People sometimes ask the question: “Why are you spending so much money building a big temple and opulent place of...

Is there anything like a part time book distributor? If your answer was yes, just think again. All you need is to carry books wherever you go. Who knows you may end up being an instrument of Lord Krishna's plan to give Krishna consciousness to a wandering soul. Find out in this strory. Pancha Pandava Prabhu from the Chowpati Temple recalls:

It was my birthday and so I decided to visit my parents in Bhiwandi. I boarded the ST bus to home in the evening. It was a short journey but it was already dusk when the bus started and soon darkness enwrapped the world around us. I looked around. There were just eight passengers in the bus, each sitting in different corner. I had carried with me 'Path of Perfection' and 'Mukund Mala Stotra'. "Once a book distributor always a book distributor," I had thought. Even in a short journey one may get a chance to distribute Srila Prabhupada's mercy. Since the fading light made reading difficult, I decided to chant. After some time, I stretched my arms while fingering my beads.

Two minutes later someone tapped my shoulder. I looked up. A middle aged well-dressed man smiled, "Can I speak with you?"

"Yes, of course." I made space for him.

"Are you a Hare Krishna devotee?"

"Yes."

He inhaled deeply and spoke, "I know about ISKCON, I have been going to your temple in Juhu since a long time. I have some questions." He was an intelligent man, a high ranking executive in a big company, and asked very deep questions about laws of karma and other topics. I was delighted to find a companion with whom I could share my little knowledge of Krishna consciousness. We talked open heartedly and I explained things for him. Finally our destination arrived. "I have something for you," I said offering him 'Path of Perfection'. I explained about the book and he readily bought it.

I was delighted; two hours in pure Krishna Katha ending up with distribution of Srila Prabhupada's book. What more could one ask for in a journey! But a doubt remained.

"How did you know that I was a Hare Krishna devotee?" I asked.

"I was wondering about the questions I asked you while looking out of the window," he replied with a smile. "For a split second, I turned inwards and then I saw you stretching your arms with your bead bag in hand."

"Thinking of coincidence? Chance? Remember chance favors a prepared mind.

Every moment offers us opportunity to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books. When we travel we can carry some books with us, who knows we could be the next one to meet and help a stranger.

your servant, Murari Gupta dasa (Text PAMHO:13956156) --------------------------------------

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

The weather is hot: 130F and 140F in my truck... danger at every step...

I was out walking, to check out and refill my book rack and drop off some prasadam sent from some wonderful devotees, when all of a sudden explosions were heard. At first I thought it was nothing but it got louder and closer... we were under a mortar attack. Quickly I ran into the closest bunker. As I got in, I noticed there were some soldiers there. I was smiling and right away started handing out cookies and books to all. They were so grateful, smiling ear to ear upon recieving such wonderful gifts. Then I ran to the next bunker and again handed out more cookies and books to the hungry soldiers. They were hungry for spiritual knowledge. While all this was going on, we were still taking incoming motar rounds. Finally after running around to four more bunkers, I came across an empty bunker. As I got in and looked down, I saw that I had one cookie left and a book.I thought, let me eat this last cookie and read a bit. I earned it today. Just as I was going to enjoy these transcedental treats, another soldier came in. I looked at the cookie and felt embarrassed. The job of a devotee is to give out all the mercy, to not keep anything for himself. I turned to the soldier without saying a word, handed him the cookie and my last book and sat back. Thinking to myself, thank you Krsna for teaching me such a valuable lesson.

Things are good here, we have passed out the 550th book in 3 months!

Your servant, Partha-sarathi dasa

P.S. Partha-sarthi prabhu was resently shot, these we're his words about it: "I got hurt pretty bad (bullet and shrapnel)" So let's all pray that he recover from his injury. Vijaya dasa

As humans we are individuals yet desire to belong somewhere and "fit" into a group. There is nothing new with like-minded people getting together, be it in book clubs, the air cadets or Krishna Consciousness University Societies. Yet the recent escalation in social networking on the Internet with such groups as Facebook, MySpace and Bebo have shown the darker side of the Internet.


One such sub-group of these networks are labelled 'Thinspirations'. Phrases such as:

I've been neglecting this site for quite a while now focusing on other projects yet I've been increasingly meeting people who have either heard or regularly read the KC Blogger. One person from India had been reading my site since its conception in November 2005 and I had the pleasure of meeting him at London Rathayatra this year. It was a surreal yet fascinating experience and has in part inspired me to continue posting. I've regularly read or found things which I would like to blog about but never got around to writing. But don't fear the KC Blogger is making a come back!

Our constitution committee wish to involve experienced and thoughtful devotees from around the world. Not just GBC members and deputies. We need broader input as we devise a constitution relevant to everyone connected to ISKCON.

I want to make a submission, but I need some assistance in how to approach this.
Can anyone who has read my ebook (get it here), please help me to formulate a way to speak into this commitee:

Check it out:

1.Defining ISKCON What is its purpose?

2.What are the lines of authority? Organizational Structure - Definitions and roles of GBC, TP, Guru. Clearly defining the roles and relationships between temples, preaching centres, Nama Hattas and other ISKCON related entities, etc.

3.Who is a Member? Are there different levels of membership? What’s a clergy? A congregation member, etc.

4.What is ISKCON’s responsibility to its members? How do we define “devotee care”

5.What are the rights and responsibilities of the members.

6.How is justice to be administered?

7.Responsibility for properties/Protection of Assets.

Point 2 screams: Hierarchical Organizational Structure!!!

Roles are cool - "understand what you are and become more that". Relationships - well, they arise naturally from roles, don't they? But "lines of authority"? Unfortunately they have assumed a hierarchical structure as their paradigm..

As far as my making a submission to this committee is concerned, it's like Chomsky said: if you go on TV and say: "Osama's a terrorist", you can get your point across in 2 seconds. On the other hand, if you want to go on and say: "The Moon landing was a hoax", you are going to need significantly more than 2 seconds to not come off looking like a nut job. The medium is biased.

Unless I can get the right approach, the guys on this committee are going to look at me like I'm speaking Classical Greek.

Today Sita-pati Prabhu released his e-book "On Leadership". He outlines the  hierarchical paradigm of organisation and leadership, highlighting the scalability and motivation problems inherent to this paradigm. As an alternative, he offers what Chomsky or  Bakunin would call "autonomous collectives"; self-organising groups serving an interest common to the participants under Marx's principle of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need". As Rand proposed and LaVey preached, this principle has the tendency to be abused by both those seeking to exaggerate the ability of others in order to demand greater contribution, and to exaggerate their own need in order to satisfy their egoistic desires. If, however, true  Krishna Conscious motivation is present, I see this problem dissolving.

In traditional socio-politics, this anarcho-syndicalist model sees resources controlled by those who utilise them. To give a simple example, in the capitalist model a capitalist owns the factory, his ownership enforced by the state. In a communist model the state owns the factory. In an anarcho-syndicalist model, there is no state and the factory is naturally controlled by a naturally self-regulating union of factory workers: an autonomous collective. A federation of autonomous collectives would then emerge, revolving around the basic core goal: the fulfillment of human needs and desires.

Apply this to ISKCON. The basic core goal: the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The chanting of His names and the distribution of the sublime science of bhakti-yoga worldwide. Around this core goal, autonomous collectives can coalesce, controlling the resources necessary for their own specific activities. A harinam party, a catering crew, a loft preaching centre, a Grihasta sadhu-sanga group. These can, and often in reality are, autonomous collectives. The legacy paradigm revolves around a hierarchical model where individuals occupy a position, which carries with it a role, duties, responsibilities and authority. Communication and direction flows along the lines of the organisational hierarchy.

At the core of the organisation, this is the paradigm. There are formal roles, formal councils and so on. At the edge of the organisation, there are autonomous collectives conducting their own activities. My argument for the paradigm of autonomous collectives is basically that they are natural.

By Sesa dasa

Our constitution committee wish to involve experienced and thoughtful devotees from around the world. Not just GBC members and deputies. We need broader input as we devise a constitution relevant to everyone connected to ISKCON. We hope such a constitution will be pertinent to all, and perhaps especially to the ISKCON leadership who are more accustomed to making laws for others than for having a constitution that holds all members equally accountable.

Everyone can chant Hare Krsna, anyone and everyone, at home, on the street. There is no expenditure. Suppose while walking if you chant Hare Krsna, there is no loss, there is no expenditure, but you see how much you are profited by chanting Hare Krsna. This is practical. We don’t say that “You come to our temple and give us some subscription. Become our member.” That is a secondary question. Our primary movement is that everyone may take advantage of this movement and simply chant wherever possible, at home, at work, on the street, anywhere. There is no regulation where you have to chant and how you have to chant. It is spontaneous. Simply chant Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. There are only three words there: Hare, Krsna, and Rama, but they are adjusted in a different position. There are sixteen words. So it is not very difficult. You can make an experiment. The children also may take pleasure. We have got our records. If you play those records and chant with it, you will find a transcendental pleasure in you. These are facts. So our request to you, that you take this movement a little seriously, and you will be happy by grace of Krsna.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Lecture at a School — Montreal, June 11, 1968

"The Holy Name’s appearance on the tongue delights both oneself and others. For this reason glorifying the Lord’s Holy Name is better than meditating on Him."
Sanatana Goswami

I've had a few months to heal from various dental and other health upgrades, with just a few cookery classes in between treatments. Now the action begins. I've got 14 classes coming up in a 7-week block. Most of them will be conducted from my home cookery school, with a few classes in other's homes. Then I'm off on 'tours-galores'.

Bookings has been incredibly brisk, but there's still a few vacancies. Find out more...

Today I spent a little bit of time on the social networking site MySpace.com.

They have a section where you can register as a 'band' and shamelessly promote your own music. I thought "Why not? Its a legitimate way to spread the chanting." so I created a profile here:

www.myspace.com/ekendradasa

 Then I thought "Why don't all the devotees put some kirtan up?"

So now I'm writing this blog post to tell you that it only takes a little bit of your time to expose thousands of people to the Holy Name. If you have some of your own kirtana recordings then its a simple process.

Social networking sites are 'in'. Kirtana is 'in' (an offshoot of the yoga community phenomenon of the last decade). So don't be the last one to put some kirtanas up for the world to download.

Spread the chanting!

 

 (now there is a link at the top of my blog 'Kirtana!' that will take you there.

Reggeli lecke UVD-ban a SB.7.2.14 versből.

• A lelket durva és finom test fedi.

• New Vraja Mandala Parikrama will be on the 3 days preceding Janmastami and Vyasa-puja.

Good morning

At my lecture last Saturday night in Reno a member of the audience stated that God has no face. When I asked her how she can say that when Krishna clearly reveals Himself as a person with a face, she said that Krishna is just a vessel for the faceless God. Her philosophy does not make any sense. How can God be devoid of anything when He is the source...

More Experiences in New Vrindaban…

Bhakta Justin has been baking some outstanding cookies to help the new devotees raise funds for traveling to Holy Places of Pilgrimage in India.

Special thanks to the devotees in the snack bar who undergo the austerity of long hours, hard work and meeting the demands of 100s of guests each weekend. The cooks are usually pujaris to Radha Vrindabancandra and the temple bhaktins do the cashier work.

We had a nice visit from the Warp Tour sankirtana devotees: Murti, Anandavidya, Dwarakesa, martanda, and Paramesvara Prabhus. Saturday night’s gaura arati with these compassionate devotees was ecstatic beyond belief thanks to the kirtana leading skills of Parampara Prabhu and the sankirtana enthusiasm. Look for a blog devoted to these Prabhus coming soon.

What a treat it is to have Ananda Tirtha prabhu in our temple! One cannot help but be awestruck at his memorization of samskara mantras and sweet exchanges with our visitors. Here Raj receives the cuda or mundam samskara (first cutting of the childs hair) accompanied by his parents Nivendra and Sandra.

Bullwinkle sells fresh vegetables from our “Garden of 7 Gates” thanks to the harvesting efforts of Tapahpunjah Prabhu, Luke, Julia, Haridasa Prabhu, Bridget, and many others…

Thanks Shanka Prabhu for another wonderful Sunday Feast!

Now this is what New Vrindaban is ALL about…

With the SSPT coming up we will have some very special speakers!

Tuesday: HG Gopinath Prabhu

Wednesday: HG Shankarananda Prabhu

Thursday: HG Sankirtan Prabhu

Friday: SSPT guest

Saturday: SSPT guest

Sunday: SSPT guest
The magnanimous Anandavidya Prabhu gave class on Sunday…

Hi Folks, check out my new e-book on the subject of Leadership: "On Leadership". In this 30 page ebook I examine two Leadership paradigms and discuss their applications in ISKCON.

There are two types of people in ISKCON who want to be powerful - those who want to be powerful in the organization, and those who want the organization to be powerful in the world. This book is meant for the latter.

Don't disempower yourself by adopting the victim mentality - complaining about "the leaders" and the state of the "institution". It's actually accepting a worldview that contains these conceptions, of "the leaders" and "the institution" that stops you from realizing your potential in Krishna Consciousness. It's your life, and ISKCON is what we make it - all of us. You are a leader; now understand your own "response-ability", step up, and set the example.

• Leadership is not a position, it's an action.
• Leadership is not the province of a select few, it's the prerogative of all.
• Leadership is not an artificial imposition, it's a natural consequence.
• Leadership is not about being above people, it's about being in front of them.
• Leadership is not about entitlement, it's about contribution.

Leadership occurs when you respond to a need in such a way and to such a degree that it puts you out in front of others.

Since we are all unique individuals each of us is uniquely suited to respond a need in a way that no-one else can. Each of us is uniquely suited to be the best in the world at something.

We all have our unique significant contribution, an area in which we can step up and respond to a need in a way that "puts us out in front". As unique individuals we each have our particular area where we can manifest Leadership. As devotees we share the responsibility to show people how to do this in Krishna Consciousness.

By following his qualities of work, every man can become perfect. Now please hear from Me how this can be done. By worship of the Lord, who is the source of all beings and who is all-pervading, a man can attain perfection through performing his own work.

- Bhagavad-gita 18.45-46

Please read the ebook, put something into practice, and write me about your experience.

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.61.30 - Rukmi's pride smashed by Lord Balarama's club

Ok, so we're on a roll here. Since we're on the subject of dogs, here's a Jewish dog joke. Some of you may have heard it before.

Morty visits Dr. Saul, the veterinarian, and says, "My dog has a problem."

Dr. Saul says, "So tell me about the dog and the problem."

"It's a Jewish dog. His name is Irving and he can talk," says Morty.

"He can talk?" the doubting doctor asks.

"Watch this!" Morty points to the dog and commands: "Irving, Fetch!"

Irving, the dog, begins to walk toward the door, then turns around and says,

"So why are you talking to me like that? You always order me around like I'm nothing. And you only call me when you want something. And then you make me sleep on the floor, with my arthritis. You give me this fahkahkta food with all the salt and fat, and you tell me it's a special diet. It tastes like dreck! YOU should eat it yourself! And do you ever take me for a decent walk? NO, it's out of the house, a short pish, and right back home. Maybe if I could stretch out a little, the sciatica wouldn't kill me so much! I should roll over and play dead for real for all you care!"

Dr. Saul is amazed, "This is remarkable! What could be the problem?"

Morty says, "He has a hearing problem! I said 'Fetch', not 'Kvetch'".

Kurma says: "Can't figure out this joke? No Jewish friends to ask? Alright, already, read this..

For over four years, the brahmacari ashram of New Vrindaban has been creating a community and culture of service and love on the campus of Ohio University, all of it based on the motto that “the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.” Vegan Cooking Workshop presents an inside look at how the magic happens, from the heat of the kitchen, to the risk of the road, ending up in the bliss of seeing over a hundred hungry, happy students tasting the mercy of Krsna.

This short film from the studios of the New Vrindaban Brahmacari Ashram shows what happens when hip, young gentleman in the renounced order, with talents galore, put the pedal to the max to bring first-class prasad and association to the starving young men and women of Athens, Ohio. Join in the fun, flavor, and love of progressive outreach at its finest.

www.vegancooking.blogspot.com

May Lord Hari’s eyes, which lovingly gaze on the devotees, which rival the splendor of blue lotuses, on which the yogis meditate to attain auspiciousness, which are two great oceans of handsomeness, and which fill Radha’s eyes with the nectar of love, quell for you the sufferings of material life.

- Srila Rupa Goswami’s “Padyavali”  

English is India’s second language, but China is set to take over…

Violent incidences escalate as students seek fame on the internet:

During the first week I was in Oxford I managed to contact, and meet, the devotees who lived there. Unknown to me, from that very first moment I met the devotees, my University life would be anything but usual.

The Prison in Atascadero, Calif is looking for a devotee to go into the prison twice a month and give classes to the inmates there. If anyone is interested please contact Mother Shyama Priya, ISKCON Prison Ministry shyamapriya@aol.com 352-870-5489

[Post ends here.]

read more

 

We receive over 300-400 letters per month writing us for inspiration and materials to be sent into the prisons. It is a very enlivening service and we appreciate the opportunity to serve and connect with these souls.

Dear Devotees,

Greetings of Love, Joy and Peace. Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Thanks for the nice letter and the story from Krishna Book ("Mother Yasoda binds Lord Krishna"). I really consider you to be a divine inspiration for me as I continue forward on my journey of self realization.

I have received a nice study course on the Bhagavad-Gita and japa mala beads. I have been chanting Hare Krishna on rosary beads. I enjoy chanting and I chant everyday. Chanting definitely connects me to the eternal source of enlightenment and bliss. This source is Krishna. Krishna is the supreme personality of Godhead. The essence and total foundation of all religion is to be found in Krishna consciousness. Krishna consciousness uplifts humanity and generations, true peace for everyone that becomes a part of it.

read more

Rasika prabhu asked me to say more about the Japa Circle that the devotees have here in Columbus, Ohio. Narottama prabhu suggested the idea last year.
It's a weekly meeting of some of us, when we get together, exchange realizations about Japa, talk about problems with Japa, read or hear some inspiring teaching, pastime, or lecture that is directly related to Japa.
We talk like this during two or three 15 or 20 minute breaks. The rest of the time we're all just doing Japa. The total meeting time is about 3.5 hours, but some devotees join in after the first break.

We found that in most congregations, activity groups do everything but Japa, which is arguably the core of our practice. Devotees get together to jam out in a kirtan, hear pastimes, discuss philosophy, honour prasad, etc. But rarely to just talk about and do Japa. So we decided that the Japa group was the need of the hour; at least that's how some of us felt.

Meeting and talking about this one important activity automatically raises its priority as really felt in our minds. Beccause we're social animals, making Japa a frequent topic of discussion gives it greater importance and raises its profile. Then during the rest of the week we focus more on it, because it's something we can talk about, even if its just talking about the problems.
It also induces the mind to start thinkinng of everything in terms of Japa and the Ten Offences. Most of us agreed that all the philosophy, suggestions for practice, etc. has something to do with the Ten Offences.

To make this group "serious", Narottama prabhu came up with a list of rules for conditional membership (ahem). Here they are below, in case any other communities want to take it up.
We decided to keep our group male only (the ladies soon enough started their own Japa circle).

The Japa Circle met weekly throughout the winter and early spring, but then it has become less regular, since during this season there are lots of other activities on weekends.
At such times, blogs such as Rasika prabhu's help, because again it gives people a place to read and talk about one thing -- Japa. The Japa Circle meetings will again pick up, probably after Janmastami.

Below is the "constitution" for the Japa Circle. Hope it helps.
-------------------------------------------------------------

The principle behind the rules is to foster a mood of intense application of the Japa process in a "team of equals" atmosphere based the instruction:

"One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant that a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respects to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly."

1. If you cannot attend a Club Meeting let the Coordinator know ahead of time.
2. Usually the meeting is divided into 2 or 3 sessions by 15 minute breaks. Be on time for whatever session you decide to attend.
3. No talking during Japa.
4. No small children.
5. No females.
6. No sleeping.
7. Enunciate the Maha-mantra (no silent Japa for extended lengths of time.)
8. Chanting should not be so loud that it disturbs others.
9. You may excuse yourself from a session for a short time in order to go to the bathroom, drink water, get fresh air, etc.
10. During the discussion period, discussion should be relevant to Japa, not argumentative, and conducted in a way that provides others with enough time to contribute their realizations.
11. Cell phones should be off or on vibrate.
12. Ideally chant while seated. If one needs to stand or pace, it should be done in way that doesn’t distract others.
13. Only Members or approved Guests can come to the meeting. To become an approved Guest one needs an approval from one of the Coordinators. The approving Coordinator is responsible for making sure that the prospective Guest agrees to the rules.
14. Usually a Guest should be at least chanting 4 rounds a day.

All important decisions of the Club are based on simple majority voting by the Coordinators.
Coordinators:
Secretary: (ie. the guy who makes sure someone is Coordinating that week’s meeting)

It was a beautiful Sunday evening as the gentle showers started to spread its sway on the glorious Gaura bhumi,...

...

By Shyama Priya Devi Dasi

We receive over 300-400 letters per month writing us for inspiration and for materials to be sent into the prisons. It is a very enlivening service and we appreciate the opportunity to serve and connect with these souls.

Gokula Tulasi das: Dear devotees and friends, Hare Krishna ! Welcome to the news from Tele Radio Krishna Network. The portal www.radiokrishna.com has now almost 3,000 pages views and many thousands of listenings/downloadings, every day.

Shyamapriya dd: The Prison in Atascadero, Calif is looking for a devotee to go into the prison twice a month and give classes to the inmates there.

By Sri Nanda - nandana dasa

As reported in an article by Charles Arthur in the June 8, 1999 edition of The Independent in England, new information has been gathered by scientists at the Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi, India, regarding how the glaciers in the Himalayas are retreating.

Rasikananda Das: Burning Man is coming! In two weeks devotees from around the country will assemble to form Krishna Camp, the new wave of North American festival outreach.

This Was Taken Yesterday Afternoon. Now That The New Vrindaban Website and Gallery are Available Again, You Can Access the Regularly Posted Pictures of All the Deities Here, This Link should Take you Directly There, http://www.newvrindaban.com/gallery/  ,But if it Doesn’t for Some Reason, Just go to http://www.newvrindaban.com/ and on the Right Side, Click on “Gallery”.

Gauranga prasad das: I am looking for HG Golokacandra das, disciple of HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami. He's been missing since Jagannatha Ratha Yatra at Puri.

I spent the week (Monday-Friday) at my mothers house in Fullerton California, the highlight of the week was a family dinner. I cooked a big Italian feast for my Italian family with Eggplant Parmesan as the main course. And for desert we had fresh mangoes and strawberries with whipped cream topping, layered and served in champagne glasses. Mmmm. One of the highlights of the trip to California was really high quality produce fresh from the farmers market. Needless to say everyone was very happy with the dinner.

Friday I dropped my mom off at work and then drove down to La Guna Beach, Pancha Tattva Mandir to hang out with Dayal Gauranga Prabhu and Tukarama Prabhu. My usual trip to Panch Tattva mandir consists of a swim in the ocean with Dayal Gauranga. This is usually the only time that I go to the beach when I am in California. Then the rest of my time is usually spent in Krshna Katha with Tukarama Prabhu. Unfortunately there is a tendency for these conversation to degenerate into an argument about something or other. I try my best to avoid getting sucked into an argument with him but somehow it always happens.

But this visit was unique. Bhakta Miley had brought over some boxing gloves so Tukarama was in ecstasy, first he boxed with Miley, which was quite a sight, then with Tranakarta Prabhu, also quite a sight. Then he turned to me and asked, "So you want to hit me a few times." I very lovingly replied, "Tukarama Prabhu that would be the fulfillment of my long cherished ambition." For those who don't know Tukarama Prabhu he is about six feet tall and weighs about 220 pounds and whenever he's not doing some business to maintain the temple, he is reading Bhagavatam, and if he's not doing either of those two things he is doing juijitsu, boxing, or some other kind of martial training. This was the first time I had ever put on a pair of boxing gloves and I weigh about half as much as he does. He let me take my best shots, which was a lot of fun, and he didn't beat me up too bad. The great thing was that when we were done boxing we didn't argue about anything, by beating me up physically he got out his need to be in control and I had no problem accepting him in that role within the boxing ring. We had a nice conversation about my change in service and he gave me his blessings to go to Govardhan.

Friday night I went over to see my Grandmother for the last time on this visit. It is really sad to see the breakdown of the traditional family structure. The people who suffer the most are the people who need protection, women, children, and old people. Which is basically everybody because at some point everyone is young and at some point everyone is old.

Saturday morning it was time to pack up and head out. My flight was scheduled to leave at 3:30 in the afternoon, on the way out we stopped at New Dwarka, I made it just in time for the last darshan before the curtains closed for the afternoon. I had to pick up some cd's from Nitai to deliver to Gopal Prabhu. Rasikananda offered to treat me to some organic vegan pie from Govinda's before we left, and on the way over to the restaurant we picked up Jai Keshava and my mother. Then it was time to go.

The flight was pretty routine. In the airport a middle aged Indian gentleman came and sat down next to me. He was dressed in a raw silk dhoti and kurta, his appearance was that of a cross between a saint and a used car salesman. As we talked I found out he was from Vrindaban. He is the acarya for an organization based out of Vrindaban and he travels around the world doing Bhagavat Saptahas. I recited some Bhagavatam slokas and he was happy to hear an American chant them. He asked me about ten times whether I liked India. It was so far beyond his conception of reality that someone from America could like India that his brain could not process my answer. Meeting him was definitely was an interesting coincidence. He gave me his card. I'll meet him when I go to India.

The flight got in at 1:30 am. It is always rough traveling from the West coast to the East coast. I hang out with Carl till 3:00 am and then crashed out.

After getting up late I went down stairs and hung out with the few stragglers that were still around from the morning program. Then I went back up to my room to study for the Sunday class. With memories of Ratha Yatra still fresh in my mind I thought I should speak about Ratha Yatra. The class went well, I think it was the longest class I ever gave, about an hour and a half.

It was nice to be back in Columbus, over the past three years I have spent a good deal of time with the devotees here.

Tonight we are having a pizza party at Piyush's house, and then tomorrow I will go to his office for another set of steroid injections for my tendinitis, and then tomorrow or the day after it is off to New Vrindaban to get ready for the 24 hr kirtan festival.

Last Saturday I hosted a meeting at my flat. It had been a long time since I had done such a thing.

Just 3 guests came. Two regular friends and one friend of a friend: a German exchange student from Berlin who was new to Krishna consciousness.

We started off by having lunch and general chatting. On the menu:

• Sweet potatoes in cayenne, ginger and groundnut sauce
• Baked vegetables with rosemary (which I over-salted)
• Apple chutney
• Cashew basmati brown rice
• Chinese almond cookies
• Mango and orange nectar drink

After lunch we had a kirtan.

Then we discussed the second verse of the Bhagavatam (for 2 hours!). Actually, we only made through the first half of this verse. There is so much stuff packed into each Bhagavatam verse. One can talk about each verse for months!

The verse is:
“Completely rejecting all religious activities which are materially motivated, this Bhagavata Purana propounds the highest truth, which is understandable by those devotees who are fully pure in heart. The highest truth is reality distinguished from illusion for the welfare of all. Such truth uproots the threefold miseries. This beautiful Bhagavatam, compiled by the great sage Vyasadeva [in his maturity], is sufficient in itself for God realization. What is the need of any other scripture? As soon as one attentively and submissively hears the message of Bhagavatam, by this culture of knowledge the Supreme Lord is established within his heart.” (SB1.1.2)

All in all, every really enjoyed the afternoon of hearing, chanting and feasting. I must do this more often.

Direct from New Vrindaban Studios, comes the culinary cinematic experience of the year!

VEGAN COOKING WORKSHOP

Starring HG Caitanya Das
Executive Producer-HG Caitanya Das
Director, Cameraman, Editor-Bhakta-Chris
Narrator-HG Balarama Chandra Das
a 2007 production of New Vrindaban Studios



For over four years, the brahmacari ashram of New Vrindaban has been creating a community and culture of service and love on the campus of Ohio University, all of it based on the motto that “the way to a person’s heart is through their stomach.” Vegan Cooking Workshop presents an inside look at how the magic happens, from the heat of the kitchen, to the risk of the road, ending up in the bliss of seeing over a hundred hungry, happy students tasting the mercy of Krsna.

This short film from the studios of the New Vrindaban Brahmacari Ashram shows what happens when hip, young gentleman in the renounced order, with talents galore, put the pedal to the max to bring first-class prasad and association to the starving young men and women of Athens, Ohio. Join in the fun, flavor, and love of progressive outreach at its finest.

www.vegancooking.blogspot.com
www.gaurangakishore.blogspot.com
www.ridewithin.blogspot.com
www.jivacow.blogspot.com «

No one can make you feel good or bad without your approval. People can make you feel good or bad to the extent you allow them to.

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space lies our freedom to choose and an opportunity to grow.

Between what happens to us and our reaction to it there is a space. We can stop and think what would be the best way to react.

Animals have no space. They react right away.

Festival of India, Woodstock 2007, Poland

Festival of India, Woodstock 2007, Poland

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest, Hungary

Srila Sivarama Maharaja’s bhajan before lecture. It was recorded in New Vraja-dhama, 12th August, 2007.

Last week we had very nice developments. Our blog is now published in Russian language also. In this way, we are starting our communication with thousands of devotees speaking Russian and the Russian media. Communication is an important step in the development of humanity. The very first sayings in the Vedic teachings tell about hearing with humility. So we are wishing that our blog will give everybody nice and valuable moments. (more…)

Have just arrived back from the most blisful long weekend in Brighton, I was invited by Dina Diagra who has recently purchased a house for the small community there.

The most exciting thing is that the house has a 50ft basement ideal for a temple room, which is his plan and a loft conversion for guests.

The program is simple but affective with the enphasis on giving association and as Dina is a medical DR and most of the devotees are nursing or health care staff, this is something we do well. The people are diverse with diffrent levels of attachment but the balance is right. One thing that struck me was the need for tollerance, not only for those who come to the centre but for those who are adapting to Ashram life.

The need to love and support rather than condem is strong and is reeping good results. And even though the group is young even those mature people are very much attracted. And it trully is International which adds lots of colour.

As I was their I also meditated on this point (I may be well off the mark but here it is), If a womans desire is 9 times that of a man then the struggle will be harder, BUT heres the point once the love of Krsna is awakened then that is 9 times greater. Isn’t that a wonderful position to be in? To have that much love for Krsna. So the woman is ISKCON are very special.

The rathe atra is in September.

Dina is sure though that Krsna will send the trades men all he needs to do is be patient, after all it took him 8 years to finally be able to purchase a house even though they went for so many. And the address? 1 Temple Street; how amazing is that?

If you are ever in Brighton please go visit them there love and desire to serve Krsna and each other is truelly blisful

1965 August 13 : "Today at 9 a.m. embarked on M.V. Jaladuta. Everything is nice in the 1st class compartment and thanks to Lord Sri Krishna for His enlightening Smti. Sumati Moraji for all these arrangements."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1965

1969 August 13 : "We have to engage ourselves always in Krishna activity, and whenever there is some attack by Maya we shall not be surprised. Rather we should immediately remember - we are in Maya's kingdom."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 August 13 : "When I first heard that the wheels of the cart collapsed it was so great a shock to me that the whole day I was sick and morose. Now receiving your letter and pictures I am very much enlivened."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 August 13 : "I am very glad that George Harrison is playing harmonium and guitar and this record is being played on first class radio stations all day. This is very encouraging."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 August 13 : "Your endeavor to induce the Beatles to cooperate with us is successful. Now when I go to London we can produce at least one dozen Hare Krishna recordings in varieties of tunes."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 August 13 : "How can it be said our goals are actually the same? We are teaching to think of Krishna always 24 hours. I don't think the other groups are teaching like that."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969