York University's Bhakti Yoga Club

Jack Ma. Does the name ring a bell? He’s the CEO and founder of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the world’s largest and most valuable retailer (surpassing Walmart). It is worth more than Facebook and processes goods more than eBay and Amazon combined!*

For those of you who don’t know his story of rags-to-riches, some of Jack’s failures that he wears as badges are as follows:
– he failed in college thrice.
– his application at Havard University was rejected 10 times.
– he was the only one among 25 to be turned down a jobs at KFC when it came to China.

Ok, so cool he made it big. What’s in it for you? How does one know how to look upon one’s apparent failures? Life doesn’t come with guarantees irrespective of who you are, how does one go at it (aka life) relentlessly with enthusiam? Come join us for our first event of 2018 to hear the bhakti perspective on failure..

What? Perspective Fail!
When? Monday, Jan 22 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311C Student Centre

*As per some Internet sources

Last week we discussed the wisdom that the Gita offers us in the form of a narrative. Warriors, bloodshed, weapons and stuff. This week we’re going to do a deep dive into the different concepts touched upon.

The Gita is a climax of a fratricidal war and one would wonder what there is to learn for us. Or one may not. Either ways- its worth finding out. Hint: karma, time, living entity, different belief systems, etc.!

Come check us out for the continuation of the inspiring conversation that started last Thursday on how the events from >5000 years apply to each one of us today!

What? Gita Wisdom Reloaded
When? Thursday, Nov 30 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311C Student Centre

Imagine this climatic scene like the kind you’ve probably seen in movies on war- two armies so large that the extent of their sizes seem to disappear into the horizon. Both sides played by Oscar winning actors, roaring, vying to show their unbeatable strengths. Right before the inevitable rivers of blood flow, something happens.

A mighty chariot is drawn between the two armies from one of the sides and a conversation ensues between the two warriors on it. Everyone around wonder in amazement- what’s going on between them? Can this wait? Like seriously- in the middle of something here, hello!!

And that is how the Bhagavad Gita aka the book on morality and spiritual values came to be. Counterintuitive, no? Come check us out for an inspiring conversation on how the events from >5000 years apply to each one of us!

What? Gita Wisdom
When? Thursday, Nov 23 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311C Student Centre

School. Homework. Projects. Submissions. Tests. Jeez, does it ever end? Days can be plagued with urgent situations and demands of those around us- when does one schedule in some very important “me-time”?!

Amongst other things, who we are is a reflection of what (and how!) we do things and that is a matter of how much attention we give to the important things in our lives. How to keep the ball rolling and not feel like yet another week has gone by?

Come check us out for an inspiring conversation with an amazing friend of Krishna Club, Dr. Rikin Patel, on how to prioritize and get things done in away that positively define you!

What? Time I Am
When? Thursday, Nov 16 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311C Student Centre

Staring, rummaging through aisle after aisle, going from store to store, collecting mounds over mounds of things.. Do you stop to wonder whether you shop to meet your needs or you shop because that in itself is a need?

“The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed”, says Mahatma Gandhi. Simple living then is an outcome of practicing higher principles. Unearthing deeper desires. Does that sound complicated or simple enough?

Come check us out for an invigorating conversation on how to strike the balance and learn the mantra of contentment!

What? Shopping Smart: Needs Vs. Wants
When? Thursday, Nov 9 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311C Student Centre

As always, a delicious veggie snack will be served as well. Hope to see you there!

We often hear people ask to “keep it real”. Ever wonder what “real” means and how does one “keep” it that way? Sometimes it is because it is to one’s advantage, sometimes it is to be socially accepted- the reasons really are endless!….

…. Do you ever find youself wearing a mask or that other people in your life are? And it’s not because it’s Halloween!! What does it actually mean to ‘bring your authentic self’ to the table?

Let’s talk about it from a bhakti perspective. Come join us to hear from one of the founding members of the club who’s here all the way from NYC!

What? The Power of Authenticity
When? Thursday, Nov 2 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311C Student Centre

As always, a delicious veggie snack will be served as well. Hope to see you there!

P.S.: Yes, it will be past Halloween but there still will be some tricks (to becoming the real you) and some treats!!!

The tradition of lighting candles (or blowing for that matter!) is not new to us; for centuries people from all over the globe have been doing so for cultural, religious, spiritual and other multitude of reasons. Even the act surrounding the candle varies- they are lit in pairs, placed on the altar, carried in processions, waved in circles and so on.

Diwali, also known as the “Festival of Lights”, is one such occasion that coincidentally also falls on this coming Thursday! This gorgeous festival is much, much more than a “Hindu” tradition with blasting, deafening fireworks and stuffing one with sweets that it has been popularized as (which honestly isn’t so bad). However the underlying non-sectarian, all-encompassing theme and soul of the celebration is quite lost to most. Let’s come together to clear the smoke and reignite that spark of purpose that lies latent in each of us:

What? Diwali Meditations
When? Thursday, Oct 19 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311C Student Centre

As always, a delicious veggie snack will be served as well. Hope to see you there!

P.S.: A “sweet” surprise awaits you!! That should “light” up your eyes. ‘Nuff said!!

Running overtly after fleeting moments of happiness,
Experiencing withdrawal after some initial giddiness,
Oh the maddness! Why is it not here to stay?!!
Slipping away, like the scenic sunset golden ray…

A wise man once said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over with the expectation of getting different results. What then is the game changer? Come find out!!

Below are the deets for this week:

What? The Art of Happiness
When? Thursday, Oct 12 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311C Student Centre

As always, a delicious veggie snack will be served. Hope to see you there!

P.S.: Happy Thanksgiving!!! Here is some beautiful fall weather to cheer you up! 🙂

At dawn when the war had reached its end,
Bodies were strewn; what was left to mend?
“Who owns?!” the rage first started off as a mutter,
Now trucks pick both bodies alike, lying in the gutter.

Nationalism, sexism, racism, this-ism, that-ism. As if the conflict outside wasn’t enough, there’s enough to deal with within- could’ve done, absolutely should not(!!) have done and so on. Is there a right or a wrong way of behaving in situations? Could these be cases of mis-directed identity? What on Earth does “mis-directed identity” even mean?!

Welcome to Krishna Club’s first event of Fall 2017!! We’re back with intriguing topics and guest speakers! Below are the deets for this week:

What? Mind, Body and I
When? Thursday, Oct 5 @ 7pm
Where? Room 311 C Student Centre
Cost? FREE**!!

Did I hear free veggie snacks? Come find out!!

**There are no hidden clauses! First event of the semester is usually free. Each session is $5 with club membership at $15.

It’s that time of year again! We know it’s exam season aka stress season.

De-stress with a little yoga at the Krishna Club!

Here’s everything you need to know:

What? Yoga

When? Tuesday, March 28th, 7pm-8pm, followed by some meditation and a delicious meal

Where? Student Centre, room 311C

Cost: $5

A few mats will be provided, but if you have your own, please bring!

See you soon!