This article is dedicated to Inno, Emina, Simone, Wepener, Ingrid, the BYS students at Wits and UJ and all those who want to know the techniques of mantra meditation.
I first spoke to Hare Krishna devotees in Cape Town in February 1997. Most of the devotees were in their early twenties. They wore eastern clothes. And they seemed to be happy. They were always chanting which sometimes frustrated me because I wanted to speak to them. I had so many questions.
The devotees had something I had been ardently looking for – a method of self-realization that connected them to God twenty-four hours a day. What was this? The chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Yes. It was that simple: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna/Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama/Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Their spiritual lifestyle complemented their constant chanting of the mantra. They refrained from intoxicants, meat-eating, gambling and were celibate. Everything they seemed to know – the philosophy, wisdom and practices of Krishna consciousness – was attributed to a teacher by the name of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Aside from the obvious pleasure they seemed to derive from chanting, the devotees substantiated their practices with quotes from the Vedas. My second or third meeting with the devotees took place amidst the Parthenon-like architecture of the University of Cape Town (UCT). On this particular occasion, I approached a scholarly young woman named Rati. It was an incongruous situation. I was talking to a western girl, dressed in a sari, about the Ancient Indian spiritual culture. And this conversation was taking place amidst the neoclassical columns and steps of a university campus in Africa!
We philosophized on the Bhagavad-gita before Rati launched into an explanation of the chanting. I asked her, ‘How long should we chant?’ Rati answered matter-of-factly, ‘Twenty-four hours a day’. There was a distant look in her eyes as she quoted a verse from an ancient Sanskrit writing called the Brihad-aranyika Purana: harer nama harer nama/harer nama eva kevalam/kalau nasty eva nasty/eva nasty gatir anyatha. In this age of Kali the method for self-realization is the chanting of the holy names, the chanting of the holy names, the chanting of the holy names. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way’.
After reading Juan Mascaro’s Bhagavad-gita I was convinced that I could become ‘enlightened’ or ‘self-realized’ through spiritual knowledge and principled living. Impressed by my knowledge of Hinduism and my interest in the Vedas, Rati encouraged me to read Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is. We spoke again, a few days later, and she asked me if I had gained anything significant from the book. I replied, ‘Determination’. Prabhupada seemed, however, to be repeating the same thing over and over again in his ‘purports’ or commentaries to the Gita – chant Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna/Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama/Rama Rama Hare Hare. It was the same message and practice the devotees advocated.
Rati carefully pulled some wooden prayer beads from a cloth bag and, very gently, extolled the glories of chanting themantra. ‘These are for you’, she said. There was no need for me to chant, I thought. I was quite happy reading theBhagavad-gita. Sensing my apprehension, Rati said, ‘Just try’. ‘Okay’, I replied. That night I chanted on the beads for about half-an-hour. The chanting had a profound effect on me. Everything slowed down. The mantra seemed to open my perceptions and my ability to see the unity of God’s creation. All the knowledge in the Bhagavad-gita assumed a tangible form in the chanting of Hare Krishna. Statements of Krishna like, ‘I am the light of the sun and the moon’, ‘I am the strength of the strong’ and ‘of bodies of water I am the ocean’ made perfect sense. The chanting gave me a sense of God’s presence within and without myself.
I saw Rati the next day. ‘How was it?’ she said. ‘I feel like there is no need to read the Bhagavad-gita now. The chanting seems to encapsulate everything Krishna says in the Gita.’ ‘Well, the two go hand-in-hand’, she said. The more I spoke to Rati, the more I was convinced that what she was saying was true.
What does the weary body and mind long for, finishing next week a 3.5 months round-the-world circuit? How does a swami, who has nowhere in this world to call home, relax and get the "home sweet home" feeling?
Here is my list of desired luxuries:
Pamper me with hearing and talking about Krishna.
Envelop me in the spiritual sunshine of the Holy Name.
Surround me with kirtan that soothes and thrills the soul.
The desired goal I have in mind, an aim progressively achieved:
"A pure devotee of the Lord whose heart has once been cleansed by the process of devotional service never relinquishes the lotus feet of Lord Krishna, for they fully satisfy him, as a traveler is satisfied at home after a troubled journey." (S. bhag. 2.8.6)
Lecture on the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.32 given on July 1, 2011 at the Croatian Summer Camp.
SB 1.5.32
etat samsucitam brahmams tapa-traya-cikitsitam yad isvare bhagavati karma brahmani bhavitam
Translation:
O Brahmana Vyasadeva, it is decided by the learned that the best remedial measure for removing all troubles and miseries is to dedicate one’s activities to the service of the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead [Sri Krsna].
Purport:
Sri Narada Muni personally experienced that the most feasible and practical way to open the path of salvation or get relief from all miseries of life is to hear submissively the transcendental activities of the Lord from the right and bona fide sources. This is the only remedial process. The entire material existence is full of miseries. Foolish people have manufactured, out of their tiny brains, many remedial measures for removing the threefold miseries pertaining to the body and mind, pertaining to the natural disturbances and in relation with other living beings. The whole world is struggling very hard to exist out of these miseries, but men do not know that without the sanction of the Lord no plan or no remedial measure can actually bring about the desired peace and tranquillity. The remedial measure to cure a patient by medical treatment is useless if it is not sanctioned by the Lord, the attempt to cross a river or the ocean by a suitable boat will fail if it is not sanctioned by the Lord, and parents’ attempt to protect their children cannot succeed if it is not sanctioned by the Lord. We should know for certain that the Lord is the ultimate sanctioning officer, and we must therefore dedicate our attempts to the mercy of the Lord for ultimate success or to get rid of the obstacles on the path of success. The Lord is all-pervading, all-powerful, omniscient and omnipresent. He is the ultimate sanctioning agent of all good or bad effects. We should, therefore, learn to dedicate our activities unto the mercy of the Lord and accept Him either as impersonal Brahman, localized Paramatma or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It does not matter what one is. One must dedicate everything in the service of the Lord. If one is a learned scholar, scientist, philosopher, poet, etc., then he should employ his learning to establish the supremacy of the Lord. Try to study the energy of the Lord in every sphere of life. Do not decry Him and try to become like Him or take His position simply by fragmental accumulation of knowledge. If one is an administrator, statesman, warrior, politician, etc., then one should try to establish the Lord’s supremacy in statesmanship. Fight for the cause of the Lord as Sri Arjuna did. In the beginning, Sri Arjuna, the great fighter, declined to fight, but when he was convinced by the Lord that the fighting was necessary,Sri Arjuna changed his decision and fought for His cause. Similarly, if one is a businessman, an industrialist, an agriculturist, etc., then one should spend his hard-earned money for the cause of the Lord. Think always that the money which is accumulated is the wealth of the Lord. Wealth is considered to be the goddess of fortune (Laksmi), and the Lord is Narayana, or the husband of Laksmi. Try to engage Laksmi in the service of Lord Narayana and be happy. That is the way to realize the Lord in every sphere of life. The best thing is, after all, to get relief from all material activities and engage oneself completely in hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. But in case of the absence of such an opportunity, one should try to engage in the service of the Lord everything for which one has specific attraction. That is the way of peace and prosperity, and that is the remedial measure for all the miseries of material existence. The word samsucitam in this stanza is also significant. One should not think for a moment that the realization of Narada was childish imagination only. It is not like that. It is so realized by the expert and erudite scholars, and that is the real import of the word samsucitam.
http://vimeo.com/28922473 Lecture on the Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.32 given on July 1, 2011 at the Croatian Summer Camp. SB 1.5.32 etat samsucitam brahmams tapa-traya-cikitsitam yad isvare bhagavati karma brahmani bhavitam Translation: O Brahmana Vyasadeva, it is decided by the learned that the best remedial measure for removing all troubles and miseries is to dedicate one's activities to the service of the Supreme Lord Personality of Godhead [Sri Krsna]. Purport: Sri Narada Muni personally experienced that the most feasible and practical way to open the path of salvation or get relief from all miseries of life is to hear submissively the transcendental activities of the Lord from the right and bona fide sources. This is the only remedial process. The entire material existence is full of miseries. Foolish people have manufactured, out of their tiny brains, many remedial measures for removing the threefold miseries pertaining to the body and mind, pertaining to the natural disturbances and in relation with other living beings. The whole world is struggling very hard to exist out of these miseries, but men do not know that without the sanction of the Lord no plan or no remedial measure can actually bring about the desired peace and tranquillity. The remedial measure to cure a patient by medical treatment is useless if it is not sanctioned by the Lord, the attempt to cross a river or the ocean by a suitable boat will fail if it is not sanctioned by the Lord, and parents' attempt to protect their children cannot succeed if it is not sanctioned by the Lord. We should know for certain that the Lord is the ultimate sanctioning officer, and we must therefore dedicate our attempts to the mercy of the Lord for ultimate success or to get rid of the obstacles on the path of success. The Lord is all-pervading, all-powerful, omniscient and omnipresent. He is the ultimate sanctioning agent of all good or bad effects. We should, therefore, learn to dedicate our activities unto the mercy of the Lord and accept Him either as impersonal Brahman, localized Paramatma or the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It does not matter what one is. One must dedicate everything in the service of the Lord. If one is a learned scholar, scientist, philosopher, poet, etc., then he should employ his learning to establish the supremacy of the Lord. Try to study the energy of the Lord in every sphere of life. Do not decry Him and try to become like Him or take His position simply by fragmental accumulation of knowledge. If one is an administrator, statesman, warrior, politician, etc., then one should try to establish the Lord's supremacy in statesmanship. Fight for the cause of the Lord as Sri Arjuna did. In the beginning, Sri Arjuna, the great fighter, declined to fight, but when he was convinced by the Lord that the fighting was necessary,Sri Arjuna changed his decision and fought for His cause. Similarly, if one is a businessman, an industrialist, an agriculturist, etc., then one should spend his hard-earned money for the cause of the Lord. Think always that the money which is accumulated is the wealth of the Lord. Wealth is considered to be the goddess of fortune (Laksmi), and the Lord is Narayana, or the husband of Laksmi. Try to engage Laksmi in the service of Lord Narayana and be happy. That is the way to realize the Lord in every sphere of life. The best thing is, after all, to get relief from all material activities and engage oneself completely in hearing the transcendental pastimes of the Lord. But in case of the absence of such an opportunity, one should try to engage in the service of the Lord everything for which one has specific attraction. That is the way of peace and prosperity, and that is the remedial measure for all the miseries of material existence. The word samsucitam in this stanza is also significant. One should not think for a moment that the realization of Narada was childish imagination only. It is not like that.
What is the point of making an offering which is very hard or even impossible to be accepted?
Is it because of our ignorance that makes us lazy and we are not interested to see our real doings?
Or is it maybe as a result of our impersonalism, even though we think that we are so far from it?
Who are we joking with, our friend who nicely came to have some exchange with us, or ourselves who mechanically offer inappropriate things, unwilling to open our eyes..?
SoundBody, SoundMind: Part 1 LOTUS: A Sacred Symbol
This Workshop series was developed by Kirtan to provide a rich, lush, unique yoga experience. Each installment of the series will feature incredible musicians who will enhance the Asana practice with live music, and enchant us with stories, parables and mantras. The inaugural SoundBody, SoundMind exploration will feature GauraVani on flutes, drums and harmonium, and Jahnavi Harrison on South Indian violin and vocals. Our focus will be the Mystical Lotus Flower. Across the globe, this exquisite flower has intrigued and captivated humanity for thousands of years. Through story-telling, singing and Asana, we will delve into the mythological symbolism of the Lotus, it’s place in the pantheon of Hindu Gods and Goddesses, as well as it’s meaning in Hatha-Vinayasa Yoga and the energetic body. The Workshop is developed with students of all levels.
$30 Members $40 Non-members Registering online will be possible later this week at: www.ExhaleSpa.com
Below is a media file to download a lecture given by Kadamba Kanana Swami earlier this year in Helsinki, Finland. This lecture is based on the Srimad Bhagavatam, verse 40, from chapter 31 of the 3rd canto:
The verse is as follows: ‘yopayāti śanair māyā yoṣid deva-vinirmitā tām īkṣetātmano mṛtyuṁ tṛṇaiḥ kūpam ivāvṛtam’
Translation:
“The woman, created by the Lord, is the representation of māyā, and one who associates with such māyā by accepting services must certainly know that this is the way of death, just like a blind well covered with grass”.
Click onto the below link to listen to the entire lecture
First steam or boil your unpeeled chunky-cut potatoes. I boiled mine in lightly salted water. These are Sebagos. Obviously you should choose whatever variety of spud is best for oven-roasting in your country, since there are countles varieties worldwide.
To impart a wonderful fragrance, I cut a generous handful of juicy twigs from my massive rosemary bush. Honestly, it's the only time the poor plant sees any action. I strew in some fresh thyme, mint sprigs and half a lemon thinly sliced. The fragrant oils from these aromatics will permeate the potatoes as they roast. Placing them under the spuds will avoid them burning.
I placed the spuds atop their lemony herbal bed, a sprinkled them with Himalayan salt, cracked peppercorns, a ever-so gentle dusting of asafetida and a good gush of my best oilve oil.
Into a preheated 200 degree C oven they go, and await their aromatic, crispy destiny.
Crunchy, lemony, scented with thyme, rosemary and pepper, and (at least in Kurma's Kitchen) the ever-present subtle presence of asafetida.
Let us be conscious of the need of spiritual nourishment. We ourselves are in need of spiritual nourishment. Let us not think that we can go on automatic pilot in spiritual life, but let us make a conscious effort to be well nourished, and let us nourish others, by becoming vaisnavas of noble character, and then I guarantee you that the path back to Godhead will be successful! It will be successful!
"May the Supreme Lord, who is known as the son of Srimati Sacidevi, be transcendentally situated in the innermost core of your heart. Resplendent with the radiance of molten gold, He has descended in the age of Kali by His causeless mercy to bestow what no incarnation has ever offered before: the most elevated mellow of devotional service, the mellow of conjugal love..."
(Vidagdha Madhava)
May the darsana of the golden avatara make the innermost core of our heart fit for Him to reside there eternally.
THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, CANTO 3, CHAPTER 25, THE GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, TEXT 26, WAS GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CARU SWAMI ON 29 SEPTEMBER 2006. Transcription : Lalitamadhava Dasi Editing : Ramananda Raya Dasa Audio Reference : click here Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Bhaktya [...]
I was watching the movie Minority Report and in that Tom Cruise sees himself in the future murdering someone. In other words, his destiny was laid in front of him through precognition. Exactly at the moment that he was supposed to murder, the oracle who predicts the future was standing next to Tom Cruise and telling him that he has the free will and choice to alter the course of action. The oracle was constantly reminding him of his free will and that he does not have to be forced by destiny to do what he is supposed to do. As fate be, Tom Cruise was forced due to his anger to kill the person. Inspite of repeated requests by the oracle to use the power of choice, Tom Cruise subdues to the forces of nature and destiny.
Our life is also like the story of Tom Cruise in the movie. In reality, all the events in our life are pre-destined by the forces of nature acting through the laws of karma. Nature is so powerful that it incites the appropriate emotions and intelligence in our heart at the appropriate time so that we act as per our predestination and fulfill our karmic responsibilities. So if everything is predestined and based on karma, then why bother you ask? Actually, as per the oracle in the movie, we do have the power of free-will and that we do have the capacity to over-turn the predestined events that are supposed to happen. But because karma and nature is so powerful that to change our destiny using our free will on our own is like an ant wishing to move a mountain. It is not possible. In comparison to nature and natural laws of karma, our ability to control our intelligence and emotions is practically nill. Therefore, Sri Krishna says that surrendering unto Him is the only possible way to erase our predestination and pave a new future for ourselves.
The only person who is more powerful than nature is God Himself who created that nature and its concomitant laws. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna (God) reveals this truth that material nature is under His control and to overcome it is very difficult. Therefore Krishna declares that if you want to benefit yourself, simply surrender unto Me (Krishna) and I (Krishna) will take care of everything.
So what do we do with our free will you ask? We do exactly that, at every moment we must train ourselves to use our free will to depend on Krishna and not depend on our own capabilities of problem solving. The more we become an expert in depending on Krishna for all aspects of life, the more we will be released from our own karmic predestination.
This is the only way by which the power of free will can overcome the forces of nature (including predestination)
“What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.” Bhagavad Gita 2.69
Attention all seekers or aspiring devotees and yogis! Who’s up for a 21 day challenge?
There’s 3 levels. All of them include vegetarian diet, waking early, some study and weekly gatherings
Level 1 Daily: - chant 108 hare krishna maha mantras - read 2 verses of the bhagavad Gita
Level 2 Daily: - chant 4 rounds of the Hare Krishna maha mantra on japa beads (432 mantras) every day - read for 1/2 an hour of Bhagavad Gita or bhagavatam if you’ve all ready read the Gita - eat only prasadam (krishna-ised vegetarian food) by chanting the maha mantra to offer the food to Krishna before eating. Or eating prasad from temple or hare krishna restaurants - wake early (5am - 7am) - come to Krishna conscious gathering once a week.
Level 3 Daily: - chant 8 rounds of the maha mantra - read 1 hour of srila Prabhupadas books - Attend 2 gatherings a week - Offer service at temple, urban yoga or crossways - Wake up before 5am - no intoxication
Keep a blog
At the end of every day let us know how blissful it was and share your realizations by posting a blog. for example: Today I got up 5 am, chanted 4 rounds of the hare krsna mantra on my japa beads then had prasad from last night at urban yoga, went to work, read the Gita in my lunch break i finished chapter 3 karma yoga. After work saw some friends then went to Krishna fest then went back home feeling so refreshed! My house mates were just complaining, that’s all they ever do! its sad so I gave them some prasad then they asked me if I was joining a cult and I said um no Bhakti yoga isn’t a cult it’s the expression of the soul therefore it’s non sectarian then he said hmm sounds interesting tell me more so I tried to explain what I read and what iv heard from the devotees and offered to lend a book on kc to them to which they happily said they would read and consider coming to urban yoga next Saturday. I realized kc rocks! And that I feel a decrease of material desires when I chant and dance.
Every one who participates will receive a Copy of HH Devamrita Swamis book - Searching for Vedic India or the new book based on the teachings of srila prabhupada - VEDA
Just Some of the Benefits
-Experience what it’s like to live a regulated spiritually balanced life free from karmic influence and stress.
-By the end of the 3 weeks you will feel like you have never felt before, like a new person. -Unlock the treasures of your heart. Realise higher values, morals and character, peace of mind, detachment, freedom from stress, inner happiness, fulfillment, gratitude, emotional desire to serve and help others, qualification to help, bliss, knowledge, self realization. - new way of looking at the world and your short term and long term goals. -And of-course a copy of Searching for Vedic India
-Swapping bad habits for good ones. It takes 21 days to make and break habits . One can also use these 21 days to kick bad habits. You can only give some thing up by taking something better! By getting the param drstva or the higher taste (BG 2.59)
Krishna says in the Gita 2.49,2.50
“O Dhanañjaya, keep all abominable activities far distant by devotional service” “A person engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad actions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, which is the art of all work.”
The embodied soul may be restricted from sense enjoyment, though the taste for sense objects remains. But, ceasing such engagements by experiencing a higher taste, he is fixed in consciousness.
-BUT don’t sweat if you fall from your vow.. Krishna says:
“The senses are so strong and impetuous, O Arjuna, that they forcibly carry away the mind even of a man of discrimination who is endeavoring to control them.” Bhagavad Gita 2.60 Just keep trying, when you were learning how to walk and you fell you didn’t go on strike you just kept trying until you got it..
-What about work? “Work done as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kuntī, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage.” Bhagavad Gita 3.9 So work in krishna consciousness and in that way always remain in the spiritual platform. That goes for study or anything. Krishna told Arjuna to use his warrior nature in yoga also so it’s about connecting everything spiritually.
If your in for the challenge just reblog this, and blog your progress so we can follow you and so you can get your prize.
Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:
“You are chanting. I am very much pleased. That’s all. I came to your country to chant, that ‘You chant also along with me.’ So you are helping me by chanting. So I am pleased.”
This is the most essential part of chanting: how attentive are you?
Imagine you are driving a car and you have a passenger sitting next to you. The passenger is continually pointing things out and trying to draw your attention to them:
“Oh, look there’s a shoe sale on! Look at those nice shoes! … Ah, look at that guy with the funny hat! … Are those your gloves on the back seat? … Look out, no, no, turn left! Oh, I thought we had to go left. … Look at the TV shop – is that your favorite football team playing? … Uh-oh, check this out: there’s a guy getting arrested over there….” If you keep getting distracted by what your passenger is saying, you’re going to crash the car.
The passenger is like your mind, and driving the car is like chanting your rounds. If you keep talking to someone and they are continuously ignoring you, eventually you are just going to shut up. That is the best way to deal with the mind: just ignore it and keep your attention on “the road”, it will eventually shut up.
1968 December 2: "Our first business is to complete our rounds each day. The other paraphernalia and activities shall be executed as time permits. If there is no time then we must disregard." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1968 December 2: "You should know that we are better Christians because we are following and they are not. They are performing so much killing by meat-eating and wars. So how are they good Christians?" Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1969 December 2: "Forty years ago when my Godbrother came to England he complained of getting manpower. That is not a good policy to get men from another country. One has to create manpower from the local environment. That is success of preaching." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
1969 December 2: "I am very pleased that Jayadvaita Brahmacari will be going to Boston soon for typing BTG and our books. He is the first class typist in our society so far I have heard." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
1973 December 2: "The bona fide Spiritual Master is present wherever His sincere disciple is trying to serve His instructions. In your attempts to serve me, I am with you as My Guru Maharaja is with me." Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1973 December 2: "Yes, I remember the old days in San Francisco. Krsna has sent me so many sincere disciples. Continue with your street sankirtan program there. It is fully appoved by me. It is our life and soul." Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1974 December 2: "I have seen on the new books these words have been omitted. Formally they were there on all the books. It is understood you removed these words. Why did you do this? Who authorized it?" Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
1975 December 2: "I'm very pleased you have not deviated from the principles I have taught. By satisfying the bona fide Spiritual Master you satisfy Krishna immediately without any doubt." Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
Our Sankirtan general, H.G. Vaisesika Prabhu is returning to Toronto. A disciple of Srila Prabhupada, and a mentor to so many of us in Toronto and around the world, we are always looking forward to his visits. From inspiring classes and hitting the streets with spiritual books, to the rip-roaring kirtans, Vaisesika das keeps us all on our spiritual toes! We have an inspirational line-up of programs for you! While details are being finalized, some of the key events that you absolutely need to know are:
Friday (Dec 9) - Monday (Dec 12) - Srimad Bhagavatam Classes (7:45-9:00am) Sankirtan is for Everyone Sub-themes: Friday: Sankirtan is our Family Business - Power of Parampara Saturday: Sankirtan is All Inclusive - Fighting the Myths Sunday: Sankirtan and Sadhana - Sharing the Overflow Monday: The Power of Endeavour - Every ONE Matters, Every BIT Counts!
Friday (Dec 9) - 6:30-8:30 pm - Sankirtan Training - Handling Objections and Rejections (Top 10 tips)
Saturday (Dec 10) 11:00 am - 2:00 pm - World Enlightenment Day Special Sankirtan Festival All devotees are welcome to join Vaisesika das as we collectively hit the streets with our beloved spiritual books with the goal of sharing our beautiful spiritual heritage with the public. Stay tuned for more information!
Saturday (Dec 10) 6:30 pm - Bhajans with Marathon Memories, Stay tuned for more information!
Sunday (Dec 11) - 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm Sunday Feast with Vaisesika das Our weekly Sunday extravaganza will include a special class by Vaisesika das. Toss in some amazing kirtan and mouth-watering vegetarian feast and your Sunday should be booked!
The newly established "Toronto Hare Krishna Book Club" will be reading Path of Perfection this December. This book has 176 pages, so if you were to read only 6 pages a day, you will complete the book in less than a month!
"A chronicle of a historic series of talks by Srila Prabhupada, who has been acclaimed by scholars as the greatest exponent of the Indian spiritual tradition, this book deeply probes the nature of consciousness, meditation, karma, death and reincarnation. He prescribes a simple process to purify the mind and elevate the consciousness - a process that assures the readers not only inner peace but the power to change the chaotic trend of modern society."
The objective of the book club is to facilitate and encourage readings from the wonderful philosophy of Krishna consciousness. We encourage you to participate! We will be sending out daily quotes from the book to those who register! To register for the book club, email toronto.sankirtan@gmail.com.
Over five thousand years ago, Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, discussing the fundamental principles of life. The Gita lucidly explains the nature of consciousness, the self and the universe. It contains both the essence of India's spiritual wisdom and the answers to questions that have been posed by philosophers for centuries.
Today, that same Bhagavad-gita has been translated to numerous languages and is read by millions of people around the world, revered in academic circles, and studied by spiritualists of all backgrounds.
Monday, December 5th marks Gita Jayanti, the day when Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna. We will be celebrating this occasion by reading the entire Gita in Sanskrit. The reading will begin at 6:00pm and will take approximately two hours. Stay tuned to the Toronto Hare Krishna Blog for more information!
KUALA LUMPUR - At last, the most awaited day came! After much preparation, discussions, planning, everything was to put into action! It was 26th November 2011, the celebration of 41st Sannyasa Anniversary of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami. Many devotees had come forward the night before and in the morning to help in the cooking and decoration services. The cooking team was led by many senior devotees from Sri Jagannatha Mandir Kuala Lumpur (SJMKL) Congregation, so was the decoration services. Everyone was in a good and cheerful mood helping each other to execute the relevant services with one goal in mind - which was to make the festival a success.
The next day, devotees came as early as 6.30am to lend a helping hand. By midday, the temple looked spectacular although the decoration was just half-way through. Devotees were served a sumptuous nasi lemak lunch at the temple! After lunch, devotees continued on with their services. Some out-station devotees also started to arrive. We also had devotees coming all the way from Singapore. By 6pm, the temple hall was packed! The kirtan was roaring away. It went on until 7pm. After the Gaura Arati, devotees continued with the same roaring energetic kirtan.
When the announcement was made that Guru Maharaj was about to arrive in the next few minutes, the kirtan team moved out from the temple hall to the entrance gate to welcome and usher in Maharaj. The kirtan was heard louder as devotees stood out at the entrance to welcome Guru Maharaj and the guest of honour, HH Bhaktivrajendranandana Swami, who is the President of ISKCON Malaysia. When the vehicle ferrying Guru Maharaj arrived, devotees went euphoric. The atmosphere was simply surcharged with so much of spiritual energy. Ulu-dwanis were heard along with cries of ‘Jai Sri Gurudev!’ . Everyone just wanted to have a glimpse of Guru Maharaja. While most of the crowd were well-disciplined, there were some challenges in getting the crowd to be more organised. There were over 800 devotees. SJMKL packed to the walls and corners both inside and outside! Guru Maharaj and HH Bhaktivrajendranandana Swami were received by the Gokul Garden children who were all nicely decorated themselves. They carried oil lamps and flower petals in their hands to usher Guru Maharaja and Maharaj. After they were garlanded, Param Brahma prabhu chanted some auspicious mantras for the well-being of Guru Maharaja. The nada-swaram (South Indian trumpet and drums) accompanied this chanting, making it sound like some royal coronation ceremony. They were then led into the temple premises for their dinner.
While they were having dinner, Paramananda prabhu who was our emcee for the night briefly summarized the meaning and synopsis of the celebration. Guru Maharaja then came forward to take his position at the stage along with HH Bhaktivrajendranandana Swami. The head servant of JSSS KL was invited to deliver a short speech, following suit was the speech by Vrindavan Chandra prabhu, who is the Vice President of ISKCON Malaysia. HH Bhaktivrajendrananda Swami then delivered his speech and glorified his god-brother, HH Jayapataka Swami. Then Guru Maharaj and HH Bhaktivrajendrananda Swami were honored to an elaborated traditional aarati ceremony to remove inauspiciousness. Several items were offered to them during the ceremony. Many senior matajis of the congregation were invited to be part of this ceremony, headed by Shanta Radhika mataji and coordinated by Utkarshini mataji. After the ceremony, the highlight of the night was the pada puja and guru puja ceremonies. The pada puja was conducted by Rupa Raghunatha and Mayapur Chandra prabhus. The guru puja aarati was performed by Kalesha prabhu for Guru Maharaja and Mayapur Chandra prabhu for HH Bhaktivrajendrananda Swami.
It was almost 10pm, and the temple hall and the foyer were still packed to bits. No one wanted to leave the spot they had. There were hardly any spaces left for devotees to squeeze in. It was amazing! Kripa Sindhu prabhu led the Guru-Puja Kirtan which was truly the highlight of the night. The programme ended shortly after.
We, the JSSS KL Committee, would like to record our sincere appreciation to the devotees who helped us in kind and cash, we thank (in random order):
Simheswara prabhu for his guidance and support prior to and throughout the function.
Sulochana Mataji (on behalf of the late Dr. Bhag) for sponsoring the Prasadam.
Tyaga prabhu and Basanta Rag mataji for handling and coordinating the entire decoration of the altar, temple hall and the stage.
Para Brahma prabhu for conducting the Vedic ceremonies.
The main cooks - Simheswara, Sevananda, Mayapur, Kripa Sindhu, Sundaram prabhus and Shanta Radhika, Krishna Pooja mataji
The Gauradesh devotees for helping to serve the prasadam.
Mahesh Advaita prabhu for co-sponsoring the prasadam.
Cinmaya prabhu and Acyuta Priya Tulasi mataji for sponsoring the grand garlands on that day.
Rasanath prabhu and Mulakrana prabhus for photography services.
Paramananda prabhu for being the emcee of the night.
The devotees who sponsored in cash.
The ‘thank-you’ list is simply endless.
Please forgive us if we have missed out your names. There are just too many devotees who helped in some way or another to make the festival a grand success. We also thank the various yatra leaders who came all the way from out-station to be part of this historical 41st sannyasa anniversary celebration of Guru Maharaj.
News that cows have best friends comes as no surprise to those of us who have worked with them – and their mood swings
Let’s be friends … a curious, calm cow. Photograph: David Moir/Reuters
Who would think that beneath that calm exterior there is a boiling mass of emotions? I’m not talking about Wimbledon champions here, but cows. Yes, cows; those creatures that we eat, and take milk from, but rarely think about. According tonew research by scientists at Northampton University, cows have “best friends” and get stressed when separated.
In his book The Cow, the former butcher and poet Beat Sterchi invented an adjective to describe the way that cows stand placidly – “cowpeaceably”. If you watch cows lying down in a field they will normally be ruminating (chewing on regurgitated grass), staring blankly into space and looking totally at peace. This state of total calmness makes the cow appear withdrawn and “otherworldly”. This is perhaps why we assume there is nothing much going on between a cow’s ears.
But we cow lovers have always known that cows have emotional depth. DH Lawrence wrote brilliantly about his relationship with Susan, a black cow that he milked every morning in 1924-5 on his ranch in Taos, New Mexico. He comments on her “cowy oblivion”, her “cow inertia”, her “cowy passivity” and her “cowy peace” and he wonders where she goes to in her trances. But he believes, quite rightly, that there is always “a certain untouched chaos in her”, which is never far away. Some days, he writes, she is “fractious, tiresome, and a faggot”. This is because she will deliberately do things to annoy him, such as swinging her tail in his face during milking: “So sometimes she swings it, just on purpose: and looks at me out of the black corner of her great, pure-black eye, when I yell at her.”
To anyone who works, or has worked, with cows, it comes as no surprise that cows are capable of friendships. Within any herd there is a pecking order that results in cows coming into the milking parlour every time in more or less the same position in the queue. At the dairy farm I worked on as an agricultural student we had “Devilish Delilah”, “Crafty Caroline” and “Pain-In-The-Arse Mary-Rose” – all of which were nicknamed because of their annoying or aggressive antics at milking time or feeding time. Dominant cows will push their way to the front of the queue, bully and intimidate more sensitive souls, and dictate when and where the group will move around their pasture. No submissive cow would want to be their “best friend”.
Certain cows will always be the ring leaders when trouble occurs – bulldozing fences until they give way is often found out by accident, but then pursued with great joy by the felons. And woe betide anyone who gets in the way of a protective mother and her calf; she’ll knock you for six and reverse over you for good measure.
But there are also the gentler cows who always appreciate a scratch behind the ear as you go past and the cows that Temple Grandin, the animal scientist, would describe as “curiously afraid”. These cows, and most do exhibit this behaviour, will be curious of any new thing but terrified of it at the same time. The braver ones will come forward to investigate first, but will stand at such a distance that their necks and tongues will be stretched out as far as possible so they don’t have to be too close. They will snort, sniff and try to lick the novelty until they decide after about 15 minutes that they are bored and will wander off. There’s a lot going on between those hairy ears.
By Radhanath Swami for The Huffington Post on 1 Dec 2011
A crippled economy and a polluted environment plague our social body. Both largely stem from the same core disease -- pollution of hearts. Blinded by distractions one can forget how to invest in what awards a meaningful, fulfilling life.
If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.
If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.
On November 29th, 2001 George Harrison passed away in Los Angeles. At that time Radha and Krishna Deities were at the foot of his bed. He was surrounded by family and friends.
This Saturday 3rd December, Shabda will be playing at the LOFT in Auckland central, @7pm til 9ish. So come and experience a night of sacred sounds that will soothe the heart and energize the spirit. Final kirtan explosion until February!!!! Kirtan is the most powerful form of meditation & yoga practise. It cures stress, worry, [...]
In popular historical accounts the word democracy was first used in ancient Greece denoting a contemporary system of governing. In ancient Athens the word democracy was a compound term which could be broken into two parts: demos meaning people and kratein to rule. This ideal of governing inspires us even today. Democracy echoes the ancient ideals of equality and freedom into the modern governing systems
Basu Ghosh Das smiles for the camera along with son Vaman Avatar He is an American who has spent 38 of his 54 years of life in Gujarat. Basu Ghosh Das, president of the ISKCON temple in Vadodara, is currently in Ahmedabad to participate in the All India Sanskrit Elocution Competition
If Srila Prabhupada visited you, Maybe just for a day or two, And came by unexpectedly, I wonder what you'd do. Oh, I know you'd give your nicest room, To such an honored guest, And all the food you'd offer, Would be the very best
Sri Mayapur International School is a Cambridge affliated school for our devotee children located in Sri Dham Mayapur. We serve approximately 100-120 students from nursery to grade12. Students regularly use the library for research and independent reading materials
David Garvin: Hare Krishna! If any of you have Shaligram Shila (Saligram Sila) that you can no longer serve and would like to make an arrangement for the worship of the Lord, then with your trust, I will be happy to accept the Lord (Silas) and serve Him to the best of my ability
Kuldip Raval: Jai Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva. I am advertising employment opportunities. Please send your responses to kuldipraval@yahoo.com Employment opportunity is located in Newburgh NY about an hour drive from NYC. Salary is based on the experience and as per Market Standards.
Sandamini devi: Channel 4 News in Tucson, Arizona reported, "The main course at most Thanksgiving dinners, was the guest of honor at Govinda's restaurant, and was strolling the outdoor patio today. This local establishment has been serving 'Tofu Turkey' to patrons since 1992."
Today is the first day of the Book Distribution Marathon 2011!
The Weekend Warriors team are up for visiting towns all over London. Please feel free to contact me if you want us to visit your local town. So far this is our schedule for the month. Each event runs from 11am to 4pm.
Sat 3-Dec-11 Ilford (Town Hall, 128-142 High Road, Ilford, IG1 1DD) Kingston (The Bentall Centre, Wood Street, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 1TP) Edgware (The Broadwalk Centre, Station Road, Edgware, HA8 7BD)
Sat 10-Dec-11 Sutton Watford Uxbridge *tbc (The Pavillions, 18 Chequers Square Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 1LN)
Sat 17-Dec-11 Wimbledon (Tesco Metro, Centre Court Shopping Centre, 4 Queens Road, London, SW19 8YD) Ealing (Ealing Broadway Centre, Body Shop, 56 The Broadway, Ealing, W5 5JN) Camden
Sat 24-Dec-11 Ealing (Ealing Broadway Centre, Body Shop, 56 The Broadway, Ealing, W5 5JN) Edgeware (The Broadwalk Centre, Station Road, Edgware, HA8 7BD)
Your Servant
Sacinandana Karuna das 07535 211 555 sachinkotak108[at]gmail.com
Sent by His Grace Pankajalochana Krishna Prabhu Hare Krishna, dear Godbrothers and – sisters! Please accept my humblest obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to dearmost Srila Gurudeva! Hare Krsna Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare 28th November 2011, evening around 4:30 PM His Holiness [...]
To celebrate the 42nd Installation Anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara which was yesterday, and to create an auspicious start to the first day of the marathon today...
Here are 42 easy ways to Help Distribute More Books!
YOU can...
1. Always keep a small book in your purse, bag, or backpack. That way, anytime the conversation goes towards Krsna, you can pull out the book, if even just to show them a picture.
2. Leave books in waiting rooms at the doctor's office, laundry mat, or any place where people have to wait and can happily read something. Write or stamp inside the book "Please take" or "Free Gift".
3. Give books to people who come to your house to make deliveries, fix things, etc.
4. Give books as gifts for any occasion, like birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, engagement parties, home openings, graduations, etc.
5. Ask local Indian/ Asian market if they will display and sell your books
6. Donate books to a local library
7. Ask local health food shops if they will display and sell books
8. Ask at a local import shops or new age shops if they will display and sell books
9. Book a booth at any local fairs or events
10. Lay a blanket on the grass in the local park, with books on top, and sing kirtans to attract people
11. Sell the books to a used book shop
12. Approach local book shops about selling the books
13. Distribute books to co-workers
14. Give books to family members
15. Give books to friends and/or classmates
16. Go to events, where large crowds have gathered
17. Spend a bit of time in the spiritual/ religious section of any book shop and make conversation with people looking for books on these topics.
18. Go on harinama sankirtana and distribute books to the people who stop to watch
19. Approach people waiting at bus stands, subways, train stations
20. Distribute books to shop keepers you regularly shop with
21. Get a permit to setup a book table
22. Go door to door
23. Check for any yoga or similar clubs at your local university. If there isn't one, start it.
24. Approach yoga centers in your community. Ask if you can display books there or have a program there.
25. Distribute prasadam and display books
26. Donate books to be put in hotel rooms
27. Ask an experienced book distributor to take you out on book distribution
28. When you are travelling by train in India, join the local temple sankirtan party
29. Make a book distribution buddy. Commit to getting together once a week or so and distributing books together.
30. Ask people working in shops if they would like a book.
31. Approach business owners (especially Indians) and ask if they would like to buy books in bulk to distribute to employees.
32. Start a book table at your University or College campus.
33. Whenever you distribute a book, or even if you don't make sure to be very friendly and have a sweet smile. When people are pleased with you they will come back for more.
34. You can distribute books on e-bay, Amazon, or other websites like those.
35. Distribute through flyers: Create and distribute flyers that have the Krishna.com website (or your local temple book shop). Include pictures, excerpts, testimonials, your local number, website, and email.
36. Take people's e-mails, and don't "sell" the books, but inform and inspire them to take.
37. Next time you take a flight; just place a couple books in the magazine pockets of the seats. The next group of passengers will be in for a pleasant surprise.
38. Leave books on the magazine tables in reception areas of businesses, professional offices, and other establishments.
39. If you can't distribute books yourself, help someone who already is for example, you can buy books for them to distribute.
40. Assist devotees who want to distribute books by covering their other temple services etc.
41. You can get a street address listing from some phone companies. You could choose any little town that may never have a chance to see devotees or you may want to take responsibility for a particular section of a larger city. Set aside a small portion of your monthly income and send out a few books each month until you've covered your chosen area.
42. Setup a cake sale or cookie sale at work or in the town, for every donation to the prasadam include the cost of the book as a "free" incentive.
By hook or by crook... distribute a book! Whatever their interest is, show how this book is going to add more Krishna to it – the All Attractive Supreme Personality of Godhead is the attractive feature in everything we enjoy.
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Thursday 1 December 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. For Transcendental Association Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Help Popularize Our Message By Liking Today's Thought on Facebook: Today's Thought: Are You Sane or Insane? Life is Beautiful. uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA You are either sane or insane. There is no in-between. If you know who you are and you are living every day in that reality, you are sane. And if you don't know who you are, you are insane; you are living in unreality. A person in ignorance thinks that reality is so painful that it is better to remain in illusion imagining that life is wonderful. But the fully enlightened person knows that life is inconceivably wonderful and beautiful, millions and billions times greater than our tiny brains can even begin to try to conceive. And he lives in and celebrates that reality at every second. This most exalted state of self-realization is known as Krishna consciousness. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Gives Us Unlimited Bliss http://www.backtohome.com/images/Prabhupada/SP_Trains.jpg Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Get Free From Material Desires? In a lecture I heard that Krishna reciprocates with us according to our personal desire, and my personal realization says that this is true. It is also true that sometimes Krishna gives us more then we deserve. My question is what should we personally desire so that we don't fall into the material pool? Sometimes there are lots of material desires that come in our mind that might be connected to Krishna consciousness. For example one may desire to do so much devotional service that it takes away time from sadhana, personal devotional practices. Since material desires cannot be stopped, how can we come out clean? It would be great if we could get your mercy. Thanks for motivating us. Your servant, Renuka Answer: Heart Chock Full of Spiritual Desires Desire is natural and cannot be stopped. Everyone is always desiring something at every minute. Material desires bind us to the miserable, ignorant, fearful cycle of birth and death. Spiritual desires liberate us from this cycle and take us back to our original eternal, blissful, fully enlightened identities in the transcendental kingdom of God. It is not possible to simply turn off desire. But if one will cultivate spiritual desires more and more, filling one's heart with them, gradually his heart will be so full of spiritual desires that there will be no room left for material desires. The desire to do a lot of devotional service is not a material desire. It is a spiritual desire. And the desire to do a lot of personal sadhana such as chanting japa and studying the scriptures is also a spiritual desire. Both of these desires are very beneficial for your spiritual emancipation. Therefore you should live your life in such a way that you are always engaged in doing as much service as possible and always diving deep into personal sadhana as much as possible. You should be so much engaged in Krishna consciousness 24 hours a day that there is not even one second of idle time. Within your day there should be no gaps for Maya or illusion. In this way when material desires come to check into the hotel of your heart, they will see a big sign that says, No Vacancy, and they will have to go somewhere else to find a place of residence. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. 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As the sun rises on this first day of summer, my morning meditation clarifies. Fresh from the patio garden, a new yield ofsnowpeas, a lone strawberry and a kumquat, a sample of fragrant herbs - mint, parsley, basil, oregano, marjoram,thyme in flower, fresh spinach, two flawless, intoxicatingly fragrant gardenia blooms - and Krishna.
The healing herb and the original fragrances of the earth are manifestations of God the Father, made available viaMother Nature, who provides amply for Her children. We bow to Them with respect.
By Abhaya Mudra Dasi
By Basu Ghosh das
By Laxmimoni dasi
By Raseswari Devi Dasi
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