How can we differentiate between a dharmika and a fanatic?
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From Anuj P

Answer Podcast

 

Transcription :

Transcriber: Suresh Gupta
Edited by: Raji Nachiappan

Question: How can we differentiate between a dharmic and a fanatic?

Answer: The difference is in the attitude towards other people who do not share one’s faith. The difference is also in one’s own internalisation, realisation of the principles one is teaching as well as in the alignment of one’s belief with actual truth. These points are elaborated below.

Firstly, the word fanatic is used for a person who is intolerant. Those who consider their way as the only way and those who endeavour to destroy other forms of worship considering them to be false can be termed as fanatical.

Several religions, including some of the most influential religions in the world today, are exclusivist. They believe that their way is the only way to God. When they ideologically believe that their way is the only way, then from exclusivism to go towards fanaticism is quite easy and quick. All the Abrahamic religions like Christianity, Islam and Judaism, in their mainstream denominations, are exclusivist in nature. Not all of them are fanatical, but they do tend to become fanatical over a period of time. In the Indian history, we find that when the Portuguese came to Goa, they annihilated, tortured and destroyed thousands of Hindu practitioners because they considered all the Hindu beliefs to be fake. The way Muslims desecrated temples in India is another example from history. If the belief is, that our way is the only way and all other ways are false, then it does not require much stretch of effort for it to become fanatical. Since, Islam and Christianity are the world’s biggest religions today and because both have exclusivist ideologies, that is why religion in general has been equated with fanaticism. The moment somebody is strictly adherent, that person is termed as a fanatic. We are not saying that all people who belong to the above-mentioned religions are fanatics. Since their main stream belief system is exclusivist which more often than not lead to fanaticism.

When we look at the Vedic culture, the Vedic belief system is not exclusivist. That is the most fundamental and defining difference. The Vedic system does not say that this is the only way. If we look at the Bhagavatam, it says that whichever path teaches one to develop love of God, that is the supreme dharma. In the Vedic culture itself, we see that there are many gods worshiped and many methods of worship. There is flexibility of both sadhya and sadhana. Flexibility of sadhya means people can choose their object of worship. It can be Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan or they can choose different devatas to worship. Similarly, there is flexibility of sadhana which means people can choose their method of worship. It can be karma yoga, dhyana yoga, bhakti yoga, karma kanda etc. In the Vedic culture, Srila Prabhupada for example, accepts Jesus as a guru because he had love of God. Therefore, the ideology of the Vedic followers is not exclusivism but inclusivism.

When we say that there is flexibility of sadhya and sadhana, it does not mean that all sadhya and sadhana are equally valid. There is a hierarchy. Krishna says in the Bhagavad Gita that while there are multiple paths, all of which are ultimately meant to come to him, there are certain paths which are more desirable than others. Also, while Lord Krishna in BG 4.11 says that all people are on my path, he does not simplistically say that all paths come to me. All paths are ultimately meant to come to him but there is a possibility that they may not come. In 9.25, Lord Krishna says: yaanti deva-vrata devaan pitrin yaanti pitra-vrataah bhutaani yaanti bhutejya yaanti mad-yaajino ’pi maam – which means that different paths lead to different destinations. Hence, the inclusivist idea is that there are multiple paths and there are different levels.

Since Vedic culture is not exclusivist in its ideologies hence the tendency to become fanatical within that is much lesser. However, it is still possible that fanaticism can result when people use religion as a tool for boosting their own ego. The tendency to think that I am great because my religion is the greatest can very easily lead to fanaticism. There can be instances of fanaticism, as an extension of this mentality in Vedic culture too. However, the fundamental difference is that, in the Vedic thought process, fanaticism will not be the natural outgrowth of the central beliefs. It will be a result of the imposition of selfish agendas on the belief system. Attitude towards others faiths is important and Vedic culture has a tolerant and inclusive attitude towards them.

Secondly, the aspect of one’s internalisation and realisation of the path is important. Often, when religion becomes a tool for asserting one’s authority and power, then one focuses on religion more as a tool for external aggrandisement than for inner development. When a practitioner of a religion transforms oneself through realization of spiritual happiness, then such an experience will prevent one from becoming fanatic. When one goes deeper to taste the spiritual reality, then one can see how different spiritual paths have a common essence. As long as we are in the superficial externals, we will only see differences. If we delve deep within, then we will see that ultimately all paths are meant to help us develop love of God. Those who actually practice religion and achieve spiritual happiness can see the essential similarity. Those who do not practice, quite often, are the people who fight.
Also, we should not mistake or conflate fanatical focus with fanaticism. Fanatical focus means diligent, one pointed, intense practice that is required for success in any field. If a sports person want to be successful in a sport, they need to focussed on one game. If they keep shifting their focus to different games how can they achieve success in any one of those. If the person is serious about achieving success, they need to stick to one sport and practice diligently.

The different religious systems are also compared to different treatment systems like allopathy, ayurvedic treatment, naturopathy or homeopathy. A patient cannot expect to be cured by shifting its focus, say take allopathy for three days, ayurveda for four days, homeopathy for a few days, and then naturopathy for the next few days. If the patient wants to be cured, then they have to focus. Such focus is not fanaticism. Also, just because a patient diligently sticks to one particular treatment system does not mean that the patient derides or rejects the other. Similarly, because a person is following a path seriously that does not necessarily mean they reject other religions or that the person is fanatic.
Being fanatically focused means, strictly following the path one has chosen. Fanaticism means, one is intolerant, offensive and even destructive towards other paths and their followers.
When one is fanatically focused, then one gets realisation. For a realized person, superficial differences do not matter as much. However, when one is not realized, then one sees only on the external platform and then one sees only the differences.

Finally, and most importantly, is the aspect of what is the actual truth. There can be people who can fanatically believe in false things and there are people who sincerely believe in true things. The scriptures give the ultimate truth and to the extent, we understand the truth, not just at the intellectual level but at a level of realisation, then we do not become fanatical. At that stage, one develops compassion because one feels connected to the family of God and wants to extend that connection and love of God to all living beings.
In summary, by the attitude shown towards other faiths, by the determined practice of one’s own path and by the alignment of one’s beliefs with reality, one can differentiate between a dharmic person and a fanatic. There are many questions on this website that deal with this issue much further, especially in the category of different world religions. Further questions to understand, how different faiths co-relate has been expanded in a series of lectures, titled, ‘Krishna consciousness and world religions’ which is available on this website.

End of transcription.

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Radhashtami meditation 2 – Appreciating the two separations endured by Sita and Radharani
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[Radhashtami class at ISKCON, Central New Jersey USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

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Radhashtami meditation 1 – Appreciating the sacrificing spirit of Sita and Radharani
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[Talk at ISKCON, Towaco, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

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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


Tuesday, September 3rd, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Moving As A Monk

I'm back at the spot in Kensington Market for chanting on the grass.  With me are David, Nicholas and Nimai, a young chap from Mexico.  We are not a professional bunch of musicians, but we follow a simple beat with some standard expressions on the mrdanga drum, while David uses shakers.  We can't be too loud either with instruments or voices.  We don't care to be either.  There's other sources of music going on including a piano situated at the edge of the park.  Strange thing is the piano was installed there on a concrete patch by someone I know, Anil.

Anil is a member of our community and has been coming to our ashram/temple since he was young.  He explained that the piano is a new addition to the neighbourhood, and that it's getting used more and more. 

"A great idea!" I said to him.

People actually do not sing, play music or dance enough, let alone walk.  Many of us are like still furniture.  Too sedentary.  Rocks do more movement, than some people, by rolling through erosion, hikers tottering on them or reacting to earthquakes, volcanoes and sometimes hurricanes.  In any event, we need to be more mobile.

When our chanting session was over, the four of us walked back to the ashram after my goodbye to Anil.  There is always magic that happens when moving from block to block on the streets.  You meet people, old acquaintances and new.  Without fail someone knows the Hare Krishna.  For some, it's Buddha (since we look like one) and this excites, calms, or at least moves a person, emotionally, because we are moving as a monk.

May the Source be with you!
4 km


Monday, September 2nd, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

On the Train and the Road

The passenger next to me on the VIA train was a sweet elderly lady from Dorval, Quebec, and by her own arrangement this petite lady was enroute to Niagara-on-the-Lake, then a stay overnight in a hotel room to attend the Shaw Theatre (as in George Bernard Shaw).  It was clearly a holiday for her.

I mentioned to her that Niagara-on-the-Lake is where the Bruce Trail begins, a trail that I have begun to tackle.  One thing led to another and somewhere in the conversation I mentioned my marathon walks.

She asked, "How long does it take to walk Canada?"

"Six months," I said.

"Did you do the Trans-Canada Highway?"

"The first two times.  The second two, I took on alternative routes."

As we were talking, the train at optimum speed rushed by all the greenery of forests and fields.  I was getting homesick for the road.  And when she mentioned September is the best month for walking, I had to agree, and that made me more desirous of walking long distances.  Oh well.  I'm afraid I'm anchored down with other responsibilities for the time being, and will have to settle for walking down Yonge Street, later in the evening after a meeting.

You know, whether walking down a road or working from an office, I do consider it all a great holiday.  It is a good life regardless of the challenges I face on an ongoing basis.  The challenges are usually people-based, yet I must carry on and enjoy the service to Krishna.

The train stopped at Union Station, and the sweet little white-haired lady was so happy to have met a monk, and certainly it goes vice versa from my side.

May the Source be with you!
7 km



Sunday, September 1st, 2019
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Montreal, Quebec

A Stop in Montreal

From Halifax, I flew to Montreal.  It's a short flight.  Anyway, I was sad to leave our place there, but happy to be in another.

Every year our Montreal community holds a ‘memories of our guru event’ on Labour Day weekend.  I was invited and asked to speak about my personal epiphanies on the most import person in my life.  I first met Krishna monks in the summer of '72 in downtown Toronto, on Yonge Street.  A few months passed and I came in contact again with monastics on Vancouver Island.  Both encounters were brief.  Then for a longer stretch I spent hours with a group of five in my apartment when I was a college student.  It was through them that I came to realize the power and greatness of Prabhupada.

Three years later, I finally personally met him in the physical form in Atlanta, Georgia, where he sat on a vyasasan seat and sang a song called "Parama Karuna," and he sang it as if he was in that festival of unending joy.   https://youtu.be/39O09OU60aY

At that time of his demonstrating, to a room full of us students/disciples, how to approach this song in all its glory, he asked someone to pick up a mrdunga drum and rest it on his lap so he could play it.  It was rare for him to play the drum in those days, in '75 when he was about eighty years old.  He was loving it—the drum, the song, the meaning behind it.  https://youtu.be/hLjnibNGCW4

To go more in depth with the song, the lyrics describe the two lords, Chaitanya and Nityananda, coming to be with us in this dark age of Kali.  They are offering the best lifestyle.  https://youtu.be/7VLJNBnwylA
http://kksongs.org/songs/p/paramakaruna.html

That in part is what I spoke about.  https://youtu.be/s3aP4DXYBxo

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Saturday, August 31st, 2019
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Halifax, Nova Scotia

The Slowest Team

I was told: "When you get out of the apartment building you're on Washmill Lake Drive.  Go right, then left on Main Street." 

I'm often impatient about waiting to go anywhere, so I decided to get a headstart on foot.  "Please pick me up," I requested.

"Sure.  We'll only be five minutes," said Marshall, our driver, who was going to take us to the popular Harbourfront in the downtown.  I was skeptical about the punctuality.  Anyway, a pleasant walk it was, though the sun was a bit much.  I came to an end, or rather Bedford Highway in front of me.  Now what?  I called for further instructions.  I wanted quality time for us to chant in public but the "five minute" time slot really was becoming stretched out.

I asked a Chinese student at the juncture, "Do you know what direction I take to get to the Harbourfront?"

"You take this bus..."

"Sorry, excuse me.  I'm walking."

In disbelief, he responded, "No, you can't do that!"  He was shaking his head in a jittery fashion.

"No worries.  I walked Canada four times."

"Nooo,”  he said with the ‘O’ elongated.

Another pedestrian guided me:  "Take the Bedford Highway, then Windsor Street.  That goes forever."

So I proceeded on, with no sign of my chanting monks.  I passed by a cemetery where Titanic corpses were buried one hundred and seven years ago.  Finally Marshall called. 

"A little late?" I sarcastically breathed out.  Three people—Marshall, Samuel and Angiras were letting me down.  At least I was getting some walking in.  I passed The Forum, then a funeral home.  Finally the van with the three pulled up.  "Sloths," I thought.

We got to the Harbourfront, unloaded our instruments and began chanting.  It was busy.  Near our chanting location was one of those displays (much like a sandwich board) with holes for poking your head through.  It was used a lot.  I looked to see.  It was propped up with three holes in it for my team of sloths.  "Let's take a picture of the three sloth monks."

Snap!

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Friday, August 30th, 2019
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Lunenburg / Bridgewater, Nova Scotia

Ideal Family

Susan is an art curator living in the Lunenburg area, known for its quaint fishing village, a popular tourist attraction.  Before she moved into the field of art, when young, she spent one year in a Krishna temple living like a nun.  All this time, she has kept Krishna in her heart.  A gracious host, she and her partner, Richard, a retired professor from the  University of Waterloo, treated us to the healthiest meal you could imagine with ingredients from their garden.

Thank you!

Marshall, Samuel and I then proceeded to Bridgewater, where Yogendra now lives, a former monk from Halifax, and now a school teacher with the Waldorf School System founded by Rudolf Steiner.  He and wife, Rasa, bore three children—well behaved.  I would call them a model family who place importance on the spiritual and social development of children.

At Yogendra's recommendation, we all walked (monk's included) to the nearby Woodlands duck pond in the Acadian forest which is recognized as one of the most diverse forests of hard and softwood trees in the world.  We walked the circumference of the pond, also sat at the entrance of the trail chanting to the trees and pedestrians, and finally set ourselves to a game.  The kids were two to six in age.  I asked them to bring to us adults twenty-five different natural articles, and we would all contribute to explaining (from acorns to stones to lily pads) what each one reminds us of in a Krishna context.  Oh it was fun!

To Yogendra and Rasa: "You are giving hope!"

May the Source be with you!
4 km





Being Blessed by the Dust from the Feet of Pure Devotees, Sri Radhastami, September 6, Dallas
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23:

“O King Rahugana, the perfectional stage of devotional service, or the paramahamsa stage of life, cannot be attained unless one is blessed by the dust of the feet of great devotees. It is never attained by tapasya [austerity], the Vedic worshiping process, acceptance of the renounced order of life, the discharge of the duties of household life, the chanting of the Vedic hymns, or the performance of penances in the hot sun, within cold water or before the blazing fire.  Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23 purport.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

“Now, what exactly does it mean to be blessed by the dust from the feet of pure devotees? In  broad sense it means to be blessed by the mercy of pure devotees. One gets the mercy by following their instructions. So, we are blessed by receiving the instructions from pure devotees and we are further blessed by following their instructions.

“Once in Bombay a disciple asked Srila Prabhupada for his mercy to follow his instructions. Srila Prabhupada sort of curled his lips in disgust and  said. ‘My mercy is that I have given my instructions. Now it is up to you to follow them.’ Then he gave the example of the person who had fallen into a well. When his savior or deliverer hands down a rope to pull him out he prays. ‘Please make my fingers curl around the rope.’ Your deliverer has sent down the rope and he is ready to pull you out of the well, but you have to hold on to the rope. In other words he has given you his mercy in the form of his instructions but now you have to follow his instructions.”

Radhasthami talk from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23

Champakalata Sakhi Appearance Day
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Just before the annual Gaura Purnima festival in Mayapur in 1986, Campakalata Devi, along with three other sakhis, was installed and joined Sri Sri Radha Madhava on the altar. She stands next to Lalita Devi, second on Sri Madhava’s right. Sri Campakalata Devi is the one of the eight principle gopi friends of Srimati Radharani. […]

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Prasadam distribution in Tompkins Square Park, NY
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Prasadam distribution in Tompkins Square Park, NY (Album of photos)
Adi Purusha Das: Finally, on the appearance day of Srimati Radharani, the Original Goddess of all abundance, Adi Lakshmi, I got to meet the “Adi” Adi Purusha Prabhu. And very kindly he invited me to participate in preparing for the prasadam distribution and distributing the strawberry/raspberry cake in Tompkins Square Park - on Her birthday!

“No Faith In War”
→ Dandavats

For the month of October, we will be cooking and distributing 20,000 plates of delicious Prasad daily to the Eco Activists in London. These young people are passionate about seeking solutions to the problems of the world, just as in the sixties and seventies the hippie generation were looking outside of the box.

Happiness means full freedom
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 8 April 2019, Amritsar, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.6.37)

Full happiness means full freedom. As long as we are not fully happy, we are chained, we are trapped and we are not free. Only in full happiness are we actually free. Therefore, only in Krsna consciousness we can be really free, because nowhere else are we able to be fully happy.

So this is nice to remember that devotional service is voluntarily performed. It is performed out of free choice and no one is forced in this way. Service can be our life, but this is our choice because Krsna does not force us! He gives us a choice; to simply serve or not, as we individually desire. But in devotional service, we are voluntarily taking responsibility. And that responsibility will bind us. But at the same time, we can give all of that up in any moment. This is because we are not signing any contract, we are not obligated. We can go away at any time we want. Who can stop us? But somehow or other we accept responsibility for Krsna because we desire it, because we wish to do so. Because we know that Krsna is worthy.

The article " Happiness means full freedom " was published on KKSBlog.

49th Sanyasa Anniversary of HH Jayapataka Swami!
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I HAVE SURRENDERED UNTO RADHA RANI’S LOTUS FEET 49 YEARS AGO BY ACCEPTING THE SANYASA ORDER -49 years of Sanyasa. At a young age of 21, HH Jayapataka Swami was awarded Sanyas by His Divine Grace A.C.BhaktiVednata Swami Prabhupada. Today at the Namhatta Bhavan disciples celebrated this historic moment. HH Jayapataka Swami is the senior […]

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Sri Radhastami, Srimati Radharani’s Appearance Day, September 6, Dallas
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Bhagavad-gita 9.13:

“Here it is mentioned ‘bhajanty ananya-manaso‘ without deviation of the mind. As we know from Bhagavad-gita and personal experience, the mind can be our best friend or our worst enemy. When the mind is engaged in Krishna consciousness it is our best friend and when it strays into maya it becomes our worst enemy. So, by constitution it is not a friend or an enemy—in fact no one is—but by behavior one acts as a friend or an enemy. The mind has to be controlled by engaging it in Krishna consciousness. There are nine processes for engaging in Krishna consciousness of which the primary three are hearing about Krishna,  chanting about Krishna and remembering Krishna. So, ananya manaso—we don’t want the mind to wander into any other field but Krishna consciousness.”

Radhasthami morning talk (Right click to download)

When our material responsibilities impede our spiritual growth, what can we do?
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Answer Podcast

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Sun Love Feast – Sep 8th, 2019 – 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 - 1:00     Vedic discourse
  1.00 - 1.30      Closing Kirtan
  1.30 - 2.00     Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast

COMING UP AHEAD

 Parsva Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Mon Sep 9th,2019
Breakfast................  on Tue Sep 10th, 2019 b/w 6:51am – 11:07am

Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we follow a complete fast from eating and drinking. We 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.

ONGOING PROGRAMS


Vedic Education & Learning For Grownups
 Nectar of Instruction course - every Sat 9:30am to 12:30pm (Sep 7 to Oct 19)

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.

Radhastami
→ Ramai Swami

In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Srimati Radharani is described as follows:

sarva-lakshmi-mayi sarva kantih sammohini para

devi krishna-mayi prokta radhika para-devata

“The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”

Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess. Radharani is the queen of Vrndavana. She is most always seen with Lord Krishna. It is described that She is the chief associate and devotee of Lord Krishna, and topmost of all Goddesses. Her name means that She is the most excellent worshiper of Lord Krishna. However, She is also an expansion of the Lord’s energy. Since She is also an extension of Krishna, She is the feminine aspect of God. Thus, in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, God is both male and female. They are One, but Krishna expands into two, Himself and Radharani, for the sake of divine loving pastimes.

To explain further, Srimati Radharani is also the source of the other goddesses, who are expansions of Her. Just as Lord Krishna is the source of all other expansions and incarnations of God, Radharani is the source of all other expansions of the energies of God, the shaktis, or other goddesses. Thus, Vishnu, Rama, even Shiva are all expansions of the one Supreme Being, and similarly Lakshmi, Sita, and even Durga are all expansions of this Supreme Feminine form of God, Radharani.

“These Golden Days”
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“Forty-six festivals, one after another,” I thought. “And with Woodstock in the middle. No wonder I’m exhausted.” But there was no time to dwell on the tiredness of my body. Hundreds of excited people were already taking their seats on the benches in front of our stage.

Radhika the Cow Gives her Love
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Radhika the cow gives her love to cows and humans alike. She is always happy to greet guests and give her love with sloppy kisses. Radhika was one of eight calves rescued from the auction barn in 2014. She now lives at the ISCOWP Cow Sanctuary, where she will never be slaughtered.

Radhasthami Talk, August 30 2009, San Diego
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23:

jivañ chavo bhagavatanghri-renum
na jatu martyo ’bhilabheta yas tu
sri-visnu-padya manujas tulasyah
svasañ chavo yas tu na veda gandham

Translation:
The person who has not at any time received the dust of the feet of the Lord’s pure devotee upon his head is certainly a dead body. And the person who has never experienced the aroma of the tulasi leaves from the lotus feet of the Lord is also a dead body, although breathing.

Radhastami talk, San Diego 2009 (Right click to download)

From the mind to the heart – Practicing bhakti with our mind and without it too
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[Talk at Brooklyn, USA]

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Sri Radhastami celebration in Mayapur (Album of photos) Srila…
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Sri Radhastami celebration in Mayapur (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)
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Happy Radhastami!
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Today is the most auspicious appearance day of Srimati Radharani. Also is the appearance day of Vishaka Sakhi, Radhika’s dearmost servant. In the morning, Radharani nectar flowed with two sessions of Katha- HH Jayapataka Swami & HG Jananivas prabhu. After the astounding darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava & Asta Sakhis in shimmering pink outfits and […]

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Darshan Room program, September 4, Dallas
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23.

“In the Brahma-samhita it is said that the Lord is never to be found by becoming a great scholar of the Vedic literatures, but He is very easily approachable through His pure devotee. In Vrndavana all the pure devotees pray for the mercy of Srimati Radharani, the pleasure potency of Lord Krsna. Srimati Radharani is a tenderhearted feminine counterpart of the supreme whole, resembling the perfectional stage of the worldly feminine nature. Therefore, the mercy of Radharani is available very readily to the sincere devotees, and once She recommends such a devotee to Lord Krsna, the Lord at once accepts the devotee’s admittance into His association. The conclusion is, therefore, that one should be more serious about seeking the mercy of the devotee than that of the Lord directly, and by one’s doing so (by the good will of the devotee) the natural attraction for the service of the Lord will be revived. Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.23 purport.

Darshan Room program (Right click to download)

The spiritual world is conducted by the internal potency – Radharani
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Hare KrishnaBy His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

So today, this evening, we are talking about Radhastami. We are trying to understand the chief potency of Krsna. Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krsna. As we understand from Vedic literature, Krsna has many varieties of potencies. Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate [Cc. Madhya 13.65, purport]. Just like the same example, as a big man has got many assistants and secretaries so that he hasn't got to do anything personally, simply by his will everything is done, similarly, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has got varieties of energies, and everything is being done so nicely. Just like this material energy. This material world, where we are now living... This is called material energy. Bahir-anga-sakti. Continue reading "The spiritual world is conducted by the internal potency – Radharani
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