Saturday, November 4th, 2017
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Richmond Hill, Ontario

Getting Around

Ontario proclaimed November as Hindu Heritage Month and the celebrations at the Vishnu Temple at Yonge and Hwy. 7 were the venue for this event.  I was invited.  Several mayors were present including those from Richmond Hill and I believe, Markham.  Other dignitaries were also there.  Principle organizer Lajput got up on the stage and mentioned my name twice in the capacity as his guru.  It was flattering.

But in reality, the real boost for me, at this event, was the kirtan that Godbrother Gaura and I led.  Gopal is an excellent drummer on the mrdunga, and Subal, our driver, is a happy dancer.  The projecting of mantras must be a flattery for God.

After the program, when back home, I had the chance to clean, or mop, the floors in the temple and ashram.  It’s always a heart-cleansing involvement.

That was followed by leading a discussion at Sacred Space, a weekly program for newcomers.  It was a good bunch of humans who turned out—meaning they had a sincerity of purpose.  One of the attendees brought up the subject of ‘evil’, questioning its origin and objective.  It is a classic topic for Man.  Generally I’ve found that if you’re a theist, it is a principle that can be accommodated.  When one is an atheist, even of the philosophical mold, one is left baffled with the reality of evil.  Theists tend to swallow the concept and can wrestle it down because they have someone to help them.  They have a Divine connection.

My final engagement for the day was doing a nighttime walk—west on Dupont, south on Christie and east on Bloor, before making the turn to Avenue Road, in Toronto.

May the Source be with you!

7 km

Friday, November 3rd, 2017
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Belfountain, Ontario

The Milking Monk?

When I was a teen and living on the farm just outside of Blenheim, Ontario, my dad would wake me up at 5:30 a.m. to milk the family cows.  It was routine to tie her legs in order that she would not kick the bucket of milk over and cause a spill. Cows do that at times. When I read in scripture that Krishna, as a boy, had done so with His cows before milking, I found it so relatable.

I personally didn’t like it when a cow would kick and sometimes succeed in relieving herself and plopping a whole leg inside the milk pail with the white and foamy liquid content inside.  It, no doubt, ‘spoiled the batch’, so to speak.

Cows are generous in releasing their ‘liquid religiosity’, as our guru put it, but they do in fact sometimes kick.  I see many people are like this in their own behaviour.  There’s a kindness and goodness in everyone, however, there’s also a stubborn and sometimes cantankerous side to them.

After all, no one is perfect, except for you know who.

In my travels, whether on foot, flight or fleet, I come upon people who are a blessing and curse at the same time.  Of course, I must include myself.  I find it always helps to highlight the good side in an individual and dwell less on what is pejorative.  I prefer to think of a cow who bears charitable milk—and let’s assume here that it’s ahimsa milk; milk from a protected cow—rather than a cow who kicks, or is cranky at times.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

The Bhagavad-gita’s message of love comforts and enlightens

[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Sydney]

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How the mind harvests the bad within – and how to harvest the good within
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[Hall Program at ISKCON, Sydney]

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How our intelligence acts as our enemy – and how to make it our friend
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[Bhagavatam class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.08.08-09 at ISKCON, Sydney, USA]

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Why people do bad things – and how to stop it
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[Bhagavatam class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.08.07 at ISKCON, Sydney, USA]

Podcast

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Gambling is the gross result of our subtle inclination to cheat…

Gambling is the gross result of our subtle inclination to cheat or lie.
Gambling is the gross result of our subtle inclination to cheat or lie. I once snitched on my friends who decided to bunk school. I denied it so vehemently that years later I wondered, “Did I lie or didn’t I?” I wasn’t so sure anymore. Truthfulness is one of the pillars of dharma that gambling attacks. Who hasn’t hidden that unreturned library book or told your child that the tall-needled injection would not hurt? A person looks into the eyes of a dying man and smilingly says, “Don’t worry. You will get better soon,” when neither of them believes it. When the lines between real and unreal blur, we gamble with the truth.
Let us look a little deeper into the mentality behind a gamble. It is more than just developing the “green fingers” seasoned to make money grow. I can hear the critics say that life itself is a gamble. By definition, gambling implies taking a risk with a potentially positive outcome. By stepping into your car in the morning, you take a risk. The odds may be against you reaching work safely. Is not a theistic lifestyle also a gamble? How can we tell if the dividends will truly pay off? However, these risks are considered reasonable acts of faith, guided by proper knowledge and honest endeavor, and therefore different from gambling. They don’t result in character degradation and are leaps of faith in the mode of goodness.
The problem arises when a person buys into the passionate “winner mentality.” A simple lotto ticket bought together with the bread and milk is an innocent chance at fortune that you slip into your top pocket. You didn’t harm anyone to get it. You paid for it with your hard-earned cash. What could possibly be so wrong with it? In that lotto ticket you have now invested your faith and with it, two negative philosophical affirmations. The first is that life moves by chance and that there is no Superior Designer in the grand scheme of things. The second is that you have the ability to manipulate the natural laws of karma and the beat the odds. This “winner mentality” progresses to the ultimate fantasy that in one stroke, all problems will be solved. It condenses into an obsession (symptomatic of the mode of ignorance), an intoxicating greed where one is willing to lie, cheat or steal, all to be part of the game. Far-fetched? Tell that to the one million people with gambling addictions and families in counseling. Governments, religious societies, and charities around the world benefit from legalized gambling, resulting in a hush over the social collapse that it brews.
Surprisingly the majority of gamblers are from lower income brackets with their gambling expenditure (proportionate to their income) outweighing the big guns. What moves people to wager what they obviously don’t have? The desperate hope that the next card, dice, or spin of the wheel will earn back their losses multifold. Statistics say that no one beats the odds. The odds are always cleverly tipped in favour of the “house.” What you win today can hardly ever surmount what you lose in a lifetime. Of the hundreds of billions of dollars spent in legalized gambling, only 8.75 percent is ever won. Casinos are expert in subtle, psychological manipulation: offering free alcoholic drinks, rooms, and complimentary tickets to entice the regular gambler into thinking he is the center of the universe and everything is for his taking. The link between intoxication and gambling is evident; one who can ‘loosen up’ is more likely to spend. “The mentality that seeks an easy high will invariably strive for easy cash.” In a nut-shell, gambling enforces the mentality of lazy rewards that short-cut hard work. Yet it is a fantasy: ultimately one never beats the odds. The odds beat us.
In the brickwork of life, blocks of untruth are cemented by fear, laziness, convenience, or the thirst for a thrill. Soon we believe the lies we tell others. Even more insidious is the lies we tell ourselves. Bhagavad-gita lists arjavam or honesty as one of the qualities that truly intelligent people imbibe. It can also be translated as simplicity of heart. The gambler and the spiritualist are both involved in acts of faith. The former places faith in chance with the hope that it will help him cheat the system. The latter places faith in a higher power, knowing that the system is a learning ground in the first place. One tries to escape the tests whilst the other tries to rise above them by aligning with the Supreme and thus developing simplicity of heart.

Lessons from WWII (video)HH Sacinandana Swami presents Lessons…
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Lessons from WWII (video)
HH Sacinandana Swami presents Lessons From WWII - An evening of stories, inspiration and mantra music at PS Alumnights.
Pandava Sena Alumni: We were very privileged to have Sacinandana Swami join us and share his realizations from growing up in post-war Germany and the lessons we can learn and apply to our own spiritual journey.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/F2JyTe
————
About the Speaker.
Sacinandana Swami has been a monk in the bhakti tradition for 42 years. He is known for his significant contribution to the practice of contemplation and meditation for modern practitioners of bhakti. Sacinandana Swami has published seven books and released two CDs, and offers an array of retreats, seminars, and workshops. Thousands of enthusiastic singers and dancers visit his kirtan concerts. He teaches at the Vrindavana Institute for Higher Education in India and the Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium. Furthermore, Sacinandana Swami serves as the spiritual guide for the Veda Academy, which is active in eight countries, and recently founded the organization, “Yoga Is Music”. Fond of India’s sacred pilgrimage sites, he annually goes there to seek personal inspiration. Although his pilgrimages have taken him all over the subcontinent, he is particularly fond of the sacred land of Vrindavan, the birthplace of Lord Krishna.

Fisher’s Ghost Festival in Sydney and the icing on the cake! I…
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Fisher’s Ghost Festival in Sydney and the icing on the cake!
I was uncharacteristically minding my own business after a very busy day of book distribution at Fisher’s Ghost Festival in Campbelltown, in south Sydney, when Tony, a geologist, looked at the Gita in my hand and “Searching for Vedic India.”
He very solemnly said, “The best place to hide something is to keep it in plain sight.”
I asked, “What do you mean?”
He responded, “Here you are, sitting with the summum bonum of knowledge, and thousands of these people don’t even realize this.”
He continued, “Because the current society has been forced to work under the gross, lower modes, by the influence of media and politics, they are all operating in the lower modes of intoxication and sex enjoyment. And therefore they are completely oblivious of this treasure you have. Could I please buy these books?”
He took a Gita, the SVI, and a HIUH. He pointed toward Krishna’s picture and said, “The only reason I could tell this person must have a flash around His head is because He never operates on the lower modes and is completely transcendental and fully on the Vedic platform.”
Taking the opportunity of meeting this highly knowledgable guy, I took out my Bhagavatam flyer and in detail explained it to him. I then said that this would give him the full picture of Vedas that he’s been talking about. He immediately took my contact details, to place an order for a Bhagavatam set.
10 mins after Gerrainne, another geologist came running, gasping for air, and she said, “My friend Tony sent me to you, to get the Srimad Bhagavatam set. I am glad I caught you, just before you packed up. She also took a Gita, SVI, and HIUH and requested that I deliver a Bhagavatam set.
Both of them gave me a big polar bear hug before leaving. I tried very hard to control my tears and choking throat after the hug. When I told the story to a devotee friend, he just burst into tears, and eventually we all laughed thinking how Krishna picked these geologist scientists in the middle of nowhere.
Fisher’s Ghost Festival had been already very busy, and I came home with the icing on the cake. Some of the best days of my life have happened while I was distributing books. This is the best job in the world.

Your servant,
Radhika Prasad Dasa & Meera

All roads may lead to Rome but some roads are going to get us there quicker than others
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Hare KrishnaBy Byron Kyle

Have you ever been on a road trip and knew where your destination was but didn’t know exactly how to get there? You switched on Google maps and got directions but closer to your destination, you felt you knew a better way and ignored the GPS only to get lost and ultimately added thirty minutes to your trip. I find spiritual life to be much the same. We naturally want to be controllers in our in lives. We sometimes ignore instructions and do things our own way. When we do this we hit roadblocks, get stuck in traffic, or get totally lost. Our teachers are like the GPS, they know the way, even if it seems tedious or roundabout, we are sure to get to our destination if we follow their instructions. Continue reading "All roads may lead to Rome but some roads are going to get us there quicker than others
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Krishna conscious presentation at Mumbai’s Rotary Club…
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Krishna conscious presentation at Mumbai’s Rotary Club (Album with photos)
On 10th October 2017, Gaur Gopal das spoke at the weekly meeting of Rotary Club of Bombay held at Hotel Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai India.
Rotary is a social service organization and the concept of weekly meetings is for like-minded people of different vocations and professions to meet and come together for a common good cause. Rotary Club of Bombay is a group of top industrialists, professionals, many doctors, lawyers from Mumbai.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2q2JKA

Thursday, November 2nd, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Not Blue Suede Shoes

Tom from Windsor came to spend a few days at the ashram.  He’s good for the morning sadhana, a spiritual workout—chanting, japa and study.  Then by 9:30 a.m., he’s off to the library doing personal research.

I’ve been pushing the wet mop in the mornings.  If floors aren’t done daily, you’ll be assured of sticky black soles.  I know Prabhupada, our guru, loved cleanliness.  Also, the person who cleans feels clean.  It beckons shanti, peace.

Tom and I took evening walks these last two nights.  I have the chance to fly in the new pair of Kyboots, designed with Swiss technology and made in Italy.  Shoes like this don’t get any better.

My summer walking took its toll on my former ones, so it was time for them to reincarnate.  The pair of new shoes went out to explore various streets such as Yonge, Bloor and Davenport.

Tom noticed the city is changing and getting busier like the rest of the world.  To nature we can say, “Make way, the imposition is here!”  Condos are popping up all over the place, blocking the sky.  Stars, you won’t see.  Raindrops splatter on our chest, arms and head.  It is beautifully mild out.

My shoes are happy.  They are set out to do service.  They are helping me with posture and the knees.

I reflected on what Prabhupada said about health, that it is a priority in order to serve nicely.

I do recommend Kyboots as a way to get around. https://youtu.be/VkQS6xvjfgI

May the Source be with you!

6 km

Wednesday, November 1st, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

Surrender Begins


One person I recently met—a year ago—is Gordon Martin of St. John’s, Newfoundland.  He’s someone making great changes in his life.  He sent me a poem of his which addresses “Surrender.” 
Here it is.

Surrender Begins


Surrender begins like a fairy tale
in a distant land
Begins as a dream unknown
scares us shitless

Surrender begins
a blanket with nails
letting go no option
Hang on to the known

Even if that known
Is the darkest night

Even if that known
has dragged us through
the mud, left us naked in the street

Surrender begins with a whisper
A candle flicker
Dancing, embracing the darkness
that peers in so close

Surrender begins
With the mystery of an empty page
The words elusive the ink dry

Surrender begins
A map without borders
A voyage with no defined destination

Surrender begins
loneliness in a crowded room
fear, emptiness

Surrender beings
With struggle
And pleads

I stand now on the other side of surrender
Knowing it’s grace and power

Looking at those who cannot see

Surrender beings with love
With letting go
With saying yes to life

Surrender begins
With tears running down my cheek
With falling to my knees

Surrender begins
With holding hands
And hugs of understanding

Surrender begins
With grace and forgiveness

Surrender begins
In this moment
In this place
Here
Now


May the Source be with you!

TOVP Tour to Australasia – Departure

On Sunday, November 5th ,immediately following Mangal-arati, His Grace Jananivas prabhu and Brajavilas prabhu left Sridham Mayapur with the Padukas of Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Lord Nrisimhadeva’s helmet, to distribute mercy throughout Australasia.

They will be joined by Their Graces Ambarisa prabhu and his wife Svaha mataji for a one month tour of Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Please go here to see the dates and locations of the tour.

The post TOVP Tour to Australasia – Departure appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Success—What it is, and How to get it!
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Author: 
Karnamrita Das

[reposted from 2011-01-26] SUCCESS, WHAT IT IS, AND HOW TO GET IT: To make the claim of today’s title, which might be promised by motivational speakers or writers, I would have to give a universal definition of success. Though I honestly don’t think this is possible, I could do my best to say that in general, success means to be happy—though even here, at different times, people would disagree for various good and bad reasons. In any case, if we can agree for the sake of this blog, that in general people want to experience happiness and avoid distress, we might still argue over the best way to reach this sometimes illusive state.

For some people happiness or peace of mind can seem like the carrot before the donkey—always seeming to be within reach, but never quite obtained. We might have an ever-increasing list of things required to come to our ideal state of happiness—got to have that IPad, and this app, and then that app! To our motivational guru, this would sound terribly negative, since they believe that we can have anything we want if we want it badly enough.

Although the Vedas and Krishna devotees might agree that one can have most anything desired either today or in some lifetime they would caution us that although one may be temporarily happy, it can’t last. The nature of the world is constantly changing, including our body, senses and mind. For instance, toys or dolls no longer are objects of happiness for an adult, or as an old person our ability to enjoy certain foods is lost—though we may still desire them!

Besides this, and fundamentally more important, since our identity is not material but spiritual, worldly things can’t bring the soul happiness.

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Humility of great souls
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Humility of great souls
Radheshyam Dasa: “Humility of great souls is the purity within…” This statement reveals the humility of Srila Prabhupada. Although he is the Founder Acarya of a worldwide Organization, he never considers himself to be the best of the Vaishnavas; rather he considers himself unqualified and insignificant. This is one of the shining characteristics of great souls.
Great souls see smallness in themselves and greatness in others. Small souls consider themselves the best devotees. A Kanishtha Adhikari feels, “I am the best devotee.” “atmano bhakti darpatah”. Thus his devotion is like a raw mango. When one becomes pure at heart, their humility tastes like a ripe Mango.


Read More...

Famous Indian cricketer receives Srila Prabhupada’s books…
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Famous Indian cricketer receives Srila Prabhupada’s books (Album with photos)
“Our First Business is this Book Distribution. There is no need of any other Business. If this book distribution is managed properly, pushed on with great enthusiasm and determination and at the same time if our men keep spiritually strong, then the whole world will become Krishna Conscious.” Letter to Satsvarupa, Nellore, 5th January 1976 by Srila Prabhupada
Robin Venu Uthappa born 11 November 1985) is an Indian cricketer. He plays for Karnataka in domestic cricket and Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Uthappa made his One Day International debut in the seventh and final match of the English tour of India in April 2006.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8RGZ6H

Hare Krishna Auckland – Snana Yatra 2017 (Album with photos)…
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Hare Krishna Auckland - Snana Yatra 2017 (Album with photos)
Today, 4th November2017, we celebrated Jagannath, Baladev & Subhadra’s Snana yatra. The festival was really nice. We had more than 500 devotees and guests for the program. For the next 15 days, they will take rest, so no darshan of Jagannath, Baladev & Subhadra, then on the 19th of November they will go for the first Ratha Yatra. Thank you all for making the festival successful.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZiD6pF

When a loved one is hurt, we feel disturbed, but not so much when someone unknown is hurt – is this attachment?
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Answer Podcast

The post When a loved one is hurt, we feel disturbed, but not so much when someone unknown is hurt – is this attachment? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

When social justice is not defined in the West in terms of caste discrimination how can bhakti be seen as promoting social justice here?
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Answer Podcast

The post When social justice is not defined in the West in terms of caste discrimination how can bhakti be seen as promoting social justice here? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

From Damodara month to Damodar mood – From circumstantial devotion to transcendental devotion through intentional devotion
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[Evening Program at ISKCON, Sydney, Australia]

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Podcast Summary

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The art of work – Detachment directed by devotion maximizes contribution
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Podcast


Podcast Summary

The post The art of work – Detachment directed by devotion maximizes contribution appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How bhakti fulfills the aspirations of social justice
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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Sydney, Australia]

Podcast

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Video:

The post How bhakti fulfills the aspirations of social justice appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Sunday Love Feast – Nov 5th, 2017 – Vedic Discourse by HG Radha Gopinath Prabhu
→ ISKCON Brampton

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

Bhagavad Gita As It Is (18.66)
sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami ma sucah
Translation
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.






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

Utpanna Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Mon Nov 13,2017
Breakfast................  on  Tue Nov 14 ,2017 b/w 8.14am-10.11am

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 

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, jewellery, 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.

Australian Tour Video Trailer
- TOVP.org

This November, 2017 the TOVP Tour bringing Lord Nityananda Prabhu’s Padukas (Divine Shoes) and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Sitari (Sacred Helmet) from Sridhama Mayapur will be setting foot in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Perth – Nov. 7th
Adelaide – Nov. 8th
Melbourne – Nov. 11th (extended stay)
Sydney – Nov. 18th
New Govardhana – Nov. 20th
Brisbane – Nov. 21st
Auckland – Nov. 23rd
Lautoka – Nov. 24th
Sigatoka – Nov. 25th
Suva – Nov. 26th

The post Australian Tour Video Trailer appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Our Other Family Business: The TOVP

By Svaha Devi Dasi (wife of Ambarisa Prabhu, TOVP Chairman)

His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu has written about book distribution in “Our Family Business.” Closely connected to it, or inseparable from it, is the manifestation of the TOVP as funds from book distribution around the world directly contribute to the TOVP every year.

These two heartfelt desires of Srila Prabhupada are intimately connected. This becomes even more evident in the following account from His Holiness Giriraja Swami:

In 1971, as a young devotee in Calcutta, I approached Srila Prabhupada. “I have been trying to understand what your desire is. And two things seem to please you most: distributing your books and building the big temple in Mayapur.” Prabhupada’s face lit up, his eyes opened wide, and he smiled. “Yes, you have understood.”

We feel blessed to be engaged in serving the TOVP along with all of our ISKCON family. I’m especially grateful that our daughters have imbibed this mood of service to Srila Prabhupada as well and have understood the true value of the blessings Krishna has bestowed upon them.

Amrita, our older daughter, serves at the Washington, DC temple as an assistant to His Grace Anuttama Prabhu and contributes regularly to many worthwhile projects, including the academic conference at Harvard for the 50th anniversary of ISKCON and last year at the ISKCON 50th Gala celebration in Washington, DC. She and her husband Hrishikesh help teach in the Sunday school at the DC temple. Hrishi is a graduate of Harvard Law School and was the editor of the Harvard Human Rights Journal. They are most grateful to all the devotees who have supported and guided them in their service.

Anisha, our youngest daughter, graduated from the University of Chicago with honors. She was on the Dean’s List all four years and graduated a semester early. She too has a long service history at the University, including teaching under-privileged children in inner city schools. From an early age, she has been saying how she will build temples like her father. As they say in America, “she put her money where her mouth is” at a TOVP fundraiser at Devasadan Mandir in Detroit two years ago. She turned 21 on June 1st and received a gift from her grand-mother, and 27 days later on June 28th, she donated $1 million dollars to the TOVP campaign like her sister. She was sitting at the back, quiet as a mouse, and unbeknownst to us had filled out the form with her donation. When it was announced, it came as a wonderful surprise to us all.

I pray that they continue to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission by the blessings of all the Vaishnavas. Manifesting the TOVP is an excellent opportunity for all of ISKCON to come together and cooperate to serve and please Srila Prabhupada, whose departing words were, “Your love for me will be shown by how you can cooperate to push on this movement.”

Our Other Family Business: TOVP

Our Other Family Business: TOVPBy Svaha Devi Dasi (wife of Ambarisa prabhu, TOVP Chairman)HG Vaisesika Prabhu has written about book distribution in “Our Family Business.” Closely connected to it, or inseparable from it, is the manifestation of the TOVP as funds from book distribution around the world directly contribute to the TOVP every year. These two heartfelt desires of Srila Prabhupada are intimately connected. This becomes even more evident in the following account from HH Giriraja Swami: In 1971, as a young devotee in Calcutta, I approached Srila Prabhupada. “I have been trying to understand what your desire is. And two things seem to please you most: distributing your books and building the big temple in Mayapur.” Prabhupada’s face lit up, his eyes opened wide, and he smiled. “Yes, you have understood.”We feel blessed to be engaged in serving the TOVP along with all of our ISKCON family. I’m especially grateful that our daughters have imbibed this mood of service to Srila Prabhupada as well and have understood the true value of the blessings Krishna has bestowed upon them. Amrita serves at the Washington, DC temple as an assistant to HG Anuttama Prabhu and contributes regularly to many worthwhile projects, including the academic conference at Harvard for the 50th anniversary of ISKCON and last year at the ISKCON 50th Gala celebration in Washington, DC. She and her husband Hrishikesh help teach in the Sunday school at the DC temple. Hrishi is a graduate of Harvard Law School and was the editor of the Harvard Human Rights Journal. They are most grateful to all the devotees who have supported and guided them in their service. Anisha, our youngest daughter, graduated from the University of Chicago with honors. She was on the Dean’s List all four years and graduated a semester early. She too has a long service history at the University, including teaching under-privileged children in inner city schools. From an early age, she has been saying how she will build temples like her father. As they say in America, “she put her money where her mouth is,” at a TOVP fundraiser at Devasadan Mandir in Detroit two years ago. She turned 21 on June 1st and received a gift from her grand-mother, and 27 days later on June 28th, she donated a million dollars to the TOVP campaign like her sister. She was sitting at the back, quiet as a mouse, and unbeknownst to us had filled out the form with her donation. When it was announced, it came as a wonderful surprise to us all. I pray that they continue to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission by the blessings of all the vaishnavas. Manifesting the TOVP is an excellent opportunity for all of ISKCON to come together and cooperate to serve and please Srila Prabhupada, whose departing words were, “your love for me will be shown by how you can cooperate to push on this movement.”

Posted by Temple of Vedic Planetarium on Saturday, November 4, 2017

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