Stouffville Market Sankirtan

For the 3 year anniversary of the Monthly Sankirtan Festival (Mary 26th), the sankirtan warriors went to two location- a larger team went to the Yonge and Dundas Square while a smaller group of four devotees headed out to the Stouffville Country Market. This place is a home to the largest farmer's market in the area where inside and outside vendors also sell products ranging from home furnishings to sporting goods and electronics. Because it was a hot-humid day, there wasn’t much traffic of people but on the flip side, longer interesting conversations were possible. We met some really nice people and established some great contacts. A team of 4 devotees stood out through the hot summer sun from 7am-3pm and a total of 25 books were distributed. 

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

Maha Mantra Festival:- Sep 10-20th

On September 18, 1965, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada got off the ship 'Jaladutta' and stepped on the American soil. The rest is history. After Srila Prabhupada came to the US, within 12 years he was able to establish over 100 temples, and inspire thousands of followers, sharing with them the strength of the Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra! Today, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has grown to a world-wide confederation of over 500 centres around the world!

Starting Sat, Sep 10th, ISKCON centres all over the world will celebrate the arrival of Srila Prabhupada in the West 46 years ago, the day that changed the life trajectory of millions all over the globe.

The celebrations this year in ISKCON Toronto will be marked by 10 days of non-stop activity as the MAHA MANTRA FESTIVAL! We encourage you to make the most of this occasion, participate in the numerous activities, help organize them and most importantly - spread the word around!

Daily Highlights:

* Morning Conference Call readings: daily from 7:15am to 7:30am (starts Sat, Sep 10th) From the book - Sri Namamrta, the Nectar of the Holy Name - the perfect way to start your day!
Conference line dial-in: 647-847-1525; Passcode:- 6118889#

Special events during the Maha-Mantra Festival (Sep 10-20th):

* Double Decker Bus Harinam: Sat, Sep 10th, 1:00pm to 5:00pm (pre-registration required)
For the third year in a row, the popular bus harinam is back! Enjoy the chance to do kirtan aboard a double decker bus as we drive around Toronto. For a modest fee of $25 for the upper level and $10 for the lower level, get your tickets fast as seats are limited!

* Srila Prabhupada Movie Night: Thu, Sep 15th, 6:30pm to 8:00pm
Movie night about Srila Prabhupada with popcorn and juice at the Hare Krsna Temple!

* Downtown Street Harinam: Fri, Sep 16th, 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Harinam down the streets of Yorkville, the heart of the International Film Festival! (meet at the Hare Krsna Temple)

* Sankirtan at Beatles Festival in Orillia: Sat, Sep 17th, 7:00am to 9:00pm (pre-registration required)
Opportunity to share the holy name, prasadam and books at the famous Beatles Festival in Orillia!

* Grand Finale Kirtan & Pizza Party: Tue, Sep 20th, 6:00pm to 9:00pm
An extremely grand way to cap off 10 days of fun and bliss with a special kirtan night at the Hare Krsna Temple!

It is going to be busy & fun 10 days, and we hope to see you at these events!

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

Nityananda Special - Monthly Sankirtan Festival Sat, Feb 19th

This coming saturday, Feb 19th, marks our 21st Monthly Sankirtan Festival (MSF).

To celebrate the appearance day of Lord Nityananda, our goal is to have 5 teams going out to distribute 108 books, one for each name of Lord Gauranga chanted by Lord Nityananda.

Please come along, there is more service for you than you can think of! Help pack books, prepare prasad for distribution, drive devotees, chant along the harinama party or distribute books.

Please email toronto.sankirtan@gmail.com for more information.

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


Please dress WARMER than you think you'll need to (it's still cold - bring gloves and caps along).

Basket Ball

Submitted by - Mangal Aarti dd

I was really struggling at the corner of avenue and bloor, no one was stopping and it was cold. I thought I guess I prayed too much to lord Caitanya for a taste of sankirtan and now He was going to make me stand there and not stop anyone. So i decided to just try to accept - time to practice what i had heard. Try to please lord Caitanya :)

I started to chant and this really tall tall man with a NBA Sweatshirt came along. I thought he wouldn't stop or even see me but did. First I handed him a tiny book and showed him a picture of Srila Prabhupada. He said he would take it. Then somehow I asked him if he was interested in ancient history and as soon as he looked interested I handed him the Bhagavad gita. He dived right into it. I showed him Sanskrit mantras, he tried and then just asked me how much for the book. I told him whatever he would like to give and he handed me a lot of laxmi for the books. I asked him if he was around for a while and he said he was playing today and leaving the next day back to US.

This is the time I started to put his over TALL hieght and lots of money and game together - i asked him to write to me and gave him a card. I am very ignorant and have no idea about what game he plays or who he is - but perhaps one day, he will take to Krishna Consciousness!

Necessity of Life

Certainly during those days, it was our center; it was our focus. At least for myself and for many other devotees in our society, there is no doubt that we felt pushed in so many ways with the need to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. It became the ultimate necessity of our lives to see that his books were being distributed.
There is an expression I often think of, namely “necessity of life.” We often tend to think that the meaning of necessity of life is something that sustains life in the body. We often think necessity of life to be food or shelter or maybe air. Water and air are necessities of life. They are necessities that sustain life in the body. But life is eternal, and Srila Prabhupada would often use this term, “necessity of life.” If life is eternal, if life exists outside and beyond the body, then what is the real necessity of life? Life also has a necessity, even without a material body.
Srila Prabhupada would say that this preaching, this book distribution, gave him life. Srila Prabhupada showed by his own example that this is what sustained his life and what continues to sustain his life. It is what he was so much absorbed in. It was his mission to give us this transcendental wisdom in the form of Srimad Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita, and to study these books ourselves, and by realizing the contents of these books, to go out and make others similarly fortunate to appreciate the great value of Srila Prabhupada’s books. This is life.
If we ask how to actually realize what is our necessity, how do we live, how we can be successful, what is real life, the answer is in preaching and spreading the message of Krsna Consciousness.

His Holiness Niranjana Swami

http://connect.krishna.com/node/8843

Devotees are going out everyday, Yajna Gauranga Prabhu, Gaura Candra Prabhu, Mangal Aarti dd, Milind Prabhu and many many more. Please inspire them, encourage them...join the gang. Also if you would like to share any sankirtan experiences please send them our way. Check www.torontosankirtan.blogspot.com for more sankirtan nectar!

Prabhupada on Yonge Street

Submitted by Mangal Aari dd

There was a slight drizzle and I was really praying to somehow be able to render some service to Prabhupada and someway deepen my relationship. Wondering how it would happen I was standing outside UrbanEdge Yoga, when this man came from the internet cafe next door. I tried to speak with him but he was so extremely distressed, and just told me he was very very upset. He looked like he was choking. Upon asking, he said he was in love with a woman and she would not have him. He was so shaken up and depressed by it. I asked him why - what happened. He said she didnt think he had enough money and he really didnt care about it but the woman would not be with him. I tried to explain to him how this was the way of the material world and we talked a little about nature of men and women. He said he was afraid she would find someone else and I said she will find someone regardless if she has to. (Just this morning i was reading 4th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam where narada muni narrates the story of king Puranjana and how he loses his lifespan following his wife and senses and now I was getting a practical example) I showed him a perfection of yoga and asked him to read it. Initially he said he was too fragile and needed a job and couldnt read. then I showed a picture of Srila Prabhupada and recognizing the picture he said he had met him. As he didnt look old enough, I said it wasnt him, you must have met some of his students, he insisted he had seen Prabhupada on Yonge street. I couldnt figure out what he was talking about so we went back and forth until he said he had seen prabhupada at the parade and thats when i realised he had seen Srila prabhupada's diety and now Prabhupada got him here. I told him it was a sign and he took the book for a donation. He told me he was feeling better already and he started to thank me. I asked him if i could teach him a one word mantra - and he learnt to say Gauranga. He asked what it meant and i said it meant 'be happy'...he chanted Gauranga 3 times smiling and shaking hands and while leaving told me he was feeling much better. Srila Prabhupada is personally driving his marathon, we just have to be there.

4.27.6 The great sage Nārada then addressed King Prācīnabarhiṣat: O one whose life-span is great [virāṭ], in this way King Purañjana begot 1,100 sons within the womb of his wife, Purañjanī. However, in this business he passed away half of his life-span.

Purport 4.27.13 As the sun rises and sets, it snatches away the balance of our life-span. Thus as each day passes, each one of us loses some of life's duration. It is therefore said that the duration of one's life cannot be saved. But if one is engaged in devotional service, his time cannot be taken away by the sun. As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.3.17), āyur harati vai puḿsām udyann astaḿ ca yann asau. The conclusion is that if one wants to make himself immortal, he should give up sense gratification. By engaging oneself in devotional service, one can gradually enter into the eternal kingdom of God.

Nov 30 - Quote of the Day

"Now is the sankirtan marathon, we are not doing it simply for our own glorification.our eagerness should be to please Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda by presenting their teachings to as many people as possible.if someone is ambitious for distinction then sooner or later they will become disinterested. Because there will always be someone who is more expert or better preacher.But if our goal is the pleasure of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu then we will never give up sankirtan because we will always be able to please the lord with our effort. Devotee with the proper motivation in sankirtan always feels both direct reciprocation from the Lord. So its seen directly that sankirtan is the most confidential service of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Chaitanya is always giving the sankirtan devotees realizations of the teachings of Srimad Bhagwatam " HH Tamal Krsna Maharaj

Nov 29 - Quote of the Day

Srila Prabhupada SB 1.1.16 lecture
"There is no comparison. There is no competition. Every word is for the good of the human society. Every word, each and every word. Therefore we stress so much in the book distribution. Somehow or other, if the book goes in one hand, he will be benefited. At least he will see, "Oh, they have taken so much price. Let me see what is there." If he reads one sloka, his life will be successful. If one sloka, one word. This is such nice things. Therefore we are stressing so much, "Please distribute book, distribute book, distribute book." A greater mrdanga. We are chanting, playing our mrdanga. It is heard within this room or little more. But this mrdanga will go home to home, country to country, community to community, this mrdanga"

CC Madhya 4.79
If the preachers in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement are sincere devotees of Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa will always be with them because He is very kind and favorable to all His devotees. Just as Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa were victorious in the Battle of Kurukṣetra, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement will surely emerge victorious if we but remain sincere devotees of the Lord and serve the Lord according to the advice of the predecessors

Nov 28 - Quote for the Day

Not considering who asked for it and who did not, nor who was fit and who unfit to receive it, Caitanya Mahāprabhu distributed the fruit of devotional service. CC Adi 9.29
"I am the only gardener. How many places can I go? How many fruits can I pick and distribute?" CC Adi 9.34
"Therefore I order every man within this universe to accept this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and distribute it everywhere." CC Adi 9.36
Excerpts from Purports
This is the sum and substance of Lord Caitanya's sańkīrtana movement. There is no distinction made between those who are fit and those who are not fit to hear or take part in the sańkīrtana movement. It should therefore be preached without discrimination. The only purpose of the preachers of the sańkīrtana movement must be to go on preaching without restriction. That is the way in which Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu introduced this sańkīrtana movement to the world
Here Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu indicates that the distribution of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra should be performed by combined forces. Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He laments, "How can I act alone? How can I alone pick the fruit and distribute it all over the world?" This indicates that all classes of devotees should combine to distribute the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra without consideration of the time, place or situation.

Vyasa-Puja Offering

Dearest Srila Prabhupada,

Please accept our most humble obeisances. All glories to your divine grace.

Srila Prabhupada, thank you for brigthening millions of lives around the world with nectar drops from the spiritual world - glimpses into Krsna Consciousness through the holy name, divine prasad and your glorious purports. If it were not for you, so many people in the world would never find out what it means to be happy, people would never find homes in every part of the world and most would experience the lack of friends worth giving up lives for.

Prabhupada, you came as an ambassador of goodwill and ushered all this happiness in the lives of insignificant nobodies. By your mercy, we the insiginificant nobodies are also engaged in this highest welfare activity - your sankirtan movement. During the last 16 months several devotees from different walks of life, most of whom had never considered Sankirtan as their potential service, have regularly participated in distributing your magnanimous books and the holy name to the citizens of Toronto through the Monthly Sankirtan Festivals. Since its inception in June 2009, the Toronto Sankirtan Team has distributedabout 11,000 books and 1000's of pieces of prasad.

In addition to the Monthly Sankirtan festivals, this year Srila Prabhupada we launched our Smart Box Project - Challenging and demanding as it is, but it provided venues for book distribution "even while we sleep". Presently there are 20 smart boxes all over the GTA distributing your books through store-tops, restaurants and even a dollarama.

New innovations for your book marathon, the glorious Ratha yatra festival and the book of the month specials has attracted attention of the guests and devotees at home. Through the collective, organized and harmonius way of Sankirtan, and by your infinite mercy, we experience trickle drops of ecstacy - when passersby get captivated to walk right into the doors of your home; when someone who picked up a book from a smart box shows up at a sunday feast and when little Krsna miracles of people finding your books brigthen our days. More importantly Srila Prabhupada, through these various projects we've experienced the bliss of togetherness. Serving together in your glorious Sankirtan movement has never felt so special and rewarding, and the bond between the team is deepening.

Srila Prabhupada, we've just begun our novice attempts, our simple, insignificant service - and we can already experience such ecstacy, we wonder how it would be like to be completely drowned in the nectar of your service in every breathe of our existence.

Srila Prabhupada, we're so grateful to have come in touch with Vaisesika Prabhu, one of your Sankirtan Stalwarts, who has inspired this sprout of love for Sankirtan in our hearts. Vaisesika Prabhu often tells us, that Srila Prabupada has given us lifetimes worth of service, there is as much service as we like if we like. The only limit really is our desire.

Please bless us Srila Prabupada, that in whatever comes, in good times or bad, we remain united and our desires be dovetailed in your service.

Your aspiring servants

Toronto Sankirtan Team

Janamastami - Book Lounge!

An exciting innovation of the Festival Organising Team at ISKCON Toronto, led the Sankirtan Team to a Book Lounge in Govinda's! What followed, was an exciting and very encouraging Sankirtan experience after many years at a festival as packed as Janamastami!

The Book Lounge, setup in the Govinda's along with two other booths (one by ISKCON Cinema and another with Gopidots and Tilaka) had facilities to display books for sale as well as for guests to sit around and read the books available. Our enthusiastic team distributed books way past midnight, our highlights were the special Krsna book sale and also 3 small books for $5.
The Sankirtn Team distributed 35 different titles sold, for a total of 112 books, including 29 Krsna Books (highest count / book) and 1 Krsna Art book for a total collection of $767.25 laxmi points!

Ratha Yatra - Pulling Krishna Back!

While we've always had a book tent at Ratha Yatra, we've always been either short-staffed, or with not enough titles. This year because of the very recent India order, we not only had additional books in other languages, but also many new and old titles that devotees would be interested in as well (Siksamrita, Lilamrita, Namamrta, Sloka book and more). Also because of the Monthly Sankirtan Festivals over the last one year, we were able to have a team of very dedicated 10-12 devotees with Sankirtan as their primary service.

As suggested by Vaisesika Prabhu, this year we were able to get more than 500 small books sponsored. We wanted these small books to be distributed during the harinama on the eve of Ratha Yatra and also during the Parade. Since the books were already sponsored, we encouraged devotees to be liberal in giving them out for any donations. Devotees were able to distribute more than 200 small books during this time, and the enthusiasm of the participating devotees spilled over others as more and more devotees wanted to do books during the harinama and parade.

At the festival site, we had a 20x20 feet tent for books and 8 tables. Our goal in terms of the layout was for maximum visibility, accessibility and mobility. Since we had many different titles in multiple languages, we decided to have table signs (much like table numbers at weddings) that would read out the language/category. These signs, handmade by Vrndavan Prabhu, really allowed books to be very well organized and visible. We also had a special sale table comprising of the remaining sponsored books, where we offered any 3 small books for $5. This was a major attraction for most people, and a great way to get them through the door (literally). We also ran a festival special discount on all other regular books, which encouraged both devotees and guests to buy more books (including most of us!). We also distributed 1x4 fliers promoting the Book Tent featuring the special sale table and the discounted prices.

At any time we had about 5-7 devotees managing various tables in the book tent. There was a constant flow of traffic, hardly leaving any time for the core team to take a break or go around the festival site, which was in itself ecstatic.

We also had 2 sandwich boards (again handmade by Vrndavan Prabhu) placed at two sides of the book tent, which had 4 collages (prepared by Mangal Arti dd, Nicole and Romey), on 4 different contemporary themes that are addressed in Srila Prabhupada's books with the hope of encouraging people to check out the books. The 4 themes were - Love and Relationships, Environmental Crises, Overcoming Stress, and Science & Sastra. These displays attracted passersby, we even saw some people making notes of the content!

In addition to the main tent, we also had 4-6 satellite tables setup around various exhibits each manned by 1-2 devotees (e.g. Vegetarianism, Bhagavad-gita, Q&A, Reincarnation, Simple Living High Thinking, Mantra-meditation etc). This increased our visibility and captured the attention of the guests from all possible means. Our dear Walking Bhagavad gita, who turned 1 year this Rath Yatra, won everyone's applaud again this year, and remained an amazing channel for increased BG distribution as people would stop to take pictures and gradually end up buying a book!

All these efforts designed and pursued under Vaisesika prabhu's model, brought tremendous success to the Sankirtan efforts! Not only were we able to distribute more than 1400 books (which is 3 times the number as last year) for very encouraging laxmi points, but all the participating devotees were enlivened and inspired beyond compare.

The two Ratha Yatra days and the week leading up to it was very long and intense, but the smiling faces of the devotees dedicatedly engaged in Sankirtan was a treat for everyone - we also had a muslim lady walk up to us and say - I really just want to be as happy as you, can you tell me how! Every single devotee was so inspired to just share whatever they had, their realizations, the books and knowledge, that they did not even care for any discomfort or lack of sleep. Serving together like this, increased the bonding between the devotees, actually enabling us to realize how Sankirtan is our very life and soul.

Niagara Falls MSF - 1-year Anniversary Special

By Radhamohan das

Because of the G-20 summit in Toronto on the last weekend of June, we had to postpone our Niagara Falls special Monthly Sankirtan Festival (MSF) by a week. We were apprehensive about many things - new location, turnout, logistics, and above all, physical absence of Shyama-mohini dd (who was away that week attending the annual retreat with HH Bhakti Charu Swami in Vraj, USA). However, by Lord Caitanya's causeless mercy as always, everything worked out seamlessly. Shyama-mohini dd did an excellent job before leaving of planning and coordinating the prasadam with a team of devotees (both for sankirtan and devotees), and was also a constant source of inspiration and encouragement via email and phone. Devotees had their best time, were extremely inspired, enlivened and very enthusiastic to go out again!

We rented a 48-seater school bus to drive devotees to the Falls, which saved the hassles of coordinating cars and drivers. A few families drove their own cars, bringing the total participation to 55. Plan was to leave at 9am, do sankirtan from 11am to 2pm, picnic lunch 3 to 4pm, and return by 6pm. Given the 1.5 hour drive one way, we made special arrangements to make sure that devotees were on time. By Lord's inconceivable mercy, at 9:10am the bus had left downtown Toronto. The bus journey allowed devotees to bond together in an environment free from the stress of driving. There was kirtan all along, and for many this was the best part of the entire trip. We utilized the time on the bus to set the mood, bring everyone on the same page and do some training as there were some new people on the bus. We started by reading an excerpt from HG Vaisesika prabhu's email which was full of words of encouragement and inspiration. We also read a very inspiring message sent by Shyama-mohini dd. Next we discussed the "what" and "how" of book distribution based on Vasesika prabhu's instructions, assigned teams and team leaders, shared the itinerary and special instructions for the day. On the outskirts of the city, we were greeted by Mr. Sudesh Gupta, Shyama-mohini's grand uncle. He guided the bus to the best spot near the Falls, and also drove Vrndavan prabhu around later to show different spots including the park where we would take lunch.

It was the most beautiful day with thousands of people at the Falls. We found a good spot on the grass next to the side walk and made it our nucleus base, where we kept all the boxes of books, water and prasadam. Constant kirtan and dancing went on at that spot, which was a huge attraction for the tourists. They were taking pictures and many were dancing along. It also allowed devotees, especially with kids, to rest in the tree shade as the sun was scorching hot. At the same time, many devotees spread out on the side streets distributing prasadam, mantra & Rath Yatra cards, and books to the fortunate souls. Devotees had the greatest fun ever (you can read Shama Sharma's experiences - her first MSF - on this blog http://torontosankirtan.blogspot.com/2010/07/be-heard-my-first-tryst-with-msf.html). 3 hours later, devotees had distributed about 1000 pieces of prasadam, 100s of Rath Yatra cards and 82 books for ~$300 laxmi (1/3rd of which was in US$ suggesting many books went across the border!). Devotees were exhausted but no one wanted to stop. We then took few group pictures, and drove to the park for lunch prasadam, which was very elaborately cooked by a team of devotees. Devotees shared their experience while partaking in sumptuous prasadam. Around 4:30pm, we drove back to Toronto with non-stop kirtan in the bus, which heightened up as we entered downtown and neared the temple. As the final thing, devotees gathered in the temple hall and shared their realizations from the day, which brought tears in my eyes as I remembered the unlimited causeless mercy that Lord Caitanaya and the disciplic succession have showered on us undeserving souls. Devotees went home physically exhausted but spiritually enlivened and wanting more. One lady with a baby, who got Bhagavad-gita at the Falls from Sankalp and Shaun (both 14) showed up at the Sunday Feast in Toronto the next day! Few people who got festival cards at the Falls also came to the Rath Yatra festival a couple weeks later.

AtitaVancha - Krishna who fulfils your desires beyond expectations

A quick attempt at flyering a little bit on tuesday took place. The response was not as favorable as some other times, but keeping in mind the role of just "being there" I persisted. After sometime I saw this very simple yet intelligent looking person, I approached him - "we're having a yoga festival" to which he very politely replied " I am not from toronto". I then offered him a Perfection of Yoga as a present from Toronto. I enquired where he was from, and learnt that he was visiting a Neurology conference all the way from Switzerland! He was a little bit into yoga and meditation and was very happy to receive the book. He did not have change for donation, so instead of brushing me aside, he actually took the time to go inside the Seven Eleven Store and get some change. Touched by his sincerity I offered him another book and he graciously accepted. He then asked me about some restaurant of which I admitted to have no idea. As soon as we parted ways, I felt guilty at not having offered him prasad or inviting him to the centre. I felt like running behind him and stopping him, but he had left. The entire evening I was caught up in guilt and wished he would return.

On thursday, while the cooking class was going on, my wonderful husband was distributing flyers and books downstairs from Urban Edge Yoga. Where unknown to him, he met my friend from Switzerland. Upon talking further, he realized this was the same guy I had talked about...this time he invited him to come up... The cooking class had almost wrapped up and I was more than delighted to have met my Swiss Friend again...He not only came in, he had prasad (lots of it), and gave another donation...only to part with another book and a bag of goodies for his trip! He was very happy to have met us and left us his address, offering us to be his guests in Bern.

It was a special feeling of reciprocation. Krsna the master of mystics had yet again fulfilled my seemingly simple desire, beyond all my expectations!

No More Steak!

The evening started on a low note with some disturbing conversations. However Lord Chaitanya really wanted his way! A couple of very pleasant encounters happened, and while Vraja (My sankirtan partner for the evening) and I were discussing how we should probably wrap up and head back in 15 minutes, I noticed a car that stopped in front of us. The people appeared friendly, so I approached them "Hi, we're having a yoga festival". To this, one of the guys (Peter) replied, yes I got one from you the other day and you also gave me a book! Embarrassed, I apologized. However, he gave the flyer to this other friend (Anthony) who was accompanying him for dinner. Anthony got into some serious thought and started to ask about the books. He then asked me if there was anything about KARMA! I said certainly, and showed him the Bhagavad Gita. However the size of the book scared him, and he preferred to read something simple. I ran up to the centre and fetched for him a Coming Back. On my way down, I felt this unknown urge to try and give him the Bhagavad Gita. So I again tried to push it, however he was adamant and wanted some small books. After some discussion, he took one copy of all of the small books I had and gave a kind donation.

We then got into a conversation, somehow Anthony opened Coming Back to the page of the above image and his expressions completely changed. He said he was scared...and upon asking he revealed how he had been haunted by a dream since he was 3 yrs old which had a similar channel and an old man pushing him down. I told him how it could have been his previous lives' impressions. We then got in to the discussion on Karma, next life and more...while talking he casually took the Bhagavad Gita from my hand and started to read through the book. He came across the images and the one of KARMA really struck him. There and then he said : No More Steak!. He read on, and was visibly attracted to the book. He asked me more stuff, about Karma, reincarnation...and also if he could eat fish! Eventually, he just took the book and offered a kind donation for it as well. We exchanged contact info, and Anthony is eager to stay in touch. All 4 of us parted as good friends would, with Anthony proclaiming - No more steak!

It appeared miraculous, but Sri Hari certainly has His own plan...how Peter remembered meeting me, and encouraged his friend to speak with me...How Anthony had this dream about the reincarnation picture...and How just one look at Srila Prabhupada's work convinced him for life!

Param Vijayate Sri Krsna Sankirtanam

No Language Barriers for Bhakti

Submitted by:- Mangal Arti dd

I met a Russian lady near Finch, while she was for her husband. I showed her the Perfection of Yoga which she appreciated and decided to take. However she was waiting for her husband to get the money. While waiting, we started to talk, she told me how her husband was interested in yoga but could not speak English. I insisted and she asked him to still try and come. Ultimately she gave me a nice donation and left with a book. I didn't think much of it until yesterday when her husband called me. He could barely speak or understand English and we had great difficulty communicating but somehow (miraculously) I did not loose my patience and even though it seemed like he understood nothing, he came for a class last night. At the end of the class he chanted very nicely- no language barrier there. He then told me he left meat years ago and his younger son refused to eat since little. He was trying to find about reincarnation etc, so I told him to get japa beads which he did. I tried to explain he can chant regardless of circumstances and he said he would.

10th MSF - Bringing Sita Back to Ram

Saturday, March 27th marked the 10th MSF with the theme "Bringing Sita Back to Rama". Befitting the theme, this MSF was one with many challenges – some of our major team members were missing and the weather was surprisingly harsh. However, by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, 22 devotees were able to go
out to distribute about 56 books and 1200 pieces of prasad!

This MSF also marked the launch of GTA's Wal-Mart Sankirtana. A display table was set up at a Wal-Mart in Scarborough from 10:30am - 5:00pm, with three devotees manning the table. The devotees met many interested people and distributed 700 prasad candies and 24 books for a total of 170 laxmi points! All the
participating devotees were visibly enlivened and had many wonderful experiences to share.

Meanwhile, downtown the sankirtana team was at its regular spot at Yonge & Dundas. Unshaken by the cold winds and missing team members, the sankirtana warriors distributed about 500 pieces of prasad and 31 small books for 70 laxmi points! The team also happily discovered two amazing kirtaneers in Sing Lung and
Anshul Prabhus! After the sankirtana, all participating devotees went back to the temple to honor prasad and share their realizations.

Never know ... who you'll meet!

Submitted by:- Mangal Arti dd
I was at the corner of Bloor and Spadina but there weren't many people on the street. Suddenly, I saw a man with very long hair on a bike at the traffic light was about to drive off. I thought well why not - so i ran up to him and asked if he had heard about yoga and meditation. I was thinking he would call me crazy but he stopped and looked at the book, I was pushing in his direction. As he saw Srila Prabhupada's name - he looked at me and said 'I have books from Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - are you Hare Krishna?'. My joy had no bounds and I said yes i am hare krishna. How do you know Srila Prabhupada. He explained to me that he used to go to the ISKCON temple in Mexico where he had even tasted prasad. His copy of Bhagavad Gita was back in Mexico and he didn't know devotees here. I showed him Urban Edge Yoga and invited him to our sessions. As he was buying the Bhagavad Gita from me he said he was starving and if he could get some prasad. I was so apologetic but then i remembered some super duper mini muffins in the cookie jar, upstairs. So i ran up and got him some muffins packed in a zip lock. He said he would comeback...