1967 July 21 : "I start for India tomorrow and Krishna willing, we shall reach Delhi next Monday morning. I am trying for your free passage with Scindia Co., and I hope it will be successful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 July 21 : "When you come to India, take my trunk, the tape recorder and whatever packages I leave labelled in my room. And finally, the big Royal typewriter, which you must pack nicely and bring."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1969 July 21 : "The person in Krishna Consciousness is the topmost educated man - neither can you be better educated in the universities. So in all circumstances steadfastly continue your Krishna Consciousness engagement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 July 21 : "Husband and wife serve Krishna nicely and help each other advance. There is no question of serious conflict or separation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

by Bhavisyat dasa  ( from Sept, 1981 Issue of the Brijabasi Spirit)

Lord Balarama, Subadhra and Lord Jagannatha on Their way back to Vrindaban

        When New Vrindaban is mentioned to any devotee in ISKCON these days, there is virtual certainty that he will automatically think of Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold, Radha-Vrindaban Candra and Srila Bhaktipada. It wasn’t so long ago however, that New Vrindaban meant a two mile walk up a nearly impossible road to a run-down farmhouse and cabins being fixed up by a small crew of mostly neophyte devotees. It also meant cows, cold water, lots of woods, and lots of austerity. It also meant mud. Most importantly, it meant big Lord Jagannath who manifested Himself from a tree whose stump can even now be seen from the old Vrindaban road.

        Since then New Vrindaban has gotten BIG. Now thousands of visitors come weekly to see Prabhupada’s Palace. New Vrindaban and Krishna consciousness are becoming well-known world-wide. One is reminded of the struggle of the Pandavas, stuck in the woods for so many years and then emerging to become glorious world-leaders. When their life in the woods was behind them, as kings, they sometimes recalled their happy and peaceful days in the forest when they always thought about Krishna, as compared to their lives as heads of state with all it’s burdens and pressures. Similarly, as with any emerging large community still undergoing “growing pains” in it’s rapid expansion, there sometimes seems also to be hassles and delays causing anxiety (such as waiting an hour to use the phone, or not being able to get a vehicle when needed). These are admittedly small problems compared to the bewildering complexities faced by the non-devotees, but for those of us who remember “the good old days in Vrindaban,” there is a hankering for a peaceful and quiet atmosphere of Krishna consciousness.

Recently, big Lord Jagannath mercifully returned to New Vrindaban for His Snana-yatra bathing ceremony and then recuperated at our Talavan forest cabin. During His recovery an uncertainty lingered as to His destination after becoming well again. The old Vrindaban farm had been mentioned as a possibility if someone could be found to fix it up in time for Lord Jagannath to move in. Somehow or other, yours truly got the inspiration to restore the old farm house for Lord Jagannath’s pleasure. Three weeks of full-time effort was put into the project with large assists from Bimbadhara dasa and Gaudiya dasa. By Sunday July 12, we thought we were ready for the Lord’s Ratha-yatra to Vrindaban farm, deep in the woods. However, Srila Bhaktipada thought differently. That Sunday was perhaps the sunniest day of 1981 so far. The whole week had been dry and sunny and the back road to Vrindaban farm, which runs through some of the deepest woods in West Virginia, had been cleared of branches which could have struck the Lord. So we all figured we’d put their Lordships Baladeva, Subadhra, and Jagannath on a specially framed tractor trailer and tractor-drive them through the woods in procession. However, at the board meeting early in the morning, the first words from Sri la Bhaktipada were: “Lord Jagannath doesn’t want to go to Vrindaban. “I tried to keep my outer appearance calm and thoughtful, but inside I was quaking nervously and thinking, “Ooh, no…Srila Bhaktipada, have mercy!” His reasons were numerous:

1) The back road was too narrow with cliffs, and muddy.

2) The altar wasn’t big enough at Vrindaban.

3) Nothing was prepared for His stay in Vrindaban.

        Also there were not enough devotees to worship Him properly. So I had to accept what Srila Bhaktipada was ordering. What choice was there? When the spiritual master says, “Go.” the disciple asks, “How fast and in what direction?”

       Anyway, since I am totally unsurrendered, I started objecting and putting up so many counter arguments which all were completely rejected. But since the main objection seemed to be that the route to go to Vrindaban was awful, and since his last comment at the meeting was, If Mr. Snyder agrees to let all the devotees parade their Lordships across his land, then it’s O.K.”, I simply decided to make a final last ditch effort of going to see our neighbor, Mr. Snyder to plead for us to cross his property with a few vehicles and an escort of devotees. Surprisingly enough, he agreed, (Jagannath’s arrangement) but he stipulated that some heavy equipment work be done on his driveway in return. I immediately assured him this would be taken care of as soon as possible. (Although I didn’t get a chance to mention any of this to Kasyapa, who is in charge of the heavy equipment, until the next day.) Then I ran all over the ridge, looking for Srila Bhaktipada. When I found him, I blurted out, “Mr. Snyder says, “It’s O.K.” What do you think of crossing his property now?” My fingers were crossed. Then he smiled and said, “All right, let’s do it,” and he drove away. So we had our New Vrindaban-style Ratha-yatra on the back of a four-wheel drive pickup to Vrindaban farm and installed Lord Baladeva, Lady Subadhra, and Lord Jagannath on Their altar and had a little festival which was enjoyed by all the devotees. In the temple, Srila Bhaktipada’s comments were, “We started at Vrindaban, and although we’re expanding rapidly, we aren’t attached. We can always come back to Vrindaban, chant Hare Krishna and be happy.” Lord Jagannath seems to be very happy in Vrindaban, and it has become a place of pilgrimage for all the devotees to come see the ecstatic features and pastimes of Their Lordships. We are trying to make arrangements for more and more devotees to visit, but it is something of an austerity to come to Vrindaban. You have to walk two miles up a muddy dirt road, impossible by vehicle, or come across the valley, which entails having a modest amount of mountain climbing ability. But it should be an austerity to reach Vrindaban and we should not be bothered by the access routes. Srila Bhaktipada eventually wants to build a bridge across the valley from the Palace. We hope to see that happen next summer. After that, what? The main principle is always chant Hare Krishna and be happy!

 

Jaya Jagannatha

 

New Vrindavan Dham will be hosting a world-class 24 hour kirtan on August 18-19. North America’s best kirtaniyas will be there along with special guests Madhava Prabhu (Switzerland/Vrindavan) and Gopala Prabhu (UK/Vrindavan/Mayapur), seasoned veterans of Aindra Prabhu’s kirtan party!

Come immerse yourself fully in the ecstasy of the Mahamantra along with Acyuta, Ananta, Bali, Gauravani, Visvambhara, and friends!

For more details, contact Radha Sundari (rs@pamho.net, 304-845-9591). To book accommodation, phone the New Vrindavan Guest Lodge (304-843-1600, extension 111).

written by Krishna Ashish Prabhu, edited by bhn. Rischma Hare Krishna, it’s always a pleasure to write about Gurudeva’s (H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami’s) activities. On the 16th of July one of the most important and glorious events took place for the first time in the history of Ujjain, i.e. Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha Yatra. In my last post I [...]

HG Partha-Sarathi Das is rare-in his humility, dedication, sincerity, and compassion. Having met him at this year's Festival of Inspiration at New Vrindaban, playing kirtans with him, watching his worship his awesome Nrshinga Silas, sharing encouragement on the paths ahead, I was struck once again by the fact that even though I've never met this person before in this life, like so many other devotees, I felt like I've been intimate associates with him for lifetimes.

He is also rare because he is currently serving his third tour of duty in Iraq as a soldier in the United States Armed Forces. As of my last communication with him, he is in an undisclosed location, suffering from unwell health, but he is alive, in the spirit of devotion, and spreading the Holy Name, even in the most hellish of hellish environments.

You may or may not agree with the politics of his personal lifestyle choice, but it doesn't take anything to pray to Radha and Krsna for his well-being and safe return. He has many years ahead of loving devotional service that we all need to be part of.

This is the second in a series of articles written by Partha-Sarathi Prabhu about his experiences as a devotee fighting in Iraq...

My Kuruksetra Part 1

By Partha-sarathi dasa

In Kuwait now, it is an average of 40 degrees C everyday. The heat just drains you. I found the best time to chant is outside at 1 am. I am still keeping to my sadhana and still worshipping my Deities. Krsna is so kind to allow us to serve Him in any situation regardless of where we are. It’s all mind over matter.

Today I met with the Chaplin, in the military we have men of faith in uniform. Their jobs are to help us keep our faith and to inspire us to follow a spiritual tradition. Contrary to what some might think the military is full of spiritual individuals and a great out let to introduce people to Srila Prabhupada’s books. I was invited by my Chaplin to be involved with our first prayer breakfast while deployed. First he wanted to talk with me and understand my faith. The day came for us to met and I brought with me about five books. I brought for him, Bhagavad-Gita, Easy Journeys to Other Planets, Life After Life, and assorted small books.

As our discussion progressed he was admitting he didn’t understand the Hare Krsna movement. I smiled and said Sir, please take these books, read them and you will understand the meaning of spiritual life. Reluctantly he took the books and said we would meet again in two days.

In two days we met again, but this time his outlook changed. He said he just opened the Bhagavad-Gita to a random verse and found the following:

“For the soul there is neither birth nor death at any time. He has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. He is unborn, eternal, ever existing and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.”

He said Srila Prabhupada’s purport in this verse touched his heart so much that he could understand the condition soul forgetful nature is.

The soul is full of knowledge, or full always with consciousness. Therefore, consciousness is the symptom of the soul. Even if one does not find the soul within the heart, where he is situated, one can still understand the presence of the soul simply by the presence of consciousness. Sometimes we do not find the sun in the sky owing to clouds, or for some other reason, but the light of the sun is always there, and we are convinced that it is therefore daytime. As soon as there is a little light in the sky early in the morning, we can understand that the sun is in the sky. Similarly, since there is some consciousness in all bodies? whether man or animal? we can understand the presence of the soul. This consciousness of the soul is, however, different from the consciousness of the Supreme because the supreme consciousness is all-knowledge? Past, present and future. The consciousness of the individual soul is prone to be forgetful. When he is forgetful of his real nature, he obtains education and enlightenment from the superior lessons of Krsna. But Krsna is not like the forgetful soul. If so, Krsna teachings of Bhagavad-Gita would be useless.

Both the Supersoul [Paramatma] and the atomic soul [jivatma] are situated on the same tree of the body within the same heart of the living being, and only one who has become free from all material desires as well as lamentations can, by the grace of the Supreme, understand the glories of the soul." Krsna is the fountainhead of the Supersoul also, as it will be disclosed in the following chapters, and Arjuna is the atomic soul, forgetful of his real nature; therefore he requires to be enlightened by Krsna or by His bona fide representative (the spiritual master).

As he was describing his realizations I saw tears in his eyes and how the spiritual world has opened up for him. How Krsna as the super soul and through Srila Prabhupada’s books woke him up and restored his memory of what it means to be a servant of God. He asked me to give a presentation at the prayer breakfast. I agreed and as I left his office, I turned around and thought maybe I should preach some more, maybe I should explain more of the philosophy to him. As I glanced at him and noticed the way he was lovingly glancing at the cover I smiled and thought how this man truly understands the Bhagavad-Gita.

I think I once read in Hari Bhakti Vilasa that its considered inauspicious to look at the sunset. If you follow such strict codes then don't look at this evening's beautiful view from the front of the house across the valley:

Bhagavad-gita 10.41

yad yad vibh??timat sattvam??
??r??mad ??rjitam eva v??
tat tad ev??vagaccha tvam??
mama tejo-'m????a-sambhavam

TRANSLATION

Know that all opulent, beautiful and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.

 

Often book distributors feel that they should mention indirect spirituality by using terms that a common man in the street can relate to. They speak about stress control, peace of mind, meditation, personality development, yoga etc. They feel that directly mentioning about Lord Krishna will put off secular or atheistic minded crowd. Although this approach has its uses an attitude of presenting pure Krishna Consciousness may also work at times. Here is a story from H.G. Nityananda Charan Prabhu, from Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Chowpatty.

I distribute books in the local trains of Mumbai. I prefer to directly glorify Lord Krishna during my announcements. And most of the times it works. Even if people don't buy the books they are very happy to hear about the Lord.

This incident happened some time back with me. Once I boarded a local train and I turned towards the corner compartment which is very small. Around three people were sitting there - an old man, a middle aged man who was looking out of the window, and a student, two three people were also standing nearby.

The moment I entered the train and took my first step towards the compartment the old man saw me and began waving his arms indicating 'No, No'. Thousands of emotions flooded my mind in one moment. First was moroseness at this rejection. Then determination that since he is rejecting me I should be even more forceful in my presentation of Krishna Consciousness. I clinched my jaws and stepped forward. I had 'Perfection of Yoga' with me. Without mentioning anything about yoga I straight way started glorifying Lord Krishna.

"Here is the Lord who when He was a new-born killed Putana; when He was a small toddler He killed Trinavrata; when He was seven years old He lifted Govardhan Hill. The same Lord spoke Bhagavad-gita and the teachings of the same Bhagavad-gita are in this book. Please take it."

During my announcement the old man continued to wave his hands. But as I continued there was a change. His hands slowed and his expression softened. When I reached the end of my announcement, he completely stopped moving his hands. Then I showed him the book. He took it and brought out a ten rupee note and handed it to me. The man in the window seat who had not even looked at me during the entire announcement and seemed completely disinterested, took out a ten rupee note an asked for the book. A note came from behind my shoulder and another book was gone. Out of five people around me four took the book!

Another time I met two executives in the train and I gave them 'Krishna the reservoir of pleasure'. Before they could return the book I requested, "Sir, Kindly see the lines on the back cover." These lines are very beautiful both in English and Hindi: Wouldn't you want to love a person who is the most beautiful, the richest, the most powerful, most famous and at the same time the most renounced? This is what this small book is all about - the qualities of God or Krishna that make Him the most attractive, the most lovable, and the most exciting person to be with."

Many times people just read these lines and take the books. And although those executives didn't take the books they appreciated, "You speak very nicely."

"These words are appealing," I replied, "Only because they glorify Lord Krishna." They agreed and smiled in affirmation.

Thanking you Your servant, Murari Gupta Das (Text PAMHO:13806521) --------------------------------------

------- End of Forwarded Message ------

This is the altar at tehpreaching center inTelaviv. Every Saturday about 50 guests attend program there. It is very cnetrally lacated and easy for anyone. ONe can walk from teh beach harinam…

Those who are not enthusiastic, lazy, lethargetic, they cannot advance in spiritual life. Simply sleeping, they cannot make. One must be very, very enthusiastic, positive. Utsahad dhairyat. Dhairya means patience, not that “Because I have begun devotional service with great enthusiasm…” So you are already on the perfectional platform, but if you become impatient that “Why I am not becoming perfect? Sometimes why maya is kicking me?” Yes. That is habitual. That will go on. It will stop. Niscayat. Dhairyat, niscayat, that “When Krsna says, sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66], now I have given up everything. I have no other occupational duties. Simply to serve Krsna. So when I have taken to it, then niscaya, Krsna will surely give me protection.” That is called niscaya. Don’t be disappointed. Krsna is not a false speaker. He says aham tvam sarva-papebhyo moksayisyami.
So we should have firm faith, niscaya. Niscayat…, utsahad dhairyat niscayat. But niscayat; at the same time, you should not sit idly. You should work according to the direction of the spiritual master. Tat-tat-karma-pravartanat. “Now Krsna has given me assurance. Now let me sleep. Everything will come automatically.” No. Tat-tat-karma-pravartanat. The spiritual master says, “You must do this. You must do that.” That is called tat-tat-karma-pravartanat. Not that “Now I am initiated and…” That is going on in so many places. The guru says, “You think of me. Everything will be all right.” I do not wish to name, but a very big ashram, they simply sit idly, and the guru has advised that “Think of me,” that’s all. This is not Vaisnava principle. Vaisnava principle is you must act according to the order of spiritual master. That is also an order. But the Vaisnava spiritual master orders according to the sastra. Sadhu-sastra-guru-vakya. Guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete koriya aikya, ar na koriho mane asa **. This is the instruction of our acarya.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.30 — Bombay, January 7, 1975

I want to draw together a few threads of thought that I have had of late, concerning counter-culture and working with the new generation. The counter-culture of the 1960-70s on which ISKCON rose to prominence was based on disillusionment with the western establishment. Its participants wanted nothing less than security - they saw this as entangling them in the very system they were trying to either overcome, avoid or drop out of. Sita-pati Prabhu recently noted in his blog that Srila Prabhupada motivated the counter-culture youth with opportunity, not security. Go to this country, open this temple, distribute this many books. A challenge, an opportunity, not a deal, a stipend or a comfort zone. Young western men in particular are strongly motivated by this - how else do the world's military forces continue to draw recruits?

Recently I wrote about how technology is changing the consciousness, behaviour and values of my generation. How to inspire and motivate the new generation of technorati? My generation has a fierce individualism, as well as a broader perspective of what we are a part of, the usual deliniation of race, religion and nation state a chasm of disenchantment between the cliffs of these strong micro and macro views of the individual and his place in the world. It strikes me then that to empower the individual and challenge them with an opportunity in the service of a lofty goal is perhaps the greatest way to inspire and motivate my generation. The loftiest goal is, of course, the service of the Supreme person, Krishna, and the ultimate opportunity and challenge is to spread unconditional love of Him throughout the corners of the globe. If we can re-capture a spark of the missionary zeal of ISKCON's early days, it could light a blazing fire in the tinderbox of the new generations' heart.

To give a mundane example of this in action, I used to work on the Australian government's business website. I was never motivated by career advancement nor any sense of duty to my post, but one of my managers quickly realised how I couldn't help myself but rise to a challenge. She began to call meetings and say things like "I have an idea that is surely impossible, but maybe if you're up for a tough challenge you can find some new way to do it, David". In the end we won the United Nations award for best government website, despite my apathy.

Just see Krsna’s picture, how He’s loving the cow. You see? He is instructing by His practical life how He is compassionate with the cows. He played as a cowherd boy. Why? Because if in human society these two things are neglected, cows and the brahmana, that is animal society. Animal society. That is not human society. That is the idea.

- Srila Prabhupada

  

Some things just can’t be ignored …

By staff writers @ news.com.au

The lead story this week on news.com wasn’t globing warming, terrorism, or war. It was Heart-kun, a tiny puppy born in Japan. Why?

1970 July 21 : "My students observe all the regulative principles and according to sastra they are Vaisnava sadacara. People of India as well as the priestly order should receive them properly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 July 21 : "That he is favorably inclined toward giving us land in Raman Reti is very encouraging news. Another nice news is that all of you women are going out daily for preaching. Very good. Continue it whole heartedly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

by Kripamoya das
originally published at his blog, The Vaishnava Voice

Our Krishna consciousness movement must find its way into peoples’ homes before we can confidently say that it has grown and spread. The actual measure of our progress can be calculated not only by the number of books sold, but the number of people who are reading them—and applying the teachings inside them to their daily lives. When such people come together regularly for chanting the Holy Names and hearing about Krishna, we know that our movement is on a strong foundation for future growth. Without this phenomenon, we remain limited.

Just a few months ago a survey was conducted in our ISKCON movement to determine how many initiated devotees there are who live in their own homes as compared with those who live in our centres and temples. I have always understood that there were many more congregational members than there are temple residents, and that our initiated members are in the minority compared to all our many practising and committed members. But even I was a little surprised to hear the results.

read more

My visit today to the Utah Valley Llama Festival at the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah, took a truly unexpected turn when the founder of the festival randomly asked if I would like to show a llama during the llama competitions.

A wave of transcendental ecstasy swept across the entire lane of Ratha Yatra as devotees totally forgot themselves other than...

kadacit kalindi-tata-vipina-sangitaka-ravomudabhiri-nari-vadana-kamalasvada-madhuparama-shambhu-brahmamara-pati-ganesharcita-padojagannatha svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu meSometimes in great happiness Lord Jagannatha makes a loud concert with His flute in the...

• On the way to Paris to see new property of Radha-Parisisvara.

Esti prédikáló program július 18-án Budapesten a Bg.7.7 verse alapján.

They say that this world is unreal, with no foundation, no God in control. They say it is produced of sex desire and has no cause other than lust.

- Bhagavad-gita 16.8

In relation to this verse I mentioned the following presently popular book in this week's Bhagavad-gita discussion guide. Don't bother reading the book, just read the following review to get a good grip on it. Appeals to my underlying demoniac sense of humour.
----------------
God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything
by Christopher Hitchens

Reviewed by Stephen Prothero

A century and a half ago Pope Pius IX published the Syllabus of Errors, a rhetorical tour de force against the high crimes and misdemeanors of the modern world. God Is Not Great, by the British journalist and professional provocateur Christopher Hitchens, is the atheists' equivalent: an unrelenting enumeration of religion's sins and wickedness, written with much of the rhetorical pomp and all of the imperial condescension of a Vatican encyclical.

Hitchens, who once described Mother Teresa as "a fanatic, a fundamentalist, and a fraud," is notorious for making mincemeat out of sacred cows, but in this book it is the sacred itself that is skewered. Religion, Hitchens writes, is "violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children." Channeling the anti-supernatural spirits of other acolytes of the "new atheism," Hitchens argues that religion is "man-made" and murderous, originating in fear and sustained by brute force. Like Richard Dawkins, he denounces the religious education of young people as child abuse. Like Sam Harris, he fires away at the Koran as well as the Bible. And like Daniel Dennett, he views faith as wish-fulfillment.

Historian George Marsden once described fundamentalism as evangelicalism that is mad about something. If so, these evangelistic atheists have something in common with their fundamentalist foes, and Hitchens is the maddest of the lot. Protestant theologian John Calvin was "a sadist and torturer and killer," Hitchens writes, and the Bible "contain[s] a warrant for trafficking in humans, for ethnic cleansing, for slavery, for bride-price, and for indiscriminate massacre."

As should be obvious to any reasonable person -- unlike Hitchens I do not exclude believers from this category -- horrors and good deeds are performed by believers and non-believers alike. But in Hitchens's Manichaean world, religion does little good and secularism hardly any evil. Indeed, Hitchens arrives at the conclusion that the secular murderousness of Stalin's purges wasn't really secular at all, since, as he quotes George Orwell, "a totalitarian state is in effect a theocracy." And in North Korea today, what has gone awry is not communism but Confucianism.

Hitchens is not so forgiving when it comes to religion's transgressions. He aims his poison pen at the Dalai Lama, St. Francis and Gandhi. Among religious leaders only the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. comes off well. But in the gospel according to Hitchens whatever good King did accrues to his humanism rather than his Christianity. In fact, King was not actually a Christian at all, argues Hitchens, since he rejected the sadism that characterizes the teachings of Jesus. "No supernatural force was required to make the case against racism" in postwar America, writes Hitchens. But he's wrong. It was the prophetic faith of black believers that gave them the strength to stand up to the indignities of fire hoses and police dogs. As for those white liberals inspired by Paine, Mencken and Hitchens's other secular heroes, well, they stood down.

Hitchens says a lot of true things in this wrongheaded book. He is right that you can be moral without being religious. He is right to track contemporary sexism and sexual repression to ancient religious beliefs. And his attack on "intelligent design" is not only convincing but comical, coursing as it does through the crude architecture of the appendix and our inconvenient "urinogenital arrangements."

What Hitchens gets wrong is religion itself.

Hitchens claims that some of his best friends are believers. If so, he doesn't know much about his best friends. He writes about religious people the way northern racists used to talk about "Negroes" -- with feigned knowing and a sneer. God Is Not Great assumes a childish definition of religion and then criticizes religious people for believing such foolery. But it is Hitchens who is the naïf. To read this oddly innocent book as gospel is to believe that ordinary Catholics are proud of the Inquisition, that ordinary Hindus view masturbation as an offense against Krishna, and that ordinary Jews cheer when a renegade Orthodox rebbe sucks the blood off a freshly circumcised penis. It is to believe that faith is always blind and rituals always empty -- that there is no difference between taking communion and drinking the Kool-Aid (a beverage Hitchens feels compelled to mention no fewer than three times).

If this is religion, then by all means we should have less of it. But the only people who believe that religion is about believing blindly in a God who blesses and curses on demand and sees science and reason as spawns of Satan are unlettered fundamentalists and their atheistic doppelgangers. Hitchens describes the religious mind as "literal and limited" and the atheistic mind as "ironic and inquiring." Readers with any sense of irony -- and here I do not exclude believers -- will be surprised to see how little inquiring Hitchens has done and how limited and literal is his own ill-prepared reduction of religion.

Christopher Hitchens is a brilliant man, and there is no living journalist I more enjoy reading. But I have never encountered a book whose author is so fundamentally unacquainted with its subject. In the end, this maddeningly dogmatic book does little more than illustrate one of Hitchens's pet themes -- the ability of dogma to put reason to sleep.

Copyright 2007, The Washington Post. All Rights Reserved.

www.sankirtandiary.com

There is one big problem I have on book distribution. Sometimes my mind self-righteously, indignantly judges the people we meet on book distribution. My mind might tell me something like "Oh, he is just a nasty KARMI!". But then I have to use my intelligence, and conscience, and tell my mind "You spoiled little brat. YOU were one of THOSE so called "karmis" just a couple of years ago. Now that you have been practicing Vaisnavism for two years, you think you are better than everyone else.". It is interesting how our minds will judge people so quickly. For instance, let us say that I fell into a pool of stool. So someone came along and pulled me out of the stool, and washed me off. And then I immediately turn around and judge someone else, and say "You're covered in stool, you nasty man!". This is called hypocrisy. I have a hard time tolerating the hypocrisy of my mind while we are on book distribution. I am certainly a far way away from actually feeling any real compassion for these people. But, Prabhupada ordered us to distribute books, and so I am simply following his order.

Lecture by HH Radhanath Maharaja
At the Wedding of Bhavatarine and Govinda Ghosh
Govardhan Puja, New Vrndavana, October 25, 2002

Today is a very auspicious occasion. These two very wonderful devotees, Govinda Ghosh Prabhu and Maharani Bhavatarini devi have earned the respect and love of so many Vaisnavas all over the world, that New Vrndavana has become a place of pilgrimage. Actually, (it is) due to all these devotees love and respect for you. The blessings of Vaisnavas is the blessings of Krishna. With these blessings we can cross all the obstacles of this world.

Today is a very auspicious day, Govardhana Puja. There is something we could learn about marriage from the pastime of the Govardhana lila. Indra sent many obstacles, storms, lightening, high winds, massive rains, freezing cold, flying ice and from my understanding all these things will come within marriage life also. (laughter) But because the Brijbasis remained together under the shelter of Lord Krishna’s mercy, they all remained united in the service of Lord Sri Krishna and they were always protected from all these obstacles. That is an eternal truth.

Marriage is a sacred offering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Today, as Kali-yuga progresses it becomes nothing more that a legal formality. But marriage is a sacred offering of devotion. The husband and the wife come together to take vows before the deity and before the sacred fire and all the assembled Vaisnavas to live in faithfulness and dedication with Lord Krishna’s service in the center. This is the key to all success in any responsibility in devotional service - to keep Krishna in the center. As long as Krishna was in the center of the Brijbasis, there was no Indra or any demigod or any factor could do anythingvto disunite them. How to keep Krishna in the center? That is a science.

In 1969 when Prabhupada was here in New Vrndavana, he performed a marriage. And in his lecture he spoke something that fascinated me a lot. He explained how the duty of the husband and the wife were to dedicate each other to make their partner happy. Because Prabhupada said without happiness there cannot really be a growth of bhakti. It is actually the responsibility of husband and wife to keep each other happy in devotional service.

And what does it take to make another person happy? We have a physical being, an emotional being and a spiritual being. And the duty of marriage is to serve the needs of our partner- physical needs, according to the particular circumstance. Traditionally the wife takes care of the house and children, the husband provides. Emotionally- affection, respect is very, very important. One of the big problems in any relationship in this world is that everybody has a very separate and distinct false ego. And the closer two false egos come to each other the more the volatile potential is there. Does anyone have this experience? Therefore, humility in this relationship is actually our responsibility. To satisfy each other emotionally people need to feel cared for, people need to feel loved. We cannot neglect each other. We cannot disrespect each other. Love is a very, very high spiritual realization; it has little or nothing to do with the romantic feelings of this world.

In the American continent, 71% of marriages are divorced within three years. That’s a federal statistic. Because they base the relationship on this romantic attraction, often. But traditional marriage throughout the world is based on responsibility. Do not expect your partner to be what you want them to be, because they will not. When you marry, you have many things in common because you want things in common. But after some time, the differences begin to manifest. I want my wife to be this way and the wife wants her husband to be that way, but the fact is, every person is a unique devotee of the Lord and we have to both adjust with respect, with responsibility and through the process of going through the various storms of life, we actually gain deep spiritual realization and deep love and respect for each other and for Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. That’s really what marriage is about. Human life is meant for tapasya. Marriage life is not meant for sense gratification, it is meant for tapasya. Some sense gratification may be there, but the actual realization comes when we adjust ourselves to help make the other person happy in Krishna consciousness, even if it causes difficulties to myself. And through this process over the years of sacrifice, adjustment, loyalty, faithfulness, we gain tremendous deep spiritual enlightenment. We develop a very deep connection to Krishna. That is the beauty of grihastha life.

Grhastha life is designed so that by living together in a particular spiritual environment we become completely purified and learn to become completely dependent and faithful to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada explained that the primary duty of a man is to protect his wife. This means to protect physically, emotionally and spiritually, by providing the needs of the body and the affection respect and concern of the emotions. And by providing a spiritual example by which the wife feels confident to continue forward on the path of bhakti. Srila Prabhupada explained the duty of the wife is to assist the husband, to remain chaste and faithful to the husband and to inspire the husband in his devotional service.

In Srimad Bhagavatam the wife is compared to a very formidable fort that protects the husband from maya. In Krishna consciousness, the misconception of husband being superior to wife, wife should be slave to husband, has proved to be an utter failure. The fact is, marriage is a partnership of respect and responsibility. And when by the grace of God, children come through this marriage, then what a great responsibility comes in that form,when the Supreme Personality of Godhead entrusts His own beloved devotee under our care.

So please Govinda Ghosh and Maharani Bhavatarini, take this vow very seriously and understand that by having a serious responsibility toward each other with humility, with respect, with care, to help your partner to become actually happy in Krishna consciousness. That is what this vow is all about in this ceremony, isn’t it? And then you will taste the nectar of pure unalloyed devotional service. However many storms, how much thunder, lightening when the downfall comes, always remain under the sacred Govardhana hill of Krishna’s will of your sacred vows, keep your gaze always upon Krishna and He will always protect you.

The holy name of the Lord is the most merciful, munificent manifestation of Krishna in our lives. I know Govinda Ghosh Prabhu is very fond of chanting the holy names. And when he chants he has the power to induce many, many people to dance and sing in ecstasy. So please make your house the spiritual world where the chanting of the holy name is the heart of your life. Prabhupada explained that when the husband and wife are responsible to respect one another and encourage one another in Krishna consciousness, then the house becomes Vaikuntha, the spiritual world. It is my great prayer that all the assembled Vaisnavas offer their heartfelt blessings on this day.

“Man is the only animal that can remain on friendly terms with the victims he intends to eat until he eats them.” Samuel Butler

Eating Beef leaves a big Carbon Footprint

"Producing 2.2lb of beef generates as much greenhouse gas as driving a car non-stop for three hours, it was claimed yesterday."

more....

1967 July 20 : "I am feeling too much to return to Vrindaban at the lotus feet Vrindaban Behary Lord Krishna; and therefore I have decided to return to India immediately."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1969 July 20 : "One cannot be puffed up and still expect to make progress in spiritual life. One must learn to accept his constitutional position of Krishna's tiny servant. Then Krishna is pleased to reveal Himself."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1973 July 20 : "I am praying to Krsna that He will favor you with that new house for conducting His preaching work. You propose to move to another building but I do not appreciate this idea. We can purchase and move directly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 July 20 : "We are going to install Radha-Krsna on Janmastami. Please dispatch immediately all the paintings hanging in my rooms and if you can send some of the newer paintings that will be your great contribution."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 July 20 : "I am awaiting anxiously your report on the meeting with the Emperor of Japan. In September I will stay in L.A. Then whenever you call me at Japan I shall be able to go."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 July 20 : "We want all our foreign language books translated by devotees. You know well the havoc which can result if a nondevotee tries to give his interpretation of Krsna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

By Mayapur Sasi dasa

New 24 hour streaming Krishna conscious TV channel with the best KC shows. No plugin neccessary, just the free windows media player.

1973 July 20 : "So you have sufficient engagement there? If there is something further which is specifically causing you so much difficulty then please disclose it to me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

by Akruranatha dasa
originally published by dandavats.com

Want to increase the enthusiasm and spirit of your congregation and catapult book distribution scores to new highs? Success is guaranteed with the Monthly Sankirtan Festival program (MSF) pioneered by the intrepid, ever blissful book distributor Vaisesika Dasa. ...

Our book distributors are all householders living outside the temple, holding down demanding jobs throughout the week. Nevertheless, without any full time asram devotees, just holding one festival per month has caused our temple to climb dramatically in the Sankirtan Newsletter charts. During these festivals we have brought blissful new devotees into our congregation, and have given the existing congregation a renewed sense of purpose, direction and real bhakti.

read more

Find out more...

Our first performance in Prabhupada Village in front of a test audience of senior devotees and some guests was well received. One senior Prabhupada disciple approached me and said he was very, very upset. I responded, "Oh no, what have we done to offend you?"

Srila Prabhupada Pushpanjali

Hare Krishna devotees in ecstatic kirtan, Happy Fest 2007 Prague

Hare Krishna devotees in ecstatic kirtan, Happy Fest 2007 Prague

Producing 2.2 lb of beef generates as much greenhouse gas as driving a car non-stop for three hours, it was claimed yesterday.

A biography of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

A biography of A.C. Bhaktivendanta Swami Prabhupada

1970 July 19 : "How do we find there is no disciplic succession? If the branches are in touch with the original tree, it is alright. The test is whether the line is in touch with the Supreme - that is all."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 July 19 : "I do not feel separation from my Guru Maharaja. When I am engaged in His service His pictures give me sufficient strength."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Reggeli lecke Budapesten az SB.4.8.79 versből.

Maharaja answers questions from devotees.

Monsanto, the multinational biotechnology corporation and leading producer of genetically engineered seed, and recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is worried that you are being misled.

How so?...

http://www.sankirtandiary.com/

I am posting the follow section from an article by Radhanath Maharaja titled "Harmony Between the Ashrams". He is speaking about how he transformed the Chowpatty temple into what it is today:

Gradually we established certain standards. Before we consider if one can join the brahmacari asrama, that person has to chant sixteen rounds and follow the four regulative principles for one and a half years. And everyone is told beforehand: "If you live in this asrama, if you ever say 'no' to anything you are asked to do, that's the day you must leave the asrama. Until you come to this standard, it's better you stay in the congregation and just be a nice devotee."

Each brahmacari has one little box and is allowed to keep only the possessions that fit in the box. And everyone sleeps on the floor; there are no separate rooms; there are no beds. Before joining the asrama, everyone is told: "If you ever criticize, do fault-finding or do politics, on that day you will have to leave." When you have such standards only the very serious want to come. If you have low standards in the asrama, you will attract people who are not very sincere, who want something with low standards. High standards attract people who want something very high. We decided various principles: the brahmacaris have to wake up every day for mangala-arati; they have to stay in the temple for japa and not leave the temple room until the entire morning program is finished. Then, at 11 a.m., there is a special class, which all brahmacaris must attend, in which they deeply study Srila Prabhupada's books and they are taught how to preach.

As a result of these standards we now have sixty-four brahmacaris, all highly educated and sincere. Some of them are coming from extremely wealthy backgrounds. For instance one was a lawyer and another was a manager in a big bank, but now they just sleep on the floor, they eat a little rice and they preach and distribute books. The brahmacaris are taught to respect the grihasthas very much and to serve them. As a result the grihasthas now honor, respect and worship the brahmacaris as sadhus. The main reason why hundreds and hundreds of the grihasthas living outside became so attracted to surrender to our temple is that when they came to the temple they got wonderful enlightenment and exemplary association from the brahmacaris.

Early in his spiritual life Srila Bhaktitirtha Maharaj learned an important lesson. When he first started joined the Hare Krishna movement he noticed that the devotees, although preaching a philosophy of absolute equality between all living entities based on every individual as an eternal spirit soul, were discriminating against him on the basis of racial prejudice.

He was surprised and disturbed to find such a low level of consciousness amongst with in a spiritual society. When he had the opportunity he approached Srila Prabhupada and told him that some of his disciples were racists.

Srila Prabhupada gave him a powerful reply, "If you are bothered by it then you are no better than they are."

This is a powerful meditation. If we are ever disturbed by anyone in any situation we should simply see that as Krishna trying to show an area of our consciousness that we need to improve upon.

And ultimately if one is fully Krishna conscious he can never be disturbed by anyone in any situation.

"Some of the greatest problems are problems that we have to deal with inside ourselves. They involve raising our own consciousness. If I allow you to excessively bother me mentally, it means that my own consciousness is low; otherwise, your actions or words could not disturb my mind. Whatever your position may be, if you bother me, it is because I stand on insecure ground. We must avoid a mood of always seeing others as the full problem. We must avoid letting people’s nonsense turn us into nonsense. If we fall prey to weakness, it is because we do not have sufficient strength."

Srila Bhakti Tirtha Swami

"When faults in others misguide and delude you - have patience, introspect, find faults in yourself. Know that others cannot harm you unless you harm yourself."

Srila Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur

D from London, England, asks:

"Do you have a recipe for ice cream?"

My Reply:

Hello D. Here's a simple but nice one:

Mango Ice Cream

This delicious ice cream recipe uses a condensed milk and cream combination. It is best to make this ice cream when mangoes are in the peak of season, soft, ripe, and fragrant.

PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes FREEZING TIME: 10 to 12 hours YIELD: enough for 6 persons

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) heavy cream 1 cup (250 ml) cold milk 1 cup (250 ml) sweetened condensed milk 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) fresh mango pulp

Pour the cream into a bowl and beat it until semi-whipped.

Beat the milk and condensed milk together in another bowl until well combined.

Pour the milk and condensed milk mixture into the semi-whipped cream and fold in the mango pulp. Mix well.

Pour into a metal freezer tray and freeze for about 10 to 12 hours or until solid. About an hour before serving, place the ice cream in the refrigerator to soften slightly.

Do you want to become dear to the Lord?
You are invited to attend a seminar by HG Gauranga Prabhu on
‘Art of Preaching’

“For one who explains the supreme secret to the devotees, devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end
he will come back to Me.
There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.”
(Bhagavad Gita - Ch. 18 Txt 68-69)

Venue: Hare Krishna Temple Hall
1320 W 34th St, Houston, TX-77018

Date: Tuesday, Jul 24 – Wednesday Jul 25, 2007

Time: 7:30PM - 9:00PM

Dinner Prasadam will be served at 7:00PM

About HG Gauranga Prabhu

Gauranga das is a graduate in Metallurgical Engineering from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Mumbai. After a brief stint with Kirloskars he decided to dedicate his life in the service of society by propagating the timeless wisdom of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita. A brief outline of his activities is as follows:

1.    Gauranga das has regularly featured on several shows on the small screen since 1995. He has appeared on various cable channels some of which are InMumbai, Astha, ETC, Sony TV, etc. He has regularly appeared in the serial AATMA on Star Plus since its launch three years ago wherein the knowledge from the Bhagavad-Gita is presented and elucidated in a verse by verse manner.

2.    ‘The youth of today is the responsible citizen of tomorrow’ – keeping this maxim in mind he conducts seminars based on the knowledge from the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita in premier professional educational institutions such as IIT, Grant Medical College (JJ Hospital), Topiwala National Medical College (Nair Hospital), VJTI, KJ Somaiya College of Engineering in Mumbai as well as various others all over India.

3.     Stress being the No. 1 killer disease of the 21^st century according to the WHO, Gauranga das presents various interactive sessions on stress management and mental health for high level managers in the corporate world. Organizations like Microsoft Corporation (Seattle, USA), Mafatlal Industries, RCF, Airport Authority of India(Chennai), Saint Gobain (Hyderabad), IIT Madras, Apar Industries(Mumbai) etc. have benefited from this.

4.    Also various programs for character development have been presented by him in Jails and prisons like Arthur Road Jail, Satara Jail, Sangli Jail, Yeravada Jail, etc.

5. He has conducted seminars and group discussions for various consultant doctors under the aegis of Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mira Road and  Indian Medical Association. He is consultant to several radiologist surgeons, neurologist, cardiologist and others from the medical fraternity on the role of ethics in medical practice.

6.       He also visits ISKCON centers in the US, UK and Europe and gives counseling especially to the Youth.

7.    He is a faculty member with Optimum Performance Technologies (OPT) which is working on exploring new frontiers of management techniques based on the ancient Vedic literatures.

8.       Currently he is handling the position of Vice President of ISKCON Chowpatty temple.

On the subject of "devotee maintenance", we have to continue to forge ahead with creating a proper social structure in ISKCON. We need to "redefine the classic concept of devotee maintenance". We all need to start giving charity to brahmanas as a matter of duty.

One should never think that they are "maintaining" a brahmana.

The brahmanas are born of the head of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and are the representatives in human form of Lord Visnu. Through the mouth of the brahmana the Lord eats, and speaks.

Therefore by feeding the brahmana (including giving him money with which to purchase food), one feeds the Supreme Lord. But it is not that the Lord '"needs our dhal and chapatis", rather we are afforded the opportunity to make an offering out of love, or out of duty.

Charity should be given to a brahmana at the proper time and place, in the proper way, and with the proper consciousness. We do not maintain the brahmana. The Supreme Lord maintains us all - nityo nityanam, cetanas cetananam / eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman, and the brahmana is His representative.

Brahmanas have six activities - studying scripture and teaching scripture, worshiping the Deity and teaching others to worship the Deity, accepting charity on behalf of the Supreme Lord and redistributing in charity.

The members of society should be trained and encouraged to offer charity to the brahmana for their own welfare. The Lord gains nothing from our sacrifice - He is the proprietor of everything - but we loosen our attachment to the false sense of ownership and misconception of the nature of this world by surrendering our so-called possessions to Him.

Because the income of a brahmana is decoupled from his activities, he is free to speak the truth without duress or bias. This is a such a valuable commodity in society that its worth cannot be overestimated. A brahmana speaks only the truth. Brahmanas adjudicate in disputes, give advice, and bring the qualities of clarity and honesty to the social body.

The brahmana is detached from the things that he is given. He understands that he must maintain the body that he is responsible for, as a service. Otherwise he is not an accumulator of wealth. Whatever is surplus to the requirements of his maintenance he will redistribute.

Now think about this: brahmanas represent something on the order of 5% of human society.

If the other 95% of human society gives 10% of their wealth to them, suddenly the brahmanas become some of the wealthiest people in the society. Because they are detached from the wealth and redistribute it as a duty, they are uniquely situated to give to those in need. It is said that brahmana must redistribute whatever he cannot use on the same day that he receives it. Therefore a perfect system of wealth redistribution and social welfare is created.

Krishna's system for human civilization is perfect. Remember: you do not maintain a brahmana - it is your duty and a privilege to give him something in charity.

What's a practical action step? Think long and hard about the brahminical qualities and activities (guna and karma), take advice from senior members in your community, and identify and give charity to a brahmana. Without attachment to the results. Do it for your own purification. The rest will follow.

To get you started, here are some people that I would be personally inspired to give charity to:

• Akrura das (Gita Coaching Network, UK)
• Prana das (Gurukula Headmaster, NZ)
• Gangesvara das (Melbourne, AU)
• Prem Vilasa das (Brisbane, AU)
• Krishna Candra das (Brisbane, AU)
• Kaunteya das (Mayapura, IN)

Anyway, keep it local, keep it real.