhupada. Very soon after Maharaja met Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada included him in his personal staff and made him his secretary for Bengali and Hindi correspondence. Soon thereafter, Srila Prabhupada gave him first and second initiation and then sannyasa. And Maharaja personally served Srila Prabhupada throughout Prabhupada’s last days.

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami is also very devoted to ISKCON. He has always considered ISKCON to be a unique creation of Srila Prabhupada’s and has always wanted to serve ISKCON—both the devotees in ISKCON and ISKCON as an entity, a manifestation of Srila Prabhupada. He is really in the mood of service to the devotees, especially the devotees of ISKCON, and to ISKCON itself.

Maharaja is a very pure-hearted, loving person. His love for Srila Prabhupada is seen in his love for the devotees and for people in general, whom he wants to bring to Srila Prabhupada—and in how he encourages devotees to increase their engagement, take on more responsibility, and become more loving, humble servants. The more responsibility one accepts, Maharaja once explained to a devotee in Mauritius, the bigger servant of the devotees one becomes. This reminded me of something Srila Prabhupada once said. A disciple came into his room in Mayapur one day and began to complain about the management. Srila Prabhupada said, “If you think you can do better, why don’t you?” Somehow, the disciple came out and announced that Srila Prabhupada had made him the temple commander, and he began to boss the other devotees around. Some devotees complained to Srila Prabhupada that the devotee had said that Prabhupada had made him the temple commander and that now he was barking orders at everyone. So Srila Prabhupada called for the devotee and instructed him, “First you become the servant of everyone, then you become the temple commander.” Thus Srila Prabhupada expressed the same idea, that a bigger position means becoming a bigger servant. And Bhakti Charu Swami, in parampara, has that same understanding.

If we listen carefully to all of Maharaja’s instructions, we can understand how closely he follows the disciplic succession. Some of his statements are very close to Srila Prabhupada’s words, and some take the basic principles that Srila Prabhupada gave and sweeten them with personal realization.

Another of the many fine qualities exemplified by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami is his offenselessness. He is very careful not to commit any offense against any devotee, or any living entity, and if he feels he has committed an offense, he immediately tries to mitigate the effects by approaching the person, apologizing, and asking forgiveness. Somehow or other he tries to rectify the offense. From our point of view, we wouldn’t think he has committed an offense, but within his pure heart he may feel that he has, and immediately he will try to approach and please the person he fears he has offended, to remove the effects of the offense.

Maharaja’s heart is pure and very sensitive—full of appreciation for other devotees and sensitive to his own faults—which again, from our point of view, wouldn’t even be considered faults. That’s really the heart of a Vaishnava—full of love and appreciation for others but sensitive to one’s own deficiencies or mistakes.

As stated by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita (12.13–14), “One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me—such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.”

I wish I could be with Maharaja in person for his seventy-fourth birth anniversary and the fifty-fourth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America. Still, as Maharaja always reminds us, we have the wonderful association of the devotees in ISKCON, and through their association we can experience Srila Prabhupada’s presence, and along with Srila Prabhupada’s presence the presence of Srila Prabhupada’s dear and beloved associates such as His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja.

Srila Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja ki jaya!

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

—Giriraj Swami

World Holy Name Festival
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By Iskcon Harinam Sankirtan Ministry

(This is a sticky, always updated post, with the latest news from the World Holy Name Festival). Srila Prabhupada’s greatest desire was to spread the chanting of the Holy Names all over the world. To fulfill this desire, the Governing Body Commission (GBC) of ISKCON established World Holy Name Day to commemorate Srila Prabhupada Arrival anniversary to the west, during Srila Prabhupada's Centennial in 1996. World Holy Name Day, along with many other Centennial programs was a tremendous success. Continue reading "World Holy Name Festival
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Please pray for Lalita Swamini dd and bhaktin Ekaterina, who were killed last night in a car accident in Ukraine
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Please pray for Lalita Swamini dd and bhaktin Ekaterina, who were killed last night in a car accident in Ukraine, while they were coming back from Bhakti Sangama festival. Bhaktin Ekaterina was 5 months pregnant, so this soul needs your prayers too! Lalita Swamini’s daughter Gopali is in ICU right now fighting for her life. And their husbands and children suffer now the most. Please let us pray for all of them for those who left and for those who survived, but suffering!

Prayers required for HG Bahulasva Prabhu ACBSP
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Prayers required for HG Bahulasva Prabhu ACBSP (the one on the right of the photo with the white dhoti and kurta).
He had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and he didn’t have long in this body.
He served our Srila Prabhupada in most responsible and pleasing ways! He was a wonderful temple president in both Chicago and Berkeley and created the legendary college preaching program with Dharmadyaksha prabhu (with the yellow dhoti).
Gurudas: His grace Bahulasva Das Prabhu is bravely leaving his body today September 17th at 12:00 noon PST.

Preaching program in Bologna, Italy (Album of photos)
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Preaching program in Bologna, Italy (Album of photos)
(from Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta) Mr. Agarwal doubted whether Westerners would be able to stay with Krsna consciousness for very long. “Now in the radiance of your company,” he said, “as long as you are here bodily and physically, they may continue to observe all these restrictions. But when your physical influence will not be there, one day when you will have to leave this world, then all these people that have come in contact with you, will they go bad?” “No,” Prabhupada said firmly. “Your claim is very tall,” replied Mr. Agarwal. “Can you tell me what is the basic foundation of your claim?” Prabhupada reminded him that all his disciples had been initiated into the chanting of the Hare Krsna mantra and that according to the Vedic scriptures the constant chanting of the Lord’s holy name will save even the most fallen souls and protect them from falling again. Even after his passing away, Prabhupada predicted, his disciples would not fall victim to maya, as long as they continued their prescribed chanting.

ISKCON New Goloka, Hillsborough, NC distributed 24 Bhagavatam sets on Bhadra Purnima (Album of photos)
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ISKCON New Goloka, Hillsborough, NC distributed 24 Bhagavatam sets on Bhadra Purnima (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If you have got some knowledge, you distribute the knowledge for Krsna’s satisfaction. How you can do that? Whatever knowledge you have got, you try to describe Krsna. Kavibhir nirupitah yad uttama-sloka-gunanuvarnanam [SB 1.5.22]. This is the first-class distribution of knowledge. Whatever you know, you try to explain Krsna by that knowledge. Just like our Dr. Svarupa Damodara. He’s a scientist, and now he is trying to explain Krsna through his scientific knowledge. Similarly, if you are a medical man, you can explain also Krsna through medical science. If you are engineer, you can explain also Krsna through engineering. Krsna can be explained. But the person who is explaining, he must be intelligent. Because Krsna is everything, so simply we must have the intelligence how to explain engineering and come to the conclusion of Krsna. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.8.21 – Mayapura, October 1, 1974

Wednesday, September 4th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Moments of Lightness

The first bright spot for me on this day happened as follows:

One of our visitors from India, who happens to be just a gem of a devotee, attended the morning sadhana, and just as I was about to deliver the class/talk, he excused himself from sitting there to listen.  The light moment came when his accent came through.

"I cannot be here.  I have to go to the Jew," he said.

"Sorry?” I responded.  I wasn't sure of what he said.  "Could you say that again?"

"I'm going to the Jew."

Which one? I thought.  There are many members of the Jewish community in the city.  Then, because of the accent, I began to understand what he was trying to say.  He was talking about going to the place where they exhibit animals.  The zoo.  I had a good laugh.  He didn't mind.

"It is pronounced zoo!" It wasn't easy to correct him, nevertheless the lesson in English helped somewhat.

The second occurred at Bellevue Square Park, where Dave, Michelle and I began our chanting on the grass, when Julie, a young woman of Irish decent, came near us and leaned against a tree, looking quite morose.  I beckoned to her to come join us.  She came over.  We talked.  She felt better and joined us.  We cracked a few jokes.  It was another light moment.

Lastly, before we finished our chant and began walking back to the ashram, another rather lost soul, a pedestrian, tall, dark and gazing at us, was also encouraged to join us.  As he moved toward us, his pants slid down to his knees.  No belt.  Shorts—yes.  He was quite sedate.  After a session of sitting with us—the same dynamic occurred yet again.  He repeatedly pulled them up but the pants would slide back down.  I felt ambivalent.  I was humoured but felt for his lost disposition.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Increasing the Spiritual Family
Giriraj Swami

Yesterday, Sunday, September 15, in Dallas, in the presence of Sri Sri Radha-Kalachandji, Srila Prabhupada, and their followers, I was pleased to officially connect eight devotees to Srila Prabhupada and the guru-parampara through hari-nama initiation. Rajesh Sharma became Radha-vallabha dasa, Seema Sharma became Srimati dasi, Deo Pun became Divya Nama dasa, Manju Pun became Manjari dasi, Syamasundara Dasshort became Syama-vallabha dasa, Maria (Maggie) Caldwell became Madhuri Gopika dasi, Vanitha Sukumaran became Vrindavani dasi, and Sudhamani Surekha became Sevanandi dasi. Please bless them and support them in their service to Srila Prabhupada, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and their mission.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

UDGAAR 2019 in Delhi to Create World Record for Largest Drug Awareness Lesson
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The theme for this year’s festival is ‘Anti-Addiction: Making India Addiction Free’. With this, ISKCON hopes to inspire youngsters to realize their true potential in a clean, green and progressive India. The annual festival will bring in a mix of academics, dignitaries and over 8000 youngsters together to inspire, learn and celebrate life. 

Satisfaction as an austerity
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 3 October 2018, Camp de Masque, Mauritius, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1)

In the Bhagavad-Gita, it is mentioned that there is the austerity of the body, austerity of the speech and austerity of the mind. In the austerity of the body, there are things like offering respect to elders. In the austerity of speech, we speak truthfully and such things. In the austerity of the mind however, there is one interesting point. This point that is mentioned is ‘to be satisfied’.

So since when is being satisfied an austerity? Are we experiencing satisfaction as an austerity? 

Well, it means that when we have everything that has come to us in a natural way, then we are not satisfied. We are definitely not satisfied because the nature of the mind is to never be satisfied. Then, we have to control the mind, and tell the mind, “Shut up, mind! Be satisfied. This is what we have got and we are going to deal with this. We are going to be satisfied with this. So that we are not going to waste time to try and get this and that. We are simply going to be satisfied with what we have got and for the rest, we are just going to focus on Krsna.” That is basically what the message is. Be satisfied, so that we can focus on Krsna!

The article " Satisfaction as an austerity " was published on KKSBlog.

Devotees of the Turkish Yatra (Album of photos)
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Devotees of the Turkish Yatra (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Everywhere is Vrndavana. Wherever there is Krsna’s temple, Krsna’s sankirtana, that is Vrndavana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu said that “My mind is always Vrndavana.” Because He’s always thinking of Krsna. Krsna is there -He’s Krsna Himself – just to teach us. So similarly, anywhere you live, if you are actually follower of the instruction of Krsna, as Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65], then that is Vrndavana. Wherever you live. Do not think that “Because in Melbourne we have got a temple, the Melbourne Deities are here, so that is not Vrndavana.” That is also Vrndavana. If you worship the Deity very rigidly, follow the rules and regulation, so wherever you do, that is Vrndavana. Especially this Vrndavana dhama, where Krsna actually appeared. So this is Vrndavana, Goloka Vrndavana. Here, those who will manage this institution, they must be first-class gosvami. This is my proposition. Not grhamedhi. -From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.1.2 [Significance of Sad-gosvamy-astaka] – March 17, 1974, Vrndavana

TOVP: Beautiful relief panel work of Krishna and Balarama almost ready (Album of photos)
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Sadbhuja Das: Here is some relief panel work of Krishna and Balarama, along with all his cowherd boy friends who are jubilantly herding all the cows of Vrindavan. This is only one of the four relief panel works, which will be placed in the main dome around the altar area, two of which will be dedicated to Gaura Lila and the other two to Krishna Lila. The measurements of these pieces are 5m by 2m. With the work on some of these panels done, in a few days the fiberglass casting will begin

Rajani Priya’s 99th
Giriraj Swami

Today Rajani Priya dasi (Rose Forkash) turned 99, and devotees and friends from the Santa Barbara area gathered at Mission Terrace to celebrate the occasion with her. She looked around the room and expressed her affection and appreciation for each devotee, one by one. And she expressed her gratitude for having received the “magic formula”—the Hare Krishna maha-manra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. She was as convinced and enthusiastic about Krishna consciousness as ever.

I joined the event from Dallas for some time on FaceTime video, and HH Rtadhvaja Swami, who is also in Dallas, did too. Afterward, he texted me, “She’s a great soul!!!” Indeed!

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Comparing exiles in Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam – How to face distress
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[Talk at Hillsborough, USA]

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How Jiva Goswami and Bhaktivinoda Thakura expertly expanded the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition
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[Talk at online Bhakti Sanga Japa Conference]

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3 Metaphors for Effective Parenting
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[Seminar at Career Guidance Workshop for parents and children at ISKCON, Towaco]

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