Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
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Hare KrishnaBy Ravindra-svarupa dasa

Harold S. Kushner, a Massachusetts rabbi's best-selling book proposes a radical solution to the problem of evil. Does it work? Kushner is still hostile. Because God did not satisfy his demands, Kushner must think of Him as ineffectual and weak. Kushner once thought of God as a parent who always gratifies our desires. But now Kushner views Him as needing our forgiveness—for having failed as a parent: “Are you capable of forgiving and loving God even when you have found out that He is not perfect, even when He has let you down and disappointed you by permitting bad luck and sickness and cruelty in His world, and permitting some of those things to happen to you? Can you learn to love and forgive Him despite His limitations ... as you once learned to forgive and love your parents even though they were not as wise, as strong, or as perfect as you needed them to be?” Continue reading "Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
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Svarna Radhika writes that the spiritual master takes on the karma of the disciple. But how is he effected when disciples commit offences?
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  • The spiritual master takes over some of the karma of the disciple
  • There are many ways in which we become free of karma
  • Offence also creates karma and effects the spiritual master
  • An offensive disciple is an embarrasment to the spiritual master
  • Accumulative effect of disciples’ offenses may cause a guru to fall down

A tremendous loss for Srila Prabhupada’s movement. Bir…
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A tremendous loss for Srila Prabhupada’s movement.
Bir Krishna Goswami: We are greatly saddened to hear of the sudden departure of Gargamuni Prabhu.
Gargamuni is the initiated disciple of His Holiness Sridhara Maharaj, as dear disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Sridhara Maharaj was instrumental in assisting Srila Prabhupada in establishing the Bombay temple at Juhu and other projects in India.
I have known Gargamuni for many years, first in my capacity as GBC of his home country Slovenia, and then as a dear friend and siksa disciple. Gargamuni was in line to take sannyasa from me in the near future.
Knowing of Gargamuni’s strict adherence to the Krishna conscious process, his exemplary Vaisnava qualities, and his high level of knowledge of the Vaisnava scriptures I requested him to come to Fiji to assist in establishing high standards of Vaisnava behavior and education.
While in Fiji he inspired many devotees, and won the heart of all the Vaisnavas. Everyone who met him loved him and felt inspired by him.
He was very very close to me, and I was depending on his assistance in carrying out Srila Prabhupada’s society in Fiji and elsewhere.
It is a tremendous loss for myself, and Srila Prabhupada’s movement.
Krishna has decided to take him elsewhere to render service in Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement.
His departure from the planet was exemplary and something that we should all aspire for. Surrounded by loving devotees chanting the Holy Name, he left this world to rejoin his spiritual master and Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to His grace Gargamuni Prabhu!
Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service,
Bir Krishna Goswami

How can we avoid becoming discouraged on seeing that the modes are pulling us down?
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Answer Podcast

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Marriage vow according to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati…
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Marriage vow according to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur!
“The cardinal principle of gṛhastha āśrama is that no one may be the owner of any property or service of another.
Everyone is only a servant whose activities are ever in the service of the Lord.
Similarly, the sole object of everyone’s service as the only master, only friend, only son and only consort is Krishna.


Read More...

Sun Love Feast – February 4th, 2018 – Vedic discourse by His Grace Mahabhagavat prabhu
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His Grace Mahabhagavat Das is a disciple of His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari. Mahabhagavat Das along with his spouse are very senior well respected devotees in Toronto and are often associated along with the names of Vaisesika Prabhu for expanding the Sankirtan initiative across the GTA and South Western Ontario. Together as a family they have made preaching their life mission and will go beyond their limits to ensure that Srila Prabhupada’s books are being distributed.

Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare And Be Happy!!

When?

Sunday,Feb 4th,2018
11am-2pm

Where?

173 Advance Boulevard
Unit # 41
Brampton,ON,L6T 4Z7
(Free Parking)
Phone:416-648-3312

New! Listen

Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog
Make a Donation
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

Vijaya Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Sun Feb 11th,2018
Breakfast................  on  Mon Feb 12th ,2018 b/w 7.20am – 9.36am


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 



Appearance Of Lord Caitaniya(Gaura Purnima)
(Fasting till Moonrise)
Celebration on Thu March 1st
Details of the Program will follow shortly!


ONGOING PROGRAMS


Japathon-Congregational Mantra Meditation

Next date is to be announced shortly!

The chanting is a spiritual call for the Lord and His Energy to give protection to the conditioned soul.japa, when performed with focus and attention, can subdue the agitating effects of one’s mind and senses. The senses, of which the mind is also one, are constantly being stimulated by the external world  - by gross and subtle matter.
If you have not chanted before, and would like to participate in this program, we will be very happy to show how you can do this.
All welcome. We’ll loan you a set of Beads!


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.

Understanding ISKCON’s Lines of Authority
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By the Lines of Authority committee

Please find below the final, official version of the GBC Understanding ISKCON's Lines of Authority paper. This final version has taken into consideration all comments received in Mayapur and thereafter. The release of this version as the full and final paper has been approved by the GBC executive committee. The next step for our committee is to help see that course material is developed so that classes on these principles are taught. In this way the principles expressed in this paper will become part of our ISKCON culture. Continue reading "Understanding ISKCON’s Lines of Authority
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Why Only Krishna Prasadam?
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By Shilpy Malhotra

Here is my little contribution on preparing & offering food to Krishna with love & devotion. I have developed all these recipes with special care & effort. I believe it will be of great help to everyone to learn & cook for Krishna. It is a collection of recipes, for everyday cooking as well as for the festivals & other special occasions Continue reading "Why Only Krishna Prasadam?
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Please help Yamaraja Prabhu (BTG). Back To Godhead has just…
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Please help Yamaraja Prabhu (BTG).
Back To Godhead has just launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for medical care for Yamaraja Prabhu, who has been designing and laying out BTG since the seventies. I’m writing to ask all of you to help us spread the word about the campaign. This is the link for it: https://www.gofundme.com/yamaraja-prabhus-cancer-treatment
You can read about his situation there. In summary, he has been fighting multiple myeloma, a type of cancer, for about ten years using modern medicine, undergoing one experimental treatment after another. These treatments have kept the cancer in check, but they have not – and cannot – get to the root of the problem, which is in the stem cells, so the cancer will inevitably show up somewhere. Some devotees see his situation as hopeless and have advised him to just give up and chant Hare Krishna. But he’s not ready for that, so we BTG workers here in Alachua have decided to do whatever we can to support him in his desire to get alternative treatment in Mexico, something he has been investigating for quite some time. He realizes that there is no guarantee that it will work, but it just might, and modern medicine is running out of tricks. After his many years of service to Prabhupada’s dear magazine, we feel it is appropriate to give him the moral support he needs at this time. Yamaraj prabhu wants to continue his service as long as he can, so we’re asking the ISKCON community to support him. Thank you. Hare Krishna. Your servant, Nagaraja Dasa

Hare Krishna Sheffield (Album of photos) Hare Krishna: It was a…
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Hare Krishna Sheffield (Album of photos)
Hare Krishna: It was a pretty good January @ Hare Krishna Sheffield! We had Mahamantra das over sharing his wit and wisdom, we started a small food distribution program distributing food to Sheffield`s homeless, and also had a few good days out in the city distributing some amazing books to the good people of Sheffield..all in all, a pretty good month.
let us see what 2018 brings…
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2MJYfz

“The game point – The mode of goodness and…
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“The game point - The mode of goodness and economy.”
During the Iskcon Leadership Sanga of this year, which will take place in a few weeks in Mayapur, the GBC Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture will also be presenting “The game point - The mode of goodness and economy.”
The environment which surrounds us has a lot of influence on the way we think. This presentation is about a community in Siberia which has cows and children and is building its way towards sustainability. They are developing a viable business model for ahimsa milk, honey and vegetables, based on a cooperative community sadhana. They have ingeniously weaved part of the farm duties in their morning spiritual practices.
This sets the ground for harmony between spiritual life and economy. Their example is very relevant because it is full of elements both of the mode of goodness and economic development. Their practice is fully sheltered by the vision of their GBC, the local preacher and the GBC Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture.
Presenters will be Kalakantha Prabhu and Vrajaraja Prabhu, who is coming from Russia especially for these presentations.
More photos: https://goo.gl/ArSGGF

The nuances in worship between Vaisnava sampradayas
→ SivaramaSwami.com

Conversation

  • Kṛṣṇa is Nārāyaṇa but Kṛṣṇa’s appearance is superior
  • Whatever form of the Lord we are attracted to we need to be aware of Kṛṣṇa’s position
  • Whatever form of Kṛṣṇa one worships is perfect as it’s Kṛṣṇa’s desire for variegatedness
  • It is not the vaiṣṇava way to say one worship is good and another is not
  • Lord Caitanya’s contribution is vraja-bhakti and Kṛṣṇa’s ontological position
  • The concept in Tirupati is that Viṣṇu has become Govinda although it is the other way around

Gita 16.10 Taking shelter of lust amidst problems is like taking shelter of kidnappers when threatened by thieves
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

The post Gita 16.10 Taking shelter of lust amidst problems is like taking shelter of kidnappers when threatened by thieves appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

“Can Lord Chaitanya wear a peacock feather?”Jananivas: In…
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“Can Lord Chaitanya wear a peacock feather?”
Jananivas: In 1973 we had just completed the lotus building in Mayapur. I went to Prabhupada’s room and asked him,
“Can Lord Chaitanya wear a peacock feather?”
He said, “Why not? He is Krishna.”
I told him some of the Gaudiya Math people were complaining that Lord Chaitanya shouldn’t wear a peacock feather.
Srila Prabhupada became very disappointed and he just looked down. He didn’t say anything else.
I took it to mean that he was disturbed that his God-brothers always criticized him.
In fact he wrote one letter, “How can they help when they only hinder us.” It was an open letter.
My understanding was that Prabhupada was wondering why they didn’t see what he had accomplished?”
He picked us out of the gutter of material existence.
We had shaved heads, we wore tilaka and dhotis and we were chanting Krishna’s names.
In other words, “Look at what he’d done rather than fault finding.”

Since that time I found new evidence where Lord Chaitanya is described with a peacock feather.

In the Advaita Gauranga Maji by Advaita Acharya he gives the description of Mahaprabhu in meditation.

In the description he says He has His sikhi-piccha, the peacock feather in His hair and another one over His ear. [laughs]

There is another in the nitya-lila of Mahaprabhu when after breakfast He goes with His friends on sankirtan.

They see all the white cows and the peacocks and He corresponds with Vrindavan-lila when Krishna goes out with the cows in the morning.

So he gets into His cowboy mood. [laughs]

So he starts calling out to all of His cows,

“Ah, Shyama he, Dubala he, Ganga he, Yamuna he, come on.” [laughs]

All the devotees would inquire, “What’s happening?”

“Oh, He’s in the mood of Krishna in Vrindavan.”

So they are all assuming the same mood as Him.

They would pick up sticks and start twirling them around like cowboys do. “Hi, hi, hi, let’s go up to Goverdhan.”

Nityananda Prabhu tends to have a Buffalo horn, “Woo, woo, woo, Goverdhan he.”

In that description Lord Chaitanya wears a peacock feather.

Also Prabhupada asked Malati mataji one time, "Why Lord Chaitanya is not wearing a peacock feather?”

She said, “Oh, He should be wearing?” He said, “Yes.”

She asked, “What about Nityananda Prabhu?”

He said, “Sometimes he could wear but Lord Chaitanya should always wear.”

So now we had guru, sadhu and shastra. It became a little bit controversial.

—Jananivas

First Monthly Sankirtan Festival Alachua (MSF) Sri Vrindavana…
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First Monthly Sankirtan Festival Alachua (MSF)
Sri Vrindavana devi dasi: Our first Monthly Sankirtan Festival for 2018 was held on Saturday, January 20, 2018. We started the morning by reading chapter 5 of Bhagavad Gita together -Sanskrit and English translations. Then Sri Vrndavana devi dasi presented a review of Vaisesika Prabhu’s time-tested “How to distribute a Gita on its own merit” followed by a role-playing session. Ragatmika devi dasi, veteran book distributor, then led us in reciting Srila Prabhupada’s Jaladuta prayer, “Markine bhagavat dharma”. She also spoke for a few minutes encouraging us in our upcoming sankirtan yajna.
On behalf of TIA (Team ISKCON Alachua), I’m happy to share these numbers with you. -35 devotees went out in five teams door to door, store to store and to Depot Park. About 400 cookies were distributed, along with, 42 Bhagavad Gita hard 43 Bhagavad Gita soft and 128 small books. We all got back to the Temple to a nice lunch specially prepared for the MSF. We shared sankirtan stories and realizations during prasadam.
We want to thank Vaisesika Prabhu for giving us the tools to make sankirtan fun, organized, and inclusive. We are all feeling very optimistic. Srila Prabhupada ki Jai. Our next MSF will be on Saturday, February 24, 2018. Please mark your calendars.

“What principles can we learn from the Amish…
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“What principles can we learn from the Amish Community?”
ISKCON GBC Ministry of Agriculture and Cow Protection: It is striking to see a spiritual culture present in the USA thriving despite all predictions of impossibility. The original 5,000 grew into 400,000 Amish depending primarily on the land. They mainly run their own education system and have two thousand schools catering for their own young, staffed by members from their own communities. They hold onto their young people - up to 93% of the young adults decide to stay within the community.
People come to see it, leaving a yearly revenue of 2 billion dollars for their guided tours, to appreciate a social system that works.
The ISKCON Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture will be presenting on the ILS on “What principles can we learn from the Amish Community?” . Presenters will be Kalakantha das and Samba das.

Silpa-karini asks how to compensate not being in the holy dhama by worshipping Krsna’s lotus feet
→ SivaramaSwami.com

  • Holy places become sacred due to Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes and presence, and the presence of Kṛṣṇa’s devotees who have Kṛṣṇa in their hearts
  • Parikrama is also called pāda-sevanam which is
    • meditation on Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and keeping Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet in our mind and heart
    • service to the saṅkīrtana movement and the vaiṣṇavas
  • The difference between going to Vṛndāvana and being in our place of service and experiencing Vṛndāvana is that Vṛndāvana has a potency devotees immediately feel
  • A conscious effort is needed to benefit from being in the dhāma
  • Narottama sings tīrtha-yātrā pariśrama, „ what is the use of visiting holy places?”

Remaining a Devotee Despite Obstacles and Trials
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Hare KrishnaBy Karnamrita dasa

On any path there will always be ups and downs, and we have to remain steady in difficulties, reverses and success—any of which could deviate us. Krishna consciousness is all about developing and deepening of faith—from beginning to end—and we have to do what is favorable to have and improve our faith. Though we will repeatedly stumble, we have to keep picking our self up, dusting our clothes, and keep on keeping on. I have stumbled many times in the past, yet even in the worst of times I continued to practice Krishna consciousness to some degree. Though I might like to pretend otherwise, I still don’t always choose the most Krishna conscious thing to do. I don’t think I am unique in this regard. We always have to choose, and our choice will be determined by our desires which may be more or less Krishna conscious. Continue reading "Remaining a Devotee Despite Obstacles and Trials
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Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura about inattentive chanting
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhaktivinoda Thakura

What are the various definitions of inattention while chanting? A. O Lord! All anarthas are produced when we do not pay attention to our chanting. The exalted devotees have defined inattention as indifference, laziness, and restlessness. (Harinama-cintamani) Q. What is the symptom of a restless chanter? A. Those who are afflicted with restlessness try to finish their prescribed rounds as soon as possible. One should be extremely careful not to commit such an offense while chanting. (Harinama-cintamani) Continue reading "Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura about inattentive chanting
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Sunday, January 28, 2018
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Mayapura, West Bengal

Miracle Oil

Bengalis love their mustard seed oil.  It has a pungent scent but when you investigate its phenomenally great benefits, it compensates for the strength of the smell. Locals put it in their hair. Apparently hair loves it. It’s also beneficial for the skin. Bengalis also cook with it. It’s recommended for internal consumption. Not much, but some.

Mosquitoes don’t like it so that’s a plus. Another advantage to its usage is that when a small amount is applied to the skin in the sun, it protects the skin leaving it healthy. I’ll have to remember that the next time I walk through Nevada.

Our guru, who is from Bengal, prescribed a tooth paste of primarily calcium carbonate, sea salt and mustard seed oil. I recall making a large batch for the ashram the year I joined (’73). The stuff is great for the teeth even as it whitens.

The massage man who came to oil me up yesterday and today, used the mustard seed extract. I got warmed up immediately. My knees, which have some poor blood circulation as of late, felt a relief. It’s true. It also acts positively on arthritis.

Let’s go down the list a bit further. It boosts your appetite. (I’ve tossed wild mustard leaves in my salad when going across Canada. Just plucked them out of the ditch.) Mustard oil fights bacterial infections, as well as fungal infections. It prevents phlegm, contains Vitamin E, and helps to treat colds, which there are a lot of in Mayapura right now. It’s a miracle oil!

May the Source be with you!

5 km