Notre Dame burning
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By Chandrashekhara acharya dasa

"Notre Dame is damaged; The Holy Name shines on. "Some thoughts on the recent burning of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. I cannot count how many rounds of japa I have chanted inside the shelter of Notre Dame, hearing my the sound of my footsteps on the floor, walking by confession booths and feeling inspired by the dedication and devotion of millions of pilgrims and devoted souls who had sung, heard and prayed there before me for 800 years. So when I recently watched the online footage of Notre Dame burning down, and when I heard from newscasters that the Parisian firefighters may not be able to even salvage the core structure of this Western symbol of monotheistic devotion, my heart squirmed and tears rolled down my eyes. Continue reading "Notre Dame burning
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The Criteria for Success, April 12, Bhakti Urban Farm, Houston
Giriraj Swami


“Jatayu was really no match for Ravana. But still, out of duty and love, he fought Ravana and was defeated. Later when Lord Ramachandra was travelling through the forest looking for Sita, He came upon Jatayu who explained exactly what he had seen. Lord Ramachandra was so pleased with him He embraced Jatayu and told him He loved him like His own father. Jatayu died in Lord Ramachandra’s arms who then performed the funeral ceremony for him just like a dutiful son. Srila Prabhupada used this story to illustrate the point that if we give our lives to the service of the Lord, even if the opposing elements are too powerful for us and we are not successful in  our service, if we give our life to the mission of the Lord He will be pleased and we will be successful.”

Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.23 (Right-click to download)

The Marketplace of the Holy Name
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Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 March 2019, Durban, South Africa, Lotus Park Nama Hatta) 

What is namahatta other than the marketplace of the holy name?

Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote this book where he explains that this marketplace of the holy name  is widely available and it can be purchased for the price of one’s faith.

He said there are those who are looking after the marketplace, those who are supplying the marketplace, and there are personalities who look after different marketplaces and sometimes come to supply that marketplace with fresh inspiration. 

Then he describes that he was just the sweeper of the marketplace, which is not a simple thing. It is very interesting to look at Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura as the sweeper of the market place. Of course, in India, the sweeper was considered a fallen occupation, so he was taking a very humble position. But it was not just a statement without cognitive meaning. No, because Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the sweeper of the marketplace of the holy name and that was his service to Lord Nityananda. 

The marketplace of the holy name had originally been established by Nityananda. When Lord Caitanya sent Lord Nityananda to West Bengal , a whole group of devotees went with him, and it wasn’t easy to go. Because they were so ecstatic and so overwhelmed by ecstatic kirtana,  they missed all the turns!

But eventually they got there only by desire and the mercy of Mahaprabhu,and when they reached, there was so much ecstasy that it was just amazing. It was with this ecstasy that Nityananda brought the holy name to West Bengal and engaged people in kirtana. He created the marketplace of the holy name, so originally it was Lord Nityananda who started the namahatta and since then it has been taken around the world.

Our mission is to engage people in devotional service. A little service, and when a little service is done, there will be more service, because that is the nature of devotional service – it changes the heart.

The article " The Marketplace of the Holy Name " was published on KKSBlog.

Sri Rama Navami Report from ISKCON Plainfield NJ (Album of…
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Sri Rama Navami Report from ISKCON Plainfield NJ (Album of photos)
Hema Jagannatha Dasa: ISKCON of Central NJ (ICNJ), Plainfield celebrated Sri Rama-Navami on Saturday 4/13/2019. Lord Jagannath was adorned with Ramachandra Vesha of breaking the Shiva Dhanu, inspired from other ISKCON temples. The main altar area was decorated nicely to provide a devotional vibe about the festival. Devotees performed abhishek of Sri-Sri-Rama-Parivar. Everyone got fruits, flowers and nuts for the pleasure of the Lordships. During Abhishek, ICNJ devotees sang “Ramachandra Raghuveera”, “Sri-Ramachandra Kripalu Bhaja mana” and many other melodious Rama Bhajans which captivated the mood of devotees. The Drama Team of ICNJ prepared a drama titled “Lord Rama’s visit to Grouchy City” depicting the lessons devotees from Kalyug should learn from Ramayana” The extended celebration continued on Sunday 4/14/2019 with classical dance presentations. Around 600+ devotees attended this 2-day celebration of Sri-Rama Navami at ISKCON Plainfield, NJ temple.
Find them here: https://is.gd/9cptcX

What You Have To Do If You Have Offended A Devotee Of The Lord
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What You Have To Do If You Have Offended A Devotee Of The Lord.
Sacinandana Swami: If one has drunk the poison of offending a devotee, one should, with that same mouth, drink the life-giving nectar of sincerely praising (and serving) that devotee. Haridasa Thakura says, “If anyone offends a sadhu in a moment of delusion and madness, he must fall at the sadhu’s feet and bitterly repent; weeping with full contrition, he must beg for forgiveness. He should declare himself a fallen wretch in need of a Vaisnava’s grace. A sadhu is very merciful; his heart will soften and he will embrace the offender, thus exonerating [pardoning] him from his offenses.” (Hari-nama-cintamani, chapter 5)


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Rama Navami in Canberra, Australia (Album of photos) The dynasty…
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Rama Navami in Canberra, Australia (Album of photos)
The dynasty of Maharaja Raghu is glorified because Lord Ramacandra appeared in that family. Lord Ramacandra appeared in the Iksvaku, or Raghu dynasty. He became King during Treta-yuga, but because of His good government, the age was like Satya-yuga.
Lord Ramacandra exemplifies an incarnation of Godhead who descends for the mission of paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam – protecting the devotees and destroying the miscreants.
This year, the devotees from Canberra invited me to attend their Rama Navami celebration, which took place in a rented hall down town that gave more space for the function. It was a great program with puspa-abhiseka, kirtan, lecture and feast.
Find them here: https://is.gd/ki9lHz

Why We Tithe
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Why We Tithe
by Sukhada devi dasi and Puskara das.
As I drive up to the Alachua Temple, I take in the beautiful grounds with newly planted trees, fresh flowers, and a well-maintained temple. I enter the Temple, pay my obeisances, gaze at the beautiful forms of our Lords, praying that They bless me and my family throughout the day with Their remembrance. They’re so merciful, exquisitely dressed, and the devotees marvel and discuss Their beauty when the curtains open for Guru Puja. I appreciate the fact that guests are well-received and cultivated nicely. I take darshan of the Deities. I wish I could help with the Sunday feast, but unfortunately, I’m short on time. It’s a little frustrating as there are so many activities at the Temple, and I’d love to participate in every one of them; but that, of course, is impossible.

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ISKCON Sri Lanka’s New Temple Construction in progress…
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ISKCON Sri Lanka’s New Temple Construction in progress (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We must strictly follow the principle of offering our respects to the Panca-Tattva: sri- krishna caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasadi-gaura-bhakta-vrinda. At the beginning of every function in preaching, especially before chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, we must chant the Panca-tattva’s names and offer our respects to them. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.4 Purport)
Find them here: https://is.gd/LqkLND

Krishna prasad prabhu distributes a “Saptarishi” set! (7 maha…
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Krishna prasad prabhu distributes a “Saptarishi” set! (7 maha big books in one shot)
Krishna prasad prabhu: As soon as I started setting up the book table today I met this nice couple from California. They were very relaxed compared to most New Yorkers we meet out here at Penn station. I said: “Here’s a gift for you! These books will guide you into deeper spiritual understanding. We’re monks and we just want people to help us with a donation for the printing and shipping cost.”
They were so happy to take the set with them. Krishna’s mercy.

Rama Navmi class – How Rama’s selflessness decreases others’ distress
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[Ramayana series 2, Talk at New Goloka, Hillsborough, USA]

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The post Rama Navmi class – How Rama’s selflessness decreases others’ distress appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Bhimasena’s reminder to his brother we all need to remember
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When Dharmaraja Yudhishthira was ruling over Indraprastha, one day a brahmana came to meet him. He met Dharmaraja and then returned home.
As the brahmana was going out of the main gate, Bhimasena saw him. He saw the brahmana while going in also, but he did not talk to the brahmana because it was usual for several people to come and seek from Dharmaraja what they wanted. But this brahmana did not appear to have received anything from his elder brother. So Bhimasena asked him, “Sir, you are returning empty handed. Have you met my brother?


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Sunday, April 7th, 2019
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Owen Sound, Ontario

Country Energy

This morning, I introduced a couple—whom I'm going to marry in November—to the land of Georgian Bay.  He is Raul from Argentina, and she is Judy from Cuba. They were wowed by the beautiful countryside, and then the quiet town of Owen Sound, itself.

At the Hanna home, we chanted, kids and all, and that was wonderful.  Good eats. Then the bunch of us proceeded to trek a side-trail to the Bruce Trail.  Markers are made with blue stripes painted on the trees, moving from tree to tree. We ended up at these cute waterfalls, and a shelter for gorgeous birds: pheasants and so on.   https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv_Wm6LgmNn/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1js0w7yeshktf

Owen Sound was once home to famous Canadian artist, Tom Thompson, and Billy Bishop, an aviation hero.  This day’s heroes were people on family outings, who had come out of hibernation after a long and weird winter.  Of course, you saw the occasional couple, hand-in-hand or arm-in-arm, strolling about.  Actually almost everyone was out because it was clearly the first good Sunday of the year.

It's quite the drive from the city of Toronto to Owen Sound; a good two hours-plus, and we thank Nanda for being the principle driver.  It is so important to reach out to families and instill within them a bit of higher consciousness.  The Hanna kids are of such high energy, and it was great to see them sit quietly, hearing about the childhood pastimes of the blue boy.

May the Source be with you!
5 km



Saturday, April 6th, 2019
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Oakville, Ontario

Packed Day

I could get no foothold on a walking trail today. My movement was by car to various locations.  All four places were people's homes.  There is a thirst to hear a swami talk.  It is part of pastoral duty to offer encouragement to community members. Usually they come to you. Sometimes you have to go to them.

My first visit, along with assistant, Connor, was to a household in Woodbridge, where friends came to huddle and eat. Mind you, we not only did that, but I also told stories that were real/surreal and had occurred within my lifetime as a monk; stories of ghosts—friendly and not so friendly—who had come to visit ashrams, and temples, and even appeared on a ferry during my first cross-Canada walk. Whether telling of hobgoblins is a deviation from pastoral obligations, or not, at least I can say I had a captive audience that was told in the end to “chant your mantras.”

The next home, we went to, was in Brampton, with Keshava.  It was brief, and only cranberry juice was accommodated within the belly.  The former home had stuffed us to the neck.

Visiting Rajesh, whose wife, Sundesh, had just passed away last November, was meaningful.  We were there to comfort him.  Losing a life partner, and a good one at that, is tough.

Finally, another fair-sized gathering took place in Oakville, at the home of Kasyapa, who held together our outreach centre in Saskatoon for years.  We spoke about caring for people in death and despair.  We also packed in the prasad, blessed food.

May the Source be with you!
0 km

Friday, April 5th, 2019
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Vaughan, Ontario

Hitesh and I

Hitesh and I went zig-zagging east-west on residential streets right near the ashram. We took that whole hour to talk much about things we had gone over before.  A review—such as:

1) Politics are everywhere and it begins within.  It starts with the mind, which has two political parties—the 'yes' party, the 'no' party, and perhaps a third—the 'maybe' party.  In Sanskrit, the terminology expressing acceptance and rejection is sankalpaand vikalpa.

2) We also dwelt on the topic of the beauty of diversity.  Hitesh was saying that he liked Toronto for its variety of people from all over the world. He also liked the fact that all the monks, or swamis, whom he knows, each bring a different flavour or mood to the culture.  

"Wouldn't it be bland if we were all the same?"  I asked, and he agreed.  Diversity, but unity in the point that we all say the same thing conclusively.

3) Walking is therapy.  Hitesh is going to go for surgery soon, on his knee. His therapist says he should keep up the exercise and not just be idle.  The body is made for walking, and walking is the best form of mobility. You see so much in the course of a stroll.

With this last remark both Hitesha and I stopped to lean over an iron fence to observe three robins go worm-and-bug hunting.  All three moved in a similar fashion.  It was a ‘hop’ or a ‘bob.’  Humans walk. Robins bob.

What a remarkable epiphany!
https://youtu.be/lRyVZ_GUjG8


May the Source be with you!
5 km

Thursday, April 4th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Thursday Afternoon 

Thursday afternoon.  It's sunny.  People are out.  It's winter-coat weather, but not for me.  I feel lucky, rather free.  Here on Bloor Street, at a time when the westerly sun streaks through, all appears so perfect.  People are out and about.  

Not all carry happiness with them, though. Some look glum.  An elderly woman struggles with every step, with stick in one hand and hope in the other.  Some are aware of their surroundings.  Others are in a chat with someone elsewhere, with wires protruding from their ears. They are in another zone.  

There are hipsters.  There are the ordinaries.  Some carry bags of groceries and bags of commodities of anything under the sun. Some bring along pet dogs, or perhaps it's the reverse.  The odd pigeon lands, gyrates, poops, then takes off.  

One man recognizes us, perhaps others too. It was obvious from him.  He said, "Hare Krishna," with the biggest grin—and nod.  

A beggar woman expressed a desperate look all over her face.  A beggar man expects compassion from us—from Connor and I.  Well, we were dressed as if we were givers, with devotional stuff on, beads, and me with robes, dhotiand kurta.  I take my japabeads and hold them in the air as if to say, "This is all we've got. Depend on the spirit."  

I don't know about Connor, my walking partner, but I feel like I'm with all the Bloor Street people, and yet aloof at the same time.  A sudden burst of joy overcomes me.  I think of guru, Prabhupada, and I feel so fortunate to be doing what I am doing—being a Vaishnava, walking in freedom.  I turn a corner at Avenue Road.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4-vRTAmbg/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1sxlw8gfuy849

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Talk In The Park

A conversation like this does take place from time to time when trying to pull someone out of the world of maya, matrix, illusion.

"But the taste is so good!" says the newcomer.

"What taste?" I ask.

"The meat.  I like it.  I've grown up with it all my life."

"That may be, but do you know that you are killing, and you are implicating yourself in negative karma?"

"What do you mean?" he asks.

"You are taking a life.  There's violence.  You are in the market of death.  Have you seen the sad eyes and heard the gruesome cries of the creatures suffering? They are like us biologically and psychologically.  They have feelings."

"But it's so strong—this maya that you talk about," says the person, guilty yet in some way innocent.

"I agree, but if you diet on a higher taste, it becomes easier to give up the more lowly tastes.  As you say, 'maya is strong,' that's true.  That's because maya is coming from a strong source.  Let us recognize that strong source and explore who or what that is.  It's worth the adventure.  It can even be fun.  Also, let's try loving the animals and not loathing them.  We are not cavemen that we have to resort to clubbing an animal to death.''  http://www.krishnapath.org/Library/cookbooks/The_Higher_Taste.pdf

And so the dialogue may go on.  Raymond and I had a mock talk at the park bench.  It was very real.

May the Source be with you!
6 km





Tuesday, April 2nd, 2019
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Picton, Ontario

A Look At a Hog

Off we went to another farm initiative; this time a set of twins, Graham and Dhyana Chandra, have decided to leave the city, buy a plot of land with house, barn and workshop, and settle there.

Jai, Connor and myself dropped in to inform the identical twins of the upcoming Spring Farmer's Conference just outside of Montreal.  Our purpose was to give them a boost after a long winter, which was actually spent in Panama.  In any event, we encouraged them and a mutual reality manifest.  From their harvested stash of tomato sauce, Graham and Dhyana made these wonderful pizzas, and also shared with us their local maple syrup poured on bananas (not local).

I asked them whether their huge pet, Prema the pig, is a vegan or vegetarian. Their response was: "Yes, she lives on dated baked goods from the supermarket, in addition to some of the organic harvest."  Pizzas from that same source are also something Prema pigs out on.

"What is her worth?" someone may ask, from the perspective of a meatless dieter.  The twins have found her snout to be an excellent shovel which turns over the soil for the almost perfect garden.

"That is brilliant," I thought.  I'm beginning to appreciate more the contribution of a creature that I had formerly placed an opinion on as purely looking "gross" and not in the least bit "sexy."  The Creator has a good plan and good function for all.   https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzQ0rkASnq/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=hrs4r3nbs1fv

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Rama Navami
→ Ramai Swami

The dynasty of Maharaja Raghu is glorified because Lord Ramacandra appeared in that family. Lord Ramacandra appeared in the Iksvaku, or Raghu dynasty. He became King during Treta-yuga, but because of His good government, the age was like Satya-yuga.

Lord Ramacandra exemplifies an incarnation of Godhead who descends for the mission of paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam – protecting the devotees and destroying the miscreants. 

This year, the devotees from Canberra invited me to attend their Rama Navami celebration, which took place in a rented hall down town that gave more space for the function. It was a great program with puspa-abhiseka, kirtan, lecture and feast.

Sri Rama Navami celebrations!
→ Mayapur.com

Sri Rama Navami is always a bigger festival as it is just before the vyasapuja of HH Jayapataka Swami and thousands and thousands of devotees visiting Mayapur for Vyasapuja, come early to take part in Rama Navami also. In the afternoon, we had an abhisheka to “Shaligram Shila” and arati, Pushpajali offered to Sri Ramchandra. […]

The post Sri Rama Navami celebrations! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The sweetly topsy-turvy world of Ramayana
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[Ramayana series 1 at Raleigh, USA]
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Podcast Summary

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HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu – Interview (12 min. video)
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HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu - Interview (12 min. video)
We had an opportunity to sit down with His Grace Deena Bandhu Prabhu as a part of ISKCON Sydney’s One on One Interviews where we speak with senior visiting Vaishnavas to the temple. This session was recorded at the ISKCON Sydney temple, Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir.

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Kathy from Brooklyn. Gopal Champu prabhu: She was looking at the…
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Kathy from Brooklyn.
Gopal Champu prabhu: She was looking at the harinam and chanting the Maha Mantra. I approached her and asked, “how do you know that?” She replied, “I’m a yoga teacher at Jiva Mukti and I did my Yoga teacher training at the Govardhan Eco Village.” I replied “that shows that you’ve awakened some desire to understand the truth.” I told her that today was Lord Rama’s birthday and that he wanted her to buy these books. She said “you could not have picked a better person, I’ll definitely take them.”