Sankirtan in the Gopigeet

tava kathāmṛtaḿ tapta-jīvanaḿ

kavibhir īḍitaḿ kalmaṣāpaham

śravaṇa-mańgalaḿ śrīmad ātataḿ

bhuvi gṛṇanti ye bhūri-dā janāḥ

TRANSLATION

The nectar of Your words and the descriptions of Your activities are the life and soul of those suffering in this material world. These narrations, transmitted by learned sages, eradicate one's sinful reactions and bestow good fortune upon whoever hears them. These narrations are broadcast all over the world and are filled with spiritual power. Certainly those who spread the message of Godhead are most munificent.Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 10.31.9

Memories from 2 years ago

Right around Bloor and Spadina, I saw a girl pass by and somehow, I have no idea how, I remembered her face and said hi as if I knew her. She remembered me right away and started to talk about a meditation event we had organised at UofT two years ago with Devamrita Swami. She was on her way back from a job interview and we chatted a little and I started to realise that she had clear memory of the event as she started to describe Maharaj’s speaking style and his comments. As she was so deeply reminiscing that event, I invited her upstairs so I could show her some books and she came along. As we started to talk upstairs she really started to remember the prashad and her conversation with Maharaj and said several times how she wanted to meet him again. She took 2 books and I started to realise that even a moment’s association with Krishna’s devotees leaves a permanent impression in the heart. Otherwise material world is an atmosphere of forgetfulness, it is hard to remember things from yesterday let alone remember exact details of an event from 2 years ago. I pray this time she takes her Krishna consciousness seriously and comes to see us.

Ambassadors of good will

I met a girl near Urbanedgeyoga and upon first inquiry she didn’t seem much interested in yoga but the meditation intrigued her. As I talked more, she asked me if we were Hare Krishnas. I said yes and asked her how she knew about us. She explained to me she was from Kazakhstan and her friend was living on the Hare Krishna farm. So I was all excited and invited her upstairs and we had a quiet chat. She had read parts of the Bhagavad Gita so I showed her the Krishna book. She really admired the pictures and started to recall her time in the Kazakhstan farm community, she said that was the most calm she has felt and the best time she had had. She left taking the Krishna book and said she would write to her friend about our meeting.
As Vaisesika Prabhu said we are going out there to make friends – ambassadors of good will. Due to nice association with the devotees in Kazakhstan farm, and her appreciation for them (agyata sukriti) she could now come in touch with Krishna book and by donating for the Krishna book she became a participant in the Sankirtan Yagya.

It is a moment to remember the turmoil our Kazakhstan farm community devotees have been through and appreciate even more the fruits of their outreach efforts:
The Kazakhstan government destroyed 26 homes of Hindu practitioners of the community. Their land plots were confiscated. The owners of the destroyed houses were left homeless and never offered compensation or humanitarian aid. All of the land plots have been resold by the Kazakh government.
The Kazakh government also confiscated the 47.7 hectares (116 acres) legally registered property of the Krishna Society. This is the property where the only Krishna Temple in Kazakhstan exists. The claim for the confiscation is forgery but this point has never been proved in court. In both cases there are more than 40 examples of violation of due process and rule of law.
Read more: http://news.iskcon.org/node/2287#ixzz1Nn5QNPQF

Krishna book special mercy

I heard in a lecture that Srila Prabhupada explained that one who reads Krishna book is sure to become a devotee and I could not help but remember that it was the book I read too before meeting devotees. So I had been carrying a Krishna book with me all day thinking perhaps someone will take it but no one asked for it. My arm was hurting but I had no luck so as I was leaving I was really sad that no one took a Krishna book. I was openly complaining and sad but then I did close all the books and started to walk back towards the subway. I was still carrying a few books with me as I was walking hoping that perhaps someone will ask for Krishna book, but then the person who I was walking with needed help so I had to finally put all books in bag and close down. So I stopped in the middle of the walkway and started to put all books in a bag, really sad in my heart. That’s when this guy came up to us and he asked what we had and who were we. I started to explain to him about Urbanedgeyoga and Inspirit but he wanted to know more. He was looking for spirituality and so I presented him the Krishna book and started to show pictures. He was so enamoured, he took a cookie, chanted Hare Krihsna and took a Krishna book with him. It was so special to see how Krishna controls Sankirtan on his own sweet will and plan.

Krishna shakti vina nahe tara pravartana

I met a lady today during Sankirtan and she was on the older side and she wasn’t initially interested in coming for programs as she lived away from Toronto. But something in her heart inspired her to talk for a few minutes and I found out that she was interested in spirituality, so I showed her the Bhagavad gita. As she was seeing it she started to talk about Shakti and her interest in her and that’s when the book opened up at the Karma picture – and she got all excited about the three ladies in the sky (as they looked like Shakti). I told her if she liked Shakti she should take the Gita and she started to say that she herself was ‘Shakti’s incarnation’. At this point I was thinking, oh no this is one of those people, she will never take the book. So I took shelter of Srila Prabhupada and somehow got her to see Srila Prabhupada’s picture in the centre spread of Bhagavad Gita. This is when she stopped and asked me – are you Hare Krishna as she recognized Prabhupada. I said yes and her face changed – I thought perhaps now is when she backs out. But to my surprise she said she has been to the temple years ago and she really thinks this is a sign and she would definitely take the book. Then she grabbed the book and kept it next to her heart and started to cry. She was so touched by the book and promised to read it. I gave her a cookie and she was simply crying and kept saying it means a lot. Then she said today is a special day and there are signs in the heaven and earth which she can’t tell me about. I thought to myself how special are these books and how do they transform people’s lives and hearts – we cannot even imagine the magic otherwise what hope do people like us have ?

CC Antya 7.11 : kali-kalera dharma—krishna-näma-sankirtana
krishna-shakti vina nahe tära pravartana

The fundamental religious system in the Age of Kali is the chanting of the holy name of Krishna. Unless empowered by Krishna, one cannot propagate the sankirtana movement.

24th Monthly Sankirtan Festival - Lord NrsimhaDev's Special

On Saturday May 28th, we will be celebrating our 24th Monthly Sankirtan Festival (MSF).

This month marked the appearance of Lord Nrsimhadev - The Divine Protector. We invite you to join the upcoming MSF and share the divine and the only ensured protection in this world of calamities, in the form of the holy name, books and prasadam! Please join us and make the most of a sunny shiny saturday, experience the pleasure of bringing smiles to some lonely lives and earn spiritual credits for eternity.

Schedule:-
4:30am Mangal Arti, Japa
7:45am Bhagavatam Class
9:15-10:00 am Building the Mood - Training & Goals
11:00am-2:00pm Street Sankirtan
2:00pm Maha-Harinama
2:30pm Lunch Prasad at the temple

How can YOU help?

1. Prepare Prasadam for distribution: From the comforts of your home prepare dry non-perishable prasad for distribution. Our goal is to distribute 5,000 pieces of prasad.
2. Package Prasadam for distribution: Friday 27th May 2011, 6:30-8:30pm
3. Stamp and pack books for distribution: Friday 27th May 2011, 6:30 PM - 8:30pm
4. Help with Logistics/Transportation: Saturday 28th May
5. Prepare Prasadam for Sankirtan team: Saturday 28th May 6:00-10:00am
6. Participate in Harinam - sing along, lead kirtan, play an instrument, hand out cookies or distribute books: Saturday 28th May; 11:00-3:00pm

Hungry for a miracle

I was struggling to stay out, it was late but I just thought I can keep chanting. That’s when I saw this young man walk in my direction. He looked very dejected and kind of stopped near me. I gave him a card and inquired if he has heard about yoga. He said yes but questioningly asked ‘What can it do for me’. So I started to explain how most of our problems are in the mind. He interjected right away asking, ‘no will it solve my problem?’ I told him I don’t know his specific problem but generally when people are calmer they can solve more problems – he mildly nodded. I noticed all the while he had these hiccups. So as I was talking, again he interjected – will it solve my problem. So I asked him was his problem financial or health. He started to explain he had no where to live his family has kicked him out and asked me if I have a place to live. I told him I have a mantra that will give him strength and showed him the Hare Krishna mantra and he repeated it with me. Then again he asked but how will it solve my problem. He said every step he takes there is pain, he can’t even walk. Again he asked me, how it will solve my problem. At that very moment two very severely hunchbacked people walked past us and I pointed in their direction and told him that was pain and that real progress requires attitude of gratitude and he should chant Hare Krishna. He was really upset. I told him its not like the chanting will find him his house but it will transform his life. I was running out of ideas, but at that very moment he said ‘Oh my god, can you see my hiccups stopped’ He was a changed man in seconds – he was smiling and laughing. He said this is a miracle, I am in pain for so long, cant stop these hiccups and chest was hurting, could do nothing to stop it but now it stopped. He started to ask me – how did the hiccups stop (as if I knew). I told him everything is going on under Krishna’s will, these hiccups may come back again but you need to see you are not the body. He said I was not believing you, but now I believe you, I will surely read this book. He now showed interest in the books and started to inquire more about Karma. He left with two books and I requested him to chant everyday. I pray humbly that he just chants.

Looking back it, I was thinking how cheap our faith in Krishna is. We need to see a little magic show, a little miracle. We don’t realise that the very fact that we have human form of life and are in association with Srila Prabhupada’s books, Vaikuntha gems, is the greatest miracle. Srila Prabhupada explained that if someone just stops and appreciates a book and says thank you, doesn’t even take it, its Shraddha and that is enough to get them a human form of life. What is the destination of this young man, so frustrated and lost in life and little does he know that he left with the world’s greatest gems.