INFUSING NAMA JAPA WITH LIFE
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INFUSING NAMA JAPA WITH LIFE.
Sacinandana Swami: It is well known that chanting the holy name in good company is easier than doing so alone. This holds true both for japa and kirtan. When we chant in a group of devotees, we co-create a devotional energy and atmosphere that we get to enter into together. It is therefore said that sankirtana (kirtana performed with others) can create such extraordinary delight in the chanter that he or she will find it easy to remain focused on the holy name and experience divine taste in chanting.


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“Overtaking the Spiritual Master” by Kripamoya das
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Overtaking the Spiritual Master.
Kripamoya das: Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet.
There was a time in 1976 when you were being driven from Heathrow airport to Bhaktivedanta Manor. The M25 did not exist at that time, so you were moving along the road towards the village of Denham. We young men were excitedly following you in our yellow Ford parcel van. The windows were open and we were singing kirtan at the tops of our youthful voices. Guru and happy disciples on the A 412.

“Public and Private Life Should Be the Same”
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“Public and Private Life Should Be the Same” by HG Mahatma Prabhu (5 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Sadhu, those who are saintly person, for them there is no secret. Just now in our ordinary social affairs, there is difference between private life and his public life. Now, if somebody is teacher… he can explain very nicely a subject matter, but his private life is not very good. Then he is not a teacher. He is not a sadhu. That is Vedic conception.

ISKCON Scarborough – HG Kratu Prabhu will be giving a special class coming Friday
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

His Grace Kratu Prabhu - a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada will be gracing us with his presence coming Friday- 11th May 2018.
The program starts at 6.45 pm sharp!

Srimad Bhagavatam 4.30.34
Even a moment's association with a pure devotee cannot be compared to being transferred to heavenly planets or even merging into the Brahman effulgence in complete liberation. For living entities who are destined to give up the body and die, association with pure devotees is the highest benediction.

Bio data of HG Kratu prabhu:
Kratu Prabhu was born in aristocratic Gujarati Gaudiya Vasihnava family on July 5, 1944. His father was an ardent vaishnava and his mother persistently chanted 16 rounds of Hare Krishna maha-mantra. His wife Her Grace Amrita Devi Dasi is also an initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada.

During high schooling years, he became president of the students union and went on to receive a bachelor degree in engineering from the M.S. University, Baroda. He also achieved a Masters degree in Engineering from St. Louis University, Missouri USA.

His first exposure to ISKCON happened in 1970, at St. Louis. He later joined full-time in 1974, in Toronto. He met his Guru, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada in 1976, from whom he received a direct order for preaching Krishna consciousness. He and his wife were initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1977 in Toronto, Canada.

While in West, he worked as a professional engineer for five years in Toronto In Chicago he worked for Chicago temple as director of congregational preaching. He then became temple President of Vancouver temple in 1987. In 1993, he moved to Baroda, Gujarat and conducted college and school preaching. He also started a book distribution program by Bullock Cart for every town and village. In 1997, he became temple President of ISKCON, Delhi and continued house and pandal preaching programs.


In 2002, he became an initiating Spiritual Master in ISKCON and is ever since vigorously traveling and preaching all over the world.

A warm invitation goes out to you and your family to join us coming Friday.

With best wishes from,


ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7


Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website:
www.iskconscarborough.org

Saturday, May 5th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto / Markham / Brampton

Beats Looking At Screens

The train for Toronto pulled in at midnight.  I decided to roll my luggage all the way back to our ashram, a distance of 4.3 km.  Let’s see how long the wheels will last.

At Dundas Square, I met up with Kamala Kanta, our cook of last year.  He got off his bicycle.  We both had the same question for each other.  “What are you doing here at this hour?”  He had just finished his security job shift and I had come off the train 30 minutes before.

We both like Yonge Street.  There’s characters here.  Other places tend to be bland.  Regarding safety, there’s usually not much to worry about, although just days before, up the street some kilometres, a maniac mowed down over twenty-five innocent people with his van, killing ten.  You never can be too sure!

Sleep came at 1:30 a.m. I rose at 7:00 a.m., enough time to hear and discuss a verse from theBhagavatam.  Not a day should go by that one should ever miss hearing and analyzing a divine verse.  It sets a tone of truth.  Stories, philosophy, imagery, drama, truth—theBhagavatamhas it all.

Out of all the items which constitute a monk’s morning sadhana, I think I like the portion where the group of us sit down and go over the process of analysis and discussion on what the world was, is now, and should be, based on slokas(verses) from the Bhagavatam.

It certainly beats looking at the flashing screens in Dundas Square.

May the Source be with you!
3 km


Follow the leader
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 September 2015, Durban, South Africa, Kirtan at NJP)

Kirtan means that we have to listen. Just like in chanting japa, in kirtan there is also inattentive chanting. Inattentive chanting means that we sing something else than what the leader is singing and that is what you are doing. Of course, it is very beautiful what you are singing but it is something else. So let us try again. There are some varieties in the tune, it is not just staying the same all the time which means that you have to really listen each time and not go on automatic pilot. There is no automatic pilot in kirtan.

The article " Follow the leader " was published on KKSBlog.

Why psychological distress amidst technological progress – 3 reasons
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Congregation program at Cincinnati, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post Why psychological distress amidst technological progress – 3 reasons appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Work hard and be free from stress
→ Servant of the Servant

Householders engage with family and job and this can lead to stress and even depression. Bhagavad Gita recommends working in such way that we do not get consumed by our work but at the same time work hard.

Krishna speaks;

You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty. Perform your duty equipoised, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga. If a sincere person tries to control the active senses by the mind and begins karma-yoga [in Kṛṣṇa consciousness] without attachment, he is by far superior.

Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage. 

He who is satisfied with gain which comes of its own accord, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, although performing actions. The steadily devoted soul attains unadulterated peace because he offers the result of all activities to Me; whereas a person who is not in union with the Divine, who is greedy for the fruits of his labor, becomes entangled.

Surrendering all your works unto Me, with full knowledge of Me, without desires for profit, with no claims to proprietorship, and free from lethargy, fight.

Ref. BG 2.47-48, 3.9, 4.22, 5.12, 3.30

Hare Krishna

European Religious Leaders Hold Annual Conference and Visit…
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European Religious Leaders Hold Annual Conference and Visit Krishna Temple in Budapest, Hungary.
Between May 7-10th 2018, the European Council of Religious Leaders (ECRL) holds its annual conference in Budapest, Hungary.
The European Council of Religious Leaders consists of senior religious leaders from Europe’s historical religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam together with Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and Zoroastrians. ECRL is one of five regional Interreligious Councils within the Religions for Peace global network. Religions for Peace – accredited to the United Nations – is the world’s largest and most representative multi-religious coalition advancing common action for peace since 1970.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/CUnMsq

Higher Taste (Album of photos) Ramai Swami: ISKCON Wellington’s…
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Higher Taste (Album of photos)
Ramai Swami: ISKCON Wellington’s Higher Taste restaurant has been operating for many years and is still going strong. There are lots of people who come throughout the day, right up until 8.00pm, Monday to Saturday.
TP Jagjivan took me in one evening and even though it was late, there were people having their dinner there. I was fortunate enough to get a sample serving of the delicacies on offer, which I enjoyed very much.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/CvDHt2

Preaching program in St. Petersburg, Russia (9 min video)
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Preaching program in St. Petersburg, Russia (9 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Towards the end of our Russian tour we visited the devotees in St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of the country. In 6 weeks we had traveled over 10,000 kilometers from the far eastern city of Vladivostok. St. Petersburg was built over 300 years ago by Peter the Great. Our devotees have been active in the city since the late 1980’s. As everywhere we immersed ourselves in Krsna katha and endless kirtans!

Radha Kunda Seva: April 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of…
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Radha Kunda Seva: April 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of photos)
Along with the summer heat comes storms! We had two devastating storms this month, first a hail storm with golf ball sized hail, and then a dust storm! Somehow, by Srimati Radhika’s mercy, our crew, ladies, and facilities were unscathed despite the many fatalities, injuries and damage in the area. Cleaning and prasadam distribution steadily continued, and we are making plans to start feeding up to 150 ladies starting in July. 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/K1UaTz

A new Film about New Vrindaban – ‘The Land of Krishna’
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Hare KrishnaBy Vrsabhanu dasa

Since the very beginning of ISKCON Srila Prabhupada encouraged the devotees to set up farm communities and become self-sufficient, depending on the land. Two of his disciples responded to an ad about a rural ashram in West Virginia and subsequently purchased an old farmhouse there. This was the start of New Vrindaban. It was meant to be a replica of Vrindavan in India. The community has gone through many different phases and at present the temple is a very busy place with lots of activities, especially during the summer months. Two hundred devotees now live within ten minutes of the temple. Each year 30 - 40.000 people come to New Vrindaban. There are about thirty major festivals and over one million plates of sanctified food are served. The cow protection programme has been running since 1967. It plays a very important part in Srila Prabhupada's vision of 'simple living and high thinking'. New Vrindaban is this year celebrating its 50th anniversary. Millions of dollars have been invested in the infrastructure to create facilities for hundreds of guests. This programme is the first in a series of films about the community. Continue reading "A new Film about New Vrindaban – ‘The Land of Krishna’
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TOVP Euro Tour Days 11 & 12: Italy
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Hare KrishnaBy TOVP staff

The temple programs, though attended by a small number of devotees due to the holiday season in Italy, were still most ecstatic and inspiring. Greeting the Padukas and Sitari, we were met by bight faced devotees who enthusiastically chanted the Holy Names, bathed the Deities and listened attentively to talks by Jananivas and Braja Vilas prabhus. Once again, the response from the small number of devotees was overwhelming and the total pledges for both temples was 81,000 Euros/97,000 USD. With hearts fixed on the service of the Lord, these devotees gave their best. Continue reading "TOVP Euro Tour Days 11 & 12: Italy
→ Dandavats"

Higher Taste
→ Ramai Swami

ISKCON Wellington’s Higher Taste restaurant has been operating for many years and is still going strong. There are lots of people who come throughout the day, right up until 8.00pm, Monday to Saturday.

TP Jagjivan took me in one evening and even though it was late, there were people having their dinner there. I was fortunate enough to get a sample serving of the delicacies on offer, which I enjoyed very much.

 

Kirtan Simha Festival in Germany (Album with photos) Srila…
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Kirtan Simha Festival in Germany (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Srimad-Bhagavatam is the easiest way of directly approaching Krsna. Isvarah sadyo hrdy avarudhyate ‘tra krtibhih susrusubhis tat-ksanat (SB 1.1.2). Diverting even a little of one’s attention toward Krsna and activities in Krsna consciousness immediately enables one to achieve the highest perfection of life. This is the purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement. Lokasyajanato vidvams cakre satvata-samhitam (SB 1.7.6). The secret of success is unknown to people in general, and therefore Srila Vyasadeva, being compassionate toward the poor souls in this material world, especially in this age of Kali, has given us the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Srimad-bhagavatam puranam amalam yad vaisnavanam priyam (SB 12.13.18). For Vaisnavas who are somewhat advanced, or who are fully aware of the glories and potencies of the Lord, Srimad-Bhagavatam is a beloved Vedic literature. After all, we have to change this body (tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]). If we do not care about Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam, we do not know what the next body will be. But if one adheres to these two books – Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam – one is sure to obtain the association of Krsna in the next life (tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna [Bg. 4.9]). Therefore, distribution of Srimad-Bhagavatam all over the world is a great welfare activity for theologians, philosophers, transcendentalists and yogis (yoginam api sarvesam [Bg. 6.47]), as well as for people in general. –From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 10.12.7-11
Find them here: https://goo.gl/C3ozoY

Damodar Prabhu – Seven Habits of Highly Effective People…
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Damodar Prabhu – Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (video)
Steven Covey’s 7 Habits and how they apply to Japa and Krishna consciousness in general
How Srila Prabhupada exemplified the 7 Habits
Prioritising your life
Avoiding distractions
The power of routines
What is a Private Victory and why is it important
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/bDY7w2

Faith of a different kind
→ Servant of the Servant

Faith means to believe as we do not have a direct experience of the subject in question.  Faith is the beginning of Krishna Consciousness philosophy because we do not have direct experience or perception of Krishna.  Therefore, we put faith in scripture (shastra) revealed by great saints and great saints (sadhu). This is the process.

It is unlike other religions or processes because in other religions/paths, faith means direct faith upon God. God from our material position is not accessible, henceforth, such direct faith upon God will be at best sentimental for the entire life of the believer. Such sentimental faith is not a good idea since it will succumb to material temptations and will be without deeper realizations. Such sentimentalist will invariably live a material life with a dogmatic belief of a God or supernatural being. Such faith is dogma and not recommended.

Therefore, the process of putting faith in the intermediary/pure via medium is more objective and experiential and deepens our realizations. So although we are in the business of faith like other paths and religions,  still our faith is based on direct perception (not sentimental) of the pure via medium (Guru, Sadhu and Shastra) and using them as a springboard we try to experience the Transcendent Lord. When we have a direct experience, at the juncture faith becomes a fact!

Hare Krishna

Kadamba Kanana Swami: Holland is known as a free haven for…
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Kadamba Kanana Swami: Holland is known as a free haven for everyone. That is well known, but why is not well known.
The Catholics controlled the North of Europe and forced people to pay a tax. England, Germany, and Holland rebelled, and because Holland was smallest, it was attacked by Spain in a war which lasted 80 years. People were born during the war, and they died during the war.
William of Orange liberated the country. Orange became the color of the freedom. Thus the Dutch are attached to their orange and their freedom. Holland thus became a haven for those who were oppressed and seeking freedom.

In Russia there was one criminal who understood that very soon…
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In Russia there was one criminal who understood that very soon he would be caught by the police. He decided to take shelter of a Hare Krishna temple and pretend to be a new person interested in Krishna consciousness to avoid being caught. He followed the devotional program strictly so he would not be suspected, and after several months he decided he actually wanted to become a devotee after all. He told the devotees his story, and they said he could become a devotee, but that he would have to turn himself into the police first. When the judge heard his case, he was given a minimal sentence and allowed to live with the devotees.

(This post has been viewed 490 times so far)

Евротур ХВП, день 11-ый и 12-ый: Италия
- TOVP.org

Простившись с Шри Шри Панча-таттвой в Нью Йога-питх Дхаме в Словении в среду, 25 апреля, мы отправились в 3,5 часовое путешествие до Прабхупада-деши в Альбеттоне, Италии, а 26 апреля проехали еще 2 часа, чтобы попасть на программу в Милан. Как всегда, мы ощущали, что Господь руководит каждым нашим шагом.

Хотя в связи с отпускным сезоном в Италии программы посетило небольшое число преданных, оба мероприятия были крайне экстатичными и вдохновляющими. Падуки и ситари встретили сияющие вайшнавы, с энтузиазмом воспевавшие святые имена. Они омыли Божества и внимательно выслушали презентации Джананиваса прабху и Враджа Виласа прабху. Мадху Севита прабху, Джи-би-си и президент миланского храма, выступил в роли переводчика на итальянский язык.

И вновь отклик небольшого числа преданных был ошеломительным: общая сумма обещанных пожертвований в этих двух храмах составила 81 тысячу евро/97 тысяч долларов США. Поглощенные служением Господу, эти преданные постарались изо всех своих сил.

Мы хотим поблагодарить Джи-би-си Италии, Мадху Севиту прабху, и президента храма Прабхупада-деша, Гуручарана даса, а также Читрарупини деви даси (ученицу Шрилы Прабхупады), за организацию храмовых программ. Своими вдохновением и примером они пробудили в сердцах всех преданных удивительный дух служения Святой Дхаме Шри Майяпуру.

Вся слава Господу Нитьянанде! Вся слава Господу Нрисимхе! Вся слава всем преданным Господа!
Следующая и последняя программа нашего тура пройдет в Цюрихе, Швейцарии в субботу, 28 апреля.

Чтобы подписаться на новости ХВП, перейдите по этой ссылке.

https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1

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Прабхупада-деша в Альбеттоне, Италия

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

Милан, Италия

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

The post Евротур ХВП, день 11-ый и 12-ый: Италия appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.