Why is it that when someone tells you that there are over a billion stars in the universe, you believe them, but if they tell you there is wet paint somewhere, you have to touch it to make sure?

Here's a link to the Canberra web site with pictures of Devamrta Swami and myself performing the yajna in which Manoj now Madhava Seva was initiated. Madhava Seva was living in Melbourne before he went to Canberra a couple of years ago. Jagannatha Balarama and Subhadra look very happy in Canberra.

Caitanya Carana Prabhu is a spiritual mentor from ISKCON Pune...

We are neither male nor female for at core we are spiritual souls, whereas our gender refers only to our shell, the physical body. Our spiritual identity is eternal, our gender is transient.

According to the Bhagavad Gita, we attain in our next life a body as per the thought that predominates our consciousness at the last moment of this life. "

Today there was an initiation ceremony by H.H Jayapataka Swami Maharaja. Four devotees got first initiation and three got second initiation.

The talk on ten offenses is by H.H. Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja and the remaining part is by H.H Jayapataka Swami.

In the last Vedicsoc session before the christmas break we talked about the controversial topic of human origins.

I talked about the established theory of Charles Darwin and why it (seemingly) makes a lot of sense. We then watched a part of the Mysterious Origins of Man documentary and I gave examples of some other archeological discoveries and so-called paranormal physical phenomena from Michael Cremo’s books: Hidden History of the Human Race and Human Devolution: a Vedic alternative to Darwin’s theory

We then discussed why the concept of the “knowledge filter” which prevents idea that radically contradict established ideas from being taken seriously. People naturally think:

“Modern humans, millions of years old? No, that is clearly impossible, otherwise I would have learnt about it in school. There must be some mistake. Let me ignore the evidence.”

We concluded by discussing the Vedic alternative explanation: humans aren’t ascended apes, instead we are actually fallen angels. The Vedas contain detailed genealogical records documenting human origins from “angels” (sophisticated living entities living on other planets and/or in other dimensions). But those are just absurd children’s stories, right … ?

The result: (much to my surprise) everyone attending the session agreed. “Wow, yes, the Vedic version makes a lot more sense.”

On or about January 8th, 2007, the eastbound lane of the Interstate 70 (I-70) tunnel in Wheeling will close completely for 6 months. The westbound tunnel will remain open.

This will not effect tourist travel to New Vrindaban as that comes on 1-470, which bypasses the tunnel. It will effect devotees doing local errands in Wheeling. Plan your route for town trips accordingly.

A Podcast from H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami. Srila Prabhupada in my life - part 10 Click here to download - 5:37 mins | 5.14mb (Right click the link and choose either “save link as” or “save Target as”)

(a Christmas tale)
by Chaitanya dasa

“I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine:
There sleeps Titania sometime of the night,
Lull’d in these flowers with dances and delight.”

from ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ (2.1.255-60)

“I know a bank where the pine sol blows,
where plastic flowers loom and green greed grows,
Quite over-canopied with officious guards
With sour faced looks and belly lards.
There sleeps America in these days of night,
Lull’d in plastic flowers with dances of fright.”

From ‘An early 21st century daymare’

Such is the phenomenon of so-called advancement of civilization. The aromatic scene transcribed by Shakespeare has ‘evolved’ into an excruciating episode in the lobby of a bank a bit more familiar. Thus we can understand the sickly sweet fate of modern people, lost amidst myriad machines meant for multiplication of titillation; perfectly crafted to strike dead-center the bullseye of our senses. The stereos are louder, the TV’s bigger, video games slicker, houses quicker, cars easier, food faster, sex better, drugs cooler-and happiness shallower; satisfaction rarer; depression deeper; and relationships crueler. I dare not even speak of the fate of love.

Word on the street is that we have reached unprecedented levels of advancement; and it is only getting better. Take for example this computer perched in front of me, hypnotically gazing with its one square eye, beckoning me at every moment to wrap up tighter in the crooked confines of the inter-net. Meanwhile the black widow-er lurks. He has ever so craftily laced his world-wide-web with little drops of honey, intoxicating the helpless victims of their own desires for selfish sense gratification. Oh how easy it is to catch your prey, when they are madly running after the trap! The madness of material infatuation having drowned their good reason, there is little they won’t do to get one whiff of the plastic flowers.

What are the plastic flowers? Some of you may by now have guessed (though still you are only half way there). In the meantime let’s catch the rest up to speed:

Aside from the obvious, plastic flowers are icons of an era of fake. The bill of modern culture is perfectly fit by these scent-less pieces of petrol. We have traded in the wholesome beauty, the simple elegance of days of yore for the amplified glitter and fleeting flash of modern life.

When is the last time you smelled a real flower? Saw a real sunset? Deeply inhaled the crisp air of wilderness? Experienced the luscious sweetness of fresh picked fruit?

Even the ‘real’ flowers don’t smell any more. Their genetically modified petals no longer possess the pleasurable palette of olfactory hues artfully cast by their au-natural ancestors. Sunsets have become smog-sets. As long as the air doesn’t have too many chemicals in it we think ‘quite good’. Fruit is not only tasteless, but now even poisonous. But hey, it looks good, right? Such is the shallow world in which we live.

Everywhere we look we see plastic flowers. We seek pleasure in that which falsely advertises pleasurable scents, but - senseless - we just smell harder and faster. Unwilling, or not able, to acknowledge our own stupidity, we continue digging for water in the desert. As we become ever thirstier with each scoop of sand, death beckons with open arms.

What will it take to graduate from this plastic culture, this plastic consciousness? When will we realize that we are surrounded by limitless permutations of plastic flowers, fragrant with the smell of death? When will we seek out the life giving scents of the genuine blooms, carefully hidden by the web-master?

There can be no love between people and plastic. Love lives only in the realm of life, of deep human relation. As the body is thirsty for water, so is the soul millions of times thirstier for love. It is its sustenance; its nourishment. There is no love in the world of artificiality and exploitation. Yet they insist it is advanced. They say we are so much more fortunate then the ‘primitives’ of old. To that I pose this famous question (since it is Christmas): ‘what profiteth a man who gains the whole world at the expense of his soul?’

As we traverse this harsh and sparkly landscape of death, let us be beacons of life and love. As one single lighthouse can liberate countless ships from the merciless waves of a stormy sea, each and every sincere soul willing to tread the path of love and service will on his way illuminate the lives of innumerable others lost in this sea of plastic flowers, desperately searching for some real scents. If you really want to help people, make this your aim, your charity to all. Without love, without meaning, without happiness and satisfaction, what is the use of food, freedom, or justice? All of these are very easily washed away by the waves of the ocean of despair. In this holiday season commemorating the birth of one of the brightest beacons in the history of the world, in this season of giving, and in honor of the wonderful gifts he made to all of mankind, lets deeply consider these essential truths. If after careful consideration you find in them validity, please take them into your heart and make them a part of your life. Become a brilliantly blazing beacon of compassion and love. You will not regret it.

“With every year it becomes harder and harder to see Christmas through its wrappings.”

-E.B. White

After a nice Christmas Party in Ireland and a quick tour of the third GOVINDA"S which will soon open in January, I am in Berlin and have uploaded 133 photos to my yahoo photos page.   You will see the powerful Adi Karta Prabhu distributing books and some nice photos of the Deities in London and Ireland.      There are also some photos of the famous LONDON SOHO harinam.    

I will be writing a little more soon.

 

I have so many things I want to say, but cannot get the words right. Then I find that some great devotee has already said it in a much superior way.

The following is from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in his SRI HARI KALPA LATIKA,chapter one.

 

15
kim ca --
tad-dasa hara-narada-prabhrtayah ko ‘ham varakah sisuh
papas ceti hriya mukunda-bhajana-tyagam vrtha makrthah
sarveso ‘pi durasado ‘pi karuna-sindhuh subandhuh satam
bhaktyaiva svapacan apiha vasagah svenanugrhnati sah
TRANSLATION
O human beings, do not feel ashamed and give up the service of Sri Krsna, thinking that great personalities like Lord Brahma and Lord Siva are His servants, so how will I, an insignificant, sinful person, become eligible to worship Him? Although He is the Lord of everyone and rarely attained, He is an ocean of mercy and the friend of the devotees. He is controlled only by devotional service, and through His devotees, He bestows mercy even upon the dog-eaters.

 16
na vedair nagamair yogair na tapobhir na karmabhih
bhaktyaiva kevalam grahyo yogi-mrgyah parat parah
TRANSLATION
He is never obtained through the study of the Vedas or literatures in pursuance of the Vedic version, mystic yoga, austerities, or fruitive activities.  Rather, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the object of the yogis' meditation, is understood only by devotional service.
17
tatha hi
sarva-dharma-vihino‘pi nadhita-nigamagamah
lebhe yad-bhakti-matrena dhruvah sarvottamam padam
TRANSLATION
Still, the great devotee Dhruva attained the highest abode of the Lord simply by devotional service, even though he had not practiced religious principles or studied the Vedic literatures.
18
sakama-matya bhajatam atad-vidam
bhakta-priyah kama-nivartakam nrnam
datte ghanananda-dugham padambujam
pita midasvadi-sisoh sitam iva
TRANSLATION
When a child eats clay his father takes the clay away and gives him sweets. Similarly the Supreme Lord's lotus feet take lust away and give spiritual bliss to  ambitious devotees who are ignorant of His glories. He is always affectionate to His devotees.
19
duscestita ye ‘pi aravindanabham
kvacid bhajante jana-ranjanartham
tathapi te tasya padam labhante
pritya bhajantah kim u sadhu-silah
TRANSLATION
Sinful persons who seldom worship Lord Sri Hari, and do so only to please common people, also attain His lotus feet. What to speak of the benefit received by saintly devotees who worship Him with love.
20
TEXT
kamena para-pidabhir yo dambhenapi sevitah
tarayaty eva tan sarvan ko dayalur atah parah
TRANSLATION
Who is more merciful than Him? He delivers His servants even if they serve Him with material desires, pride, or with a desire to harass others.
21
avihita-sukrto ‘pi yo vidhatte
salila-dalair api tat-pade saparyam
tam anu sakala-dharmikaira labhyam
nija-padam eva da dati bhakta-bandhuh
TRANSLATION
If one, without performing any pious activities, simply worships His lotus feet with water and tulasi leaves, Lord Sri Hari, who is the friend of the devotees, awards His lotus feet to such a person. His lotus feet are rarely attained by persons who are expert in performing religious activities.
22
sukrta-sata-juso ‘pi yogino ‘pi
sriyam anusevayato ‘pi bhakti-hinan
na bhajati bhajatam satam adhinah
kim iti krpalum amum bhajen na lokah
TRANSLATION
The Lord does not give His mercy to the yogis, or rich persons who are devoid of devotional service. He is controlled by the love of His devotees. Therefore, why will the human beings not serve such a merciful Lord?
23
dharman asesan api yo vihayabhajed ananyo hari-pada-padmam
dattva padam murdhni sudharmikanam  sa eva tad-dhama sukhad upaiti
TRANSLATION
One who abandons all religious duties and simply serves the lotus feet of Lord Hari with full attention, can climb to the abode of Lord Hari by stepping on the heads of the most pious people. 
24-25
yasya bhakti-pradipo hi sada snehena dipitah
nihsesam nasayaty eva karma-dhvanta-samuccayam
bhava-davanalair dagdhan kas tratum saktiman bhavet
rte dina-daya sindhum tam ananda-sudhambudhim
TRANSLATION
The light from His oil lamp of affection continuously illuminates one's devotional service and completely destroys the darkness of ignorance. Who other than Lord Sri Hari, who is the ocean of mercy and nectarean bliss, will deliver persons who are burnt by the fire of material existence?
26
hari-pada-bhajanecchur indriyaugham
dhrti-matiman vijayate durjayarim
sama-dama-niyamair yamaih svadharmair
nahi paravan sukha-sadhane samarthah
TRANSLATION
Persons who are patient, intelligent, and desiring to worship the lotus feet of Lord Hari easily defeat the senses, which are like unconquerable enemies. On the other hand, persons who are controlled by their senses cannot obtain any happiness even by peacefulness, self-control, austerity, or by following the principles of varnasrama-dharma.
27
hari-pada-bhajane pathi pravrtto
nijam api karma vivarjayet pravrttam
anudinam anusilayen nivrttam
na bhavati yavad ihesvara-prakasah
TRANSLATION
Persons engaged on the path of worshiping Lord Hari should give up fruitive activities prescribed for their particular varna and asrama. They should continue to regularly perform activities without any material desire until they fully realize the Supreme Lord.
28
kim castu krsna-mahima-tatparayanasyapi mahima
katham apivaktum na sakyata ity aha --
sa eva virah sa hi sastra-veda-vit
sa eva dhanyah sukrtah sa eva hi
sa eva laksmya svayam eva mrgyate
sa uttamo yo hari bhaktim asritah
TRANSLATION
What to speak of describing Lord Krsna's glories, even the glories of His devotees cannot be fully described. In this regard the author says:
One who has accepted the process of devotional service to Lord Hari is glorious, most pious, a hero, the knower of all the sastras, the best of all people, and personally searched after by Laksmidevi.
HBKL 29

1968 December 28: "For Krishna we can execute any activity, but this is not free license to act whimsically. Such practices are against the principles of Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 December 28 : "In India, actually, everyone is a devotee. The response to our Sankirtana Movement has been tremendous. By Lord Caitanya's mercy we are again reviving their dormant Krishna Consciousness just as we are doing all over the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Bhaktisiddhanta Dasa (ACBSP), the famous artist painter, tells how he became a devotee and how he met Srila Prabhupada. Also speaks about his art, historical facts about Vrindavana Samadhi and more. A wonderful story indeed.

Dear Prabhu, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I cannot but agree with what you say. My point is another one though. What causes or should cause faith? I am saying: knowledge.

1971 December 28 : "You are feeling some separation, as I am also feeling some separation from both of you. You are some of my first disciples, and because of you so many others came. Therefore I am always hoping you will join me again and work under my personal instruction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 December 28 : "I am not much fond of the idea of changing things to accommodate the public - better to change the public to accommodate us."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 December 28 : "We don't require to display ourselves in very clever ways to get attention. Our unique asset is our purity. That will be noticed and appreciated as long as we do not diminish or neglect the highest standard of purity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 December 28 : "Our Society means books. If there are no books, how can we preach? If the Press is running 24 hours, then everything is all right. Something must always be produced."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 December 28 : "Wherever there is preaching strength there is success, no matter it may be pandal-show, making members, or travelling Sankirtana. Just maintain our strong position of purity and preach, that's all."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 December 28 : "For ourselves, we do not require temple for serving Krishna. Because the public must have a comfortable place we get a nice house and invite everyone."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

This is a lecture given in Ujjain, India, 27 Dec. 2006. SB Canto 1 Chapter 6 SB - The Son of Drona Click here to download (duration: 1h14min., filesize: 29.8mb) (Right click the link and choose either “save link as” or “save Target as”)

For the past six days, Guru-Maharaja has been giving the morning Srimad-Bhagavatam classes. Each day he reads one entire chapter of Srimad-Bhagavatam. He said: “I was thinking that the next few days that I will be here I will not go just verse by verse, but I will try to go chapter by chapter. That [...]

By Navina Nirada das

Vaishnava Academy Mayapur offers it's services to the worldwide devotee community. It was built as a retreat center for spiritual training. A wide variety of seminars and workshops offer rejuvenation and inspiration for body, mind and soul.

I usually test whether or not I'm "on track" with my Krishna Consciousness by comparing my preaching and thinking with the topics that my spiritual master covers when he visits. Generally in the weeks or months before his visit I'll be talking about the same things that he touches on when he comes. This time I wasn't so in sync with his thinking, but I was completely blown away by the class that His Holiness Prahladananda Swami gave when he arrived in Brisbane. It's almost like he has been listening to the Red Hill Conversations Podcast.

Afterwards I spoke with Maharaja and told him: "It's uncanny - these are exactly the topics we've been discussing over these past months". And he replied: "Well, we're reading the same books, so you'd hope so..."

As the saying goes - "Confirmed". :-)

Here it is in all its smack down on vaccination, fluoride, and modern medicine / pharmaceutical industry glory:

His Holiness Prahladananda Swami - Cow Protection Solves All Economic Problems (mp3, 62 mins, 56 MB)

The devotees are going out each day to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. This is such a wonderful, wonderful service. To give a person medical assistance is good because it gives the person relief from the body for some time but to give a person the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as Srila Prabhupada has reveled to the world through his books; is to give the person the opportunity to enter into the spiritual world, it is to give a person the only real solution to his problems of life, Krishna consciousness. So those who perform this work in sincere compassion are actually performing the greatest welfare activity of all creation and what you give through Srila Prabhupada's books and other great Acharya; should also be exemplified. In this age of Kali-Yuga, the chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra is the most sublime means of purification of the heart. This is the conclusion of all the writings of the great saints. Let us distribute these books with great enthusiasm and let us show the world how wonderful and joyful life can be in the association of devotees chanting the Holy Name.

H H Radhanath Swami Maharaj

Piano moving for God

front porch oregon style

God speaks through many people

In the same parking lot as the Winery we met a very nice piano fixer and mover. This was his familys trade. He was one of the only people in Oregon capable of moving grand pianos into houses and apartments without braking them. it is a magical feat. They invited us to come to their home and play some music. we played a little kirtan for them and inturn he played us some of his music. He had this huge speaker system in his house and blasted us with his GOD Rock! He was a very sweet man and started expressing his passion for sharing Gods love with others through his music and his simple living. We chatted for some time then went on our way. I wanted to go riding into the night. For some reason whenever night time hit i wanted to keep riding. I liked the calm quite roads. Blake and Chaitanya couldnt tolerate riding at night and this left us to a few fights here and there. Everytime I lost. They are right I was wrong. Today Chaitanya expressed his disturbance with some of my dealings. While riding with others it is no place to hold anything in. What happens is all day long you are riding and forced to listen to your mind. any relationship problem can blow up in a matter hours de to the intensity of our activity such as not eating, not sleeping, not chanting, and not associating properly. This evening we found a most pleasant spot on the side of the road in a toxic hay field. We ate and picked berries for breakfast. The next day was Ekadasi so we finished off our supply of grains and fell asleep.

The special commission of the Kazakh government which was organised by the Ministry of Justice has issued an undated decision...

Radio Shows - on the Pastimes of Lord Jagannatha, Disappearance of Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Goswami. & interview with Melbourne devotee Jagannatha Ballabha.  

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.46.14 - The power of association.

Lords of Portland

The Kids

Trailblazer

August 4th
We went to Dhananjay Prabhu's place for darshan. Unfortunately he was not home due to working weekdays in Seattle at Microsoft. We did meet the kids and his family. He is nicely preaching and inspiring all the devotees in Portland. A very dedicated soul. As we left to ride towards Lilncoln city, Vrajkishore Prabhu promised to ride with us next year. We'll call him on it.

On this segment, Chaitanya gets a flat from staples while eating berries. Not the first itme and not the last either. He did have bad tire luck. either flat tires or broken spokes. At mid day we stopped at a winery and got free wine. What happened was the store closed so we were out front eating dinner snacks cheddar popcorn, parathas, puris and subji that mataji packed for us. Then the owner came and we asked if we could use his restroom. He was a happy guy and had no problem. Then we talked a bit and told him about our ride. He exclaimed, "wow! you guys should take a bottle of wine". We declined asking if he has any nonalcoholic wine. Last summer in Italy our godbrothers made one wine which RNS called tatastah juice. It's not quite wine and not quite juice, something in between. He didn't have any but he showed us his pride and joy. He made a wine called "Penot Not War". He coined the phrase so he gave us a botte. He said to trade it along the way knowing itll come in use. We had to accept. At the rainbow gathering we were instructed by a very senior GBC member that we should keep cigarettes in case we got into trouble. One time, Nitai Prabhu ran over Little Hawks foot and threw him some cigarettes and took off. I think those cigarettes saved him form getting beat up. So we agreed. Later we did use the bottle in trade.

did that pasta have garlic in it?

che's aunt and cousins

i guess she could play if she stopped laughing.

check mate.

A Podcast from H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami. Srila Prabhupada in my life - part 9 Click here to download - 10:19 mins | 9.45mb (Right click the link and choose either “save link as” or “save Target as”) Transcription by Ratna Radhika mataji. So in this way Srila Prabhupada used to stay in Mayapur and because Prabhupada’s health condition was [...]

Guru-Maharaja arrived in Ujjain 19th December in the evening. After offering obeisances to the deities amidst an ecstatic kirtana, he sat down on the vyasasan and began going around the room asking different devotees how they were doing. He said that this time he would be staying in Ujjain for fifteen days. All the devotees [...]

COMING HOME

by B.C

Leaving home coming home
Leaving Mother and Father to see mother and father
Different and non-different
One and the same
Feels like forever
But old-habits just the same
But this home is everywhere
Like fire in wood
The Lord is everywhere
And your service to him is unlimited.

Going home coming home
Only the mercy of your lotus feet keeps me absorbed.

Greetings from the glove-shaped apparatus that is the state of Michigan. For this young bhatka, the first trip back into the material world was a bit of a slap in the face. More like a solid jab straight into my now broken nose. So far, staring straight up at the mountain-top where true Krsna consciousness resides, I am just scaling the first stalagmites below. Enthusiasm dulled, confidence a mask, and my patience a string blowing in the wind. I take a step ahead, my mind firmly somewhere else in maya’s grasp, and find nothing with my foot, falling forward to land straight on my scarred hand and knees. Too much
false humility…..this instant karma is getting you.

I wanted to go home after being at Home for such a short time leaving with the feeling that I must return to New Vrindavan, not that I have to. I certainly am feeling that heavy separation, the weight of wasted time that must be made up. I long for the association of devotees of all shapes, manners, and sizes. I know I literally can’t survive without it. My creeper has been stepped on, by my own foot, but as far as I can tell it’s still bouncing back up, slowly.

As I strive to share my own brand-new experiences in KC to as a service to You, the wonderful devotees of New Vrindavan and all other soldier-children of Krsna who come to our website, I hope whatever naive stumbles and flat out flags of false-ego that I fly might help you to examine your own anarthas in a better light.

Please feel free to respond to this week’s piece with your own experiences as a brand-new devotee. I’m going to be selfish and say I am hoping for these personal memories of yours as a way to shed some air upon my own current struggles.

A devotee cannot survive without proper association. A devotee should always beg and seek for such association.

Keepin it somewhat real (still 16 rounds every day!)
from Harper Woods, Michigan
seein ya soon

your humble servant
Bhatka-Chris

Listen to this song for a real description of love and "so called" love...

baby braj of the braj family

bike spot

blake the protector of bikes

chaitanya representing his new sponsor.

August 3rd.
Teh last time I was in portland we stopped in during our Warped tour book distribution marathon. At that time there was a nice center run by many disciples of Prthu Prabhu. Preaching centers come and go. Wherever i go to this day I meet someone who got introduced to KC via that center. They were wuite exicted about sharing with others. We stayed in Portland area for two days. On the first morning Chaitanya went on a japa walk and came back sponsored by trail head bikes, a local bike shop. We ate quite a bit of prasadam, caught up on emails and hot showers then rode the train into town with our bikes. We took the evening to meet up with Chaitanya's aunt and cousins. They were all very sweet. Chaitanya prabhu's family is enormous. His grand mother has over twenty five grand kids and twelve children. His fathers side is also quite large. Any city we go to he has someone there to see. we had a nice pasta dinner, played chess by myself and got his cousins to show off their jazz music abilities. One can hold the book and the other plays. What a team. We took the train back and ended up at Vraja Kishore Prabhus home at around 12 o clock or so-sorry. We did manage to ride the train for free both ways. I guess the whole train thing is on the honor system. We were new and didnt know what to do. We are from west virginia and the only trains we have pull coal and hobos. This is our excuse for non gentleman behavior.

lunchtime

God speaks to her.

danger ahead

washington finished.

August 2nd continued
Today was our biggest mileage day on the trip so far. Our friend Andre said that it was all down hill from centralia to portland. We trusted him and road our heart out. 90 miles in one day!!! It was indeed true, most of the ride was downhill. We travelled at about 20-35mph the whole way. Until we reached Oregon. We crossed the Colombia River Gorge bridge which was extremely dangerous. After crossing and riding about two miles I looked down at my handle bars and something looked odd. I kept riding then it hit me. I lost my japa beads! oh no! I used to keep my japa beads on my handle bars so whenever we stopped I could chant. While I rode would listen to my Ipod. Usually on flat ground I would listen to lectures, when it was a difficult hill I would put in some fast Aindra kirtan or some KC hip hop like Atma(at the speed of mind) and when I was stressed out I would put in some Karnamrita or some Mayapur Bhajans. So I immediately turned around knowing that they were somewhere near the bridge a few miles back. I back tracked in total anxiety. There they were, half way up the bridge at this huge bump. While going very fast down the bridge I hit a bump and the beads jumped out of their strap. I was absolutely grateful for the Lord allowing me to retrieve my beads. I was repenting for all my offenses again and again and again!

The rest of the ride was flat and had relatively no problems until the last five miles... We were going to Vrajakishore Prabhu's(RNS) place in Hillsboro near Portland. One has to be careful when you invite us to your house. Even if you live very far away and we have to ride our bicycles there we will end up on your door step at some time. Be warned. On our way to his house we did have one interesting incident. We often would sit out from of grocery stores and eat lunch. As we sat many people would ask who we were what we were doing etc. On this day one lady came out of the store with a big watermelon. With a large smile she said that the Lord told her to give this to us. We accepted. What a nice pure hearted lady. We gave some to our brother who was eating a raw dough pizza. We told him how he could get a cooked one for the same price at the deli. He was quite amazed not knowing such information and having eaten about ten so far like this. The last part of our trip had the most beautiful view of Mt St Helens which is a volcano! Every few hundred miles we had darshan of the most amazing mouintains. Mt Baker, Mt Raniear, Mt Helens and others. Each were snow covered peaks reaching into the clouds. Last but not least, last five miles were five miles up a most steep hill. All up hill switching back and fourth. I got thrown off the road once by a dump truck, it was dark and there were no side lanes. It took about an hour to ride up the hill. I think i walked atleast half of it. We made it home for evening prasadam, hot showers and playing with Braj lila the baby.

jabber japa

sometimes i think i can talk to animals then they try to bite me

stop taking pictures and get to work

august 2nd
In the mornign I rose and chanted before sunrise. It is common place that our days start with breakfast and riding as soon as possible. I always try to wake up before the other boys. Morning's are great to ride during because the air is cool and the overall road energy is calm. When we stay the night at others homes, we can't really chant once they wake up. It is normal for family and friends who don't practice some sort of meditation to immediately start eating and talking about whatever. No chanting before others wake up means find some other time in the day. On our bike trip its not so hard to do that since we are always looking for excuses to stop pedaling and look at the beautiful environments.

As the sun was rising Ashley came out and greeted me. We sat and spoke to one another sharing gratitude and she gave me a gift. She stayed up late into the night and hand braided a necklace with beautiful shells on it. She said it would protect me while travelling. I placed it on the handle bars of my bicycle where it still is now. I gave her Tulsi beads as a gift and requested she continue to live pure and try to learn more about Krsna consciousness.

When Cd and Blakeji woke up we arranged breakfast.The giant blue parrot attacked the breakfast and made a huge mess. Before everyone left for work we had more kirtan at our hosts request and the went with the moms to the fruit stand. She was excited to have some boys around who could do some heavy labor. We gathered up all the old veggies and brought them back to the house for the fat pig to eat. Then we hit the road. Destination Portland!

1968 December 27: " I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very nice and encouraging letter and I thank you very much for your taking my time in this way."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 December 27: "Because one has to dress according to the taste of friends, this hat has become an important factor of my dressing. When I put the hat that you sent me on my head, everyone says that it is brilliant."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Bhaktisiddhanta Dasa (ACBSP), the famous artist painter, tells how he became a devotee and how he met Srila Prabhupada. Also speaks about his art, historical facts about Vrindavana Samadhi and more. A wonderful story indeed.

Bhaktisiddhanta Dasa (ACBSP), the famous artist painter, tells how he became a devotee and how he met Srila Prabhupada. Also talks about his art, about historical facts of the Vrindavana Samadhi and more. A wonderful story indeed. Title of the Isvara Video: He gave me life.

A Podcast from H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami which was recorded yesterday. Srila Prabhupada in my life - part 8 Click here to download - 11:03 mins | 10.1mb (Right click the link and choose either “save link as” or “save Target as”) Transcription by Ratna Radhika mataji. So this is how I started to answer Srila Prabhupada’s Bengali letters. And [...]

Byron Bay Beach Rathayatra Day Programme Detail, Friday 5th January, 2007

Devotee’s are to assemble in the park on the corner of Johnson St and Bay St, ( across from the Beach Hotel ) by 12:30pm, Rathayatra start at 12:45pm. The parade will proceed along the Beach taking out Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra on the Palanquin’s. All devotees’s should leave for the Rathayatra by 11:30am. Following the Beach Parade, a program will be held back at the Temple at 4:30pm.

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I've created a new page with links to my published articles on it. It's accessible from the articles tab at the top of the Atma Yogi homepage, and directly here.

Here are the contents of that page so far:

• Loft Preaching - An article about the Loft Preaching paradigm. Written while in Australia, 2006. Published on Dandavats.com, Namahatta.org, and an upcoming edition of the Congregational Preaching Journal magazine.
• What's Really Going On? - An environmental scan done at the end of 2006, analyzing the present situation from a scriptural perspective. Written in Australia, 2006. Published on Dandavats.com.
• Integrating Temple and Bhaktivriksha - A Temple Manager's Perspective - An article on the integration of the classic ISKCON temple structure with a small groups based congregational structure. Written in Peru, 2003. Published in the Congregational Preaching Journal in 2003.
• Network-centric Preaching - A collection of articles and emails written in 2004 about harnessing the power of networks to spread Krishna Consciousness.

By Lokadhyaksa dasa

We're publishing a newsletter for and by the vaisnava children (3-13). The goal is to encourage our children to write, draw, paint and engage in the process of Brhad-mrdanga from an early age. So far we have published 8 issues. They can be viewed and downloaded (in pdf)

By Revati Ramana dasa

We are happy to bring you the news about the opcoming opening festival of Sri Sri Radha Govinda Asta Sakhi Giriraja Lotus temple complex which will begin on 29 januari and end at the 1 febr in the presence of most GBC members and many Yatra’s worldwide.

By Bhurijana dasa

Hare Krsna. A cow and her calf near the Yamuna River, who soothes and sweetens the atmosphere of Vrindaban. Indeed, when Krsna and Balarama along with the Vrajavasis first left Gokula to entered Vrindaban, they too felt the highest satisfaction as They saw her.

By Madana mohana das

In the course of an unrelated research I have just happened to learn of one important, albeit rarely known fact about gunja-malas -- those necklaces of scarlet-and-black or/and white glossy seeds that are widely used in Govardhana-sila worship as representing Srimati Radharani.

By the GBC task force team members

In a recent positive development, ISKCON’s GBC has constituted a task force charged with identifying and rectifying abuse of women. Domestic violence, sexual assault and other atrocities may take place in any organization, so following on their bold approach of openly addressing past problems of child abuse, ISKCON’s leaders have taken a step toward healing rather than hiding injuries to ISKCON’s female members. Srila Prabhupada reminded his followers that we are not this body. Based on the intricacies of karmic reaction, a soul can change from male body in one lifetime to female body in the next. Srila Prabhupada was unique among his peers in engaging women in active preaching, basing assignments on ability and not just gender. By valuing the soul, not the bodily dress, Srila Prabhupada taught us that all devotees are to be cherished.

by Kaunteya das

I just came for a lesson by Srimati Mataji, part of the three-session workshop "Making Friends with the Holy Name."

One of the first activities was to chant a couple of songs from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, two recognized "anthems" of Nama-hatta preaching: Nadiya Godrume (describing how Lord Nityananda established the market of the holy name, and the fundamental teachings related to it) and The Song of the Broker (announcing the good news and dynamics of the market of the holy name).

This helped me to remember that, after all, all we are doing ("we" in the extended sense of all the preachers, congregational developers, and the very few Congregational Development Ministry workers) is to facilitate people get the full benefit of the holy name, to advance from sraddha to prema through the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra.

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ashley was a champion arm wrestler and was about to wrestle her mom when she showed us this jacket.

first time chanting.

everyone loves to serve.

I talked alot with ashley, she is engaged to be married and has to make alot of decisions about the next stage of her life. She was happy to hear about Krsna consciousness. She understands that at some point when she wants to have children religion must be there and she is searching for something that makes sense and is practical. After dinner we all sat in the living room, turned the lights down, lit some candles, burned insence and performed kirtan. Everyone meditatively chanted and appreciated the most needed positive energy in the household. Ashley tucked us each into our beds and wished us a good night sleep. It's amazing how Krsna can place you in someones life randomly at times or others in yours. Each place we went we had such experience. "Strangers" just welcoming us into their home and recieving KC in exchange. That was all we had to offer. Kirtan, philosophy and prasadam.

an evening with the folks