Podcast
The post How can we trust Krishna when he is so unpredictable? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
How can we trust Krishna when he is so unpredictable?
Why would anyone be tempted to be discouraged?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Podcast
The post Why would anyone be tempted to be discouraged? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Join us this Sunday for Love Feast- Vedic Discourse by His Grace Bhagavat Prabhu
→ ISKCON Brampton
Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare And Be Happy!! | ||||||||||||||||||
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Varuthini Ekadasi
Japathon-Congregational Mantra Meditation
Adult Education At The Temple
Upcoming Educational Course
The Mentorship Program
Second Malaysia Tour To Begin
- TOVP.org
We are pleased to announce that within a few weeks we will be kicking off the next TOVP Team Tour to Malaysia. For twelve days (April 21 – May 2) the all-merciful Lord Nityananda in the form of His Padukas (shoes) and Lord Nrsimha in the form of His Sitari (helmet), along with Their Graces Jananivas, Ambarisa, Svaha and Vraja Vilas prabhus, will travel throughout Malaysia visiting temples and homes of devotees.
This will be the second fundraising visit to Malaysia organized by Simhesvara prabhu. The first visit in 2013 actually spearheaded our TOVP worldwide fundraising efforts, but we didn’t have the variety of pledge offerings that are now available. This visit will give an opportunity to the devotees and congregation to take advantage of these offerings and make significant pledges. We are grateful to Simhesvara prabhu and all the Malaysia Yatra leaders for their cooperation and enthusiasm in supporting the TOVP project.
Below is the Tour Itinerary:
April 21st – Arrival in Kuala Limpur
April 22nd – Program at Ipoh Temple
April 23rd – Program at Penang Temple
April 25th & 26th – Devotee home programs in Perak
April 28th & 29th – Devotee home programs in Johor Bahru
April 30th, May 1st & May 2nd – Programs in the Kuala Limpur area
Prabhupāda: No “Understanding”, simply Vedic “Temple of Vedic Planetarium,” That’s all. We shall show the Vedic conception of planetary system within this material world and above the material world… We are going to exhibit the Vedic culture throughout the whole world, and they’ll come here.
Just like they come to see the Taj Mahal, the architectural culture, they’ll come to see the civilization culture, the philosophical culture, the religious culture by practical demonstration with dolls and other things… Actually it will be a unique thing in the world. There is no such thing all over the world. That we shall do. And not only simply showing museum, but educating people to that idea. With factual knowledge, books, not fictitious.
Morning Walk — February 27, 1976, Mayapur
The post Second Malaysia Tour To Begin appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Nrsimha Caturdasi, Maha Sudarshana Yajna and Harinama Yajna
- TOVP.org
Sudarshana Gayatri
Om sudarshanaya vidmahe mahajvalaya dhimahi
tano chakrah prachodayat
As is our annual custom, Nrsimha Caturdasi will be observed in Sridhama Mayapur as a three day festival from May 7th – 9th. The first day will be celebrated with a huge procession throughout the ISKCON Mayapur property and on the second day we will be performing a three hour long Maha Sudarshana Homa before the Deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The third day is observed as Nrsimha Caturdasi. We would like to offer you an opportunity to personally benefit from the Sudarshana Yajna by participating in the offering as explained below.
The Sudarshana Yajna is a very special one. Sudarshana, the divine discus of Lord Vishnu, is invoked along with Lord Nrsimha for the attainment of success in a particular undertaking and for protection from negative forces. It is a type of exorcism which removes evil elements and other troublesome astral entities as well as counteracts curses and spells.
The homa is accomplished with a fire yajna, offerings of Tulasi leaves to the Lord, and recitation of the Purusha Sukta, and the Sudarshana yantra, a copper disc with special sacred symbols is bathed 108 times with the Sudarshana mantras for empowerment and then offered darpan (bath water) from the purified water of kalashes. As usual, this year’s yajna consisting of over 10,000 various offerings will be performed by 9 saintly Mayapur gurukula Brahmin boys.
The TOVP Team is coordinating again this year’s Sudarshana Yajna and we invite all our donors to participate as part of a worldwide yajna for the protection and success of the TOVP project and for their personal protection also. To participate we request that you make a vrata (vow) to chant a specific number of extra daily rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra between now and May 7th (India time) for this purpose. Email us at *protected email* either before you start the vrata or when you complete it on May 7th (India time) with your name, gotra (if any), and the number of rounds you intend to chant per day or have completed by May 7th. Your name will be chanted as part of the offering infused into the water of the bathing kalashes, and then recited again during the darpan (yantra bathing) by the Brahmins performing the yajna.
The ashes remaining after the yajna are considered extremely potent. We will be keeping these ashes and, where postal law permits, will mail them to donors who have participated as explained above. Donors who do not receive the ashes by mail can receive them at the TOVP office.
As you all know, Mayapur Nrsimha is a very special Nrsimha Deity. Although He is in His manifestation as Ugra-Nrsimha, the most fierce and angry form, because Lord Nrsimha is especially favorable to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahapabhu, He relaxes His angry mood to only offer blessings and mercy. There are many stories in Mayapur of miracles in this regard.
One of our goals in building the TOVP is to offer Lord Nrsimhadeva a new home, along with Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Sri Pancha Tattva. Lord Nrsimha will have his own separate wing and altar in the temple and His presence is a major element of the entire project. He is our protector and well-wisher and deserves the most opulent circumstances and worship. Nrsimha Caturdasi this year will be very special in Mayapur because it will celebrate the commencement of the installation of the Kalashes atop the TOVP domes.
With this in mind we would like to encourage our donors to continue enthusiastically with your pledge payments because now all funds received will be directed towards the production of the Chakras in Russia. If you are able, please give a larger portion of your pledge for Nrsimha Caturdasi to help finance this work. If you have not yet started making payments towards your pledge or had to stop for some reason, please see this as an opportunity to start or restart your pledge payments. If you have not yet given a donation to the TOVP or would like to give another, please take advantage of this auspicious occasion and make a pledge by going to: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/
All Glories to Lord Sri Nrsimhadeva!
Prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva by Shani (Saturn)
Shani said:
By the mercy of the dust of Your lotus feet which destroy a multitude of sins, grant infinite auspiciousness to Your devotee who always worships Your lotus feet with devotion. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.
Your lotus feet are worshipped by Goddess Lakṣmī, even though She is fickle by nature (cancala) and by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva whose feet are worthy of worship with devotion. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.
By contemplating or meditating upon Your appearance, which is expounded in the Vedas extensively, the best of the saints are liberated from the three-fold miseries and from all misfortunes. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.
By the word of His devotee named Prahlāda, Lord Hari, who is generous and kind, appeared from a pillar and by placing Hiraṇyakaśipu on His thighs split open his stomach with His nails. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.
You protected your own devotee Prahlāda from a raging fire, the deep ocean, from falling from a tall mountain peak, poison, a mad elephant and the fangs of poisonous serpents. You are omnipresent and supremely generous. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.
By meditating upon He whose great form is devoid of imperfections, the best of the saints attained liberation from the ocean of materialistic attachments and obtained unmitigated salvation. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.
By meditating upon He whose form is fearsome, all peace, happiness and prosperity can be obtained, all sins can be obliterated, the fear arising from evil spirits, fevers and unfavorable planetary positions can be removed, O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.
Your transcendental fame is sung gloriously in all the divine assemblies of Śiva, Brahmā and Indra etc. and whose power is steadfast in wiping out all impurities, O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.
On listening to the heartfelt prayer composed by Śanideva in the assembly of Lord Brahmā, Lord Hari who is ever compassionate to His devotees, spoke to Śanideva as follows.
Śrī Nṛsiṁha said:
O Śani, I am pleased with your devotion. Whatever you desire that will benefit the world, ask for that kind of boon and I will grant it.
Śrī Śanideva replied:
O Lord Nṛsiṁha, O reservoir of compassion, please be kind to me. O Lord of all gods, let my week-day (Saturday) be Your favorite day. O Purifier of all the worlds, may You fulfill the desires of all those who listen to or read this great prayer to You composed by me.”
Śrī Nṛsiṁha said:
O Śani, let it be so! By virtue of My being the universal protector (Rakṣobhuvana), I fulfill the desires of all My devotees. Please listen to My words let there be no fear of the twelfth and eighth birth positions (and implicitly any unfavorable birth positions) and consequent troubles from you for anyone who reads or listens to this prayer to Me composed by you.
Then Śanideva replied to Lord Narahari that he would follow the Lord’s instructions. Then the joyful saints and sages present there (in Brahma’s assembly) responded with cries of, ‘jaya, jaya!’”.
Śrī Kṛṣṇa told Dharmarāja, “Whoever listens to or recites this conversation between Śanideva and Lord Nṛsiṁha in the form of this prayer of devotion will definitely have all desires fulfilled and will always rejoice.”
Thus ends the prayers offered to the universal protector Śrī Nṛsiṁha by the great soul Śani.
The post Nrsimha Caturdasi, Maha Sudarshana Yajna and Harinama Yajna appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Krishna Holi in New Zealand
→ ISKCON News
New Gokul (Bhaktivedanta Manor cow protection and working oxen)…
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New Gokul (Bhaktivedanta Manor cow protection and working oxen) (Album with photos)
Our Goshala team are very active and hardw...
Bhakti Charu Swami GBC Chairman about the GBC College
→ ISKCON News
Wednesday, April 12th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk
Durban, South Africa
By the Pond
Some of the attendees at the upcoming festival this weekend come from other places. Apart from my own Canadian origins, there are two chaps from Mauritius and a larger number from Pretoria. The floodgates of fans for Jagannath(the wooden image of Krishna) are opening for swamis, families, and folks from other parts of Africa and abroad.
We early birds, with destination Durban’s Ratha Yatra fest, took advantage by forming a japa party and circling the famous temple here. A clear demarcated sidewalk is there for the using. It carries features of a normal sidewalk with some cracks and puddles and a population of frogs that cross it.
A fish pond, or moat (as some people call it), is home to colourful koi. After seeing them swim next to our sidewalk we decided to go for a ‘relaxer’ and dip our white, brown and black feet into the water with the koi. They were not the least bit interested in nibbling our toes. The guppies were more bold and curious than their larger counterparts.
I did have the pleasure to speak from the Srimad Bhagavatam book, Canto 2, Chapter 8, Text 3. There is a dialogue between a king and a sage and stress is put on hearing what is sacred. Only then can freedom from materially induced habits take place. Start with listening. We all should try to make the effort toward divinity.
May the Source be with you!
2 km
Meet Michael. He got a book a few months ago, became a…
→ Dandavats
Meet Michael. He got a book a few months ago, became a vegetarian and now wants to read the Gita.
Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!
Pictures from Dubai
→ SivaramaSwami.com
Birthday pictures from Mayapur
→ SivaramaSwami.com
Vrindavana: 24×7 supply of electricity to every household by…
→ Dandavats
Vrindavana: 24×7 supply of electricity to every household by September 2018.
Lucknow, April 14: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will sign a ‘Power for all 2019’ pact with the Narendra Modi government at the Centre on Friday in a bid to improve the electricity situation in the state. This comes as the Yogi Adityanath government in UP works towards fulfilling its promise of 24-hour power supply in the state. The pact will be inked in the presence of Union Minister of State Piyush Goyal in Lucknow.
In its last Cabinet meeting on April 11, the Yogi Adityanath government included major decisions on power supply in Uttar Pradesh as one of its key decisions. The Yogi Cabinet decided to give 18 hour power supply to rural areas in the state. The UP Cabinet also decided to provide 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply to district headquarters and 20 hours of power supply to Tehsil headquarters in the state.
The Cabinet meet also approved the electricity sharing proposal with the Centre. The UP government announced that Within 48 hours, the UP electricity department has been asked to replace non-working transformers. It has also promised 24×7 supply of electricity to every household by September 2018.
Replacement of transformers in 24 hours and 24 hours power supply in all the cities were also among decisions taken by the Yogi Adityanath Cabinet on Tuesday.
Source: https://goo.gl/ihkhPA
Part Three of Bhagavad-gita overview: Bhakti is the topmost yoga
→ SivaramaSwami.com
Don’t come to the temple empty handed to see the Lord
→ SivaramaSwami.com
Sacred Sound (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today was…
→ Dandavats
Sacred Sound (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today was the first day of the Sacred Sound festival at New Govardhan in A...
Are the Vedas Literal or to be Interpreted?
→ The Enquirer
Amongst those who consider the Vedas something worth knowing, there are usually two opposing opinions about how they should be understood. One camp says, “Don’t take them literally, they are meant to be interpreted and adjusted according to the time, place and circumstance of the individual.” The other camp says, “They are absolute wisdom, and we should follow them exactly, without changing them or making up new interpretations.”
The argument can go back and forth forever because in truth neither side is entirely correct nor entirely wrong. Let us consider how the true method of utilizing and understanding the Vedas harmonizes both views and correct them both as well.
Consider the four opening statements of Brahma-Sūtra (which is Vyāsa’s ingenious attempt to summarize and harmonize the entire Vedic library in one short booklet). The first two sūtra tell us, “(1) Inquire about brahman, because (2) everything is an expression of it.” The next two sūtra address the question of pramāṇa — the question, “from whom should I inquire about this amazing and subtle subject?” Sūtra 3 tells us śāstra yonitvāt – “[The answer to this inquiry] is born from śāstra [Veda].”
It is important to realize that the sūtra says śāstra is yoni – the mother, the womb of the answer, it is not literally the answer itself. In other words śāstra describes itself as the information and direction you need if you will have any hope of directly comprehending the most mysterious of all mysteries and the more important of all things, the essence of your own true self, brahman.
Sūtra 4 then tells us, tat tu samanvayāt — “but that must be syncretic.”
Syncretic is an absolutely important word! It means wholistic and fully consistent, harmonized, and unified.
You will not get any divine wisdom, or even any practical value, by picking and choosing quotes here and there from amongst the Vedas. You must study the entire thing and comprehend how each statement relates to all the others. You must study, in other words, in context.
The Veda emphatically says ācāryavān puruṣo vedaḥ — the Veda must be learned from someone who has directly experienced and realized it as a result of their careful study under the guidance of someone who directly realized and studied it. If you haven’t done this and you quote the Veda, you are just trying to prove your own points and hijacking the authority carried by the Vedas.
The Veda provides six appendices, vedāṅga, to ensure that they are correctly studied and practiced. The third and fourth (vyākarana – grammar, and nirukti – etymology) are absolutely essential. After all, the Vedas are in the form of words. If we are not extremely careful with language we will not be able to unlock what is in those words! Quoting the Veda to prove some point without really knowing the grammar and etymology of the Sanskrit words you are quoting (if you care enough to even know the actual Sanskrit), is again just trying to coopt the authority carried by the Vedas and employ it in your own service.
Besides these vedāṅga, Jaimini has written mimamsa-sūtra – an enormous work dedicated to Hermeneutics (rules of textual interpretation) primarily for the “earlier” Vedas (the four samhitas). And beside that, Vyāsa wrote brahma-sūtra – a brief but extremely dense and intense work giving the core meaning particularly of the “later” Vedas (upaniṣadas and so on). When people quote the Vedas without knowing the conclusions and methodologies established in these works, it just gives everyone a bad taste of “Vedic” culture.
Each different school has a different key person who establishes the core understanding of the Veda held by that school, on the basis of the above mentioned principles. For us Gauḍīya Vedāntī that person is Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, specifically the Ṣaḍ-Sandarbha: his exposition of Vyāsa’s elaboration on brahma-sūtra, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Without carefully studying the Ṣaḍ-sandarbha no one should realistically hope to be able to comprehend the Gauḍīya Siddhānta (comprehension of the Veda).
From whatever Vedic school attracts you, you must study from it’s founder, who established it on the basis of Vedānta or Purva Mimamsa or one of the other four darśans. Unfortuantely today there are many, many, many people in and out of India claiming to be Vedic Teachers, Yoga Teachers, Vedic Astrologers, Gurus, etc. etc. whose philosophy is not at all rooted in a samanvaya of brahma-sūtra, jaimini-mimamsa-sūtra, yoga-sūtra, nyāya-sūtra etc. Becoming their disciple, or the disciple of the disciple of their disciple will not help anyone unlock the reality in the Vedic revelation.
The Veda explain that sometimes they instruct literally, at other times they advise, and at other times they use analogy, and at other times they employ fiction and the Veda also has a system to differentiate śruti and smṛti so that some parts of the Veda can be kept exactly intact forever, while other parts can change to accomodate for different times and places. In other words, if you study the Veda carefully you will find that they already have individualization and evolution built into them. You don’t need to add it.
Take the Veda as it is and you will discover that it is incredibly progressive, liberal, inventive, amazing, and mind-blowing. Take the Veda from someone who doesn’t really understand it, and who just uses bits and pieces of it to establish their own agendas, and all your get from that is bile and an upset stomach (best case scenario).
Vraja Kishor
Tagged: scripture interpretation, Veda
ISKCON’s Global Observance of Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi – Inaugural Celebrations at Kanchipuram and Sriperumbudur
→ Dandavats
By Bhadra Balaram das Sri Ramanujacharya is one name that glows within the Vaisnava Sampradaya like a crest jewel. Although 1000 years have passed by since the appearance of Sri Ramanujacarya, it has not reduced the brightness of his name and fame, not to speak of diluting the level of adherence to his teachings. And why not! Acharya Sri Ramanuja, is a great revolutionary saint and divine incarnate of Sri Lakshmana, the younger brother of Sri Rama. He spread the message of equality of all the jivas in the service of the Supreme Lord, Sri Vishnu. Bhagavad Sri Ramanuja exemplified Acharya Upasanam, Guru Bhakti, and instructed everyone to engage in devotional service to the Lord. It is remarkable that even though it is going to be 1000 years, the attraction to his most exemplary life continues to attract large number of people towards Sri Vaisnavism. Millions of people have based their spiritual practices and religious conceptions on his words in southern India, and in the western world as well. Continue reading "ISKCON’s Global Observance of Sri Ramanuja Sahasrabdi – Inaugural Celebrations at Kanchipuram and Sriperumbudur
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Can focusing on our intention impede creativity?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
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What is the root of our procrastinating tendency?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
The post What is the root of our procrastinating tendency? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
What is the meaning of life?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
The post What is the meaning of life? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
How long does it take to experience lasting love – what about the love we find in this world?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
The post How long does it take to experience lasting love – what about the love we find in this world? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
If we are detached from our goals, what will inspire us to work?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
The post If we are detached from our goals, what will inspire us to work? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
What are the best books to start our spiritual study?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
The post What are the best books to start our spiritual study? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
How can we avoid being affected by things not in our control?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
The post How can we avoid being affected by things not in our control? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Do all religions lead to God?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
The post Do all religions lead to God? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Maintaining standards while cultivating sensitivity
→ The Spiritual Scientist
[Bhagavatam class at Hillsborough, USA]
Podcast
The post Maintaining standards while cultivating sensitivity appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Giriraj Swami Radio Now Has Over 400 Lectures to Hear
Giriraj Swami
———————
We have added another 200 lectures by Giriraj Swami to his radio station bringing the total to over 400 talks! Listen on girirajswami.com or tunein.com or install the TuneIn app on your mobile device. You can listen to lectures 24/7 and find other Krishna conscious radio stations too.
Download this playlist file and open Giriraj Swami’s radio station in your favorite media player (iTunes, Windows Media Player, VLC etc.).
If you have a website, copy and paste the following HTML code to embed a small player on your page:
<iframe src=”http://tunein.com/embed/player/s243096/” style=”width:100%;height:100px;” scrolling=”no” frameborder=”no”></iframe>
Hare Krishna!
ISKCON Town Hall Meeting at Brooklyn Public Library
→ Dandavats
By the GBC Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee The pending sale of ISKCON's Radha Govinda Mandir ("Bharati Center") has been a matter of interest, concern and even controversy among temple board members, congregational members, devotees and interested persons in the New York metropolitan area and elsewhere, especially in light of the GBC Body's stated opposition to this sale transaction. In order to foster openness, inclusivity and greater awareness of the current state of affairs as well as to dispel confusion and misconceptions, last year's GBC Executive Committee (now called the "GBC Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee") will host an ISKCON Informational Town Hall Meeting on Mon., May 15,2017 at 7:00 PM sharp. The evening's panel will consist of the following GBC members, assisted by legal counsel: • Bhakti Caru Swami (2017 GBC Chairman / GBC Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee, Member) • Sesa Das (GBC Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee, Chairman / 2016 GBC Chairman) • Praghosa Das (GBC Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee, Member / 2015 GBC Chairman) Interested persons in the New York metropokan area are cordially invited to attend. Interested persons from outside the New York metropolitan area may be seated as space permits. Continue reading "ISKCON Town Hall Meeting at Brooklyn Public Library
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Sweet Harinam Sankirtan Party in Manila, Philippines (Album with…
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Sweet Harinam Sankirtan Party in Manila, Philippines (Album with photos)
Prabhupada gave his disciples credit for chanting kirtans with heart and soul as he did. One evening we had a small, informal kirtana in Prabhupada’s hotel room in Hawaii. Since there was no official program at the temple, Prabhupada was spending a quiet evening working, and his servants were also busy with their tasks. However, Prabhupada called us together and asked us to chant. I came from my editorial desk, Pradyumna came from his Sanskrit work, and Bali Mardana and Sudama also came. Prabhupada asked Sudama to lead the singing. As Sudama began to sing a particular tune, he became self-conscious and stopped. He said, “That’s not the right tune.” He meant that it was not the tune that Prabhupada usually sang. Prabhupada encouraged him, “That is all right. That is your ecstasy.” It enlivened us to think that Prabhupada said we had ecstasy within us, and that even a neophyte devotee’s choosing of a particular tune could be called “his ecstasy.”
(From “Prabhupada Meditations” by SDG)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/xzIsw8
100 Day Project: Fear and Responsibility
→ everyday gita
Lately, I've been closely examining the most important relationships I have in my life. One thing I'm consistently noticing is my challenge to take responsibility in the interactions I have with those people. That is, I find it so much easier to either:
1) blame someone in an interaction or at the very least;
2) tell them how they could have better approached the situation!
It takes dedicated commitment to really see a situation from all angles, not just my own. And I'm not just taking about conflicts, but simple day to day conversations.
To truly see a situation from all angles, it requires building the capacity to hold our emotions; when we're overwhelmed by our own emotions it narrows our ability to see things clearly. And we unconsciously start to live by this statement:
I can only see what I feel.
Unfortunately for us (and especially the person we're interacting with!), that isn't accurate representation of reality. Now experiencing and acknowledging emotions is one thing, but it's also important to see they work to protect the ego. After all, the ego never wants to admit that it is wrong.
Taking responsibility often results in acknowledging to another person that we need to change a habit or outlook that has been ingrained in us. That's confronting! And when we are confronted by something, that can evoke fear.
So what do we do about it? In my own life, a few things have helped me. I still struggle to do them, but when I can, my interactions with my loved ones become so much richer and deeper:
1) In the instances where I am called out on something, I try to not become automatically defensive.
2) I speak about my fear and my resistance/inability to make the change that is required.
3) I ask for help from that person in a very specific and tangible way that doesn't differ all responsibility to them!
What do you do when the fear of change prevents you from taking responsibility? Please share your thoughts and realizations in the comments below!
ISKCON Scarborough – Kirtan by HG Dhiragrahi das
→ ISKCON Scarborough
Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Kirtan is a practice of meditation through music and mantra.
We invite all the devotees to ISKCON Scarborough coming Friday (14th April 2017) at 7 pm to come and engage in the ancient spiritual practice of kirtan, that has been passed down since time immemorial.
The sublime 1-hour kirtan will be led by HG Dhiragrahi das.
Sumptuous prasadam (sanctified free food) will be served after the program.
ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7
Email Address:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
website:
www.iskconscarborough.com
LAST NIGHT THE GRIM REAPER CAME FOR ME
→ Karnamrita's blog
(reposted from 4-14-16)
I saw the grim reaper in my dream,
feeling no fear, I was curious to see him.
Coming near, he pointed his bony, pale hand toward me.
His other palm raised in blessing pose
where it was written, the number 65—my age!
Then with both hands, he pointed to the sky, and shrugged.
Daily Darshan Apr 13th, 2017
→ Mayapur.com
The post Daily Darshan Apr 13th, 2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Part Two of Bhagavad-gita overview: Krsna is the Supreme Lord
→ SivaramaSwami.com
Dubai, April 12th
Discussion with devotees during Radha-Damodara’s puja
→ SivaramaSwami.com
Tuesday, April 11th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk
Durban, South Africa
A Stairway to Heaven
In June of 1972, at the Fisher Mansion in Detroit I heard our guru, Srila Prabhupada, mentioned about the villain, Ravana, who tried to build a stairway to heaven. He also admitted to Ravana’s failure at attempting materialistic enjoyment.
In our new drama we decided to incorporate the Led Zeppelin rock classic. I hope you readers have a chance to see the drama, “Many Mothers, Many Fathers.”
Here are the Lyrics that seem to shed some spiritual message:
There's a lady who's sure
all that glitters is gold
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
When she gets there she knows,
if the stores are all closed
With a word she can get what she came for.
Ooh, ooh, and she's buying a stairway to heaven.
There's a sign on the wall
but she wants to be sure
'Cause you know sometimes words have two meanings.
In a tree by the brook,
there's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it makes me wonder.
There's a feeling I get
when I look to the west,
And my spirit is crying for leaving.
In my thoughts I have seen
rings of smoke through the trees,
And the voices of those who stand looking.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,
Ooh, it really makes me wonder.
And it's whispered that soon,
if we all call the tune,
Then the piper will lead us to reason.
And a new day will dawn
for those who stand long,
And the forests will echo with laughter.
If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now,
It's just a spring clean for the May queen.
Yes, there are two paths you can go by, but in the long run
There's still time to change the road you're on.
And it makes me wonder.
Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know,
The piper's calling you to join him,
Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow, and did you know
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind?
And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our soul.
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold.
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll.
And she's buying a stairway to heaven.
Written by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
May the Source be with you!
7 km
Monday, April 10th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk
Durban, South Africa
To Be A Butterfly
There was a stop-over in Dubai with no time to relax. I do appreciate the fact that I could walk between concourses, which was a long haul.
Back again in flight, this time in seat 10D, and my body is weary, but not tired enough for a deep sleep. Let’s say it’s because I cannot recline, therefore, no slumber. I dozed at times, but so momentarily. I had been sipping water, enough to have a half-mouthful, in order to swish it around and bring it to room temperature before swallowing. At one time, I felt such sleepiness that after swishing I actually closed my eyes and lowered my head. Fatigue caused my mouth to open and a waterfall ensued, wetting my front.
It was a good thing that those around me were asleep. The person to my right was immersed in playing his digital game. I was spared the embarrassment.
At the same time, most people do all kinds of interesting things with their bodies. There are burps, snores, and other sounds that emerge from any of the nine gates. Those folks who take advantage of consuming duty-free items usually end up being very giddy, exerting unique kinds of laughing sounds.
I was glad to finally land in Durban, to then arrive at the Chatsworth temple, to eat prasadam, shower, watch live theatre by the Bhakti Theatre group and then lead a group of drama aspirants into a workshop.
We stretched to our outer limits, physically, through warm-up exercises. This was much needed to pull me out of the cocoon experience I had just gone through. I felt, suddenly, as if a butterfly.
May the Source be with you!
0 km
Sunday, April 9th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk
Toronto / Boston / Dubai
Sit / Walk
“A day spent in El Peten—notorious bandit territory was counterbalanced by the discovery of some hidden Mayan pyramids in a jungle in Mexico,” tells Levison Wood. I couldn’t pass up reading an article, “The Wake of Life,” in the Emirates “Open Skies” flight magazine. This adventurist, Levison, covered 2,897 kilometres on foot from Mexico to Colombia and through Central America. He’s done several other treks including crossing the Himalayas.
Like all crazy walkers, Levison has taken his chances with the elements, jungles, wildlife and people. Yes, people. Gangs are something to contend with, through the Americas, he admits. In that regard he’s a survival expert, partially because he takes help from those who can take him through treacherous trails. One time it was a pastor who knew his way around.
It’s stories like these, about people with bravado, that are inspirational. I’m not sure that Wood has taken up spirituality on any of the treks, but I bet you anything, at least he is likely to see divinity in the natural world around.
To hear about some of his adventures in a synopsis of his walk through Mexico and South America was enough to cause my jealous side to surge. I was stuck in a confined chair, strapped down. The only difference between my seat at 18D and an electric chair was the zap.
It is tapasya, austerity, an inconvenience that leads to a greater gain. I had to switch my paradigm and come to terms with a willing acceptance of the inconvenience. I’m sure that Levison is in situations where he finds himself in a chair for several hours.
Physically, in order to walk, you must sit for some time. In order to sit, you must walk for some time.
May the Source be with you!
0 km
Saturday, April 8th, 2017
→ The Walking Monk
Brampton, Ontario
New Sacred Space
What sent me to Brampton today was the opening of a new home in the northwest end, in a truly urban-sprawl part of the city. Manish and Deepa are the happy owners of this new place, on a new street, with new mud all about. Yes, there’s been rain, but today’s sun seems to shine on the house and the proprietors.
I arrived at noon, after the havan ceremony, a fire ritual, which was conducted by a brahmana priest. In attendance were a lot of new faces.
My role was the usual—give a holy pep talk and lead in some kirtan. I had youngsters sit in front and parents behind. It was a bit tough trying to capture the attention of one boy, about seven, as he was immersed in his device. Overall, the technique works rather well—keeping children in the front and actually focusing my message on them. Parents love the interaction I encourage.
Buying a new or second-hand home is fairly common within our community. This one is medium in size. Some of them are monster homes; imposing large ones.
One local person said, “This location is at the very edge of Brampton’s limits,” indicating ‘development’ is a true phenomenon. I mentioned wildlife from the area are being pushed further and further away. Bears were once here. Cougars also. They’ve been long gone. So much for coyotes, fox and other native and glorious creatures. “Expect the skunks to hang around.” With that, Manish had a good laugh.
“Manish, please make your home a sacred space for chanting, spiritual reading and welcoming people.”
May the Source be with you!
0 km