Thursday, November 10th, 2016
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Bolton, Ontario
  
In the Country 

Thursday night is shopping night for a lot of folks.  Traffic is increased; thus it took two hours (that’s double the usual time) to arrive by car at our destination, the Nirvana retreat Centre.  Here I have my own 10’ x10’ cabin. A two-story one next to me is reserved for our own three-man monk party.  Delegates from other parts of Canada have arrived for a weekend of sanga (group fuelling).

Do I like the place?

Of course!  Just the word ‘cabin’ paints a picture of rusticness and comfort.  Cedars, pine, spruce and hardwood trees are almost hugging our cabins.  The main building, with ample space, provides on its two floors, a dining facility and a yoga room.  An aqua-coloured pond, with a limestone base, that could have been our morning bath just a month ago, is also on site.

Love the smells; love the sounds.  Coyotes howl something wicked.  We are charmed.  I’ll take their song over any man-made engine.

A few moments on the bench by the pond.  I’m chanting the maha-mantra hoping perchance to see a coyote or two breeze by.  I would let them be.  Not a move I’d make or a sound I’d shake.  I would try to see Krishna in them and process the phrase “I’m the ability in all,” spoken by the speaker of the Gita.

Minutes pass and I didn’t see a coyote at all.  It was just silently beautiful.

May the Source be with you!


2 km

Wednesday, November 9th, 2016
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Toronto, Ontario
  
Krishna Says to Be Yourself


I participated in two morning sadhana programs at Day and Virginia Streets in Miami.  Then a flight by Air Canada took me back home, where I took advantage of a quiet evening walk through the Rosedale neighbourhood, which over the years has always been a place of head-clearing.  It carries an air of optimism with its mature, fall trees—the homes like huge estates, and people particularly nice to me as they pass by on foot.  There’s never a car congestion issue in the area I trek.  It is safe and sound and a great neighbourhood with winding streets, as opposed to a grid dynamic.

I returned to the ashram, as well as my bed, and after a good slumber I dwelt on the good verses of the Bhagavad-gita, and the theme of not denying your psycho-physical nature.

Very inspiring!

18:58:  If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace.  If, however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost.

18:59:  If you do not act according to My direction and do not fight, then you will be falsely directed.  By your nature, you will have to be engaged in warfare.

18:60:  Under illusion you are now declining to act according to My direction.  But compelled by the work born of your own nature, you will act all the same, O son of Kunti.

The theme here is of surrender and to be yourself.

May the Source be with you!


6 km

Is there Bliss in the Soul?
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Ātmā is jñāna-mātra / cin-mātrā (which means that the most essential quality of the “soul” is that it is the “substance of congition” – consciousness).

Ātmā is consciousness, but what is consciousness (cit)? It is inseparably related to reality (sat) and bliss (ānanda), for it is the ultimate substrate of reality (aka. “sat” – it is the condition in which reality exists), and is the “wick” on which the flame of ānanda shines (bliss is a state experienced by consciousness – so consciousness is the substrate for bliss, too).

So, the ātmā (aka jīva) has, as its inherent potential (dharma) the capacity to experience,participate in, and amplify reality (sat) and bliss (ānanda). This is it’s potential. It is not svatantra (independently capable) in fulfilling that potential. It has to cooperate with another śakti to realize its potential.

Some conscious individuals are not naturally oriented towards the true source of bliss, Bhagavān. (They are “bahir-mukha”, “looking away”). Because I am counted amongst them, I have not yet experienced what reality (sat) truly is, but I do experience a reflection of it, due to my cooperation with Bhagavān’s māyā-śakti. Similarly, I have not yet experienced what happiness (ānanda) truly is, but I experience a reflection of it via māyā-śakti.

Because I experience reflections of sat and ānanda, I know that such things exist. And because my dharma is to be in contact with sat and ānanda my whole existence hungers for them and is nothing but a quest for them. But because I am cooperating only with māyā-śakti, not bhakti-śakti I cannot really find the full, original versions of sat (reality) and ānanda (happiness). But as I gradually might transfer the focus of my consciousness from māyā to bhakti, I may gradually come to experience the infinite, true, absolutely substantial forms of divine sat and ānanda.

It has been said by those who exist in bhakti that the sat and ānanda experienced there makes the reflections seem non-exitent.

Vraja Kishor

www.vrajakishor.com


Tagged: ananda, bliss, Happiness, jiva, jivatma, Soul

Association of Krsna
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 06 August 2012, Ljubljana, The Balkans, Lecture: The pastimes of Krsna)

Govardhana-Hill

When Krsna walks in Vrindavan as Madhava, carrying his flute tucked in his belt, then the trees which have branches laden with fruits and flowers, are trying to touch Krsna’s feet. The bees are just singing the glories of Krsna. Bhagavatam says that these bees must have been great devotee sages in their last life.

The trees are thinking, ‘We are so unfortunate. It is due to our sinful activities that we have taken birth as trees and therefore we cannot follow Krsna on his pastimes in the forest.’

Of course, Bhagavatam points out that Lord Brahma is praying to become a tree in Vrindavan so how can it be that they have committed sinful activities and offenses rather, these trees are the most fortunate because, after all, one moment of association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one moment of devotional service to the Supreme Lord, is such great fortune!

Even if Krsna walks past these trees only sometimes still they are in the forest of Vrindavan! They may not be able to walk behind him but they can hear him. It is stated in the Mahabharat that trees have eyes and ears. It is said that trees can see and hear. So these trees are hearing and seeing Krsna! Quite auspicious, actually!

Remembering Jagajivan Prabhu
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Hare KrishnaBy Guru Prasad Swami

Jagajivan Prabhu was the main person instrumental in opening Peru and Chile. He was a pioneer in some of, especially at that time, the most difficult countries in Latin America; extreme poverty and lack of education amongst the population in general. Even to travel around those areas is a great austerity. In the early and mid-seventies, he would travel by Morales Moralitos; buses full of people who bathed maybe once a month or less, packed in with some animals, sometimes hot, sometimes freezing cold in the passes that reach up to 15,000 feet altitude, with broken windows, winding through endless mountain curves. This was the norm for those who preached in those counties at that time. I first met Jagajivan Prabhu in New York, and then throughout Latin America, athough we usually saw each other in passing. He was always jovial, and took the hardships with pleasure. He helped and served in practically every South American country at some point in time. Continue reading "Remembering Jagajivan Prabhu
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GBC Proposals AGM 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Ananda Tirtha Das

The Annual General Meeting of the ISKCON GBC Society will begin on February 9, 2017. Following the ISKCON GBC Society's Rules of Order, the GBC Secretariat requests proposals, duly sponsored by TWO GBC members, to be submitted by December 31, 2016. This will allow adequate time for the GBC Deputies to prepare the proposals for presentation at the meeting. Continue reading "GBC Proposals AGM 2017
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Western India Division council Meet
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Hare KrishnaBy WIDC Staff

ISKCON Western India Division Council (WIDC) Brahmachari Sanga was conducted recently at Govardha Ecovillage, Mumbai. It was a 2 day event in the serene and natural setting of GEV located near the Kohoj mountain ranges. The venue provided a naturally refreshing and spiritually enlivening experience to devotees participating from various cosmopolitan cities and rural centers in different parts of Maharashtra. The event was attended by 350 plus devotees from over 43 ISKCON centers. Explaining the vision for this sanga, HG Gauranga Das, Chairman, WIDC, said, “The inspiration for this brahmacari sanga came from the EIDC brahmacari sanga which happens in Mayapur every year. We were inspired to follow in their footsteps last year and this is the second WIDC brahmacari sanga we organized at ISKCON Govardhan Eco Village (GEV). The gathering of hundreds of sincere, dedicated devotees in the renounced order giving shelter and hope to each other and hearing from experienced sannyasis and brahmacaris is a powerful element of Devotee Care. We hope that one day we can have a pan India and a global gathering of devotees in the renounced order spreading Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission.” Continue reading "Western India Division council Meet
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Harinam en Málaga, Spain (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada:…
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Harinam en Málaga, Spain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: …the hundreds and thousands of stars and the great planets such as the sun, the moon, Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter are not clustered together because of the law of gravity or any similar idea of the modern scientists. These planets and stars are all servants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda or Krsna, and according to His order they sit in their chariots and travel in their respective orbits. The orbits in which they move are compared to machines given by material nature to the operating deities of the stars and planets, who carry out the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by revolving around Dhruvaloka, which is occupied by the great devotee Maharaja Dhruva. This is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita (5.52) as follows: yac-caksur esa savita sakala-grahanam raja samasta-sura-murtir asesa-tejah yasyajnaya bhramati sambhrta-kala-cakro govindam adi-purusam tam aham bhajami “I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, under whose control even the sun, which is considered to be the eye of the Lord, rotates within the fixed orbit of eternal time. The sun is the king of all planetary systems and has unlimited potency in heat and light.” This verse from Brahma-samhita confirms that even the largest and most powerful planet, the sun, rotates within a fixed orbit, or kala-cakra, in obedience to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This has nothing to do with gravity or any other imaginary laws created by the material scientists. >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 5.23.3
Find them here: https://goo.gl/OAjrkp

New projects at New Govardhana
→ Ramai Swami

img_1945img_1948

It’s been a few months since my last visit to New Govardhana and in that time many new projects are starting and others have come to completion.

There are about 10 new cabins for guests – the last recently finished and landscaped.

The first stage of a new road to the temple has been laid, new single lady quarters are halfway complete and land cleared for a new festival area.

These are just some of the latest developments at New Govardhana.

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The lounge on Oct 27
→ Krishna Lounge

Prabhupada said: “You failed to present me with a superior…
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Prabhupada said: “You failed to present me with a superior description of God. I have His picture right here. You have not even a word to say. So you please accept Him as God right now.” Caru das: In a letter to all temple presidents Karandhar wrote, “The etiquette is to invite the guru to your temple. It’s not likely that he’ll come, but invite him.”

Puranic Time and the Archaeological Record
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Hare KrishnaBy Drutakarma Dasa

Providing a strong challenge to established academic perception and methodology, Drutakarma Dasa presents the Vaisnava Hindu worldview on the fundamental concepts to the approach to and interpretation of the archaeological record. His presentation is articulate and thorough and the extensive research he has undertaken to support his thesis is very impressive. He contrasts the currently accepted time concept, which closely resembles the Judaeo-Christian model, with the ancient Puranic model and shows us how each tends to supports its own world view. But Drutakarma argues that the evidence offered by the archaeological record does not actually support the presently accepted model and thus questions its value in accurate historical analysis. Continue reading "Puranic Time and the Archaeological Record
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Some devotees take a vow to chant lots of rounds and keep chanting all day – is that ok?
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Answer Podcast


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The post Some devotees take a vow to chant lots of rounds and keep chanting all day – is that ok? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

What is the significance getting darshan of Radharani’s lotus feet on Radhashtami day?
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Answer Podcast


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The post What is the significance getting darshan of Radharani’s lotus feet on Radhashtami day? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The perfection of life: Jagannatha maha-prasadam! Srila…
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The perfection of life: Jagannatha maha-prasadam!
Srila Prabhupada: The yogis are trying to control the senses by force. “I shall go to the Himalayas. I shall not see any more beautiful woman. I shall close down my eyes.” These are forceful. You cannot control your senses. There are many instances. You don’t require to go to Himalaya. You just remain in Los Angeles city and engage your eyes to see Krsna, you are more than a person who has gone to Himalayas. You’ll forget all other thing. This is our process. You don’t require to change your position. You engage your ears for hearing Bhagavad-gita As It Is, you’ll forget all nonsense. You engage your eyes to see the beauty of the Deity, Krsna. You engage your tongue for tasting Krsna prasadam. You engage your legs to come to this temple. You engage your hands to work for Krsna. You engage your nose to smell the flowers offered to Krsna. Then where your senses will go? He’s captivated all round. The perfection is sure. You don’t require to control your senses forcibly, don’t see, don’t do it, don’t do it. No. You have to change the engagement, the status. That will help you. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.62-72 – Los Angeles, December 19, 1968

Meet Norman. He met Prabhupada shortly after arrival in NYC…
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Meet Norman. He met Prabhupada shortly after arrival in NYC September 1965. (3 min video)
A devotee who is a taxi driver in New York recently picked a person who after seeing Srila Prabhupada’s photo in the car he recalled his meeting with him 50 years back!
“Very providentially he and wife were going to get a rental car, passed by the taxi and decided to take it. I had been sent to a different taxi stand but it was full, so I met them there…. my good fortune!”
This is the video recording of what he said.

Devotees to Hold First Kirtan in Antarctica. Two intrepid…
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Devotees to Hold First Kirtan in Antarctica. Two intrepid devotee explorers are set to travel to the last frontier, and bring kirtan and Srila Prabhupadas books to Antarctica the southernmost and coldest continent in the world. The continent is largely uninhabited and 98 per cent of it is covered by ice, but it does have a tourist season and many international research stations to reach out to. One things for sure venturing there is a unique offering to Prabhupada for ISKCONs 50th anniversary. To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/zWjLdJ

HH.Jayapataka Swami meets HH. Sri Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swami….
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HH.Jayapataka Swami meets HH. Sri Sri Vishwesha Tirtha Swami. (Album with photos)
In his recent visit to Udupi, Jayapataka Swami met with Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of the Pejawara Adhokshaja Mutt. Sri Vishwesha Tirtharu is the current Svamiji of the Pejavara Adokshaja Matha, founded by Sri Madhvacharya. Born in 1931, Sri Vishwesha Swami took Sanyas at a very young of 8.
The Krishna deity in Udupi was personally worshiped by Lord Krishna’s queens. Vishwesha Swami is now under a two year term, during which he worships Udupi Krishna.In the two year term, he will not be leaving the temple premises.
Both Vishwesha Swami and Jayapataka Swami were delighted to see each other.In an affectionate manner,Vishwesha Swami expressed that he if not for his vow, he would come and met his old friend, Guru Maharaj.They both share a relationship that goes back over 20 years.Guru Maharaj had hosted Vishwesha Swami at Sri Dham Mayapur about 20 years ago. The two were recollecting those wonderful days.Guru Maharaj had hosted the Swami at Mayapur about 20 years ago and now he was reciprocating to the Swami’s visit.
Its’s rather special that Guru Maharaj suggested that they celebrate Gaura Purnima at the Udupi Math, for which Viswesha Swami readily agreed.
The Swami said , Jayapataka Swami means Victory and he will bring victory where ever he goes and that he has and will continue to sow the seed of Krishna Bhakti.
Sitting with Guru Maharaj before the Diety of Sri Vyasa-Tirtha in the Udupi temple complex, Vishwesha Swami said that since both the Swamis belong to the same sampradaya, it was like meeting a dear brother! Before taking leave, Swami made strong petition to Udupi Krishna , requesting him to improve Guru Maharaj’s health and prayed that Guru Maharaj be in good health for a long time and preach Krishna consciousness all over the world.
A team of devotees from Bangalore headed by HG Varada Krishna Prabhu along with local devotees from Manipal, Udupi and Mangalore facilitated the entire program.
Photos by Mahavaraha Das
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hAbQOf

Srila Prabhupada’s books in Chinese (Album with…
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Srila Prabhupada’s books in Chinese (Album with photos)
And here are the latest blissful photos of Chinese book distribution to university students and tourists from mainland China. In this case, all of them insisted on getting an assortment English books after being delighted, and even shocked, to receive books in their own language!
** Make this bliss happen every single day at the universities and tourist spots in your own area! It’s not only easy and ecstatic to do, but it increases your local language book sales at the same time! Leave a message or write us at info@bbtfeme.com for step-by-step details… **
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tJcllN

Vrindavan Forests At GNB – Indonesia
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Hare KrishnaBy Krishna Prema dasa

Gita Nagari Baru (GNB) is a village where one hundred and fifty devotees live. GNB has six cows and one bull. They are Surabhi, Candani, Godavari, Kaveri, Gauri, Subhadra, and Ram. We have started to make a replica of Vrindavan forests since 2014. Our goal is to make our village like Vrindavan village, and it will help the devotees to remember Krishna’s lilas more easily. Since we opened this forest, we always gather together once a month to do Go-Puja. Some of our cows will be there for grazing every day. Continue reading "Vrindavan Forests At GNB – Indonesia
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Gopashtami Celebrations at Mayapur Goshala
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Hare KrishnaBy Visvadhika dasi

On the very auspicious 8th day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, Mayapur Goshala celebrated Gopashtami. It was a jubilant day celebrated by residents of Mayapur, devotees and guests from many different regions of India and from all over the world. To celebrate the day that Krsna and Balarama reached their Pauganda age and became Gopalas, Goshala staff, with assistance, cleaned and festooned the area with colorful cloths and an abundance of flower garlands for several days before the occasion. Continue reading "Gopashtami Celebrations at Mayapur Goshala
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