Aren’t we trivializing initiation by equating the promises of initiation with the promises of hearing Krishna’s pastimes?
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Bhagavatam tenth canto study 82 – 10.14.25-30 Devotion is the doorway and pathway to a life beyond illusion and liberation
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Radha Gopinatha Rathayatra – Baha
→ Ramai Swami

Radha Gopinatha temple in Baha was another centre that organised its individual Rathayatra before the main one in Denpasar. The devotees brought Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi onto a regular Ratha chariot and started out from the temple.

I was able to join the devotees as Their Lordships were taken around the streets of the local area. Many people came out of their houses to watch the parade in wonder as the devotees distributed different types of tasty prasadam, which, of course, they enjoyed tremendously.

Madana-mohana-mohini Dasi: One Year
Giriraj Swami

My dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at the dust of your divine lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Gurudeva!

It has been one year since you initiated me. I am amazed that one year has passed! There is so much that I can say about that day, always. But today as I am writing this email, I am unable to find any words. You have simply made my life. And I am especially grateful to you because you are taking care of me when Srila Gurudeva is not physically present. That means so much to me—more than I can put in words. You’re the best person in the entire universe.

After watching the video of you pushing my wheelchair after the fire sacrifice, Charan Renu Mataji said that it felt like you weren’t only pushing my wheelchair; you were pushing me back to Godhead. And that’s what you have been doing every single day of this past year—with your magical love. I hope you always do that.

To express how you make me feel, Aishwarya didi and I recorded a song for you—“Top of the World,” by the Carpenters. This was the first time we recorded a song, and we did it at home, so it didn’t come out so good, but we hope it’s worth your pleasure. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/YO0BcxyMteU

I am missing you so much today, Guru Maharaja. I hope I can be with you soon. But I am so, so unqualified that I see myself nowhere close to deserving your association.

I hope you are doing well.

Thank you VERY much.

Your blessed servant, eternally,
Madana-mohana-mohini dasi

P.S. I just love the name you gave me!

Seeing Krishna’s Plan Amid Disaster
→ Dandavats

On the evening of Tuesday, July 2nd, I was in our temple yoga class when the peacocks in our aviary started screaming. I heard popping sounds and thought early July Fourth revelers must be out. Then the sounds increased, loud shouts among them, and suddenly one of our main cooks, Manohar Prabhu, burst through the door yelling "FIRE!"

48th Kolkata Rath Yatra bridges religious divide
→ Dandavats

This year the festival caught the attention of entire nation and was widely covered in print and electronic media when Iskcon decided to invite Nusrat Jahan Ruhi Jain, a newly elected Member of Parliament to Lok Sabha, as one of the guests for Rath Yatra inauguration along with Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister, who was the chief Guest.

Truckloads of fodder to prevent the unfolding tragedy of cow deaths in drought stricken Rajasthan
→ Dandavats

This year, more than 1,00,000 cows have already been lost. The intolerably poignant sight of dead young cows and dried cow carcasses is becoming common in villages across this region. Our team comprised of Dr. Sree Kumar, a veterinary doctor and cow-care specialist, Vamsuli Dasa, an environmental scientist and consultant, and myself, Sri Krishna Purusottama Dasa, North America Coordinator of Om Sri Surabhi Campaign. We travelled to villages across Barmer district in mid-June to personally understand the situation.

Bhagavatam tenth canto study 81 – 10.14.19-24 Krishna’s pastimes are unknowable yet relishable
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Podcast

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When we fail in life, how can we immediately understand that past karma is at work?
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Podcast

Transcription

Question: When we fail in life how can we immediately understand that past karma is at work

Answer:
It is not necessary that we always have to resort to past karma only. Suppose on a cold night somebody eats ten ice creams. And then the next morning, they have a terrible throat and they say, ice cream! Now, their terrible throat, is it because of past karma? Yeah, past night karma.

It’s not that everything that happens to us is just because of past karma. There is a combination of present karma and past karma which comes together in giving us certain results. That’s why we have to be practical also. That means if I am doing something and I am not getting the result then is there something that I could do to improve it? We should think about it. We should not think that it is past karma. In one sense, over-reliance on past karma as explanation will make us very passive and fatalistic. Over reliance on present karma will make us very insecure and volatile because every failure we will start taking it too personally.

So, if I don’t do well in an exam, sometimes it may be that I may not have studied, but sometimes I have studied well, but still I didn’t do well in an exam. Sometimes it happens that people try to form a relationship and it doesn’t work. It could be that there is something wrong with me, but sometimes it’s just that the other person is at fault. We shouldn’t presume that, but sometimes it can be like that. Sometimes some people are just abusive, some people are terrible. Then something doesn’t work out. In today’s culture where people have dating and everything, if somebody breaks up with them people feel so insecure after that. They feel maybe I am unloved; I will be unlovable. People become very insecure. One of the top ten fears of people in today’s world is the fear of rejection that I form a relationship and I may get rejected by someone.

If we rely too much on present karma then what happens? Our life becomes very volatile. We become very unstable because we take everything very personally. But sometimes things don’t have to be taken so personally. So, we have to put things in the right frame of reference. Normally the immediate cause-effect is the first frame of reference. Suppose if I go for a program somewhere and there is nobody there for the program. Now, I could take it personally and say I am such a poor speaker that nobody comes. That could be true but suppose that program has been done at a place where at the same time there is some other big event going on and everybody has gone there. Then I have to put it in that context. I remember I went for a program in one country and the host invited me in. He said, actually I’m going for that program. You can sit. Whoever comes, they’ll attend this class. That was quite humbling. But you don’t have to necessarily take everything too personally.

Rather than thinking of a right explanation or wrong explanation, if we do something and we get some result, is it because of our present karma or past karma? Rather than trying to get too much into that analysis, we must focus more on trying to find the most constructive frame of reference in which to put it. It’s not that one frame of reference is right and the other is wrong. We don’t know in these cases what is right and what is wrong. But what is the most constructive frame of reference?

If I have done something and I have not done it so well, then the most constructive frame of reference is, okay, let me take care of this in future. But if I have done the best that I can and still the result is not coming then the most constructive frame of reference is, yeah, there is some past karma involved, then let me move on. Now moving on also, we will have to use our intelligence to decide, okay, should I keep doing this? And if we have given a reasonable amount of tries for that and that is not working, maybe that is not meant to work. We need to move to something else. So, rather than trying to simply resign the results to past karma alone, we try to place things in the most constructive frame of reference so that we can move on in our life.

End of transcription.

Bhagavatam tenth canto study 80 – 10.14.13-18 – Brahma contextualizes his bewilderment in terms of his and others’ past bewilderment
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Coffered Ceiling Mock-up Panel for Domes
- TOVP.org

Pictured here is the final mock-up of a panel for the TOVP domes. These panels will line the inside of the domes and are both aesthetically pleasing and practical.

The photo taken at the greatest distance away gives you a rough idea of what a panel will look like at 50 meters (164 feet) height.

Each shot brings the model closer in view so you can see the details of the actual panel.

The whole project was monitored and supervised by Jagadananda, Savyasachi and Radha vallabha prabhus. We are very satisfied with the results and we hope to start working on the inner main dome very soon.

The post Coffered Ceiling Mock-up Panel for Domes appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Jagannatha Gauranga Rathayatra
→ Ramai Swami

Every year, before the main Rathayatra festival in downtown Denpasar, each temple in Bali has their own celebration.

The devotees from Jagannatha Gauranga temple organised a procession for Their Lordships, Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi to the nearby beach.

The dieties were brought out and placed on individual palanquins and everyone headed out chanting and dancing all the way. On arrival there was bhoga offering, arati and more kirtan, before heading back.

Friday, July 5th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Montreal, Quebec

Magic in the Park

The usual, full, six-hour-allotted time was given for the ride to Montreal.  The local community is all hyped up for the weekend's chariot fest.  The afternoon and early evening time had me occupied in greeting everyone: some congregants, some youths from the Krishna Fest Bus Tour and more.  Everything is positive.

It was the late evening to early morning that became very endearing for me.  With the common insomnia issue I have, and weather that causes clothes to stick to the body with its humidity, I chose to roam Saint Catherine Street. where I came upon a newly renovated park.  There I planted myself for a bit, chanting on my beads, when a homeless fellow, who lives in the park, approached me.  His name is Hugo and he knows about Krishna. He lives, in some respects, like a monk with no real fixed address for a home.  He has lived life as part-junkie, and part-drunk.  He spoke coherently.

"My dad was a Canadian super-star in the sixties.  You can look him up—Marc Gelinas."  Sure enough.  There he showed up on my phone--the singer of many meaningful songs, and an actor.

There was a short gap between meeting Hugo, and then Juan and Ignatius, both from Chile. They saw me sitting there at the picnic table when they asked if I could answer a question and share some wisdom. In brief, I spoke about true identity. “We are not these bodies.”  I mentioned that we all have a dharma to fulfill and we must keep busy like a bee.  "Be prepared to get stung but to keep producing honey." I also encouraged these two good listeners to bear in mind two good injunctions: "Always remember the Divine. Never forget the Divine."

May the Source be with you!
2 km


Thursday, July 4th, 2019
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North York / Toronto, Ontario

Remembering "The Longest Road"

I came to the end of the day realizing that I hadn't set foot on the pavement other than a walk over the sidewalk to reach the grass in Avondale Park.  There, along with Connor, we spread out a mat for sitting on and chanting to the public.  I can't believe I did everything today that indoors could offer in a monk’s context, but I did not walk.

I did, however, dream of traveling.  Reminisce a bit, would be more accurate.  A couple that I know are contemplating the journey, on wheels, across the country, via the Trans Canada Highway.  They asked about hot spots since I ventured this longest road on the planet more than once. That is where the memories come into play.  I chanted on my meditation beads on that road, forever it seemed.

Hot spots? Well, since the couple is going west, I suggested they keep their eyes peeled at Lake Superior.  There's the centre point of the highway where cascades of water merge into this great lake.  Check out the sensational view at Old Woman's Bay near Wawa.  At Agawa Bay, via canoe, view the Pictographs of the indigenous people on the rock.  I encouraged a visit to see wild bears in Emo, Ontario, and chat with the gentle bear man.  Take a swim in Lake of the Woods.  Enjoy the sunrises and sunsets of the Prairies.  Open your ears and eyes to the birds that are in the plenty.  Then in the Rockies, you have Banff, bears, moose, cougars, mountain goats.  They may want to hear you chant.  Don't forget Drumheller and the dinosaur remains.

I reflected on my travels when thinking about past pilgrimages on that highway. I forgot to tell them of the book, "The Longest Road" and the stories within.  I'm in it.

May the Source be with you!
0 km




Wednesday, July 3rd, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Okay!

Okay! It became a strain to find a driver to take us to Bellevue Square Park.  In our ashram, there are lots of drivers, and vehicles in the driveway, but no one was available to carry our instruments for a kirtan to any park.  Often times the things you search for are right under your nose. I looked out the window to where there is a city-block-long green space.  Problem solved.  "That park, although not as dense with people as we would like, does have some foot traffic.  I say we carry our instruments across the street and we are good to go."

I mustered up interest from Ananda, and that was all we then had for musicians—Ananda and I.  On the way along through the dog-park section, we found Jai Sri, who’s in his 60s, one of our other ashram dwellers, on the park bench reading the newspaper next to his bicycle.  Cycling in a daily routine for him.

He closed the paper quickly upon seeing us.  "Oops!"  Monk looking at the news?  Is it allowed?

Yes, it's alright.  Scan the articles.  Capture their essence.  Avoid getting too sucked in.  So for the first time in twenty-five years, I saw Jai Sri sit down on the grass with us chanting.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BzhIYX2g9sK/?igshid=123xf6a5p65lh

Ten minutes into the chanting and a local guy, middle-aged Erin,  is walking by.  He notices us, approves of us and shows it with a thumbs up.  I ask him to come forward with a gesture of my hand and he responds.  He sits down, pulls out bongos and joins us.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzj5u9jARLj/?igshid=1icjwserriiz9    When our session was complete, I invited him over to our Govinda's for dinner.  He agreed.  We made a friend.  He probably reads the newspaper.

May the Source be with you!
8 km

Tuesday, July 2nd, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Three In A Row

Gaura, Ananda and I took to the ravine at Brickworks.  Each time I come here I see new developments.  For instance I saw a switchback—a zig-zag hiking trail that wasn't there before.  It was lined with large limestone slabs which I imagine will hold the trail in place, because on any hillside, such as this one, erosion from water can re-shape the hill's form.  New shrubs and trees have also been planted to check erosion and add to the greenness of the place.  In ten years, we will see a forest that wasn't there before.

These trails bring out the best in everyone.  They give a break from the passion of a growing city.  Everyone was so nice.  We looked interesting.  Ananda was in a rather stylish grey-blue yogiattire.  Gaura sported a white dhoti with white T-shirt, while I was in brand-spanking-new saffron swami duds.  Basically our pacing was abreast.  While in stride we just chanted on our beads too loud for each other, especially Gaura. Please don't mind me saying that, Gaura, my friend. 

Speaking of friends, we did make new ones from the canine community.  One that let me stroke and massage it, from a bench at break-time, was a Siberian husky, a lovable two-year old, and spoiled rotten.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BzeQEYiAU1H/?igshid=153vvmo8yja4z

After our two-hour trek, Gaura was a wreck—meaning tired—but it was a good kind of fatigue he admitted, as did I.  I have never noticed such a strong scent of diversity of flowers.  It must be all the rain that's coming.

The balance of the day was administrative, but I felt no less an appreciation for the alternative service.

May the Source be with you!
8 km

Monday, July 1st, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Ottawa, Ontario

Can't Satisfy

Today's walking encompassed two treks—one by the Rideau River and the second by the Rideau Canal, which run parallel through the university section of Ottawa.  The majority of the time was spent near the War Memorial, and a short stroll from Chateau Laurier, with participants from Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.  We had the shelter of shady trees, and our presentation was one of "dance, chant and be happy."

Happy we were as crowd pleasers.  Some of us went at it for a full six hours straight, with our voices, our instruments and our limbs.  One of the musicians, Gaura, mentioned, "Before the Beatles made it big, they would be in practice sessions for eight hours."  Well our impromptu bhakti band,with members merged together from several cities, will probably not become great like the Beatles, who were worked at it "in places like Germany for hour after hour.”  I do believe that practice is essential and that bhakti (feelings) are also essential.  Combine the practical and the spiritual, and it makes for a good presentation for the heart.  https://www.facebook.com/355740139339/posts/10157007181884340?s=100001647982652&v=e&sfns=mo

"Inclusive and blissful" were the words that Connor used to describe this outing. However there was one sourpuss in the crowd.  The look on his face showed his displeasure.  It was the face of a classic  "humbugger."  Scrooge-ish, if anything.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BzbeRPPAys_/?igshid=1l9t3o1t7894i

Oh well, what can be said?  Our guru, Prabhupada, said on one of those morning walks I attended that, "You can't satisfy all of the people all of the time."

May the Source be with you!
5 km






Sunday, June 30th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Ottawa, Ontario

At the Dawn of a Birthday

I had had a good night's rest at Surinder's home, with the window wide open, and at a comfortable 16 degrees Celsius, or thereabout.  The twelve kilometre walk on the Great Trail, and the dance lessons with demonstrations at the Kirtan Yoga session, made for a good straight six-hour slumber.  This is rare.

Now it is the last day of June, and the community of ISKCON Ottawa is gathered for the weekly Sunday sangha.  There is also a strong spirit of enthusiasm, in anticipation of tomorrow's big birthday party for Canada.  Under the current regime, the country will turn 152.

I took the opportunity to speak to the group about the Krishna/Canada connection. "The first historical link between this land of the maple leaf and Krishna Consciousness, in more recent times, was the arrival of Bhaktivinod's book, The Life and Precepts of Sri Chaitanya.  It arrived as a parcel at the library doors of McGill University in Montreal." https://www.amazon.ca/Sri-Chaitanya-His-Life-Precepts/dp/1886069522

https://www.amazon.com/Sri-Chaitanya-His-Life-Precepts/dp/1886069522

Sri Chaitanya, being the father of kirtanthat is currently spreading throughout the world, had become noticed, but only by a few theologians of the time. "The seed of bhakti (devotion) had been transplanted from India to Canada in the form of that book, and it happened right here in this country."  There was a response by way of proud applause.  "And it is Sri Chaitanya whom biographers say is an incarnation of Krishna."  

After the talk and meal, Fernando and I went to the nearby Rideau River at dusk. The air, since morning, had maintained a freshness.  Or as we might say in yoga parlance, prana stayed in the air.

May the Source be with you!
2 km



Saturday, June 29th, 2019
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Kaladar, Ontario

An Extra Long Stroll

It was a distinct and utterly surprised tone of a male voice that projected out from this three-storey residential building.  As audible as could be were the words: "What the hell!"

I was certain that these three words of shock were in reference to myself, as they were delivered just minutes after I began a short trek on "The Great Trail," which actually spans across the whole of Canada.  I looked like a pink Arab with my Indian monk's lunghi(lower robe), kurta(Indian shirt) and utariya(shawl) on my head, in a faded saffron tone due to too many washings. https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVp931gosN/?igshid=ns33dseh94kt

This is small-town Ontario.  People don't see people like me passing through their backyards.  I could not see the source of the sound: "What the hell!"  I cast a wave of my hand to the anonymous man, and kept silent, although I wanted to say: "What the heaven!"

Moving along, I found it necessary for the head cover, as the cloth flapped so, keeping deer flies off.  They are nasty buggers.  I strode for two and a half hours on a walk that was only intended to be a 45 minute job. Somehow or other, my driver, Fernando, must have misunderstood directions through language barrier—he's originally from Brazil.  I had suggested: "Just pick me up at the first crossroads from the first road that meets with the trail." I should have been more precise because he drove and parked the car just one long block at the first crossroads.  By the time he got there, I was well on my way.  

Two and a half hours later, with twelve kilometres on my feet, we found each other. Our cellphones helped us.  And so did the watchful eyes of God staying with us on that lonely trail."

May the Source be with you!
12 km


Friday, June 28th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Sweet Walk

William Wordsworth was one of those poets with a skill, who also liked to walk. One day, at noon, he ambled along a narrow lane thinking of his past.  I came upon his poem some hours after I took a five kilometre walk with Godbrother Gaura.  It's called, "Sweet Was the Walk."

Sweet was the walk along the narrow lane
At noon, the bank and hedge-rows all the way
Shagged with wild pale green tufts of fragrant hay,
Caught by the hawthorns from the loaded wain,9
Which Age with many a slow stoop strove to gain;
And childhood, seeming still most busy, took
His little rake; with cunning side-long look,
Sauntering to pluck the strawberries wild, unseen.
Now, too, on melancholy’s idle dreams
Musing, the lone spot with my soul agrees,
Quiet and dark; for through the thick wove trees
Scarce peeps the curious star till solemn gleams
The clouded moon, and calls me forth to stray
Thro’ tall, green, silent woods and ruins grey.

William Wordsworth 

From what I know, Wordsworth was on a solo walk, whereas my companion, Gaura, and I did a duet.  It was sweet nevertheless.  Our walk was completed with a tall slender glass of lemon water and maple syrup, complete with ice cubes / on the rocks.  Also sweet.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura – The Saviour of the Disciplic Succession
→ ISKCON News

It is the 19th century, the British have already colonized India and western influence has already started taking its shape in Bengal. The British along with Bhadralok (the members of social elite) have already belittled Hinduism and Gaudiya Vaishnavism was no exception. In this period of chaos a great personality - Kedarnath Dutta - took birth amongst the Bhadralok.