Balarama Jayanti
→ Ramai Swami

Devotees at New Gokula gathered to celebrate the auspicious appearance day of Lord Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Sri Krsna,  on the full-moon day of Sravana (August). Lord Balarama appeared as the son of Rohini and Vasudeva. He is also known as Baladeva and Sankarshana.

He gives us the required spiritual strength to cross over the hurdles in our journey of self-realization. Devotees fast till noon and pray to Lord Balarama to bestow the spiritual strength needed to practice spiritual life.

Monday, August 7th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

The Desert, Utah

Water Yes and No

The sign reads “Next Services—83 Miles,” just outside the village of Hinckley.  The message conveyed is just a sampling of what is to come.  There will be practically zero human population.  No water.  No convenience stores.  No water.  No gas stations.  No water.

We are entering hard-core desert.

A woman came out of her car with a bag of iced water.  And in the course of the trek today, with Marshal and Curtis joining me, another motorist pulled over.  “I think you’ll need water,” he said and handed over some H2O, in one of those infamous plastic bottles.  We really do appreciate such gestures.

I found out that this stretch of highway really is the ‘road less travelled’.  As an opportunist, I could now call almost anyone on the phone and not be disturbed by roaring vehicles.  The road was my office.

There yah go.  15 miles were covered and then it was time to break fast at noon.  The fast was to honour Balaram, the divine brother of Krishna.  Before our crew took to eating, I just put the question out there to the boys, “What is it that you like about Balarama?”  Different answers came and then Hayagriva mentioned, “He walked a lot.”

“That’s right, he was a genuine pilgrim and covered much of India’s mainland going from one sacred place to another,” I said.  “He went to the Ganges’ mouth.”  Oh–water!

Fortunately our break was in the town of Delta.  We back-tracked via vehicle to rest under trees, and then went for a swim in Gunnison Bend Reservoir.  Heavenly it was.  Water.  Then the rains came, a wish came true for water, but it wasn’t necessarily the way we wanted it to come.  It’s just not in our control.
https://www.utahbirds.org/counties/millard/GunnisonBendRes.htm

May the Source be with you!

20 miles



Sunday, August 6th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Delta, Utah

The Gift of the Wind

To cover some hours walking in coolness, our team went out to the road near midnight after the talk at Salt Lake City.  Victor, 22, a young Brazilian who assists on the llama farm we are staying at, joined me for the experience.  He rather liked trekking at that quiet hour and joining us with our simultaneous chanting.  Marshall, Curtis and I were transfixed on the moon and its interplay with the clouds.  Because the traffic west of Eureka is so subdued, even on a Saturday night, we could manage to keep our eyes peeled on the sky above.  The soon-to-be full moon was also giving us some clearance.

When we began this ten mile stretch, the winds were high and some tumbleweeds rolled their way across our path.  And then near the town of Lynndyl, the wind, more gentle now, sent us a kitten.  At about four months old, this new walking recruit clung to our company.  We couldn’t figure out whether she had a master, being that we saw no home nearby.  Perhaps she’s orphaned.  Perhaps she was let out by some motorist who couldn’t maintain the pet at home.

We decided to adopt her.  Our army is expanding, but only temporarily, since Victor and now the kitten will be back at the llama farm.  We named her “Tumbleweed” because of her blonde colour and the fact that the wind seemed to bring her to us.  She seems to love our whole team, a bunch of monks and guys, and we love her. https://instagram.com/p/BXb-tKHl_x_/

In terms of love, we also took to liking the people at the South Eastern Alternative Healing Arts Centre in Price.  With short notice thirty down-to-earth folks came to hear “Tales from Trails.”
https://www.facebook.com/southeasternintegrativehealingartscenter/posts/877650035725544

We had a Q and A.  Nice!

We had a kirtan.  Nice!

May the Source be with you!

18 miles



In Jesus we believe…
→ Servant of the Servant

In Jesus, we see a lot of Vaishnava teachings as given by Krishna and great acharyas. Below are some of the sayings that I know from Jesus that align with the teachings of Srimad Bhagavatam.


  • Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind. Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments
  • Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
  • Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
  • So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
  • Be in the world, but not of the world
  • No one can serve two masters (referring to God and materialism)
  • So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
  • Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God
  • Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy.
  • Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
  • Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
  • Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
  • Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.

All glories to Jesus Christ!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Hare Krishna

TOVP Lightning Arrester Installation
- TOVP.org

We are now in the final phase of the Chakra installation process. We have already done two test-runs to make sure all the fittings and hardware are in place for the Chakras to be permanently mounted.

The final addition is the installation of the Lightning Arresters onto each Kalash and Chakra. These are very important to prevent any damage to the temple from lightning storms during the rainy season. To read more about the Lightning Arresters, click here. We are grateful to the Canadian Yatra who have donated the entire amount to pay for these.

The post TOVP Lightning Arrester Installation appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Srila Prabhupada’s Departure for America
→ Mayapur.com

According to the lunar calendar, today is the most auspicious 52nd anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s departure for the United States of America. On the 13th of August, 1965, just a few days before Janmastami and a few days before his sixty-ninth birthday, Srila Prabhupada boarded the cargo ship Jaladuta with only a small suitcase, an […]

The post Srila Prabhupada’s Departure for America appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Mayapur Institute launches Online Bhakti-sastri Course
→ Mayapur.com

Now, study Bhakti-sastri from the comfort of your home. Mayapur Institute offers a dynamic, convenient way to study Srila Prabhupada’s books through this online program. Enrol Now :- http://mayapurinstitute.org/course/online-bhakti-sastri-course/ This course comprises an in-depth study of Bhagavad-gītā, Śrī Īśopanisad, Nectar of Devotion and Nectar of Instruction. It has been designed for devotees who have been seriously […]

The post Mayapur Institute launches Online Bhakti-sastri Course appeared first on Mayapur.com.

A few days in Radhadesh – July 2017
→ KKSBlog

Written by Sesa Das 

After the Czech Summer Camp, Kadamba Kanana Swami returned to Radhadesh. He took just one day of well-deserved rest (even though he should have taken more), before giving another penetrating, jaw dropping insightful morning Srimad Bhagavatam class on Friday, 07 July, on the 8th canto, chapter 3, entitled Gajendra’s prayers of surrender, verse 12.

The class began with how we have been in the material world since time immemorial and how we are entangled within it. The 15th chapter of Bhagavad-gita tells us how we are trying new things yet holding onto our old habits. We just accumulate so many impressions and it remains deep within our subconscious! It is amazing how we keep changing our identity but old habits remain with us. Maybe we were an Italian in a previous life and therefore we still like the food. Makes you think…

Maharaj then went on to introduce the two schools of philosophical thoughts (1) descending & (2) ascending. In the descending process, one gets knowledge from a higher source & then verifies it, whereas in the latter, one starts to ascertain knowledge through logic & sense experience. Maharaj explained that we cannot underwrite or underestimate the jnanis as they have a lot of impact on shaping people’s “reality” but speculative philosophy is very dangerous and so we agree that logic leads to a possibility, but not to the only one! Therefore we take the descending path to attain knowledge because without it, we can get very lost.

Maharaj went on to say that if conclusions are based on the senses then there are flaws. Philosophical speculation based on scriptures are okay. Maharaj gave the following analogy to explain mental speculation, “It’s like working in a dark room with no clue or clarity, and every now and then a glimmer of light comes but no real sense of what to do or where to go.” Srila Prabhupada’s translations give us a real understanding of the context of scriptures. Maharaj ended on a hope-giving note that as Krsna becomes bigger in ones’ life then all the suffering and obstacles become smaller. We are getting to a liberated state by living in temples because then we don’t have to deal with so many things on the outside.

In the days that followed, Maharaj was able to get some writing done & went on his daily walk over the Radhadesh hill on the road leading down to BLS & the temple. A few disciples accompanied him on the scenic route, which due to the steepness left some gasping for breath however Maharaj being fitter than most, having done the 5km walk each day over the last year, was steaming ahead with no sign of tiredness.

On Sunday (09 July), he gave the morning Caitanya Caritamrta class stating that an important aspect to diving deeper into Krsna Consciousness is to read the literature of the Goswamis to really understand the explanations of the sentiments of the interactions of loving devotional service. A few key books to read are the two plays Rupa Goswami has written – Vidagdha Madhava (Krsna’s pastimes within Vraja) & Lalita Madhava (Krsna pastimes outside of Vraja). In the purports, Srila Prabhupada gives a lot of emphasis & encouragement to read these books also. The pastimes in these books are like a hot sugar cane; too hot & very sweet, but the combination makes it taste even better. The separation from Krsna is too hot to handle! And the pastimes with Krsna are too sweet to not have. Maharaj explained also that Rupa Goswami was able to perceive & witness aspects of these pastimes. Maharaj ended on the point that in Srivas Angan some still directly perceive the kirtans & others can do so through the scripture but nonetheless they are still happening and are accessible!

The next journey Maharaj took was to New York City, USA, the first place that Srila Prabhupada penetrated with pure Krsna Consciousness in the West for the masses! Stay tuned…

Visit Flickr to see more photos. 

Saturday, August 5th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Beyond Eureka, Utah

The Girl With the Apple

Jan is a photographer who was aiming her camera at the nature around, near an old mining development which has practically gone ghostly, off of Hwy. 6.  I happened to be walking into the direction of her spiffy camera when she took advantage of a monk in view.  “Do you mind?” she asked after she clicked.

“Of course not,” I said and we made friends.  Maybe I looked haggard, at least tired, and was offered an apple.  It was special, flavourful and reminded me of the apples that Apple Annie used to sell in “Pocketful of Miracles.”  All about good luck and fortune.

From that area, Eureka, I went through nothing but barren land—no village, no people—but I believe the good wishes of Jan stayed with me, perhaps through the apple.

Before we—my team and I—went for the long haul in the desert, we popped into a shop, practically the only one standing, and got a charge out of the puns on the wall.  Each one was a dilly as one-liners.

“I tried to catch the frog.  I mist.”

“I didn’t like my beard at first, then it grew on me.”

“I’m reading a book about anti-gravity.  It’s impossible to put down.”

“Why don’t programmers like nature?  It has too many bugs.”

“I don’t trust these stairs because they’re always up to something.”

This evening we conducted a program in Salt Lake City.  I spoke on Chapter 2 Verse 40 from the Bhagavad-gita, about overcoming fear through service.

May the Source be with you!

20 mi

Shri Baladeva Purnima
→ Karnamrita's blog

[Reprinted from August 5th, 2009] Today, Monday August 7th, is the auspicious appearance of Lord Balarama or Baladeva. As Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Balarama is similarly understood. He is the first expansion of Krishna from which many other expansions emanate, such as the 3 Vishnus and Lord Ananta-sesha. The "tattva" or truth of Balarama is very deep and I will only touch on a little of the ocean of who he is philosophically to give you a taste. In a spontaneous blog such as this I just write about what comes up for me as I think on the subject. In the spirit of "he who hesitates is lost" or "if it is auspicious do it immediately", I wanted to offer something for you now, because if I don't it won't happen, as I am just getting ready to chant my iapa and then worship my Shilas, or sacred stone manifestations of the Lord.

When I grew up there was a science fiction movie, "The Blob" which was some kind of monster which came to the earth from outer space, with a form something like a huge slug though with an undefined shape....so God is not some nebulous form or non-form, he is the supreme consciousness who desires to enjoy himself in various ways. Although God is one--and from one perspective everything is God--he also expanses himself into different aspects to enjoy rasa or enjoyment. Balarama is known affectionately as "Douji" or the elder brother of Krishna, and he has a relationship with him to serve as a friend and parent, or the combined relationships of "sakhya" and "vatsalya". So Krishna and Balarama are identical from the view of being the Supreme Truth, yet Lord Balarama considers himself a servant of Krishna in the above ways and also expanses himself into Krishna's paraphernalia like Krishna's clothes, Brahmin's thread, shoes and all the dhamas or holy places, etc.

read more

Shri Baladeva Purnima
→ Karnamrita's blog

[Reprinted from August 5th, 2009] Today, Monday August 7th, is the auspicious appearance of Lord Balarama or Baladeva. As Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Balarama is similarly understood. He is the first expansion of Krishna from which many other expansions emanate, such as the 3 Vishnus and Lord Ananta-sesha. The "tattva" or truth of Balarama is very deep and I will only touch on a little of the ocean of who he is philosophically to give you a taste. In a spontaneous blog such as this I just write about what comes up for me as I think on the subject. In the spirit of "he who hesitates is lost" or "if it is auspicious do it immediately", I wanted to offer something for you now, because if I don't it won't happen, as I am just getting ready to chant my iapa and then worship my Shilas, or sacred stone manifestations of the Lord.

When I grew up there was a science fiction movie, "The Blob" which was some kind of monster which came to the earth from outer space, with a form something like a huge slug though with an undefined shape....so God is not some nebulous form or non-form, he is the supreme consciousness who desires to enjoy himself in various ways. Although God is one--and from one perspective everything is God--he also expanses himself into different aspects to enjoy rasa or enjoyment. Balarama is known affectionately as "Douji" or the elder brother of Krishna, and he has a relationship with him to serve as a friend and parent, or the combined relationships of "sakhya" and "vatsalya". So Krishna and Balarama are identical from the view of being the Supreme Truth, yet Lord Balarama considers himself a servant of Krishna in the above ways and also expanses himself into Krishna's paraphernalia like Krishna's clothes, Brahmin's thread, shoes and all the dhamas or holy places, etc.

read more

Training Oxen by Voice Commands Lesson 2 – The Halter
→ ISKCON News

The main reason to be teaching oxen how to do useful work and obey commands is to show their usefulness as an alternative to their slaughter. This video is Part 2 of a series by William E. Dove (president of ISCOWP and also known as Balabhadra das), who is available to answer any questions about the training process (iscowp@gmail.com). More lessons will be coming soon. 

My First Love
→ Seed of Devotion

When I was 11, I sketched a self portrait with the thought bubble emanating from my forehead:

Should I be a scientist?

Or a singer?

I find it fascinating that I felt inspired at that age to pursue a musical career when the extent of my singing was to burst into song alone in the woods (a la Snow White), and of course, the shower.

As for scientist, um, yeah. No idea where that one came from.

Over the years, that thought bubble has spiraled from my mind again and again:

A teacher?

A photographer?

An environmental ecologist?

A small business owner?

A mother?

A writer?

Recently I've been inspired by Marie Kondo's book The Life-changing Magic of Tidying Up. The title of the book is no joke. I have systematically gone through categories of my life, from clothes, to books, to closets of storage, and more. Bags and bags, boxes and boxes: donated, gifted, discarded.

The criteria for what to keep:

Does this item spark joy?

In the process of clearing away extraneous stuff that has been piling up for years, I am rediscovering my first spark of joy, my first love:

Writing.

Funny how my first official contemplation of what I should be when I grow up was through the medium of paper and pen. Since I was a little girl I have sought solace, connection, joy, and community through the written word.

For so long now I have neglected to share my creative heart through writing.

Maybe we all have parts of our true selves that we neglect because of lack of time, money, committment, and encouragement. Today, for the kajillionth time, "write blog post" was on my To Do list. As the day wore on, I began to sense with growing dread that once again, it would be put off to some nebulous day in the future, some writing utopia.

Suddenly, I decided to honor my word to myself.

I would write a post.

In the process of writing this post my completed drafts got deleted TWICE. So this is literally the third time I'm writing this. It's taking waaaaaaaaaay longer than expected.

That said, here I am.

Here's my heart.





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Southport Cultural Centre
→ Ramai Swami

Many devotees attended the opening of the Radha Krsna Cultural Centre in Southport on the Gold Coast. Previously, it was located in a rented building but under the auspices of Rupa Vilasa das and family a new property was bought.

The evening celebrated three events: The opening of the centre, the Radha Krsna Jhulan Yatra festival and a few days early, Balarama Jayanti festival. Everyone also enjoyed wonderful kirtan, abhiseka, aroti and prasadam feast.

ISKCON Toronto Vyasa Puja Book – Submit Your Offering!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

ISKCON Toronto’s 2017 Congregational Vyasa Puja Book

The appearance day (birthday) of Srila Prabhupada is a very special occasion for all Hare Krishna devotees.  Srila Prabhupada appeared on Nandotsava – the day that Nanda Maharaja had a big festival to celebrate the birth of Lord Krsna (Sri Krsna Janmastami).   This year, Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja falls on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 and celebrations will be from 11am-3pm at the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple.

This day is known as Vyasa Puja because the spiritual master is a representative of Srila Vyasadeva who is the author of the Srimad Bhagavatam, one of our most important scriptures.  Traditionally, Vyasa Puja "offerings" are made by devotees who write and present personal messages to the spiritual master.   The Governing Body Commission (GBC) for ISKCON has stated that every devotee in ISKCON should write an offering to Srila Prabhupada on Vyasa Puja.

We would like to encourage all devotees in our community to write a personal letter, in the form of an offering to Srila Prabhupada for this year’s festival and, to further facilitate this process, we will be making a special ISKCON Toronto Vyasa Puja Book for 2017.   This book will be presented to Srila Prabhupada on the day of Vyasa Puja.   Following the program, the book will be on display for devotees to read all the offerings by devotees of our community.  Please note – due to time constraints during the festival, we will not be able to have everyone read out their offerings during the main festivities.  However, devotees are welcome to privately do so before or after the festival.

In order to facilitate this whole process, pre-printed pages have been prepared and we are asking devotees to hand write offerings onto these specially-designed pages.   The maximum length of the offering is one page per person.   If you wish to type your offering, you can use our Vyasa Puja online form using the form below - typed offerings must be emailed by 8:00am on August 16th.  We will print out these offerings for you.

The hand-written offerings can be submitted in person at the temple, in the designated drop box, up until 11:00am on August 16th.

We humbly encourage you to please take this opportunity to honour Srila Prabhupada with a personal offering!  Hare Krsna!

Your Servants,
The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple


Guidelines for Your Written Offering:
  • Write your offering in the mood of a personal letter to Srila Prabhupada.  Write in a style as if you are addressing Srila Prabhupada directly (e.g. “Srila Prabhupada, it is by your mercy that I have come to Krsna consciousness.”)
  • The Vyasa Puja offering is meant for glorifying the spiritual master.    So offerings need to be made in that mood and not be used as a platform for airing one's grievances.  
  • You may wish to read the previous year’s Vyasa Puja offerings made to Srila Prabhupada by various senior devotees around ISKCON.    It may give you some ideas of how to express yourself.   These can be found here: http://prabhupada.krishna.com/homages
  • It is a courtesy to start your offering with Srila Prabhupada’s pranama mantras; we have already printed these onto the official pages.   A suggested opening is as follows: “Dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances.   All glories to you on this auspicious occasion of your Vyasa Puja.” 
  • The main content of the offering should glorify the role that Srila Prabhupada is playing in your life as well as express your indebtedness to him.   You may also include reports about your spiritual growth, how you are meeting challenges and how you are carrying out his orders.    
  • To end the offering it would be nice to show one’s appreciation and desire to please, by some nice phrase such as “Your Humble Servant” or something similar.
  • If you have any questions, concerns or challenges, feel free to write to us at SPofferings@torontokrishna.com 
  • Please note, the temple reserves the right to not publish an offering if it is deemed inappropriate.

Submission Requirements and Deadlines
  • Hand-written offerings must be submitted no later than 11:00am at ISKCON Toronto on Friday, August 16, 2017
  • Typed offerings must be submitted via the form embedded below no later than 8:00am on Friday, August 16, 2017

Meditation on Lord Balarama – Part 2
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 August 2014, Czech, Balarama’s Appearance Day, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.8)

Brahmananda Prabhu told us how the deities in Vrindavan were installed. He said that if you look at the deities in Vrindavan, you will see that Balarama has a hand on Krsna’s shoulder. Prabhupada had asked, “Who is stronger, Krsna or Balarama?”

Some devotees said, “Baladev!!” and Prabhupada said, “No, Krsna is stronger!” because Balarama leans on his shoulder. Then Prabhupada made a sketch of that and he told Bharadvaja to go to Jaipur and have the deities carved in that way. Now, we think that this is the standard form for Krsna and Balarama but it was Prabhupada who indicated that.

Prabhupada explained why he installed Krsna and Balarama in Vrindavan. Vrindavan is the home of Krsna; Vrindavan is the home of the devotees therefore all of us are thinking of Vrindavan; everyone is thinking of home and Prabhupada made Krsna and Balarama the principal deities – that means for the whole world. For all the devotees of the world, he put Krsna and Balarama on the centre altar.

Different devotees have offered different reasons for the installation of Krsna and Balarama. Some said that the temple is in the area of Raman Reti which is like a pastime place of Krsna and Balarama. There in the Raman Reti fields, every afternoon Krsna and Balarama would bring the cows and the cows would rest under the trees.

Then at the time of Prabhupada, there was also the Krsna-Balarama tree. Now, it is not there anymore but there used to be a blackish tree and then on top of it, a white tree. Two trees were growing together and everyone would circumambulate that Krsna-Balarama tree. The black tree is still there in Vrindavan but the white one, not anymore. Prabhupada would circumambulate the Krsna-Balarama tree; I also did so many times and we used to sit there in Raman Reti and the peacocks would be walking around. At six o’ clock in the evening, you would see like thirty to forty peacocks assembled and they would all go into the tree because they used to sleep there at night and in the morning, they would be our alarm clock. At 3 am, they would start really loud… (Imitates the sound of a peacock)

So there in Raman Reti, amidst the sounds of the peacocks, is the home of Krsna and Balarama. This may be one of the reasons why Krsna and Balarama were installed in Raman Reti but Srila Prabhupada said that principal reason why Krsna and Balarama were installed is because they are non-different from Gaura-Nitai and in this age of kali, we cannot enter into Vrindavan without the mercy of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, heno nitāi bine bhāi, rādhā-kṛṣṇa pāite nāi says Narotam Das Thakur – without the lotus feet of Nityananda, one cannot attain Radha and Krsna. That is a fact! In this way, Lord Nityananda is an especially merciful form of Balarama. We need that mercy of Balarama so let us serve. Let us do something for Krsna’s comfort. Let the glory of Krsna be spread everywhere; that is Balarama’s desire!

 

Vyasa Puja Celebrations – Wed, Aug 16, 2017
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

The day after celebrations for one of our biggest festivals of the year, Krsna Janmastami, we will be celebrating one of the most important festivals for us as Hare Krishnas - Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja starting at 11am on Wednesday, August 16, 2017.

The Vyasa Puja festival is always held the day after Janmastami and the festival honours the appearance of our spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Founder Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

The program will begin at 11:00am with an abhisheka of Srila Prabhupada (bathing ceremony of a small Deity of Srila Prabhupada) and will continue with the arati, flower offerings (pushpanjali) and the reading of pre-written offerings from devotees in our community. We will be once again encouraging everyone to write their own offering for the Toronto Vyasa Puja Book.  More details will be posted soon!

The schedule is as follows (subject to change):
11:00am - 11:45am: Abhisheka
11:45am - 12:00am: Offering
12:00pm - 12:30pm: Arati
12:30pm - 1:30pm: Reading of Offerings

Friday, August 4th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk

Eureka, Utah

Utah is Sweet

When I stepped out of the home of Charu and Vaibhavi, readying myself for the ride to my starting point, the moon was an amazing orange tone.  The out-of-doors always presents itself with more drama, sensations, beauty and adventures than any indoor dynamic.

Hayagriva had spotted a bear, yesterday, a few feet from him.  That encounter with a black bear was the first sighting of one on this U.S. trip.  Curtis and I met a woman early this morning who was carrying her pet ferret, who goes by the name “Alvin.”  Cute!  And overnight, we all stayed at Charu’s llama farm, admiring the darn attractive things.

Yes, nature, animals and pets are part and parcel of this walk, but it’s also people.  Yes, people.  They have been so good to me.  Utah is the best.  I get ride offers all the time.  In Spanish Fork, within the city’s limits, motorists were stopping to offer a ride to destination wherever.  Today, in the countryside, moving toward the historic mining town, Eureka, I lost count of how many occasions like that which occurred this morning.

One fellow on his way to Salt Lake City saw me, felt pity as I sat tired by the side of the mountain, and offered a ride.  I decided to take him up on his offer because fatigue and heat had indeed overcome me, but it was only up to the point of where my crew was.  I relaxed, lay down, had some almond milk and then was driven back to the point where I left off.

Eureka was interesting, especially that rustic and original cabin of Orrin Porter Rockwell aka Peter, who was like a hunting ferret for the infamous outlaws of the time. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porter_Rockwell

May the Source be with you!

20 mi




Vyasa Puja Offering For H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja
Bhakti Charu Swami

As we know that on 17th September we will be celebrating H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja’s 72nd Vyasa Puja. Maharaja will be in Ujjain for Srila Prabhupada Memorial Festival and at that time devotees there will also celebrate Maharaja’s Vyasa Puja. This is the time...

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The Bhakti Vedanta Gita Academy, ISKCON Mayapur
→ Mayapur.com

… intelligence is proved not by ease of learning, but by understanding what we learn.” Lord Sri Krishna says that the Bhagavad-gita is raja-guhyam, the King of Knowledge. The Bhaktivedanta Academy helps to equip those eager to learn with the knowledge of the Absolute. Those who have successfully completed their studies in the Academy are able to […]

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Conscious girl around the corner
→ The Loft Yoga Lounge Auckland

The other day a friend came round to our (tiny home) for the first time. She looked in the small pantry and commented, “Wow, you must have to be really conscious when you do your food shopping”. Checking out the shower, kitchen and water facilities, she added “Wow and on rain water. You would have […]

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Cardiff Rathayatra 2017
→ simple thoughts

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The summer here in Wales has been unseasonably wet, with rain more accustomed to April than August; until today when Sri Sri Jagganatha blessed the Welsh capital spreading his mercy and joy as Cardiff celebrated its 12 rathayatra

The rathayatra was opened by the High Commissioner for India here in the UK then a wonderful procession and the great chanting of the mahamantra whilst Sri Jagganatha blessed and captivated all, it was indeed a wonderful perfect time under a perfect summer sunshine.

Ending up at the picture’s Bute Park, were prasadam and information on the beautiful joy of devotion was shared.
For your pleasure here is the small video I took and pictures

Hare Krishna

Meditation on Lord Balarama – Part 1
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 18 August 2016, Zadar, Croatia, Balarama’s Appearance Day Lecture)

In the spiritual world, people have bodies made of spirit. There is no war and no problems. Everyone is interested only in the Supreme Lord, and there is a constant festival. Sometimes the Lord comes to this world. Krsna came 5000 years ago and he brought the spiritual world with him and he performed pastimes in Vrindavan together with many cows and with Balarama. Today is Balarama’s appearance day!

He appears first. He is said to be an expansion of Krsna. Krsna is svayam rupa and Balarama is svayam prakash. Balarama is non-different from Krsna but Balarama’s mood is that of a servant. It is in our nature to be servants! The husband has to serve the wife, the wife and the husband serve the kids, etc. If we think we are masters, then we are in illusion. Masters are in control and we are definitely not in control.

By following Balarama’s example, we can become perfect servants of Krsna and become qualified to enter into the spiritual world. There are many pastimes about Lord Balarama. Krsna went with the cows and the cowherd boys into the forest and there were these special fruit trees. Balarama went ahead and collected the fruit. However, a powerful demon, Dhenukasura, lived there and attacked Balarama. He kicked Balarama with his hind legs but Balarama caught him, spun him around and threw him; and the demon died. This demon, in the form of an ass, represents being loaded up with material things! Therefore he could not think of higher things. If one wants to achieve higher things in life then we have to give up material things first!

Another demon, Pralambasura, who represents lust for women, greed, desire for worship and position, was killed by Balarama too. If we want to experience a higher reality then we have to give up illicit sex – not having one woman today and another one tomorrow. If we don’t care about the heart and only about sex, we become cruel.

We have to become pure; we have to give up greed because it will possess us. We should not focus on ourselves. It is not about what we can get but what we can give. This is the lesson of Balarama: GIVING! Then we too can become a servant!