Newsletter from Iskcon’s Sannyasa Ministry
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Hare KrishnaBy Prahladananda Swami

This is Issue Number Eight of the Sannyasa Newsletter. Revealing one’s mind in confidence is one of the six loving exchanges between devotees that nurture the creeper of bhakti. I hope that this sannyasa katha inspires in you a deeper sense of commitment to the mission of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu under the guidance and example of Srila Prabhupada and his sincere followers. Continue reading "Newsletter from Iskcon’s Sannyasa Ministry
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Vedic Cosmology: Integrating God and Physics
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Hare KrishnaBy Mauricio Garrido, Ph.D.

One of the strongest points of tension that often comes up in cosmology between science and religion is the age of the universe. Some interpretations of the Bible calculate it to be about 6,000 years old, while the most recent calculation according to the Lambda-CDM concordance model is 13.8 billion years. The Vedic literatures see the manifestation and eventual destruction of the universe, like most events in nature, as a periodic occurrence and give it in trillions of years. In fact, they talk about an expansion of the universe after its inception and an eventual contraction at the end of its lifespan, in line with modern cosmology’s concepts of inflation and/or dark energy. Ideas regarding a cyclic behavior of the universe have also been proposed by prominent physicists like Sir Roger Penrose and Paul Steinhardt. Vedic cosmology also states that within the lifespan of the universe, there are periodic partial devastations of the universe. The time elapsed since the last one is on the order of billions of years, which roughly corresponds to the age of the universe calculated by cosmologists. In between the partial devastations, there are time periods called ages. The current age we live in, the Age of Kali, began about 5,000 years ago, which is roughly in line with (or equivalent to) the Bible’s estimates of the age of the universe. We can thus begin to see the potentiality of Vedic cosmology in creating a bridge between science and religion: The apparent contradiction regarding the age of the universe can be regarded as simply calculations of different important periods in the history of the universe. Continue reading "Vedic Cosmology: Integrating God and Physics
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Vedic cosmology
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Hare KrishnaBy Drutakarma Dasa

Cosmology is defined as the study of the origin, purpose, structure and functioning of the universe. Vedic cosmology gives a vast amount of information about not only the structure of the phenomenal universe as we see it, but also a clear idea of the source of the manifested universe, its purpose, and the subtle laws that govern its operation. Continue reading "Vedic cosmology
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Room Conversation with Lord Brockway – July 23, 1973,…
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Room Conversation with Lord Brockway – July 23, 1973, London:
Lord Brockway: And my childhood was spent at Berhampur (Brahmapur).
Prabhupāda: Berhampur?
Lord Brockway: Yes.
Prabhupāda: I see.
Lord Brockway: My parents were missionaries there.
Prabhupāda: Hm. I was also a student of missionary college, Scottish Churches’ College.
Lord Brockway: Oh yes.
Prabhupāda: Yes. We had very good professors. W. S. Urquhart, Dr. W.S. Urquhart, he was a Scotsman.
Lord Brockway: Yes, yes. Was that in Calcutta?
Prabhupāda: Yes, in Calcutta. And Lord Rolandson, Zetland, Marquis of Zetland. He was governor of Bengal. So he’s also a Scotsman.
Lord Brockway: Yes.
Prabhupāda: So he came to our college in our, when we were young men, second-year student. All our professors, mostly they were Scotsmen, and there was one English professor, Mister Warren. All other professors, they were Scotsmen, Mr. Keye, Mr. Cameron, Mr. Scrimgeour in this way.
Lord Brockway: Those are Scottish names.
Prabhupāda: Yes, Scottish names. So you remained only four years after your birth.
Lord Brockway: That is true. But I have quite clear memories, especially of Berhampur, of our house, of playing with Indian children under a tree…
Prabhupāda: Oh.
Interviews with Macmillan and various English Reporters – September 12, 1973, London:
Prabhupāda: Sanskrit compulsory and additional there was Sanskrit. So I took both, compulsory and additional.
Prof. Gombrich: I see.
Prabhupāda: Up to my I.A., I regularly studied Sanskrit, and in my B. A., I gave up Sanskrit. I read history. (laughs) No. Not in B.A. B.A., my combination was economics and philosophy. In I.A. I was intermediate, I.A. I had history and Sanskrit.
Prof. Gombrich: That was at Calcutta University?
Prabhupāda: Yes. Calcutta University, Scottish Churches’ College.

Sunday 4/29/2018 Lecture by Devamrita Swami (video)Srila…
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Sunday 4/29/2018 Lecture by Devamrita Swami (video)
Srila Prabhupada: …here we are having Bhagavata class. This is not ordinary Bhagavata class, not jumping over Krsna’s rasa-lila. It is not like that. It is step by step studying what is Krsna, what is this material world, what is the sambandha, or relationship with Krsna – so many things – how this body has developed, how we have forgotten Krsna, how to revive our Krsna consciousness. These things must be studied first of all. Then we can understand what is Krsna’s pastimes with the gopis. But these professional Bhagavata preachers, they go, jump over at once. Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.31 – January 8, 1975, Bombay

somehow or other
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I am not very advanced in terms of preaching but I have seen many others preach successfully. Of course, my main inspiration as always is His Divine Grace. If I have to take one fundamental value of preaching from Srila Prabhupada, it is this;

yena tena prakarena manah krsna nivesayet
sarve vidhi-nisedha syur etayor eva kinkarah

An acarya should devise a means by which people may somehow or other come to Krsna consciousness. All rules and regulations are subordinate to this principle.- BRS.1.2.4

To me, this is the founding principal upon which Prabhupada built his preaching ideas. To me this is the broadest definition (somehow or other inspire others to Krishna). Because it is so broad, no one idea or method can be delineated as gold standard. According to time and circumstances, this principal can be applied differently (albeit within the legal laws of the land).

I recall one conversation Srila Prabhupada had with his disciples in a car on his way to New Vrindavan farm where he said that he did not impose any rules in the beginning when people used to visit his storefront temple. Prabhupada then quoted the verse above and said that somehow or other he wanted the people who visited to take to Krishna. He said rules he introduced later once they had some attachment to him. I cannot recall the source but I think this is in one of Hari Sauri prabhu’s dairies.

In fact, in a lecture in December 1966 in New York (pretty much the beginning of ISKCON), Srila Prabhupada himself confirms the statement above. You can read the lecture transcript here.

This is my 2 cents on the technique to preach and I try this whenever I get chance!

Hare Krishna.

What India can offer to the World?
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This talk was given by His Grace Chaitanya Charan Das at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

Chaitanya Charan Das – From spirituality to Yoga, from culture to technology, from number system to the World’s first University, India has already offered many valuable things to the world. Watch what now India can offer to the world. Chaitanya Charan is a monk, mentor and spiritual author. He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Government College of Engineering, Pune. Seeing the prevalent problems of stress, depression, addiction and overall misdirection – all caused by a lack of spirituality – he felt inspired to dedicate his life to the cause of sharing the spiritual wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita under the aegis of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness). He is the author of the world’s only Gita-daily feature, wherein he writes daily a 300-word inspirational reflection on a verse from the Bhagavad- Gita. Till now he has written over seventeen hundred Gita meditations that are posted on www.gitadaily.com and are read through daily feeds by thousands from all over the world. He also answers questions by seekers on his site www.thespiritualscientist.com , where his over three thousand five hundred audio answers and several hundred articles are available.

Video:

The post What India can offer to the World? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Nrsimha Caturdasi Harinama in Radhadesh and King’s…
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Nrsimha Caturdasi Harinama in Radhadesh and King’s birthday in Amsterdam (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Preya means immediately palatable, and sreya means ultimately beneficial. That is called sreya. Just like for a child, playing is priya, preya. He likes to play. But he is by force, by the parents, he is studied books. That is called preya. But because without education his future life will be dark, so parents know it. Therefore, although the child likes to play – that is preya – the parents engages them into sreya, into education. So that is the Vaisnava’s duty. These rascals and fools, they are busy in material sense gratification, and it has become the duty of the devotee. Because the devotees mean the servant of the supreme father, Krsna. So they have been engaged. Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, yare dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna’-upadesa [Cc. Madhya 7.128]. So devotees are so confidential servant of the Supreme Lord; therefore they are engaged in preaching Krsna consciousness. They have no business for themself – they are completely perfect as soon as they have accepted Krsna – but they are working on behalf of Krsna to turn these two-legged animals to become Krsna conscious. This is the meaning of Krsna consciousness movement. Srila Prabhupada, Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.29 – January 6, 1975, Bombay
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kBM5Jb

Narasimha Jayanthi at Durga temple, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA…
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Narasimha Jayanthi at Durga temple, KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (Album with photos)
1st May 18 Hare Krishna! Many people know Lord Narasimha because of the movies, but if you want to actually know why the Supreme Personality of Godhead appeared in such form, of half man and half lion and killed the demon Hiranyakashipu, then you would surely need to attend ISKCON festivals. We tell you the truth nothing but the truth! Yesterday at Dewi Sri Thurkai Amman temple, Taman Medan, about 75 people attended the Narasimha Caturdasi festival, we had the most attractive Lord Narasimha drama in Tamil which really really attracted the crowd, narration and pastimes of Lord Narasimhadeva spoken by HG Muralidharasyam prabhu, they offered ghee lamps to the Lordships and relished the sumptuous prasadam meals which was prepared by Taman Medan Namahatta. We would want to express our deepest appreciation to HG Sukamurti prabhu, who tirelessly organizes this festival for Lord Narasimha every year at different temples and different locations. He is very determined to organize this program despite any obstacles as how it is described in Part 1, Text 3 of the Nectar of Instruction, there is six qualities which favorable to pure devotional service, and two of the qualities is on utsāhāt — by enthusiasm; niścayāt — by confidence. So to progress in spiritual life, we should always have lots of confidence, enthusiasm to attain love of God, Krishna. By the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga, this Narasimha Caturdasi program was very successful because it had attracted the general public and it certainly created awareness on what Krishna conscious is all about! Jai Srila Prabhupada, we are indebted to him life and soul!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Uw5Lg4

Managing the voice inside the head – 1
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[Congregation program at Montreal, Canada]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post Managing the voice inside the head – 1 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Speculative knowledge does not give peace of mind
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I am not a big fan of modern astronomy because there are many views to the origin of the universe which tells me there is no definitive one. As recent as last year, before his demise, Stephen hawking and his colleague presented an alternative explanation to the origin of the universe than the popular big-bang. In it, the duo claim that eternal inflation as a theory of the big bang is not acceptable. Once the bang happened, the universe inflated at an exponential rate and that this inflation is forever happening in some regions of the universe. In other words, this phenomenon of inflation is eternal. Now, Hawking and his friend think otherwise thus nullifying the effects of big-bang theory or in other words questioning its very occurrence?

This sort of theories and opposing theories are considered advanced science and is considered evolved mature discussion. That may be, but one thing I fail to understand is how come they do not agree that they were wrong in the past that it required for them to change their position. If existing theories evolve or completely change means scientists' cannot claim monopoly over knowledge. Certainly, there is a need to look elsewhere.

Coming back to theoretical physics, one of the key factors for such variations or multitude of explanations of the universe is because the basic assumptions physicists hold to me is not scientific. I have mentioned this in another post but the basic idea is that the universe is homogeneous and looks same in all directions. These two principles when tested from earth will always give similar results although these are unverifiable truths. Here, therefore, we depart from empiricism to faith. Modern astronomy will fall on its head if these two principles are open for debate. Hence a student who enters the school of astronomy has to accept these two principles as undeniable truths (based on faith!). 

I will not be surprised, therefore, that sometime in the future we may go back to a geocentric model or we may say we never landed on the moon but another planet etc. Such speculative knowledge may please the mind but will never alleviate one from misery. The symptom of real knowledge including astrophysics, when properly heard from the correct superior source, will alleviate the listener from misery and lead him or her to peace and happiness. This is the test of real knowledge.

In Srimad Bhagavatam, we have astronomy and description of the universe. It is not speculative but definitive. Considering that Maharaj Parikshit is about to die, still Srila Sukadev Goswami was compelled to speak it means that the knowledge of the universe also provides relief from the pangs of materialism (birth and death) as creation is tied to Krishna who is praised by excellent verses - Uttamasloka!

Hare Krishna

My Service. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Only in Vrndavana is Krsna…
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My Service.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: Only in Vrndavana is Krsna fully manifesting his pure transcendental nature which is based only on loving exchange and nothing else. It is not based on any sense of duty. Krsna is only purchased by pure and unalloyed love. To follow a sense of duty is the lower platform of devotional service. Vaidhi-bhakti – it is the platform where one is still materially conditioned and then one takes shelter of rules and regulations.
The higher manifestation of devotional service is devotional service based on pure love, when are contemplating, when we are hearing about these unique qualities of the residents of Vrndavana and we see how much they desire to please Krsna! Everything is done to please Krsna. This awakening in us of some desire to also please Krsna is a big change because for our whole life, we have simply been trying to please ourselves! Everything we ever did was to please ourselves. So to come to that state of pleasing Krsna, is the spirit of loving devotional service.

In the beginning, we serve according to rules and regulations and then gradually, attachment to serving Krsna will develop. In this way, serving Krsna according to rules and regulations transforms as attachment to Krsna develops. To develop attachment to serving Krsna is our aim, mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tac chṛṇu (Bhagavad-gita 7.1).

Sometimes, we see devotees who do not find a service. They try this one. They try that one but they just cannot seem to get absorbed in any service; nothing captures them. This is a misfortune. Whenever we are given service, we should take that service and wholeheartedly with dedication try to develop that service as nicely as possible by making some special effort. It is not just, “Okay, this is my service.” No, “I’ll try and do it especially nice.” This is the point where attachment will develop.

But if one simply mechanically engages in prescribed duty then the service may stay dry. So this eagerness to do service especially nicely is what will make the difference in our lives. That is where attachment to Krsna and to that service begins to develop, where one starts to feel, “This is my service. It is mine!”

First Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi
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Hare KrishnaBy Hari Narayana Das

Parigi Moutong District is one of the Second Level Regions in the province of Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The district capital is in Parigi. Parigi Moutong district covers most of the eastern coast of Central Sulawesi and Tomini Bay. The Government of Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi, involved a Russian artist at the Tomini Fashion Carnival which was held at the height of the Tomini Gulf Charm Festival (FPPN). Head of Tourism Office of Parigi Moutong Hamka Lagala in Parimo, declared Tomini Fashion Carnaval or parade of regional clothing was a promotion of regional culture to foreign tourists. Continue reading "First Jagannath Ratha Yatra in Parigi Moutong, Central Sulawesi
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My Thoughts on Cancer ​​ ​
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Hare KrishnaBy Sruti Dharma Das

The last month has been a rollercoaster journey. For over 40 years I have spoken about the harsh reality of life in lectures, funeral sermons, congregational gatherings and personal meetings. Now I am facing those same realities in my own life. It is not an easy pill to swallow. The Bhagavad-gita explains that we are spiritual beings on a material journey. This life is simply a chapter, and according to the spiritual consciousness we develop now, the rest of the story unfolds. Our current situation is a result of past activities, and the responses we generate now will determine our future. Having the bigger picture helps to put everything in perspective. Continue reading "My Thoughts on Cancer ​​ ​
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Here’s a couple of more amazing stories & photos of…
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Here’s a couple of more amazing stories & photos of Arabic Gita distribution, starting to come in daily now. There’s an exquisite phrase that seems to fit here: “An embarassment of riches.” Isn’t that nice? An overall atmosphere of sweet spiritual prosperity without end… a knowing, growing Benevolence just pouring down upon us all, gifts that are certainly given in abundance due to the daily sevice of these truly sincere book distributors..
1) Georgia Tech University. It’s a beautiful day. Shastrakrit Prabhu sets up his book table, puts the Arabic Gitas on a book rack, and a moment later sees a gentle soul with his eyes locked on one of the Gitas who thensoftly reads out loud the words “Bhagavad Geeta”… Who could this be other than the smiling Ahmed from Egypt! They get into a wonderful discussion, he becomes fascinated by the philosophy behind the color insert photos, and when Shastrakrit pleads with thim to take a book, he says “No no I want this!” and he gives a nice donation. When Shastrakrit offers him a prasad cookie, Ahmed reveals that he is trying to be a serious Muslim and is fasting for the week leading up to Ramadan…and then, with Arabic Gita in hand, he radiates his happiness into the camera.
2) University of California at Irvine. It’s a beautiful day. The humble, soft-spoken, and highly-determined Prema Sankirtan Prabhu – who also happens to be the #1 Arabic book distributor in the world – sees what is clearly a very enthusiastic student heading for his book table: it’s Zarya from Lebanon, and her eyes go saucer-wide when she sees all the Arabic books on the table (which she says she doesn’t really believe she is seeing). They talk a bit and then she grabs them all (Gita plus the three small books), gives a great donation and tells Prema that she feels so happy this has happened, and there’s the smile to match it… Thanks so much for stopping by…We’ll see you soon…!
To see Zarya from Lebanon click here: https://goo.gl/Fx1HsM

TOVP Euro Tour Day 10: New Yoga Pitha Dhama, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- TOVP.org

On Tuesday, April 24th we traveled about 3½ hours to the temple of Pancha Tattva in Ljubljana, Slovenia named New Yoga Pitha Dhama, Slovenia. We were certain Lord Nityananda would be ecstatic to come to the (new) yoga pitha of Mahaprabhu and would shower the devotees with His mercy and blessings.

As it turned out, Lord Nityananda poured His blessings on all the devotees incessantly. After greeting the Padukas and Sitari with kirtan and abhisheka, and speeches by His Holiness Chandramauli Swami, Jananivas and Braja Vilas prabhus, once again the ecstasy began to flow. Devotees from Croatia were also present and a total of eighty devotees started making their pledges. Eleven pledges were made for Silver Srivas Coins (9,000 Euros/11,000 USD) along with many other large and small pledges. The astounding fact is that before coming to the program many devotees did not expect to give anything significant, and some nothing at all. Yet, due to Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s influence their hearts were changed. The sacrifice of these devotees, like at all the other European temples, is very exemplary and significant, and a sign that our Lord Nitai is anxious to complete the temple.

We wish to thank the co-GBCs of Slovenia, Prahladananda Swami and Bir Krishna Swami and temple president Ananta das for their cooperation and support, and Urukrama das for coordinating the tour visit.

All glories to Lord Nityananda! All glories to Lord Nrsimha! All glories to the devotees of the Lord!

Our next stop will be Italy where we have two temples to visit. The complete Euro Tour schedule is below:

Click on this link to signup for TOVP News and Updates: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1

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The post TOVP Euro Tour Day 10: New Yoga Pitha Dhama, Ljubljana, Slovenia appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Why Prabhupada is smiling?
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Why Prabhupada is smiling?
Hari-sauri das: June 5th 1976 - Los Angeles: One exhibit in particular is truly wonderful – that of Srila Prabhupada himself sitting at his writing desk in his Radha-Damodara room in Vrndavana. Made by Locana dasa, the exhibit will be designed so that the head of the diorama slowly looks up as the rays of the rising sun fill the room. Srila Prabhupada had not been informed that his figure actually moved. As he approached it the devotees switched on the mechanism causing the head to look up just as Prabhupada reached it. His reaction was a delightful mix of humility, appreciation and wonder. So realistic is the figure that it was like gazing at two Srila Prabhupadas simultaneously. >>> Ref. VedaBase => TD 2-5: Los Angeles


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TOVP Euro Tour Day 9: Vienna, Austria
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Hare KrishnaBy TOVP staff

Leaving the wonderful temple of Sri Sri Dayal Nitai Vijay Gauranga in Budapest, Hungary, we traveled by car three hours to Vienna, Austria arriving on Monday, April 23rd. This small Gaur Nitai temple was started less than three years ago and there are only a few initiated devotees and a small congregation. The small but enthusiastic group of about twenty devotees sang kirtan and offered the Lord His abhisheka. Jananivas and Braja Vilas prabhus spoke as usual explaining the importance of the TOVP project. We had no expectations for big results in our fundraising, but having seen miracles at all the other temples on the tour, anything was possible. We left the results in the hands of the Lord. Once again, to our surprise, devotees came forward with such zeal and ecstacy to offer their hard-earned money to the Lord, and in the end Vienna got to fourth place on the Euro Transcendental Results scoreboard with $108,000 in pledges. This is another shining example of sacrifice and service to the Lord. All the devotees will be blessed for their surrender. Continue reading "TOVP Euro Tour Day 9: Vienna, Austria
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Ratha Yatra at Brisbane – 28 April 2018 (Album with…
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Ratha Yatra at Brisbane - 28 April 2018 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This is Krsna consciousness. You have to act by the desires of Krsna. That is the proper use of your senses. You cannot use for your purpose. Anything… Just like you are working in some establishment. Anything in that establishment, you can use for the proprietor’s business. You cannot use it. Just like in hospital there are blankets. It is written there, “Hospital Property.” So long you are in the hospital, you can use it. But you cannot take it outside. Then you are criminal. Similarly, everything… Isavasyam idam sarvam [Iso mantra 1]. Everything belongs to God, and you can use it for the service of God. Tena tyaktena bhunjitha ma grdhah kasya svid dhanam. This is the instruction, Vedic instruction. You can use it as prasadam, but everything should be offered to the Supreme. Yajnarthe karmanah loko ‘yam karma-bandhanah [Bg. 3.9]. If you do not do that, if you engage yourself always in good activities, as the karmis they do, and earn money and use it for your own sense gratification, that is papa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/jZgqEd

The devotees transform the “King’s Day”…
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The devotees transform the “King’s Day” festivity in Amsterdam in Harinama Sankirtana day! (Album with photos)
Held every year on 27 April, King’s Day (previously known as Queen’s Day) is renowned for being one of the biggest and most colorful festivities in the Netherlands, and especially so in Amsterdam.
The Hare Krishna devotees took advantage of such a huge gathering of people in the streets to benedict all with the sound of Lord Krishna’s Name performing loud and joyous kirtans.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/KqjKr6

Monday, April 30th, 2018
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Mahaica, Guyana

I Encouraged All to Chant

It was a rather large sangha—gathering of bhakti yogis—at a remote village in Mahaica where I encouraged everyone to chant with beads.  “It’s great therapy,” I implied.

I was rather surprised at the marvelous turnout of people, from young children to the elderly.  The sangha happens every week, hosted by an elderly couple—farmers actually—by the name of Brghu Muni and Dhara.  They grow all kinds of produce including a fruit, mammea, which I relished today at breakfast.

Like many homes in Guyana, Brghu and Dhara’s house is on stilts.  It’s understandable because Guyana can easily flood. It’s under sea level.  In fact, this morning I walked on the seawall near Georgetown.  It was good exercise.  At places it’s only about 15 cm wide.  It kept Saci Suta and I focused while treading along, and helped, in some way, to program my walking back to applying even weight to both feet, instead of the subtle limp I’ve been taxed with.

As we left the seawall to go back to the sidewalk, we met Leo who greatly expressed his appreciation for the Bhagavad-gita,with commentary by Prabhupada.  He introduced himself proudly as Leo.  “Leo stands for ‘Love Every One’,” he said.

I’m getting to know Guyana more and more, but there’s something I’ve known for some time, the audience is shy.  I had much to do to excite the crowd at the sangha.

I learned today that a tiny red bug can get into the depth of your navel and irritate like hell.  Krsna Jnan told me of his childhood growing up and how these grass louse bugs would get at you.  That’s the tropics for you.

May the Source be with you!
6 km


Sunday, April 29th, 2018
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Georgetown, Guyana

What is Good for Me in Guyana

To date it’s my favourite T-shirt so far.  A recent gift from a cool guy, Kyle, from South Africa.  It is very breathable and carries a great message. Of my collection of T-shirts, it stands out for its comfort.  Now here is what it says. “Leave the road take the trails.”  Indeed it’s a message to love.

The only problem is I feel a bit like a hypocrite because in Guyana, where I am now, I’ve tried some trails in the past.  The best, or most adventurous ones, would be in the interior.  The only thing is in the interior there is everything you could imagine that is poisonous.  That’s why I stick to the main roads.  It’s safe enough.  Watch out for beaches.  I got nabbed by a catfish spike in the past and got a severe infection in the foot. Reason tells that you must be practical.

In any event, I like this shirt.  Sounds like a Donovan song.  I wear T-shirts to bed at night.

It was tonight at the Crane temple—my second temple and second class for the day—that a whole slew of teenagers followed me as the sun was setting.  The distance was only about three kilometres, but it was something we really enjoyed together.

I also like walking and that, of course, is an understatement.  Good T-shirts and good walking companions, as well as two good verses from the Vedas, made my day.  However, while walking is low in distance these days, leg massage has stepped up.  What has become obvious to the kind massage therapists who are rehabilitating my limbs, somewhat, are the numerous bumps, the mercy of sand flies from a Trinidad beach. Sneaky little guys, they are.  I was joking that the surface of my legs were starting to look like bitter melon.

May the Source be with you!
3 km

Saturday, April 28th, 2018
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Longdenville, Trinidad

Across the Street

Across the street from our Longdenville ashram is a neighbourhood, a suburb of blocks of homes and vacant lots.  It really is a fine place for walking.  Just beware of boisterous dogs, most of whom are leashed or behind fences.  Some stray ones frisk about.  Pious folks reside in the small but adequate spaces.  They are happy to see us clad in white or saffron dhotis.

One of our walkers invited a woman from her front yard to attend our evening fest in honour of the avatar, Narasimha.  Nara means ‘human’ and simha refers to ‘lion’.  This avatar, which represents everything to do with protection of piety, is a favourite deity for the bhakti community, worldwide.

To celebrate this avatar’s coming, which occurred long ago in the period of the Satya Yuga according to the Vedas, we broke our full-day fast at dusk.  Before the feast, lively chanting ensued, then a fire ceremony, then an Abhishek bathing ceremony, then my talk and dramatic reading from Krsna Ksetra Swami’s script, “Hiranya Meets His Maker,” and finally kirtan.  Young and old were ‘lit’.

There is nothing more pleasing than seeing glowing faces, moving feet, legs, and arms and heads engaged in dance.

Congratulations to the family who came forward for diksha(initiation), namely Pundarik, Vaijayanti and Aisvarya—husband, wife and son.  Also on board was Raghunatha, who graciously drove me to the airport, as I headed for Guyana. 

May the Source be with you!
3 km

Friday, April 27th, 2018
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Port of Spain, Trinidad

The Day by Air and Water

Nice surprises.  I arrived at Port of Spain, and my dear friend, Guru Prasad Swami, was right there—waiting.  How nice, once again!  We talked. He looked fresh and had a good sleep before embarking on one of those eight-seater planes to St. Lucia.  I wasn’t fresh.  I can’t sleep on an overnight flight.

After a fifteen minute talk with the Swami, over topics that matter, I made my pass through customs, and then exited to meet my driver who took me to the beach, Las Cuevas Beach, in Trinidad.  The gates were locked, but opened at 6:00 a.m., thus we made it to that best of beaches for the swim and water-play of my life.  Other Vaishnavas had come to be part of the fun and therapy.

We left the water for a discussion, on the sand, as well as under the sun, and had a look at Angira Muni’s words to his depressed client, Chitraketu.  “We have to consider the atma, the self, and deny the identity of the body and mind…”  A good discussion, it was.

Also on our agenda was this thick noodle dish, with cheese.  “Everyone in Trinidad sees this prep as the standard beach food,” remarked one of the elders from our group.

Sleep held me down when we arrived at the Longdenville temple.  After a refresher of non-salt water in the shower, I was pleasantly called upon to give a class from the Gita, 7.29, regarding our lovable identity.  Aham brahmasmi.  “I am spirit.”

May the Source be with you!
0 km


Thursday, April 26th, 2018
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Toronto, Ontario

Dangerous Words

I made two rounds of walking today—up to Yonge and Bloor, the ROM museum and then to Philosophers Walk at U of T.  Dwarkanath accompanied me.  Perhaps the most philosophical jargon that came our way was a sign in front of a store-front window.  It read, “The five most dangerous words in the world…I thought it would go away.”

Those five words—thought it would go away—are most thought provoking.  It relates to karma. What you are due to receive in the way of punishment or reward follows like a shadow.  For a lot of folks who are given warning signs of an on-coming disease, when symptoms tell all, health failure is inevitable.  Of course, you can pretend, forget about a health consultant, or a doctor, but one thing to keep in mind is that we all will be haunted by death in the end, despite warnings.

Death is the ultimate manifestation of time, and time is the most obvious form of change. Time is the most powerful form of God in this world.

There is a tremendous amount of contemplation that can be invested in these words beginning with ‘I’.  Oftentimes when you begin some sentence with an ‘I’, it has a tendency to be ego-based.

When ‘it’ doesn’t go away, you might do yourself the favour of addressing/facing “it.” Ignoring what is before you is the worst thing to do.

I'm off to Port of Spain, Trinidad, now.  It’s an all night flight and I’ll have to face that reality.

May the Source be with you!
5 km