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

Under the influence

A young couple was walking towards me and they looked liked they were under the effect of some sort of drugs but I thought I should talk. So I crossed the street to talk to them and started to talk. They were really young and explained that both their mothers were reiki healers and they were into yoga meditation etc. I started to show them the Bhagavad Gita and they simply loved the pictures on reincarnation, karma and admired Srila Prabhupada's picture. They were enthusiastic about the Gita and to my surprise they actually had laxmi to get it. I asked them what their goal in life was and they said 'we want to go to New Zealand'. I was amused by their goal but we talked a little about it and they left promising to come for the Gita class. Please pray that they can actually make the journey to the workshop.

The effect of Japa

I was in Kensington this week and the cold would not allow me to stand at one place, so I was walking around trying to stay warm. That’s when I saw 3 ladies I had seen a little while ago and wanted to talk to them but missed the opportunity. So this time I said Hi and introduced myself. The slightly older lady seemed interested and told me how she was into meditation and then stopped. So I showed her the books and when she finally decided to take the book, I decided to probe deeper. So I started to ask her about what kind of meditation she was doing? She told me a few years ago she had heard a mantra at some program Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Rama ...and then she told me she had been chanting this mantra for a year and then life got busy and she stopped for a while and now recently she wanted to chant again and was looking to join some meditation program. I explained to her how she had met the right people and got the right book to fulfill her desires. It was magical to see how Krishna arranges these sankirtan encounters.

Intoxication interrupted

We were at Eaton centre and battling the cold. It was hard to stop anyone and that’s when I saw a man who was smoking. I asked him about yoga and he said he wasn't going to do yoga. When I inquired further he said he believes in dope to get higher and so yoga did not fit in. Not knowing what to say i said ' Wow - so that’s your thing' and handed him a chant and be happy. The lecture I was hearing in the morning went into 'Auto Play' in my mind and I remembered how 'staying high forever' was an old punch line we used. So I tried to talk to him but he was saying 'I only take marijuana'. I once again tried to be positive and asked him what happens the day after and he told me he felt sick. So I explained that the Chant and be happy would help him 'stay high forever' and never feel sick. He got very interested and immediately gave some laxmi.

It was like the day for intoxicated people. Soon after I met a guy who was carrying a whole box of alcohol and slowed down to talk to me. When I showed him the book - he asked me how much it was and pulled out some laxmi. As he gave me laxmi he said 'I am feeling generous today' and off he walked with book and a bag of alcohol.

Beyond barriers

I was on a road trip to Chi-chin-itza, an ancient Mayan ruin and the driver and his assistants spoke very minimal English. In the villages no one spoke English – and I don’t speak Spanish. Amidst this situation I was praying to Krishna to create a situation so I could find someone who could take a book from me. That’s when I ran into a young boy who was assisting the driver and he could squeeze in a few English words. Actually I didn’t do anything, this boy just turned around and asked me if I had called for him. While I was praying internally that he showed interest, I hadn’t uttered a word so I was pleasantly surprised. I jumped at the opportunity Krishna had created and responded saying that I hadn’t said anything but perhaps it was the soul. Instantly he started talking and described what he knew about the soul. I asked him about Karma and Yoga and he explained with the few words he had. He talked about the soul and out of body experiences and I gave him the one copy of Spanish Perfection of yoga I was carrying. I tried to show a picture of Srila Prabhupada and he promised to read it. Later I was how this little kid was reading the book non-stop all day and even when the sky was dark and I was struggling to see words on my Chaitanya Caritamrita copy, he was bending over and trying to soak in last few words. I felt a great happiness because on my way up I was hankering for devotee association almost feeling lost and on my way back just through one book; I suddenly had another devotee in the vicinity.