Sunday, April 1st, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Durban, South Africa

Talks With the Guys

It was great sitting—after walking—with a group of young men, at the amphitheatre, and talking about the things which are important to them.  Two of them have aspirations toward being big musicians. I offered a reality check.

“Perhaps less than 1% of musicians make it big, and of those, many of them have a tough life. Perhaps your music is a hobby and not a career. I was basically relaying some messages about practicality and the responsible role of a man in the society.

“What are some of them?  Let’s try being good listeners, good executors, good providers and good protectors. Build, maintain and disassemble when needed.  Know what it takes to groom yourself for being good dads and good husbands.”

The batch of boys are from the Zulu community.  They appreciated talking about such life matters.  I gathered that it’s not often that some older guy chats with them about these things.  They see me as a coach.  After all, I'm directing them in the play.

The play, “The Queen’s Secret,” was performed for the last time this evening. The young men and women in the drama did splendidly.  They were lit.  Stellar performances.  Standing ovations were well deserved each night.

I do feel like I’m walking with these actors in some way in this life.  Within a matter of less than a week, we bonded amongst ourselves in a strong family sort of way.  We were looking out for each other.  South Africa is a lot like that.  Thieves galore; friends galore.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

TOVP is coming to Hungary
→ SivaramaSwami.com

  • Encouragement for devotees to contribute to the TOVP
  • TOVP team is on tour in Europe
  • The Māyāpura temple will stand for thousands of years and we may know we contributed
  • When we give, the funds come and bring prosperity to individuals, families and yātrās
  • Don’t miss out on the credit

Harinama, book and prasadam distribution @Sanur Bali Beach…
→ Dandavats



Harinama, book and prasadam distribution @Sanur Bali Beach 7.4.2018 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Life should be molded in such a way that in every step or action, we shall feel the presence of the Lord. That is spiritual life. That is spiritual life. You need not change your present occupation. … The aim is toward Krsna. … Now, suppose a man or woman is in love, and the man is a third person, beyond the husband of the wife, beyond the, of the woman. Now, it is a example given in scripture that the woman who is fallen in love, the woman of man with other woman, other man, opposite sex. So he may be engaged in so many duties, but his mind is always to that point when he or she will meet his lover. With all his duty, or her duties, during the daytime, she or he always thinks, “Oh, when that moment will come when we shall meet together?” That means the mind is always there. The example is said because when there is ecstasy, when there is ecstasy of love, even within our, within the midst of our multifarious duties, we can remember that thing always. Similarly, God consciousness, we shall have to mold our life in that way that in the midst of our very grave duties, serious duties, we shall always remember the Supreme, the Supreme, in every step. That discrimination, that much love, we have to develop. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.49-51 – New York, April 5, 1966
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tde6M8

Departure of Vrindavan Chandra De
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy The GBC EC

The GBC EC, on behalf of the GBC body, wishes to offer its deepest respect to Sriman Vrndavan Chandra De, on the occasion of his passing from this world. Vrndavan Chandra De was the youngest son of His Divine Grace, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Due to his appearance in such an exalted family, he was brought up very lovingly as a Vaisnava devotee of Lord Krsna. When Srila Prabhupada joined the movement of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, he would host Gaudiya Math sannyasis and brahmacaris in his home at Harrison Road, Kolkata. Naturally, young Vrndavan Chandra would also avail himself of their association. Later on, when Srila Prabhupada was staying in Mayapur, he would visit his father regularly, especially in the early seventies. Continue reading "Departure of Vrindavan Chandra De
→ Dandavats"

How to reconcile the Gita – do your own duty, even if imperfectly – with the Gita – do what you are good at, according to your nature?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post How to reconcile the Gita – do your own duty, even if imperfectly – with the Gita – do what you are good at, according to your nature? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Screen what appears on your inner screen – Learn to manage the mind
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Congregation program at Washington DC, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post Screen what appears on your inner screen – Learn to manage the mind appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel 7 April 2018 (6 min video)
→ Dandavats



Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel 7 April 2018 (6 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: I have given this example many times. Just like a king and a bug is sitting on the same throne. The bug is biting and the king is ruling. It is not that because the bug is there on the throne, he is king, or the king is sitting with the bug, he is bug. Why this difference? Difference of consciousness. The king knows his duty. He is working in his duty; therefore he’s king. And the bug knows his business, to bite; therefore he’s bug. But sitting on the same place. But because due to different consciousness, one is bug, one is king. So if you take to Krsna consciousness and if you remain in Krsna consciousness, you don’t belong to this world. You are no more bug, you are king. Change this consciousness. Even apparently you may seem to remain with the bug, you are no more bug. Is it clear? From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.46-62 – Los Angeles, December 16, 1968

“Be Happy When Others Are Glorified” (5 min video)
→ Dandavats



“Be Happy When Others Are Glorified” by HG Mahatma Prabhu - (5 min video)
Mark Twain said, “It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to not deserve them and have them.” Sometimes we do something praiseworthy but receive no praise. And it may happen that others less deserving of praise receive it. We should not be unhappy. As devotees, we are not looking for praise.


Read More...

TOVP Nrsimha Caturdasi, Maha Sudarshana Yajna and Harinama Yajna 2018
- TOVP.org

Every year for Nrsimha Caturdasi in Mayapur we celebrate the Lord’s appearance with a grand three day festival. The first day is celebrated with a huge procession throughout the ISKCON Mayapur property and on the second day we perform a three hour long Maha Sudarshana Homa before the Deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The third day is observed as Nrsimha Caturdasi. We would like to offer you an opportunity to personally benefit from the Sudarshana Yajna by participating in the offering as explained below.

The Sudarshana Yajna is a very special one. Sudarshana, the divine discus of Lord Vishnu, is invoked along with Lord Nrsimha for the attainment of success in a particular undertaking and for protection from negative forces. It is a type of exorcism that removes evil elements and other troublesome astral entities as well as counteracts curses and spells.

The homa is accomplished with a fire yajna, offerings of Tulasi leaves to the Lord, and recitation of the Purusha Sukta, and the Sudarshana yantra, a copper disc with special sacred symbols is bathed 108 times with the Sudarshana mantras for empowerment and then offered darpan (bath water) from the purified water of kalashes. As usual, this year’s yajna consisting of over 10,000 various offerings will be performed by 9 saintly Mayapur gurukula Brahmin boys.

This year the TOVP Team is again assisting to help coordinate the entire event and we invite all devotees to participate as part of a worldwide Harinama Yajna for the protection and success of the TOVP project and for their personal protection also. To participate we request that you make a vrata (vow) to chant a specific number of extra daily rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra between now and April 26th (India time) for this purpose. Email us at *protected email* either before you start the vrata or when you complete it on April 26th (India time) with your name, gotra (if any), and the number of rounds you intend to chant per day or have completed by the deadline. Your name will be chanted as part of the offering infused into the water of the bathing kalashes, and then recited again during the darpan (yantra bathing) by the Brahmins performing the yajna.

JAPA MALA BEADS

Last year over 21,000 rounds were chanted in the Harinama Yajna by devotees worldwide and this year we would like to double that number. Besides chanting extra rounds yourself, become a TOVP Ambassador and tell all your devotees friends to do the same by forwarding this email to them. Let’s all work together to make this the best Nrsimha Caturdasi/Harinama Yajna yet so together we can serve Lord Nrsimha to the best of our capacity.

Last year’s Nrsimha Caturdasi also initiated the commencement of the mounting of the Kalashes onto the TOVP domes and the grand installation of the Chakras soon thereafter. This year’s festival initiates the beginning of MISSION 22, the four year marathon to complete the TOVP by 2022. Please pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva and Sudarshana Chakra for Their full protection in the completion of this divine project.

Prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva by Shani (Saturn)

Shani said:

By the mercy of the dust of Your lotus feet which destroy a multitude of sins, grant infinite auspiciousness to Your devotee who always worships Your lotus feet with devotion. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

Your lotus feet are worshipped by Goddess Lakṣmī, even though She is fickle by nature (cancala) and by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva whose feet are worthy of worship with devotion. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By contemplating or meditating upon Your appearance, which is expounded in the Vedas extensively, the best of the saints are liberated from the three-fold miseries and from all misfortunes. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By the word of His devotee named Prahlāda, Lord Hari, who is generous and kind, appeared from a pillar and by placing Hiraṇyakaśipu on His thighs split open his stomach with His nails. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

You protected your own devotee Prahlāda from a raging fire, the deep ocean, from falling from a tall mountain peak, poison, a mad elephant and the fangs of poisonous serpents. You are omnipresent and supremely generous. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By meditating upon He whose great form is devoid of imperfections, the best of the saints attained liberation from the ocean of materialistic attachments and obtained unmitigated salvation. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By meditating upon He whose form is fearsome, all peace, happiness and prosperity can be obtained, all sins can be obliterated, the fear arising from evil spirits, fevers and unfavorable planetary positions can be removed, O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

Your transcendental fame is sung gloriously in all the divine assemblies of Śiva, Brahmā and Indra etc. and whose power is steadfast in wiping out all impurities, O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

On listening to the heartfelt prayer composed by Śanideva in the assembly of Lord Brahmā, Lord Hari who is ever compassionate to His devotees, spoke to Śanideva as follows.

Śrī Nṛsiṁha said:

O Śani, I am pleased with your devotion. Whatever you desire that will benefit the world, ask for that kind of boon and I will grant it.

Śrī Śanideva replied:

O Lord Nṛsiṁha, O reservoir of compassion, please be kind to me. O Lord of all gods, let my week-day (Saturday) be Your favorite day. O Purifier of all the worlds, may You fulfill the desires of all those who listen to or read this great prayer to You composed by me.”

Śrī Nṛsiṁha said:

O Śani, let it be so! By virtue of My being the universal protector (Rakṣobhuvana), I fulfill the desires of all My devotees. Please listen to My words let there be no fear of the twelfth and eighth birth positions (and implicitly any unfavorable birth positions) and consequent troubles from you for anyone who reads or listens to this prayer to Me composed by you.

Then Śanideva replied to Lord Narahari that he would follow the Lord’s instructions. Then the joyful saints and sages present there (in Brahma’s assembly) responded with cries of, ‘jaya, jaya!’”.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa told Dharmarāja, “Whoever listens to or recites this conversation between Śanideva and Lord Nṛsiṁha in the form of this prayer of devotion will definitely have all desires fulfilled and will always rejoice.”

Thus ends the prayers offered to the universal protector Śrī Nṛsiṁha by the great soul Śani.

The post TOVP Nrsimha Caturdasi, Maha Sudarshana Yajna and Harinama Yajna 2018 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Sun Love Feast – April 8th, 2018 – Vedic discourse by His Grace Ananda Gauranga Prabhu
→ ISKCON Brampton


About His Grace Ananda Gauranga Prabhu :His Grace Ananda Gauranga Prabhuji is a disciple of His Holiness Radhanath Swami. He has been serving at ISKCON Scarborough in various capacity along with his whole family. He always inspire us with the nice Vedic discourses and the way he personally practices Krsna Consciousness.


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


Varuthini Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Wed Apr 11th,2018
Breakfast................  on Thu Apr 12th ,2018 b/w 6.39am – 11.05am

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 



Narasimha Caturdasi (Fasting till Dusk)
Celebration on Sat April 28th
The fourth incarnation is Nrisimhadeva. Nrisimhadeva appeared to save Prahlada Maharaja, who was five-years-old boy and he was being tortured by his atheistic father. His only fault was that he was Krishna conscious. He was devotee of Krishna.  Hiranyakasipu took benediction from Brahma that he’ll not be killed by any man or any animal. So the Lord appeared neither man nor animal. Hiranyakasipu was one of the stalwart materialistic and he wanted to live forever to enjoy.

Program details will follow shortly!



ONGOING PROGRAMS



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. School
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.

Gita 17.19 Slaving to get the whip that will lash us is stupidity
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 17.19 Slaving to get the whip that will lash us is stupidity appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

If we move to a temple whose mood is different from that of our native temple, what to do?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post If we move to a temple whose mood is different from that of our native temple, what to do? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Tokyo Sunday Feast Kirtan with Havi Prabhu (34 min video) Srila…
→ Dandavats



Tokyo Sunday Feast Kirtan with Havi Prabhu (34 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: As the gopis and Krsna danced together, a very blissful musical sound was produced from the tinkling of their bells, ornaments and bangles. It appeared that Krsna was a greenish sapphire locket in the midst of a golden necklace decorated with valuable stones. While Krsna and the gopis danced, they displayed extraordinary bodily features. The movements of their legs, their placing their hands on one another, the movements of their eyebrows, their smiling, the movements of the breasts of the gopis and their clothes, their earrings, their cheeks, their hair with flowers – as they sang and danced these combined to appear like clouds, thunder, snow and lightning. Krsna’s bodily features appeared just like a group of clouds, the gopis’ songs were like thunder, their beauty appeared to be just like lightning in the sky, and the drops of perspiration visible on their faces appeared like falling snow. In this way, the gopis and Krsna fully engaged in dancing. >>> Ref. VedaBase => KB 33: Description of the Rasa Dance
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/oTSZiH

Inability to stand others’ weaknesses is a weakness (video)
→ Dandavats



When we are good at something, we can easily spot others’ weaknesses in that area. For example, if we are good at language, our attention automatically zooms to others’ grammatical shortcomings.
Still, when people have an ability deficiency – they are tone-deaf – we learn to live with it. But when they have a behavioral deficiency – they are forgetful, untidy or unpunctual – we often find that intolerable. We feel that they could easily improve if they would just try.


Read More...

Swindon Festival – 5th April 2018, Phoenix Theatre UK (Album…
→ Dandavats



Swindon Festival - 5th April 2018, Phoenix Theatre UK (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The prayers of Narottama dasa Thakura. This sound is above the material platform. It is directly from the spiritual platform. And there is no need of understanding the language. It is just like a thunderburst. Everyone can hear the sound of thunder–there is no misunderstanding. Similarly, these songs are above the material platform, and they crack like thunder within your heart. From Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta
Find them here: https://goo.gl/GTY8fB

Science, Spirituality and The Search for Meaning
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Talk at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

PPT:

Video:

The post Science, Spirituality and The Search for Meaning appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Back in the USSR (Album of photos) Indradyumna Swami: From the…
→ Dandavats



Back in the USSR (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: From the green-forested paradise of New Govardhan, Australia in late summer; to the blossoming cherry trees in Tokyo, Japan in spring; we now find ourselves in the freezing cold winter of Vladivostok, in far eastern Russia. But our hearts are warm with love for the local devotees who built an amazing temple just off the main port and who do harinam samkirtan 365 days a year without exception. All glories to these devotees carrying on Srila Prabhupada’s mission in this far-off corner of the world!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/PvvSpn

Her Grace Padyavali devi dasi passes away
→ Dandavats



Her Grace Padyavali devi dasi passes away.
Her Grace Padyavali devi dasi, a dedicated spiritual warrior, and disciple of Srila Prabhupada left her body on Thursday April 5, 2018
During her last remaining years, Padyavali’s health had deteriorated due to Parkinson’s disease.
She was a fully dedicated disciple of Srila Prabhupada and his ISKCON mission. She was a preacher, book distributor, manager, temple president, sankirtan leader and performed a host of other devotional services. Her door and heart were always open to anyone and everyone.
She passed away at the auspicious time 4:55 am in the presence of devotees, surrounded by pictures of Radha Madan Mohan & Srila Prabhupada. A tape of Srila Prabhupada chanting japa was also continuously playing.

Padyavali is now free from the uncomfortable bodily condition she had to endure and we are confident she has gone to be with His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna!

Hare Krishna! Film to have its eagerly-awaited UK premiere in London on Monday 23rd April
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy ISKCON-London Communications

The wait in the UK is finally over! Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami who started it all (formerly known as Acharya) is coming to cinemas in the UK! Never before has there been a bigger opportunity for a mainstream audience in the UK to experience the incredible story of A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami (affectionately known as Srila Prabhupada), the 70-year-old Swami from India, who arrived in America without any support or money in the turbulent 1960s. Despite all difficulties and obstacles, his unflinching determination and faith ignited a worldwide spiritual phenomenon, known as the “Hare Krishna Movement” and officially named the “International Society of Krishna Consciousness” (ISKCON) Continue reading "Hare Krishna! Film to have its eagerly-awaited UK premiere in London on Monday 23rd April
→ Dandavats"

For the love of wisdom
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya Das

The great logical philosopher Jayatirtha wrote in his book of logic, the Tattvasankhyana Tika: “The independent principle is that which does not depend on any other for its own nature and existence, self-awareness or for becoming an object of knowledge to the selves and for the free and unfettered exercise of its own powers” The philosophical enquiries of the Indian philosophers led them into an area of knowledge which today we would term Theology, the study of theos or God. Although theology is considered today to be a separate discipline from philosophy, one more interested in sectarian religious dogma than scientific examination of the truth, the ancient Indian philosophers saw no such hard distinction. They simply saw that their line of enquiry into the ultimate reality led them to the very reasonable conclusion that there existed an independent reality that had unlimited awareness and volition, and the infinitesimal consciousness of the limitless number of individuals was somehow connected and given sustenance by this one entity. Continue reading "For the love of wisdom
→ Dandavats"