Rationally choosing our life’s purpose and process
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[Renaissance youth session at ISKCON, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, India]

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Bring out the best within, not the beast within – Hindi
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[Youth meeting at ISKCON, Sant Nagar, Delhi, India]

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Analyzing Karna – Going beyond black and white perspectives in understanding scripture + QA
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[Renaissance youth session at ISKCON, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, India]

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Three levels of purification – reaction, action and inclination – Hindi
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Punjabi Bagh, Delhi, India]

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How to increase our faith – Hindi
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[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Sant Nagar, Delhi, India]

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VIHE Holy Name Retreat- 2018 Meena Chand: On behalf of the…
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VIHE Holy Name Retreat- 2018
Meena Chand: On behalf of the teachers, His Holiness Sacinandana Swami and His Grace Bhurijana Prabhu, we heartily invite you to take part in this wonderful week of hearing and chanting of the Holy Names from Nov 27 to Dec 2. Our residence will be at the foot of Govardhan Hill. From there we may travel short distances for outdoor chanting of japa and kirtans. We will gather to chant 64 rounds at Terkadamba and have inspirational readings. Classes enhancing our understanding of and practice of the chanting of the Holy Names will be held during some of the time. But since the main purpose of the retreat is to work on our chanting, lots of the time will be spent doing japa. We invite all serious practitioners to come and experience chanting in the Holy Dhama in the association of devotees seeking to improve their relationship with the Holy Name. The Retreat includes daily evening kirtans as well as an entire day dedicated to kirtan. The Holy Name Retreat is open to devotees aged 14 and up, as we strive to maintain a serene and meditative atmosphere.
To get further insights of the Holy Name Retreat, please visit the retreat photo/gallery.The recording of previous years’ retreats are available from the VIHE Audio Ministry.
Registrations will open in 5th of August. Please write us on vihe.retreats.registrations@pamho.net

Radha Kunda Seva: June 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of…
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Radha Kunda Seva: June 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of photos)
We spent the month of June organizing and preparing to serve an additional 70 meals per day to the ladies of Radha Kunda bringing the total meals daily served to 150. On July 1st, the new program was launched successfully. A hearty thank you to all of you who contributed to this cause! 68 of the new ladies still need sponsors. Please go to https://radharani.com/widow-help/ to help in this endeavor. For many years, we’ve had to come up with creative solutions in order to accommodate our increasing number of ladies since our rented facility is very small. As many of you know, we were waiting for a very long time for government permission to build a large kitchen and other facilities on land we had purchased near the Parikrama Marg. Now, we are on the lookout for a building for sale within or on the outskirts of Radha Kunda town. Please pray that we are able to find a suitable, affordable place soon. As always the cleaning, gardening, and prasadam distribution are continuing at Radha Kunda and around Govardhan. Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. Your servants, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, Sri Arjuna dasa, Urmila Devi Dasi, and Mayapurcandra dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/REnGq1

Seminar on “Power of Habits”
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhaktin Debasmita

London College of Vedic Studies was very honored to have HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami deliver a powerful and relevant seminar entitled ‘Power of Habits’, on Sunday 8th July 2018. The College serves as the educational wing of ISKCON-London, offering a wide range of educational, spiritual and practical courses, seminars and workshops aimed at nurturing character, personal fulfilment and spiritual progression. Continue reading "Seminar on “Power of Habits”
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Sri Mayapur International School Celebrates the Panihati Chida Dahi Utsava
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“Panihati is the place where Gaura Nitai would assemble for Sankirtana performance and where Raghunath das Goswami supplied a big feast of prasadam for all the devotees.” – Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Balavanta, October 20, 1974, Atlanta The Panihati Chida Dahi Utsava literally translates to the festival of chipped rice and yogurt, and is a festival […]

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Youth’s Enthusiasm on Bhagavad-gita at Shadana Youth Camp
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Hare KrishnaBy Hari Narayana Das

Globalization now days give many impacts to the young generation. The effects of this era sometime gave positive influence and negative in other ways. Protecting the young from the bad effect of the globalization is in the hands of the older generation. They have big responsible and should work hard to save the young generation. One of the member of Indonesia Parisad who leave in Jakarta from Jasri Village, Karangasem regency, Bali, felt worried of their young in his village. Jasri village is one of the tourism destination and of course the effect of culture brought by the tourist influence the social life in Jasri Village. He initiated to do Sadhana youth Camp. The purpose of this program was that participants can apply the Spiritual Practice in Daily Life so as to improve the Quality of Humanity in the self. And also become a qualified Human Resources in various fields of work. Then he asked the ISKCON in Indonesia whether they could prepare bhagavad gita for the contribution. Continue reading "Youth’s Enthusiasm on Bhagavad-gita at Shadana Youth Camp
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Sri Mayapur International School Celebrates the Panihati Chida Dahi Utsava
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Hare KrishnaBy ISKCON Mayapur

To this day, the Panihati Chida Dahi festival is celebrated in Panihati Dhama and all around the world. Panihati Dhama is located near Kolkata, and annually the festival is celebrated there in the same style as it was in Raghunatha Dasa’s time. Every year, a busload of devotees from the Mayapur temple goes and assists in the Panihati festivities. ISKCON Panihati organizes this festival for the mass distribution of prasadam and pilgrims in the thousands from surrounding states come to participate in the celebrations. Continue reading "Sri Mayapur International School Celebrates the Panihati Chida Dahi Utsava
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Bhagavatam study 95 1.17.37-42 Undestanding how restricting area of residence is a form of punishment
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Gita 18.19 The Gita’s flow verses make its question-directed discussion more accessible
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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We can’t delete our memories, but we can choose what we remember
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[Class at ISKCON, Dwarka, Delhi, India]

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Avoid prajalpa (Idle Talking)!
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Avoid prajalpa (Idle Talking)! (3 min video)
All prajalpas that are unfavorable to Krsna’s service are adverse to devotional service. The practitioner should carefully give up prajalpa. They are of many types. Useless talks, arguments, gossip, debates, fault-finding in others, speaking falsehoods, blaspheming devotees, and worldly talk are all called prajalpa. Useless talk is extremely detrimental. Practicing devotees should discuss topics of Lord Hari in the association of other devotees and remember Hari’s name, form, qualities, and pastimes in a secluded place without uselessly wasting time.
In newspapers there is so much useless talk. For the practicing devotee to read newspapers is a great loss. But if there are topics about pure devotees described in the newspaper, then that can be read. After finishing their meal, mundane people normally smoke and engage in useless talk with other godless people. It is certainly difficult for them to become followers of Srila Rupa Gosvami. Reading novels is the same. But if one gets a novel with a story like that of Puranjana in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, then reading that is not an impediment, rather it is beneficial.
Those who talk about others while influenced by devotional impediments like envy, hatred, pride, or distinction are offenders at the feet of Bhaktidevi.
Debate arises only from a desire for conquest. It is extremely abominable. Fault-finding arises only from imposing one’s own bad habits on others. This should be given up in all respects. Speaking falsehoods is another form of useless talk. Worldly talk is completely rejected by renounced devotees. Householders may accept some worldly talk that is favorable to devotional service. If topics like archeology, zoology, astrology, and geography are devoid of God consciousness, they should be rejected.
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.28.2) Lord Krsna instructed Uddhava as follows:
“Whoever indulges in praising or criticizing the qualities and behavior of others will quickly become deviated from his own best interest by his entanglement in illusory dualities.” [An Excerpt from Sri Bhaktyaloka by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura: https://goo.gl/aMJoRZ]

From Hari-bhakti-vilāsa / Из “Хари-бхакти-виласы”
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“Если случайно соприкоснуться с искрой, она все равно обжигает.
Точно также, если святое имя Господа Хари касается чьих-то уст, оно сжигает все грехи”.

[ Каши-кханда; цитируется в “Хари-бхакти-виласе” 11.324 ]

“Even if touched by mistake, a spark still burns.
In the same way, when the holy name of Lord Hari touches one’s lips it burns all sins.”

[ Kāśī-khaṇḍa; quoted in Hari-bhakti-vilāsa 11.324 ]

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10212225323851240&set=a.3707173840886.2134384.1321748113&type=3&theater

Friday, July 6th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

The Good News

The good news received this morning is that the government of India is putting some loving pressure on the famous temple of Jagannath in India, to make it open for all pilgrims to attend.  This would be a milestone, since the current policy has held onto a traditional ‘caste consciousness’ for centuries.  Opening up the doors so all could benefit would be quite the accomplishment. Relaxing the rigid approach may say something about witnessing some good omens within a dark age—Kali Yuga.

I was happy to see Sasvata, a godbrother who operates the “House of Healing” in Caledon. It’s been years.   http://houseofhealing.ca/Welcome.html Today was also a great day for seeing the arrival of a Florida couple who are set to conduct some magic shows on the upcoming tour we are part of.  From Montreal to Alberta, I’ll be with a travelling road show beginning this weekend.

Also, admirers of drama can now check out www.thewalkingmonk.netand click theatre.  There you can view the new entry “Many Mothers, Many Fathers,” detailing the life of Chitraketu, a story from the book, Bhagavatam.  It was filmed in Mayapura, India, and we are quite proud of the piece.  Please enjoy.

In addition to all the good stuff mentioned above, I was able to boast today to some of the patrons at Govinda’s—our restaurant, in our complex—that we have a private washroom for them on the main floor of the building.  Done with first class material and wheel-chair equipped, it is a convenient facility.  It’s a little awkward to say but, “Come check it out!”

May the Source be with you!
5 km



Thursday, July 5th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

Rains Came

The rains came and hard they came
Walkers were compelled to do the same
For any shelter that might keep them dry
Umbrellas were propped and kept up high
And after the shower the coast was clear
There was little to fret and not to fear
The chocolate cream was smudged for days
On the sidewalk where Sun used his rays
The rain did its job and made it go
At a rapid pace, no cream to show
I walked up Yonge where pretentious fun
Just about captures everyone
Then Bloor where you can’t afford anything
You go there and might just want to sing
I did my song of mantra maha
It’s auspicious like when you say “svaha”
I walked by Varsity to recall that once
John & Yoko were there, twas years and months
The rain purges bringing out the smells
Of fragrances from heavens, away from hells
I was in elation, and there were more
People who also got to score
Score we’ll do, we get old and die
But I won’t die, no need to cry.

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Wednesday, July 4th, 2018
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St. Catharines, Ontario

More on the Bruce

We took the time to get to the next leg of the Bruce Trail and to head north a bit farther, on foot.  The starting point was the ending point of one month ago—the Woodend Conservation Area. We were Vaishnava, Gaurachandra, Karuna, Dennis and myself for the initial steps.  Karuna and Dennis stayed on with me, later.

The trail is magical and offers a variegated array of features—the Welland Canal, a golf course, shady nooks of dream houses, a winding, posh neighbourhood, and a short stretch of retail strip; but our favourite was the woodsy, tall, deciduous forest.  Second to that was a lower bush where we found blackberries galore.  Cherry trees bearing the dark juicy fruits also came as a surprise.

At one point, Karuna brought me a small pear-shaped, and green-in-colour fruit. “Walnuts, not yet ripe,” I said, knowing a few things about the bush.  Of course, no one needs to identify the mosquitoes who accompanied us in the beginning until the sun burst forth to another day of inferno.  Trees saved us, really.

Our journey was a reasonable three hours of moving along which took us to Brock University in St. Catharines.  It’s a milestone—something achieved after 12 kilometres.

Karuna, Dennis and I had our grand reward, a meal with Vaishnava and Janaki.  Kofta, red and rich, and wraps and potato curry made tummy and senses blissful.  My legs held up quite well despite the up and down terrain in spots, which reminds me that stiffness in the knees does tell of age. At Vaishnava’s, we spoke of a serious home project for the future.

May the Source be with you!
12 km

Eight Prayers To Krishna’s Names. Srila Rupa Goswami’s…
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Eight Prayers To Krishna’s Names.
Srila Rupa Goswami’s Namastakam With the Stava-mala-bhusana commentary of Srila Baladev Vidyabhushan Srl-namastakam is a bouquet of eight verses offered by Srila Rupa Goswami in praise of the transcendental names of Lord Krishna. One special quality of these prayers is that Srila Rupa Goswami has composed each verse in a different meter. Meters in Sanskrit usually have feminine names, and thus he has surrounded Krishna’s holy names with eight beautiful ladies in the form of eight beautiful meters Just as Krishna is surrounded by eight principal gopis. There is some question about the authorship of the Stava-mala-bhusana commentary. Some suggest that it was written by Srila Jiva Goswami and others say it was written by Srila Baladev Vidyabhushan. Haridas Das in his Gaudiya Vaisnava Abhidhana gives some reason why the confusion may have arisen. He says that Srila Jiva Goswami took many of the loose prayers of Srila Rupa Goswami and compiled them into the volume known as Stava-mala, and that later Srila Baladev Vidyabhushan wrote the Stava-mala-bhusana commentary on the book.
To read the complete Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu issue 428
click here: https://goo.gl/M1xFNm

Gaura Purnima Festival 2019 Festival Schedule: ISKCON Mayapur…
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Gaura Purnima Festival 2019 Festival Schedule:
ISKCON Mayapur management invites worldwide devotees for Gaura Purnima festival 2019, from 27th February to 23rd March.
This year, the most awaited Sri Panca-tattva Maha abhisheka will be celebrated on 3rd March 2019. Once in four years, the big deities of Sri Panca-tattva will be offered Maha Abhisheka.
Kirtan Mela will be from 5th March to 8th March , followed by Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama from 9th March to 16th March.
Gaura Purnima 2019 festival schedule:
27th February Devotee’s Arrival
28th Feb to 03rd Mar. Sravana Utsav
03rd March Sri Panca-tattva Maha Abhisheka
04th March Festival Flag Hoisting
Kirtan Mela Adhivas
05th to 8th March Kirtan Mela
08th March Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Adhivas
09th to 16th March Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama
16th to 20th March Cultural Presentations
16th March Sri Sri Radha Madhava Boat Festival
17th March Elephant Procession &
Immersion of Ashes of Departed Souls
18th February Shantipur Festival
19th February Ganga Puja
20th March Jagannath Rath Yatra
21st March Gaura Purnima Festival
22nd March Jagannath Misra Feast
23rd March Devotees Departure
For more details of the festival or any queries, please write to info@mayapur.com or visit http://www.mayapur.com/

Gaura Purnima Festival 2019 Schedule
→ Mayapur.com

ISKCON Mayapur management invites worldwide devotees for Gaura Purnima festival 2019, from 27th February to 23rd March. This year, the most awaited Sri Panca-tattva Maha abhisheka will be celebrated on 1st March 2019. Once in four years, the big deities of Sri Panca-tattva will be offered Maha Abhisheka. Kirtan Mela will be from 5th March […]

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Chanting actually works! (4 min video)
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Chanting actually works! (4 min video)
“Chanting actually works! This is not a joke. It cleans the heart of so many unwanted things. It brings out our inherent nature of being selfless and compassionate. If more people chanted the world would be a completely different place because the spiritual vibration would uplift people’s spirits and they would become nicer. We try to buy happiness, but it cannot be bought. The chanting, however, will awaken that happiness that’s already within us. So don’t take my word for it, JUST DO IT and see what happens!” - Mahatma das

Srivasa Pandita
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Hare KrishnaBy Giriraj Swami

Srivasa Pandita is one of the members of the Panca-tattva: sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu-nityananda sri-advaita gadadhara srivasa. Vedic authorities state that in the current Age of Kali, Krishna came as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Balarama came as Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Similarly, Maha-vishnu appeared as Advaita Acharya, Srimati Radharani as Gadadhara Pandita, and Narada Muni as Srivasa Pandita. Continue reading "Srivasa Pandita
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Srivasa Thakur Disappearance
→ Ramai Swami

It was in Srivasa Pandita’s house that Sri Caitanya enacted His pastimes of sankirtana. Those four brothers (Srivasa, Sri Rama, Sripati and Srinidhi) were continuously engaged in singing the names of Sri Krsna. They worshipped Sri Krsna and bathed in the Ganges thrice daily.

These four brothers previously lived in the district of Sri Hatta. Later on they came to reside on the banks of the Ganges. There they regularly used to attend the assembly of devotees who gathered at Sri Advaita Acarya’s house to hear the Srimad Bhagavatam and engage in congregational chanting of the Holy Names. Gradually the brothers became very close friends of Sri Jagannatha Misra, with whom they would chant and listen to the Bhagavatam.

In all matters Srivasa was the leader of the four brothers. By the strength of his devotion, he could understand that Sri Krsna was going to appear in the house of Jagannatha Misra.

Srivasa Pandita had previously been Narada Muni, the best of the sages. Srivasa’s younger brother, Sriman Rama Pandita, had previously been Narada’s close friend Parvata Muni