Toronto Sankirtan Newsletter - Summer 2012

We have an exciting summer planned with several sankirtan outings! Check out our latest Newsletter to learn more about whats happening:- Toronto Sankirtan Newsletter - Summer 2012

Celebrating Three Successful Years - Monthly Sankirtan Festival

Sankirtan in Kensington with Vaisesika Prabhu
May 2009 The 1st Monthly Sankirtan Festival

Tomorrow (May 26th) marks the 3rd Anniversary of the Monthly Sankirtan Festivals in Toronto. Inspired by Vaisesika Prabhu, the monthly sankirtan festivals have been going strong for the last 36 months. Numerous devotees have worked hard going out each month to distribute thousands of Srila Prabhupada books, even more pieces of prasad and the sweet sounds of the Hare Krsna Mahamantra. Many more have helped behind the scenes, organizing, packing, cooking for and supporting those who are out at the front.

We're heading out tomorrow to celebrate the 36th MSF! We request you to join us - to experience the taste of "Sankirtan". Come along - chant with the kirtan party, hand out prasad, distribute books or just come and "check it out"! We will be at Yonge and Dundas and out in Stouville country market! Come see us! 

We encourage you to come for the morning program at the temple which will include a special Bhagavatam Class by a visiting senior devotee - Ananda Caitanya Prabhu

We thank you for the last three wonderful years and pray to remain in the service of Srila Prabhupada and the devotees for the rest of our lives.

In your service,

Toronto Sankirtan Organizing Team

Glory to the Sri Krishna Sankirtana, which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years and extinguishes the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death. This sankirtana movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge. It increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it enables us to fully taste the nectar for which we are always anxious. Sri Siksastakam 1

Transcendental Bargain

Sourav and Mayur Prabhus at the Sankirtan Table 

Last weekend, warriors from Toronto Sankirtan Team, went out to distribute books at a local Bengali temple for their 12 hour kirtan. Below is an experience that Mayur Prabhu, as relayed by Sourav Prabhu (both of whom were at the spot that day)


He met a group of 4 young men and women. A black bodied person in the group claimed already to be a student of the Bhagavat Gita. He immediately and without any talking bought The Teachings of Lord Chaityanya. Then the discussion commenced with the woman in the group who had now put her faith in Buddhism in her search of the final truth. She had heard about Krishna but was not sure about the philosophy. Also the other person of the group was a believer in Christ. Mayur congratulated them for putting their faith in a higher power and told the lady in the group (who was the person heading the group with their questions) about the science of soul and how voidism is not the highest expression of the truth for in our daily existence we can see that there cannot be something out of nothing. He told her that Lord Buddha’s philosophy was correct in taking her to the level of Brahman but if she wants to go to the final height, she should read the Bhagavad Gita which is the final word in spirituality. She decided to take the book but she told she did not have any money. Mayur asked her to give him a cent. When she was fishing her purse for the money, 4 dollars came out. He asked her to give the 4 dollars. She refused and told him that he was doing business in the name of spirituality. 


He did not know how to handle the situation at this point. He asked Krishna for help. Suddenly one idea struck him. He asked her to just hand the money in his hand for the time being. She reluctantly did. Then he took out his purse and handed her the $50 dollar he had in his purse and asked her to keep it. She was dumb struck. The black bodied person was smiling and was absorbed with what was happening. She told him that 50 dollar is much greater than the $4. He congratulated her saying that mathematically she correct. Then he asked her to consider and think whether spiritually she was?


He explained that to him and to Krishna the $4 was far bigger a sum than the $50 dollar for it will give her imperishable knowledge. And that for spiritual knowledge she has to part with something that is dear as an exchange for that will give her Sukriti or spiritual power to understand the higher science. She was not convinced. He asked her whether she wanted a proof to learn this. She told she was. Then he warned her that she must be ready for consequences for He was going to put a special prayer to Krishna to reveal this logic. She agreed. He then put a special prayer to Krishna. Still the issue of money was not resolved. But somehow the conversation changed and she asked whether a Guru was needed to open the third eye. He asked her what she meant by Guru and third eye and how do did she know that for now he wasn't her Guru for he was trying to convince her about the highest science of Krishna and soul. He then told her the story of Dattatretya who had 24 gurus in the form snake, moth, bird, moon etc. The entire group was absorbed and impressed like anything. Then she asked him does he not love money? He replied that he is the happiest when he has no money in his pocket, not even a cent for that is the day Krishna reveals his mercy by revealing that He is the one that supports and not money. (I personally know that he being a student is often short of funds, he told her the absolute truth). The girl was defeated at this point and became very emotional and gave her the money willingly and took the book. Of Couse she returned the $50 dollar. And the entire group told that will come to the temple.

Sankirtan Yajna ki Jai!

Introducing Weekly Sadhana Calls!

Weekly Sadhana Calls: Starting Thursday, May 24th, 6:30-6:50am (20 min), we are launching a new initiative which will involve CHAD (reading a chapter from the Bhagavad Gita As It Is) and reading from the 'Book of the Month' (Sri Isopanisad for May) for 20 minutes each Thu morning. This will be done via Skype (Skype ID: ISKCON Toronto Sankirtan). For those who are not comfortable with Skype, contact us and we can walk you through a simple process of setting up a FREE Skype account (www.skype.com), or work out an alternative for you.

"Businessweek magazine suggests that "You can do better. To protect your business, create an emergency plan that includes phone lists, alternative working spaces and processes, and, most critically, a procedure to back up vital data. Finally, make sure you have the insurance coverage you'll need to make up for lost revenues or rebuild your business." As living entities - spiritual sparks , we should also have an emergency plan to sustain in our 'real business' of 'Going back to Godhead'. Srila Prabhupad suggests that "We should read, how Krishna protects the demigods or the devotees. We should seek protection of Krishna. This world is so dangerous. It is said...at every step there is danger. But if we take shelter,..., if we take shelter of the lotus feet of Murari, under whose lotus feet the whole mahat-tattva, cosmic manifestation, is resting, then this big ocean of birth and death, we can cross very easily... The whole ocean becomes like a spot, a small spot, created by the impression of the hoof..." - (Bhagavad-gita 7.5 Lecture,Vrndavana, August 11, 1974)

Reciting Bhagavad-Gita helps us remember this naked truth of the temporary miserable material world and the eternal blissful nature of spiritual world. Simply by giving our attention and concentration to CHAD everyday for a minimum of 5-10 minutes, we accumulate tremendous amount of spiritual wealth that can never be taken away by any powerful deadly agents in any of three worlds. Caring for our real 'self' by doing CHAD is one of the best ways to 'selflessly' perform the greatest welfare work for our fellow beings!"- HG Vaisesika Prabhu

April Sunny MSF Moments!

As it was our Nrsimha Dev special MSF, in the mood of Prahlad Maharaj, we wanted to reach out with compassion to every one on the street. We had a goal of at least 20 devotees doing 75 books that day. By the mercy of Sri Prahlad-Nrsimha, we had a team of almost 22 devotees who  distributed a total of 95 books. We had an ecstatic Harinama, and distributed many hundreds of pieces of Prasadam.  Afterwards, we all came back to the temple, and as is the tradition now, we had prasad along with hearing experiences on the street! 

                               

April Book Club - Science of Self-Realization

The Book Club initiative is going strong for the past several months now. The book club "book" for the month of April is the Science of Self-Realization.  In order to complete the book in the month of April, you have to read about 10 pages a day! If you are late to join in, No Problem :), we welcome you to sign-up for our daily email quotes, so you stay connected! To register for the book club,email us!

The objective of the book club is to facilitate and encourage readings from the wonderful philosophy of Krishna consciousness. We encourage you to participate! 


A little something about the book:-


In this book you will discover the timeless science that great teachers have spoken for millennia. The Science of Self Realization opens up the secrets of the self within, nature and the universe and the Supreme Self within and without. 


Here the world's most distinguished teacher of the science of self-realization talks about meditating and practicing yoga in the modern age, gaining liberation from the law of Karma, achieving superconsciousness, and much more. 


In all the interviews, lectures, essays, and letters chosen for this special book, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks with startling clarity and power. He proves just how relevant the science of self-realization is to today's world and our own life.


Pick up your copy at the next Sunday Feast!

Tuesday Sanga - Mid-Week Recharge

Re-launched in January, the Tuesday Sanga's have been going strong for the past almost four months now. These sanga's  as an intimate gathering, focussed on facilitating an environment for sravanam (hearing) and kirtanam (chanting), in the association of fellow devotees.


Some of the exciting activities planned for these Weekly Sangas include:

• One round of Japa (chanting on beads) together
• Reading one chapter of Bhagavad-Gita together
• Doing kirtan together
• Honouring prasadam together
• Realizations from the "Book of the month"
• Street Harinam (summer)
• And more...

Everyone is welcome to participate. Please join us and check it out for yourself - a little re-charge in the middle of the week!

Every Tuesday 6:30-8:30 pm (Prasad Served at 8:30)

Hare Krsna Temple
243 Avenue Road; Toronto