Upcoming Community Survey. Members of New Raman Reti…
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Upcoming Community Survey.
Members of New Raman Reti Community.
Starting Tuesday, August 1, 2017, you will be invited to complete a survey designed to help us understand the needs and desires of the members of New Raman Reti. A team of local devotees created this survey in collaboration with our Temple Board. The survey will begin an ongoing conversation with the aim of strengthening relationships, promoting communication and much more. Survey results will be presented and discussed on November 5, 2017, during the first of three Community Development Conferences. During the conferences, devotees will have the opportunity to engage in community building exercises and in discussions that, we hope, will empower us to implement new initiatives and effectively address the needs of our growing community.

It’s vital that each of us complete the survey so that everyone’s voice be heard, and every member contributes to the development of our shared vision. We look forward to serving you. For more information on this initiative, see our developing website www.NRRCommunity.com

Special Janmastami TOVP Seva Appeal
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Hare KrishnaBy TOVP staff

Janmastami, the most auspicious appearance day of the original Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna is almost upon us. This particular appearance of Lord Krishna, which takes place once in a day of Lord Brahma, is of very special importance because it is followed by the appearance of His combined avatar form of Radha and Krishna, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Continue reading "Special Janmastami TOVP Seva Appeal
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Why does the Gita in chapter sixteen describe divine qualities in three full verses and demoniac qualities in just one verse?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast

The post Why does the Gita in chapter sixteen describe divine qualities in three full verses and demoniac qualities in just one verse? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

How is simplicity as an austerity of the body in Gita 17.14 different from simplicity as an austerity of the mind in Gita 17.16?
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Podcast

The post How is simplicity as an austerity of the body in Gita 17.14 different from simplicity as an austerity of the mind in Gita 17.16? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Transcriptions uploaded on 26-12-2016
→ The Spiritual Scientist

The post Transcriptions uploaded on 26-12-2016 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Eagerness to worship
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, May 2017, UK Retreat, Wales, Srimad Bhagavatam 11.7.59)

Srila Prabhupada said that the highest placed vaisnava in West Bengal was Tarun Kanti Ghosh. He was elected as a member of parliament and was very popular. Tarun Kanti Ghosh owned several newspapers and was a very influential personality. He became elected in parliament by doing harinama sankirtan in all the villages, all over Bengal.

So in my days in Mayapur, I became acquainted with Tarun Kanti Ghosh. He had a house and in the garden, there was a nice temple with large Gaura-Nitai deities. He was worshipping them himself although he also had a brahmana who was assisting.

In those days, travel by planes was still not common for internal flights, so internal travel was by train. Members of parliament would have free travel on the Rajdhani Express, in two-tier AC. We would also travel on the two-tier AC but would have to pay for it. Anyway, one day we were on the train when we heard that Tarun Kanti Ghosh was also on the train. We heard that he had boarded the train that night and since we knew him, we thought, “Oh, we will go see him and take him prasadam.”

The next morning at around six we went to see him. He had a big wooden box which was open and in there were pictures of all his deities, like a full altar. It was a full puja box and everything was in there and he was doing his puja. He said to us, “What are you doing here? Aren’t you supposed to chant your rounds? Why are you disturbing a man and his puja?” He was chastising us and continued his puja. He was not going to talk to us.

So, that was very nice to see. Prabhupada said he was the highest placed vaisnava in West Bengal and you could see that he was. He was not thinking like, “You know, I am a big government officer. I did harinama to get elected and I do my puja so that everyone can see that I am a great vaisnava.” No, he also did it for himself on the train because he had taste; he saw himself as the servant of Krsna.

He was not like, “Oh, now I am going on the train, what can I do? The brahmana will do it.” No, he was still in the mood, “I am the servant. I cannot do it in the temple now. The brahmana is doing it in the temple but I will still serve, myself, here in the train with my puja box.”

It was so nice to see that spirit. His solution was also very practical because his deities were big so he could not really put them into suitcases and carry Gaura-Nitai with him. He just worshipped pictures of the deity. But it is the same thing. It is said that the deity can be made either of wood or metal or clay or also in picture form, so a picture of the deity is as good as the deity. So what he did was bonafide actually according to scripture. We saw his eagerness to continue worshipping his deity.

 

Thursday, July 27th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Hamilton, Ontario

Maha Mantra Week

I was asked by monk, Ekalavya, to say a word about the upcoming Holy Name Week, an annual global push for getting chanting more on the world stage.  I complied, but I let him know, as he’s a prime coordinator for this initiative, that I'm not in favour of the term “Holy Name,” but would rather speak about “Maha Mantra Week.”  He was okay with that if my message used that terminology over the internet.

My objection is that “Holy Name” sounds too Catholic.  “No discredit to the tradition.  I love it.  Was born into it.  Really, I would like to use the term that more clearly reflects our own tradition.”

“I’m fine with that,” he repeated.

He held up my Samsung and started to film.    https://instagram.com/p/BXFOApIlhSc/

So, there you have it, but only a portion.  Mt appeal to the public and more particularly the leaders of our Canadian yatra (community) is to prepare for the sharing of the great “Hare Krishna” mantra.  In full, it is “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”  This is sacred sound.

By the way, I found no time to walk today.  I travelled to Burlington, Ontario from Toronto by way of the commuter Go Train and in the process of sitting there, I chanted this mantra, with practically no volume.  Just soft enough for my ears to benefit.  From Burlington, I was dined by my doctor at his home.  Jagannatha M. and wife, Saci, and I drove to Hamilton to look at a property for possible future consideration as an outlet or outreach spot for the Maha Mantra.

Please come up with ways and means to share the Maha Mantra.  September 9th-19th, 2017.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

Nature Deadly and Nature Divine: The Bhagavata Purana’s Lessons on Human Relationships to the Environment
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Hare KrishnaBy Krishna Ksetra Swami

In recent decades we witness increasing public awareness about the profoundly damaging effects of accellerating human production, consumption, and mobility on ecosystems of the world; and this awareness is accompanied by a deepening sense of urgency that “something” must be done to stop the current trends of environmental destruction. Environmental activism is now a mainstream activity for all sorts of individuals and groups, not least persons and organizations whose motivations may be termed “religious.” Religious traditions are being seen as potential resources of wisdom, providing both theological vision and spiritual conviction for fostering responsible and reformative attitudes and action to favor the environment. In view of this journal’s present theme, Vaishnavism and the Environment, here I will explore representations of “nature” within the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (BhP, or Bhāgavata)—a text revered as canonical for followers of several Vaiṣṇava traditions—with the aim of considering how this text might serve as a resource not only for Vaiṣṇavas, but also for other seekers and implementers of deep ecological thought and practice. Continue reading "Nature Deadly and Nature Divine: The Bhagavata Purana’s Lessons on Human Relationships to the Environment
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Save Yamuna Campaign
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Hare KrishnaBy Radha Mohan Das

Srutidharma das and Parasuram das had a meeting with Radhapriye ji of Barsna who is part of the team heading the Save Yamuna Campaign. The Save yamuna campaign is trying to bring Yamuna back to Vrindavan, which is the most important river for all worshippers of Krishna. Did you know that Yamuna River disappears after Hathani Kund Barrage in Haryana? 97% water of Yamuna river is sucked in by canals just before Hathani Kund barrage. Rest evaporates after running few kilometers. Around 150 kilometers of Yamuna bed is completely empty. Continue reading "Save Yamuna Campaign
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Family Fun Open Day in the Manor
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Hare KrishnaBy Radha Govinda das

The annual Open Day had always been one of the most exciting events for newcomers to Bhaktivedanta Manor. In the past, there had been Strawberry Open days, Cow athletics Open days and Theatre Open days. The legacy continued, and for at least four years now, the Manor had been organising the Family Fun Open day. “I come to this one every year” said Helen “It’s a fun day for the whole family and my kids look forward to it every single time” as she then walked off to ‘try on a sari’. The two kids ran off to have a go on the bouncy castle. The Open Day featured a variety of activities for everyone. There was a food stall selling many varieties of food, cooked with love and devotion. There was a Henna tent for ladies to try out various designs made with the soothing traditional herbs. There was also a face-painting tent and a shop selling fresh organic vegetables. Curious visitors could also find out more about Palmistry. Guests also received an oxcart ride to the farm where they were told about the importance of cows and oxen and how they should be protected. Continue reading "Family Fun Open Day in the Manor
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Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita – “Among the birds, I am…
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Lord Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita – “Among the birds, I am Garuda.” Garuda carries Lord Vishnu on his back always and therefore he is considered as the transcendental prince of all carriers. In the Vedic literature, it is stated that the two wings of the transcendental bird Garuda, are two divisions of the Sama Veda known as brihat and rathantara. When Garuda flaps his wings, one can hear the chanting of the hymns from Sama Veda. Garuda is engaged in eternal service to Lord Vishnu in Vaikuntha. Every temple of Lord Vishnu has a Deity of Sri Garuda sitting in front of the Lord with folded hands. Garuda is also known by the names: Pakshiraja, Vainateya, Suparna, Garuthman, Periya Tiruvadi, Vinatasuta, Vishnuvahana, Nagantaka and Kashyapeya.

Manor devotee brings ISKCON to Ethiopia! Mahaprasad das has…
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Manor devotee brings ISKCON to Ethiopia!
Mahaprasad das has translated a number of Srila Prabhupada’s books from English to Amharic, the official working language of Ethiopia. 10,000 copies of Introduction to Bhagavad Gita and On the Way to Krishna are currently in the UK and will soon be shipped to Ethiopia. Easy Journey to Other Planets, The Teachings of Prahlad Maharaj and Sri Isopanisad will follow. This is a major accomplishment because at present none of Srila Prabhupada’s books are available in Amharic and ISKCON has no presence in that country. “This is a huge breakthrough,” explained Mahaprasad das, “Ethiopia is a completely new pasture and it has the second highest populations in Africa. I give credit to Bhaktivedanta Manor for that, because that is where I was trained in outreach.” Mahaprasad was born in Ethiopia and after joining ISKCON in Kenya, for 21 years he was part of the community of Bhaktivedanta Manor. He is now based in the UK and working in the Middle East within the field of I.T Governance.

UK Prime Minister’s Faith Advisor Jonathan Hellewell LVO,…
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UK Prime Minister’s Faith Advisor Jonathan Hellewell LVO, Special Adviser on Faith to the Prime Minister, made a special visit to the ISKCON-London Temple, where he met Jai Nitai das and Srutidharma das. Mr. Hellewell has been appointed to Downing Street to help the build connections among community groups across the country, understanding the needs of faiths across the UK.

NOHO TV film company were hosted at Bhaktivedanta Manor. NOHO TV…
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NOHO TV film company were hosted at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
NOHO TV film company were hosted at Bhaktivedanta Manor whilst they filmed scenes for the spoof “The Windsors” in Letchmore Heath village. Famous comedian and actor Harry Enfield plays Prince Charles in the series. “There were quite a few vegetarians and vegans amongst the group” explained Radha Mohan das who took members of the cast and crew on a tour of the Manor, “Harry Enfield had some intelligent questions, and reminisced on the times he had spent time with George Harrison”.

Minding the Intel Mind
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Perhaps the most significant program during my Western trip was a seminar at Intel, in Phoenix, Arizona, on the topic “MIND the MIND.” It was attended by around 25-30 Intel employees, who were engrossed in the subject throughout the whole talk.

I developed my talk using two acronyms MIND.

How we defeat ourselves:

Our mind
1. Magnifies problems
2. Imagines pleasures
3. Neglects opportunities
4. Denies reality

How can we stop defeating ourselves:
1. Meditate
2. Illuminate your inner world
3. Navigate your inner pitfalls
4. Do it with others

The feedback after the talk was that the content was simple and clear – the double acronym structure helped them understand readily where I was in the overall context of the talk.

During the QA session, a South American Intel employee asked whether we can ever come to a stage when the voice of wisdom within us becomes stronger than the voice of impulse. I answered that it is possible by studying wisdom-literature, adopting spiritual practices and especially by seeking the right social circle. After the program, she approached me and said that she came from a conservative family and had felt intense peer pressure to conform with the materialistic US culture. But on understanding the spiritual worldview and specifically the strategies for strengthening the conscience in the class, she felt inspired to stick to her higher values.

The program was organized by Sapna Kant (Shriji Priya Devi Dasi), who works in Intel, and her husband Eshant Garg (Ishvara Gauranga Das ). They coordinate my online outreach. Being the first program of its kind at Intel, Phoenix, they had to expertly get the program sanctioned through the Intel hierarchy. MNCs such as these are particularly cautious to not promoting anything sectarian.

The Intel India coordinator had been apprehensive about having a Hindu monk speak in their company. But he was relieved and pleased to see the positive feedback, especially by the non-Indians attending the program. And he said that the next time when I come to the US, they could organize a two- or three-part series.
Due to security and privacy considerations, Intel didn’t allow us to video record or even photograph the program, though they themselves clicked some photos and shared them with us.

I have spoken at several MNCs in the past, but Intel was the biggest MNC where I spoke. My small realization is that ultimately a similar heart beats in all people, whichever country they may be from and whichever company they may be working for. They all face the same eminently human issues that we all face – dealing with the mind’s stresses, and seeking greater satisfaction and better contribution. And for addressing those universal issues, the Bhagavad-gita’s timeless wisdom stands ready to empower everyone.

The post Minding the Intel Mind appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Wednesday, July 26th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Edmonton, Alberta

Clearing the Mind Through Order

It was brief, walking the industrial park in the Mill Woods area and then the Little India section of shops, with masala smells in the air.  For any walk, short or lengthy, one of the principle reasons for stepping along is to get some clearing in the head.  Time taken indoors has its value, but it’s the balance which comes from being outdoors that seems to make a day complete.

I had spent some time in the morning relieving clutter and disorder in the temple room of the Radha Govinda Cultural Centre.  It’s actually tough for me to sit in the house of God and expect to chant peacefully when there’s even partial disarray.  My mind is cleared through “order.”  I confess my own personal room back home could use some love as well, but when people need to meditate it must be neat.  Getting chairs and plants in their place was what I modestly worked at.

There, now that’s better! I felt good after shifting items.

Upon returning from the short walk, I got a chance to see if my re-positioning of things was right-on.  Walking is great like that.  It gives you the space and time to re-assess things.  So I came back and saw the work done, including the opening of windows, allowing plants maximum light, and it was good.

I didn’t come to Edmonton to re-vamp this venue but necessity ruled my time.  A second short walk with three companions also allowed for a clearing of clutter.  When you see a weed, you may want to pull it out.  With the Lambs Quarters plants which Ekalavya and I spotted near the saree shop, we immediately took action.  Two healthy plants got yanked out and we felt great, because the leaves of the plants are better in the stomach than as the growth between the cracks of a sidewalk.  They got cooked up and they were absolutely delicious.

May the Source be with you!

4 km


Raghunandana Thakura Disappearance
→ Ramai Swami

Sri Raghunandana Thakura made his appearance within this world in Sri Khanda.  In his home he became acquainted with the worship of Sri Gopinatha from an early age.

One day his father, Mukunda Dasa, who was a doctor, had to go away on medical business.  He called Raghunandana to his side.  He told Raghunandana to see to it that their deity was served with great care and attention. He told him to be sure and feed the deity.

At the appointed hour, taking the order of his father on his head, Raghunandana went to peform the service.  He took the offering of food into the deity.  Raghunandana was just a little boy. He told the deity: “Eat! Eat!”  When he saw that the offering appeared untouched, he began to cry.

Not being able to resist the child’s intense devotion, Krishna ate everything on the plate, leaving no remnants.

The whole truth and nothing but the truth
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 August 2012, Amsterdam, Netherlands, Srimad Bhagavatam 4.29.56)

Intellectual philosophers are trying to figure out the absolute truth but by the dint of intelligence, one cannot even touch the tip of the toe of the Lord since transcendental knowledge comes only through the process of devotional service when Krsna is pleased! So, this is our aim!

Therefore, we are not interested in the ritualistic activities that bring blessings into our lives. We are not interested in mystic powers or in building up our own strength! One can sit naked in the Himalayas in winter or one can walk on water and do so many other amazing things. We are not interested in all of that because all these powers are of the body and mind, and are temporary and will be destroyed at the time of death. So what is the use of it then? To get so powerful and then die? Why waste time to become a yogi?

In the same way, we do not aspire to be big speculative philosophers, who are trying to figure out the truth because we understand that one cannot know the truth other than by the mercy of Krsna through service!

A wonderful formula for sharing the process of Krsna consciousness
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Hare KrishnaBy Indradyumna Swami

Our festival program along the Baltic Sea in Poland is a step into Vrindavan, the spiritual world. Three hundred devotees put on 48 festivals in 2 months in various towns and villages along the coast. Tens of thousands of people enjoy the cultural programs. By the end of each festival many guests are dancing in great happiness along side the devotees. A wonderful formula for sharing the process of Krsna consciousness. Continue reading "A wonderful formula for sharing the process of Krsna consciousness
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The horse that went back home, back to Godhead
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The horse that went back home, back to Godhead.
Jayapataka Swami: …So in his kingdom, Nrsingha Maharaja created peace everywhere and he rewarded his chief of staff with a small kingdom and a big palace and so many facilities because he had worked very nice. But the chief of staff, he was not happy. He said, I won all the battles, I should be the king! And he was conspiring a coup to assassinate the emperor and take over his position. But he did not have the karma nor the brain to manage an empire. He was only a good militarian. Any way just before he could, the day before he was going to kill the King, he got cholera and died. The Yamadutas took him to Yamaraj and Yamaraj said you are rascal number one. You were planning to kill your emperor.
You don’t have the good karma to be an emperor. You are ungrateful, he gave you so many things. So you wanted to be the greatest. Alright, I will let you be the greatest. You can be the greatest horse in the world and let him be born as a super horse! The greatest horse in the entire world! Gold medal horse! Olympic champion! The best! So one businessman was travelling and he saw this horse and he said this is the best horse I have ever seen. I am going to make a lot of money on this horse. Because this is the best horse in the world, it should only go to the emperor.
So he paid two million rupees for the horse. With great effort he brought it back to the capital city of the empire. And he tried to take it to the royal assembly but they didn’t let him in, are you crazy to take a horse to the assembly! He said no this is the best horse in the world and the king, the emperor has to see it. So there was a big commotion at the door and the emperor asked what is the problem? And they explained to him that somebody said he had the best horse in the world.
The emperor said, no problem we will check it out. Get my horse experts. Get the medic, the veterinarian, to check the horse out. This is a good horse. And they went and checked said this horse was a super horse! They had never seen a super horse, better have this horse. They went and reported to the emperor that this horse is the best horse we have ever seen. Maybe this is the best in the entire world! So then the emperor personally went to see and he was very impressed. So he purchased it. He asked the businessman how much he wanted. Sir, for you I don’t want to make any profit, with great difficulty I got this horse, I will give it you at my cost of four million! So the emperor paid for it. So then the emperor brought his four-million-rupee horse and after sometime he wanted to try it out. So they made a hunting expedition and he went with his party of princes and general and noble people and they went hunting in the forest. There was a stag and they went chasing the stag.
Now one disadvantage of having the fastest horse in the world – you know what that is? Yes, nobody else can keep up with you! So when he was chasing the stag he was going so far ahead of all the others that after hours of chasing he was completely alone, deep in the forest. Alone, thirsty, hungry after riding so long! Then he came across a stream by a waterfall. So he could drink some water and give his horse some water. Then he saw that by the side of the river there was a palm leaf with a Sanskrit verse written on it. He tied up his horse under a tree and he was looking at the Sanskrit verse and he read it out loud.
uttamaḥ puruṣas tv anyaḥ
paramātmety udāhṛtaḥ
yo loka-trayam āviśya
bibharty avyaya īśvaraḥ
(Besides these two, there is the greatest living personality, the Supreme Soul, the imperishable Lord Himself, who has entered the three worlds and is maintaining them. BG 15.17)
No sooner did he say that, his horse died. But out from the horse came the subtle form of his chief of staff! Vishnudutas came from the spiritual world with the spiritual airplane and finally his chief of staff got a spiritual form, sat in the spiritual airplane and went back to Godhead! He said, what is happening here?! General, what is happening here? When he was saying like that the general was not paying any attention to him but got on to the spiritual airplane and went away. He transformed into his sacchinandana and went back to Godhead. The king was amazed, what just happened. This is amazing! So he went with the verse from the palm leaf and walked up the street, went to the top where the waterfall was coming from and there he came upon a hermitage where there were all sadhus and saintly people.
So then he asked them that you know, I found this verse and do you know what this verse is? They looked at it and said, oh, this is the missing verse from our 15th chapter Bhagavad Gita. This morning there was a gust of wind and it blew off. Then he told them what happened. The whole thing with the horse and the general. Then they had some psychic vision, they told him actually this is what happened – your general had wanted to kill you and because of his karma he took birth as a horse.
That he was the best horse but because he read the 15th chapter Bhagavad Gita, he was lamenting so much that he was so stupid to be a horse. When he heard the Bhagavad Gita he immediately got liberated. Then he went back to Godhead. He went back to Godhead, what about me the king said, why did I not go back to Godhead? Well, you may not have been listening to the verse very carefully when you read it. You have to be meditating on it deeply. So can I have the whole chapter please? So he began to chant the 15th chapter regularly and he also eventually went back home back to Godhead.