Hare Krishna Couples’ Retreat! **Registration Extended**
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

We would like to warmly invite all the associating, engaged, and married couples to the Hare Krishna Couples' Retreat which will be happening from 28 September - 30 September, 2018, just an hour outside of Toronto. The retreat is put on by the Grihastha Vision Team (GVT) for the first time in Canada!

The facilitators - Uttama and Partha prabhus, Krsnanandini and Tariq prabhus (http://vaisnavafamilyresources.org/grihastha-vision-team-members/) are highly expertise in strengthening, educating and enlivening family relationships.

Throughout the retreat you can learn how to better communicate, 'spiritualize' your relationship while balancing material demands, and get an escape from the city!

Address:
Simcoe County Rd 50,
Adjala-Tosorontio, ON L0N 1P0
(an hour away from Toronto)

Registration:
To sign up for this wonderful retreat please click here.

Fees:
$320 per couple
registration deadline: September 15, 2018
fee includes: accommodation, prasadam, classes
*overnight accommodation available
Fees can be paid by using the following options:

1.) Donate button on the sidebar. Please include "Couple Retreat" in the memo.  

2.) EMT transfer at donate@torontokrishna.com. Please use the password "couples2018" to ensure your payment is accepted. 


Wednesday, June 13th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

The Force and the Source

Have you ever looked out the window to see, before your very eyes, a storm, not brewing, but suddenly hammer its way through?  I did.  It was on this very day.  I would say there was no physical warning.  It just came, turbulently.

I was in the chair looking at the trees from our second storey. Suddenly those trees swayed in such a way that I didn’t know they could bend like that.

Of course, some didn’t bend.  Some older growth just snapped and crashed.  The winds with rain moved easterly, and it was severe for only about seven minutes.  The downpour of rain then shifted vertically.

The sirens resounded throughout the city.  I went for an aftermath walk.  Sure, enough damage was done.  Power lines were down in the Yorkville area.  Cars were crushed under massive tree branches.  Someone I spoke to on a stroll mentioned that the popular Eaton’s Shopping Centre downtown had major leakage coming from its high ceiling. With all this you can say it could have been worse.

“Nature is like the mind—turbulent,” I said to two guests in Govinda’s.  They concurred that they were seeing themselves in the condition of the weather.

During my nighttime stroll, I took the opportunity to sit in a café chair by a parkette.  I was having a break from the return of the wind.  Indeed my dhoti experienced a good tossing in the air.  I had to tame it, holding it down at times.  I placed my japa beads on the table and was content to have them always near me.  After all, it is the Kali Yuga.

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Tuesday, June 12th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton, Ontario

 Opportunities

Three of us, Keshav, Vijay and I, went for some fund-raising in Brampton.  There is a need to receive kindness from donors for the up-and-coming Chariot Fest in Toronto.  The target for collection is $20,000 (Canadian).  People were reciprocating.  One dentist and one pundit from a Hindu temple gave generously.

We lunched at Keshava’s, and since Vijay, the driver, wished to nap before the return journey home, I decided to get a head start. Eastbound I went on Wanless Drive which eventually changes name to Conservation Drive.

While trekking under a hot sun, a man I couldn’t recognize passed by me in his car and made a U turn.  He honked his horn which drew my attention.

“I’ll drive you.  Come on in.” He offered his pranams.

“Thanks, but no thanks,” I said in certain terms. “Someone—Vijay—is napping at the Asian Food Centre.  He’ll pick me up.”

Sorry at missing the opportunity, the gentleman went about his way. A second driver pulled over and didn’t offer a ride but delivered a classic question that I often receive, “You don’t remember me?”

“Vaguely, I’m sorry.”

“I’m Balen.  I laid down a floor for you in your temple.”

“Yes, it’s coming back to me,” I said in a genuine moment of recollection.  “That was in the mid-eighties.”  I thanked him and let him know we are ready to lay down tiles again for a different floor. He moved on and I was thrown into nostalgia.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Monday, June 11th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

Small Band of Monks

My physical body was in T.O., T-Dot, now called The Six—according to Drake—but really, I took a mental-flying carpet all over the nation; nay—the continent; nay—the globe.  By phone and e-mail, I moved about looking at how places can be helped, in a social sense.

There is a lot of pain in the world.  Higher, not lower, consciousness can alter that in an incremental way.  It’s amazing what a circle of monks can do.

I sat down with our small team of young monks in Canada—Prana, Marshall, Samuel and now also Karuna—planning out the month of June. For starters, the boys are planning to drive to Saskatoon, a length of some distance.  The mission is to stir up the town a little for three weeks, and reap a harvest of new students.  A nice Gujarati family, comprised of Kashyapa and Panchami, as well as son and daughter, had initiated a weekly program for awareness of the Divine.  This has been running for eight years.

Sadly, they are to leave, since work contracts have expired and finance isn’t looking that great in the province of Saskatchewan.  It is not booming at the moment.  The redeeming aspect of the place is its university; it’s pretty downtown with a big beautiful river, the Northern Saskatchewan, running through it, and there are lots of friendly people.

I was envying the group of monks who were embarking at noon today for the long journey through a scenic Central Canada route.  Too bad they’re not walking.  It’s a 3,000 kilometre trip and they’ll miss the hidden treasures of Lake Superior’s north shore.

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Sunday, June 10th, 2018
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Moundsville, West Virginia

Success Between Him and Her

I applaud any couple who can do the job of staying together. Although I am an unwavering renunciate, I am a blesser of families.  I remain a firm believer in true-hearted couple-ism as much as I hold onto my saffron dhoti(robe).

Vraja Kishor is a happy householder—though not without disagreement with wife, Nitai.  They just know, or are constantly learning to know the ropes behind living it out on the foundation of compromise.  Their five year old, Arjuna, is a major factor who glues the relationship together.

Vraja looks after me when I come to visit their community in ‘them there hills’ of West Virginia.  Happily, they celebrated their 10thanniversary today.  I and others, I’m sure, bless them that those ten years will be multiplied by five or six decades.  That would be something worthy of having an eggless, processed-sugar-free cake.

A particular ingredient behind the success of a marriage is the spiritually-centric nature of it.  Yes, the dharmaside of it teaches compromise and communication.  Anything can come to tempt you, to displace you, and when your guard is down, emotions are up and good rationale is ebbed low, then, you can register as a disaster.

Disaster!  There are just too many of them today.  We don’t need any more to add to the list.

Vraja took me to the Pittsburgh Airport where they only play good classical instrumental music, the type of vibration which keeps couples as one.

Back home in Toronto, I sit in a room with brahmacharis—monks—who respect married men and women.  They are content to be as they are, and if any of them choose to marry, we will encourage the loyalty between them and their spouse.

May the Source be with you!
0 km

BBT Annual General Meeting Kick Off in Korsnäs Gård – New…
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BBT Annual General Meeting Kick Off in Korsnäs Gård - New Radhakunda, Sweden: Gundica Marjana!!! (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The more you cleanse the temple, the more you decorate the Deity, the more your heart becomes cleansed and you become spiritually decorated. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Material world means dirty things and spiritual world means clean. Calcutta February 4, 1977
Find them here: https://goo.gl/KhVqwy

The building blocks? The Transcendental Sound Vibration!
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Hare KrishnaBy Rachael LeValley

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's Harinama Sankirtan Mission. Right now, this moment in Harinam Sankirtana, the Maha Mantra rises. The kirtan leader was born a devotee - blessed by the commitment of his parents and the mercy of Srila Prabhupada. The volume is high, the beats are many per minute. The devotees are all swimming with the current. The commuters are now running - it is rush hour in New York. Everyone is running. These busy people may not notice the devotees - it appears this way - but the inner ear, the Soul's accomplice, has captured this Transcendental Sound. These Eternal moments are quick! Continue reading "The building blocks? The Transcendental Sound Vibration!
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Govardhan Eco Village (GEV) in the Rains (Album of photos) Hari…
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Govardhan Eco Village (GEV) in the Rains (Album of photos)
Hari Pārṣada Dās: The serene location of Wada near Mumbai is where I am currently spending some really good quality time. The idyllic cottages, the immensely learned devotees at the Srimad-Bhagavata Vidyapitha, the various replicas of Sri Vrindavan all combine to give an unprecedented devotional experience. To top it off is the beautiful rainy season.
Immense hard work and dedication have been invested in this wonderful project by devotees of Govardhan Ecovillage, especially Gauranga Das Prabhu, Gauranga Darshan Prabhu, Ananta Raghava Prabhu and all other devotees under the guidance of HH Radhanath Swami. In my mind, there is no doubt that this is the best replica of Sri Vrindavan that I’ve ever seen in my life.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/nqsAMX

The Self: Who are we?
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Hare KrishnaBy Urmila Devi Dasi

A very interesting way of envisioning the relationship between the jīva, mind, body, and the world has been explored by Dr. Richard Thompson (1947- ). He presents the material world as a kind of computer simulation, with the bodies of living beings like the characters seen in a role playing game. The subtle body consisting of mind, intelligence, and false ego acts as the interface much like computer mouse and keyboard, with the self as the one desiring and willing. Continue reading "The Self: Who are we?
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Putting An End to Courtesy Japa
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Hare KrishnaBy Mahatma Das

“Nish, nish, ram, ram, nish, nish, ram, ram.” Prabhupada once imitated how we sometimes chant without focus, without concentration, without proper pronunciation – how we chant when we don’t feel like chanting. You know the mood behind this chanting; “I have to chant but I’d rather be doing something else.” And in our minds we are thinking, “I can’t wait to get these rounds out of the way.” We all do this. And it can get pretty bad. I know devotees who chant rounds while watching football games on TV. Prabhupada explained that this type of chanting is more or less useless because it will not produce the desired result, love of Krsna. To even call this chanting is a stretch. It is closer to a ritual. But Prabhupada acknowledged the value in the ritual by saying that although this kind of chanting is not very productive, at least those who are chanting this way are keeping their vow to chant. Continue reading "Putting An End to Courtesy Japa
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60 devotees at the first Summer Trip Reunion (Album of…
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60 devotees at the first Summer Trip Reunion (Album of photos)
Krishna Kishora: Yesterday we had about 60 devotees at the first Summer Trip Reunion: 13 alumni, a couple family members from some alumni and the rest were attendees from this years summer trip. On the main reunion day we had our morning program with Rtadhvaja Swami and after Japa period he told the boys summer trip stories, which they loved!
Then Rupa and Goura Rivera along with one of our boys, Dhruv, made over 300 pancakes that left everyone well satisfied.
After that we took the boys on a tour of the goshala. We will post those pictures separately.
After a scrumptious lunch made by part of the Higher Taste Cafe team (Mario Cornejo, Ram Nicoloff, Vraja-Gopal Das, JP Rivera) we took the boys to a nearby park.
As usual, Maharaja was ref and made sure we all got along.
After a variety of sports and a hair cutting ceremony, Kṛpāmoya Kṛṣṇāṅghri Dāsa baby boy, we had a pizza and pasta dinner that was a nice closing for the evening activities.
Of course, the older guys got together in Maharajas room and played Hearts, King/Queen and cracked jokes till the wee hours of the night. We just didn’t want to say bye. So instead we decided to say till next time!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/U41mc9

Inside Look at Hare Krishna Life Airs on Largest TV Station in…
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Inside Look at Hare Krishna Life Airs on Largest TV Station in Chile.
Viewers across Chile watched an inside look at the lives of ISKCON devotees on Monday June 4th, when an eight-minute documentary short was broadcast on Canal 13, the biggest TV station in the country.
The documentary ran during primetime at 10pm on Teletrece, currently the longest-running television programme and the second most-watched national newscast in Chile.
It also was shown on the program’s Facebook page, which has 3.8 million followers, and on its Twitter page, which has 2.91 million, alongside other social media outlets.
To read the complete article please click here: https://goo.gl/hYfU4W

New York Rathyatra (2018) Album (126 Photos) Arjun…
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New York Rathyatra (2018) Album (126 Photos)
Arjun Bhattacharyya: This year, New York city celebrated it’s 42nd Annual Rathyatra festival which was started by Srila Prabhupada in 1976. Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra Maharani gracefully rode down 5th Avenue while thousands of devotees gathered from all parts of the world had ecstatic harinam and pulled the chariots. This year the rathyatra has seen it’s biggest crowd with many Iskcon sannyasis also joining the festivity. The Festival of India ground at Washington Square Park was also overcrowded with people. Please relish the pictures of the most awaited Rathyatra of North America.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hq2fi9

Devotional Services
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Hare KrishnaBy His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Lord Shri Krishna Who is the Personality of Godhead in His eternal Form is glorified because He has endeared Himself by His acts of benevolence in disseminating the different kinds of Rasa or Zests. Rasa is psychologically described as a sense perception. But the sense perception which we experience in our material conception of life,-is a perverted reflection of the reality. The reality is approached by self realisation of understanding the all inclusive Personal Form of the Supreme Who is all attractive Shri Krishna. The very name of Shri Krishna is suggestive of a conception of complete attraction by dint of wealth, strength, influence, beauty, knowledge and renunciation. Complete embodiment of all these opulences combined together in their fullness is exhibited by the manifested activities of the Lord when He is, out of His causeless mercy, within our view, although the Supreme Person is transcendental to the speculative actions of thinking, feeling and willing of a living being. Continue reading "Devotional Services
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Be humbler even than a blade of grass
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Hare KrishnaBy Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura

The holy command of Shri Guru has been that we shall serve Godhead in association with one another. By the word ‘we’ he did not mean any one individual. There are many persons who are very selfish, indeed. They say, ‘I alone shall serve. It is incumbent on me alone. No one else has any claim to join me in my service of Godhead.’ But the kind heart of Shri Gurudeva says, ‘Come, let all of us jointly worship Godhead by giving up malice.’ The service of Godhead is the highest of all functions. My Gurudeva does not say that others will be unable to do the work because it happens to be the highest. Neither does he say that he will not allow any other person to serve Godhead, on the ground that it is the highest of all functions. The chant of Hari-Nama that is performed jointly by all persons is Sankirtana. ‘That Kirtana which is performed by many jointly is alone Sankirtana.’ Prayer, praising Godhead, is included in Sankirtana. Continue reading "Be humbler even than a blade of grass
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The King who had four wives…
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Hare KrishnaBy Subhadra Devi Dasi

Once upon a time there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best. He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another. He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times The King’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her! Continue reading "The King who had four wives…
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Gita 17.23 Everything is sustained by its connection with the Absolute
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 17.23 Everything is sustained by its connection with the Absolute appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

What is the role of the intelligence in the metaphor of the mind as the software?
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Answer Podcast

The post What is the role of the intelligence in the metaphor of the mind as the software? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sun Love Feast – Jun 17th, 2018 – Vedic discourse by Her Grace Mokshalila Mataji
→ ISKCON Brampton


Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 

And Be Happy!!

ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one
who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.
 ~ Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.17





11.00 - 11.15      Tulsi Puja
11.15  - 11.30     Guru Puja                  
11:30 - 11:55     Aarti & Kirtan                
11.55  - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers
12.00 - 1:00     Vedic discourse
  1.00 - 1.30      Closing Kirtan
  1.30 - 2.00     Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast
COMING UP AHEAD

Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Sat Jun 23rd, 2018
Breakfast................  on Sun Jun 24th, 2018 b/w 5.36am – 10.45am

Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or
simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures
and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.By constantly ‘exercising’ our minds through
regular japa we can train our senses to push the threshold of contentment.
English audio glorification of all Ekadasis is available here 


Festival of India - Sat Jul 28, 2018


ONGOING PROGRAMS

Adult Education At The Temple
ISKCON Brampton offers various courses and Seminars for adults. The courses take a personal approach to learning. It encourages the student not only to study thoroughly the contents of Srila Prabhupada’s books but also to clearly understand the philosophy and practically apply it. The course focuses on behaviour and character, nurturing students in appropriate Vaishnava values.
Professionally designed and presented, it draws on the principles of Krishna consciousness
and the best of progressive education. In this way, it is true to ISKCON’s heritage and at the
same time relevant to its mission in contemporary society.

For further information, please contact HG Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi @ premagaurangi.jps@hotmail.com


Sunday School

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates,
quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed
to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).


Monthly sankirtan Festival(MSF)
“One who has life can preach, and one who preaches gets life.”(Previous Acaryas)
Every member of ISKCON should have the opportunity to make advancement in Krishna
consciousness by preaching.We encourage everyone to come out and participate and make
Srila Prabhupada happy.

Please contact:
Dharma Dasa- dharandev58@gmail.com-647.892.0739(Mississauga and Brampton regions)


The Mentorship Program

Please note that registration in the Mentorship System is now a mandatory requirement for all initiation requests at ISKCON Brampton.It

1.Facilitates  and nurtures devotees aspiring for first and second Initiation.
2.One-on-One personal follow up on a regular basis.
3.Systematic training to devotees in matters of Philosophy, Sadhna, Vaishnava behavior, etiquette, Lifestyle and attitudes.

To find details please click here


Gift Shop

Are you looking for some amazing gift items which are less expensive and more beautiful for your
loved ones for festivals or many other occasions??
Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your
visit. It offers textiles, jewelry, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs
inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.

Avanti Court at the Royal Albert Hall! Following the hugely…
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Avanti Court at the Royal Albert Hall!
Following the hugely successful Redbridge Schools Choral Festival in 2016, Avanti Court Choir were so excited to be invited back to perform at the world-famous Royal Albert Hall!
18 children represented Avanti Court Primary School at the event, joining together once more with hundreds of friends from schools across Redbridge. Our children’s impeccable Avanti values shone through, not only on the day itself but during weekly school rehearsals and even in their dedicated preparation at home. Practice and commitment lead to great performance in music, and the children certainly did themselves proud; singing a range of challenging songs from different genres, some of which included choreography, drama, and British Sign language.