“Krish” “Na” On 26 July 1976 ISKCON…
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“Krish” “Na”
On 26 July 1976 ISKCON Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada, was meeting in London with George Harrison (world-renowned as a member of the Beatles). Srila Prabhupada told George about a famous poem written in the Sanskrit language many centuries ago by the great spiritual master, Srila Rupa Goswami, which describes how there is unlimited nectar contained within the two syllables of Lord Krishna’s name: “Krish” and “Na.” Prabhupada advised George, “In your next record, you can give this.” But so far as we know, George did not do this. Now this famous poem translated into English has been made into a song by Sankarshan Das Adhikari for all of the world to enjoy and be benefitted by.
You can hear the song and get a free download of it also at: http://www.turnontheworld.com/krishna

Radha Kunda Seva: September 2017 Photos and Updates (Album with…
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Radha Kunda Seva: September 2017 Photos and Updates (Album with photos)
Today is the first day of the holy month of Kartika! This is Srimati Radharani’s special month, the month most dear to Krishna. We hope this update finds you happily experiencing the sweet sanctity of this special month. We finished renovations to our prasadam distribution facility in Radha Kunda – new flooring, roofing, and walls. It is now a more welcoming space for the ladies who come here daily for hot, fresh, wholesome meals. It is common during this month to take up a vrata, or vow of austerity in order to reduce bodily demands and offer oneself in service and surrender to the Supreme Lord. At our ladies’ request, we will be simplifying the meals using only very basic spicing and vegetables. It is our great honor to be able to facilitate their sadhana or spiritual practices. You may have noticed that the tiles of the Lalita Kunda benches were chipping and badly in need of repair. Now they are covered with red standstone! …a hardy and durable material which should stand the test of time and use. As usual, the daily cleaning continues. The Kartika crowds are already here! We are prepared for a month of festive chaos. Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. Your servants, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, Sri Arjuna dasa, Urmila Devi Dasi, and Mayapurcandra dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/7B2Crg

Compassion – Wealth of Divine beings

Hare KrishnaBy Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha

The compassion exhibited by Parikshit Maharaj is indeed exemplary. Although he had a few days to live, still he interrupted Sukadev Gosvami, after hearing the discussion of people suffering in various types of hell. Overcome with compassion, he asked Sukadev Goswami the way how these people could be relieved from these suffering conditions. Now to what extent and in what way, a sadhaka can imbibe the spirit of Parikshit Maharaj is important to note. Continue reading “Compassion – Wealth of Divine beings”

HH Bhakti Chaitanya’s Bhagavatam Class in Iskcon Ujjain…

HH Bhakti Chaitanya’s Bhagavatam Class in Iskcon Ujjain about the month of Damodara, (02-10-2017) (video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/K1qMsE

Gita 14.25 As long as we are materially motivated, we will be materially agitated
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Bhagavad-gita verse-by-verse podcast

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Demystifying Reincarnation 15 – The Gita’s model of the self and its explanatory potential
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GBC mid-term meeting
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The GBC Body met at ISKCON Ujjain on the invitation of HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja, this year’s GBC Chairman. The mid-term meeting is held at a different location every year and next year it will be at ISKCON Kanpur.

The meeting is usually a strategic planning session with discussions on constitution, outreach preaching, communication etc. The GBC also spent two days with the Indian Bureau members who are responsible for overseeing ISKCON’s activities in India.

Cooking Class
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TKG students learn cooking from Sri Avirhotra Prabhu.

Cooking with children in schools promotes the lifetime skill of healthy cooking starting at a young age. Introducing cooking in schools has many benefits:

  • Children may try new and healthy foods.  Recent research published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics indicates that children engaged in tactile experiences, such as handling foods, have less food neophobia (food fear) and greater acceptance of eating a variety of foods.
  • A kitchen is a learning lab for children that can involve all of their senses. While kneading, tossing, pouring, smelling, cutting, and feeling foods they have fun and learn without being aware of it.
  • Children tend to skip less healthy prepared or processed snack foods as they prepare their own food more.
  • Recent research indicates that nutrition knowledge may be incomplete without the experiential learning or hands-on activities associated with food preparation that involves handling food and cooking equipment.
  • Children learn lifetime skills through practicing basic math skills such as counting, weighing, measuring, tracking time; they also gain social skills by working together and communicating in the kitchen.
  • Teaching cooking to youth is an opportunity to teach nutrition education such as planning meals and make smarter food choices.
  • Cooking can aid children in acceptance of responsibility. Each child has a task to complete to contribute the meal preparation and cleanup.
  • Cooking in schools can build positive memories that promote future healthy, enjoyable cooking elsewhere.

STEAM Class
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TKG Students are having great time during STEAM class.
It is wonderful to watch older students helping younger students, to witness students persisting through challenges and to see students of all ages sharing their wisdom with each other as they problem-solved through the tasks at each station.
We look forward to a whole semester of facilitating activities that are designed to promote the vitally important 21st Century skills of creativity, problem-solving and collaboration.

How can we avoid judging ourselves?

Answer Podcast

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Invite and Honour Lord Damodara in Your Home!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

During this most auspicious month of Kartik (Oct 5 to Nov 3), you can invite Lord Krishna in the form of Bala Gopala (Damodara) to your home, offer beautiful lamps and hear about wonderful stories of baby Krishna.

You can book your 1-hour slot by contacting (647) 867-4727 or kartikbookings@gmail.com to reserve your spot during Kartik weekday evenings or weekends. Please note, limited spots are available. Please feel free to take this unique opportunity for your family.


Kartik 12 Hour Kirtan – Saturday, October 28
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

Kartik is an auspicious month to go deeper into our spiritual practice. This month is particularly dear to Krishna and those that perform spiritual activities, including chanting and hearing, will see the benefits compounded.

A great way to receive special mercy of the Lord is to chant and dance together for as many hours as possible in a day. For that reason we are inviting every one of you to join for this 12 hour kirtan. Come, chant and dance with your family and friends with all your heart on Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 9:00am - 9:00pm!



Financial help for Agnideva Prabhu

Agnideva Prabhu is beloved devotee and servant of Srila Prabhupada whose his voice has been heard in homes and hearts all over the world for over 40 years. You may have heard already that our dear Agnidev Prabhu is in hospital in Australia, suffering from a lung infection.

Unfortunately, he has been traveling without medical insurance and the hospital bills are mounting. It is still unclear how long he will need to stay in the hospital as the doctors are waiting to see how his body responds to the current treatment. An operation may be necessary which will require several weeks of recovery in a special ward. Each day in that ward costs approximately US $4,000.

Indradyumna Swami has set up a “Go fund me” account for those who would like to help Agnideva Prabhu and his family with these medical bills. We kindly request your support for Agnideva Prabhu in this time of great need. The goal is to raise $100,000. Here is the link to make a contribution http://www.gofundme.com/agnidevadas

The Power of Saintly Association: My Personal Asssociaion with my Guru, Shrila Prabhupada Part II
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Author: 
Karnamrita Das

As I flew to L.A. from Hawaii, I brought a very fragrant flower garland. When I arrived at the Temple, I wanted to personally garland him, but a devotee guard downstairs from his room stopped me. I thought about going into his room anyway, though I was too hesitant and fearful. Eventually Prabhupada came down to give his lecture---it was the disappearance day of his guru, Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. I was introduced by the local GBC and gave him the garland. He didn’t seem to really notice me, which upset me a bit. I was able to consider that he likely was absorbed in other thoughts, perhaps of his guru. This was the year he gave a famous talk about his guru where he became choked up with tears saying how we were all helping him serve Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta.

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How can we deal with self-doubt?

Answer Podcast

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If we see patterns similar to a failed relationship in a new relationship, how can we avoid becoming pessimistic?
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Answer Podcast

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Devotion doesn’t restrict us – it empowers us
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[Talk to teenagers at Austin, USA]

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The Spirit of Diwali – Light the inner lamp to see beyond the painkiller of entertainment to the cure of devotion
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[Sunday feast talk at Austin Vedic Cultural Center, Austin, USA]

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pub preaching
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it has been a while since I’ve written anything for my blog although I’ve been approached on a number of occasions to write about some of the activities I’ve been up to; so here goes.

I had been pondering for a while how HH A.C.Bhaktivadanta Swami Prabhupada went all the way to america to preach the joy of Sri Caitanya Sankirtan movement he didn’t go to the most affluent area but to where the hippies and down and out’s stayed; amazingly they took totally to this life of bhakti and many remain dedicated to the mission inspiring us younger ones.

so looking at the local demographics I pondered where are those in most need of hearing about the glories of Sri Krishna; and seeing that locally there is a huge pub culture but I had doubts given the message and if this would be appropriate. So I was approached by a reading group who met in a local pub to speak on the Gita and after some pondering I decided to agree after all if people are willing to hear then well that should be enough. it went well indeed we discussed long after the closing time, so we agreed to meet once a month.

news spreads quickly and so I was asked to do the same in a few other local pubs and this progressed to an open evening meet the monk in the pub open question evening; it is indeed very challenging as you never know what will be raised.

so has it been worth it?

well it’s great to see that the message of Krishna Consciousness has been well received and indeed a small group has taken very nicely; near on 30 sincere souls have taken the chant one round of japa challenge and indeed 10 of these are now chanting regular 16 rounds of Japa. I have been humbled by this.

as to the four regulative principles; well I’ve presented them as the four protections and indeed have been humbled by those who have taken them up so nicely; some struggle and some well don’t get it.

but for me the main thing is that many people are benefiting from hearing and some are indeed making the changes in their life; and although I wouldn’t recommend entering into your local pub, finding were and sharing love of krishna to those who are in the greatest needs brings success and joy that words themselves cannot express.

Hare Krishna

Hare Krishna Gastronomy Festival in Budapest, Hungary (Album…
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Hare Krishna Gastronomy Festival in Budapest, Hungary (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “In Dvapara-yuga one could satisfy Krishna or Visnu only by worshiping Him gorgeously according to the pancaratriki system, but in the Age of Kali one can satisfy and worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari simply by chanting the holy name.” (Narayana-samhita)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Rm6DLx

Little Nrsimhadeva is chanting to Lord Nrsimhadeva (1 min…
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Little Nrsimhadeva is chanting to Lord Nrsimhadeva (1 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/UKNhCq

Russell Brand shares his love for a Hare Krishna restaurant in…
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Russell Brand shares his love for a Hare Krishna restaurant in Cardiff with his 12 million Twitter followers.
It’s not every day you’re asked to pop along to St David’s Hall to feed a world-famous comedian with your delicious vegan treats. That’s exactly what happened to the team at Cardiff’s Anna-Loka when Russell Brand brought his new stand up show, Re:Birth, to the capital. Owner Adam El Tagoury received a surprise phone call earlier this week saying that the cookie-making company, Hare Krishna Treats, who make cookies to give to the audience at Brand’s shows, needed a local vegan business to help distribute the goodies.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/3PGByA

Exploring the Bhagavad gita; Philosophy, Structure and Meaning
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Hare KrishnaBy Ishvara Krishna Das

I would like this work to be considered a contribution not only to the study of the Bhagavad Gita, but to the emerging field of Comparative Theology, as once the structures of great theological works could be articulated, these could be compared, contrasted and grouped together, thereby offering a unified sense of pluralistic spirituality which may serve as an alternative to materialism. Originally, Greek philosophy was inseparable from Greek religion, and only gradually was it articulated as a universal philosophy. Similarly, this work may further a slight step in this direction, in that it emphasizes the Bhagavad Gita’s philosophical nature, relevant also in a non-Hindu context. Examining many of the available academic editions, one realizes that they offer an introduction followed by a verse translation; the present edition joins the few editions which render the text divided into sections, and add a commentary; I hope that this approach proves to be useful. Let me conclude by quoting the Bhagavad Gita itself: "This is a royal science, a royal mystery, the supreme purifier, experienced directly, it conforms to dharma, pleasant to act upon and eternal." Continue reading "Exploring the Bhagavad gita; Philosophy, Structure and Meaning
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Wellington Vaishnava Community Blossoms on HH Vedavyasapriya Swami’s Arrival

Hare KrishnaBy Bhakta Mukesh

Elaborating on the causes of attachment, Maharaj mentioned that we think that our gains are due to our hard endeavour. Therefore, we attempt to preserve these gains, and thus become attached to it. This attachment is the root-cause of all miseries. The recipe to overcome this attachment is to understand that as miseries (and losses) come to us unsought, so would happiness (and gains). We must, therefore, cultivate the faith that both happiness and distress would come of its own accord and practice detachment from both. Continue reading “Wellington Vaishnava Community Blossoms on HH Vedavyasapriya Swami’s Arrival”

ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage receives the IGBC Green Village Platinum Ratings
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Hare KrishnaBy Anand Caitanya das

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has established Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), with a vision to enable sustainable built-environment for all and facilitate India to be one of the global leaders in sustainable built-environment by 2025. With a modest beginning of 20,000 sq.ft of green footprint in the country in the year 2001, today over 4,205 IGBC green building projects, amounting to over 4.61 Billion sq.ft are adopting IGBC green building rating systems. This in turn has enabled India become one of the top 5 countries in the world in terms of largest registered green building footprint. The Green Building Congress 2017 was the 15th annual flagship event of IGBC and is the largest event on green buildings in Asia. Over 3000 participants attended this event with over 150 leading National and International experts shared their thoughts and perspectives on sustainable built environment.  The Congress also hosted World GBC Board Meeting and Annual Members Meet. The event attracted participation from several countries including Singapore, Srilanka, Hong Kong, Australia, China, UK and USA. Shri Gauranga Das was also one of the master speakers of the conference and shared about the Sustainability Initiatives at Govardhan Ecovillage. Continue reading "ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage receives the IGBC Green Village Platinum Ratings
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Damodarastakam sang by Agnidev Prabhu and health update
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Damodarastakam sang by Agnidev Prabhu in Vrindavana (15 min video)
The latest report is that Agnideva is stable but still serious.
He is currently heavily sedated so his body can rest while he fights this serious infection in his lungs.
His vital signs are stable but he is still in ICU under close care while he is in recovery.
The Doctors are waiting for the results of blood tests to find out exactly what is causing this infection, but this will take a couple of days.
Agnideva’s Son has arrived in Australia from the USA and is currently with him in Sydney.
Please continue your prayers for his full recovery.

Gita 14.24 To be equipoised, be situated in the self, not in the world

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Demystifying Reincarnation 14 – Reincarnation in Christianity, Islam and Buddhism
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Podcast

 

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