How can we avoid forgetting in real-life what we learn in classes?
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When guidance is not easily available, how can we make good choices?
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How can we avoid over-controlling the things that are in our control?
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In the practical-philosophical categorization, where does the emotional fit in?
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When we face problems, we need practical solutions, not philosophical solutions – how can scripture help?
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Short but amazing aerial glimpse of the Gaura Purnima Abhishek…
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Short but amazing aerial glimpse of the Gaura Purnima Abhishek 2017 in Mayapur (1 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: If a living entity is developed in Krsna consciousness and is merciful to others, and if his spiritual knowledge of self-realization is perfect, he will immediately attain liberation from the bondage of material existence. PURPORT In this verse the words daya jivesu, meaning “mercy to other living entities,” indicate that a living entity must be merciful to other living entities if he wishes to make progress in self-realization. This means he must preach this knowledge after perfecting himself and understanding his own position as an eternal servant of Krsna. Preaching this is showing real mercy to living entities. Other types of humanitarian work may be temporarily beneficial for the body, but because a living entity is spirit soul, ultimately one can show him real mercy only by revealing knowledge of his spiritual existence. As Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, jivera ‘svarupa’ haya-krsnera 'nitya-dasa’: [Cc. Madhya 20.108] “Every living entity is constitutionally a servant of Krsna.” One should know this fact perfectly and should preach it to the mass of people. If one realizes that he is an eternal servant of Krsna but does not preach it, his realization is imperfect. >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 4.29.1b
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/9hJV1m

Akrura Ghat @ Vrindavan 10/03/2017 (Album with photos) Deena…
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Akrura Ghat @ Vrindavan 10/03/2017 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Akrur Ghat is a little distance from Vrindavan in the fields and forest. Because of it’s peace and quiet, Mahaprabhu stayed here on His Vrindavan visit. This is where Akrura saw Krishna and Balaram within the waters of Yamuna. Later Krishna gave the Brijbasis darshan of Vaikuntha and Goloka at this place. Used to be broken down place, but now it is very nice remodeled and maintained. Just down the road in a very peaceful forest, some Babas are maintaining a beautiful gaushala! Vittalrukmini Das checked it out with his friends!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RMJh32

Opposites & Unlikely Sources
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Hare KrishnaBy Kesava Krsna dasa

Just as the pumpkin transformed into an impressive stagecoach which took Cinderella to the ball, the magic of trnad api …. By which we can obtain Sri Guru’s grace, Sri Nityananda’s grace who as Sri Balarama will be pleased to transform Iskcon into a dazzling Vaikuntha airplane. Our ploughing will then become an easier affair. Continue reading "Opposites & Unlikely Sources
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The latest news from the Hare Krishna Festival of India…
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The latest news from the Hare Krishna Festival of India Tour.
Sankirtan Yajna Prabhu distributed Srila Prabhupada’s books directly to students at the Festival of India at George Mason University. This is one of the Universities where Festival of India has been sponsored to set-up our exhibits, tents, and distribute Krishna Prasadam and Srila Prabhupada’s books. Please contact us for details how to bring the Festival to a University near you. This is a sure way to get Srila Prabhupada’s and Lord Krishna’s mercy.
As Lord Krishna says in the 68th and 69 verses of the 18th chapter of the Gita: For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
So let us continue, at every festival introducing students, and everyone else we meet to this sublime science of Krishna Consciousness, as it will guarantee your devotional service and in the end you’ll go Back to Godhead. Hare Krishna.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/mo3rFb

Mayapuris’ New Album To Have Intriguing Concept. It’s been…
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Mayapuris’ New Album To Have Intriguing Concept.
It’s been seven long years since kirtan band The Mayapuris released their debut album “Mridanga,” hitting the top five in the iTunes World Music chart.
The Mayapuris were one of the original second generation ISKCON groups to bring Gaudiya Vaishnava kirtan to the forefront of the burgeoning mainstream kirtan scene.
Since their debut, others have continued to forge the path, with Madi Das and his Bhakti Without Borders charity album winning a Grammy nomination.

New questions same as the old ones
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Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya Das

I often get asked questions by people who are looking for a guru: “What sort of teacher should I be looking for?” is shortly followed by: “And where do I begin looking for someone like that?” After they’ve thought a few moments the next question is: “What sort of things do I have to do before I can become someone’s student?” “What happens if I don’t quite measure up?” Some time later the questions are more about what will happen after they become initiated: “What is he supposed to teach me?” “How do I know if he’s teaching me the right things?” Lots of questions but, strangely enough, the same questions that people have been asking for a long time. Proof of this is that way back in the 14th century a great spiritual teacher named Vedanta Deshika gave answers to these questions in a short book – Nyasa Vimsati. The answers proved so popular and correct that Gopala Bhatta Goswami included them in his handbook of devotional practise, standard for Gaudiya Vaishnavas for the last 500 years. Continue reading "New questions same as the old ones
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KKSwami is in hospital and OFFLINE!
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Dear Devotees 

Kadamba Kanana Swami is receiving Ayurvedic treatment at the hospital in Coimbatore, South India. He is strictly prohibited from using his phone, computer, etc. and cannot reply to emails and other messages. Please allow him space to undergo his treatment peacefully! We will do our best to keep you updated on his stay in hospital via KKSBlog and Facebook.

 

 

 

Jagannatha Gauranga Temple Celebration
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The last day of the Jagannatha Gauranga Temple festival was celebrated by the abhiseka of the new deities, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi.

Priti Vardhana and some of the gurukula boys from Mayapur performed the necessary rituals, bathing and the senior devotee brahmanas were also invited to bathe Their Lordships.

First arati was around 2.00pm and that was followed by an initiation ceremony of new disciples by HH Kavicandra Maharaja. The 7.00pm Gaura Arati was attended by hundreds of enthusiastic devotees.

BBT Day 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

Our Relationship with Srila Prabhupada’s Books. Srila Prabhupada was concerned that devotees (“centres”) producing his books independently was undermining and potentially threatening the viability of the BBT. · “This must not go on” illustrates an unambiguous desire on his part to stop any printing of his books separate from the BBT. · He stresses that he created the BBT specifically to be the exclusive medium by which his books, lectures, and so on, are to be published and made available. · The BBT has an economic role in funding ISKCON projects. · Diverting revenues elsewhere (by setting up independent printing operations) would undermine the revenue sources for such projects. Continue reading "BBT Day 2017
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Arrival in India, March 2017
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By Bhakta Vatsala Das 

After visiting London (03-08 March), Kadamba Kanana Swami travelled to India. He arrived in Mumbai on the 9th and was received by Sri Govinda (SA), Brajmohan Prabhu and myself. Maharaj went straight to Mira Road temple and thereafter to see HH Jayadvaita Swami in Bhaktivedanta Hospital who was recovering from pneumonia.

The next day began with Maharaj giving the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class in Hindi at the temple. More than 200 devotees attended and again, Maharaj rendered an earth shaking kirtan and devotes didn’t want to stop dancing! Unfortunately, there are no photos as I was busy cooking.

Later that day, we all travelled to Sangamner near Nashik, about 170 km from Mumbai. Our godbrother, Swayambhagawam Prabhu, manages a centre there located at an engineering college. Upon arrival, more than 100 bright, young engineers welcomed Maharaj with kirtan.

On Saturday, the 11th, we went out on parikrama and more than 200 devotees came along, some having travelled from 400 km away. Sadly more than 40 devotees were turned away as our buses were full!!

During our parikrama, we went Jatayu Samadhi. “Jatayu was a great hero who fought with Ravana and although he was defeated, he was victorious over birth and death for sacrificing his life to save Sita. It is nice to come to this place; the land where the Ramayana is still alive…” said Maharaj. We visited the actual spot where Jatayu fought with Ravana. We also visited the pond of holy water which manifested when Lord Ramachandra shot his arrow to provide water to Jatayu when he was thirsty after being injured. The locals say that the pond always remains filled with water! We also visited the place where Kapiladev instructed Devahuti on sankhya philosophy. And later that day, Maharaj did the ceremony for a devotee’s child where the child wrote his first letters of the alphabet.

We had a wonderful festival for Gaura Purnima (12 March). Maharaj gave class again in Hindi, in the evening. He spoke on the glories of Lord Caitanya and shared many enlivening stories, and as usual the programme ended with a rocking kirtan. During the kirtan, the drummers surrounded Maharaj and blocked him from leaving and the kirtan continued until their fingers were bleeding!

On Monday morning, Maharaj started his journey to Coimbatore. He is now in the Ayurvedic Hospital for three weeks of treatment. While in hospital Maharaj is offline – there will be no internet reciprocation i.e. no answering of emails. Please allow to him to recuperate and we will send you periodic updates!

Visit Flickr to see all the photos.

How can we help those who are suffering but are still imagining that they are enjoying?
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If someone rationalizes their wrongdoing by saying that Krishna loves us unconditionally, how do we respond?
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Doesn’t Krishna feel bad when we do something wrong – doesn’t that make him unwilling to shelter us?
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If our mistakes have got us into trouble, how can we overcome the guilt that disheartens us while taking shelter of Krishna?
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Can followers of other religions who don’t follow the regulative principles go back to Krishna?
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Is Vedic philosophy confusing because it has so many holy books, unlike Christianity and Islam that have only one holy book?
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Changing the default settings of our mind
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[Talk for Intel employees at house program, Phoenix, USA]

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Back home, to our True Shelter
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Hare KrishnaBy Romapada Swami

We are very limited. We have tiny knowledge and tiny happiness and tiny free will. We don’t miss our free will, proof is, here we are the place people reside who misused their free will. Some few rathayatras ago I was introduced to a Chinese lady, married to an Indian man. That was a very interesting combination. An elderly, little older and when introduced to her she said I just have one question. What is that? Why creation? I said fantastic question. And the short answer is two parts. We wanted it, when we make a mistake isn’t there a good reason for wanting it? Try to come up with the good reason for wanting it, there isn’t any good reason. It was bad and its really dumb to make such a free will choice, as wanting a place of enjoyment separate from Krishna, such a place doesn’t exist there is no such thing, its illusion, its maya, that's what maya means, that which it is not. Ma Ya, not this. Doesn’t exist, we desired it, that’s one of the reasons. Opportunity for living to try to fulfill their desire and enjoy separately from Krishna, when here is no such thing. So, the creation comes. And the other is, for Mahavishnu to provide an opportunity for the living entities to come to the position where the fullness of their happiness can be experienced, that’s the hidden purpose of creation. The misery and disappointment, when we want happiness, we get something else, is to help us have the impetus to turn to Krishna again. And there is another reason giving maya something to do. It's compassion, compassion, and compassion. Continue reading "Back home, to our True Shelter
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Gaura Purnima in Bali – Vigraha Pratistha 2017 (Album with…
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Gaura Purnima in Bali - Vigraha Pratistha 2017 (Album with photos)
Celebrating the auspicious appearance day of Lord Caitanya, the devotees of the Sri Sri Jagannatha Gauranga Temple in Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali, held an elaborate installation ceremony of large Gaura-Nitai and Jagannatha-Baladeva-Subhadra Deities. The festivities started on Friday, the 10th of March, with an “Adhivas” or opening ceremony. On Saturday, the ceremonial procedures were conducted by the Gurukula students from the Bhaktivedanta Academy in Mayapur, West Bengal, India. The “Sodhita Pancagavya Snanam”, “Netra Unmilanam”, and the “Vandapanam” ceremonies were conducted. These ceremonies include bathing the deity forms in healing and spiritually-charged substances such as milk, ghee, etc, and also physically waking Their Lordships from a bed of grains, and unveiling Their eyes for the very first time. H.H. Ramai Swami and H.H. Kavicandra Swami, GBCs for Indonesia, were present and attended the entire procession. On the full moon day of Gaura Purnima on Sunday, fire sacrifices were conducted, and a “Maha Abhishek” or a grand public bathing ceremony of the Deities enthused the hundreds of devotees. Kirtan led by the renowned H.G. Madhava prabhu and H.G. Radhika accompanied the ceremonies. His Grace Vishvambhara Dasa (Prof Drs I Ketut Widnya, MA.), the director of the Hindu Department of Indonesia’s Ministry of Religion took part in the festivities. The devotees staged performances such as a Balinese rendition of the pastime of Lord Caitanya with Chand Kazi. That same evening, a grand Gaura Arati brought the festivities to a close. We pray that the devotees of the Sri Sri Jagannatha Gauranga Temple will always be enthusiastic in their service to Their Lordships. Pictures taken by Aryo Agung.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ueIbCc

Thursday, March 9th, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

What I Ask!


One mantrathat I use when greeting someone in the ashramis actually a question. “Did you get a good rest?” implying “was it deep, was it full and more-or-less uninterrupted?”

I don’t go so far as to probe into their dreams. “Did you dream of Krishna? About guru?” That is very personal and let’s keep it that way—not that it’s wrong to ask.

The answers will be diverse, depending on who you ask and on which day, because it is never an definite yes or no.  It’s usually within the range of ‘anywhere in-between’.

As the day wears on, so do passions.  Speed and depth of involvement grow in intensity.  Do I then dare to ask, “How’s your day?” Those who immerse themselves in devotion have a soul-gratifying day, or should.  Physically, there will always be a challenge so that answer will have its range as well. In any event people feel good that you care.

This afternoon I did a trial-run walking in the park outside our ashram.  I couldn’t go too far with the gout-infected foot. I had to turn around after ten minutes and resume a gentler stroll inside the temple.

Woe is me! I’m anticipating this walk in May, beginning in Nebraska, with two good feet at the base of my legs. God, please help! The gout bulge is sizeable and any shoe placed around it puts on an uneasy squeeze.

“Patience!” reminds my doctor, Dr. Pandit.  “Just try to get a good rest.”

May the Source be with you!


2 km

Friday, March 10th, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

The View

In our ashram,in what are called Prabhupada’s quarters, I sat and admired the view of the outside.  The window facing south is a cathedral-arched frame exposing the sky.  Cloudy and hazy with sunshine trying to pierce through is how I see the space above.  On one level slightly below, spring-budding branches dance on the chest of Vayu, the master of the wind.  Victorian house rooftops are also within my vision.

A leisurely park, recently renovated, is just south of the homes, adding green space to the neighbourhood.  May (I pray) it stay that way.

“We don’t need any more highrises around here,” I mentioned to Gaurachandra of Hungary. He had come to join and bring that view of optimism, a view which leads the eyes to contemplate the lake five kilometres further south—one of the Great Lakes.

People living in the city forget about this massive body of water, a body of beauty.  We need to revere such bodies and not lust in greed over how much profit can be made from building and blocking a God-given waterfront view.

Developers—I sometimes brood over their exploits, unless, of course, they are allowing trees and foliage to do their thing.

In 2015, I walked across the city of Detroit on a one-day pilgrimage.  Some of the neighbourhoods had been devastated by neglect.  Some homes had been broken into years before.  Some had been burned down, leaving empty lots.  These dynamics have somehow allowed nature to take its course.  That’s glorious!

May the Source be with you!


2 km

Wednesday, March 8th, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario 

New Findings 

Ekadasi is a day when followers of the Vaishnava tradition (Krishna tradition) honour a vow to abstain from eating grain, and increase their devotions.  It falls every fortnight.  It’s today we are so obliged.

What I wanted to highlight in this blog is an article forwarded to me (thanks Abhidheya) about archeological findings confirming the authenticity and antiquity of a Krishna culture.  According to the source of info— www.indiadivine.org —there is an ancient coin with Krishna on one side, and His brother, Balarama, on the other, dating back to 180 B.C.E.  Recently unearthed in Al Khanoun, Afghanistan, this discovery is the earliest proof that Krishna was revered as a god, “and that the worship had spread beyond the Mathura region,” states TKV Rajan, archaeologist, who was holding a five-day exhibition titled, “In Search of Lord Krishna.”

His studies and findings throw fresh light on the era of Krishna.  It has been over five years since discoveries were made at Tholavira, near Dwarka, which is according to Epic’s such as The Mahabharata, where Krishna ruled, approximately 5,000 years ago.  Apparently, a coin reveals that Krishna is devoid of his famed peacock feather, but then one follower suggested that in Dwarka, Krishna was not adorned with the peacock feather.

Rajan indicates there is an image of a wooden plough, which is mentioned in the book The Bhagavatam.  The image of the conch and the Sudarshan Chakra (wheel) are unmistakably obvious imprints on the square-shaped coins.

A grandiose discovery!

May the Source be with you! Happy Ekadasi!


0 km   

Tuesday, March 7th, 2017
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Toronto, Ontario

Got Out

Well, I did it.  I got out for the first time in a few days.  Because of the gout, my movements have been slow, but I got the air I wanted and needed.

Air!  I’m a great fan of it.  It’s something taken for granted.  One of the prime elements. 

A friend called today.  He’s now 75.  Doesn’t look a day over 60. “I worked at a paint factory for thirty years.  You breathe in all these chemicals.  It’s surprising I’m still alive.  It must be Krishna keeping me going,” he admitted

“Yes!”

I enjoyed sitting on a park bench in what is warmer than usual temperatures. We’ve got spring.  Vancouver, a place with a more moderate climate, has been getting clobbered with snow.  This is a reversal of weather situations.

The park bench was actually a bench near a park, to the side of a plastic surgery clinic.  The establishment is called “Elements.”  Next to where I was sitting, is the statue of an earth goddess.

Poor Earth!  It’s going through so much.  South of the border appears to be in trouble on many social/political levels.  All nations, in fact, are going through changes.  It’s tense.

I got back to the ashram and received my second call for the day.

“Maharaja,” addressed the caller, “What is the actual position our culture takes on Islam, women, gay folks and people of various races?”

“These are multiple questions.  You are right though, let’s talk.”

So we did!

May the Source be with you!


4 km