How obstacles become opportunities – Hanuman’s burning tail
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[Talk at St Louis, USA]
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Tap your inner power – TAB acronym with Srila Prabhupada’s example
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, St Louis, USA]
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Saturday, May 4th, 2019
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Brampton, Ontario

Glad to be Away from the Smokes

On Bay Street, Connor and I came upon a blown-up photo, by the window display of a gallery, of Keith Richards puffing on a cigarette, or some other mode of smoking. This iconic musician from "The Rolling Stones," looks in the pic as if he ‘ain't got too much satisfaction’. All praises to the music he and his buddies produced, and in general, the music moguls of his period, who broke cultural barriers globally.  That is what rock 'n roll did.  I certainly ponder   whether the sex, drugs and rock 'n roll movement made inroads towards an enhanced life of shanti, peace.  I really question that.

Connor and I walked farther on Bathurst later, to give ease to our assigned driver, for an evening sangha.  It was new territory for Connor, our Edmonton boy, as we took to the ravines going in a northwest angle.  We were edging our way toward Eglinton Avenue, before we actually hitched that ride.

The sangha had commenced at 6:30 p.m., at the home of Sanatana Sevak and Kamala, with a crammed group of enthusiasts for kirtan and a talk on being wise, according to the Gita.  The group really took to smiles, at ours and their dancing session.  Then there was great prasadam.  I would say what we did was a wholesome approach to a Saturday mini-fest.  No one felt the need to smoke, yet we were rocking in my estimation.

A third brief walk took us along a creek near the home of our hosts, Rajasuya and Surabhi. Before we embarked on a final one-plus kilometre, one local boy shooting basketballs with his buddy remarked, "Oh, that guy (in the robes) is here to bless the house." I overheard and thought it was cute.

May the Source be with you!
6 km





Friday, May 3rd, 2019
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Burlington, Ontario

Not the Best News but Laugh Anyway

Connor and I took the commuter GO train westbound to the Burlington area, there to meet up with Dr. Pandith (aka Jagannath Misra).  Apart from yesterday’s chiropractic visit, I had scheduled a physical check up with a Dr. Singh.  Tests showed all to be fairly good, but between the two medicine men, Pandith and Singh, there arose a question about my recent flare-up on the right side.

Pandith drove me to Joseph Brant Hospital for a cat-scan which revealed something to be concerned about.  Some blood-clotting has occurred that has risen  into  the chest area.  I trace it to the flight to Mauritius.  It is dangerous when lungs are hit by this type of blood issue.  So now I’m on blood thinners, and for my own health's sake, restricted in travel, by air especially, for a good month or more.

When I reflect back on this recent trip to South Africa and Mauritius, it had too many stress elements to it, which was however, no fault of anyone.  I want to thank those persons who helped me to explore these physical hiccups and for their advice on remedial regimen.  I will for the time being reduce stressful travel and continue daily walks, but at a slower pace.  I can't walk with gusto.  It affects my breathing.  Coughing or sneezing also puts a little risk of pinching in the chest.

I'm going to ask my friends not to put out too many good jokes because that also challenges the pressure on the chest for now.  I just got over hearing a good one by W.C. Fields the other day, and you might like it.  Someone asked him, "Are you busy?" His answer, "I'm about as busy as a pickpocket in a nudist colony."

May the Source be with you!
2 km

Is Brahman the effulgence of the Absolute or is it the realization of our own eternality?
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Podcast

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Chandan Yatra Day1: Natabara
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Happy Akshaya Tritiya. Happy Chandan Yatra. On the first day of Chandan Yatra, Sri Radha-Madhava is dressed as Natabara- the Best of Dancers! Sri Radha -Madhava as Natabara: As the vicious snake tried to bite Him, Sri Krsna, moving from one hood to another with lithesome grace and unparalleled speed, earned the name, Nata-bara, the […]

The post Chandan Yatra Day1: Natabara appeared first on Mayapur.com.

A Visit to Southern Russia (Album of photos)
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A Visit to Southern Russia (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The city of Sochi is situated in southern Russia. With its beaches, as well as nearby snow-capped mountains, it serves as a resort for the wealthy people of the country. ISKCON has had a successful temple there for a number of years. We spent 3 happy days with the devotees relishing the spring weather and the chanting of Lord Krsna’s holy names.

Is blaming past karma for bad things just a way to avoid blaming God?
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Podcast

Transcription

Question: Is blaming past karma for bad things just a way to avoid blaming God?

Answer:
Yes, bad things happen to us but if you are honest good things also happen to us. When we are successful, we did work hard for that success, but so many other things fall in place. It’s only because all those things also fall in place that we become successful. Success is not just because of our own efforts. There are other things beyond us which also contribute to success. What to speak of success? Even our very existence is dependent on something beyond us for our existence.

When we live, right now we are breathing, we are not even conscious that we are breathing. We don’t consciously breathe. Certainly, we don’t produce the oxygen that we need to breathe. It is already provided. When a child comes to the mother’s womb into the world, the mother does not do anything special to produce milk in her breasts. Milk comes over there. So, we will see that there is much good that is also arranged, which is essential for our existence.

Suppose after this program we will have prasad. When we have food, we digest the food and we enjoy the food. We get some energy after that. If you consider scientifically or medically speaking, digesting of food is a very complicated process. I was in MIT, America, Massachusetts. They took me to a lab over there. They were actually trying to develop an artificial digestive machine. It’s like we have pacemakers and we have other machines. They found that it’s extremely complicated. You don’t need a machine you need a factory. It’s such a complicated process. So now, who is doing that? We just eat the food and we get energy after that. The only time we think of our digestion is when it doesn’t work.

The point here is that if we are to blame God for our bad things, then actually there are good things happening also, in which we are not doing them. If we are just alive, then there is more right with us than wrong. So many people die before they come to the age which we are living right now. If we observe carefully, there is some benevolent arrangement in the world which facilitates our existence. There is a foundation of benevolence in the world. There’s a foundation of goodness and on that foundation of goodness, sometimes good, sometimes bad.

If that foundation of benevolence and goodness would not be there, then even existence would be impossible. Therefore, this foundation of benevolence that is there, this whole system of good and bad that is there, where does the system come from? Sometimes people say that okay, so many bad things happen to good people. Therefore, there is no God. How can God exist if so many bad things are happening? Well possible. That could be an argument. But you could turn that argument around and say, okay, why should bad things not happen to good people? What do you mean? You know, bad things shouldn’t happen to good people. But why not? If there is no higher ordering principle in the world, then anything can happen to anyone. The very assumption that good action should lead to good results and bad action should lead to bad results, where is that assumption coming from? What is the basis for that assumption? It is because there is some ordering principle that whenever there is disorder, we ask why is this disorder there?

So, blaming God might seem simplistic. Blaming God could be one option, but there is a foundation of benevolence and goodness that enables our existence itself. Only with that foundation can everything else follow. We basically have three options. When we look at the world around us, that everything happens by chance, there’s no cause-effect connection and anything happens to anyone. So bad things happen because life is like a lottery. Some people win the lottery. Some people lose the lottery. It’s a very helplessness inducing view. That is not the way we function on a daily basis. We don’t raise our children telling, actually your exam is a lottery. Whether you study or not, it doesn’t matter. Either you’ll get marks or you’ll not get marks. Nobody lives like that.

One possibility is that everything happens by chance. The second possibility is that everything happens simply by God’s arbitrary will. God decides to send bad things for some people’s life, God decides to send good things for some people’s life. Why would God be arbitrary or partial like this? If that were the case, then why would there be a foundation of goodness, which enables our existence, upon top of which there is arbitrary good or arbitrary bad. The idea that God is to be blamed for our misdeeds, for our distresses, recoils against the whole concept that there is a foundational good in the world, on which there is good and bad. And anyway, if that is the case, again, it’s a very helplessness inducing view.

If God is against me, what can I do? Isn’t it? Ultimately, we have to go on with our life. We have to look at a worldview that is most practically beneficial for us, that is the most constructive for us. So, either it is everything happens by chance or everything happens by God’s arbitrary will. The third option could be something else.

Suppose there’s a cricket match going on. The cricket match starts, and you see one team starting score is zero, the other team starting score is two hundred. What’s going on? This is not fair. Now you could have three explanations for this. Why is it like this? One is the scoreboard works by chance. It just automatically puts any numbers over there. This team was unlucky, this team was lucky. The second option is that the scorekeeper is biased. The scorekeeper put extra marks over there and put a zero over here. The third explanation could be that it is a multiple innings match and this team is carrying over from the previous innings. So, this two hundred is a lead from the previous innings.

Similarly, if there are differences in the way we get in life, the most reasonable explanation in a game, if everything were by chance, there is definitely an element of chance in a game, but it is not that everything is by chance. The score doesn’t come by chance over there. And if the scorekeeper is biased, why would he even have a match over there? Without a match only decide this team is winning, that team is lost. The most reasonable explanation is that it’s a multiple innings match. Most reasonable in the sense that it is the most empowering. The other two explanations are most disempowering. If everything is by chance or everything is by God’s arbitrary will then there’s nothing we can do about it.

If you understand that it is by our own past deeds, then that creates a sense of purpose and power within us. If I do good deeds now, I can create a brighter future for myself. I have written the whole book on this topic called “Demystifying Reincarnation”, where this whole reasoning and logic I have explained systematically. This is the broad answer. We could blame God, but actually blaming our past karma is not a replacement for blaming God. Rather, it is the most reasonable and the most empowering explanation for what we experience in our day to day lives.

End of transcription.

His Grace Jananivas Prabhu Speaks About the #Giving TOVP Worldwide Matching Fundraiser, May 7 – 17, 2019
- TOVP.org

The #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser from May 7th (Akshaya Tritita) until May 17th (Nrsimha Caturdasi) is now underway. His Grace Jananivas prabhu speaks about the importance of the TOVP and participating in this 10 day window of opportunity to make a donation to the project.

The #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser will be an incredible, never before done online event to raise funds, large or small, from every devotee, whether they have already given to the TOVP or not. Ambarisa prabhu will match all donations capping at $125,000, thus doubling the income to the TOVP during this fundraising event to help complete the TOVP by 2022.

For more information, go to the TOVP #Giving TOVP Fundraiser page at the link below. You can also become a TOVP Ambassador by downloading the flyer from the website page and posting it on the internet, emailing it to your devotee friends and relatives, and posting at your local temple. We want the participation of every ISKCON devotee and congregation member worldwide. Please spread the word and share this information.

https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/giving-tovp-fundraiser/

MISSION 22 MARATHON KI JAYA! THINK 22! TOVP NOW!
 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

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Famous UK TV’s actress and crew visit Mayapur. Cruising…
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Famous UK TV’s actress and crew visit Mayapur.
Cruising with Jane McDonald-Series 5 - Episode 4
India - Part Two.
The voyage concludes with the second part of Jane’s journey across India, which sees her fully immersed in her cruise on the sacred Ganges river. After visiting the home of the Hare Krishna movement, she is invited to join the masses making the pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mayapur, where she takes in the spectacular shrines and ceremonies. After the cruise reaches its final stop, Jane continues on land to the famous `Pink City’ of Jaipur, and then onto the Agra.
Source: https://is.gd/cNlnCi

Iskcon Puri’s situation. Prior to hitting Puri, cyclone…
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Iskcon Puri’s situation.
Prior to hitting Puri, cyclone Fani, since 2nd of May 2019, all the city got disconnected from electricity, water, telephone & internet connection till today. While Fani cyclone gradually made landfall, the whole city got dis-mantled along with Iskcon Bhakti kutir (Bhaktivinode Thakur’s Bhajan kutir), damaged it’s building, broke down doors & windows and filled the whole building with sand.
During this unexpected and frightening storm (by sand) the devotees were crying & praying to Lord Jagannath & Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, our predominated deity, for protection.
Only the Lord knows when everything will be in order again, although we are continuing all temple programs as much as possible.
Please, all of you extend your kind prayers and blessings for us.
Your Servant Gournitai Das.

Complete Happiness
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Durban, South Africa, 8 March 2019, Kendra Namahatta

In Navadvipa, before taking sannyasa, Lord Caitanya was known by two names, either Nimai or Visvambhara. Visvambhara was His former name, meaning the maintainer of the entire universe. 

It is said in the Caitanya Caritamrta: He thought, “How can I be called Visvambhara, the maintainer of the whole universe, unless I give people entire happiness?” How can you say you are maintaining someone if you are only feeding them, if you are only providing them a roof over their head, if you are only providing them clothes? How can you say you are maintaining them?

One can only say they are maintaining someone when that person is completely happy. But that is not so simple. Who is completely happy?

The only way someone will be completely happy is when we give them love of God! Therefore Vishvambara is the one who gives love of God to all.

The article " Complete Happiness " was published on KKSBlog.

Former President of Croatia receives Srila Prabhupada’s…
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Former President of Croatia receives Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita during Harinama(Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Vedic scriptures say: “Even if one distributes ten million cows in charity during an eclipse of the sun, lives at the confluence of the Ganges and Yamuma for millions of years, or gives a mountain of gold in sacrifice to the brahmanas, he does not earn one hundredth part of the merit derived from chanting Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)

Initiations in Durban, March 4, Durban
Giriraj Swami

 

Initiation Ceremony by HH Giriraj Swami

Posted by ISKCON Durban on Saturday, May 4, 2019

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On Sri Gadadhara Pandita’s appearance day, Giriraj Swami officially connected seven disciples with Srila Prabhupada and the parampara: Anil Basdew became Ananda Krishna dasa, Clive Jugathpal became Krishna Kishore dasa, Leeann Govindsamy became Lila Manjari dasi, Mayawatee Sewjathan became Madhumati dasi, Pranesa Sewpershad became Pradhana Gopika dasi, Reena Sewpershad became Radhika Kishori dasi, and Sheena Basdew became Shobha Radha dasi. Please bless them and support them in their efforts in Krishna consciousness.

Just as Bhishma chose the wrong side, so do we – how can we learn properly from such role models?
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Think Choose Relish: 3-point essence of the first three verses of Srimad Bhagavatam
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Highlights From The Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat 2019 in…
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Highlights From The Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat 2019 in Australia.
Syamala Gopa Kishori devi dasi: This year’s Sacred Sound Kirtan retreat was a great success and we are very grateful to the many kirtaneers, devotees and guests who made it possible. The annual event, which was held during the Easter weekend, drew a crowd of almost 1000 guests, all enthusiastic to share in the nectar of the holy names.
One of the highlights of the retreat was the uplifting kirtanas led by some of ISKCON’s most prominent kirtaneers, including Indradyumna Swami, Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami (BB Govinda), Bada Haridas prabhu, Sri Prahlad dasa, Bali and Dhanya Rico and Akincana dasa, among others. These kirtanas had the devotees dancing and chanting with great devotion. Another great memory of the retreat was the illuminating seminars given by BB Govinda Swami on the Brhad Bhagavatamrta.
The retreat hosted a fantastic market, which offered delicious prasadam as well as gifts handcrafted by talented members of the New Govardhana community. In addition, the Krishna Kids area was a welcome treat for children and their parents, who were able to immerse themselves in kirtanas while their little ones engaged in crafts and activities.
Devotees felt spiritually surcharged by this year’s retreat and are eagerly awaiting the 2020 Sacred Sound Kirtan event.

Sri Gadadhara Pandit Appearance day celebrations!
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On the occassion of appearance day of Sri Gadadhara Pandit, abhisheka took place, with bhog offering, pushpanjali and Arti. In Navadvipa, Sri Gaura -Gadadhara is worshipped at Champahatti. These were the deities worshipped by Sri Dwija Vaninatha, nephew of Sri Gadadhara Pandita. Sri Bhakti Vinod Thakura’s worshippable deities were Sri Gaura -Gadadhara at Godrumadvipa. During […]

The post Sri Gadadhara Pandit Appearance day celebrations! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Caring For Krishna’s Devotees: The VCC Gets Official!
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By Ambika devi dasi

As many are aware, New Govardhana’s Vaishnava Care Committee (VCC) has formed to assist seriously ill devotees and those in need of palliative care within our community. On 20 February, the VCC officially registered as a non-profit incorporated association. The VCC has also applied to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) for charity status, which, if approved, will allow tax deductions for contributors. The VCC requires this status because it plans to construct a palliative care residence on New Govardhana. Continue reading "Caring For Krishna’s Devotees: The VCC Gets Official!
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Sri Sri Tota Gopinatha Temple And Sri Gadadhara Pandita
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By Chandan Yatra Das

Sri Tota Gopinatha is exquisitely beautiful self-manifested Deity of Lord Sri Krishna. Sri Tota Gopinatha is also a most unique Deity because He is the only Krishna Deity in the world “sitting down” and playing His flute. Sri Tota Gopinatha has such a charismatic bewitching quality that draws one to His darshana over and over again. Srila Vrindavana Thakura extols His power: “Even an extreme atheist will be changed upon seeing the Deity of Gopinatha.” Continue reading "Sri Sri Tota Gopinatha Temple And Sri Gadadhara Pandita
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May 7, Akshaya Tritiya – The Auspicious Launch of the #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser May 7-17
- TOVP.org

The most auspicious day for giving, Akshaya Tritiya is here! And the #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser is starting.

Please be a generous TOVP Giver and your gift will be matched by TOVP Chairman, Ambarisa prabhu. Simply go to the website address below and select your donation, large or small. Even if you have already given, give again. And if you have already made a pledge to the TOVP you can use this opportunity to make a payment and your donation will be doubled.

https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/giving-tovp-fundraiser/

TOVP – Together Offer Victory to Prabhupada

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
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RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

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When a mother will keep mud away from a child, why does Krishna make lust so easily available in this world?
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Podcast

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What goes around comes around – Ravana & Maya-Sita
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[Talk at St Louis, USA]
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Ravana -Ten Heads, Zero Brains – Keeping our desires in control
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[Talk at St Louis, USA]
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The post Ravana -Ten Heads, Zero Brains – Keeping our desires in control appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Fulfill all desires? A pondering
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There is as always an interesting thought when listening to class when the discussion on Sri Krishna fulfilling all desire, I wonder if this is really the case as many of my deep desires have never been fulfilled including the one that would mean doing more seva.

Desire is an interesting thing as I’m sure each and every one of us have desires, some fleeting and some like me deeply held, but as time passes the realisation is that many won’t be fulfilled and in some ways this is a good thing.

It’s also of note that in some ways full fulfilment of desire cannot be there, my Karma comes into play, wealth, length of life, health act. all come into play and although chanting Hare Krishna diminishes the effects of  Karma the reality is that whilst in this body I cannot avoid it’s effects. However how I manage it well that I do have some control of.

Popular Sri Krishna fulfills all desires may in fact not be good for me as overwhelmingly the desire to enjoy all that material nature has to offer is primary, due to being in this material body. And could be a hindrance in my making progress in Krishna consciousness are add to the illusion that I am the cause of my success, I desire it happens.

Unfulfilled desires although in some instances is disappointing and even if a deep desire painful (especially when the realisation due to time it won’t and you see others achieve this); in the long term looking back it has been a good thing. Indeed it’s the difficulty of living in the material world and the frustrations caused by unfulfilled desires accumulated in my seeking the reason why; and eventually to my good fortune of meeting the devotees, reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and then the opportunity to serve both the devotees but also Sri Krishna.

Indeed celebrating the fact that we actually have desires and understanding the beauty of some being fulfilled whilst others aren’t is a very healthy thing; as reflecting on why if Sri Krishna fulfills all desire and mine aren’t means either I’m doing something wrong or Sri Krishna has turned his back on me.

Desires come, desires go; love of Sri Krishna and sincerity in service should be our ultimate goal and desire and for this I’m sure Sri Krishna will fulfil this desire. But by his great mercy many of my desires are thankfully ignored.

But I’m as always interested to hear others thought and realisations

Hare Krishna