Planet ISKCON

Harinama in Christchurch, New Zealand (Album with photos)
We visited a village market in Ohoka, and upmarket shopping area in ...

QUESTION: I’ve heard that the cannabis plant is offered to Shiva in certain rituals, and I’ve also heard it is offered to Kali. They say cannabis is the healing of the nations. In a few words, what is your take on that?

As far as I know, it’s Rastafarians who say cannabis is “the healing of the nations.” Actually, the parallels between the Rasta and Shaiva sādhu are amazing: dreadlocks and herb… 

Anyway, I believe the root of cannabis use in India’s lore and culture goes back to Soma. Soma (also called Amṛta) is a very essential component of Vedic culture. I say a bit about Soma in my book, 27 Stars, 27 Gods and reference it in my video on Mṛgaśīrṣā Nakṣatra (Search for Happiness, meaning, and purpose: Mṛgaśīrṣā – The Vedic Stars). 

Essentially, Soma (Amṛta) is the supreme form of food. It brings super nourishment as well as super delight. All other varieties of food and drink are derivations or approximations of it. The key ingredient in Soma is an milk-sap herb that grew in the Himalaya but is now extinct. Many consider cannabis a close approximation, or simply just use cannabis in some very lose approximation of how Soma can be used. 

Some laypeople and some sādhu’s in India use cannabis. But, in the linage of spirituality I myself am involved in, we do not use it (or any other substance). Our soma and amṛta is hari-kathā and hari-nāma-saṁkīrtan. This is our noursihment and intoxication.

Vraja Kishor das

www.vrajakishor.com

Tagged: cannabis, marijuana, pot

Saturday Maha Harinama Sankirtan in London dedicated to a local ailing disciple of Srila Prabhupada (Album with photos)
Bhakta ...

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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The post Gita 11.40 Acknowledge Krishna’s presence everywhere and appreciate it where it is specially manifest appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 December 2016, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.26.41)

One may want family life but how can you have a good family life without Krsna. Family life without Krsna will not be satisfactory; it will become very frustrating. It is only when we add Krsna that family life can actually start to work.

What is a job if it is not related to Krsna!? Money, money, money just for eating, sleeping and these other things. You are going to get frustrated, I guarantee you! But if you use that money for Krsna then it is okay.

In every situation, we have to make an effort to do something for Krsna!

I was in the household ashram but we did not have any children, by destiny it didn’t happen. I married young also so after 24 years and no children, do we just grow old together – was that going to be the destiny of my life!? Sounded a bit dry so I took sannyasa and then you have these strict vows to follow. Basically, the essence of a sannyasa vow is that everything is for Krsna and nothing for one’s own sense enjoyment. So I received the danda and everything and then I thought, “What do I do now…” because it is nice to take the vows but then you have to follow it!

See, before sannyasa I always had the perfect excuse, “I have no time!” It was a great excuse. I have no time to chant, I have no time to read, I have to time for devotional service… I have no time, I have no time, I have no time! Then I took sannyasa and suddenly, I had all the time for Krsna, “Oh no, what do I do now!”

So, you see, every ashram is intense! In every ashram, we have to make a conscious endeavour. In the sannyasa ashram, we have to fill all that time with Krsna. In the grhasta ashram, you must make time!

By Janananda Gosvami

Chanting Hare Krishna with a completely fixed goal. No consideration of who’s who – off the bodily platform. One goal – Save Kalindi! No material thoughts or motives. It felt like Samadhi - deep Krishna consciousness. A memorable event – an eternal lesson. If only we could feel like this at every moment. Prabhupada did. When we realize it’s an emergency then we may feel the urgency. Spending our lives quibbling over bodies and things is not gonna help us in the long run.. We have got the greatest service in the world, all of us – to get the temperature back to normal. We have the medicine, take it give it to others and work together despite all the differences. While massaging the body of the spiritual master let us not fight over it. Let’s do things the way Prabhupada would be happy. He is standing next to us at every moment. If only we could realize it. Continue reading "Unity In Diversity – Thanks To Kalindi The Cow
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Manor sankirtan festival.

Jan 7th evening.

From Mukunda-mala Stotra. The desert of material existence has exhausted me. But today I will cast aside all troubles by diving into the lake of Lord Hari and drinking freely of the abundant water of His splendor.

Sacinandana Swami: What actually was the matter is called "Paralysis through analysis"-being paralyzed by thinking too much. One who is continuously absorbed in various thoughts, always living with the fear to commit offenses, will not be able to chant properly.

Radhanath Swami: Our temples, it is so very important that we learn the science of properly giving and receiving the association of devotees. Actually every guest that comes is Krishna’s specially invited guest. And it is our duty to give them every possible opportunity to make spiritual advancement. It is the first priority.

By Jada Bharata Dasa

In the afternoon he came and woke me up and I went out on one of the famous New York Temple Harinams. We came back to the temple and I took some milk Prasadam with Jayananda. That night I stayed with another Bhakta and was woke up the next morning. Jayananda Prabhu personally took care of me that morning explaining to me everything that I should do. He told me that I should sit with him and chart japa. He noticed that I was chanting very quickly and he told me to take the beads out of the japa bag. He noticed that I was moving the bead forward unconsciously while I was chanting moving two or three beads forward during each mantra. He told me I should firmly hold onto each bead as I chanted each mantra and should clearly chant each mantra so I could hear it within my heart. I then did service with him all day. We cleaned and polished the Deity paraphernalia and did other things that day. During the entire day he gave me instruction in practical Krishna consciousness. During the entire day he preached to me how a devotee should act and as it was my first few days in the temple I felt I was shown by Krishna how a true devotee should really act, but practical example. He only spoke about Krishna, did service and never criticized anyone. He was the most respected devotee in the temple. Continue reading "How I Became a Devotee – Jayananda, The Perfect Leader
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Harinama at Surfers Paradise (Queensland’s Gold Coast in eastern Australia) - 08 January 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: …not everyone wants to serve Him. Everyone wants to become God, imitator. Imitation. Therefore they say, “Why Krsna shall be alone God? I am God.” You are God. That’s all right. But you are not the Supreme God. Why you forget that? You may be a God at home of your wife, but when you go to your office, you are not god; your master is god. He directs you to do something; you have to do it. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.15 – London, July 15, 1973
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZfHsVZ

Srutakirti dasa: Often times I would bring them to his bedroom just before his evening massage. Throughout his massage he would smell them off and on. He would then keep them on His pillow (close to His nose) all night. The following morning, I would find the flowers gently laying on the pillow exactly where they had been the night before. The flowers looked as fresh and fragrant as ever, looking as if they had just been picked.

By Indradyumna Swami

The captain eventually announced that we were approaching Irkutsk but would have to circle the airport until some fog had dispersed. Some time later the two stewardesses approached me. "The captain is asking you to pray to God for all of us," one of them said. "We are running out of fuel," said the other, "and we can't circle the airport much longer." They stood waiting. "Well," said one of them, "are you going to pray?" I hesitated. Then I joined my palms, closed my eyes, and said a short prayer. When I finished, they left to tell the captain. Suddenly the plane veered left and headed in another direction. There was no announcement. The plane continued for about half an hour and then began to descend. I called one of the stewardesses over and asked what was happening. "We're landing in Ulan Ude to wait until the fog clears in Irkutsk," she said nervously, smelling of liquor. "We had just enough fuel." We left our bags on the plane and walked down the steps to the terminal. As I took in the surroundings, I almost thought we'd landed on another planet. The vast Siberian steppe stretched endlessly in all directions, and although it was the end of summer, the temperature was only six degrees centigrade. When we reached Moscow, one of the devotees meeting us rushed up to me in the parking lot. "Guru Maharaja," he said, "after your flight took off from Irkutsk, there was an earthquake measuring 7.5 on the Richter scale. There are reports of 900 people injured, some dead as well. Continue reading "Good and Faithful
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Krishna-kumara Dasa: To my surprise, the girl was spontaneously drawn in, like iron to a magnet, and grabbed a book. The boy followed suit and grabbed the other book. I briefly explained who I was and what the books were all about. They both took a book, and she gave an exceptionally large donation. She eagerly asked, "You said 'Krishna Krishna!' right? I've been learning about Krishna in my 'Hindu Gods & Goddesses' class, and I LOVE Him! He's my favorite."

One time an Iskcon devotee met an older guru of the Sankaracarya sampradaya (impersonalists).
Being respectful the devotee offered his pranams, as the etiquette is. The guru started giving him advice and initially said that he should read the Bhagavad-gita as this would certainly strengthen him.
The devotee respectfully brought the point about the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. After thinking for some time the guru said: “yes, this chanting would make you physically healthy”
The devotee again indicated the great expansion of the Hare Krishna movement all over the world based on the strength of the maha-mantra. And would this be due just to health benefits.

Read More...

Shyamananda Krsna das, Premabhakti devi dasi and their daughter, Radhika, moved to Newcastle last year. He is a professor of environmental science at a local university and his wife works nearby. For the previous 11 years the family was in Adelaide and before that in India.

They recently bought a house in the Mayfield area and invited the New Gokula devotees and I for a griha pravesha (new house samskara) lecture, kirtana and prasadam.

 

 

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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The post Gita 11.39 Appreciate the Absolute Truth in both bheda and abheda aspects appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

What to Pray For and How Krishna Reciprocates With Our Prayers.
Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura used to pace back and forth on his balcony and pose questions to himself, and then answer them. I do the same in this newsletter. I ask the questions of myself and then answer them. I ask subtle questions that I believe are important for our progress in Krishna consciousness.
I ask about the nature of pure prayer: Is it wrong to pray to Krishna to protect us materially? Is it okay to pray to Krishna to fulfill material desires that would help us in devotional service or make us more peaceful so we can be more steady? And would such prayers indicate a lack of faith in His protection and maintenance?
I also ask if praying can change our karma, if praying is wrong if we don’t endeavor to achieve what we are praying for, do we really need to pray if we are already making a full effort to achieve our goals (what we are praying for), and if Krishna knows everything do we really need to pray to Him at all?

May you always think of Krishna,

Mahatma das
____________
1. Since we all have our individual karma, if we are praying to Krishna to attain something that we are not destined to get according to our karma, can we still get it?

Yes, praying can change our karma. But since karma is Krishna’s law to bring us closer to Him, why would He change it? There is a verse in Bhakti Sandharba that says if we only approach Krishna for material things, Krishna will reciprocate with that foolish person; but he won’t get bhakti. For this reason our mood should not be to ask for material things unless such material things or desires are in relation to Krishna’s service.

Krishna uses our karma to purify us, so if we pray to change that karma we may be praying to Krishna to interfere with His plan for what is best for us. But normally, whatever our karma, Krishna reduces the reactions for us.

Srila Prabhupada said it may be our karma to have our head cut off, but because we are devotees, we only get a cut on our finger. As a devotee becomes purified, he no longer needs purification of his full karma, so it is reduced by Krishna. Also, no matter what kinds of happiness and distress await a devotee, by responding to them in a Krishna conscious way, we are less affected by the happiness and distress. This is one way our destiny changes by surrendering to Krishna, i.e. we see and respond differently to our karma. Plus, we experience greater happiness in devotional service than what our karma can ever bring us.

Being disturbed by happiness and distress is an impediment to bhakti, so if we tolerate them we will be spiritually happy. And by advancement in Krishna consciousness we learn to better tolerate happiness and distress. Ultimately, our desire to pray for something material is about being happy. And by Krishna consciousness we can become many times happier.

Krishna will either reduce our karma or utilize it for our spiritual advancement. Receiving Krishna’s protection means that Krishna does what’s best. Usually our karma is what’s best for us, so Krishna uses it.

The main thing is to always pray in a way that invokes our dormant love.

2. How would you answer the above question in relation to devotees who are mostly engaged with work and family? Is there a difference between how karma affects them and how it affects those who are “fully engaged” in service?

The whole meaning of God is that He reciprocates with His devotees. So it depends on the devotee’s attitude, not ashram or external situation. If one’s ashram affects their spirit of dedication, then it will affect how Krishna reciprocates (“ye yatha mam prapadyante).”

Since every desire we have is known to Krishna, and every desire is really a prayer, is there any difference in the result we obtain by desiring something that we don’t pray for and desiring something we do pray for? The desire itself is the essence of prayer, but prayer is one of the processes of devotional service. So we should pray. Also, praying intensifies the desire. And from the position of rasa, not everything is known to Krishna; He is forgetful if that serves rasa. So it’s best to both desire and pray because maybe He won’t fulfill a specific desire unless we pray for it.
4. If my desire is material, since Krishna already knows what it is, why bother Him by asking Him to fulfill it? Plus, wouldn’t this show a lack of faith and purity since Prabhupada says, “A pure devotee of the Lord is ashamed to ask anything in self interest. But houeholders are sometimes obliged to ask favors being bound by the tie of family affection.”

In distress a devotee will want to seek shelter someplace; so why not seek help from Krishna? That seeking shelter is a natural flavor of love because the servant’s mood of love is that Krishna is my maintainer and protector. Of course with that confidence one may consider that there is no need to ask anything from Krishna because He is already maintaining and protecting us. So according to our faith we will ask – or not ask – Krishna for help. But either way there should be a mood of devotion, i.e. whatever we pray for, even if it is material, should help our bhakti in some way. Still, what we ask for will often depend on our level of faith.

5. Is there some way to purify what may seem to be a materially oriented prayer by praying for it only if I think it will help my service? In this way, although I may pray for a spouse, material security, or health, my mood is that with these things I can better serve Krishna and if He desires to give me these things I will use them for Him?

Yes, if you need to pray and compromise the spirit of love by asking God for something, then try to acknowledge that God’s will is best and what pleases Him most is by asking, as you have suggested, for things that will enhance your service, not your sense gratification. And if you are not sure what you are asking for is proper, you can add the phrase “if you so desire” to your prayer.

6. It seems unproductive, perhaps even useless, to pray for something that we don’t strongly desire and thus don’t actively purse. For example, I could pray to become free of envy but do little or nothing to become non-envious. To me this is like asking someone to help me carry a table and when they lift their end, I don’t lift mine. There is a saying, “Act like everything depends on you and pray like everything depends on God.” So is it improper to pray unless we are willing to make efforts to achieve what we are praying for?

I don’t think it is useless to pray this way because a devotee’s mood is that everything depends on Krishna. It is an acknowledgment that we are not independent of Him, which is the mood of surrender and the gateway to bhakti. So we ask for purity and at the same time the act of praying itself is the consciousness and endeavor for purity. In other words, praying for something that we do not yet strongly desire, and are thus not really pursuing, is still purifying as an act of sadhana, and by acting in this way the pure desire can develop.

We can also pray for the desire to want to become pure.

7. If we have a strong desire for pure devotional service, and thus take care to perform the activities that will help us achieve this, won’t that get us to our goal even if we don’t pray to achieve it? In other words, if I am totally fixed on my goal, isn’t that really the perfection of prayer, the external manifestation of prayer. Or is prayer still necessary?

Prayer is still necessary to keep us in the humble mood of dependence on Krishna to achieve success. Otherwise our determination may turn to into ahankara, thinking that I can achieve everything by my own power.

8. What about prayers to help us out of dangerous situations? A devotee doesn’t ask Krishna for anything yet at the same time is totally dependent on Krishna for protection. In danger ,we pray to Lord Nsmhadeva. Draupadi prayed to Krishna to protect her and Uttara came to Krishna when she saw the brahmastra coming. Only Krishna can protect us so is it wrong or right to seek and ask for protection. Or should we just ask Krishna to protect our devotional service?

In Nectar of Devotion , Srila Prabhupada says we should go to the Lord and reveal our troubles to Him. Prabhupada also said go to Gaura Nitai, tell them your problems, and they will do the needful. Again, if protection is motivated ultimately by the desire to be pure, then such prayers are welcome. Sometimes we circumstantially have to ask Krishna for material help because He is our only shelter and we are in great difficulty. And the nature of such prayers and dependence will reflect the level of our advancement. So although we want to elevate the quality of our prayers to not have to ask Krishna for anything on our own account, we also want to be real when we pray.

9. It seems there is a fine line between accepting a situation and praying to change a situation. When we pray for changing a situation that we can personally do nothing to alter, we may be putting ourselves into a mind set in which we will be unable to deal with the consequences if the situation doesn’t change. Is there a guideline?

Sometimes we need to pray for the strength to deal with the situation rather than pray to change the situation. “Krishna, please give me the strength, intelligence and ability to deal with the challenges that I face.”

10. What about the prayers of one who asks the Lord to save him from the ocean of birth and death? Can we say that on the platform of vaidhi, this is appropriate, but on higher platforms of bhakti it is not? And how does this relate to the question about praying to Krishna for protection?

For a neophyte, a prayer to be saved from the ocean of birth and death is in accordance with his level of advancement. He is suffering in the material world and wants to get out. This suffering is a strong impetus for him to be Krishna conscious. For a more advanced devotee, he wants to be free from the ocean of birth and death in the sense of, “Place me as an atom at your lotus feet.” He always wants to serve the Lord, free from all material impurities, be it in heaven or hell.

By Ananda Vrindavaneswari Devi Dasi

As we settle into the rhythm of the New Year here are some pocket meditations to carry with us every day. These small reminders can bring quality to our lives and thus help us feel more alive. As the Joseph Campbell quote goes - “I don’t believe people are looking for the meaning of life as much as they are looking for the experience of being alive.” For those practicing bhakti, that means being alive to our relationship with Krishna and others. It’s all about relationship. Nothing mystical in these meditations, but things that can surely, when applied to the practice of bhakti, bring us to mystical experiences. Always Try to do Things Better Continue reading "Pocket Meditations for the New Year…
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Love is beyond the law.
Krsna has regulated the material world with perfect regard for the karma of living beings.
For every action I perform in this material world, I am subject to an equal, opposite reaction. This is the relentless, insurmountable rule of the material nature regulated and enforced by the three gunas – sattva, rajas and tamas – which like ropes, bind the living entity tightly, forcing him to submit.
Lord Krsna says:
“There is no being existing, either here or among the demigods in the higher planetary systems, which is freed from these three modes born of material nature.” (Bg. 18.40)
However, devotional service transcends the laws of the material nature.

Simply by surrendering to Krsna, one can easily cross over the otherwise impassable ocean of material nature by Krsna’s grace. (Bg. 7.14)

Lord Brahma corroborates this principle in the Brahma Samhita, saying: karmani nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhajan – “Krsna burns up all the karma of those engaged in His devotional service.” (Brahma Samhita 5.54)

And in the third canto of Srimad-bhagavatam, Kapiladeva tells Devahuti that the devotional assets a devotee acquires from devotional service are never lost under any circumstances.

These evidences show that work under the modes of nature is binding, predictable, and temporary. On the other hand, loving service to Krsna is liberating, beyond the laws of material nature, and brings permanent assets to the devotee.

As one learns about and clearly understands the difference between law-bound karmic work and voluntary work for Krsna in devotional service, one comes to appreciate that Krsna has compassionately given us free choice.

One who knows the options and freely chooses to serve Krsna does so out of love. The expression of such love – through active devotional service to Krsna – is the source of happiness and is the most powerful force in existence.

Lord Caitanya told Rupa Goswami:

“The exchange of spiritual happiness between Krsna and His devotee in which Krsna is controlled by His devotee is compared to an ocean of nectar into which the devotee and Krsna plunge. This is the verdict of learned scholars who appreciate Krsna’s opulence.” (Cc Madhya, 19.229)

Recognizing this fact, French poet Victor Hugo wrote, “Love conquers all.”

And in Srimad-bhagavatam, 10.14.3, Lord Brahma confirms that those who give up all other methods of understanding Krsna and serve Him by submissively hearing about Him from pure devotees will come to conquer even Lord Krsna who is otherwise unconquerable.
Vaisesika das

Cause of Material Life.
Question: Why did we come to the material world in the first place? I know this question has been asked many times and it seems no one really has the correct answer. I have heard from various other devotees that each individual will eventually find out why based on their own individuality; but there must be some logical explanation for God to build this material world. From my own conclusion and what I have heard is that we were given a choice to enjoy independently of Him while we were in the spiritual world since we are all individual beings, but why would we make that choice if we were enjoying eternal happiness? Could it be that we still didn’t have freedom, perhaps? And keeping us there in the spiritual world with no choice at all would have meant He really caged us in and forced us to be there. But then again it is our eternal position. It’s confusing - can you please elaborate on this subject. Why did we come to the material world?

Romapada Swami: As you indicated, yes, we are here because of our choice to enjoy independently of Krishna. But your question probes the reason or cause as to why would someone who is experiencing complete happiness in the spiritual world would make such a choice, as if he was experiencing
some shortcoming, or exhibiting a reaction to his dissatisfaction or rebellion against being ‘caged’ within the spiritual realm?
If you search through the digest of previous questions and answers, you will find that the 'event’ of misuse of free will is not a 'chronological event’ (this means 'an event within time’, eg “In the past I was outside of this room, then some time passed, then some notion came into my mind, and that inspired me to come within the room, which also took place through the passage of some time.”) but constitutes an event nonetheless. Call it an ontological event, if you will.
Now let us explore the 'cause’ of the soul’s misuse of free will.
The source of any hypothetical dissatisfaction could not be a reaction to the lack of freedom, as it seems your question proposes. The very fact that we are within the material circumstance of life implies that we do have such freedom; if we were forced or caged within the spiritual world, as you put it, we wouldn’t be here! The point is that free will also exists in the spiritual realm, and naturally so, since minute free will is an inherent quality of the soul, just as unlimited free will is an inherent quality of God.
Despite the all-perfect nature of the spiritual world, there is one desire which a living entity cannot possibly satisfy in that realm, a desire which can only be approached in illusion - the unceremonious aspiration to become God oneself!
The source of the misuse of free will is NOT coming from some source outside of the soul, acting upon it. Tiny free will is inherent within the soul itself, and there is no other cause.
By constitution, the living entity, being a miniscule fragmentary part of the Supreme, has freedom which is correspondingly limited. Jivas are dependent on the Supreme for enjoyment, much as a child is dependent on their mother and father. In the spiritual world, souls can enjoy unlimited bliss, but by serving the Lord and not independently.
There, Krishna is the only Enjoyer and the Cynosure of everybody’s attention and devotion. For those who unfortunately resent the Lord’s unrivaled opulence and His position as the central Enjoyer of all existence, He out of great kindness creates this illusory realm - like a loving father’s indirect protection of his prodigal son. Besides giving the soul the opportunity for an illusory sense of unlimited freedom, by illusion’s inherent miserable nature, it helps rectify the soul of this mentality. This is one of the grand mysteries of material creation.

Jan 6th South London.

By Sri Nandanandana dasa

For those of us who have traveled the length and breadth of India, there are many temples that have allowed us in and left indelible and inspiring memories for our spiritual progress. There have also been some temples who have kept us, as Westerners, out, or even kicked us out after we have already entered, as if they do not want to share their culture with us, or anyone they feel does not meet their requirements Continue reading "The Vedas Say They MUST be Shared With Everyone
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By Kesava Krsna Dasa

As a world body, how do the members of Iskcon – the devotees – deal with truth telling or the revelation of sensitive information in a vaisnava way, among themselves? Some believe there should be no restrictions while others urge caution due to aparadha. Is there a balanced way? It normally takes a trustworthy official statement to put a matter to rest. In between the official statement and an incidental cause for emotion and betrayal, our vaisnava approach to how knowledge or information should be revealed, is tested. If the brahminical quality of truth rules in all of our dealings and interactions with other devotees and the public, then to what extent should truth be revealed – in different circumstances - that could possibly cause loss of faith, betrayal, hurt, emotional reactions and so on? Continue reading "The Right To Know – The Vaisnava Way
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By Giriraj Swami

Sometimes people think that physical proximity to the spiritual master is an indication of special mercy or good fortune, and in one sense it may be. But the real essence of the relationship with the spiritual master is service to the instructions. And service to the instructions does not depend on physical presence. When Srila Prabhupada was in Bombay, we used to go to his quarters every morning after mangala-arati, because at around six o’clock he would go for his morning walk. One morning Harikesa Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada’s secretary at the time, greeted us at the door. He was very excited and said, “Last night Srila Prabhupada finished translating Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. And he dictated the most wonderful glorification of his spiritual master.” Harikesa said that Srila Prabhupada was so blissful—and he had instructed that we celebrate the occasion with a feast. Continue reading "Srila Prabhupada’s Concluding Words
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Iskcon Toronto: What a Way to Kick Off the New Year!
Festival Report by: Smruthi Venkateshan
New Year’s Day kicked off with a bang at the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple, with grand celebrations for His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada who is the founder of the ISKCON movement.
The night started out with a melodious kirtan and arati ceremony for their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Ksira-Chora Gopinatha. After the arati, everyone gathered around Srila Prabhupada and offered their thanks to him, by placing flowers on his lotus feet.

In the mood of giving thanks, devotees presented Srila Prabhupada a letter that the Right Honorable Justin Trudeau wrote to ISKCON Toronto in celebration of our movement’s 50th anniversary. Devotees attempted to persuade Prime Minister Trudeau to join them for the Ratha Yatra this year, by sending a photo with the letter and all the devotees who were gathered.

Following the special photo session, kids from 4 to 13 years, gave a small recital of verses from the Gita as a special offering to Srila Prabhupada. Continuing the celebrations, Toronto showcased its unique connection to Remuna a holy place in India and explained the origins of Sri Sri Radha-Ksira-Chora Gopinatha in the form of a play, expertly directed by Bhaktimarga Swami. After a ecstatic kirtan, and arati, devotees celebrated the night away with a wonderful vegetarian feast!

Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra picks up momentum to reach the 108 mark!
The Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra commemorating ISKCON’s Golden Jubilee year of 2016 reached the 105th village on 28th December 2016.
The three-days Yatra fulfills the ardent desire of HG Satya Madhav Prabhu and Manimanjari mataji to take the Holyname to their native and adjacent village.
The first village, Chandana Pally in Nalgonda district of Telangana State, is located on the outskirts of the Nalgonda district near to Panagal Uadaya Samudram (reservoir). This village was shifted to construct the reservoir.This reservoir supplies drinking water to the nearby villages as the villages in Nalgonda district are mostly affected with high fluoride content.

The farmers in this village cultivate paddy and has orchards of mango and orange trees.

Satya Madhava Prabhu’s uncle (Sri Kompaly Chendraiah) coordinated and helped in organizing the Yatra in this village.

The program started with a Nagar sankirtan with about 130 – 150 villagers participating. A video show on the need for cow protection was screened. Most of the viewers become emotionally surcharged when they saw the present situation in the agriculture sector especially when viewed in the context of diminishing cows in the villages.

Six maha books and few small books were distributed. The highlight of this Yatra was that HG Paramhansa prabhu with his group of devotees, who are running the Bhakti Vedanta Institute, also participated.
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Chaitanya Charan Das: How do we explain the authenticity of the Lord’s pastimes to skeptics who doubt Vyasadeva’s saintly authority?
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Reformers’, galore, we find in history and today in the name of religion and politics. When I was in grade school, I remember a famous social reformer Raja Rammohan roy who was instrumental in abolishing sati rites. Then there was Aurobindo who later become a monist was also a social reformer in his heydays. In fact there was a wave of social reformers in the late 19th and early 20th century based primarily on advaita vedanta to emancipate the social conditions' of the "common man". Certainly, there is no paucity for such social reformers in history and today.

His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Takur Prabhupada talks about how there is no need for such social reformation. He states;

The world stands in no need of any reformer. The world has a very competent person for guiding its minutest happenings. The person who determines that there is scope for reform of the world, himself stands in need of reform. The world goes on in its perfect way. No person can deflect it even the breadth of a hair from the course chalked out for it by providence. - Srila Prabhupada

What is needed is the reformation of one’s own mundane vision. This reformation of vision of our own self and the outside world, according to Srila Prabhupada, can happen only by the mercy of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Mundane reformation for a social cause or moral justice may seem appealing to the apologetic religionists’ and impassionate politician as it seemingly deals with social equity – fight for the right of the underdog. However, such social justice cause almost always is about satisfying an ulterior agenda of appealing to vox populi and not to establish dharma or eternal occupation of the eternal living being.

True reformation therefore, which Maharaj indicates, is changing our own vision to see the glory of Krishna nama and how through offenseless uttering of the same nama, one can realize that nobody is left without a competent guide.

As soon as Krishna enters the listening ear, He clears up the vision of the listener so that he no longer has any ambition of ever acting the part of a reformer of any other person, because he finds that nobody is left without the very highest guidance. - Srila Prabhupada

What is missing is our inner-vision of that highest guidance. By chanting Krishna nama, that vision which we were originally blind to becomes apparent and in that enlightened state we realize our eternal position in relation to Krishna.

By chanting without offenses you will personally realize that all perfections come from the holy name. Through chanting, the distinction that exists between the self, and the gross and subtle bodies, is gradually effaced and one realizes one’s own spiritual form. Once aware of the spiritual body, as one continues to chant, one sees the transcendental nature of the Lord’s form. - Srila Prabhupada

This revelation of the Lord's original form will once and for all relieve the soul from bondage of all sufferings' that is related to this body and mind and that which arises from the dualities of this world.

True reformation,indeed, is the reformation of our mundane heart!

Hare Krishna

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2009, Durban, South Africa, Lecture)

There was a Mr Gupta who lived in Indore in India and he had a shop selling truck parts and the whole day people would visit his shop. But there was something special about his shop in that everywhere there were pictures of Krsna! Never ever before had I seen in one space that many pictures of Krsna! There were pictures all over the wall, there were pictures on the ceiling, pictures on the door, pictures on the door knob, pictures on the table – everything had a picture of Krsna! And every day he was putting more and more little pictures of Krsna; he was addicted to it. His watch had a picture of Krsna and even his pen had a picture of Krsna! So one day I asked him, “Mr Gupta why do you have so many pictures of Krsna?” and he just said, “Just in case I might forget…” This is the spirit of trying to increase our Krsna consciousness – just in case we might forget!