A splendid day kicked off with strong sadhana at the temple including a Bhagavatam class outlining how self-realization can truly take off by way of the nostrils. Such was the case for the adorable four Kumara sages. They caught a whiff of the fragrant Tulsi (sacred green), which were found at the feet of Vishnu. From there on those boys excelled in their devotion.
Our group of Bhakti Academy, along with Ajamil and I, made our way to Queen’s Park once again, this time under an old horse-chestnu
“So during Kartika month we can more easily obtain the favor of Radha. If Shri Radha recommends us to Krishna, we can be sure he will take notice”
Prabhupada speaks in the Nectar of Devotion (summary of the Bhakti-Rasamrita-Sindhu) about the power of performing devotional service during the month of Karttika:
“One of the most important of these ceremonial functions is called Urja-vrata. Urja-vrata is observed in the month of Karttika (Oct.-Nov.); especially in Vrindavana (Krishna’s place of “bi
People are running around–“Oh, I am the manager. I am the factory owner. I am this. I am that. We know his politics, we have to defeat our competitors.” All these things are created just like a man creates a situation in a dream– svapna–drastur ivanjasa.
So when someone asks, “When did we come into contact with the material nature?” The answer is that we have not come into contact. By the influence of the material energy, we THINK that we are in contact. Actually, we are NOT fallen. We cannot b
After a blissful kirtan at Queen’s Park, and once all participants dispersed, I chose to go solo on foot on the very active streets on this Friday night. It is quite remarkable to see the demographical change the city is experiencing. There is an increase in Asian presence, more particularly Chinese and Indian folks, many of them students. By the time I reached Dundas Square at Yonge, it was a very low and crammed protest by youth of Iranian dissent. With place cards and mantras of slogans “Fre
Audio: Click here
The “American Dream” is built on the presumption of free will: If we try hard enough and work smart enough, we can reach our goals. Yet karma and destiny are some of the biggest influences in our life. Now new findings in neuroscience have a lot to say about free will vs. determination.
Our global team continues to distribute unprecedented numbers of Srimad Bhagavatam sets through the Bhadra Campaign.
This year, 250+ communities from 50+ countries distributed 45,800 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam, smashing the worldwide goal of 43,000 sets. The long-term goal is to reach 100,000 sets by 2026.
This Bhadra Campaign was launched in 2017 by the BBT MCI Team (Marketing, Communications, and Innovation) under the leadership of HG Vaisesika Prabhu. By uniting a global team around this comm
We Need Your Help! Our Temple received flood waters from the aftermath of hurricane Ian.
After spending the whole day on Thursday moving all of the temple’s belongings to a higher level, we came back home this morning at 2:00 am. The swamp at the back of the temple filled up and pushed its waters out onto the temple property, including the temple itself. The temple’s kitchen was the first to be flooded. Water seeped through the walls into our spare room mixed with water from the kitchen. Next,
I was showing Vallabha Hari new locations for any future strolls he may wish to take. He is accustomed to taking the main through-fares. Little did he know that there are marvelous tucked away green spaces beyond the brick and mortar of buildings. If one ever takes a flight that soars above the city of Toronto, they will find a 17% green cover. That’s not a lot for trees, shrubs and grass but it’s something. With the current craze for new condos coming up, it could threaten the spaces of calm.
indriyesu manas tani tan-matresu yathodbhavam bhutadinamuny utkrsya mahaty atmani sandadhe
TRANSLATION: He amalgamated the mind with the senses and the senses with the sense objects, according to their respective positions, and he also amalgamated the material ego with the total material energy, mahat-tattva.
PURPORT: In respect to the ego, the total material energy is sundered in two parts — one agitated by the mode of ignorance and the other agitated by the modes of passion and goodness. Due
A newly digitised film!
“Auf der deutschen Hare Krishna Farm”
A film about the German Farm, now known as Simhachalam, from 1982. Narrated by Sacinandana Swami and filmed and edited by Brahma Muhurta Das.
This little gem of a film shows extatic kirtans, bountiful farm life, Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohana, beautiful cows, happy devotees and lots of prasadam from 40 years ago! Set deep in the Bavarian Forest this film shows the lives of devotees in the first years of the farm. A real must see for any
It was in two thousand fifteen
That Sally was happy to be seen
By those who admired her
At New Vrindavan it did occur
Known to be the special agent
The one so absolutely patient
In signing the fateful papers
For Swamiji to reach those skyscrapers
To New York all the way from Bharat
To tell us what we had forgot
I sat with her for an hour or so
When her pleasant words began to flow
When she put her name to submit
"I didn't think much would come of it
His picture looked quite intimidating"
But si
Life sometimes appears to us like a labyrinth. One has to make the right choice each time the passage bifurcates. A labyrinth is an irregular structure, with many passages, hard to find way through or about… So are some choices in life…
That was the case of Arjuna, the great devotee-warrior from Bhagavad-gita, who saw himself faced with a decisive battle. Anyone who ever found himself or herself in front of an important life-choice, to a greater or lesser degree, can relate to the experience of
In spiritual life, liquor is not really glorified like one of the material pleasures in life. It is rather condemned. It is placed in the same category as poison. Well, it is true that it is not nourishing the cells in the body. Each time you take some liquor, you are burning some brain cells and you begin to see it in the regular drinkers at the bars. Their faces are a bit puffed up. Some have red veins showing and their hands also are a bit swollen and reddish. And their brain is dull and not
By Yogesvara Gopinath das
Lord Jagannath showered his unlimited mercy on the streets of East London in the Annual East London Rathyatra on Sunday 25th September. It was truly a colourful and memorable Cultural event organised by devotees in East London and HG Parasuram Prabhu from Food for all.
This is a unique festival when Lord Jagannath comes out of the temple to give his mercy to everyone on the street once a year. This festival started thousands of years ago in Jagannath Puri in India. Th
I appreciate the chanting of sixteen rounds. It is the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that comes through these rounds. And that is the minimum, better if I chant more! I appreciate whatever service that I can do, whether I like that service or whether I do not like that service. Some services are nice and some appear to not be nice in itself. Some things are not so nice to do. Like I have had to go and fight Court cases. I do not particularly enjoy that, it is not my thing. It is a real auste
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,
PAMHO. AGTSP.
We are happy to share with you that earlier today the Chairman of ISKCON Bureau, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja, along with the ISKCON’s National Directors of Communications called on Honorable President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
The Hon’ble President recollected her visits to ISKCON temples in different parts of India. She was glad to learn about ISKCON’s spiritual, cultural, and philanthropic initiatives a
By Chandan Yatra Das
Shukratal is a tiny holy town about 2-3 hours (72 km) from Haridwar on the banks of Ganges River in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh. Srila Sukadeva Goswami spoke sacred Srimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana) to Maharaja Pariksit (the grandson of Arjuna and son of Abhimanyu), under a banyan tree 5000 years ago.
Here at a place called Sri Sukadeva Temple, there is a gigantic 5100 year old Banyan tree, also known as Akshaya Vat Vriksha, underneath where Sukadeva Goswami,
Bhagavat das: Prabhupada said, “Can you quote this verse?” The two of us looked at each other, and I thought, “Tamal Krishna Goswami will quote the verse,” but Tamal Krishna Goswami thought I was going to do it. Neither of us knew the verse. Prabhupada said, “Just see. You are not reading my books. Every day you have to read, study, and learn my books just like a lawyer learns the law books. You must know everything, chapter and verse. If you do not know, how will you preach? Unless you know my
