How to present spiritual principles amidst changing times
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Chowpatty, India]

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Podcast Summary


 

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The post How to present spiritual principles amidst changing times appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Destiny – Do we make it or does it make us?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Prerana festival at ISKCON, Chowpatty, India]

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Podcast Summary


 

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Video:

The post Destiny – Do we make it or does it make us? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

If Krishna takes hundred steps towards us when we take one step towards him, is he partial or impartial?
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Answer Podcast

The post If Krishna takes hundred steps towards us when we take one step towards him, is he partial or impartial? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Jagannatha Gauranga Temple
→ Ramai Swami

Indonesia has so far around twenty temples, some big and others smaller in size. In Bali there are six main temples and one is the Jagannatha Gauranga temple, which has a very sweet atmosphere.

I visit regularly and it’s always a pleasure to attend festivals, lead kirtans and give lectures there. The devotees in Bali love kirtan and sometimes the chanting goes on for hours and hours and at the end there is, of course, wonderful prasadam.

It Is a Great Art – How to Criticize, November 11, San Diego
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.6.

“Dhruva Maharaja was pleasing to everyone. He was pleasing to his brother who was the threat to his kingdom, to his father, even to hos step-mother who was so mean to him. Srila Prabhupada was like that to. He spoke about the art of criticizing. He quoted a Sanskrit sloka; Instead of saying the tree is dead and dry one should say. ‘The beautiful tree that is full of luxuriant foliage and producing so many fruits and flowers and that provides people shade, has lost its juice. Its the same as saying that it has dried up but that is an example of how one can criticize in a palatable way.

On one morning walk in Varda Srila Prabhupada said. ‘It is a great art how to criticize and unfortunately you do not know that art’. In a way he was criticizing us but the way he led into it by saying that it is a great art and not that it is a simple thing, made it palatable.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.6

Srila Prabhupada’s Winter Book Marathon 2018 – Chant and dance your way – Vayu dasa
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Srila Prabhupada’s Winter Book Marathon 2018 - Chant & dance your way - Vayu dasa (2 min video)
Every December the entire ISKCON world focuses all attention on the distribution of transcendental literature, something we all know was so close to Srila Prabhupada’s heart. He was incredibly eager to hear the figures of how many books were being distributed. Indeed, he said it gave him life. When a new book was printed, Prabhupada felt as though he had conquered an empire. He told one disciple – “the best of me is in my books.”
Join us this marathon and let’s try to give pleasure to Krishna by giving this mercy in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books to as many souls as possible.

Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession (Album of photos)…
→ Dandavats



Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession (Album of photos)
Saturdays around 5:00 pm in Mayapur… Magical moments of Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession.
Mystical sounds could be heard by every single living entity anywhere near ISKCON Mayapur campus. Very intense thundering of large drums beating to the rhythm of two elephant’s hearts, was the best way to bring back to mind some very sweet pastimes of our dear Lord Krsna in Dwarka.
Every Saturday evening, Sri Radha Madhava leave their altar carried by one of our leading Pujari, HG Jananivas prabhu and are reverently placed on our dear elephants Vishnupriya. Her associate the little elephant Laxmipriya also joins the procession.
Two devotees beautifully decorated, have the service of carrying their Lordship on elephants along with some devotees around the Mayapur campus. The fire lanterns being the only source of light during the procession, create a fascinating and kind of mysterious atmosphere which bring everyone to an enchanted mood. The roads are so colorful and beautifully decorated with breath taking Rangoli designs, it is hard to walk without stopping to take a longer look, but we have to follow the procession with hundreds, if not thousands of devotees and pilgrims chanting and dancing with raised arms.
In front of the procession, there is a procession of Sri Gaura –Nitai deities from Bhajan kutir in bullock cart.
The amazing kirtan & mantra chants by Gurukul boys made everyone’s heart melt and voices merged into a one unison sound. All of us present could feel how once again, these pastimes performed by the Mayapur devotees are incredibly powerful and help so much to bring everyone into a good spiritual mood. Krsna consciousness is serious business but, Oh my God… How fun and heart cleansing it can be. So every Saturday evening, we can all really do what Srila Prabhupada said “ Just chant and be happy!”
Hari Haribol !
Find them here: https://goo.gl/BZ5ce6

Vrindavan Braj Parikrama – Day 8
→ KKSBlog

Day 8 – 19 November 2018

Written by Candrasekhara das

Most of us on the parikrama are from the West and accustomed to different comforts. Whilst Vrindavan offers its inconveniences, we must remember that Vrindavan is home and that home is nowhere else. We carry this important meditation by Kadamba Kanana Swami from Day 7 into Day 8.

We begin Day 8 with an hour-long drive from bustling Vrindavan to the clear sky-ed Brahmanda ghat. Being more rural, Brahmanda ghat is serene, peaceful and calming to the soul. We sit beside the auspicious ghat shaded by a large kadamba tree eagerly awaiting Kadamba Kanana Swami’s nectarian meditations. The parikrama thus far has been filled with special meditations. Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityandanda, we will distribute these precious meditations to the different corners of the earth when we leave sacred Vrindavan. Brahmanda ghat is celebrated as the place where baby Krsna ate clay and displayed all the universes in his mouth when the concerned Mother Yasoda looked inside. Isn’t Krsna bewildering?

As followers of Srila Prabhupada, Brahmanda ghat is also significant as the place where Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciples gave him an abhishek in 1972 when he bathed in the ghat. Kadamba Kanana Swami made the important point that although the holy dham is filled with mercy, even more mercy is attracted to places where great vaisnavas have been, therefore making Brahmanda ghat especially potent.  

Our second stop for the day was the River Yamuna, a few hundred metres from Brahmanda ghat. In that area, the famous Damodara lila took place. HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaisnava Swami captivated the minds of everyone as he sweetly described Krsna’s humorous butter-stealing pastimes.

Our final stop for the day was Raval – the birthplace of Srimati Radharani. Due to its sanctity, Kadamba Kanana Swami decided that we spend a larger portion of our day at Raval. We sat under a mysterious tree formation which were actually two trees (one blackish and one white) that have intimately intertwined into one tree known as the Radha-Krsna tree. This is just one of many such trees in Vrindavan. Kadamba Kanana Swami, Ramanaji and Gour Krsna each led ecstatic kirtans that had us all screaming Krsna’s holy names in surcharged Raval. How nice it is to scream out Krsna’s names in all corners of Vrindavan! Although Krsna can be accessed wherever we reside in the world, he is especially accessible in holy Vrindavan. Kadamba Kanana Swami concluded the day by reminding us that it is only due to Lord Caitanya’s special mercy that we have all come to Vrindavan. By Lord Caitanya’s mercy, difficult things become easy to achieve and without his mercy, easy things become extremely difficult to achieve. We carry this meditation into the night as we excitedly await Day 9 of our exhilarating parikrama.

The article " Vrindavan Braj Parikrama – Day 8 " was published on KKSBlog.

Srimad Bhagavatam Class: HH Chandramouli Swami
→ Mayapur.com

Verse number: Srimad Bhagavatam 9.8.23 Date: 01 Dec 2018 Speaker: HH Chandramouli Swami taṁ tvāṁ ahaṁ jñāna-ghanaṁ svabhāva- pradhvasta-māyā-guṇa-bheda-mohaiḥ sanandanādyair munibhir vibhāvyaṁ kathaṁ vimūḍhaḥ paribhāvayāmi  Translation: O my Lord, sages freed from the influence of the three modes of material nature — sages such as the four Kumāras [Sanat, Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanātana] — are […]

The post Srimad Bhagavatam Class: HH Chandramouli Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

SARVA SAUNDARYA SANGRAHAM: Reservoir of All Beauties
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Gauranga Darshan Das

Beautiful forms inspire attraction, but attachment and affection are developed more because of beautiful characteristics. Although physically attractive, if someone doesn’t have good qualities and attitude, people are not inclined to maintain a relationship with him. But if someone is beautiful both in his form and character, relationship with him is most enlivening. Krsna’s form is exquisitely beautiful, and so is His divine character. Continue reading "SARVA SAUNDARYA SANGRAHAM: Reservoir of All Beauties
→ Dandavats"

If genetically modified bacteria could clean the polluted Yamuna river, is that technology still bad?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post If genetically modified bacteria could clean the polluted Yamuna river, is that technology still bad? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Expectations
→ ISKCON News

Have you heard it said these days that the secret to happiness is to lower your expectations? It makes sense, doesn’t it? We often put so much pressure on ourselves or each other, due to our unnecessary or overblown expectations. 

Sun Love Feast – Dec 2nd, 2018 – Vedic discourse by Her Grace Mokshalila 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

 Utpanna Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Sun Dec 2nd,2018
Breakfast................  on Mon Dec 3rd, 2018 b/w 8:22am – 10.32am

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.

Tuesday, November 27th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

The Topic of Food on the Walk

Dog sitters, walkers and runners were the folks whom Ananda and I met along the way through the ravine.  All of our encounters with them were sweet, though a brief acknowledgement of each other’s presence became our experience.

Ananda and I were also talking about sweet and sour things and what Ayurveda has to say about various foods, exercise and overall good health.  His friend, Keshavanand, claims that drinking lots of water as is prescribed in the west, is not good.  He says you get your fluids from the food you eat.  He also claims sour things are not to be consumed at night.  Basically, you shouldn't eat late at night.  Anywhere from 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. is actually time for sleeping.  Of all exercises, walking is the best.  Running is shunned and is not good for the knees.  He doesn’t recommend certain foods such as eggplant as it produces too much heat inside.  In general, food should be cooked.  He says ghee is most favourable, not much, and olive oil is discouraged, while sesame and peanut are preferred.  Of course, GMO'd food is to be avoided and one should go for organic.  Canned food—not good.  Yogurt is to be kept in the fridge or in a clay pot in the evening, while consumption during the day is advantageous.

If you have a sweet tooth, jaggery is recommended, and the processed white sugar is taboo.  There was more that we discussed.  What I have personally discovered over the years is that your body is its own guru and tells you of comfort or discomfort through the stomach.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Editor’s Note: Always consult with your medical practitioner or advisor when considering dietary or major  lifestyle changes. And do your research. As Bhaktimarga Swami suggests, only yourbody can tell you what is best for you. 




Monday, November 26, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

You’re In

Wet is the way to describe the day.  I didn’t step outside but inside I did.  Lots of service, planning and then rhyming. Here’s what I wrote about the day.

You’re In 
         
Dull time did pass—no break
Something that seemed hard to shake
When out the window there was gloom
A day of utter drizzle doom
Not even a steamy herbal tea cup
Could pull the entire spirit up
For a grey veil did suspend there
Endorsing a world that’s so unfair
Observe the world, it’s most mundane
It can drive one to be insane
If and only if you allow it to
Push one to the shades of blue
You may look at life as so much grief
Or may look at life—what relief!
It’s all in how you come to view
Let others needs pull on you
There is service that’s so much at hand
Then the world’s not puny, only grand
Simply conjure up the joy within.
Explore, evoke, then you’re in.

                      ©Bhaktimarga Swami

May the Source be with you!
3 km


Sunday, November 25, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton/Toronto

Sending a Message for Giving

Once again, an audience of a devotional kind was grateful for a bhakti drama.  In a less formal way of speaking, “Many Moms Many Dads” came off as a crowd pleaser and I’m indebted to those who volunteered as actors and technical personnel for the presentation in Brampton.

In Toronto, I gave a class from the Gita highlighting the importance of sharing or giving this wisdom to those who are not so acquainted with it.  

Sanjay was the secretary of a blind king, but he had the vision to see the benefits of disseminating this knowledge. Quoting Sanjay, who was in ecstasy personally at receiving the wisdom, he said, “So wonderful is that message that my hair is standing on end.”

For the month of December, devout followers of Krishna bhakti will engage in a book distribution marathon because it is a benevolent thing to do.  December is also the month when the Gitawas spoken, so it’s a nice way to celebrate.

After my deliveries in both dramatized and orator fashion, I set myself up for a walk where I could really appreciate the textures and intense colours of the season. Some people make the most of it, décor-wise.  At least my eyes were getting a kick out of what I was seeing and feeling in the nighttime stroll, although it wasn’t so extreme as to get my hair “standing on end.”

Yorkville, where I strode for an hour or more, is an ideal place for this kind of sensory satisfaction.  I came back to the ashram and had a great sleep by divine mercy.

May the Source be with you!
5km




Saturday, November 24, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton, Ontario

Not Bull-dozed

I crossed a parking lot in a Brampton plaza to get to Billy’s car.  I mentioned to passenger Kamala and Premaroni that I wasn’t so proud of not reaching my usual quota of the day.  What can be done?  Sometimes it works out that way.  I was busy with another one of those dramas.  Once again, and for the last time this year, we will stage “Many Mothers Many Fathers.”  

These dramas are morale boosters.  They are a way of bull-dozing maya (illusion).  Groucho Marx one time defined a bull-dozer as “a tranquilizer for a bull.” Ha ha!

Maya, indeed, must be tackled, otherwise the illusions and temptations of the world will tackle you.  

I was lucky to get some help from the local Brampton community pulling things together for the drama.  Since returning from Argentina, I had been trying to conscript assistance for acting and technical back-up.  I needed some extras as queens and jesters.  All were rather silent in response to my appeals.  I began losing hope.  Then the flood of phone calls came in at the eleventh hour; truly at around 11:00 o’clock.  It was quite mystical, actually.  So practice went on!  The extras and prime actors were happy.

When I returned back to the ashram, I pulled out some old photos of dramas past.  One picture is of myself as the personification of Dharma, the righteous, as represented by the bull.  The bull was not tranquilized.

May the Source be with you!
0km

Marathon Message by Janananda Goswami
→ Dandavats



Marathon Message by Janananda Goswami.
It’s never too late. Srila Prabhupada arrived in US at 70 years of age and preached alone in the snow of New York, distributing his Srimad Bhagavatams. We sure can’t imitate Srila Prabhupada, but at least we can try to follow. Last year I had the fortunate experience of trying to distribute books in France, and I do not speak the language. You may know what France is like if you don’t speak French. Still, by the mercy of Lord Nityananda, many books were distributed, and I am no book distributor at the best of times. To be honest I had not been on a full marathon since 1985. Done a few partial ones here and there, in the snow of Newcastle and the sun of the Gold Coast. But Paris was something special - a real dose of mercy and a close feeling of Srila Prabhupada’s presence.

Friday, November 23, 2018
→ The Walking Monk


Toronto, Ontario

A Parcel Arrived

A parcel arrived from Montreal, a bunch of newspaper articles from the U.S.  My dear friend, Gokulananda Prabhu, forwarded them from one of my support monks who accompanied me last year.  I slid the first article out of the parcel, one from the Grand Island Independent. Did it bring back memories!

Only a year and a half ago, in the state of Nebraska, on a cold Monday, I had walked with strain on this overpass.  The wind was fierce up there.  It was outside the city of Grand Island, the birth place of actor Henry Fonda, if I’m not mistaken.  The journalist from The Independent honked, waved and indicated he’d see me at the end of the overpass, in a place for safe parking on the road’s shoulder.

The interview went great.  I changed my mind about the town.  There was a mix of good and bad vibes to it.  Hayagriva and Marshall, my support monks, remember it well for being a stinky place.  In the centre of town is perhaps one of the largest slaughterhouses in the country. The smell of death-blood can occupy your nostrils for twenty miles in any direction.  It depends on the way the wind blows, I guess.

The time I reached the town, employees were just changing work-shifts; employees from all over the world, and of all different races: blacks, whites, Mexicans etc.  I recall female drivers pulling up to pick up their husbands who had just come out of the facility, a tall grey, massive fortress-type of structure.  I also recall meeting a cyclist, a wanderer type headed for Pennsylvania.  

I ended the walk on that cold, grey day, at a cemetery.  Though there was darkness in a pervasive way, the news article from Grand Falls was generous, informative.  It was kind to a Krishna monk.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


When Hitler met a Vaishnava
→ Dandavats



When Hitler met a Vaishnava.
From the book “Blazing Sadhus” by HG Acyutananda Prabhu ACBSP.
“We sat on the veranda, and Bon Maharaj told us how he met Adolf Hitler. "I saw Hitler down a long hall. He was pacing furiously. The war was on. This was before Britain was in the war because the British would never allow any Commonwealth citizen to associate with the enemy. Anyway, Hitler was pacing furiously down the end of a hall. He stopped and looked at me. I walked down the hall, and he immediately shook my hand.” I found this astonishing because it is well known that Hitler refused to shake the hand of Jesse Owens after the Olympics, yet he did shake the hand of Bon Maharaj, who was very dark-skinned. Bon Maharaj went on, “I knew Hitler was trying to find any kind of evidence to support his Aryan culture. I told him we Indians are the true Aryan culture from ancient times.” Hitler said, “Thank you,” in English and then turned me over to a secretary/officer who arranged to have me stay with a German family. The officer ordered me, “At the beginning and end of every lecture you must raise your right hand and say, `Heil Hitler.’ ”


Read More...

Сбор средств ХВП в #ЩедрыйВторник обрел небывалый успех
- TOVP.org

Каждый год некоммерческие организации по всему миру устраивают онлайн инициативу #ЩедрыйВторник, названную на веб-сайте www.givingtuesday.org «Международным днем благотворительности». Людей вдохновляют открыть сердца для благотворительности, по крайней мене в этот день, и поддержать проекты, которые важны для них.

В этом году Facebook и YouTube в США объединились для того, чтобы софинансировать пожертвования, полученные через портал Facebook в США, в размере до 7 миллионов долларов. И, хотя мы начали позднее остальных, так как не были знакомы с программой #ЩедрыйВторник, пожертвования ХВП для марафона «МИССИЯ 22» достигли 25 829 долларов США. Почти сто преданных вызвались помочь, понимая, что их пожертвования будут софинансированы. Мы очень признательны за их энтузиазм и поддержку.

Однако в течение дня нам стало известно, что фонд софинансирования Facebook / YouTube уже распределен и софинансирования пожертвований более не будет. Мы не были уверены, что это только слухи, и также беспокоились, что спонсоры будет разочарованы, если их пожертвования не софинансируют. Мы обсудили возможные последствия и представили их вниманию Амбариши прабху, председателя ХВП. Он разрешил дилемму, сказав, что сам софинансирует пожертвования, если Facebook и YouTube не сделали этого. Наш герой.

Мы все еще ожидаем информации от Facebook, были ли наши пожертвования частично или полностью софинансированы, но, в любом случае, все наши спонсоры могут быть полностью уверены, что их усилия по получению софинансирования пожертвованных средств обязательно принесут свои плоды. Спасибо еще раз, вся слава вашему служению.

 

НОВОСТИ ХВП – БУДЬТЕ В КУРСЕ

Посетите ХВП: www.tovp.org
Читайте о ХВП: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Смотрите о ХВП: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Загрузите приложение ХВП для мобильного телефона: www.tovp.org/ru/announcements-ru/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Подпишитесь на новости ХВП: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Поддержите ХВП: www.tovp.org/ru/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Сбор средств ХВП в #ЩедрыйВторник обрел небывалый успех appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.