Saturday, September 23rd, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Moundsville, West Virginia

So Much So Little

It was my first time attending a retreat of the Bhaktivedanta Medical Association (BMA) held this year at the location of the New Vrndavana country ashram.  When I was invited as a special guest, I was flattered.  I have no medical background and, thus, what qualifies me, really, for being at such an event?

In a certain amount of words, organizer Prasanatma from Omaha, expressed that leading a kirtan, giving a class from the Bhagavatamand participating in the discussions offers a healing dynamic.  He was just a gentleman for saying so.

What was discussed?  A number of relevant topics came up such as how to balance work, family and community with one’s spiritual sadhana (practices) and not “burn out,” which is a common theme nowadays at major world conferences.  “This is a reality,” expressed Prasanatma.  Surprising?  Or maybe not?  People are sick in greater numbers, more than can be imagined, and doctors as well as nurses are few.  Medical people are in super-high demand.  It puts a strain on them.

The attendees who came from places like Chicago, Detroit, Tulsa, New York, Columbus, Miami—I’m sure I'm missing a few—were just wonderful folks, very mature and brahminical.

The venue was the new yoga structure located by the lake where you have situated these towering figures of Chaitanya and Nityananda.  Yes, here we are in the gorgeous hills of West Virginia.  I and the boys were given Cabin #7 by that placid lake.  This atmosphere, and the fact that we didn’t drive for two days, truly gave us the rest we needed.  Too bad, but I got so little walking in.

May the Source be with you!

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Friday, September 22nd, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Moundsville, West Virginia

Back in West Virginia

For the second day of fall, I find the weather not bad.  I have no network available in these hills of West Virginia, but it feels like in the 80s Fahrenheit.  It’s humid, too.  The evening will likely be substantially cooler.  We used to call these conditions ‘Indian Summer’, but I heard that is now politically incorrect to say.  Is it true?

But just before reaching West Virginia at 12 Noon on the dot, our van pulled over in order that I could be part of a radio interview over the phone.  One and half months ago I was on live and in the studio with Frank and Taylor on KUSA FM 100, of AJB FM radio, and they had asked that I call them after my cross U.S. walk was completed.  It was merely a fun follow-up.

So I called and Frank introduced me to their listeners as the Walking Monk and told them how I had finished up the mission.  They asked for my comments and I opened up by saying there is a tradition among Hare Krishna monks to travel long distances on foot for inspirational purposes and then to share some enlightenment.

At the end of the interview, I summed up by saying that the spiritual component needs to be inserted in one’s life in  order to increase it in richness and happiness.  “In America we have everything, all facilities,” and I ventured to say that our participation in spiritual practice is weak.

The radio station is located in Price, Utah, and I expressed over the air that most likely Utah was the state I liked the most.  Frank and Taylor were happy about that.

May the Source be with you!

2 miles

Govindas and Lotus Room
→ Ramai Swami

Govindas restaurant and the Lotus Room in Darlinghurst are still going strong after more than twenty years of operation.

The restaurant, run by devotee couple Pratapana and Jayasri, is pretty much packed out every night.

The Lotus Room hosts kirtan evenings headed by local devotees, however, many  well known international devotees come through to lead kirtans, which are also well attended.

 

TOVP Announces A Once-in-a-Lifetime Chakra Abhisheka Seva Opportunity
- TOVP.org

Opportunities to be part of history in the making, especially spiritual history related to the mission of the Lord, are rare in the material world. With the advent of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu we have been given the most rare chance to develop our love for Krishna and also return to Him. Rarer still is to be part of the building of the Lord’s “adbhuta mandir” in the Holy Dhama of Navadvipa from which the waves of Krishna prema will spread throughout the world.

The TOVP Fundraising Team announces yet another incredible seva: A Once-in-a-Lifetime opportunity to participate in the simultaneous grand installation ceremonies of the remaining two Chakras on the Radha Madhava and Nrsimha Domes in Sridhama Mayapur. We are offering devotees the unique seva to personally bathe the Chakras that will be mounted on these two domes! 1008 sponsorships will be available for each Chakra. And the needed funds will go directly to pay for the Chakras.

On February 7th, 2018, during the GBC meetings in Mayapur prior to Gaur Purnima, we have scheduled the official TOVP Chakra Installation Day to install the Chakras on top of the Radha Madhava and Lord Nrsimhadeva domes and you or your temple can participate by sponsoring the abhisheka of one or both of the Chakras. A Maha Sudarshana Yajna will be performed along with an abhishek and other auspicious ceremonies. If you are coming to Mayapur you can personally attend and bathe Lord Sudarshana with your family, or we will perform the service on your behalf and in your name. Your name will be read during the Maha Sudarshana Yajna and also placed at the base of the Chakra(s) you sponsor. You will also receive a very special gift from us. Nrsimha Chakra abhisheka donors will receive a beautiful silver colored Nrsimha Yantra. Radha Madhava Chakra abhisheka donors will receive a gold colored plate with the impression of Radha Madhava’s lotus feet. Sponsors of both abhishekas will receive both gifts. All gifts will be personally offered to the Deities first by Jananivas prabhu. If you are not personally present we will ship it to you anywhere in the world.

This unique opportunity is completely separate from all other previous pledge programs and is available for a contribution of either $501 (25,000 rupees) for Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Chakra abhisheka or $1,001 (51,000 rupees) for Radha Madhava’s Chakra abhisheka, or $1502 for both. These contributions will be used directly for the Chakra fund to pay for Their production. The payment can be made in full or paid in five installments. The installment option works out to only about $3 a day for the Nrsimha Chakra abhisheka, about $6 a day for the Radha Madhava Chakra abhisheka, and about $10 a day for both, for five months. This is a limited time offer as we expect a large, enthusiastic response and each Chakra abhisheka will be for only 1008 devotees. So act soon before it’s too late. And remember, temples can also participate in this opportunity to sponsor an abhisheka as a combined effort of many devotees. Contact your temple president and let him know.

EXTRA SPECIAL SEVA OPPORTUNITY! For devotees with the financial means and desire, we have a very special offer to sponsor the Victory Flags that will be raised onto both the Radha Madhava and Nrsimha Domes during the installation ceremony. The Planetarium Dome Victory Flag was previously sponsored and now these two flags are available for sponsorship for $25,000 for the Nrsimha Dome flag (11 ft./3.50 m. long) and $50,000 for the Radha Madhava Dome flag (16 ft./5 m. long). The flag along with a beautiful, decorative storage box will be given to you as a gift for your sponsorship. If you are interested in this most auspicious service opportunity please contact Vraja Vilas das directly at:

Phone – + 91 963 599 0391
Email – *protected email*

Please watch this video of the first Chakra installation onto the Planetarium Wing Dome:
https://tovp.org/construction/tovp-chakra-installation-milestone-event/

To make your installment pledge or full payment, please do the following:

DO THIS FIRST: Send an email to *protected email* and register for this seva opportunity by providing your personal contact information, your sponsorship choice (one or both Chakra abhishekas), and whether you will be paying in full or through installments for five months for the Radha Madhava or Nrsimha Chakra Installation Abhisheka Seva Program either by Paypal, bank transfer or Axis Bank General Donation (India only).

For U.S., U.K. and other International Payments Outside India

1. Go to https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/ and click on the Square Foot option.

2. Click on Donate Now.

3. Select the Country and Payment Method (except India – see below)

4. In the Other Donation Amount section enter your payment amount, either the full amount or the portion of your pledge. The Total Amount box will show the amount you are paying. If you wish to set this up on a recurring schedule for five months check the “I want to contribute this amount every ______” box and select the week or month option. If you do not set up the recurring payment option you will need to remember to make your payment each month for four more months.

5. Enter all your personal data.

6. VERY IMPORTANT: In the Notes section under the personal data be sure to indicate that this donation is for the Radha Madhava/Nrsimha Chakra Installation Abhisheka Seva Program and whether you will be sponsoring one or both abhishekas.

Bank Transfers Outside of India

If you live outside of India and wish to pay in full or monthly through a bank transfer, follow the instructions in DO THIS FIRST above and then go to:
https://tovp.org/donate/bank-transfer-details/
You will need to remember to make your payments each month for four more months if choosing to pay in installments.

For India Payments

1. If you are an Indian citizen and wish to pay in full or in installments through a bank transfer, go to: https://tovp.org/donate/bank-transfer-details/
You will need to remember to make your payments each month for four more months if choosing to pay in installments.

2. If you are an Indian citizen and wish to pay through the Axis Bank General

Donation option (you will need a PAN number for this option), go to:
https://tovp.org/donate/axis/
Enter the amount of your payment, either the full or installment amount, enter your email address, and enter all your personal data.

VERY IMPORTANT: In the Notes section under the personal data be sure to indicate that this donation is for the Radha Madhava /Nrsimha Chakra Installation Abhisheka Seva Program and whether you will be sponsoring one or both abhishekas.

“If the devotee offers something to the Lord, it acts for his own interest because whatever a devotee offers the Lord comes back in a quantity a million times greater than what was offered. One does not become a loser by giving to the Lord; one becomes a gainer by millions of times.”

Srila Prabhupada; Krishna Book, Chapter 21

The post TOVP Announces A Once-in-a-Lifetime Chakra Abhisheka Seva Opportunity appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Different but the same
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 August 2012, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.13.3-4)

Every devotee is an individual. We are not all stereotypes – all walking the same and all saying Hare Krsna in the same way. No, we are individuals who have a role to play and a contribution to make. That is what we are meant for. That is the higher plan. But when Prabhupada said, “Please, just give me this one life,” instead of just trying to be what we want, what we dream to be, what we’re always hoping for… for one life, just be the instrument of Krsna.

Thursday, Sept 21st, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Sterling Heights, Michigan

What Is Genuine?

“Hey, do you guys want to distinguish reality from illusion, big time?” is what I said to Hayagriva and Marshall.  The phrase about “reality and illusion” may sound as a reference from the book Bhagavatam—the first verse.  What I was actually half-joking about was something more to do with the truth behind taste—real taste or flavour that’s organic and not GMO.  While we were parked at an abandoned lot off of I-80 for a break, I pointed at two apple trees, one a red delicious breed and the other, a golden delicious.

“Go and try some of these fruits, far removed from the artificial flavours at the grocery store.”  There was a slight hesitation before they moved zealously in the direction of the discovered apple trees, but once they went for the pick and the bite, they understood what I was talking about.  The experience of taking an apple locally-grown and free of pesticides is a taste worth experiencing—a genuine explosion of joy.

My team agreed with me that real flavour is what’s missing in our food today. https://instagram.com/p/BZTi5bDlpxt/

It was an energy boost.  We carried on driving.  And what a drive it was, starting from Omaha, Nebraska, en route to Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and finally Michigan.  We embarked upon our destination for an evening program at Ypsilanti.  I see new people here, Carl and Radha who are new-residents in the house called “Harmony Collective.”  For my talk some young folks came for the first time—Meena and Josh.  I wish them well in their spiritual endeavours.  I hope they return for more of the genuine experience of hearing and chanting.

Vivasvan and Ananda Rupa invited us to their home for a rest.  They still have the Ganesh deity that we found in the bottom of a lake in Massachusetts when commencing this U.S. walk.

May the Source be with you!

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Giriraj Swami’s Vyasa-puja, September 17, London, via Skype
Giriraj Swami

IMG_0877Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad Bhagavatam 3.15.25.

“When one is free from all ten of these offenses in chanting the holy name of God, he develops the ecstatic bodily features called pulakasru. Pulaka means “symptoms of happiness,” and asru means “tears in the eyes.” The symptoms of happiness and tears in the eyes must appear in a person who has chanted the holy name offenselessly. Here in this verse it is stated that those who have actually developed the symptoms of happiness and tears in the eyes by chanting the glories of the Lord are eligible to enter the kingdom of God. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is said that if one does not develop these symptoms while chanting Hare Krsna, it is to be understood that he is still offensive. Caitanya-caritamrta suggests a nice remedy in this connection. There it is said in verse 31, Chapter Eight, of Adi-lila, that if anyone takes shelter of Lord Caitanya and just chants the holy name of the Lord, Hare Krsna, he becomes freed from all offenses.” SB 3.15.25 purport.

Vyasa-puja, London

Chitra Devi – The Compassionate-Hearted One
→ Mayapur.com

Today is  Chitra Devi Sakhi’s divine appearance day. At Mayapur, she is adorned with colorful garlands and special decorations and her divine qualities are displayed, for everyone to glorify & pray to her for mercy to serve the divine couple. In the year 1992, Chitra Devi was one of the last of the four Asta-sakhis, […]

The post Chitra Devi – The Compassionate-Hearted One appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The days of austerity
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2011, Berlin, Germany, Lecture)

In the earlier days of ISKCON, austerity was a big thing. It was considered spiritual, the more austere the more spiritual – the colder the water the better, the less you ate the more Krsna conscious you were! The days of austerity where everything was taboo! A book that was not Krsna conscious, if found in the ashram, would be confiscated and burned!

“Such books are not to be read, such books are maya, such books are contaminating us! We do not even wish to see them! Destroy them, annihilate them so that we will be safe from maya and it will not in any way disturb us and we will have purity in our devotional life!”

There is just one thing that we forgot. We forgot that we are human; we forgot that we have taste; we forgot that we have likes and dislikes; we forgot that we desire to enjoy and feel good.

Those days of fanaticism have moved along; it does not last.

 

Training Oxen by Voice Commands Lesson 3
→ Life With the Cows and Land



Lesson 3 is about teaching the commands "Get Up" and "Whoa" to the team Dhruva Laddhu and Kalyan Tamal. In this video, Dhruva is 9 months old and Kalyan is 10 months old. Check back or subscribe to know when the continuing lessons are published. By the end of the series, one should know how to train a team from an early age to adulthood or full working capacity.

enCHANTING evening of Kirtan and Bhajan- Saturday- Oct 14th 2017
→ ISKCON Scarborough



Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!


You are invited to an evening of soul stirring kirtan & Bhajan organised by ISKCON Scarborough on October 14th, 2017.

Here are additional details
When: Saturday - Oct 14th - 6 pm to 9.00 pm
Where: Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centre of Scarborough, 5321 Finch Ave E, Scarborough, ON, M1S5W2(Finch/Middle field Rd)
Cost of ticket: Free. Please send an email to www.iskconscarborough@hotmail.com for free tickets
Capacity of the Hall: 650 guests
Singers: Hari Bhakti Dey (Australia), Ajamil das and many others



ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

website: www.iskconscarborough.org

Tiling the Main Dome
- TOVP.org

Tiling of the Main Dome is now in full swing in preparation for the installation of the Kalash and Chakra in February. These photos reveal the beauty of the blue tiles.

Waterproofing and tiling are done daily from morning till evening and the facing of the Main Dome will be completed in six months. Tiling of the Nrsimhadeva Dome will also start shortly.

The post Tiling the Main Dome appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Wednesday, September 20th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Omaha, Nebraska

At Om-Maha!

“Do you speak English?” asked the young father of two kids active at the playground.

“Yes, I do!”  I said.

“Are they smudging?” he asked, referring to the two monks, my helpers, Hayagriva and Marshall.  They were sitting on the grass.  

I simply replied, “They are actually chanting.  It’s like sharing a peace pipe.  They are purifying the atmosphere with ancient Sanskrit mantras.  It benefits both the persons singing and those who are listening.”

“It’s very peaceful, soothing,” remarked the man, who identified himself as Andrew.  He’s been struggling with life, has been to rehab but has been straight and sober for two years and three months.  When he told me of this victory, I congratulated him.

“The chanting is something that grounds an individual.  Here is my card with the mantra on the back.  I just finished a cross-country U.S.A. walk and have been chanting a lot of it.”  I also gave him the book, On Chanting, and a second one, How to Make a Deal With the Universe, which I had an extra copy of and is authored by Rami Bleckt, a friend and bhakti yogi.   https://www.amazon.com/How-Make-Deal-Universe-English/dp/5990198752 

Andrew was most appreciative and I was pleased to have met him.  “Please keep in touch.” 

I had also been keeping in contact with another young father, Josh, who came over to the park—Westwood Heights—to see me.  He also partook of the apparent “smudge.”

More chanting took place in Omaha, in the company of Bhaskar, where we had gathered last summer as I was making my way on foot to the west.  It was a great day on wheels and in the park.  I managed, however, to squeeze in two miles on foot.

May the Source be with you!

2 miles

Srila Prabhupada Is Right Here
Giriraj Swami

Prabhupada deity in Juhu quartersA twenty-two-year-old devotee in Mumbai, Radhika Jajodia, sent me a beautiful letter about her realizations of Srila Prabhupada’s merciful presence in his quarters in Juhu, which she entitled “Srila Prabhupada Is Right Here”:

One day during your last stay in Juhu, in 2014–15, you were chanting in Srila Prabhupada’s quarters. I really wanted to take some association, so I came running from home to join you. But as soon as I got there, you completed a round and left for your room one floor below.

I felt so unfortunate. But then I decided to chant a few rounds sitting in front of Srila Prabhupada. As I was chanting, I was looking at His Divine Grace and praying, “O Prabhupada, please let me have some personal association with my guru maharaja. Please let me have some exchange, some interaction. I really need it. Just a few minutes will be enough to encourage me to carry on my practices for the months when he will no longer be present in Bombay. Please, please be merciful on me, O Prabhupada.”

I was repeating the same prayer again and again, using different words.

And then a miracle happened. The very moment I completed my second round of japa and was saying the Pancha-tattva mantra, my cellphone rang. It was my brother, Narottam, who was serving you. I instantly got goosebumps. I picked up the call, and he said, “Guru Maharaja wants to see you. Come down to his room immediately.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. I just looked at Srila Prabhupada sitting there with his divine effulgence. At that very moment I could feel—I just knew—that he was right there, present with me, listening to me. I couldn’t help but burst into tears of love and gratitude.

Once I regained control of my emotions, I wiped off the tears and rushed downstairs to see you. Your caring and loving words during that five-to-ten-minute meeting gave me so much spiritual strength for the many months that followed.

Since that day, my bond with Srila Prabhupada has grown deeper. And whenever I visit his quarters in Juhu, I can feel it: He is right here.

Your fallen servant,
Radhika Jajodia

Tuesday, September 19th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Going East

Onward we go in our trusty 2006 Ford Freestar, ‘The Jaladuta Express’, eastbound on I-80 through Utah, Wyoming and the soon-approaching Nebraska.  We know little of what’s going on in the world.  We are in our own little transcendental bubble.  This is brahmacari-style living—simple, humble.  We like it that way.

Even though we are somewhat limited to a van, we have diverse things going on—japameditation, chanting, reading, naps and some time in the park.  It’s a break for us and our machine, ‘The Jaladuta’.

The capital city of Wyoming is Cheyenne, population 64,000, and it’s celebrating its 150th birthday, just like Canada.  We pull over at the Holiday Park, where a manmade lake is replete with deep red fish—maybe goldfish.  But that’s not how we busied ourselves.  The squirrels are particularly human-friendly, golden-bellied and gorgeous tailed.  The boys did the benevolent act of feeding the bushy-tailed creatures with peanut prasadam.  They went squirrely, both my assistants and the animals.

Now, all three of us are from the east.  We’ve never seen dust storms like they have here, where the sky turns brown and tumbleweeds and corn stalks are hurled through the air.  Visibility was poor.  It’s actually dangerous. https://instagram.com/p/BZRPDaclkoT/

When the term “the wild, wild west” is used, it just can’t only refer to tough cowboys with spurs and the roping and lassoing of cattle and horses.  It just might have something to do with the concept of weather.  It was beastly.

May the Source be with you!

1.5 miles

Monday, September 18th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Salt Lake City, Utah

To Salt Lake

It is our first day of travel back to the east—a long twelve hour drive on Interstate 80.  No walking for me today.  The boys and I were on a tight deadline to make it to Salt Lake City.

The two-consecutive-no-walking-day program has me a little worried.  If it keeps up, I’ll gain weight again.  Currently my kurta (upper cloth) hangs loose on my torso and I'm kind of glad about that.  Future tailoring means a tighter knit with the kurta, if I stay thin.  Just a bit of discipline is required in the form of walking to keep pounds (karma) at bay.

While in the passenger’s seat, I get the chance to keep up with reading Chasing the Rhinos With the Swami, authored by Shyamasundar.  I'm in the episode where he met and spent quality time with George Harrison.  Marshall was in the driver's seat and reminded me of a song by Geroge—“Any Road.”  So I played it from the phone.  Here are some of the lyrics:

“Oh I've been traveling on a boat and a plane
In a car on a bike with a bus and a train
Traveling there and traveling here
Everywhere in every gear

But oh Lord we pay the price
With a spin of a wheel, with the roll of a dice
Ah yeah you pay your fare
And if you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there.

And I've been traveling through the dirt and the grime
From the past to the future through the space and the time
Traveling deep beneath the waves
In watery grottoes and mountainous caves.

But oh Lord we've got to fight
With the thoughts in the head, with the dark and the light.
No use to stop and stare
And if you don't know where you're going
Any road will take you there

You may not know where you came from
May not know who you are
May not even wondered how
You got this far.

I've been traveling on a wing and a prayer
By the skin of my teeth by the breadth of a hair
Traveling where the four winds blow
With the sun on my face, in the ice and the snow.”  https://youtu.be/kVxeLZyzswU


The song goes on.  It’s sweet.

The program in Salt Lake was sweet, too.  We chanted and gave a report of our walking travels up to San Francisco.  I asked if anyone knew about Tumbleweed, the kitten we found on the side of the highway, in the middle of nowhere and in the middle of the night.  We left her at Spanish Fork amidst the llamas back in August.

Thanks to the Sharma’s who opened their home for the program and Rasavilas for the accommodation.

May the Source be with you!

0 mi

Rajani Priya’s Ninety-seventh
Giriraj Swami

RP with CakeRP with GRS———————————-
Three days ago we celebrated the ninety-seventh birthday of Rajani Priya Dasi (Rose Forkash), who, with Srila Prabhupada’s approval, began the F.O.L.K (Friends of Lord Krishna) program in the 1970s and has been chanting and serving ever since. As we sat together, she said, “I wish all of you and your loved ones, my age and then some, with good health, thinking of Krishna, for the rest of your life,” which I took as a great blessing, intended not only for me but for everyone.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami