Amazing Srila Prabhupada
Giriraj Swami

I received the following letter from Vrndavanesvari dasi in South Africa.

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your divine self.

During the renovations the manager named Daniel surprised us all.

We hung a huge picture of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada on the wall where the restaurant area will be. I offered incense often to the picture and prayed silently before the workers would come to start their day’s service.

One morning I found Daniel bowing down in front of Srila Prabhupada’s picture and clapping his hands, uttering words of respect and praise in the same way Africans would address their kings, but his praising was more attentive and very respectful.

He instructed the rest of the team to do likewise.

I was so amazed, because we had not taught him anything about Srila Prabhupada. He even told the rest of the workers that Srila Prabhupada is very holy and can see whatever they are doing there and that no one should steal anything at all, because he’s watching them.

I was so impressed by all this that I told Narottam, who said that the workers offer respects to Srila Prabhupada daily—it’s just that I had not observed it before.

They did this of their own accord before they would start their work.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Your aspiring servant

Vrndavanesvari dasi
ISKCON Hammanskraal

Friday, July 12th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Scarborough, Ontario

Culture All The Way

No walking today, although brain and heart were on the run.  10:15 a.m. was my slot for leading the Twelve-Hour Kirtan.  It is an annual chanting session that begins with American pandit, Dravida, chanting Sanskrit mantras to invoke auspiciousness.  Many participants came, especially young men and women.

It is a relief to see that in the Krishna movement there is activity going on amongst the youth, although we could do with more.  We all know that the new gen have many options out there, not always good ones, so it's good to see them having a good time.  Their response to my lead was overall quite good.  One is just required to learn the art of inclusiveness, of engaging others.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz1IfH-Ak0h/?igshid=5t0f7u9oz2t

My slot was for one-half hour, then the mic would be handed over to the next leader. I could only stay for a select amount of time.  I volunteered to cut cabbage and spinach in the same kirtan hall, where an arrangement was made to assist our cooks who are preparing for tomorrow's 25,000-plus people. Keeping in the rhythm of the drums, I chopped those veggies with my knife on the cutting board right in sync.

A second engagement took place at the Bengali Cultural Centre in Scarborough, where our travelling road show, "Vedic Mace" performed for a second night.  The audience of 400 were mostly from the Bangla culture of Bengal, Bangladesh and Orissa.  Our guru, Prabhupada, and Chaitanya were from that part of the world.

May the Source be with you!
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Thursday, July 11th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

I Was Walking

I was walking with a companion  tonight on Dupont Street.  After a long, busy, busy day, I needed some down time—so did my companion.  We walked west on Dupont for quite some distance, and then south on Christie.  

My companion said, "I think someone's following us."

"Are you sure?" I said, without looking back.

"Yes, he's been close to us and making the same turns as us."

I decided to make a sudden left turn with my friend, and the alleged stalker—or whatever he was—seemed to have disappeared.  We felt safe. I generally do feel safe in the city. You have young women walking in the night on their way home, to work, or on a visit, and they feel a kind of confidence. That's the way it is, generally speaking, in this country.

At the same time, all is not good in Canada, in the developed world, what to speak of the developing world.  I read in the Toronto Star today, about the out-of-control child pornography that is rampant.  These pedophilic individuals, who are increasing in number, are becoming a true threat to what has been a relatively stable society.  I, also, for one, am appalled by a society that is considering it normal for a child before puberty, to be serious about a sex change.  Liquor and drugs, legal or not, are nothing but bad news. I see a world, with some semblance of moral power, deteriorating.  I don't like it.  Safety is not just about protection from physical harm, or potential violence, but all kinds of Kali-yuga evils.  Let's chant. https://youtu.be/Ftb0_Nx-g3Y

http://www.krishnapath.org/free-ebooks-audiobooks-of-srila-prabhupada/civilization-and-transcendence/

http://www.krishnapath.org/free-ebooks-audiobooks-of-srila-prabhupada/on-chanting-hare-krsna/

May the Source be with you!
5 km



Wednesday, July 10th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

London, Ontario

In London (Canada)

Robin is from the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and she asked if I could answer some questions, so I agreed.

"So what brings you here to London?"

"I'm the MC for tonight's show here at the auditorium.  It's called Festival of India, and it will feature talent in music, dance and philosophy."  I further explained that I'm from these parts, here in the southern Ontario farmland, and that  I entered monkhood, getting interesting in the lifestyle, when I was going to college in her town (Sudbury).  "Rocky Mountain Ranch is the big attraction in Sudbury, and it was my cousins who started that  project and ran it for some time."

Robin stuck around for the show, which included our girls from Florida, the ‘Dasi’ group, performing my drama, "Gita: Concise."  Also on stage were our boys, providing excellent instrumental on tablaand sarod,in addition to Gaura's guitar and golden voice. Ensemble ‘Tapaz’ did some exhilarating dance displays.  A highlight for me was Gaura's rendition of "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevayah."

Food was provided, tasty and not overly spiced (thank God).  I searched for feedback, apart from the food, and more directed toward the show, after we were done.  This was the first of a traveling road show under the name "Festival of India” or "Shakti Show” when a certain  audience is targeted.  The Canadian western people who were the largest contingent of the audience gave us feedback.  This compilation of words came from them: "Loved it!” "Great,!" "All of it was good!” "I like your robes."

May the Source be with you!
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Develop the vision that nurtures devotion
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Chowpatty, Mumbai, India]

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Podcast Summary:

The post Develop the vision that nurtures devotion appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Tuesday, July 9th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Drama: No Walking

From the play, "Gita: Concise."  Practice in session.

Once you were in the body of a very small child
Then you grew up to become a little wild
Your body as a youth showed all this passion
When people carry on in a certain kind of fashion
And then you took the body of a man
Energy went to responsibility as you plan
Before long your body gets old
You then exit to enter another life of gold
The body will perish but you will not
What I tell you is very good food for thought
The soul is immortal... it will persist
It cannot be injured by sword or by fist
By fluid or water it cannot be drowned
By fir—not burned like ashes to the ground
By wind and air it cannot be dried
No method of destruction will work if you tried
So Arjuna, you really should not lament
For the body that lived in time well spent
You start to focus as a warrior would do
Or else there will be ridicule towards your family and you
The Kauravas are watching every move that you make
It's a matter of duty you are obliged to take
If you hesitate when something needs to be done
You receive reaction and that is no fun
Action and subsequent reaction is called karma
When we act as expected it's called dharma
Do your dharma, avoid the karma
Do your dharma, avoid the karma
The world with all its changes will never come to an end
I'm telling you this because you are my friend.

Author: The Walking Monk. © Bhaktimarga Swami 2019
https://youtu.be/btoFRf-4KWM

May the Source be with you!
0 km







Bhagavatam tenth canto study 86 – 10.14.53-61 – Vrajavasis love their children as parts of Krishna and therefore love the Whole more
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Podcast

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The Radha Krsna Temple Tapes
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By Yugala Kishor Gour das

History tells us that the album recordings took place in the famous EMI Studios at Abbey Road and Trident House Studios at Annes Court in July 1969 and January - March 1970. with the first single released in the second half of 1969 and Govinda hitting the charts in early 1970. The album itself was released in the USA on 21st May 1971 and 28th May of that year in Europe. These master tapes, reel 1 & 2, are dated 3rd February 1971. Interesting fact is that Reel 1 has a note written on it stating, 'Title changed to Goddess of Fortune' BBT 101A and Reel 2 says BBT 101B. This was the moment the tapes were prepared for the BBT release of the original album. It is not clear to me when that release date was, as the internet gives multiple years and dates. Continue reading "The Radha Krsna Temple Tapes
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Keeping you in the loop
→ KKSBlog

You might have noticed that things have slowed down a bit on KKSBlog. We used to post daily quotes & stories, regular audio recordings and more of that good stuff. In March 2019 we merged our weekly and daily newsletters into one renamed issue to make it more clear to our readers. All in all, things are changing.

Since June of this year, we said goodbye to our stalwart editor and welcomed a new one. We lost a few of our regular transcribers but are now training new ones as we speak. Plus, with modern times slowly catching up with the status quo of KKSBlog, we need to adapt!

(Missing) Audio Recordings

Every month (at least in 2019 and earlier) our stalwart editor used to publish one big article with all the audio recordings collected from that month. Alas, since the rise of live videos on Facebook, this has currently ceased. Getting audio recordings from live videos proved to be too difficult and time consuming for our current limited resources. To complicate matters, live videos are published by different persons and from various sources, so keeping track of them was too much to handle for our current team at KKSBlog.

Looking Ahead

We do however have some good news!

We are looking into restarting the recording of kirtans and lectures together with Kadamba Kanana Swami! Once that is finalized, we should be getting regular audio recordings again.

If you happen to be at a program with Kadamba Kanana Swami, please aid him with getting it recorded properly! And by properly, we mean a high quality audio recording using a dedicated audio recorder with a microphone, so not your mobile phone! If you like to know more, please contact us.

Expanding the (free) media on KKSBlog is our new focus (read about it below). That means, we will create an easier and more accessible way to find and download free media… Stay tuned!

The travel schedule of Kadamba Kanana Swami has finally been updated again (July 2019). Due to his current engagements in New York City, his schedule was not frequently renewed. But now we have the travel schedule until March 2020!

Shop & Sales on KKSBlog

The shop, and its sales, has been the lifeline to cover the yearly costs of keeping KKSBlog running. And the focus of KKSBlog has been to ‘heavily’ promote the shop. Kadamba Kanana Swami preferred to shift the focus more on “giving” and less on “selling”, so we will make some changes accordingly.

For all your sales & service questions, you can now use this email address: sales@kksblog.com

PS. We are still working on solving the problem with digital albums & MP3 downloads on Apple (iOS) devices!

The article " Keeping you in the loop " was published on KKSBlog.

Where would these people hear about Krishna if we didn’t go out?
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Where would these people hear about Krishna if we didn’t go out?
Adikarta Das: Very interested people in Camden.town. The.young guy.with the glasses was incredible. He was only 15.years old, but he.was very happy.to get the Bhagavad Gita. He left then he came back 30 minutes later to speak to me again. He had many good questions and he was so mature for 15. There are some amazing people out there. The other guy with the hat was a lawyer from South Africa who lives in Switzerland but he was just so nice and so interested. Where would these people hear about Krishna if we didn’t go out. Sankirtan yajna ki jaya.

Bhagavatam tenth canto study 85 – 10.14.43-52 – Unravelling the mystery of the Vrajavasis disproportionate love for Krishna
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 85 – 10.14.43-52 – Unravelling the mystery of the Vrajavasis disproportionate love for Krishna appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sunday in New Dvaraka
Giriraj Swami

This weekend ISKCON Los Angeles will be celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the installation of the small deities Sri Sri Rukmini-Dvarakanath, and I will be driving to New Dvaraka on Sunday morning to join HH Badrinarayan Swami, HH Devamrita Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, and others in the festivities. Please do join us—in person or through the Internet. I will be speaking at 10:30 a.m. Pacific time.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Radha Rasesvara temple
→ Ramai Swami

The devotees from Radha Rasesvara temple made a replica Gundica temple for Their Lordships, Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra Devi, while They were away from the main altar.

Then they celebrated the return Rathayatra with beautiful Jagannatha lila stories, kirtan, dance and drama. After opening the curtain to take darshan, the devotees also offered ghee lamps for Their pleasure. Finally, Their Lordships were escorted back to the main temple.

Sun Love Feast – Jul 14th, 2019 – Vedic discourse by Her Grace Prema Gaurangi Mataji
→ ISKCON Brampton


                               



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

 Kamika Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Sun Jul 28th,2019
Breakfast................  on Mon Jul 29th, 2019 b/w 6:04am – 07:41am

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
Next Seminar will be announced shortly.

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

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

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


Sunday School

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

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


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

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


The Mentorship Program

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

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

To find details please click here


Gift Shop

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

This is Ali, from Syria, receiving Srila Prabhupada’s mercy (Album of photos)
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This is Ali, from Syria, receiving Srila Prabhupada’s mercy (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: O my Lord! Persons who chant the holy names of your Lordship are far, far advanced in spiritual life, even if born in families of dog-eaters. Such chanters have undoubtedly performed all kinds of austerities and sacrifices, bathed in all sacred places, and finished all scriptural studies. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.33.7)

The search for meaning 1 – How science points to spirituality
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Youth camp at Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, India]
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Podcast:

 

The post The search for meaning 1 – How science points to spirituality appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Training Shiva the Ox to Stand and Stop
→ ISKCON News

The Ox Training Seminar at New Vraja Dhama, Hungary, held April 17-24, involved training oxen by voice commands. Before the seminar, there were a few young oxen who were in the early stages of being trained by voice commands at New Vraja Dhama. Shiva was one of those oxen, and Balabhadra (William E. Dove) showed how to train Shiva to stop and stand. A video by ISCOWP.

Hanuman’s journey through the cave – Persevering through life’s obstacles – Hindi
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Noida, Delhi, India]

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Podcast:

 

Podcast Summary:

The post Hanuman’s journey through the cave – Persevering through life’s obstacles – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Nara-Narayana Rishi – Twins who teach tapasya – Hindi
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Dwarka, Delhi, India]

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Podcast:

 

Podcast Summary:

The post Nara-Narayana Rishi – Twins who teach tapasya – Hindi appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhagavatam tenth canto study 84 – 10.14.37-42 – Brahma acknowledges his insignificance before Krishna’s magnificence and munificence
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

The post Bhagavatam tenth canto study 84 – 10.14.37-42 – Brahma acknowledges his insignificance before Krishna’s magnificence and munificence appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

ISKCON PRISON MINISTRY – The Hare Krishna class
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By Bhakti-lata Dasi

The inmates who assist the Chaplains really extend themselves to help us. They were very eager to put up the eighteen posters we had to advertise Yadubara and Visakha’s movie “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami that Started it All,” that we showed at the prison. At first the Chaplain seemed reluctant to allow us to show the movie, but thanks to the years of goodwill we’ve developed with him and a letter from Yadubara prabhu, he agreed. His staff offered advertising and technical help, including spreading our posters around to all the buildings and even allowing the movie to be shown to the two hundred guys on death row [through a closed video system]. Excitement built up around the showing of the movie. One of the students was concerned that the posters weren’t up yet so he made some of his own, just to make sure it was sufficiently advertised. Continue reading "ISKCON PRISON MINISTRY – The Hare Krishna class
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