A loan from God – A Krishna conscious perspective about losing a spouse to suicide
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Hare Krishna Shaunaka Rishi Das, an Irish-born Vaishnava and Director of the Oxford Centre of Hindu Studies, spent many years caring for his wife Keshava, who had chronic fatigue syndrome. In her mid-50s and suffering from depression, Keshava took her own life, with questions over the medical response leading to a traumatic two-day inquest. Shaunaka, who has never publicly told this story before, has found comfort in the Vaishnava concept that she was ‘on loan’ to him from God and eventually had to be returned. In this programme, he reflects eloquently on death, mourning and letting go from a Vaishnava perspective, with presenter Mark Dowd, who lost his own brother to suicide.
(This post has been viewed 1532 times so far)

School students in Tallinn, Estonia visit the Iskcon Temple…
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School students in Tallinn, Estonia visit the Iskcon Temple (Album of photos)
On September 25th, we were visited by a teacher with Karl hay at the top of the western gymnasium. There was a lot of students. A few months ago, I visited their school myself, and now they’ve come to visit us in Krishna’s temple. It was a very nice meeting. We told them about Krishna, the highest personality of God and how God is one, but he has many names. And that religion is one: to love this one God and express it with your actions, thoughts and words. Which also means showing respect and compassion for all and everything (because everything is a particle of God). The students chanted Hare Krishna and went deeper into the teachings of Bhagavad-Gita.
If anyone wants to visit our Krishna temple or invite us to visit, please address me.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/NKFhF3

Joyfully Being Alone
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Hare KrishnaBy Karnamrita Das

Though we are social creatures that need interaction with others in good spiritual association, the importance of being alone with one's thoughts or taking the time to reflect on life is crucial. Some people aren't comfortable being alone or don't know what to do with themselves or how to use the time other than to watch someone else living their dream on T.V or in a movie, or to sleep, play a game of solitaire, or lament they don't have a friend to be with, or something "fun" to do, etc. I doubt there is a class in school on how to be alone and be happy, or how to sit in nature and observe, or in general, "being," rather than doing. Continue reading "Joyfully Being Alone
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Q&A with KKS: Projects in India
→ KKSBlog

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

You stayed in Vrndavan and Mayapur where you were in charge of many projects such as building Prabhupada’s samadhi. What was that experience like?

I have the karma for such things. I could relate to India after having lived there for so long, and I understood how to deal with such things. Getting involved in big projects like those, I had to spend lots of time with lawyers who were fighting big cases and I had to complete many business transactions – make contracts, break contracts and so on. My father would have laughed if he had been around for this, that I had escaped from the family business to India, only to be getting back into the business world. You could say that my karma caught up to me!

The article " Q&A with KKS: Projects in India " was published on KKSBlog.

Who Is Bhagavatam?
Giriraj Swami

During a preview of Viva Kultura in Gauranga Hall in Houston, the person playing the elderly gentleman who introduced Srimad-Bhagavatam walked down into the audience and presented me the volume: Srimad-Bhagavatam, First Canto, Chapters 1–8.  Somehow I was deeply touched by that act, and I carried the book with me back to my ashram in Carpinteria, where I keep it on my bedside table. (Later, Indradyumna Swami told me that the elderly gentleman was played by Sitala and Hari-sauri’s daughter, Rasarani.)

So, last night, I opened the book randomly, and I was struck by the profound verse and purport that I found:

idam bhagavatam nama
  puranam brahma-sammitam
uttama-sloka-caritam
  cakara bhagavan rsih
nihsreyasaya lokasya
  dhanyam svasty-ayanam mahat

“This scripture named Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of God, and it is compiled by Srila Vyasadeva, the incarnation of God. It is meant for the ultimate good of all people, and it is all-successful, all-blissful, and all-perfect.” (SB 1.3.40)

Purport: “Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu declared that Srimad-Bhagavatam is the spotless sound representation of all Vedic knowledge and history. Therein are selected histories of great devotees who are in direct contact with the Personality of Godhead. Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of Lord Sri Krsna and is therefore nondifferent from Him. Srimad-Bhagavatam should be worshiped as respectfully as we worship the Lord. Thereby we can derive the ultimate blessings of the Lord through its careful and patient study. As God is all light, all bliss, and all perfection, so also is Srimad-Bhagavatam. We can have all the transcendental light of the Supreme Brahman, Sri Krsna, from the recitation of Srimad-Bhagavatam, provided it is received through the medium of the transparent spiritual master. Lord Caitanya’s private secretary Srila Svarupa Damodara Gosvami advised all intending visitors who came to see the Lord at Puri to make a study of the Bhagavatam from the person Bhagavatam. The person Bhagavatam is the self-realized bona fide spiritual master, and through him only can one understand the lessons of the Bhagavatam in order to receive the desired result. One can derive from the study of the Bhagavatam all benefits that are possible to be derived from the personal presence of the Lord. It carries with it all the transcendental blessings of Lord Sri Krsna that we can expect from His personal contact.”

Now I pray to realize the truths I read in the verse and purport, that “Srimad-Bhagavatam is the literary incarnation of Lord Sri Krsna and is therefore nondifferent from Him” and that “One can derive from the study of the Bhagavatam all benefits that are possible to be derived from the personal presence of the Lord. It carries with it all the transcendental blessings of Lord Sri Krsna that we can expect from His personal contact.”

And I thought of Srila Prabhupada’s words shortly before he departed from our vision, as recorded in one of his last purports in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.13.54):

“We should discuss Srimad-Bhagavatam daily as much as possible, and then everything will be clarified, for Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedic literature (nigama-kalpa-taror galitam phalam [SB 1.1.3]). It was written by Vyasadeva (maha-muni-krte) when he was self-realized. Thus the more we read Srimad-Bhagavatam, the more its knowledge becomes clear. Each and every verse is transcendental.”

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Two celebrities try to advance a revolution in favor of the cows.
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Two celebrities try to advance a revolution in favor of the cows.
Chrissie Hynde and Mary McCartney: Talking About a Revolution (From National Geographic’s website)
Chrissie Hynde: The word ahimsa comes from Indian Vedic culture, and that’s where this whole cow protection thing comes from. There are four principles: never kill cows, milk cows by hand, give oxen meaningful work, and cows must suckle from their mothers. These are all followed by the Ahimsa Dairy Foundation, based in Rutland.
To read the entire article please click here: https://goo.gl/azQLU5

Living with Srila Prabhupada
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“Bless My Son”
Living with Srila Prabhupada.
By Rukmini Devi Dasi.
The ultimate anxiety for every parent is how their child will fair in the world. Srila Prabhupada’s mother wanted him to study in London and become a barrister, akin to the current day I.T. specialist who scores a job in the USA. However, Srila Prabhupada lovingly describes how his father’s ambition differed. Gour Mohan De wanted Abhay (Srila Prabhupada ’s birth name) to be skilled in mridanga and the art of knowing and sharing the sacred scripture, Srimad Bhagavatam.


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Control – The Body, Bodily Conception & Freedom
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Control - The Body, Bodily Conception & Freedom.
By Mukundanghri Das.
Everything in Julie’s life had spun out of control. Her dream job as a hotshot corporate banker had turned into a nightmare. It kept her working late into the night. The heels and the power suit in the Sandton high-rise building felt no different to a prison suit in a jail cell. There just wasn’t enough hours in the day. “God, why?” she murmured to herself in frustration. “Why am I not in control?” Julie contemplated resigning from work. But it filled her with guilt for the family she has to take care of.

(This post has been viewed 1118 times so far)

Activating the Will of God
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How many of us hide behind the will of God as an excuse for inactivity or laziness? And how many of us attribute our successes to our efforts alone? The Vedic scriptures teach us that nothing in this world moves without the will of God. He is the creator, controller, overseer of multifarious universes, the benefactor of speech, intelligence, talent, and everything else without which we would be considered useless; however, do we just sit back, waiting for God's will to save or direct us without endeavor, or do we activate His will?


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Gita 01.02 Sanjaya addresses not just the content of Dhritarashtra’s question but also its intent
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 01.02 Sanjaya addresses not just the content of Dhritarashtra’s question but also its intent appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Lessons from Narada’s travel to the North
→ Servant of the Servant

In the Srimad Bhagavatam, first canto, chapter six, Narada Muni describes his own journey to spiritual emancipation. What do we learn? Below are few of my thoughts;

  1. From the death of the mother of Narada, we learn that the Lord is the Supreme controller and we the insignificant jivas are but like puppets under a puppet master. All activities good and bad that happen in my life happens by the will and sanction of Krishna.
  2. Because Narada as a boy served the great Bhakti-vedantas, when he was alone wandering he had the know-how to approach that which is invisible. In other words, his association with the Lord actually was possible because the Bhakti-vedantas taught Narada how to approach the Transcendent Lord. If not for them, he would be lost and not be realized himself. Therefore, without the mercy of a pure devotee, Krishna will not manifest.
  3. Krishna is all independent and not subjected to anyone's thoughts or prayers yet He reveals Himself to Narada thus confirming the idea that He is the eternal well-wisher of all Beings.
  4. Krishna is non-material thus He is approachable ONLY if we become non-material or spiritual. That is why Narada muni was advised by Krishna that He cannot be seen by anyone who has material desires. If we want to serve Krishna, we have to become pure of material dualities of gain and loss.
  5. Nama-Sankirtan is the essence of Vedanta and Narada after losing sight of Krishna decided to chant the Holy Names of the Lord constantly with no material attachments. We also have to follow in his footsteps. 
  6. Patience is a virtue. From the first contact of Krishna to becoming His eternal associate took more than 4.3 trillion years for Narada so we also have to become patient and wait for the mercy of the Lord (we should not feel entitled).
  7. After a long wait, Narada successfully became Narada. Krishna does not abandon His bhakta therefore Krishna as Bhakta-vatsal always protects His devotees and delivers the devotee to Himself. We should have this confidence that at the end of it all - Krishna never disappoints!
Hare Krishna

The Conch – Why we love New Govardhan
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Hare Krishna New Govardhana is leading a way of alternative living: simple living, higher thinking. Everyday here in New Govardhana is fresh and vibrant. We have opportunities every day to serve the Lord and His devotees. Srila Prabhupada said the purpose of life is to know one’s own self. Living here on New Govardhana is coming closer to fulfilling the purpose.

Moving forward
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, March 2018, Durban, South Africa, Human Relationships Lecture)

Krsna is always showing us the next step in our spiritual lives. So if it is clear that the next step is that you should be doing more, then we should take that step. If you feel, “Krsna is showing me that the next step is to develop love for him“, then do it!

You have these karate movies where the young karate character come out and makes all these moves and he is going really fast on all sides. But then an old Kung-Fu master comes out and does not make all these moves, but instead just has this one concentrated move. And then all of a sudden, everyone is flying in all directions and gets knocked out. (laughter) So in the beginning, we are like these young karate guys trying to run around, but we lack depth and we lack the real concentration and focus. We are trying to be busy for Krsna, trying to always chant, read and so on. But what we really need to work on is to deepen ourselves through our relationships and go deeper in our commitment to Krsna. This is the beginning step and it helps us in making Krsna the real priority. After all, he is the Supreme!

Nothing is really important except Krsna. We must truly understand this. Even in our relationships – our marriage, our friends and our families – if it does not help us go deeper in our relationship with Krsna, then what is the point of it!? Otherwise, we are just creating a beautiful illusion for ourselves, which is totally meaningless. If we are not trying to make our children Krsna conscious, then what is the point of having them? If we want to give our children Krsna consciousness, we cannot do it by dictation. We cannot do it by rules, “You must do this. You must not do that.” Such harshness will not work in the long run. Instead, we must pass Krsna consciousness through inspiration, by setting an example. Kids never do what you say, but they do what you do. So we must attempt to the best of our ability to be a devotee and conquer them with devotion; only then they will be amazing devotees.

If somebody has nice qualities, it impresses us. A thousand lessons from a book about moral behaviour would not work as much as the impressions from an inspiring person would. Relationships are a big thing! So if you are looking to engage in relationships and starting a family, you have to aspire to be spiritually advanced. 

The article " Moving forward " was published on KKSBlog.

OMBUDS Programme in the UK. ISKCON UK has established an Ombuds…
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OMBUDS Programme in the UK.
ISKCON UK has established an Ombuds program so devotees can raise concerns, dealing with interpersonal conflicts and find clarity on ISKCON policies and practices. The team are from different parts of the UK and are a diverse group of devotees. They have been trained by Vraja Vihari prabhu from ISKCON Resolve. The idea is to work towards “zero barriers”- so that members of ISKCON should be able to raise, in good faith, concerns they have, and discuss how they can be addressed.
An ISKCON UK Ombuds will listen to you and help you consider the various options you have in dealing with a matter or issue, big or small. ISKCON UK Ombuds are totally confidential (except imminent risk), independent of Management in their capacity of Ombuds, neutral, and informal (conversations are off the record).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR CONTACT DETAILS PLEASE WRITE TO: ISKCONOMBUDSUK@GMAIL.COM

Bhadra Campaign Inundates the World With Srimad-Bhagavatam Sets!…
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Bhadra Campaign Inundates the World With Srimad-Bhagavatam Sets!
Overall the campaign was a heartening success in spreading the glories of the Bhagavatam.
“Everybody we met was eager to help preserve this transcendental knowledge,” Malini says. “And I can only imagine the impact all around the world. Just the presence of the Srimad-Bhagavatam in everyone’s home will gradually increase their consciousness to a higher level, and they will start appreciating spirituality more and more.”
The campaign was also an enlivening experience for devotees.
To read the entire article please click here: https://goo.gl/p4owsH

ISKCON of Harrisburg celebrates it’s 10th Annual Ratha Yatra Festival
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Hare Krishna During the Labor day weekend of 2018, The International Society for Krishna Consciousness in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, were preparing for our Annual Ratha Yatra festival. ISKCON of Harrisburg, formerly Institute of Higher Understanding (IOHU), will be celebrating its 10th Annual Ratha Yatra (Festival of Chariots) on Saturday, Sept 1st, 2018 with a parade on City Island, Harrisburg, PA.

UK report for World Holy Name Festival 2018
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Hare KrishnaBy Mina

The UK yatras were out in full force for the World Holy Name Festival (17 - 24th September) this year. The week kicked off with Kirtan Fest in Leicester, where the holy names were chanted throughout the weekend. This year's festival was made extra special as it was celebrating the 35th anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Madhava's installation, and that the Grade II listed temple was able to welcome new guests as part of Heritage Open Day, where historic buildings in the city open their doors to visitors to get a glimpse behind the scenes. In Newcastle, devotees dedicated their monthly Sacred Street Party in the city centre to the World Holy Name Festival. Over thirty devotees were joined on the streets by HG Jai Nitai Das and HG Bhava Bhakti Devi Dasi from ISKCON London for the event, and did two hours of kirtan, distributed 54 of Srila Prabhupada's books, 180 prasadam sweets, and 900 mantra cards. Temple President HG Chaitanya Vallabha Das said: "It was a wonderful event to bring our whole community together for the purpose of sharing Krishna Consciousness, especially the Holy Name!" Continue reading "UK report for World Holy Name Festival 2018
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Why Build the TOVP? Do We Really Need Another Temple? Part 3
- TOVP.org

In Part 1 of this series of articles we summarized the overall spiritual and philosophical reasoning behind building temples for Vishnu/Krishna as opposed to focusing on altruistic or philanthropic welfare work for human society through the opening of hospitals, feeding the poor, etc. Part 2 offered several important specific reasons from various perspectives why we are building the TOVP.

Part 3 reveals the shastric (scriptural) evidence that supports the building of a temple and the astounding spiritual benefits that accrue to anyone who participates in this incredibly auspicious service. Part 4 will dive deep into the esoteric and sublime causes of the TOVP’s manifestation.

The Benefits of Building a Temple of Vishnu

Agni Purana, Chapter 38, Texts 1-50

Agni said: I will now describe the fruits of making temples for the residence of Vasudeva and other deities. He who attempts to erect temples for gods is freed from the sins of a thousand births. Those who think of building a temple in their minds are freed from the sins of a hundred births. Those who approve of a man’s building a temple for Krishna go to the region of Acyuta [Vishnu] freed from sins.

Having desired to build a temple for Hari, a man immediately takes a million of his generations, past and future, to the region of Vishnu. The departed manes of the person who builds a temple for Krishna live in the region of Vishnu, well adorned and freed from the sufferings of hell. The construction of a temple for a deity dissipates even the sin of Brahmanicide. By building a temple one reaps the fruit which he does not even gain by celebrating a sacrifice. By building a temple one acquires the fruits of bathing at all the sacred shrines.

The construction of a temple, which gives heaven, by a religious or an irreligious man, yields the fruit reaped by persons slain in a battle undertaken on behalf of the celestials. By making one temple one goes to heaven; by making three one goes to the region of Brahma; by making five one goes to the region of Shambhu; by making eight one goes to the region of Hari. By making sixteen one attains all objects of enjoyment and emancipation. A poor man, by building the smallest temple, reaps the same benefit which a rich man does by building the biggest temple for Vishnu. Having acquired wealth and built a temple with a small portion of it, a person acquires piety and gains favours from Hari.

By making a temple with a lakh of rupees, or a thousand, or a hundred, or fifty, a man goes where the Garuda-emblemed deity resides. He who in his childhood even sportively makes a temple of Vasudeva with sand, goes to his region. He who builds temples of Vishnu at sacred places, shrines, and hermitages, reaps three-fold fruits. Those who decorate the temple of Vishnu with scents, flowers, and sacred mud, go to the city of the Lord. Having erected a temple for Hari, a man, either fallen, about to fall, or half-fallen, reaps twofold fruits. He who brings about the fall of a man is the protector of one fallen. By making a temple for Vishnu one attains to his region. As long as the collection of bricks of Hari’s temple exists, the founder of his family lives gloriously in the region of Vishnu. He becomes pious and adorable both in this world and in the next.

He who builds a temple for Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, is born as a man of good deeds and his family is purified. He who builds temples for Vishnu, Rudra, the sun-god, and other deities, acquires fame. What is the use to him of wealth which is hoarded by ignorant men? Useless is the acquisition of riches to one who does not have a temple built with hard earned money for Krishna, or whose wealth is not enjoyed by the Pitris, Brahmanas, celestials, and friends. As death is certain for men, so is his destruction.

The man who doesn’t spend his money for his enjoyment or in charities and keeps it hoarded is stupid and is fettered even when alive. What is the merit of him who, obtaining riches either by an accident or manliness, does not spend it for a glorious work or for religion? What is the merit of him who, having given away his wealth to the leading twice-born, makes his gift circulated, speaks of more than he gives away in charities?

Therefore a wise man should have the temples built for Vishnu and other deities. Having entered the region of Hari, he acquires reverential faith for Narottama [Vishnu]. He pervades all the three worlds containing the mobile and the immobile, the past, future, and present, gross, subtle, and all inferior objects. From Brahma to a pillar everything has originated from Vishnu. Having obtained entrance into the region of the Great Soul, Vishnu, the omnipresent god of gods, a man is not born again.

By building temples for other gods, a man reaps the same fruit which he does by building one for Vishnu. By building temples for Shiva, Brahma, the sun, Candi, and Lakshmi, one acquires religious merit. Greater merit is acquired by installing images. In the sacrifice attendant upon the setting up of an idol there is no end of fruits. One made of wood gives greater merit than one made of clay; one made of bricks yields more than a wooden one. One made of stone yields more than one made of bricks. Images made of gold and other metals yield the greatest religious merit. Sins accumulated in seven births are dissipated even at the very commencement. One building a temple goes to heaven; he never goes to hell. Having saved one hundred of his family, he takes them to the region of Vishnu.

Yama said to his emissaries: Do not bring to hell persons who have built temples and adored deities. Bring those to my view who have not built temples. Judge thus rightly and follow my commands.

Persons can never disregard your commands, except those who are under the protection of the endless father of the universe. You should always pass over those persons who have their minds fixed on the Lord. They are not to live here. You should avoid from a distance those who adore Vishnu. Those who sing the glories of Govinda and those who worship Janardana [Vishnu or Krishna] with daily and occasional rites should be shunned by you from a distance. Those who attain to that station should not even be looked at by you. The persons who adore Him with flowers, incense, raiment, and favorite ornaments should not be marked by you. They go to the region of Krishna. Those who smear the body [of Vishnu] with unguents, who sprinkle his body, should be left in the abode of Krishna. Even a son or any other member born in the family of one who has built a temple of Vishnu should not be touched by you. Hundreds of persons who have built temples of Vishnu with wood or stone should not be looked at by you with an evil mind.

By building a golden temple one is freed from all sins. He who has built a temple for Vishnu reaps the great fruit which one gains by celebrating sacrifices every day. By building a temple for the Lord he takes his family, a hundred generations past and a hundred to come, to the region of Acyuta.

Vishnu is identical with the seven worlds. He who builds a temple for him saves the endless worlds and himself attains immortality. As long as the bricks will last, the maker [of the temple] will live for so many thousands of years in heaven. The maker of the deity attains the region of Vishnu and he who consecrates the installation of the same is immersed in Hari. The person who builds a temple and an image, as well as he who consecrates them, come before Him.

This rite of pratishtha [installation] of Hari was related by Yama. For creating temples and images of the deities, Hayashirsha described it to Brahma.

Passages from Other Shastras

One who offers the deity gifts of the land, markets, cities and villages so that the regular worship and special festivals of the deity may go on continuously will achieve opulence equal to My own.

Srimad Bhagavatam

By installing the deity of the Lord, one becomes king of the entire earth, by building a temple for the Lord, one becomes ruler of the three worlds, by worshiping and serving the deity, one goes to the planet of Lord Brahma, and by performing all three of these activities one achieves a transcendental form like My own.

Srimad Bhagavatam

O devoted one, one who builds a beautiful temple for Lord Narasimhadeva will be freed from all sinful reactions and he will enter the Vaikuntha planets.

Narasimha Purana

Just by starting the construction of a temple for Lord Krishna, sins committed in seven births will be wiped out and one will deliver his forefathers who are suffering in the hellish planets.

Skanda Purana

Whoever constructs or helps to construct a Vishnu temple will protect eight generations of fathers, grandfathers, and forefathers from falling into hell.”

Skanda Purana

“By building a temple of Sri Madhava, one can attain the eternal spiritual world (Vaikuntha). One who offers a garden laden with fruits and flowers for the service of the deity will attain heavenly pleasures.”

Skanda Purana

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Phone App at: http://tovp.org/news/announcements/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Mailing List at: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post Why Build the TOVP? Do We Really Need Another Temple? Part 3 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

If after some wrongdoing, we feel guilty and don’t feel like coming close to Krishna, what can we do?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post If after some wrongdoing, we feel guilty and don’t feel like coming close to Krishna, what can we do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Gita 01.01 The Gita’s first word dharma conveys its essential, universal theme
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 01.01 The Gita’s first word dharma conveys its essential, universal theme appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sunday, September 30th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Caledon, Ontario

Couples

Just north of Brampton, in the Caledon district, there is this beautiful Nirvana Retreat Centre where a couple’s retreat was held over the weekend.  The previous weekend, one was held in Port Royal, Pennsylvania and the same coordinator / presenter offered her services for the first time in Canada, for couples of ISKCON membership.  The name of this incredible person is Krishnanandini, from Cleveland.  Alongside her is her equally incredible husband, Tariq; they were in addition to another champion marriage team, Partha and Uttama from British Columbia.  Thanks also to Radha Bhakti.

I sat in on Krishnanandini’s morning class because I highly support solid marriages and meaningful relationships.  This desire for successful marriages is something that deep down everyone hankers for.

Her class, based on the book Bhagavatam, concentrates on the story of the yogi, Kardama Muni, who wanted to have a wife.  Nothing wrong with that.  The challenge is in making something work in a relationship, and that takes a lot of work. However, it’s worth it.  So many skills are learned from the effort—human skills.  If we can’t develop good relations in this world, how can we cultivate a relationship with the Supreme?  Something to consider.

The class was worth attending.  Very inspiring!  I was inspired enough to ‘wing it’ when delivering a class myself in Scarborough on “The Opulence of the Absolute.”  Bhagavad Gita, 10.35, mentions the high points of the year—spring and fall—fall because of the harvest, which is now.

Indeed, this is a great time of the year.

May the Source be with you!
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Training Oxen by Voice Commands Lesson 5 To Stand
→ Life With the Cows and Land



We are back again with the Training Oxen by Voice Commands series. Here is lesson 5 which deals with the importance of standing and how to train your oxen to stand. This time Kalyan Tamal is the ox in training. Kalyan and Dhruva, both rescued from a dairy where they were about to be slaughtered are the ox team in training. They live at the ISCOWP sanctuary where they are in training to show how intelligent they are and how they have a role to play in the family farm. They need not be slaughtered.