Lord Krishna and the Bhagavad-gita
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This is a story which happened in Benares about 300 years ago:
There was one Brahmin who used to take bath in Manikarnika-ghat, a very nice bathing place. One day when he was taking bath he saw a young boy sitting on the steps crying. He felt very compassionate and he went and took the young boy on his lap and asked, “You look so beautiful, a nice attractive young boy. Why are you crying like this?”


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Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies: A significant meeting to usher…
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Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies: A significant meeting to usher in the New Year 2019…Shaunaka-ji and our OCHS Kathmandu office members had a productive discussion with the Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Nepal. Our engagement in Kathmandu is slowly taking form!
From the left: Dr Rajan Khatiwoda, Dr Premraj Neupane, Minister Giri Rajmani Pokharel, OCHS Director Shaunaka Rishi Das, Dr Bjarne Wernicke-Olesen, Professor Kashinat Neupane, An Education Dept official and Gitte Poulsen.

Sankirtan festival 2018, Simhachalam (6 min video)
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Sankirtan festival 2018, Simhachalam (6 min video)
Every year after Srila Prabhupada’s Marathon devotees from Germany, Czech, Slovakia, Switzerland and some other countries come together for Sankirtan festival held on Nrsimhadevas farm - Sinhachalam. Kadamba Kamala Swami and Anakadundubhi Prabhu were giving amazing lectures. Festival was full of blissful kirtan and everyone was getting inspired for the next year’s book distribution.

Welcome 2019
→ KKSBlog

Contemplation and meditation...

These are the basis of any story on KKSBlog and therefore good ingredients to start the year anew. But before we dive headfirst into 2019, we present a spiritual overview for this year’s stories as published. May it deepen your meditation and offer a clear path to Krishna’s teachings.

Insights for 2018

In 2017, we wondered if we might be starting a trend of publishing fewer stories, and it looks like this prediction came to fruition. From 229 we went down to 155 stories this year. And the view count dipped under 100.000 for the first time in years. But it is not all doom and gloom. Visitor interaction, meaning the number of viewed stories per visitor, stayed almost the same with 2.77 vs 2.8 in 2017. So we got less stories, less visitors, but reading time stayed the same! In 2017 we wanted to “boil down the milk” and it seems we achieved that goal…

Where are you?

Like previous years India and the USA visit this site most frequently with the UK, South Africa, Australia, Germany and Czech Republic following suit. Fast growers are the United Arab Emirates and Mexico!

Favorite stories 2018

What stories did you read and really appreciate? Here is a list of the 10 most read/viewed articles for 2018.

Our top list of favorite stories

Instead of a top 10 all time favorite stories we thought to break tradition and spice things up by sharing the top stories all time by our KKSBlog team. These could be stories that deserve more attention, or were just stories that really made an impact on us! We hope you like our favorite articles in no particular order!

Financial overview 2018

Costs

Hosting, security & Software (H)€418.90
Shipping costs (S)€111.31
Banking fees (B)€29.92
Fees PayPal, Bandcamp, etc€119.98
Streaming platform costs (C)€282.52
Hardware investments (I)€1,326.28
Product costs (P)€24.90
Total€2,313.81

Income & Summary

Sales€1,768.14
Donations (D)€1,648.57
Balance (BL)€719.20
Total€4,135.91
Balance€1,822.10

Looking ahead

Will 2019 be a year of changes? For sure as things in the material nature are destined to change due to time. Stories will be told and memories will be made. We hope that these stories will deepen your meditation so you can remember Krishna always!

At the end of 2017 we made plans to publish old recordings and increase our presence on streaming platforms like iTunes and Spotify. And we succeeded as 10 audio albums are now available on almost all streaming services! On top of that we (re)published almost all e-books in ePub and Kindle formats.

So go ahead and dive deep into these jewels of nectar!

The article " Welcome 2019 " was published on KKSBlog.

Fortifying the Foundation of ISKCON
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Hare KrishnaBy Paramadayala Nityananda Das

Very few can immediately give up all material activities; therefore, mundane morality must be observed. But we must understand the fallacies, otherwise materialism will go viral in the movement. If we cannot, at least analytically, distinguish the difference between material and spiritual activity, we must strongly identify with the material body. Members of any group are connected by a collective identity. To see our spiritual connection, members of ISKCON must understand the philosophy. If we become dependent on the service of too many people who do not understand, these people will form connections based on imaginary material similarities. In other words, cliques will form. In the extreme, appositional factions will arise, and anything done by the leaders will be faulted by one group or another. Continue reading "Fortifying the Foundation of ISKCON
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Your Perfect Balance with HG Sankarshan Das Adhikari Prabhu and HG Vishnupriya devi dasi
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

YOUR PERFECT BALANCE

The Centre of Gravity of an object is defined as that spot where the entire object acts, if you balance at that spot, the objects stays balanced. The idea is that if we balance on our own true centres, we will be balanced also, in all respects.

Most of us feel out-of-balance in one way or another. If we focus on our job, our family could get neglected. Focusing on the children could mean neglecting the spouse. If we focus on our family, our community could get neglected. If we focus on service to humanity, we could end up neglecting our own health. A strong focus on our own health might end up making us callous to others. Even if just focusing on ourselves, focusing on the physical could end up neglecting the emotional and mental aspects... It seems hopeless! Is there a solution? What is the solution? How to find and focus on our true centre? HELP!

Enter 2 souls who have mastered the essence of balance.

Join us in a series of events in the Greater Toronto Area, where we will learn from two advanced specialists of balance... His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari, and Her Grace Vishnupriya Devi Dasi have been focused on finding and focusing on our true Centre for over 5 decades each.

They travel around the world, visiting more than 40 destinations each year, tirelessly speaking, writing, guiding, and practically helping souls all over the world in being fully and practically centred.

Come hear from them! Ask them your questions! Get clear, concise, and practically applicable answers!

  • Jan 9-11 4:30 AM - 9:30 AM Meditation & Bhagavatam in North York (contact for details)
  • Jan 9 - 11 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM Diving into the Gita in North York (contact for details)
  • Jan 12 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM Perfecting Balance - ISKCON Scarborough (3500 McNicoll Ave Unit 3, Toronto, Ontario M1V 4C7, Canada)
  • Jan 12 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Perfecting Relationships, leveraging conflict to grow closer - ISKCON Brampton (173 Advance Boulevard, Unit#41 Brampton, ON, L6T 4J4)
  • Jan 13 12 Noon - 1 PM Knowing our Common Objective - ISKCON Brampton (173 Advance Boulevard, Unit#41 Brampton, ON, L6T 4J4)
  • Jan 13 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM - Krishna, our True Center - ISKCON Toronto (243 Avenue Rd, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2J6, Canada)

Sankarshan Das Adhikari: Initiated by Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1971, Sankarshan Prabhu has been tirelessly working in Srila Prabhupada's movement for nearly 50 years. He serves as an initiating spiritual master, or Diksha Guru, within ISKCON, with disciples all over the world with an unceasing travel schedule that covers more than 50 destinations each year. He is well known for the Ultimate Self Realization Course, which has over 31,000 subscribers from over 100 countries, featuring a daily thought for the day, video for the day, Q&A based on Srila Prabhupada's instructions, a weekly Bhagavad Gita lesson, thousands of online lectures and a lively online community of students. To join, please head to www.joincourse.com.

Vishnupriya Devi Dasi: Having led a very pious life right from her childhood, she was initiated by Tamal Krishna Goswami in the seventies shortly after Srila Prabhupada's departure. She has been serving ISKCON tirelessly for over 40 years now. She travels with Sankarshan Prabhu assisting him and intently serves self-manifested deities of Sri Sri Radha Damodar in each place in a true spirit of "yukta vairagya". She helps devotees around the world practically apply the principles of Krishna consciousness in their lives in an endearing and honest manner. She is referred to affectionately as "Gurumataji" by many around the world. She is well known for her Bhagavad Gita readings and concise answers even to difficult questions.

Both Sankarshan Prabhu & Vishnupriya Mataji, at the time of their wedding, decided not to enter into family life, but instead, help push forward Srila Prabhupada's movement as Grihasthas, and later Vanaprasthas. Despite their advanced age, they dedicate over 18 hours of their day in service of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna. Please make the best of their personal presence in the Greater Toronto Area.

New Gokula
→ Ramai Swami

There was a severe drought at New Gokula, the worst in more than 2 decades, throughout the winter and spring. Although, there has been some rain, it wasn’t enough to normalise the situation.

Now with the summer in full swing and temperatures regularly between 35 to 40 degrees, the devotees are praying for further wet conditions. Nevertheless, devotee spirits remain high and there have been many visitors during the holidays.

Srila Prabhupada Memories (video)
→ Dandavats



Srila Prabhupada: The Spiritual Master and Krishna are two parallel lines. The train, on two tracks, moves forward. The Spiritual Master and Krishna are like these two tracks, they must be served simultaneously. Krishna helps one to find bona fide Spiritual Master, and bona fide Spiritual Master helps one to understand Krishna. If one does not get bona fide Spiritual Master, then how he can ever understand Krishna? You cannot serve Krishna without Spiritual Master, or serve Spiritual Master without serving Krishna. They must be served simultaneously.

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(This post has been viewed 406 times so far)

New Year Message from the Chairman
- TOVP.org

Dear Supporters and Friends,

Please accept my humble respects. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Please accept the blessings of Sri Pancha Tattva, Sri Sri Radha Madhava, and Sri Narasimhadev from Sridham Mayapur. Congratulations to all of you in helping Srila Prabhupada fulfill this long cherished dream.

We have completed the year 2018 which was another landmark year for the TOVP in Sridham Mayapur. The most auspicious event of the year was setting the goal to move the deities into their new home by 2022. Mission 22 Marathon has become the battle cry for driving construction and fundraising for the next three years.

Another major event was to bring in a world leading Project Management Consultancy, Cushman & Wakefield, to Mayapur to assist Sadbhuja prabhu and his team to drive the project to completion. They have set up a modern office on the construction site and are hitting the ground running.

In February of 2018, two auspicious Chakras were installed on the main dome and Narasimdev’s dome. The wonderful ceremony was brilliantly organized and executed by Braja Vilas prabhu. Many leaders and devotees from around the world attended to see the amazing event which can be viewed on the TOVP website and Youtube Channel.

The fundraising team of Jananivas prabhu, Svaha devi dasi, Braja Vilas prabhu and myself also had the privilege to visit the wonderful devotees in Hong Kong. Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Sri Narasimha’s Sitari were warmly welcomed by the Iskcon Hong Kong leadership, His Holiness BV Narasimha Maharaja and Chandra Shekar prabhu, and the effusive devotees.

We are gratefully looking forward to another year of progress and growing awareness of this magnificent temple. We can’t thank all of you enough for your continued support.

Your servant,
Ambarisa das

The post New Year Message from the Chairman appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Message from the Chairman of the TOVP
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Ambarisa das

We have completed the year 2018 which was another landmark year for the TOVP in Sridham Mayapur. The most auspicious event of the year was setting the goal to move the deities into their new home by 2022. Mission 22 Marathon has become the battle cry for driving construction and fundraising for the next three years. Another major event was to bring in a world leading Project Management Consultancy, Cushman & Wakefield, to Mayapur to assist Sadbhuja prabhu and his team to drive the project to completion. They have set up a modern office on the construction site and are hitting the ground running. In February of 2018, two auspicious Chakras were installed on the main dome and Narasimdev's dome. The wonderful ceremony was brilliantly organized and executed by Braja Vilas prabhu. Many leaders and devotees from around the world attended to see the amazing event which can be viewed on the TOVP website and Youtube Channel. Continue reading "Message from the Chairman of the TOVP
→ Dandavats"

Scottish Parliament offers recognition to the GBC Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy GBC Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture

The following is a recognition EDM (Early Day Motion) text which Dr Lisa Cameron, Member of the Scottish Parliament who opened our 11th ISKCON European Farm Conference last September, submitted in Parliament following her visit. Her office is offering ISKCON IMCPA a framed version of the text. We're equally grateful to Dr Cameron for her support and encouragement. "That this House commends the efforts of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness' Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture; recognises the value this organisation provides, especially in the form of its Farm Conference; congratulates this conference on its 11th year; supports the conference's objectives of finding solutions for sustainable living and offering training in the agrarian economy, food security and cow protection; and wishes for its continued success in these endeavors." Continue reading "Scottish Parliament offers recognition to the GBC Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture
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A Visit to the United Arab Emirates (Album of photos)…
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A Visit to the United Arab Emirates (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: During a 3-day visit to Dubai in the UAE, we participated in several events. First of all a hall program for the local devotees. Then a public program attended by the elite of the city. A number of prominent Muslin personalities were in attendance. Finally, we celebrated my good friend, BB Govinda Maharaja’s, Vyasa Puja. An amazing 72 hours!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Foubcv

HG Kaliyaphani Prabhu Eulogy
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Danavir Goswami

January 5, 2019: we just learned of the passing of our dear Godbrother, Kaliyaphani dasa Prabhu. I would like to give a little eulogy based on my association with him. I first met Kaliyaphani Prabhu at the Bhaktivedanta Manor in London, October, 1976—I had just arrived from Los Angeles. He was a brahmacari in his early twenties, doing full time traveling sankirtana book distribution very enthusiastically. His younger brother was also a devotee and an excellent book distributor named Satyavak dasa brahmacari, he, however left this world a few years later. Kaliyaphani was easily likeable, good-looking, agile, strong, healthy, and very friendly. He spoke with a refined English accent, indicating some kind of an educational, cultural and respectable family background. He was like a soldier in a sense that he took his service very seriously, and he considered himself sold out to Krsna. When I met him he was already initiated having accepted Srila Prabhupada as his life and soul. Immensely philosophical, he considered his life was now in Prabhupada’s care and he would do whatever he was asked to do by the representatives of Srila Prabhupada. Continue reading "HG Kaliyaphani Prabhu Eulogy
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Welcome to 2019! Sivarama Swami: Let me start the new year by…
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Welcome to 2019!
Sivarama Swami: Let me start the new year by expressing how grateful I am to you all for tuning in over the past two years and being part of our 250,000+ community, allowing me the opportunity to give a little of what I have learned during my half-century of life as a spiritualist and practicing swami. My satisfaction lies in being able to serve others and to share the universal teachings of soul philosophy.
Even more satisfying is knowing how so many of you have personally achieved your own goals through the vlogs. I receive thousands of messages from people across the globe: some who have quit smoking after years of failed attempts; some who have conquered depression; some who have committed to meditation practices; some who have taken up a more conscious and compassionate lifestyle through vegetarianism or veganism…there are countless examples I read of how you have found your own satisfaction and fulfillment through this growing community, and I am honored to be a helping hand in your process.
And the adventure continues! Let this be your year of transformation. More videos and courses are planned for the coming year, and I am more enthused than ever to continue to serve you as much as I can in your journey of inner development.
Read more: https://goo.gl/G2AcZm

His Grace Kaliyaphani Prabhu departs (Album of photos)…
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His Grace Kaliyaphani Prabhu departs (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: My dear godbrother Kaliyaphani prabhu: It was with great sorrow that I learned of your departure from this world yesterday. I have many fond memories of our times spent together at New Mayapur in France during the 1980’s. I was the temple president and you served in the Gurukula. We both shared a love for chanting the holy names and I can still remember the roaring kirtans we had in the temple room each and every day, as well as on the streets of local towns. Your enthusiasm for chanting the holy names was endless! And who can ever forget the famous theatrical performance of the Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva that we both participated in for an audience of several hundred devotees from around the European zone? Along with many devotees from New Mayapura we practiced for months. Surely everyone present vividly remembers the final scene of that drama when you as Hiranyakasipu - and me as Lord Nrsimhadeva - fought the final battle for almost half an hour! I still bear scars from the realistic performance we enacted! I will miss you my friend. I have no doubt you are serving our beloved spiritual master now in accordance with your heart’s desire. It will be an honor and a pleasure to serve alongside you again. Your servant, Indradyumna Swami
Find them here: https://goo.gl/rrVt2B

Sun Love Feast – Jan 6th, 2019 – Vedic discourse by His Grace Vaisnava Prabhu
→ 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

Putrada Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Thu Jan 17th, 2019
Breakfast................  on Fri Jan 18th 2019 b/w 7:46 am – 9:52 am

Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or
simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and 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.
English audio glorification of all Ekadasis is available here 




ONGOING PROGRAMS

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.

Obituary to Kaliyaphani prabhu
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Adikarta das

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected loss of our dear godbrother and friend Kaliyaphani dasa, who was killed in a motorcycle accident Thursday night in Alachua Florida. I knew Kaliyaphani since he joined ISKCON in 1975. He was from an upper class English family, had expensive private schooling and an aristocratic upbringingAlmost from the day he joined he became a traveling sankirtan devotee. In fact he was the rock on which the great British sankirtan army was built. He and his deceased brother Satyavak prabhu were both very helpful in establishing the British yatra as a leading sankirtan force. For many years he travelled in a small van heading up a fleet of other sankirtan vans. He was never the top book distributor, but he was the backbone of the party. I remember the time when the great sankirtan warrior Pragosh visited the UK, and he and I were engaged in a fierce competition, it was Kaliyaphani prabhu who humbly did all the back up work. Continue reading "Obituary to Kaliyaphani prabhu
→ Dandavats"

Thursday, January 3rd, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

To Another Friend Gone

I just got the news at 10:52 p.m.  A phone call from Gainesville.  A female voice, Eastern European, was on the phone—Nistaranga by name. “ Your friend, Kalyapani died over an hour ago.  An eighteen wheeler hit him.  He was on his motorbike.”   http://mycbs4.com/news/local/alachua-fire-rescue-responding-to-fatal-motorcycle-wreck

Of course, I was in shock.  We did the travelling monk thing together in Northern Ontario, in what we call sankirtan. He was a serious follower of Prabhupada.  We bore the bites of those mosquitos in the summer nights.  We also travelled on the youth bus tour.  He was the driver.  I was the drama director for the boys on the tour.  Kalya also acted.  He was the stuntman and with his pulleys he could do almost anything.  For his age, he was very good, agile and slim.

At the Alachua Krishna community, he tended to the gardening and maintenance.  He was respected for his tasks and readings at the temple.

God, I don’t like machines that move faster than the human being can handle.  Here comes another statistic; another Vaisnava knocked out of life.  Hard lessons are to be learned while being in this world.

We will miss you, Kalya, your friendship, your sharpness, your regular task-mastering, your English accent, your love for guru demonstrated by your complete involvement.  There isn’t anything outside of devotion that you were made of.  You had a lot of fire in you, physically, but your fire of bhaktiexceeded any other flame.  

So long!  So long, Friend, well-wisher of all.  When I go to Florida next, I will walk by the place where you left us—at the corner of the pavement and the sandy road.  

May the Source be with you!
4 km



Wednesday, January 2nd, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Etobicoke, Ontario

Journey Through

I was thrilled to receive a parcel in the mail, this morning, from Professor David L. Haberman, whom I met at the Parliament of World Religions this last November, right here in Toronto.  I opened the parcel and voila there was the book he so kindly promised me.  Authored by himself, Journey Through the Twelve Forests; An Encounter With Krishna, is for bhakti-yogis and pilgrims alike.  Thanks David!  Your kindness was shown when you came to visit and we had prasadam.

I've begun to read this masterpiece, which takes me to Braj, the land of Krishna.  It's a special place, no doubt.  It has been suggested to me many times that perhaps I should trek the stretch of India, following the Ganga perhaps, from north to south, maybe the Yamuna River which flows through Braj.

I've given those urges a thought.  Frankly, I like it best to move through uncharted territory that is beautiful, but not yet recognized pilgrim trails.  Although I see much of India's tirthas, or holy places, to be saturated with a special amrta(nectar) ,I cannot fail to see all terrain to be part of His domain as well.

After a marvelous dinner by Yamuna Jivana in Etobicoke, I just had to fulfil a rationed one-hour-minimum pilgrimage on my own neighbourhood not turf, but fresh snow.  My God, the white stuff in all this evening's fluff is so pure—so Krishna like.

May the Source be with you!
4 km


Tuesday, January 1st, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Shoes

Happy New Year!

A spiritually surcharged program took place at 243 Avenue Road.  To add to our drama repertoire we now have a fresh new skit which was presented, "First Timers," but what I would like to perhaps rename as, "Red Hot Chilli."  What is the experience of a newcomer to the centre?  Does the person have a good experience?  Sometimes it's cumbersome and lessons are to be learned.  The audience loved the comedy.

After this program of good cheer, I walked west on Bloor.  I often take that route, and when I do I pass by the Bata Shoe Museum.  You won't find a shoe museum in every city.

If you are a walker, footwear is important to you, although I've never personally taken a fancy to being stylish with shoes and, being a monk, I am somewhat restricted in apparel choices. Period.  I recall how our guru, Prabhupada, found guys wearing "stacks" in the seventies to be amusing.

In the past, I've ventured into the museum. Tuesday afternoons were free.  You are looking at three floors illustrating shoe power.  I remember seeing shoes worn by Glenn Gould, Elton John and, if I'm not mistaken, Marilyn Monroe.  On display were a set of wooden shoes worn by an Indian maharaj, and every time he'd take a step a device built inside would squirt out a blast of perfume. Impressive!

The window display for pedestrians shows floral patterns made of shoes, each display representing a provincial flower from Canada.  Sweet! I spent a few minutes, a break from walking, viewing the colourful patterns of shoes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BsGQzy2idHc/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=10j9jrjlvf9u2

May the Source be with you!
5 km



Monday, December 31st, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

New Year Blues

In he walked, during my moment of chanting the mantracalled gayatri.  It was someone who was familiar with the system.  He reverentially offered his obeisance after entering the temple room where I was chanting.  I completed my mantraand walked toward this six-foot-four-inch Texan (by birth).  I suddenly recognized that here is someone I hadn't seen in over twenty-five years.  It was Jagadisvara.

It was a hug for a feeling of long-gone separation.  He used to live on these premises, and since leaving for West Virginia, he married a Torontonian girl, and then produced two sons.  

"I'm so proud of my boys.  They have Krishna in mind.  It's the best thing I've done.  I instilled in them a sense of spirituality."

Jagadisvara came to town to see his family.  It's New Year's time, and people are moving about visiting friends and family.  I consider my dear friend to be family, part of our spiritual family.

A terrible thing happened to him, though, in the evening in Yorkville, during the drizzle of the night.  "I was walking; got approached by three tall men. They showed a knife, a gun and led me to an ATM and pulled out all my money."  

This is the sad story that goes along with the ushering in of the New Year for Jagadisvara.  It's interesting because the neighbourhood where this happened is a respectable one.  I recall hearing sirens going off more than twice in the night, an indication that not all goes well for some, and that it can be easy to start off on the wrong footing.

Watch your step.

May the Source be with you!
0 km

Sunday, December 30, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Scarborough, Ontario

Om Purnam

Omprakash is eighty-six and is a prominent member of the community in ISKCON Scarborough, located at 3500 McNicoll Avenue #3. Whenever I visit this centre, this gentleman stands out by having something pertinent to say.  Today he took the step forward to have diksha.  At one of the finest sacred fires I’ve experienced, Omprakash sat and received the Sanskrit name Om Purnam (Das).  Congratulations!

Dikshameans initiation but actually this rite of passage (for seniors or youth alike) is more or less a confirmation.  With this ceremony, vows are made—vows which express commitment to abstain from eating meat, gambling and intoxication.  The last or fourth one, is the abstinence of promiscuous sex.  Now when it came to Om’s uttering of it, it came out more like a mutter, and everyone had a good laugh.  Considering Om’s age and all, this particular appetite for sex is not much of an issue.  

From Scarborough’s program, I moved to Toronto to 243 Avenue Road, for the Sunday gathering.  It was a lively kirtan and everyone enjoyed themselves.  Nakula had come over to visit from St. John, New Brunswick, during the holidays, where he and partner, Sarah, conduct weekly bhakti programs.  I’m so proud of them.

Nakula and I took a hike from the city’s Greek town to our temple address, to talk about everything under the sun (or more like “under the street lights”).  It was good.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Saturday, December 29th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Talking and Walking It Up

The chill dampness can only get to your legs, with just a dhoti to cover them, if you don't keep moving.  Ananda had his black long-johns on, while I braved the zero degree celsius with thin fabric.  We took to the morning freshness and then again at nightfall.  Breaking up the day with two saunterings is really cool. We stuck to the Rosedale area and included Ramsden Park where Ananda went wild on a grandiose chime, a New Year's offering to Vishnu, I suppose.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BsAjF1AA2Vi/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=10zvpm3pcboi4

We are lucky snow hasn't seriously manifested yet, but that luck could wear off at any time.  Our second trek was through the Victorian neighbourhood.  For Ananda, the homes appear like houses from horror films. "Look again, my friend.  They are actually solid, homey charmers."

He had a second look and agreed. "Yes, they are solid, well-maintained structures."  

And I thought strong foundation means strong humility. If the base is firm, all above it can be solid.

Ananda told me of the earthquake in his village in Maharastra.  "In eleven seconds, everything was downed.  There wasn't even enough time to scream.  Many deaths.  I was young and the walls were thick, but still..."

He was right about Nature not stopping at anything to dismantle what we've built.

There we were, going at a leisure pace with grave thoughts in our minds, and in the background, and sometimes foreground, was our sound of the mahamantraas we fingered those beads of ours.  It was nice.

May the Source be with you!
6 km