Vedabase.com: The BBT On-line
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Hare KrishnaBy Prahlada-Nrsmha Das

Once Online Vedabase is developed enough to be considered as perfect research tool I would like to launch other projects whose purpose will be Online Education. We would like to offer multiple online spiritual courses for all levels of spiritual progress. From introductory course up to Bhakti-vaibhava level. Courses will be available for free for everybody and each student will be able to follow it in his own pace. Each topics will be covered in separate video(s) and between them will be short quizzes to keep students alert and help them to absorb teaching better. Online Education will connected with core Vedabase (library), so referenced scriptures will be easily accessible. Continue reading "Vedabase.com: The BBT On-line
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Varnasrama Education In The Modern World
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Hare KrishnaBy Karuna Krishna Dasa

When Srila Prabhupada began his preaching labor in the West, in New York City, towards the second half of the 1960s, he synthesized in a sentence the essence of ISKCON's philosophy: "The process of Krishna consciousness is simultaneously easy and sublime." Although the phrase became very popular in those days, and was widely used as a slogan for the young preachers of our movement, it has been only with the passing of the years that we have been able to understand what Srila Prabhupada tried to communicate with that wording. The word "easy" does not mean "cheap". ISKCON as a hereditary, spiritual institution of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, has its goal as a creation of a community of pure devotees, people who serve God, without personal motives, uninterrupted and free of material desires. The progress in Krishna Consciousness should be shown by a gradual disappearance of the manifestations of lust, anger and greed in the heart of its practitioners. For that reason, we now understand that the word "easy" used in this slogan means "possible" or "available". In this way, if we follow this process it will be "easy" to reach positions like "sublime" within Pure Bhakti. Continue reading "Varnasrama Education In The Modern World
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Sastric Education Online In Latin America
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Hare KrishnaBy Parampadam Dasa

We want to communicate that we are having a lot of success with classroom teachers who are working along with our on-line proposal, using its resources and offering them to its students. This, undoubtedly, would be promoting the “best of each world” and benefiting the actual Vaishnava community which is eager to obtain an integral experience in its learning processes. We invite all teachers of the Krishna Consciousness in Spanish-language to take advantage of the resources e-learning that we offer in our educative campus and in this way improve our services which are vital to the improvement and evolution of our institution and our communities. Continue reading "Sastric Education Online In Latin America
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HH Jayapataka Swami Health Update
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By Srila Prabhupada’s and the Lord’s mercy and with your and all the devotees’ prayers, I survived the stroke. Then, they found that when I was attacked in Madrid Airport by a crazy person in 1989, they had given me a blood transfusion to make up for the lost blood and that contained Hepatitis C virus. They postulated that the virus was from there because when they did the genetic workup of the virus, it was found to be a European strain.

Gita 18.01 What is used to refer is not as important as what is being referred to
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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50th ISKCON London Ratha Yatra festival
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Hare Krishna This Sunday 24th June marks the 50th ISKCON London Ratha Yatra festival. The procession will leave South Carriage Drive, Hyde Park at exactly 12 noon and arrive at Trafalgar Square by 2pm. Festivities will continue until 5pm. "The first London Rathayatra was held in 1969,” said London Ratha Yatra coordinator Titiksu das, “Six pioneering American devotees came to London to establish a temple to bring others to Krishna by the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra.

My Favourite Pastime…Jayapataka Swami
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My Favourite Pastime…
Jayapataka Swami: That’s the island of Simantadvipa. And Simantadvipa is named because Pārvatī took the dust of Lord Caitanya’s lotus feet and put it on her forehead, on her simanta. The part of the hair of the ladies where they put their sindoor. Most ladies have a parting in the middle. Some part on the side. The one in the middle is called the śimanta. The place of Lakṣmī.

Panihati Cida-dadhi Festival, Laguna Beach
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Hare KrishnaBy Giriraj Swami

Indradyumna Swami’s and my talks at the Panihati Cida-dadhi Festival in Laguna Beach on June 16 “Lord Nityananda was by nature very merciful and funny. Being merciful, He spoke to Raghunatha dasa as follows. ‘You are just like a thief, for instead of coming near, you stay away at a distant place. Now that I have captured you, I shall punish you. Make a festival and feed all My associates yogurt and chipped rice.’ Hearing this, Raghunatha dasa was greatly pleased.” —Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 6.49–51 Continue reading "Panihati Cida-dadhi Festival, Laguna Beach
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A Small Special School – Bhaktivedanta Manor Gurukula
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhaktivedanta Manor School

A quick glimpse into the Bhaktivedanta Manor Gurukula, the new temporary location on the Hilton property site in Watford. See how free and happy the children are and where they develop their connection with Krishna and Srila Prabhupada's movement. Why parents put their children into Bhaktivedanta Manor Gurukula: Some of the parents of the Bhaktivedanta Manor Gurukula give their opinions of why they feel the Gurukula is the natural and perfect choice for their children and what makes it so special. I don't want any child to say to their parents 'why did you put me in a Hare Krishna School.' Mother Gunacuda talks passionately about why being a teacher at Bhaktivedanta Manor Gurukula is such an important service and how giving students the best academics alongside love and care will ensure that these beautiful children will remain part of Lord Chaitanya's movement. Continue reading "A Small Special School – Bhaktivedanta Manor Gurukula
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The GBC College and Iskcon’s Sankirtan
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Hare KrishnaBy Hanumatpresaka Swami

Like the six blind men approaching the elephant I can only see things from my perspective, either in my siddha-svarupa or currently embodied intelligence. With sincere attachment to my perspective on the elephant (maybe from the tail) I should be able to have a practical appreciation of the viewpoint of others, but a really practical view of the beast can only result from a dialog with other blind men attached to its other aspects: legs, sides, ears, tusks, trunk. Continue reading "The GBC College and Iskcon’s Sankirtan
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Gita 17.28 Having no faith in anything higher makes performance of religious activities unfruitful
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Bhagavatam study 76 1.15.7-12 Devotees see their achievements as Krishna’s mercy
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Podcast


 

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Don’t hold back!
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Don’t hold back!
BB Govinda Swami: Krishna never forgets anything what we have done. But Krishna is not a foolish person. He sees that we’re offering, but we’re holding so much back. Consequently, He wants us to give everything. Therefore we should question ourselves what are we giving and what are we holding back and why are we holding back.

Saturday, June 16th, 2018
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Edmonton, Alberta

Connor

I was on the Whitemud Trail with Bala and Rati when I received a call from Rajasuya in Brampton.  “We are being eaten alive by mosquitos,” I told him.

Rajasuya, who used to live in Texas said, “You should see them in Texas.  They are like elephants in size.” 

I wanted to say to Rajasuya that his remark made me feel better.  In some ways it did, but they continued to be voracious with their appetite.  Bala was getting the worst of it.

“Bala, your blood is to their liking.  Do you eat a lot of sweets—sugar, perhaps?”

It was somewhat of a confession time for him.

Regarding food, Connor, who’s eighteen, had just a little too much prasadamwhen we lunched back at the Krishna temple. Connor has really impressed me with his devotion.  It takes him two hours to get there and two hours to get back home.  That’s devotion!  He is becoming quite devotional—and renounced.  On my second walking installment for the day, Connor and Jaga Jivan joined me as we made our way toward the Yoga studio for a “Tales from Trails” presentation.  It was while on our journey that Connor renounced his meal.  I could see something might be coming on with his pale look.

It was an unpleasant experience; his donation to the sidewalk.  He quickly recovered.

Finally, we made it to the studio and it was just wonderful—the attendance, the mood, the questions.  I want to thank Jaga Jivan for arranging the program as well as Candice for having us use the facility, “Spirit Path” on 124thStreet.

May the Source be with you!
4 km

Friday, June 15th, 2018
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Edmonton, Alberta

Outing in Edmonton

For years I’ve been conducting satsangs or home programs which feature kirtan, talks and Prasadand often walking to the place of action.  Ananda is an excellent tabla player who accompanied me on 34thStreet in Edmonton.  The sky was a grey-blue, the hue that let us know it’s not going to stay.  A partial rainbow, meaning not fully-arched to our vision, made an appearance in that sky.

Generally these satsangs occur in the evening and are culminated with a meal.  However, upon arriving from our walk at the home of Yogendra, and settling down, I grumbled to our host about late-night eating not being good for you.  Yogendra concurred and so in the most jolly way we ate and chatted.  Then the kirtanwas begun by expert singer Nitai, followed by my talk on the personality, Akrura.  He was a personality not liked by the residents of Vrindavan—Krishna’s village—for taking Krishna away to the city.

I also did a reading ofThe Gopis Attracted by the Flute of Krishna.  The children who came with their moms and dads assembled in front of me. Unbelievably, they were most attentive.

The food was great and we ended with kombucha.  Yogendra insisted everyone dance during the kirtanso we all were inspired in a mix of Chaitanya spirit and “Grease.”  It was most enjoyable, thanks to the Edmonton team.

May the Source be with you!
6 km


Thursday, June 14th, 2018
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Brampton, Ontario

Red Wings

After a dental visit, Nanda took me to a park, Chinguacousy, and I sat to write  by the pond. To the surprise of both of us, this red-winged black bird came darting at us.  “Oh Krishna!”  It must have been its nesting area, but in our minds this was our resting area, or at least relaxing zone before the Bramalea Mall opened.

But it got more serious.  Our feathered friend came right at our heads, flapping its wings.  No beak penetration occurred, like in the scenes from Hitchcock’s “The Birds.”

Nanda got defensive and picked up a convenient branch, fallen from the trees of yesterday’s storm.  It was somewhat effective.  The bird was persistent, however, and we were humbled by his territorialism.

A terrorist?  I wouldn’t demonize the fellow that much.  It was just a case of taking care of dharma—duty—in the form of protection.

I do like the sound of this red-winged creature.  The shrill sound throws me back to childhood.  In southwestern Ontario there are lowlands, former swamps, the space they like the most.

God made every creature in a certain way; most of them get cranky like this guy.  I thank him for reminding me of Garuda, a super hero in the eagle category.

After the episode of attack, Nanda and I took care of phone business and then enjoyed the succulent parathas he had made.

May the Source be with you!
4 km