Sunday Feast Live!

Video: Bhaktimarga Swami on Live Radio Program

For several months now, the wonderful devotees at the ISKCON Scarborough temple have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to conduct spiritual discussions and Q&A on live radio for the Tamil community.  Recently, HH Bhaktimarga Swami took to the radio waves and took some wonderful questions.  Parts of the video are in Tamil, but many parts are in English as well.  Check it out!  (the discussion begins at the 2:51 mark).

Vaisnava Etiquette Seminar - March 28 to April 1

Toronto's Hare Krishna Centre is very excited to announce that registrations have officially opened for the Vaisnava Etiquette Course, which will be facilitated by HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami from March 28th to April 1st, 2012.  HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami is known throughout our Toronto community for having taught incredible courses on Bhagavad-Gita, Yoga Ladder, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction and more!

Dates and Timings:
  - Wednesday, March 28th - 6:30pm to 9:30pm
  - Thursay, March 29th - 6:30pm to 9:30pm
  - Friday, March, 30th - 6:30pm to 9:30pm
  - Saturday, March 31st - 10:00am to 3:00pm
  - Sunday, April 1st - 10:00am to 3:00pm

Registration:
To officially register for the seminar, please click here.  Registrations are mandatory!

The Course:
The 'Bhakti-Sadacara (Krishna Conscious Behaviour) Course primarily deals with the process of 'self-revealing' followed by 'self-healing' in Krishna consciousness.  The course uses multiple mediums for teaching:
  - Class Interactivity
  - PowerPoint
  - Dramas
  - Group Work
  - Debates
  - Q&A

Topics covered will include:
  - Foundation of Bhakti-sadacara
  - Breaking a Lesser Rule for a Higher Rule
  - Qualities of a Devotee
  - Decorations and Dress of a Vaisnava; Imitation and Following
  - Vaisnava Aparadha and Forgiveness
  - Offering and Accepting Correction
  - Honouring and Serving Prasadam
  - Association with Materialists and Non-Devotees
  - Devotee's Attitudes
  - Association with Different Levels of Devotees
  - Devotional Friendship and Mentorship; Follow-up

We promise that this will be an incredible experience that you will never forget!  The course will take place during weekday evenings and weekends during the day.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.  Stay tuned for more information!  Hare Krsna!

Video: Funny "Three Minute Mrdanga Lesson"

This video was sent to us and we just had to share it with our blog readers (and we hope they can forgive the silly humour).  We're sure some of our readers will get the jokes and their references and for the rest who don't get the jokes, well... we're sure you can find something to giggle about in this video!  Enjoy!

Deity Darshan: Gaura Purnima 2012

Special "Pre-Sunday Feast Kirtan" this Sunday - 4pm to 6pm

All devotees of Toronto's Hare Krishna community and all kirtan lovers are encouraged to come to the temple early tomorrow for a special kirtan before the Sunday Feast.  On Sunday, March 10, 2012 from 4pm to 6pm, we will be having a special kirtan for the holy river Yamuna in India.

Currently 100% of the water from the Yamuna is blocked above New Delhi and this water is diverted for industries and irrigation. Below the dams above Delhi there is simply a dry river bed.  The water that is presently found in the Yamuna River bed is runoff from the Delhi sewerage system, and from the streets of Delhi and the towns above Vrindavan.

It's a sad state and so we are coming together to chant with all of our hearts as we pray for this spiritually special river.  Please join us this Sunday from 4:00pm to 6:00pm for this special kirtan!  Here is a small, inspirational quote about the Yamuna river:

“O River Yamuna, you are the blissful spiritual water that gives love to the son of Nanda Maharaja. You are the same as the water of the spiritual world, for you can vanquish all our offenses and the sinful reactions incurred in life. You are the creator of all auspicious things for the world. O daughter of the sun-god, kindly purify us by your pious activities.” (Caitanya Caritamrta - Madhya 3.28)

To read more about this situation, click here.  You can also read the video below:

Grand Gaura Purnima Celebrations - Thursday, March 8, 2012 - 3:00pm to 9:30pm

One of the biggest festivals of the year will be taking place this Thursday at Toronto's Hare Krishna Temple - Gaura Purnima!  The festival is observed annually (usually in February or March) by Krishna devotees all over the world —especially in the area of Mayapur, India, the place where He appeared in the year 1486.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is Krishna Himself, appearing as His own devotee, to teach us that we can gain full enlightenment simply by chanting the holy names of the Lord. Those who witnessed the Lord's pastimes saw Him dance and chant with ecstatic love for God, the likes of which had never been seen before.

For those who are interested, many devotees will be attending the very first arati of the day early in the morning at 4:30am!  There will certainly be a good number of devotees attending and starting their day on the right note.  Festivities will also begin well before the evening program with a harinama (outdoor chanting), kirtan, movies and more!

The official schedule for Gaura Purnima festivities are as follows (subject to change):

• 3:00pm to 4:00pm Harinama (meet at temple by 2:45pm)
• 4:00pm to 5:00pm Kirtan
• 5:00pm to 5:30pm Short Spiritual Movie
• 5:30pm to 5:45pm Reading from Chaitanya Charitamrta
• 5:45pm to 6:00pm Bhajans
• 6:00pm to 6:30pm Arati (Kirtan)
• 6:30pm to 7:15pm Special Presentation
• 7:15pm to 8:00pm Maha-Abhisheka: Bathing Ceremony
• 8:00pm to 8:30pm Arati (Kirtan)
• 8:30pm to 9:30pm Vegetarian Feast (Prasadam)