Spiritual Health Check
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Though we live in times of chronic movement, we must pause for thought, reflect, and carefully examine our desires and motivations. In a society where life’s success factors tend to be external and tangible ones, such ‘soul-searching’ doesn’t come naturally.

“Sri Ram Jai Ram ( Let the Shadow Be Undone )
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The Juggernauts at Rutgers University Sacred Sounds, April 28 2016. Gaura Vani Buchwald, Visvambhar Sheth, and Purusartha Dasa with special guests Vrinda Devi Sheth ( dance) and Andrea Brachfeld ( flute). "Sri Ram / Jai Ram Let the Shadow Be Undone" ; (words and music by Gaura Vani Buchwald and Marianne Sutin)

Srila Prabhupada’s Jaladuta Journey
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Srila Prabhupada, founder acharya of ISKCON, navigated through the tumultuous ocean on a cargo ship, Jaladuta on 13th August 1965, to the western world with a mission to propagate Krishna Consciousness in the western world. Today the Hare Krishna movement has spread all over the world and millions of people have become part of it.

What is Kirtan Meditation ?
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Kirtan is a dynamic call-and-response sacred world music that incorporates the voices of the audience right into the performance. Kirtan is a spiritual journey, a form of bhakti yoga — the yoga of devotion.  A video by The Mantra Room.

Flower and Boat Festivals Bring Unique Flavor to Dallas Radhastami
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Some ISKCON temples have been adding new experiences to their biggest festivals to sweeten and deepen devotees’ absorption in serving the Lord, including this year’s Radhastami festival.In Dallas, USA, there were two Radhastami festivals this year, each with their own unique element. On the official Radhastami day itself, Friday September 9th, devotees bathed Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji in an unbelievable 50,000 roses during a Puspa Abhisekha.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Appearance Day
→ Mayapur.com

Appearance day of the Seventh Goswami Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, is celebrated at Mayapur with great devotional fervor. A murti of Bhakti Vinod Thakura adorned Panca tattva altar platform. Pushpanjali was offered at noon, followed by bhoga offering and Maha arti. Devotees also took opportunity of this special day of mercy to visit residence of Bhakti […]

The post Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura Appearance Day appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Religious tolerance intolerance and transcendence – Reflections on Haridasa Thakura pastimes
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Talk in Atlanta on the occasion of Haridas Thakura appearance day

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The post Religious tolerance intolerance and transcendence – Reflections on Haridasa Thakura pastimes appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

На людных площадях
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“На людных площадях славлю я Твою милость,что дарована даже ничтожным созданьям, и что позволила мне, низкорожденному, жить в лесу Враджа, где Твои великие преданные, исполненные чистой любви, стремятся родиться хотя бы лесной травинкой”.

[ Шрила Рупа Госвами, “Уткалика-валлари”, стих 65 ]

Chanting is yuga dharma – does this mean it is recommended way, the best way or the only way?
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Religious and Political Leaders Appreciate Srila Prabhupada at ISKCON 50 Gala Dinner in Washington D.C.
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Over 300 people attended the Gala event, seventy-five of them special VIP invitees including religious leaders, religious liberty experts, members of the media, government representatives and political leaders. The keynote speaker was Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who spoke of her personal appreciation for Srila Prabhupada, Bhaktivinode Thakur and the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. She then picked up her personal stringed instrument, which she dubbed a “Guitalele”, and asked the entire audience to get to their feet, and led them in a Hare Krishna maha-mantra kirtan.

Namacharya Haridasa Thakur’s disappearance day
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Haridasa Thakura said, “I have had one desire for a very long time. I think that quite soon, my Lord, You will bring to a close Your pastimes within this material world. I wish that You not show me this closing chapter of Your pastimes. Before that time comes, kindly let my body fall down in Your presence. I wish to catch Your lotus like feet upon my heart and see Your moonlike face. With my tongue I shall chant Your holy name, ‘Sri Krsna Caitanya!’ That is my desire. Kindly let me give up my body in this way. O most merciful Lord, if by Your mercy it is possible, kindly grant my desire. Let this lowborn body fall down before You. You can make possible this perfection of all my desires.”

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His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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Hare KrishnaBy Chandan Yatra Das

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) was sent by the Lord Krishna to fulfil Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's prediction “Prtvithe ache yata nagaradi grama, sarvatra pracara haibe more nama” - In every town and village of the world, My name will be heard. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote in his Sajjona-tosani, "Soon there will be a time when the chanting of Krishna's name will be heard in England, France, Russia, Germany and America." Srila Prabhupada is widely regarded as the world’s pre-eminent exponent of the teachings and practices of Bhakti-yoga to the Western world. He is a Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual teacher and the Founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), commonly known as the "Hare Krishna Movement”. Continue reading "His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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Mayapur Academy moves into its 10th year!
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Hare KrishnaBy Acarya-nistha dasa

Mayapur Academy has been established to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire for the development of deity worship and brahminical culture in ISKCON. By creating an educational institution of excellence in Mayapur to teach brahminical culture, arts and sciences, deity worship, cooking, samskaras etc. this vision will be fulfilled. Continue reading "Mayapur Academy moves into its 10th year!
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Srila Bhaktivinoda’s appearance day
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Hare KrishnaBy Braja Vilas das

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is one of the most important acaryas in our Gaudiya line. He can be seen as the father of modern-day Krishna Consciousness. He, along with his son Bhaktisiddhanta, created an explosion of preaching all over India, and he was also the first Vaisnava to send books to the west. He rediscovered many of the pilgrimage sites in Mayapur and foresaw the day when devotees from all over the globe would arrive here to perform blissful Sankirtana together. Srila Prabhupada often told the devotees in Mayapur that they were fulfilling Bhaktivinoda’s prediction. Continue reading "Srila Bhaktivinoda’s appearance day
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Environment Day at Allan Gardens – Sep 17th
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple is excited to share that we will be participating in a "Community Environment Day" on Saturday, September 17th.  The event is being hosted by our City Councillor, Kristyn Wong-Tam.  Our temple will be hosting a free yoga class and will also be presenting kirtan on the grass throughout the event.  Click here for more information. The following information is from Councillor Wong-Tam's website:

Message from our City Councillor: Community Environment Day and Fair - September 17th
Saturday, September 17, 2016 is the annual Environment Day in Ward 27!

Join me at Allan Gardens. Environment Day events will be set up at the south-west corner of Sherbourne Street and Carlton Streets.

Visit me between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to get your free compost, garbage and compost bins and much more!  To view the full details please view the flyer.

Toronto Hare Krishna Centre will provide a Free Yoga and Meditation Session, plus Live Music.

Community Bicycle Network will provide a Free Bike Tune-Up Station and Tutorials.

Toronto Public Library Parliament Branch will provide a Free Children's Storybook Reading.

When: Saturday, September 17, 2016 from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Where: Allan Gardens (at the corner of Sherbourne Street and Carlton Street)

The event will also feature:
  • Ward 14 TDSB Trustee Chris Moise
  • Garden District Residents Association
  • Friends of Allan Gardens
  • Good Shepherd Ministries
  • Grace Church
  • Enbridge Gas
  • Tower and Neighbourhood Revitalization
  • Public Health
  • Animal Services
  • Social Housing
  • Toronto Community Housing
  • Toronto Fire Services + Fire Truck
  • Toronto Police Services Mounted Unit
  • EMS Historical Ambulance
  • 311 Toronto
This is a wonderful opportunity to interact with neighbours, learn more about the community, reduce, reuse and recycle, and have some fun and good food along the way!

I’m looking forward to seeing you at Allan Gardens in September for Environment Day!


Special Sunday with Gaura Nataraj Dasa – Sep 18th
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple is excited to welcome Gaura Nataraj Dasa to our community.  An exceptional dancer, Gaura Nataraj will be presenting a special series of classical Bharatnatyam dances during this upcoming Sunday Feast on Setember 18, 2016.

Gaura Nataraj das (Aleksey Furdak) was born in 1989 to Russian parents in Riga, Latvia and started learning Bharata Natyam at the age of 15.

His first teacher was Pille Roosi (Estonia) who was his guide in the world of Indian dance for over 10 years. Gaura Nataraj participated in countless workshops (by Priyadarsini Govind, Rama Vaidyanathan, Parshwanth Upadhye, Mavin Khoo to name a few). Now he continues his training online at eAmbalam under the guidance of Smt. Indira Kadambi.

Gaura Nataraj also studies drawing and painting as well as ancient Armenian music instrument duduk.

Check out some of his videos below:







Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Appearance Day
- TOVP.org

Dear Devotees and TOVP Donors,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur is one of the most important acaryas in our Gaudiya line. He can be seen as the father of modern-day Krishna Consciousness. He, along with his son Bhaktisiddhanta, created an explosion of preaching all over India, and he was also the first Vaisnava to send books to the west. He rediscovered many of the pilgrimage sites in Mayapur and foresaw the day when devotees from all over the globe would arrive here to perform blissful Sankirtana together. Srila Prabhupada often told the devotees in Mayapur that they were fulfilling Bhaktivinoda’s prediction.

“So it was the desire of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura that Europeans and Americans would come here and chant Hare Krsna mantra. That prophecy is now being fulfilled, and that is my satisfaction.”

Arrival Address, September 27, 1974, Mayapur

In 1890, soon after he moved here, Bhaktivinoda Thakur published the Navadvipa Dhama Matatmya. He preached all over the area, started hundreds of nama-hattas, and raised money in Kolkata to build the Yoga Pita at the birth-site of Lord Caitanya. He wrote several times in his book Jaiva-dharma that Mayapur is the most auspicious place in the whole universe.

“When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu descended to this material world, He brought His own original abode of Svetadvipa, that is Mayapura, with Him. Four centuries after Sri Caitanya’s advent, this Svetadvipa will gain pre-eminence over all other places of pilgrimage in the world. The benefit of residing in Navadvipa is that all offences are nullified and the resident is crowned with suddha-bhakti.”

Jaiva-dharma chapter 8

On this most auspicious occasion of his appearance day, we should all pray for his blessings so that we can increase our appreciation for Sri Mayapur Dhama.

“My son! This place of Mayapura-Navadvipa that you reside within is also purely transcendental. However, as there is a net of maya covering your perception, you are unable to realize the innate transcendence of this place. When, by the mercy of the saintly souls, your spiritual vision arises, then you will be able to see this holy land as it really is. You will see that Mayapura and Navadvipa are transcendental realms; then only will your stay here be realized as the perfection of vraja-vasa, residence in Vraja.”

Jaiva-dharma chapter 13

Yours in the Service of Sridham Mayapur,

Braja Vilas das
Global Fundraising Director
*protected email*

The post Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Appearance Day appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Saturday, September 10th, 2016
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Saturday, September 10th, 2016
Thunder Bay, Ontario

Doing Things Right

I arrived at the Thunder Bay Airport only to have to wait.  A call came on my phone.

“I’ll be there in a minute,” said Prem.

He arrived and we drove to Lake Boulevard.

There, I met young new students, twenty-five or so, fresh from India.  It was their first time in Canada and their first week to start a new phase in their lives.  And, it was their first time meeting a white swami.

Prem has a way of doing things well.  He and his wife, Sneha, take these young enthusiasts and make them feel at home.  They are oriented to the beauty of nature around, then a walk by the lake, a picnic, an introduction to the quaint temple on Victoria Ave—which has attached to it, a shop for Indian goods—food and clothes.  Samosas, of course, are a regular feature.

Overall, the most important way of making the students—who are all bright and really value their education—feel comfortable,  is by helping them realize they have each other’s friendship, as well as the mentorship of Prem and his wife.  The students are made to feel right at home while they get totally accustomed to Canada and their school.

Well, the walk around the lake was great.  They got to understand what a Frisbee course was, and in  the end, after our picnic, they went on to playing cricket.

The last two evening hours were spent with Prem, in his home, viewing the results of his work, and the students watching last year’s Festival of Colours.  The displays and the stage show were phenomenal.  He and his team do a lot of things right.  They especially excel in newcomer care.

May the Source be with you!

5 km



Did the songs of Narottam Das Thakura and others not protect the popular Gaudiya tradition?
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Did the Goswami’s books not help preserve the Gaudiya tradition after their departure?
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