The Out of Africa Theory Versus the Vedic View
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Hare KrishnaBy Sri Nandanandana dasa

Many geneticists view that modern man developed and came out of Africa where they migrated across lands to settle in ancient India. From there they spread out in all directions, even into Europe. This is called the “Out of Africa” theory. This certainly helps contradict the Aryan Invasion Theory, which proposes that the Vedic Aryans were not indigenous to the region of India, but came from the Caucasus Mountains, bringing their culture into India. However, over the past several years, an increasing number of finds have been made that suggest modern humans also lived in other regions besides Africa, and at older dates. Continue reading "The Out of Africa Theory Versus the Vedic View
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Bhakti Comes from Bhakti
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Hare KrishnaBy Giriraj Swami

Someone could question, “Why should Krishna listen to the prayers of a devotee? So many people are praying to Krishna; why should Krishna listen especially to a devotee? Is that not also partiality?” Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura says that of all of Krishna’s qualities, the quality of being affectionate to His devotees, bhakta-vatsalya, is considered the supermost, the emperor that conquers over all the Lord’s other qualities and reconciles all contradictions. So, being partial to His devotees is not a fault (dusanam) in Krishna, but an ornament (bhusanam)—His most exalted quality. He has no desire other than to please His devotees. Just as the devotees have no desire other than to please Krishna, Krishna has no desire other than to please His devotees. Continue reading "Bhakti Comes from Bhakti
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Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir, Vrndavana
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Hare KrishnaBy Parvati devi dasi

Caturmasya and Monsoon is upon us, and the Samadhi Dome is quite damp inside because there was leaking from the Kalash base at the top. We repaired that. But we needed a de-humidifier, which is not a cheap. The Museum roof leaked too, because of damage during a hailstone storm some months before, aggravated by monkeys sporting up there. We’ll have to replace the fiberglass. Vyasa Puja is coming up soon. Srila Prabhupada is sitting right here in Vrndavan in his divine eternal resting place. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir, Vrndavana
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Srimad Bhagavatam reigns supreme! On Monday Divya Naam Das and…
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Srimad Bhagavatam reigns supreme!
On Monday Divya Naam Das and his family went out door to door in Pinner. Given that it was the first day of the month of Bhadra they went out with the specific objective of wanting to try and glorify Srimad Bhagavatam to some receptive souls. It was not long before they met one such family to whom they presented the glories of Bhagavatam and the family immediately welcomed a full set of the Srimad Bhagavatam including the golden throne into their home. It was an exhilarating experience to see the magic of Srimad Bhagavatam and Srila Prabhupada work in front of their eyes. The wonderful family gave £199 donation for the set and throne.

6 Hour Kirtan – 2 Day Special!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

We warmly invite everyone for a 2 days of non-stop 6 hour kirtan! This year we will celebrate Janmastami by chanting the Holy Name for 2 days, Sunday, September 2nd and Monday September 3rd! Both days will begin at 12:30pm - 6:30pm. We have invited a special guest - Amala kirtan prabhu from Brazil!


We will be chanting the Hare Krishna maha mantra for 6 hours in variety of melodies. It will be a wonderful opportunity for both music lovers and aspiring yogis to keep their senses engaged in the Holy Name of the Lord!



Janmastami 2018! All the Information You Need!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

Just over a week after we celebrate the appearance day of Lord Balarama, we celebrate our biggest and grandest celebration at the temple, Krishna Janmastami, the appearance day of Lord Krishna. This year Janmastami falls on Monday, September 3rd. However, we will be celebrating Krishna Janmastami on Sunday, September 2nd and on September 3rd!

Krishna appeared over five thousand years ago in Mathura. His name means the all attractive one. He is transcendental, all-knowing and possesses all the qualities of all the avatars yet He remains as an ever-youthful cowherd boy. His beauty and sweetness know no bounds. Lord Krishna is the spiritual master and friend to all.

To set the mood for this most auspicious day we will have two 6 hour kirtans on Sunday and Monday starting at 12:30pm. The temple will be buzzing with activity on Janmastami day starting at 4:30am with Mangala arati. The main festivities will start at 6pm and go until midnight. The evening will be filled with kirtan, bhajans, discourses, dances and an abhishek (bathing ceremony). The highlight is of course the countdown to midnight. A special arati will be performed to their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha who will be dressed in an exquisite flower outfit!

We are pleased to announce that world-renowned kirtaneer Amala Kirtan prabhu will be attending our Janmastami celebrations. You can be sure to expect the temple room to be filled with lively energetic kirtan!

We have found some nearby overnight parking options for your convenience. These parking lots are about 10 minutes walking distance from the temple.

55 Avenue Road (Whole Foods/Underground)

251 Macpherson Ave

1010 Yonge Street

15 Price Street

The following is the schedule for the festival on Sunday, September 2nd(subject to change):

12:30pm - 6:30pm: 6 Hour Kirtan

6:00pm - 6:30pm: Arati and Kirtan

6:30pm - 6:45pm: Welcome and Announcements

6:45pm - 7:30pm: Class

7:30pm - 8:00pm: Prasadam

8:00pm - 8:45pm: Arati and Kirtan


The following is the schedule for the festival on Monday, September 3rd(subject to change):


12:30pm - 6:30pm: 6 Hour Kirtan

6:00pm - 6:30pm: Arati and Kirtan

6:30pm - 6:45pm: Welcome and Announcements

6:45pm - 7:30pm: Kids Presentation

7:30pm - 8:00pm: Class

8:00pm - 8:45pm: Arati and Kirtan

8:45pm - 9:00pm Special Announcements

9:00pm - 10:00pm: Donor Abhishek

10:00pm - 10:15pm: Presentation by Temple Council

10:15pm -11:00pm: Special Musical Presentation

11:00pm - 12:00am: Maha Abhishek

12:00am - 12:30am: Midnight Arati with Special Flower Darshan!

Please join us with your whole family on this very special occasion!

Gita 18.67 Though ultimately every heart longs for divine love, not every heart is presently ready for divine love
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Bhagavatam tenth canto study 24 – 10.4.25-37 Kamsa’s change of heart doesn’t last for long
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Podcast


 

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Sunday, August 26th, 2018
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Pelee / Toronto

Last Dip

I slipped in some walking at nighttime with Jaya Keshava. I’ve known him since ’81.  He’s always upbeat; a good companion for walking.

A cyclist zipped by. “Hare Krishna!” said he.  We reciprocated, of course.  When someone comes right out and says it, then it’s a real reinforcement.

Before I arrived in Toronto I stopped in to see my sister, Rose Ann, and brother-in-law, Jim.  Vintage books are what they sell in their shop in Chatham.  I browsed through their counter-culture material.  It’s a good stock.  Chatham is where I was born, and I was happy to see—when Gaurav and Khush drove me through the downtown—that a major yoga studio has a prominent presence on the main street.

Where I launched from, in today’s travels, was Pelee Island, and from there I took the opportunity to have a last dip in the lake with three out of the fifty members who had come for the retreat; any excuse was good for cooling down on these hot, steamy days.

After breakfast we managed to have an on-the-grass sit-down discussion on the Bhagavatam,from Canto 10. The focus was Krishna.  Who else would it be?

I feel as if the weekend was most fruitful.  You could put the retreat we just had in Pelee Island in a “Devotee Care” category.  The fun, the food and the fuel for facing maya, the illusion, was a great exercise.  Much needed.

May the Source be with you!
4 km


Saturday, August 25th, 2018
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Pelee Island, Ontario

What to Say to a Thirty-Year-Old Son?

Tree frogs in the millions croaked all night, and in a more subdued tone, the crickets.  Our rented home was just fine, and on stilts, like the rest of the houses on the east side of the island.  This is so as to accommodate water snakes who cannot be inconvenienced when slithering from the creek to the lake.  This is very progressive of the residents.

More participants came from Ohio and Toronto; add-ons to our already happy group.  We all commenced with an AM sadhana,and our topic was mainly a discussion on Balarama, the divine brother of Krishna.  The event calls for a half-day fast and so the meal at noon was memorable.

Our more intellectual side was stimulated through talk, our stomach through food, and our physical self through the trek to Fish Point. There you have two sets of waves coming at you.

During discussion time, a question came up. “I have a son who’s thirty, and he represents many people of his age who cannot accept the existence of a God, or a religion.  [He says,] ‘Religions have messed up too many times.’  What do I say to my son?”

We suggested this answer. “I respect your belief, but if you can find it in your heart to be ethical by not eating animals that would be great.”

Our day ended with kirtanon the beach, with campfire, where vegan marshmallows were delightfully roasted.

May the Source be with you!
4 km


Friday, August 24th, 2018
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Pelee Island, Ontario

To the Water

I was walking in Yorkville.  The day had turned.  It was dark, but not for the night people in Yorkville, those in the fancy bars and those on the street.  One man froze in his tracks when he saw me.

“I’ve been to Tibet,” he said. I must have reminded him of the place, where monks are around every corner, although Buddhist.

“I’m from Canada, a Hare Krishna, and my tradition hails from India.”

He noticed my japameditation beads in my right hand.

“Can I get those beads?  I know they’re very powerful.” He offered me a $500 donation to our monastery if he could have the beads.  Just then the car parked next to us set off its car alarm.  “See I told you they’re powerful.”  

However, I did not concede.  With smiles we parted.

I managed some sleep upon my return to the ashram, attended the first half of the temple morning program, and then went off for our annual Pelee Island retreat.  Cleveland, Detroit, Brampton, Toronto, and Windsor reps were there.  

A small group of us walked on the west sideroad.  We met Morris, a music teacher from Owen Sound.  He defied any notion we had of snooty islanders.  So hospitable.  We went to his home, and with a larger group of us came onto his dock to get acquainted.  He remembered reading some literature from our guru, Prabhupada.

Getting everyone in for a splash in Lake Erie took time.  You should have seen all these middle-aged men, reluctant to indulge in the water in the beginning, and unwilling to get out once wet.

May the Source be with you!
6 km


His only goal was to infect as many people as possible with love of Krsna
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Hare KrishnaBy Srutakirti dasa

This was one of Srila Prabhupada's qualities. He was very careful not to discourage anyone through criticism. If they were capable of dealing with it then he would chastise them. Otherwise, he was the greatest transcendental diplomat there ever was. His only goal was to infect as many people as possible with love of Krsna. Continue reading "His only goal was to infect as many people as possible with love of Krsna
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Parenting as Service to God
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Hare KrishnaBy Krishnanandini Devi Dasi

The best parents are good role models for their children. They demonstrate the spiritual way of life through words and deeds, understanding that children learn what they live. They seek out other parents or families trying to raise God-conscious children. In this way, they create a much-needed support system. Truly “It takes a village to raise a child.” (Ancient African Proverb). Continue reading "Parenting as Service to God
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The Best Benediction
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Hare KrishnaBy Mohini Radha Devi Dasi

Some people fantasize about accumulating immense wealth and dream of what they would buy if they only had enough. To them, happiness hovers elusively on the other side of that new car, that big house, that diamond necklace. While many of us will say, "Money can't buy happiness," do we really believe it? If not money, what is the solution to our hankerings? What is the greatest treasure that will bring true happiness? And how do we acquire that treasure? Srila Prabhupada answers these questions in one of his purports, which recounts the story of a fortunate brahmana who sought the best benediction from Lord Siva Continue reading "The Best Benediction
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Pershore Plum Festival & Rathayatra – 27th Aug 2018 (Album…
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Pershore Plum Festival & Rathayatra - 27th Aug 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” If one practices chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, he is naturally expected to chant Hare Krishna when he meets with some accident. Even without such practice, however, if one somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord (Hare Krishna) when he meets with an accident and dies, he will be saved from hellish life after death. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.15 Purport)
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Sri Balarama Jayanti 2018 Radhadesh (Album of photos) The form…
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Sri Balarama Jayanti 2018 Radhadesh (Album of photos)
The form of Lord Balarama Powerful Lord Balarama is sixteen years old, full of the luster of youth and has a fair complexion the color of crystal. He wears blue garments and a garland of forest flowers. His handsome hair is tied in a graceful topknot. Splendid earrings adorn His ears and His neck is splendidly decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of jewels. Splendid armlets and bracelets ornament Douji’s graceful and very strong arms and His feet are decorated with splendid jeweled anklets. Lord Balarama’s beauty is enhanced by the earrings touching His cheeks. His face is decorated with tilaka made from musk, and His broad chest is ornamented with a garland of gunja. Balarama’s voice is very grave and His arms are very long, touching His thighs
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Bhagavatam tenth canto study 23 – 10.4.17.24 Others’ past bad karma doesn’t rationalize our present misdeeds towards them
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Podcast


 

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Gita 18.66 The call to rise above dharma is not a call to slip below dharma
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Strive for bhakti yoga
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 07 January 2018, Brisbane, Australia, Q&A Programme)

In this age, which path of yoga (karma, jnana or bhakti) should we follow?

Karma yoga basically means that we engage the work of our desires in the service of the Lord. So here, we perform our prescribed duty as we desire through our karma, but offer the fruits of that work to the Lord. The motivation here is however mixed, as some is for the Lord and some is for ourselves. For instance, if someone loves to cook, they cook prasadam for the Lord, but then they leave the cleaning aspect after the cooking for someone else because they do not want to do that. This shows that the person’s devotion is not pure and has some mixed intentions.

Jnana yoga involves looking at the world in a philosophical way where one is to recognise that all things in this world are temporary, except for the eternal soul. Here, we always remember, through all the ups and downs of life, that we are eternal, and this also greatly assists in coping through life. Here, we are also trying to connect this detachment to the Lord as when we are detached, we are more free. When we are attached however, we are more entangled and think of a thousand things… anxiety permeates the mind constantly! So in jnana yoga, we are trying to cut such strings of attachment and focus on the fact that the Lord and all of us are eternal.

Bhakti yoga encompasses the recognition that whatever activity we do and whatever austerity we perform, we dedicate all of that to the Supreme Lord. Here, we understand that Krsna is the proprietor and we are his servants. There is no selfish element about pursuing our own desires or staying away from attachment altogether; it is all about service to the Lord. We worship Krsna not to get rich or to promote our own interests. No, we worship him because he is wonderful! Krsna says it himself (Bhagavad-gita 6.47):

yoginam api sarvesam
mad-gatenantar-atmana
sraddhavan bhajate yo mam
sa me yuktatamo matah

The yogi that truly dedicates himself or herself to Krsna, he is the top-most. The path of bhakti yoga is repeatedly emphasised in all scriptures as the path to attract Krsna. So this is what we must strive for. Karma yoga and jnana yoga are both preliminary paths that will ultimately lead us to pure devotion. Such pure devotion is free from all karma or jnana – it is just pure selfless love for Krsna! Bhakti yoga therefore is the means and the goal!

The article " Strive for bhakti yoga " was published on KKSBlog.

New Mayapur, France, Mellows + Lord BALARAM´s appearance day…
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New Mayapur, France, Mellows + Lord BALARAM´s appearance day 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is everywhere. Simply you have to catch Him. And He’s also ready for being caught. Yes, if somebody wants to catch Him. Suppose you are a devotee. If you want to catch Him, He comes forward ten times than your desire. He’s so kind. Therefore, we have to simply receive Him. London, August 21, 1973.
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Motel Gita (Album of photos) Mr. Harish Agarwal and Nandini…
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Motel Gita (Album of photos)
Mr. Harish Agarwal and Nandini Kishori dd recently attended Nashville AAHOA Regional convention. The response was stellar. Mr. Pete Patel stopped by. He is really touched by MotelGita project and donated nicely! We feel that we’ve found a Motelgita advocate in Nashville, TN area. Mr. Chip Rogers, AAHOA CEO, stopped by at the booth and appreciated the non-profit work we do. A college student stopped by, he said his parents (motel owners) had shown him Motelgita TV interview. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wwv4eaVxg7Y. Another hotel owner stopped by, he said he has read all Gitas, Vinoba Bhave, Gandhi etc, however, there is no Gita as clear and concise as Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is. Therefore Srila Prabhupada is the most intelligent person on the planet. Met Ms. Nancy, who has already read Gita, so I informed about Srimad Bhagavatam. She emailed me today that she is definitely going to buy it. Mr. Vinay Patel (current AAHOA secretary and future AAHOA President) stopped by and really appreciated MotelGita project. His wife Tina Patel had stopped by at an annual convention and had placed an order for all of their hotels. See the enclosed photo, which was posted on Facebook by another Hotelier (Mr. Naresh Bhakta).
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What’s Wrong with Sex?
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Hare KrishnaBy Chaitanya Charana Dasa

When the media assault our eyes with images of half-naked bodies, lawmakers fight back with anti-obscenity laws, and the media complain that the government is policing personal morality. "Who are you to restrict our sexual enjoyment?" cry the libertines. "Ubiquitous sexuality," say the cultural conservatives, "degrades society." Everyone cherishes the right to enjoy life, and libertines, to defend themselves, appeal to this right. But could they be defeating the very purpose they claim to champion? Could moral restrictions on sexuality uphold, rather than impede, our right to enjoy life? Continue reading "What’s Wrong with Sex?
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The Extra Plants
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Hare KrishnaBy Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi

I am only starting to understand that I was an enemy to the gardener. Whatever prestige I maintained in the garden is just so much rotten mulch. I hereby permanently drop it as garbage! Pride which is not for the satisfaction of Krishna is only a false path of repeated self-defeat, with an ugly tree named Fear at the end of the trail. I am fascinated by all that has happened, the way the garden is transformed, the sounds of soft sweet praises for God as given by the spiritual expert. The gardener’s voice grows very satisfied and forgiving at this time. I am surrounded by sweet mellows and I am disarmed. Continue reading "The Extra Plants
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Relativity and the Path to the Absolute
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Hare KrishnaBy Arcana Siddhi Devi Dasi

Later, after becoming a devotee, I discovered that according to the Vedic teachings my assertions were right. But now I could understand something about the nature of that absolute reality: It is Krishna. Everything we see in this world comes from one of Krishna's many energies. But His illusory energy (maya) keeps us from perceiving things properly. Just as a magician can make us think we're seeing something that's not there, Krishna uses illusion to create our supposed reality. One might wonder why God would want to prevent us from seeing the truth Continue reading "Relativity and the Path to the Absolute
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Bhagavatam tenth canto study 22 – 10.4.10-16 Kamsa’s self-recrimination is self-serving
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Podcast


 

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Gita 18.65 Promises in a close relationship reflect and affect the closeness of the relationship
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Science, Spirituality and Wellness – Existence, Emotions and Ethics
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[Seminar at Maylands Community Center, Perth, Australia]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

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