Sunday, November 4th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Owen Sound, Ontario

Seeing Results from the Walks

Dillon was up there, along with a friend, on the rooftop, tearing down shingles.  They need a replacement because winter will set in soon.  He noticed our little walking party, came over and greeted us, saying he’d been to our summer festival in Montreal.  Like him, so many people over the years have been in contact with Krishna Consciousness and it has impacted their lives.  Even from brief encounters.

At the Parliament of World Religions, I met a fellow running a booth who said, “I remember seeing you as host of the TV show, ‘On the Way to Krishna.’”  Our program ran for seven years on the Vision TV network.  Other folks were there to say, “I’ve visited your temple,” or, “I ran into you guys on the street, chanting.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BpzDKqbFir_/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=mfk6uyr7qvdg
Then, after our visit to Owen Sound with the Hanna family,  I was whisked off to Toronto to catch the late afternoon program.  My dear friend Anuttama was giving the class.  He asked for questions at the end of his session.  Three people raised their hands.  The first was a man who, when a child, met me in Marathon, a gold mining community up north.  I was walking my first Canadian pilgrimage and his family invited me to their home for a rest and a meal.

The second person to ask Anuttama a question was Ray.  Ray said he’s a Christian but has admired the consciousness of the Krishnas for years.

“I met Bhaktimarga Swami on the road near Owen Sound.  We’re in touch.”  That was also back in ’96, my first walk.  I’m glad to see people coming around who made a connection to do with my pilgrimages.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Saturday, November 3rd, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

At South Building, Convention Centre

Thousands of spiritual delegates came from around the world to attend the Parliament of World Religions.  I met a small percentage at the booth/exhibit areas, casually in one of the many corridors, or directly off the stage and podium from where they made a presentation.  There are Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Christians, Baha’is, Indigenous Spiritualists, and everything in between and beyond.  Diverse styles of dress, life and beliefs make the event a potpourri of people—a sophisticated Kumbha Mela, perhaps.  There are certainly a lot of swamis around, most of whom put palms together in the pranams position upon seeing each other, myself included.  One of them was most eager for me to come to his pravachan—talk.

“I have one coming up too, if you’re interested,” I said as a mutual invitation.

However, my presentation, or talk, was a brief enough one, complemented by Michael Oesch’s film, “The Walking Monk,” and a Q and A session.  The room, 710, in the South Building, became occupied in no time.  People seem interested in the topic, “Finding Time for Pilgrimage.”

The questions flowed, and answers too.  Comments did the same.  One man from New Orleans relayed that he had walked the famous Camino in Spain. It was a life-reassuring experience. In general, the audience appeared to value a walking culture, the simplicity behind it and the penetration of thought that rolls out with it.  I was on Cloud Nine.

May the Source be with you!
2 km

Friday, November 2nd, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

At the Parliament of World Religions

Our cast and crew for “Many Mothers, Many Fathers,” were just entering the Room Festival Stage, a two hundred seat area, when the female speaker on the stage spoke of how her mother had her listen to George Harrison.  Yes indeed she did.  “I grew up hearing ‘My Sweet Lord.’”  She also mentioned that she believes Krishna to be Supreme.

The timing couldn’t have been better.  It inspired us.

The performance rolled out well.  Tears did too—from the audience.  

I decided to walk back home, to take in non-people air—the Convention Centre was full of people—and admire brilliance in the form of autumn leaves.  Yes, this excites me.    I didn’t meet an acquaintance of any kind.  Oops!  I did bump into a fine devotee, Yamuna Jivana, from India.  He was waiting for a bus to go to the temple.  I convinced him to walk with me.

For some people having a monk next to them is a treat.  Yamuna Jivana was a good sport, because as we met, I received a call from Vancouver, and thus couldn’t give him any attention.  It was a call for help.  The person’s pet had just died, leaving him very depressed.  He performed all the procedures to help his dog pass on devotionally.  It involved chanting to the dog before he left.

“That chanting,” I explained, “did a world of good.  He is now so far ahead of most souls who are on the journey to greener pastures.”

May the Source be with you!
7 km

Thursday, November 1st, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Shifted

Walking shifted to play practice today. While the city’s Convention Centre had the opening night for the Parliament of World Religions, and our downtown temple was celebrating the anniversary of when an extraordinary spring of water manifest in the holy district of Vrndavan, India, I was immersed in the story of a king—in a drama.

King Chitraketu was hard-pressed to have offspring, but was unsuccessful in producing, and so a sage came circumstantially.  He offered kheer Prasad—blessed, sweetened rice—to the monarch who offered it to his principal queen, who then bore a child. The sage paid heed to the fact that a child brings both joy and sorrow.  “First, joy will come, then lamentation will follow,” said the sage. The king was attentive to the first half of the statement but ignored the second portion.

Life in the palace went on in a relative happiness and for some time until the seething spirit of jealousy set in from the queens who were co-wives.  They plotted to poison the child and they succeeded.  A shockwave went through the kingdom of Surasena.  The father and mother of the boy were devastated but that feeling of breaking down transformed into insight.  Purification manifested.  The king’s partiality to the one wife reduced.  A reconciliation took place.  Hearts softened and everything looked up.  Tomorrow is the performance.

May the Source be with you!
0 km

The Most Sacred Bath
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Фотоальбом

At the most sacred place in the universe, Radha Kunda, we heard many amazing pastimes about Radha and Krsna. Greatly inspired we then had had kirtan with Bada Haridas and then did parikrama around both Radha Kunda and Syama kunda. It is said that one who bathes in Radha Kunda achieves the same love that Radha has for Krsna and one who bathes in Syama Kunda achieves the same love that Syama ( Krsna ) has for Radha. It was a most remarkable day!

Achieving Peace in Troubled Times
Giriraj Swami

Amidst all the divisive and inflammatory political rhetoric right now, approaching the midterm elections in the US, Srila Prabhupada’s brief essay “The Peace Formula” seems especially relevant, timeless, and appealing. 

The great mistake of modern civilization is to encroach upon others’ property as though it were one’s own and to thereby create an unnecessary disturbance of the laws of nature. These laws are very strong. No living entity can violate them. Only one who is Krishna conscious can easily overcome the stringency of the laws of nature and thus become happy and peaceful in the world.

As a state is protected by the department of law and order, so the state of Universe, of which this earth is only an insignificant fragment, is protected by the laws of nature. This material nature is one of the different potencies of God, who is the ultimate proprietor of everything that be. This earth is, therefore, the property of God, but we, the living entities, especially the so-called civilized human beings, are claiming God’s property as our own, under both an individual and collective false conception. If you want peace, you have to remove this false conception from your mind and from the world. This false claim of proprietorship by the human race is partly or wholly the cause of all disturbances of peace on earth.

Foolish and so-called civilized men are claiming proprietary rights on the property of God because they have now become godless. You cannot be happy and peaceful in a godless society. In the Bhagavad-gita Lord Krishna says that He is the factual enjoyer of all activities of the living entities, that He is the Supreme Lord of all universes, and that He is the well-wishing friend of all beings. When the people of the world know this as the formula for peace, it is then and there that peace will prevail.

Therefore, if you want peace at all, you will have to change your consciousness into Krishna consciousness, both individually and collectively, by the simple process of chanting the holy name of God. This is a standard and recognized process for achieving peace in the world. We therefore recommend that everyone become Krishna conscious by chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

This is practical, simple, and sublime. Four hundred and eighty years ago this formula was introduced in India by Lord Sri Chaitanya, and now it is available in your country. Take to this simple process of chanting as above mentioned, realize your factual position by reading the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, and reestablish your lost relationship with Krishna, God. Peace and prosperity will be the immediate worldwide result.

Now online: “Gita changes” for Chapter Eleven
→ Jayadvaita Swami

BBT Press release

The “annotated scans” for Chapter Eleven of Bhagavad-gita As It Is are now online at BBTedit.com/changes.

You can also directly download the pdf file for this chapter.

The scans for this chapter are the latest in a series that shows all the revisions done for the transliterations, word meanings, and purports of the second edition. Nearly every revision also has a note explaining why it was done, along with an image from the BBT’s oldest manuscripts, allowing you to verify the history for yourself.

Jayadvaita Swami did his revisions for the second edition on a physical copy of the first edition. The scans show that copy. (Revisions to the translations aren’t shown, because he edited them separately, not in the book itself.) Each chapter forms one downloadable pdf file.

The revisions to this chapter were extensive, so the scans for this chapter give you much to see.

  • You’ll see twenty Sanskrit quotations (and one in Bengali) and several lost passages in English now recovered—on average, more than one quotation for every three pages.

  • You’ll see three spelling errors fixed in the Devanāgarī, the original Sanskrit text.
  • You’ll see various mishearings corrected. For example, in the purport to text 37, Kṛṣṇa is the “shelter” (nivāsa) of the universe, not its “center.” In the purport to text 3, “Arjuna’s asking the Lord’s permission” was a significant mishearing, now fixed.

  • You’ll see many editorial and transcription errors fixed in the word-for-word meanings. For example, in text 1 the meaning for vigataḥ is no longer “educated” but “removed” (that is, eradicated).
  • You’ll see several places where the original editor misunderstood what the manuscript intended and the 1983 edition has recovered the correct sense.

Apart from images for specific changes, the scans for this chapter include twelve complete sample pages from the original manuscripts.

Whether you’re for “the changes,” against them, or neutral, here’s another opportunity to see what the changes actually are.

For devotees who have been critical of the second edition but are thoughtful and open-minded, the scans for this chapter provide ample food for thought.

See for yourself in the annotated scans for Chapter Eleven, now online at BBTedit.com/changes. The changes for the Preface, the Introduction, and the previous chapters are already online there too.


The post Now online: “Gita changes” for Chapter Eleven appeared first on Jayadvaita Swami.

Book Distributors Reach Out to Russian-Speakers in North…
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Book Distributors Reach Out to Russian-Speakers in North America!
ISKCON book distributors are constantly trying to find new ways to give out Srila Prabhupada’s books, and new people to reach. One of the biggest niche audiences is the Russian-speaking community in North America – some 7 to 8 million natives of Russia and former Soviet Union countries. What is particularly exciting about this audience is that many have already been introduced to Vedic knowledge and are looking for more.
To read the entire article please click here: https://goo.gl/yvGHpK

Visit to Durvasa Munis’ ashram (Album of photos) Indradyumna…
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Visit to Durvasa Munis’ ashram (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: As a part of our Kartik parikrama, we took a beautiful boat ride on the Yamuna to Durvasa Munis’ ashram in Pani Gaon in Vraja. It was a wonderful ashram with a scenic surrounding where Durvasa Muni had performed austerities. Some nice sadhus live there and we absorbed ourselves in amazing kirtan and discussing Krishna Katha.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/iJ3Wwn

A Pilgrimage to Vrinda Kunda (10 min video)
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A Pilgrimage to Vrinda Kunda (10 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Once again we were fortunate to visit Vrinda Kunda here in Vrindavan where Vrinda devi and Purnamasi meet to arrange Radha and Krsna’s daily pastimes. Only by the mercy of Vrinda devi, can we come to Vrindavan and hear the pastimes of the Divine Couple and only by her grace can we enter into these pastimes. “Vrinde names te caranaravindam!”

If our bhakti practice is not removing our conditionings, how to avoid being discouraged?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post If our bhakti practice is not removing our conditionings, how to avoid being discouraged? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Appreciating Krishna’s longing for love through Damodara-lila
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Brampton, Toronto, Canada]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post Appreciating Krishna’s longing for love through Damodara-lila appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Wednesday, October 31st, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Ghoul-Time

One of my favourite couples is Anuttama and Rukmini from Washington, D.C.  They are in town.  They are my heroes.  They have been married for thirty-two years and are still going strong.  Having flown in from abroad, fatigue hit them, and we, the hosts at the ashram, tried to make them feel at home.

Before their arrival, I managed to get a little walking in near the Annex.  What a marvelous day, though it was overcast, but the temperature—14°C—and the fall colour make everything so conducive for a stroll.  The whole neighbourhood was decked out for the annual “Trick-or-Treat” Halloween fun.  This is a big deal in North America.

When I walked through New England and Pennsylvania, I saw how the households embraced this event with all the decorations of death.  One fellow, a tourist from the U.K., pulled over his car near to where I was.  We both gawked at the elaborate displays of ghoulish creatures, hob-goblins, ghosts, witches and tortured creatures.  “They really get into it here,” he said in an excited, British accent.

During my walk today, I stumbled upon an all-out exhibit at an apartment building.  A woman was dressed as a vile witch, although she had a pleasant smile, while a caveman-type stood by.  To get into the fun, I jumped at the opportunity to get myself in a photo with the characters.

Really the whole thing is quite bizarre.  The Kali-Yuga is advancing.

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Tuesday, October 30th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Fun People

“Hey, can I… … …?” asked the tall and stocky guy.

“I’m sorry, can you say that again?” I asked, trying to hear over the traffic noise.

“Yeah, can I rub your bald head for some good luck?”

“Sure,” I said, “go ahead.”  

He proceeded to do so, and then went north on Yonge.  He got his thrill.  I was standing and talking to someone at the time and he was surprised at the casual request and gesture.  Of course, Kunal, who is from India (not so long ago) wouldn’t see that kind of interesting behaviour from where he came from.  He’s conservative.  For me, I don’t care for everyone to be so stiff.  A little bit of frivolity on my dome can’t hurt anyone.

I continued on with my journey, and on my return back to the ashram, a woman with two pet dogs stopped and had another question.

“Where’s your pouch?”  She noticed I was chanting on my beads without them being in a pouch.

“I like to advertise my beads, but here is my pouch,” I said, as I showed her the cloth bag that usually bears my beads inside.  Actually my cell phone is the present content.

“On each bead I chant a mantra,” I said as I handed her my mantra card.  “This mantra is so powerful that it can purify your existence.”  

The woman’s eyes widened.

“Yes the mantra has a potency that, when uttered, it can cleanse even the hearts of your dogs.  So, you might like to try it on for size!”

“I will,” she said.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Kartik meditation
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 October 2011, Melbourne, Australia, Home Program)

Damodarastakam, Verse 1

To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence, knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who (due to the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed-to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.

Who can run faster than the Supreme Lord!? It is not possible. We remember that Krsna was Ranchor, the one who left the battlefield; he ran away from the battlefield and there was this Yavana King who was chasing him. The Yavana was running at the full speed and Krsna was very casually walking but still the Yavana could not catch up with him. Yavana was running and running but, somehow or other, he kept at the same distance and was not getting any closer. That is Krsna!

Of course, we know that Krsna arranged that Mucukunda was sleeping there. Mucukunda had that blessing – because Indra used to wake him up to fight against the asuras, so he asked for a blessing that whoever wakes him up, he can burn them to ashes, so Indra let him sleep. But then, this Yavana woke him up and the Yavana was burnt to ashes, all by Krsna’s arrangement! So we see that no one can run faster than Krsna. Mother Yasoda was able to run faster than Krsna not because she was faster than Krsna but simply because Krsna was captured by her love. It was not the speed; it was the love by which she captured Krsna.

The article " Kartik meditation " was published on KKSBlog.

Visit to Durvasa Munis’ ashram / В ашраме Дурвасы Муни
→ Traveling Monk

Фотоальбом

As a part of our Kartik parikrama, we took a beautiful boat ride on the Yamuna to Durvasa Munis’ ashram in Pani Gaon in Vraja. It was a wonderful ashram with a scenic surrounding where Durvasa Muni had performed austerities. Some nice sadhus live there and we absorbed ourselves in amazing kirtan and discussing Krishna Katha.

Diwali show in the Manor by the Bhaktivedanta Players (Album of…
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Diwali show in the Manor by the Bhaktivedanta Players (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If with the arrow of chanting the holy name of the Lord one pierces Lord Vishnu’s lotus feet, by dint of performing this heroic activity of devotional service on receives the benefit of returning home, back to Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.15.42 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tDBh35

Damodar lamp in Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple – Trivandrum!…
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Damodar lamp in Ananta Padmanabha Swamy temple - Trivandrum!
Ananta Padmanabha temple authorities were magnanimous in permitting ISKCON devotees to set a mini Puja table inside the temple premises. It’s purely Lord’s grace that this could happen in an orthodox atmosphere. Devotees scheduled themselves for four days round the clock and inspiring visitors to offer lamps to Damodar and chant holy name. They were given mahamantra cards. More than 5000 pilgrims offered lamps and chanted.
Around 15 devotees served round the clock and preached. We especially thank Dr Mini and Hariprasad for doing all the public relations. Simultaneously Damodar prog is conducted in all traditional temples like Sri Ambalamukku Krishna temple, Sri Varaham etc.
- Temple management

Photos and videos from London Saturday Night Harinama
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Photos and videos from London Saturday Night Harinama Sankirtan.
Srila Prabhupada: When the living entity understands the target of his life, he takes the arrow of his purified life, and with the help of the bow – the transcendental chanting of pranava, or the Hare Krishna mantra – he throws himself toward the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.15.42 Purport)

Gita 01.31 What we think of as long-term may not be long-term enough
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 01.31 What we think of as long-term may not be long-term enough appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sun Love Feast – Nov 4th, 2018 – Vedic discourse by HG Caitanyacarana Das Prabhuji
→ ISKCON Brampton


About His Grace Caitanya Caran Das:
He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Govt
College of Engg, Pune. He subsequently served as a software engineer in a
multinational software company, Patni Computer Systems.Seeing the prevalent
problems of stress, depression, addiction and overall misdirection – all caused by a
lack of spirituality, he felt inspired to dedicate his life to the cause of jnana daan,
offering systematic spiritual education, under the aegis of VOICE / ISKCON.
Complete bio here.

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

Utthana Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Sun Nov 18, 2018
Breakfast................  on Mon Nov 19th, 2018 b/w 10:05am – 10:28 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.

The Glories of Chandra Sarovara – Kartik Parikrama 2018
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The Glories of Chandra Sarovara - Kartik Parikrama 2018 (12 min video)
Ten days into the auspicious month of Kartika we visited Chandra Sarovar, one of the many lakes surrounding Govardhana Hill. It is situated on the long, outer parikrama-marg of Govardhana Hill that extends for over 40 kilometers. It was the pilgrimage route most often taken by Srila Sanatana Goswami 500 years ago. There are many pastimes that take place at Chandra Sarovar, including Krsna’s springtime Rasa Lila dance with the gopis. It was there that the gopis sang their famous Gopi Gita, expressing their deep feelings of separation from the Lord. At Chandra Sarovar one can also take darshan of the samadhi of the famous Vaisnava saint, Sur das.