Sri Visakha Devi – Srimati Radhika’s Dearmost Friend
→ Mayapur.com

Radhastami is also the appearance day of Sri Visakha Devi -Srimati Radhika’s dearmost friend.Just prior to the annual Gaura Purnima festival of 1986, Srimati Visakha Devi, along with three other principle sakhis, was installed in the Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir and joined Sri Sri Radha Madhava on the altar. She stands directly next to Srimati […]

The post Sri Visakha Devi – Srimati Radhika’s Dearmost Friend appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Saturday, September 15th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Kobleve, Ukraine

Last Day in the Ukraine

Today is the one year anniversary of my finishing the U.S. walk in San Francisco. We touched that Pacific Ocean and sprinkled water on our head as a blessing.  From the Atlantic to the Pacific, an adventure was completed.  I don’t regret it.

Now tonight, closing ceremonies took place at the resort in the Ukraine to denote an appreciation of a great party.  I always praise our guru, Srila Prabhupada, for providing a redefinition of what a party is.  No booze, no drugs, no sex, no bad music.  It’s revolutionary.

Today we also marked the last installment of my “Kirtan Standards Seminar.”  The group who came to listen was very regulated, numbering at about one hundred each day.  They were interested in continuity.  Each night the main pandal(tent) was filled with hundreds of enthusiastic bhakti-yogisblissed on kirtan.

Also today, I was in the hot seat—the vyasasan, or the speaker’s chair.  Yes, I was the class-giver, speaking from the book Bhagavatam4.22.22, on the topic of increasing attachment to the Supreme. Sanat Kumar suggests three things: 1) be attentive to devotional rules, 2) engage in honouring the deity and 3) hear, and chant about the glories of the Supreme.

The Bhakti-Sangamais coming to a close, and I will miss its sweetness and so many brothers and sisters who are about to depart for their respective areas.  My peers have been a pleasure to be with, although I admit to some fear spasms when I sat before the final group of such great proportion.

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Friday, September 14th, 2018
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Kobleve, Ukraine

Sing Dance Sweat

It has been almost one year since I became a senior citizen.  At age 65, I don’t always feel it, but sometimes yes.  With the energy output of leading kirtanand dance moves, I feel like a live wire at times.

The weather has been mostly damp and a little on the cool side and stiffness of muscles can be a bit of a reality when waking in the morning.  The way to address this issue is to engage in some hot bhaktiyoga. Sing, dance, sweat, could be the best formula or prescription.  If I had begun stiff, I no longer felt it after a few sways, spins, whirls or twirls.

If you look up the word ‘dance’ you’ll come up with something like, “A series of steps and movements that match the speed and rhythm of a piece of music.”  The amazing therapy which comes thereafter is something remarkable in terms of achievement.    https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnu4QKHn7h5/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=rf3h00plsrm1

What I also find healing about this festival, the Bhakti Sangamin its 20thyear, is the location of our retreat, which clearly covers an area of a one kilometre walk.  You do that several times a day and the number gradually adds up.

I was going at a good clip on one of those short walks, avoiding puddles, just today, and I caught up with one monk senior to myself.  Jayadvaita Swami is one of those veterans of bhakti.  In age and wisdom, he exceeds me, so for a walking speed, I had to compromise and slow down.  That’s okay, just a few moments of the monk’s company and it’s worth it.

May the Source be with you!
6 km


Thursday, September 13th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Kobleve, Ukraine

Slimy Guys

“There were so many jellyfish in the Black Sea, you could hardly see the water,” I told my swimming companions.  Of course, that’s a slight exaggeration, but those spineless creatures were certainly in abundance.  One of them brushed my thigh.  He was a fair-sized one, hard to maneuver.  They contract and expand.  Once washed up on the beach, they appear like transparent plastic bags.  They are more or less pronounced dead.  I recall seeing one on the beach, at age five, when my Mom took me to Holland.  There on the sand lay one of Krishna’s interesting entities from the sea.  I remember people saying in Dutch to be careful, that they can give you a form of paralysis for some time.

I was reminded of an instance in Mayapura, India, when a professional Russian actor came to help us with our drama workshop.  He suggested as an exercise to imagine ourselves being in a large bowl of jello.  We were to move in that jello and eventually wiggle our way out.  It was interesting.

Dipping into the Black Sea was an experience from another angle apart from the slimy creatures.  The Black Sea is actually brown.  That colour doesn’t bother me necessarily.  The temperature of the sea was fine and the liquid did loosen my limbs somewhat.

In fact, I'm doing a bit more dancing than usual, which invokes a good sweat.  As my dear god brother, Niranjan Swami, expressed to me this afternoon, that as you progress in years, you do move less fluidly.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnr_0GQnJdk/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1i7obc9uk919o

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Wednesday, September 12th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Kobleve, Ukraine

Some Details

Much rain came.  We could just as well have paddled to thepandal. https://www.instagram.com/p/BnpYFk1Aaij/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=l3xidhvrkpst
Pandalmeans tent.  It’s huge and can accommodate thousands.  The festival, called Bhakti Sangama, draws leaders from all parts of the globe.  By leaders, I refer to Hare Krishna practitioners. The balance of attendees are all bhakti-yogis.

Although rain had come overnight, the day was clear and the sun burst through.  I was tempted to view the Black Sea, so my brahmacharimonk assistant, Arjuna Krishna, led me there at sunset—the only opportunity.  We’ve been busy.

The seminar went on again and again with a triumphant turn-out—maybe one hundred. The seminar is designed to establish standards and good regulations on kirtanperformance.  Other than the presentation, I gave on this topic, I was on the schedule for two chanting sessions.  Leading the chants in the main pandaland a smaller one—but still big—was an honour.  Oh, how everyone danced!  I'm sure someone filmed it.

It was rather fun teaming up with Ajamila again, with he on the harmonium and I singing, then we switched to him singing while I backed that up with dancing in the crowds.  The two of us are like cheer-leaders.

Actually, quite a few Canadian bhaktascame, seasoned devotees like Samir from Montreal and Guru Prasad from Ottawa, as well as some women from Toronto.  Even Bhakti Raghava Swami, who has a leg missing, showed up.  He’s like our Terry Fox—the runner who managed to trek Canada to the middle point.  Heroes!

May the Source be with you!
3 km.


Tuesday, September 11th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Kobleve, Ukraine

Kirtan Is Life

Our retreat is located on the north shore of the Black Sea at the Vita Park Hotel, in a series of modern-looking units.  Outside my one window at #34, I have a pond with a fountain to look at. The door entrance opens to other units occupied by other devotee world travellers.

I’m giving seminars on Kirtan Standards.  Today was Day #1.  Attendees were approximately 120.  Our hall was full.  Considering there are maybe 5-6,000 registered, it is a relatively small number to show up for the talk, but people have many options.  I’m not complaining.  Incidentally, I dedicated my presentation to the victims of 9/11 in New York, the attack on the twin towers, in the year 2001. The feedback of that Day #1 went well.  https://www.payitforward911.org/

I’m also inclined to announce the loss of another brother (spiritual brother). Gunagrahi Goswami passed away from cancer last weekend in Vrndavana, India.  I looked up to him as a big brother, for it was when I joined in the spring of ’73 that he was well into administration at our Buffalo, New York centre. Always kind to others, he was an inspiration.  I know he’s doing better now in another abode.  For the last two years when I came to visit him he had a big kirtanat his dwelling every night.  So he did it the right way.  It was of no surprise that he was dying and would leave us.  He left prepared.  He invited me to Buenos Aires some years ago.  My annual visits to Argentina are because of him.  

And so I say to him, “Adios amigo!”  

May the Source be with you!
6 km



Monday, September 10th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Vienna / Odessa

Past to the Future

Three days ago Rajasuya from Brampton, Canada, drove me to an Iroquoian village to meet other devotees so that we could step back in time.  It really was a beautiful spot.  I could have stayed in the native longhouses forever and been inspired.

Today, after landing in Odessa, Ukraine, I was telling a young brahmacharimonk, Arjuna Krishna, about native life in Canada—the little I know.  He was fascinated by the lifestyles of then.  I gave him further history by way of mouth on the topic of the natives, the Jesuits, British, Americans, the exiles of the Indigenous Peoples, the Mormons and the slaves.  His fascination continued.

I had teamed up with Jayadvaita Swami, my senior God Brother—Go Bro—and we were able to chat it up all the way from Vienna to Odessa.  “Where is the world going?  How can we, in bhakti, make it better?”  Those kinds of topics.  I respect him so much.

We arrived at Vita Park Hotel, an actual resort village of great cabins.  (It put me back into the Iroquoian village, in a way.) Here I also met Lokanatha and Devamrta Swamis.  Lokanatha is the minister for padayatra, fest on foot, and will be bringing to the printer a book on Padayatrasoon.  Thousands of pilgrims have joined his journeys on foot throughout India and abroad.

Promoting the walking culture and simplification of lifestyle, are two big meditations and implementations of my life for a long time now.  Also, reading of Vedic culture—as in the books of Prabhupada—have helped me to reflect on a more glorious past.  It is not possible to step into a wholesome future without touching an experienced past.

May the Source be with you
0 km (flying & driving)



Sunday, September 9th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton, Ontario

Common Goal

It has been a while since I’ve come to the ISKCON Centre in this fast-growing city. To some proportion, the attendance at the centre is also enjoying a growth.

I chose to speak from verse 10.9 of the Bhagavad-gitabecause it explores the notion of common unity.  The words that shape the verse are all positive, about engagement, being inclusive and occupied in the common objective—the Supreme. This verse is, in fact, sometimes referred to as one of the nutshell phrases of the entire Gita.

“I know I’ve spoken from this shlokabefore and delivered an explanation, but I’ll do so again and, as is natural, from a slightly different angle,” I said.  We highlighted the importance of collaboration and implementing unity and diversity.  This is a topic our guru, Srila Prabhupada, wanted us to discuss and implement.

A nice group!

A kind Rasaraj drove me to the airport in Toronto for a departure to Vienna, and then Odessa, for a retreat and seminars, but first we slipped in a few minutes with Savyasacin (Savy for short).  He and family live at the edge of Brampton.  His name stands for ‘expert archer,’ a name of Krishna’s warrior friend, Arjuna.

In that regard we must all aim properly toward our goal—to become clean within and without—and then shoot straight, toward the target, the lotus feet of Krishna. My God, we all could use an ounce of humility if not more.

May the Source be with you!
0 km

Saturday, September 8th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Campbellville, Ontario

Going Back in Time

Temperatures dropped to about 12°C, but that was okay for three families as we took to morning trekking around a unique body of water called Crawford Lake.  It is a very deep lake at 22 metres, cone-shaped at the bottom, with no oxygen at its base.  Corn pollen was found down there indicating the civilization of the Wendat (Hurons) lived nearby hundreds of years ago.  You have to check out the trees.

There is also a reconstructed village of longhouses where you can go inside and hear an interpreter describe and display the wares of the days gone by.  Very inspiring are the tools, footwear and cooking facilities of that more simple time ~1400 CE.  Moose, deer and beaver pelts line the ledges—their beds.

“I think we all need to get closer to the lifestyle of these indigenous people,” I mentioned to the group, who had all started growing plentiful gardens this spring, for the first time, in their suburban backyards.  The interpreter let us know that the diet of these native folks was mostly vegetarian.  Corn, beans and squash are known as The Three Sisters, something the First Nations of this area thrived on.

The evening exposed me to a more sophisticated setting, a mansion north of Toronto, where a large scale Janmasthami—Krishna’s birth celebration—was held.  Hundreds of people were accommodated.  I like these programs, lots of fun, only the feasting runs too late as in most of these types of events.  I am grateful to be part of community programs where the Supreme is the focal point.  Thanks to the dedicated Batra family.

It was a good day and it lasted a long time.

May the Source be with you!
3 km


Radhastami
→ Ramai Swami

In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Radharani is described as follows:

devi krishna-mayi prokta

radhika para-devata 

sarva-lakshmi-mayi sarva

kantih sammohini para

“The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”

Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess. Radharani is the queen of Vrndavana. She is most always seen with Lord Krishna. It is described that She is the Chief Associate and devotee of Lord Krishna, and topmost of all Goddesses. 

Her name means the She is the most excellent worshiper of Lord Krishna. However, She is also an expansion of the Lord’s energy. Since She is also an extension of Krishna, She is the feminine aspect of God. Thus, in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, God is both male and female. They are One, but Krishna expands into two, Himself and Radharani, for the sake of divine loving pastimes.

Srimati Radharani’s appearance is celebrated in all ISKCON temples around the world. I was able to attend two celebrations, one in Brisbane and the other at Southport.

Зачем строить ХВП? Нам действительно нужен еще один храм? Часть 1
- TOVP.org

Иногда люди, особенно не являющиеся членами ИСККОН, спрашивают, в чем заключается необходимость в строительстве еще одного храма? Разве уже не достаточно храмов, особенно в Индии? Не лучше ли было потратить эти деньги на что-то более практичное, такое как помощь бедным, или строительство больниц и школ, или обеспечение пищей голодающих?

Существует большое множество хороших ответов на данный вопрос, и мы более детально обсудим их во 2 и 3 частях этой статьи. Но общий ответ заключается в том, что духовное возвышение общества является более важным, чем любое отдельно взятое материальное служение временному телу. Оно автоматически устраняет все вышеназванные недуги посредством открытия человеку научного знания о духовных принципах жизни в обществе.

Когда мы просто поливаем корни дерева, все прочие его части автоматически получают питание. Схожим образом, когда мы служим Господу, все Его неотъемлемые частицы, Его слуги, получают благо, как материальное, так и духовное. Таков главный принцип жизни в соответствии с нашей дхармой. Чем дальше человечество удаляется от Бога, тем больше оно страдает; чем ближе приближается к Богу, тем счастливее становится. Простая логика, и она работает просто. Таким образом, чем больше существует храмов, которые дают такое образование и обучают тому, как его применять на практике, тем лучше.

Иллюстрация Девида Линча -

Иллюстрация Девида Линча – “Поливай корень – Насладишься плодом”

НОВОСТИ ХВП – БУДЬТЕ В КУРСЕ

Посетите ХВП: www.tovp.org
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The post Зачем строить ХВП? Нам действительно нужен еще один храм? Часть 1 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Why Build the TOVP? Do We Really Need Another Temple? Part 1
- TOVP.org

Sometimes people ask, especially non-members of ISKCON, what is the need for building another temple? Aren’t there enough temples already, especially in India? Wouldn’t it be better to spend the money on something more tangible like helping the poor, or to build hospitals and schools or to feed the starving?

There are many, many good answers to this question and we will present them in more detail in Parts 2 and 3 of this article. But the overall answer is that the spiritual upliftment of society is more important than any separate material service to the temporary body and will automatically bring about the removal of the very maladies stated above through a spiritual scientific system of living within society.

By simply watering the root of a tree all the other tree parts are simultaneously nourished. Similarly, by service to Godhead, all His part and parcel servants will be benefited, both materially and spiritually. This is a basic principle of dharmic life. The further mankind gets from God, the more he will suffer; the closer he gets to God, the more he will be happy. Simple logic and it simply works. So the more temples there are to facilitate this education and practice the better.

Painting by David Lynch - Water the Root to Enjoy the Fruit

Painting by David Lynch – Water the Root to Enjoy the Fruit

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
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Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post Why Build the TOVP? Do We Really Need Another Temple? Part 1 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Celebrating Radhastami
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21 September 2015, Pretoria, South Africa, Radhastami Lecture)

Today is the auspicious day of Radhastami, a day we must all spend meditating on Srimati Radharani. Since Radharani is the topmost and purest devotee of Krsna, in one sense, Radhastami is then the day of pure devotion. It is the day where whatever Krsna desires, becomes the forefront of all our activities and everything else is really meaningless. Srimati Radharani is the personification of this mood and on a day like this, we should gain inspiration from her effulgent devotional service. We should use the perspective of Radharani’s devotion to see our own surrendering and devotional service as one that needs nurturing and growing. Although it can be very difficult, this is the first theme of the day; developing unalloyed pure selfless devotion for Krsna.

The second aspect of this day is one of compassion. Srimati Radharani is the tender-hearted female counterpart of Krsna. She is known as the hladini shakti or the pleasure potency of Krsna, which is one of Krsna’s three energies, his internal energy. This energy of Krsna is completely spiritual and therefore, Srimati Radharani is full of compassion and mercy. It is said that Krsna cannot enjoy something that is material. Nothing material can attract him; no amount of wealth offered to Krsna can attract him because he is not drawn to the glitter of the material world. So this day of Radhastami is also a day of spiritual compassion; a day when mercy of Krsna can be easily attained through Srimati Radharani.

The article " Celebrating Radhastami " was published on KKSBlog.

A day of introspection
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21 September 2015, Pretoria, South Africa, Radhastami Lecture)

Radhastami is very different to Janmastami. Janmastami is a big public festival that is widely celebrated and members from all parts of society take part in it; even non-devotees often get enthusiastic and do something auspicious on this day. Radhastami is however different. It is more of an intimate devotee in-house type festival where devotees come together to meditate on Srimati Radharani. It is truly a day of introspection, a day of soul-searching. On this day, it is not good enough to simply attend the temple, applaud Srimati Radharani and merely acknowledge her glorious ways. No, we must truly reflect and go deeper on the sacrifices Radharani is making, and naturally, we will get some inspiration and strength from her in our own personal endeavours and our spiritual life.

The article " A day of introspection " was published on KKSBlog.

The topmost love of Krsna
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 September 2013, Durban, South Africa, Radhastami Lecture)

Srimati Radharani has the potency to fully capture and satisfy Krsna, however then comes the greatest mystery of all time. The greatest mystery is that when Krsna leaves Vrndavan, he leaves Radharani in the ultimate separation. Krsna always promised to return from Mathura to Vrndavan, but he never did. He left Radharani in that condition of separation, which leaves us wondering, how is this happening?

It is understood that this mood of separation is the highest love that one can experience for Krsna because when one is in separation from Krsna, the attachment to Krsna increases significantly. The eagerness to be with Krsna and the remembrance of Krsna is much stronger during the separation mood than when it is in the presence of Krsna. So this is the most puzzling aspect of all of the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, that the mood of separation experienced by Srimati Radharani is the topmost experience of the love of Krsna! This is completely bewildering!

In the Prema-Samputa, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur describes how Srimati Radharani used to live in Yavat. As she was married, she was having great difficulty in meeting Krsna and was therefore in the ultimate condition of separation. One day, in the courtyard of Radharani’s house, there appeared a very beautiful female form. She was far more than just an ordinary looking person; she was practically looking like a goddess. Srimati Radharani immediately sent her servant to inquire who this personality was, however the personality would not utter a word.

So Srimati Radharani finally went out herself and asked the personality, “We can understand that you must be suffering from some form of sadness, which is why you are not speaking, but rest assured that you are in good company of young girls here who can understand your sorrows. So please speak, as you will feel some relief once you tell us the cause of your sadness.”

The personality revealed that she was in fact a demi-goddess, who had appeared to see Radharani and express the sadness in her heart to Radharani. The distress that the demi-goddess was feeling was due to the way that Krsna was treating Srimati Radharani despite her dedication and pure love for him. She further expressed that all the other demigods were also seeing Srimati Radharani’s pain and could no longer tolerate it.

Srimati Radharani then responded, “No, you are not understanding this. When Krsna left Vrndavan, it was only externally that we got separated, because in reality, we are never separated. We are one in mind, one in thought, one in heart and one in feeling. Our love is so intensely one that we can only think of each other and so in this way, we are actually never separated even though we may appear to be.”

The demi-goddess hesitantly agreed to Radharani’s sentiments, but then challenged her, “I will believe in you, if you can bring Krsna here by simply thinking of him. Only then will I understand that you are not separated. Only if you can show me that he has become immediately aware of your desire and shows himself here.”

Srimati Radharani agreed to this and started meditating on Krsna in a deep thought, with a deep desire for Krsna to appear. In doing so, she closed her eyes to concentrate, and it was during this moment that the demi-goddess changed her form back to the original form of Krsna. When Radharani opened her eyes, she saw to her ecstasy that it was Krsna who now stood in front of her. So in this way Krsna was testing the love of Srimati Radharani to see the extent to which she was dedicated to him. And even though she was in separation from him, her faith was strong and her love was in no way diminished by this feeling of separation.

In this way, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur sheds some light on the great mystery of separation and how a devotee, in separation from Krsna, is experiencing the greatest love, because when one is loving Krsna, even the slightest moment of not being with him becomes overwhelming. For us, we may be thinking, “Oh how nice. Swamis are speaking about pastimes of Radha and Krsna. Very nice, but what’s next?” Our minds are restless and the eagerness is simply not there. But what can assist us is reading, hearing and contemplating on such powerful experiences of Srimati Radharani, who even in the mood of separation, has such an intense remembrance of Krsna.

The article " The topmost love of Krsna " was published on KKSBlog.

Lalita Devi- The Guru of All Gopis
→ Mayapur.com

Just prior to the annual Gaura Purnima festival of 1986, Srimati Lalita devi, along with three other principle sakhis, was installed in the Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir and joined Sri Sri Radha Madhava on the altar. She stands directly next to Sri Madhava on. Srimati Lalita devi is the foremost among the eight most confidential […]

The post Lalita Devi- The Guru of All Gopis appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Creator of Sri Mayapur dhama
→ Mayapur.com

“(Therefore) Radha is parama-devata, the supreme goddess, and She is worshipable for everyone. She is the protectress of all, and She is the mother of the entire universe.” – Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi 4.89 Sri Navadvipa Mayapur Dhama is worshiped all over the creation as the holiest of holy dhamas, and the place from which pure […]

The post The Creator of Sri Mayapur dhama appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Seattle Rathayatra 2
→ Ramai Swami

The Seattle Rathayatra parade was on the second day of the festival. Lord Jagannatha, Balarama, Subhadra Devi rode majestically on Their cart, which was brought up by devotees from Los Angeles.

I was privileged to start the kirtan and was followed by great kirtaniyas like Ajamila Prabhu and Agnideva Prabhu. Hari Vilasa said he would lead but didn’t make it because he was preaching to so many people in the park.

The parade went for two hours and needless to say, it was ecstatic.

Радхаштами 2018 и ХВП
- TOVP.org

Радхаштами, божественное явление Шримати Радхарани, хладини-шакти или энергии насаждения и вечной возлюбленной Шри Кришны, считается гаудия-вайшнавами чуть ли не более сокровенным праздником, чем Джанмаштами. Без милости и благословений Радхи мы не сможем ощутить сладость Враджа-севы и вступить в самые чистые лилы в мадхурья-расе, являющиеся высшим совершенством према-бхакти. Изложенная ниже малоизвестная история, повествующая о тайном и божественном замысле создания Навадвипа-дхамы Самой Шримати Радхарани, пропитана тем самым настроением супружеской расы и всей глубиной маха-бхавы Радхи.

Призываем вас отпраздновать это благоприятное событие, предложив свою финансовую помощь ХВП, всемирной штаб-квартире ИСККОН, расположенной в этом священном царстве, Навадвипа-дхаме. Развивая Дхаму и помогая распространять ее трансцендентную славу, человек совершает самое лучшее служение, которое принесет благо не только ему, но и многим поколениям его предков и потомков.

«Те, кто изо всех сил стараются сохранить поток служения Шри Майяпуру, будут считаться благодетелями мира вайшнавов»

Шрила Бхактивинода Тхакур

Отрывок из книги

«Слава и игры Шримати Радхарани»

Его Святейшества Бхакти Пурушоттамы Свами

Слава и величие Шридхам Майяпура

Что же касается Майяпур-дхамы, то она является творением Шримати Радхарани, созданным, чтобы завлечь туда Кришну, и чтобы он забыл другую гопи. В «Ананта-самхите» Шива объясняет Парвати причину того, почему Шримати Радхарани создала столь милостивую Майяпур-дхаму. Господь Шива сказал Парвати: «Кришна, подобно пчеле, играющей в лотосе, наслаждался с Вираджей в чарующих рощах Вриндавана. Луноликая Радхика, чьи глаза подобны глазам оленя, услышав об этом от одной из сакхи, бросилась туда, чтобы найти Кришну. Видя приближающуюся Радху, Кришна исчез, а Вираджа превратилась в реку. Радхика, прейдя туда, не смогла их найти. Размышляя о Кришне, она начала думать о том, как сделать, чтобы Кришна больше привлекался Ею, а не Вираджей.

Она созвала всех Своих сакхи в месте между реками Ямуной и Гангой, и там Она сотворила прекрасное место, украшенное многочисленными растениями и деревьями, в которых летали пчелы. Там было множество семей оленей, и воздух был полон ароматов цветов жасмина, маллики и малати. Эта трансцендентная обитель была украшена лесами из Туласи и различными рощами. Сами Ганга и Ямуна, повинуясь указаниям Радхики, подобно рву, заполненному водой, окружали этот сад. Там птицы непрерывно воспевали благоприятные имена Кришны, и сам Купидон, в сопровождении весны, навсегда нашел в этом месте свое прибежище.

Затем Радха, одевшись в прекрасные разноцветные одежды, начала играть на флейте прекрасную мелодию для того, чтобы привлечь Кришну. Услышав эту мелодию, Кришна, явился в этом восхитительном месте. Видя, что Он пришел, Радхика, которая привлекает ум Кришны, взяла Его за руку, и Ее заполнили чувства экстатичного восторга. Тогда Кришна, поняв Ее чувства, заговорил запинающимся от любви голосом.

«О обворожительная Радха, Ты моя жизнь. Нет никого для Меня дороже, чем Ты. Поэтому я никогда не покину Тебя. Лишь для Меня ты создала это восхитительное место. Здесь Я навсегда останусь с Тобой и сделаю так, что тут появятся новые сакхи и рощи. Преданные будут прославлять это место как Новый (нава) Вриндаван. И поскольку оно напоминает остров (двипа), его будут называть Навадвипа. По Моему приказу тут будут находиться все святые места паломничества. И поскольку Ты создала это место для Моего удовлетворения, Я буду вечно пребывать здесь. Те, кто будут приходить сюда и поклоняться нам, без сомнения, обретут вечное служение в настроении сакхи. О дорогая Радха, это место также чисто, как и Вриндаван. Придя сюда даже один раз, человек обретет благо равное посещению всех святых мест. Он быстро достигнет преданного служения и удовлетворит нас».

Господь Шива продолжал: «О Парвати, такова причина появления Навадвипы. Кто бы ни услышал этот рассказ, освободится от всех грехов и обретет преданное служение. Любой, кто, вставая ранним утром, будет повторять либо слушать эту историю сотворения Навадвипы с преданностью Господу Гауре, достигнет Его, вне всякого сомнения.

НОВОСТИ ХВП – БУДЬТЕ В КУРСЕ

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The post Радхаштами 2018 и ХВП appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Radhastami 2018 and the TOVP
- TOVP.org

Radhastami, the divine appearance of Srimate Radharani, the hladini sakti pleasure potency and eternal consort of Sri Krishna, is almost more sacred to Gaudiya Vaisnavas than Janmastami. Without the mercy and blessings of Radha we cannot approach the sweetness of Vraja seva and entrance into the supremely pure loving mellow and pastimes of madhurya rasa, the highest perfection of prema bhakti. The little known story below about the esoteric and divine reason for the creation of Navadvipa Dhama by Srimati Radharani Herself has at its core that very mood of the conjugal rasa and Radha’s intense state of maha-bhava.

Please celebrate this most auspicious occasion by offering your financial support to develop the TOVP and the World Headquarters of ISKCON situated in this most sacred and divine realm of Navadvipa Dhama. To develop the Dhama and help spread its sublime glories is a most auspicious act of seva that will benefit oneself and one’s family for generations past and future.

“Those who are trying their best to keep intact the flow of service to Sri Mayapur, will be considered the benefactors of the world of Vaisnavas.”

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Selected from

The Glories and Pastimes of Srimati Radharani

By His Holiness Bhakti Purushottama Swami

The Wonderful Glories of Sridhama Mayapura

Sri Mayapur-dhama, however, was Srimati Radharani’s own creation, to lure Krsna away from another lover. In the Ananta-samhita, Siva explains to Parvati why Srimati Radharani created merciful Sri Mayapur-dhama. Lord Siva told Parvati, “As a bee plays in a lotus, Krsna was enjoying with Viraja in the pleasant forest groves of Vrndavana. Moon-faced, doe-eyed Radhika heard this news from one sakhi and hastily ran to find Krsna. Seeing that Radha was coming, Krsna suddenly disappeared and Viraja became a river. When Srimati Radharani arrived there, She could not find them. Absorbed in thoughts of Krsna, Radha began to think of how to attract Him away from Viraja. She gathered her sakhis together between the Ganga and Yamuna Rivers.

She created a beautiful place, decorated with creepers and trees and filled with male and female bumblebees. Deer and bucks were happy enjoying as they wandered about, and the whole area was filled with the fragrance of jasmine, mallika, and malati flowers. That transcendental abode was adorned with tulasi forests and decorated with various groves. On Radha’s order, the Ganga and Yamuna, with their pleasant water and banks, acted as a moat to protect the garden. Cupid himself, along with springtime, eternally resides there, and the birds constantly sing the auspicious name of Krsna.

Radha, dressed in colorful cloth, then began to play a beautiful melody on a flute in order to attract Krsna. 49 Attracted by that melody, Krsna appeared in that enchanting place. Radha, the attractor of Krsna’s mind, seeing that Krsna had come, held His hand and experienced ecstatic delight. Then Krsna, understanding Radha’s mood, spoke in a voice choked with love.

‘O lovely-faced Radha, You are My very life. There is no one more dear to Me than You. Therefore I will never leave You. Just for Me You have created this wonderful place. Staying with You, I will transform this place, filling it with new sakhis and groves. The devotees will glorify this place as New (nava) Vrndavana. As this place is like an island (dvipa), the wise will call it Navadvipa. By My order, all the holy places will reside here. ‘Because You have created this place for My pleasure, I will live here eternally. Those people who come here and worship us will eternally attain our eternal service in the mood of the sakhis. O dear Radha, like Vrndavana, this place is extremely pure. If anyone comes here just once, he will obtain the results of going to all sacred places. He will quickly attain devotional service, which satisfies us.’

“O Parvati,“ Lord Siva continued, “I have described to you the reason for the appearance of Navadvipa. When heard by mankind, this narration removes all sins and bestows devotional service. Whoever rises early in the morning and with devotion to Gaura recites or hears this story of Navadvipa’s creation will certainly attain Gauranga.”

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

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The post Radhastami 2018 and the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

“O spiritual master… / О духовный учитель…”
→ Traveling Monk

“O spiritual master, I continually offer my obeisances unto you, who are always in the presence of Srimati Radharani and very much devoted to Her. You always reside in the association of Her confidantes, the gopis, and you are the abode of loving devotion to Krishna”

“О духовный учитель, непрестанно предлагаю вам поклоны: вы всегда находитесь поблизости от Шримати Радхарани, вы очень преданы Ей. Вы всегда пребываете в общении с Ее наперсницами, гопи, вы – обитель любви и преданности Кришне”

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212684387207537&set=a.3707173840886&type=3&theater

Adding Innovation, Wisdom and Holistic Human Development to Our Universities by Stephen Knapp
→ Stephen Knapp

 (Written for my presentation at the World Parliament of Science, Religion and Philosophies in Pune, India, October, 2018)

A long time ago, back when I was about 20 years old, and when I had already been studying such books as the Bhagavad-gita, the Upanishads, and other Vedic texts of India, I saw an article in my local paper by the principle of my local high school in which he said that when students come to school, they should already have an understanding of what they want to accomplish and what they want to get out of their education. When I saw this, I thought it was rather odd, because is not that what education is supposed to give you, the understanding of who and what you are, and how to reach your highest potential? But if the principle says that he expects the student should already have such insight before he or she arrives at school, this would seem to mean that there must be some kind of supplemental education that the student should have before he goes to school.

So I wrote a long letter to the editor of our local newspaper pointing this out, that there must be some kind of preliminary education that would provide the student with such insight. Otherwise, if he does not get that from school, from where is he expected to acquire such understanding? So, I mentioned that books like the Bhagavad-gita in the Vedic tradition could provide some of these insights, if people would take advantage of it.

However, some would say that this is spiritual knowledge, or even religious information, and how is that supposed to be provided in schools that are meant to be completely secular? The point is, as mentioned in the Sri Ishopanishad (Mantra Eleven), that to reach perfection in life, one must learn material knowledge side by side with spiritual knowledge. It is not enough to learn some craft or trade skills to make a living, but a person must also know the purpose of life and why we are here and who we are.

When we forget or do not know who we are, we also lose sight of the moral standards we need to accumulate to develop ourselves into decent and law abiding citizens, human beings who can make a substantial and uplifting contribution to the community and the world at large. Instead, we may fall to the platform of only trying to live at whatever cost, even if it is by trying to take advantage of others, rather than trying to better ourselves along with everyone else.

In this light, when I’m traveling and lecturing about the traditions of India, it is not uncommon that some people will ask me why there is often so much corruption, cheating and bribery in India. I often tell them that the fact is that people are forgetting their own culture, their own traditions of moral standards that the Dharmic principles are meant to teach them. In fact, it is often said that the problems you find in India are caused by India’s religion. But actually, wherever I go I find that it is not the case at all, but it is the result of forgetting, the distancing from, and the misinterpretation of the Vedic tradition that leaves the gaps in society and in the character of humanity that cause the problems of which we see so much.

The fact is that if we really understood and followed the culture that is the legacy and inheritance of this country, many of the social problems we see would simply disappear. Therefore, we need to continue to teach our children the basic principles of moral standards and character building that India’s Vedic tradition promotes. So, my advice was that we need to continue to spread the understanding of the Vedic Dharma traditions in order to show the proper example of truly noble character, not only in the teachings in such traditions, but by the example of the great character of the personalities and heroes that are described in the great epics of India.

Actually, I also put this question about the corruption of India to M. Rama Jois, the retired Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court when I had met him on one of my tours while visiting Bengaluru several years ago. He had written a book called “Dharma: The Global Ethic.” In this book, he shows the many ways in which Vedic Dharma is not a religious teaching, but a moralistic code that can provide advice for people of all standings, and in all kinds of situations, and especially for the children which can use a standard of insight that they can take with them for the rest of their lives. He also showed, as I also say, that present-day problems are due to the neglect of Dharma. And that with Vedic Dharma, there would be a reduction of evil, confusion in society, the propensity for selfish motives and cruelty to others, and how an orderly society is an incarnation and manifestation of Dharma, and how Dharma does not mean religion, which is the means of worshiping God. But Dharma is a code of living by good conduct, respect for the law and our traditions, and the means to sustain society and the world, and propel them to a higher grade of living and refined consciousness. Without that, we can see what is happening.

Dharma is conformity with the truth of things, while adharma or vice is the opposition to it. On a national, ethnic, or racial level, Dharma is an instrument of unity, not divisiveness. That which helps unite everyone and develop love and universal brotherhood is Dharma. That which causes discord or disharmony or provokes hatred is adharma.

Dharma is also said to be the force which maintains the universe. Where there is Dharma there is harmony and balance individually, socially, and inter‑galactically. So the path of Dharma brings about the harmony and contentment that is also another aspect of what we are seeking. In this way, we want harmony inwardly, in our own consciousness, but we also cannot have individual peace unless there is harmony or cooperation socially, among the masses. So, where there is no Dharma, there is disharmony and a state of being that is out of balance. And socially it means that without Dharma, there is a lack of cooperation, along with escalating quarrel, fighting, corruption, and dishonesty.

When we act against the law of Dharma, we disrupt the very harmony and cooperation that we want. In other words, we create a life for ourselves in which there is stress, confusion, discontent, and frustration. And when we feel that way, that becomes our contribution to the general social condition. It is the exact opposite of what we wish to attain. Thus, to live a life outside of Dharma means to work against ourselves.

Rama Jois explained to me that years ago, before India’s independence, it was common that children would be taught before they went to school about the moral standards and character of the heroes of Vedic culture. Sometimes the schools also would include the Dharmic teachings to imbibe in children the character and principles of being a good and decent human being, and, thus, also a good student, which the children would then take with them for the rest of their lives.

Unfortunately, once India became independent it also became a secular nation, which meant that all such early teaching about human development, and moral standards based on the heroes and characters within the Vedic epics of India, could no longer be taught in schools or any government affiliated institution. It was considered religious teachings, and therefore was not allowed. With this, as M. Rama Jois explained, came the distancing of the youth from the Vedic culture and the high moral standards that went with it. And from this came the ever-increasing corruption that has infected much of the country.

These days, only through private schools, or in families that teach the Vedic culture, or I have also seen families who hold weekend classes in such topics for the neighborhood children, do the youth still learn of this type of knowledge that helps instill in them pride in their heritage and the principles of high moral standards, and the means to acquire insights into character-building for their own development, either before they go to school or even after they have already started their education. On the other hand, if secularism means a state without Dharma, then we will see a lawless state, a lawless country. Surely, the Indian constitution did not mean that we become a State of Adharma. Dharma regulated the mutual obligations and what is beneficial for individuals and society. Therefore, it was stressed that the protection of Dharma was in the interest of both the individual and the society. And the best way to protect it is to train youngsters in Dharma from the beginning of their lives.

Therefore, the concluding point I am making is that the basis of knowledge, wisdom and holistic human development is to not only offer the necessary classes in material studies, sciences and skills, but to include the basis of human refinement that has been a part of India’s traditions since time immemorial, which includes that of Dharmic studies. Such could and should be part of the curriculum, or extra-curricular classes that students could take. This would transform India’s universities into true centers of innovation, wisdom, ethics, holistic human development, knowledge, and balance for the student’s life. This would add to the beneficial contributions such a student would offer to their family, society and the country. This would change the direction of India, and provide an example that the rest of the world should follow.

Stephen Knapp (Author/Writer of over 40 books on various aspects of India and its Vedic culture. http://www.stephen-knapp.com)

Radhastami celebrations on Sunday – 16th Sep 2018
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!


At ISKCON Scarborough, we will be celebrating Radhastami (appearance day of Srimati Radharani) on Sunday - 16th Sep 2018 starting at 10.30 am.

We warmly welcome you and your family to take part in the celebrations. Devotees will fast until noon and after the arati, there will be a grand feast.


Who is Srimati Radharani?

Lord Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It is stated in the Svetasvatara Upanishad (6.8) "The Supreme Lord has multipotencies, which act so perfectly that all consciousness, strength, and activity are being directed solely by His will". The material world, where we are now living, is called bahir-anga-sakti, the external energy of Krsna. Lord Krsna explains in the Bhagavad-Gita (9.10): "Under My superintendence, the material energy is working". Apart from the material, external energy, there is another energy - the internal energy. By the internal energy, the spiritual world is being manifested. As the material world is manipulated under the external energy, the spiritual world is conducted by the internal potency. That internal potency, called the Hladini Sakti, is Srimati Radharani.


In CC Adi 1.5 it is said "The loving affairs of Sri Radha and Krishna are transcendental manifestations of the Lord's internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Radha and Krsna are one in Their identity, They separated Themselves eternally". Srimati Radharani, as the highest devotee of Lord Krsna, derives the greatest pleasure in serving Him. She is the origin of all the Gopis and of all the Goddesses of Fortune (Lakshmi Devi) who are engaged in the service of the Lord. She is the mainstay, the ideal and the ultimate refuge of all devotees embarking on the path of devotional service. Without first getting the mercy of Srimati Radharani it is impossible to even approach Lord Krsna.

The Hare Krsna maha-mantra is, in fact, a prayer to Srimati Radharani. The word 'Hare' is derived from 'Hara' which denotes the internal energy or Hladini Sakti of Krishna. This is none other than Srimati Radharani. When one is chanting the maha-mantra, one is saying: "O Krsna ! O Radha !! Please engage me in your devotional service". Krsna is difficult to approach directly, but He is bhakta-vatsala, always eager to please His devotees. Thus the mood of a devotee is to invoke the compassion of Srimati Radharani Who then recommends the devotee to Lord Krsna. Since Krsna is easily pleased by Srimati Radharani, He then readily accepts the devotee in His service.

Special Radhastami lecture by HG Keshvanand das
We will have a special guest -  HG Keshvanand das coming to ISKCON Scarborough on Sunday to deliver the Radhatami lecture

HG Keshvanand Prabhu is a disciple of His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami Maharaja.  He has been in the movement right after he completed his MBBS degree in Medicine.  He preaches in India and abroad with a focus on Youth preaching.  He is in the process of setting up a Vedic college near Delhi.  He is the author of many books in English and Hindi like "Cheater and the cheated" and many others. 

We welcome you and your family to take part in the festivities coming Sunday at ISKCON Scarborough.



ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address: 
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.org

Seattle Rathayatra
→ Ramai Swami

I was able to attend the Rathayatra festival in Seattle, which went over two days. Tents, stalls and stages were set up in a park in the suburb of Bellevue and many people from devotees to casual visitors participated.

On the main stage there was kirtan, dance and drama. Some of our cows were brought from the farm so that people could feed them. As usual, the prasadam stalls, serving out delicious preparations, were very popular.

Q&A with KKS: First trip to Vrndavan
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 07 January 2018, Brisbane, Australia, Q&A Programme)

How did you go to Vrndavan? Is this when you took up Krsna consciousness seriously?

I was walking with the cows one evening on the outskirts and arrived into Vrndavan by foot. I walked straight into the Krsna Balaram Mandir where they were just starting Tulasi Puja and I saw all these people bow down to a plant and I went, “Here we go… now we bow down to a plant.” (laughter) It was a bit of a shock at first, but then the altar doors opened and out came this albino pujari and blew the conchshell, and for me, that was something really from out of this universe. So this is how it started for me. I then stayed in India from 1978 to 1995, except 1 year when I took a break in Australia. This way, I really became part of the movement and the Indian culture. In fact, once when I was on a flight, there were these people behind me whispering in Hindi, “Oh, this guy is a religious fanatic.” Little did they know that I can also speak fluent Hindi, so I turned around and thanked them in Hindi for their comments. (laughter)

The article " Q&A with KKS: First trip to Vrndavan " was published on KKSBlog.

Friday, September 7th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Fredericton, New Brunswick

Open to People

Since last night, when I walked one block twice in Sussex, I encountered some fun exchanges.  On that quiet main street of the town, a young woman from a carload of passengers stuck out her head to shout out a remark.

“I like the dress,” she said of my robes.

“They’re robes.  I’m a monk.”

“Oh, that’s what they are.  I’m not that educated.  In fact, I’m ignorant.”  I sensed some sarcasm.

“Do get educated!” I encouraged her.

In the downtown of Fredericton, the brahmacharis and I met the school librarian. With coffee in hand she crossed the street with us, and we began a conversation around the weather.

“Best month of the year,” I declared. “Best for walking.” I was referring to September.

“Oh yes, it really is.”

“And best for reading?” I asked.

“Always!”

When the Brahmacharis and I reached the Bill Thorpe Walking Bridge, I pulled out my cell for a photo.  A polite young guy behind me, on his way to do landscaping, with skate-board in arm, decided to wait until I clicked.  I clicked. He had questions.

“I’ve heard about Krishna… I’ll be going on a retreat where they honour a vow of silence.”

I encouraged the calm man who introduced himself by the name, Devlon.  I expressed that in our order we sing, drum and talk about dharma.  We made a friend, and the brahmacharis will keep in touch with him.

My stay in New Brunswick wrapped up with a swim in Lake Killarney.  Refreshing!

May the Source be with you!
6 km


Thursday, September 6th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Sussex, New Brunswick

Success in Sussex

It’s a cute little town of 4,000 and we’re told by the people who came for our bhaktitalk that tomorrow a balloon fest begins. We’re speaking about helium balloons that take passengers in the air.  For a $200 charge you go up to heights where you’ve never been before.

“What do you see?” I asked one of the attendees at a downtown dance/work-out place.

“Great scenery—the hills, trees, rivers and creeks.”  All this from a bird’s eye view.  Sounds good.

In my talk, I tried to stay on the topic which was Achieving Happiness Through Family and Community; so from the perspective of a spiritual angle it is possible.  Depending upon full mundane arrangements is fallible.  “Keep a spiritual focus because the physical facility will ultimately fail you.”

Mary, the coordinator of the place, was someone we worked with last May.  This time she was with her three kids and fantastic husband, from Iran.  Jason and Nicole came from Shediac where there is this world-class ocean beach. Nakula (Nick) and Sarah came from St. John.  Some local people from Sussex also came to hear, sing and dance—all community stuff and feeling good vibrations.

The drive back seemed lengthy—an hour and a half.  It’s Canada.  Distances are a reality.

Today I could not boast any stretch of walking, only two times around the block in the town of Sussex.  It was something at least.

May the Source be with you!
0 km



Q&A with KKS: First acceptance of Krsna
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 07 January 2018, Brisbane, Australia, Q&A Programme)

Can you capture the moment when you accepted Krsna as the ultimate truth.

Because many of the sadhus I met in India were smoking ganja, I did not have much faith in them. They always asked where I was from and just wanted some money to smoke ganja. So I thought to myself that this cannot be spiritual life. I kept quite aloof from them, but after some time I started feeling that I was not making much progress in my pursuit for the truth. Rather than getting involved with a particular book, I was reading a lot of these philosophical books and I would sing and write my songs. Through this music, I had a path of meditation. But I was getting stuck and seemed to not make any advancement. This is when I decided to visit some ashram or another spiritual place.

As part of this agenda, I visited Tibetan Buddhists in the Himalayan villages and when I was there, different things surprised me. I saw that the monks were standing in a queue at a butcher’s shop, so this really did not impress me. I had read enough about Buddhism to know that the central idea was of ahimsa (non violence). So one day I asked a monk, “Why do you eat meat?” and the monk replied, “Well, when we eat the animals, they are very fortunate. They get liberated!” So instantly I realised that this was not a very appealing philosophy. And I was reflecting on my interactions with some other monks and realised that they were just recognising me as some kind of projection of their mind, which is kind of in line with their philosophy. So this reminded me of what I had read from the Bhagavad-gita, of how the experiences of an impersonalist is thinking that all this energy is either one or that this is all just an illusion. So I started putting the pieces together of how this Buddhist philosophy is kind of an impersonalist school of thought. This was different from a personalist, who enters into a relationship with an actual God and develops this eternally. When I saw these two concepts, I realised that the personalist concept was eternally growing and was the higher truth. It was at this point that I accepted Krsna.

There was a small Hindu temple in the Himalayan mountains near the village, which I visited then. I offered a flower to this picture of Krsna and thought to myself, “I should probably sing some Hare Krsna as well!” Here, I did not really care about singing Hare Krsna out loud on the streets, as I was like 10,000 kilometres away from home. Just as I am walking with my flower towards the temple, I happened to run into this boy from my hometown of all my places and I thought to myself, “Oh no! Now everybody knows I am one of them. It is too late now!“ After that, I finally decided to go to Vrndavan as I had heard that this was the centre for Krsna consciousness.

The article " Q&A with KKS: First acceptance of Krsna " was published on KKSBlog.

Initiation Ceremony, September 9, Houston
Giriraj Swami

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“These are serious vows. Srila Prabhupada said that if he had relaxed the regulative principles he could have had millions of disciples. But he didn’t want cheap disciples. He said that one moon brightens up the night more that millions of little stars twinkling. He wasn’t after twinkling stars he was after one moon. Then he said that by Krishna’s grace he got many moons.”

Srila Prabhupada said that chanting is easy. Anyone can chant. But the determination to chant at least sixteen rounds a day is not so easy.” —Giriraj Swami

First initiates:

1. Indira Manrakhan was initiated as Indira Radha dasi
2. Jenny Coopoosamy was initiated as Jayasri Radhika dasi
3. Madhulika Rana was initiated as Yasomati dasi
4. Nishana Baboolall was initiated as Nitya Radhika dasi
5. Rajshree Soburrun was initiated as Rajesvari dasi
6. Satidanand Soburrun was initiated as Saci Dulal das
7. Salonee Robichon was initiated as Saci Sundari dasi
8. Cicily Carter was initiated as Sundari Priya dasi

Second initiates:

1. Abhirama das
2. Nitya-manjari dasi
3. Indira Manrakhan
4. Rajshree Soburrun
5. Satidanand Soburrun
6. Salonee Robichon
7. Vrindavan Nath das
8. Karunavatara
9. Kishori Radha
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Talk by Giriraj Swami, Keshava Bharati Das Goswami, and Bhakti Sundar Swami
Kirtan by Giriraj Swami
Talk by Giriraj Swami and Name Giving

Bhagavatam tenth canto study 37 – 10.7.7-12 Vrajavasis try to protect the one who protects everyone
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Podcast

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BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR SRIMATI RADHARANI
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!


The Hare Krishna Temple warmly invites you and your family to join us on Sunday, September 16th for Radhastami celebrations - celebrating the appearance of Srimati Radharani! Festivities will commence at 6:00pm, stay tuned for more details. As an annual tradition, the highlight of the evening will be when we open gifts for Srimati Radharani that have been brought by the assembled devotees.

If you and your family feel inclined, you are welcome to bring a gift for Their Lordships. Some humble suggestions from the pujari department include:

Items for the Deities:
  •  handkerchiefs
  •  jewelry
  •  medium size storage containers
  •  bindis
Altar Cleaning Items:
  • silver polish (cream/liquid)
  • brass/copper polish (cream/liquid)
  • wood polish
  • laundry soap
  • soft cleaning cloths
  • towels
  • eco-friendly cleaning products
A limited supply of jewelry will be available to purchase at the Temple on Sunday, September 16th; Gift certificates will also be available.

“I curse your children to become devotees of…
→ Dandavats



“I curse your children to become devotees of Krishna!”
Urmila Devi Dasi: We met with people who had taken up Krishna consciousness in 1980-82 when all religion was illegal in the then Soviet Union. We heard this story from one woman:
Her husband came home one day when she was cooking meat, and said he had become vegetarian. When she asked if he would eat dinner she had already cooked for that day, and start vegetarianism tomorrow, he refused. Within a year, she started chanting Hare Krishna also. Her husband was put into prison for being a devotee, though his two and one-half year sentence got reduced to two years because of the pressure from devotees of Krishna in the US and Europe. In the jail was one other devotee, and they convinced four criminals to take up Krishna consciousness also, so altogether there were six devotees in that prison. On the day of celebrating the appearance of Lord Caitanya in the world, the wife was able to arrange (bribes??) to bring enough prasadam (vegetarian food offered to Krishna) to feed 2,000 prisoners. They all ate peacefully and at least for a while gave up their criminal demeanor.
While the husband was in jail, the government threatened to remove their children from the home because the mother was not feeding the children meat, and was “not training them according to Soviet culture.” The wife got permission in the court to speak and said, “Because you are threatening to take my children from me, I curse your children to become devotees of Krishna!” That curse scared the prosecutor, and he dropped the case. But six months later, his grown son did, indeed, join the Hare Krishna Movement and, even today, is one of the main leaders of the Movement in Russia.