Tolerance and Compassion
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Just ending a run of school and community visits, they always inspire especially some of the interactions and some very thoughtful questions.
One of the things I cover is the four regulative principles, however one never refers to them as regulative principles but as the four protections; normally including some statistical information and examples of how following protects from many social ills
There is however one that always brings the greatest discussion that of No Meat Eating, so for the past few years I’ve started to get them first to talk about and share experiences of their own pets. It always brings out a pause for thought and often continues well after the scheduled time.
Several years ago after one such presentation one individual felt somewhat cheated as he felt only one outcome of the way I introduced the concept of non meat eating, and found out my schedule for the next few months. It was challenging as each time his vocal interruptions and comments became more cutting;however I felt this is a great opportunity to learn tolerance, but also how to adjust each presentation to counteract his growing hostility.
So seeing him approaching me earlier on this week after another community presentation I was ready for another interesting interaction where he brings different reasons why everyone should eat meat. Surprisingly this was truly a sweet interaction, he thanked me for never throwing him out and always giving him some time to speak, by the way I’ve been vegetarian for over a year now which took me by surprise.
He started to explain that during each interaction he started to realise that his arguments failed each time, and that whilst he was getting angrier I had remained calm and that a the end of our last meeting I handed him a Gita and said one day he will be able to read it and understand.
He explained how much his health had improved since giving up meat and one day decided he would read the Gita, we sat as he had lots of questions based on what he had read; a truly remarkable change.
It reminded me that being more tolerant than a tree and full of compassion for the fallen conditioned soul is more than words we say every morning, but something we should put into practice as each person we meet no matter how hostile can one day make a start in a life of devotion.

When a problem goes on for a long time and our attempts to solve it only aggravate it, what should we do – Hindi?
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How can we get the mind out of a problem when we need to think about the problem to solve it – Hindi?
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If we as managers take some strong decisions, some devotees feel hurt and hit back at us – should we take such decisions?
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Does responsibility mean doing whatever we are told to do or doing big projects under instruction?
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Dealing with conflicts by dealing with the mind – Hindi
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[Evening program at ISKCON, Nasik, India]

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If we don’t direct contemplation, fascination and dedication to Krishna, wherever they get directed will become our addiction
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Friday July 7, 2017
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Montreal. Quebec

Responding

Human life is about service to others.
I had arrived at Montreal airport from an overnight flight, a red-eye, from Vancouver. While waiting for my pickup, a wheel-chaired, elderly woman came meekly before me.

“Can I borrow your phone?” she asked.
I dialed the number after she dictated and then handed my cell to her.
She spoke into it, asking, “Where are you? I'm at Zone C… Just a minute, this monk here said he would wheel me to where you are. Okay?”

Off we went, with me pushing the wheelchair and her baggage. It was a service. She was grateful.

Once I arrived in the downtown, I took that much-needed trek on Rue Sainte-Catherine. A group of men, drinking, noticed me. One scurried up behind me, and said in French, “ Donnez-moi vos benedictions?”
He asked for blessings. I was impressed being that he was young. I then placed my hands on his head and said, “Om ajnana timirandhasya…” A common mantra meant to invoke the mercy of past priests.
I saw this gesture as a service.

Not but five minutes later into the walk and a person in the distance shouted, “Hare Krishna! Come into my apartment and see my artwork.”
“Fine, thanks!” I was greeted by a young dog. He also wanted blessings. I also delivered a mantra to him. “Hare Krishna!” I think he appreciated it. This was also a service.

May the Source be with you!
6 km





Thursday July 6, 2017
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Burnaby, British Columbia

Near the Fraser

Near the Fraser River, you have this rich, delta soil. Plants love it. They thrive in it. I admit I'm excited just to see the young plants of different sorts so happily situated as I walked by this fertile, flat land where relatively small farms have found themselves nestled in the very centre of Burnaby.

A number of the landowners are Chinese. At 5:45 a.m., they were readying themselves for the 27.5C (85F) sun. There also appears to be some Punjabi property owners who are good in the green thumb area.  The way some of the homes are designed, with a separate entrance for renters, shoes outside by the threshold of the door, and the fragrance of strong Indian spices lingering in the air, is always a giveaway.

Caucasian dog owners were also taking their pets for a walk. Did the Brits start that?

If you put the human element aside, then the birds are always there. A crow flew above me with some white object firmly in his beak’s grip. I imagine it's a construction piece for building. Maybe a chunk of white, stiff bread that he found? A robin did the same. In his beak were at last three fine twigs, no doubt meant for nesting material. 

I admire the birds. They're not lazy. I'm not inferring that people are. Not in this little agricultural enclave.  It's full of life. I love it, and I come here all the time to chant on my beads.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

For Vancouver’s mantra music lovers!
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For Vancouver’s mantra music lovers!
EnChant : Mantra Meditation.
This is a casual gathering of open-minded souls for call and response chanting, also known as Kirtan. The practice of Kirtan, or Mantra Meditation, is a type of yoga in itself and has many of the mind-calming benefits of a yoga class or sitting meditation. For some, the practice has a powerful heart-opening effect and it is best understood through direct experience. The instruments used in the Kirtan are traditional – the Harmonium, Mrdanga(drum), and Kartals(hand cymbals). Included within the program is discussion on the meaning of the Mantras that we are chanting, as well as excerpts from the ancient sanskrit text, the Bhagavad-Gita. We learn about the soul, consciousness, karma, reincarnation, meditation, and bhakti yoga – the yoga of devotion. This is a good forum where questions and answers are shared as well as open discussion about the application of personal spiritual practice. Everyone is encouraged to participate to the level they feel comfortable. Delicious vegetarian snacks will be served at the end. This is a non-profit event and all donations will be used for further events. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Amazing books are also available by donation. Bring a little extra cash in case something catches your eye!
Read more: https://goo.gl/CVNdF6

Radhanath Swami tells a true story
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Radhanath Swami tells a true story.
I want to tell the story of a lady Kuntidevi, also a disciple of my guru Srila Prabhupada. She was never a big leader; she was never a person that people honored and respected as being a person of high position. She was a simple mother and a very, very dedicated devotee of Lord Krishna. Those who knew her well honored her, but there weren’t so many people who knew her well. When she got cancer of the breast, that cancer spread viciously, and entered into her spine and into her organs and just crippled her. It was such a ferocious case of cancer that the doctors said, “There is absolutely nothing that anyone can do. You have six months to live, maximum.” She was practically paralyzed from the waist down. She was in a wheelchair. According to the medical analysis, she was racked with pain. Yet, she was always smiling, always encouraging and making everyone happy. It was so phenomenal. How blissful she was! How positive she was! The local television station heard about it. They met her and they had never seen anything like this in their life. I saw that television show too. It was a half hour program and it was incredible. The hostess was just praising her. Kuntidevi was talking to people and giving lectures about the beauty of life, the beauty of bhakti, and the good fortune of anyone who has Krishna. The hostess asked her, “How could you be so happy when you are in such a condition?” She replied, “Because I know I am the soul, I am eternal, this body is just a temporary situation and this situation is bringing my soul closer to God. Therefore I am rejoicing and I am happy.” According to the doctor’s diagnosis, her physical symptoms and everything else was utterly hopeless and miserable except one thing—her consciousness. I happened to have the fortune of being at her bedside when she left the world. She was surrounded by loving devotees chanting the holy names and she just lovingly gave her heart and her life to Krishna in a totally positive, grateful and happy state. Now, you cannot get that consciousness even from the best psychologist or psychiatric. They can do good to a certain extent, but a really true and deep positive attitude in life comes by knowledge and realization of the eternal blissful nature of the soul, the all attractive, all merciful, beautiful nature of God, our relationship with God and the beautiful and wonderful opportunities to serve God that we have at every moment.

Kartik Navadwip Mandala Parikrama 2017
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Registration for Kartik Navadwip Mandala Parikrama 2017.
It is our great pleasure to announce ISKCON MAYAPUR’s 5th annual six-day Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama during the most auspicious month of Kartik
(organized by the Mayapur Chandra’s). The Parikrama begins on October 18th and will end on October 25th, 2017.
There will be two days break, for Goverdhan puja (20th October) & Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance (23rd October) so that devotees can participate in the festivals.
For this year also, the parikrama will not stay overnight; we will leave each day from the ISKCON Mayapur campus at 5 AM and return no later than 5 PM. In order to give more time to chanting and hearing pastimes in the holy places, we have reduced some of the walking, and devotees will be transported faster to the various places via boat and vehicles.
Kartik is the most auspicious month to perform spiritual activities, and the weather is extremely pleasant and favorable, so please do not miss this opportunity to associate with the devotees, to hear and chant the glories of Lord Chaitanya, to bathe in the Ganges, and honor prasadam together in the various holy places.
For more information: https://goo.gl/pWUG2g

The Archbishop of Lebanon gets Srila Prabhupada’s…
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The Archbishop of Lebanon gets Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Pavitra Devi Dasi: I was on SKP at the L.A. airport back in 1980. I was at American Airlines terminal distributing books as travelers boarded and unboarded planes. I suddenly saw a procession coming off the plane and heading towards the escalators. It was a pope with a tall white type headpiece, all kinds of long robes on with beautiful large rosaries hanging on him. I knew right away he was very special because he was surrounded by many many followers and body guards. There was in front of him a man carrying a pillow upon his head with what I believe was either the Virgin Mary or a stature of Jesus. I didn’t think ahead. I barged threw everyone to reach this priest. I made it. I took a very humble and reverential pose and asked who he may be. He said he was the archbishop of Lebanon. He was really nice. I handed him a book and asked him to please give it a read. He agreed and asked if I would need to be paid. I said well, you may give if you like. To my surprise, he pulled up all his heavy floor length robes and huge rosaries hanging from his waist to reach some money under it all and gave me $5.00 which wasn’t bad back in 1980. He thanked me and I thanked him and off the procession went.

ISKCON is more than people, communities, music, food and deity worship. It is a calling that asks you to keep Krishna at the centre of your life
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Hare KrishnaBy Rachna Tyagi

So, what are the prerequisites to join them? “ISKCON is a calling. The person coming to ISKCON actually comes to serve Krishna. He wants to dedicate his life to Krishna,” says Das. As a student of structural engineering in IIT-Madras, he came across a book on Prabhupada at a library in IIT-Bombay. He says, “When I read that, I felt it was something that nobody had taught me. I was very inspired, especially after I finished reading the Bhagavad Gita. I felt this was what I should dedicate my life to. I then switched over to philosophy, did my master’s and got my doctorate on the topic,” says Das. Continue reading "ISKCON is more than people, communities, music, food and deity worship. It is a calling that asks you to keep Krishna at the centre of your life
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Radha Kunda Seva – June 2017 Photos and Updates (Album with…
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Radha Kunda Seva - June 2017 Photos and Updates (Album with photos)
Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra cart passed through Radha Kunda this month and we took the opportunity to offer Him halava, fruit and garlands. The heat was oppressive and difficult as it usually is this time of year, but the parikrama path was as crowded as ever on Purnima day (June 10th) and pilgrims were grateful for some chenna prasada. The garden at Sakhi Kunda is lush and beautiful and clear, sweet water is still flowing at the kunda despite many challenges with people over-using and breaking the pump. We are feeding the Radha Kunda widows and cleaning daily thanks to your continued support. 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/H3b2dJ

Who is our worst enemy?
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“Your worst enemy cannot harm you as much as your own unguarded thoughts”

– Buddha

 

We live in a world of bitter competition wherein our rivals sometimes become enemies bent on destroying us. Amidst such external hostility, it is easy to forget that worse than the worst outer enemies is the inner enemy of our own unguarded thoughts. Whereas our enemies do hurtful things to us, our thoughts can make us do far more hurtful things to ourselves.

For example, many people nowadays are afflicted by a tragic tendency to sabotage themselves. Just when they are about to achieve their biggest success, they irrationally do something that turns their dream into a nightmare. We often see this vividly in the world of sports. In a cricket match, a player who is playing the finest knock of their lives suddenly plays a rash shot and gets out, thus triggering a collapse by which the team snatches defeat from the jaws of victory. If that match was a tournament final, that player is left with regrets that haunt for a lifetime.

And what happens in sports reflects what happens in people’s lives. People who are on the path to financial security suddenly make a stupid investment that destroys their reputation, their credibility, their career, their relationships and maybe even their life. People with a steady, happy family suddenly get into an affair that rips their family apart and devastates the lives of everyone involved. And if people in positions of public leadership engage in such acts of self-sabotage, they end up hurting not just themselves or their immediate circle of people, but hundreds, thousands or even millions.

How can we protect ourselves from being sabotaged by our thoughts? To be forewarned is to be forearmed. We can get the necessary forewarning by studying spiritual wisdom-texts such as the Bhagavad-gita that illumine our inner world. With spiritual knowledge, we become aware of the potential dangerousness of our thoughts and our disconcerting vulnerability to them.

Gita wisdom also equips us to protect ourselves by becoming vigilant and diligent. Vigilance means that we cultivate inner awareness and become alert to the kind of thoughts that are entering into our consciousness and especially the kind of thoughts that we are entertaining. Diligence means that we keep ourselves constructively engaged in positive uplifting activities that don’t leave us with time or mental space to dwell on stray thoughts. Even if such thoughts somehow creep in, diligence also means that we untiringly, unflinchingly, unsentimentally crowd them out by focusing on something positive.

Bhakti-yoga offers us the most positive object for focus: the all-powerful, all pure Absolute. Though a meditational connection with the Absolute, we become recipients of a descending power of deeper insight and higher taste. Being thus empowered, we can overcome our deep-rooted self-sabotaging tendency and nurture our latent capacity for self-actualization, for becoming the best that we can be.

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When someone’s conditioning troubles us, but they expect us to continue tolerating, what should we do?
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Why was Lord Chaitanya harsh with Chota Haridas and lenient with Balabhadra Bhattacharya?
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How can we stay enthusiastic in a service where results take a long time to come?
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How does the example of sometimes serving and sometimes receiving in a tennis match apply practically in the brahmachari ashram?
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For transmitting spiritual knowledge, cultivate fixity of purpose and flexibility of process
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“Practice makes perfect”
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami

So the more we will clear ourselves and dip ourselves into this process of sadhana-bhakti, which is the bhakti-lata-bija, then the more our greediness and our possessiveness for Krishna will grow. And when we're possessive that we just can't live without having Krishna, when we get to the point when we don't want anything else in life, that we just want Krishna and nothing else, then that's called pure devotion. And when our devotion becomes purified, and that type of devotion is burning inside of our hearts, then Lord Krishna He cannot resist that, and Lord Krishna gives His mercy. And His mercy is called "vishuddha-sattva". It means His whole internal potency from the spiritual world, He just sends it down and it touches our hearts. Continue reading "“Practice makes perfect”
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Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center organizes an International conference on Vaishnavism at Mumbai University
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Hare KrishnaBy Vijay Krsna Kumar Das

Scholars and academicians from various parts of the country and abroad converged at the Kalina campus of Mumbai University to participate in a first of its kind International conference on the topic “Relevance, Role and Resurgence of Vaishnavism studies in 21st century.” Jointly organized by the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center of ISKCON and Shree Halari Oswal College, the conference witnessed participation of more than 200 students, scholars and administrators from the field of academia. Honorable Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University, Dr. Sanjay Deshmukh and several other dignitaries like Dr Satish Modh, Director of Vivekanand Institute of Management Studies, Mrs Maya Shahani, Chairperson at Thadomal Shahani Centre for Management, Dr. Chandrakant Puri, a Chair Professor at Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Contemporary Studies, HG Gauranga Das from ISKCON Mumbai inaugurated the conference by lighting the lamps. It was followed by Sarasvati Vandana and the University Anthem. Continue reading "Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center organizes an International conference on Vaishnavism at Mumbai University
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