1966 October 3 : "Swami Bhakti Vilas Tirtha of Caitanya Research Institute may send you some goods for forwarding. You can send a copy to my agent at Mathura, Swami B. V. Narayana Maharaja."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1967 October 3 : "Whenever there is new branch of our society I become very very happy & my blessings in heart and soul are with you. Although not physically present there, I am spiritually always with you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 October 3 : "He was so much frenzied to see his old friends he forgot the order of Krishna & indulged in a sort of sense gratification. It is certainly a shocking incident which I never expected from a disciple like him."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 October 3 : "I am very happy to learn you are holding kirtana and delivering lectures. All this good news is very much encouraging to me, and I thank you all six sincere souls for carrying on this mission so enthusiastically."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 October 3 : "Nobody can be equal to or greater than God. They are simultaneously one and different. In quality they are one, but in magnitude they are different. This is the whole philosophy of the four Vaisnava sampradayas."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 October 3 : "All newcomers should be welcomed and well treated. Out of many thousands of people one comes to Krishna Consciousness. So it is our duty to help them as far as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 3 : "Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi is expected in Washington, D.C. so try to bring her to our temple and give her a nice feast, so that she can know what ISKCON is doing there in U.S.A."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 October 3 : "I must admit there is little fraction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu's merciful glance upon you. Always be conscious of this special favour and remain fixed up in your spiritual regulative principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

Chandan: On Saturday, 29 September 2007, ISKCON Canberra celebrated Lord Jagannath Rathayatra after a gap of 11 years. Celebrations were lead by His Holiness Vedavyasapriya Swami.

By NewPost - India

We have started a drive to create awareness about Ganga pollution. Our motto is to revive the long lost glory of the river regarded as the most sacred of rivers by the Hindus,' Mahavishnu Swami Maharaj, an Iskcon devotee from Britain and one of the five members of the clean Ganga mission, told IANS here

by Vrindavan Lila Dasi

Flood waters slowly started to go down today.
We are stuck in Youth Forum building, near ISKCON Goshala and our health is not so good.
We have been offered to relocate to the Lotus Building for 100 Rupees per day and prasad for another 60 Rupees, but we can't afford this extra-expence in our life, as we live and mentain our service from donations and right now our equipment (main camera + 2 computers) badly need repair/replacement.

So, we are not getting to the main temple area, thus all the latest flood pics/videos and updates are from Goshala side.
Although, Prabhu got to the central area in very beginning of the flood and took some video clips and photos, and today I have managed to get to the temple via boat ride offered by kind devotees.

Devotees from Goshala housing area are staying at Youth Forum building as well as in the coridors of Vaishnava Academy, which is next building to Youth Forum, right opposite Goshala - with ALL their family possessions, small kids, old people, etc...

Even when it is very small amount of water - these devotees have to leave their houses, because this area is probably lowest lying place in ISKCON compound and water covers their floors even when everywhere else is not flooded... what to speak of times like now...

They have to move into higher buildings, where they have to meet extra expense of paying for the rooms. For prasad, they either have to pay and get it at central area if they can get there or else arrange whatever they can themselves.
After water is gone they would be asked to leave as soon as possible, even though their mud floors will take some time to dry yet and they will have to renovate their houses again this year - another flood, another extra expense in life.

These devotees have same type of houses as most poor people outside in this area. My maid-servant lives in a similar house.
People I am describing here are not hired workers, but full time initiated ISKCON devotees.
These devotees have been serving in ISKCON Mayapur for 15/20+ years, one of them is cake-&-pizza-cook, Kamaka Das with his large family. Others serve in Srila Prabhupada Samadhi, Mayapur laundry, Gada kitchen, Big kitchen, Agricultural department, etc...

I know that in the other (most known) Grihastha area devotees are facing lots of difficulties too. We can't get there right now to photograph, but will later, when water go down some more.

The photos below - Goshala housing area is flooded:




by Hrimati Devi Dasi

The people are suffering in the flood!...
I mean suffering...
They have no food no more house and the government is not helping also. If ISKCON does not help those people and cattle, they are really bad off.
I had to go through gushing water with my cows to get to Jagannath Mandir. The second time my bullock Balaram took the cart he had to walk through neck deep water with heavy current to pull the cart that was filled with rice straw that will last them for 3-4 days. Now they are so exhausted that 3 of them are very sick. They are under some trees with no shelter from the
rain, yesterday one Village cow died near Jagannath Mandir from exhaustion due to having to walk through deep gushing water.

www.flickr.com

This pride infuses my every breath my every glance Oh Nitai! You are an ocean of compassion Please wash this pride                                                                                   [...]

I humbly ask you to read first the translation and Bhaktivedanta purport to today's verse, the 4th verse from the 1st Chapter of the 2nd Canto.

dehāpatya-kalatrādiṣv
ātma-sainyeṣv asatsv api
teṣāḿ pramatto nidhanaḿ
paśyann api na paśyati

Persons devoid of ātma-tattva do not inquire into the problems of life, being too attached to the fallible soldiers like the body, children and wife. Although sufficiently experienced, they still do not see their inevitable destruction.

In my heady college days, I was well-versed in the works and ideas of such psychedelic ice-cream men as Timothy Leary and Robert Anton Wilson. Whether blissed out in some deep part of the solar system, or even with plenty of time on their hands in a California prison cell, both men were adamant that by the time the 21^st Century rolled around, we would have the "technical means to live forever" on this beautiful blue globe.

Enjoyment of all the various and nefarious substances being passed around would no longer be encumbered by the anxieties of bodily discomfort and dissolution. A new utopia would rise up from the seas, ushering in an age of abundant freedom that our currently puny minds could not possibly conceive of.

Sounded pretty cool to me. I could really feel that these gentleman were on the real cusp of consciousness, really pushing at the boundaries of our rotten culture of commodities, conformity, and the plain-ol get-a-job get-a-house get-a-coffin death game. When I excitedly shared these ideas with a good friend of mine, instead of getting a high-five and a “right on, maaan!”, I got a blank stare and a pretty indignant response. The response could be summarized thusly: Who is Timothy Leary, and who are you, to play God and decide that the experience of death is no longer necessary? Who are you to say that you are morally responsible enough to “live forever”, and thus to decide who also gets to share in this great bounty? Who are you to impose such an unnatural thing on the already perfectly structured natural order of existence for all living entities?

Prabhupada states it pretty bluntly at the beginning of this purport. The material world is called the world of death. Prabhupada would also often say never to put your hope in any future, no matter how bright or charming it may be. There are so many possible avenues of electronic enlightenment, so many shiny possibilities of immortality (cryonic preservation of the body, of which Dr. Leary partook of, comes to mind) in the material future that it becomes a conscious necessity of anyone in the bodily concept of life to do whatever they can to preserve themselves for as long as possible.

It’s so easy! If you just refuse to focus your eyes to see things as they actually are, then this Planet Earth really looks like a nice place to spend the whole of eternity. There is such an abundance of pretty hills, pretty girls, fast cars, sports bars, video games, instant fame, big big movie stars, fill that wine in your jar, etc and beyond. Who wouldn’t want to become immortal in such an abode of dazzling sensual delight.

Prabhupada, in the purport to verse 3 of the Narada-Bhakti-Sutra, writes “One who is convinced that he is eternally a servitor of the Supreme Lord is called immortal because he has realized his constitutional position of immortality. Unless one can understand his position as a living entity and an eternal servitor of the Lord, there is no question of immortality. But one who accepts these facts becomes immortal. In other words, those who are under the misconception that the living entity and the Supreme Lord are equal in all respects, both qualitatively and quantitatively, are mistaken, and they are still bound to remain in the material world. They cannot rise to the position of immortality.”

It is a natural inclination to want to live forever. Death is not a condition the spirit soul is ever inclined to undergo, so the natural revulsion of the living entity towards death is not something to be shunned. Lately, I have been meditating upon the fact that while this earthly planet holds all the delights mentioned above, and while it’s very easy to get caught up and attached in even the most innocent of our surroundings, unless one actively comes to the realization that nothing of this planet, and nothing of this material world, can guarantee any sense of happiness, then it will be very difficult to make any kind of serious spiritual advancement, no matter how pious or environmentally-friendly you are.

Prabhupada further writes in the purport to this verse that no one will survive in this struggle with material nature. The history of human society definitely proves it, yet the foolish people still suggest that in the future they will be able to live perpetually, with the help of material science. This poor fund of knowledge exhibited by human society is certainly misleading, and it is all due to ignoring the constitution of the living soul. Individually and on a mass scale, we forget the history of personal and cultural death all around us, so we are doomed to repeat it. Of course, I may be adding some morbid energy where it’s not needed, but just look at the headlines. Who would want to live, or even bring a child into the future of this world the way it’s headed, which is like something out of a Philip K. Dick novel.

It is absolutely urgent that we express this sublime culture of love that is Krsna consciousness, and it is absolutely urgent that we have the courage and freedom of action and thought to examine where, how, and why we are still attached to this earthly planet, to this material nature. The only possible way for truly positive energy to come out in full force is through steady and committed spiritual practice, and through giving this gift with as much sincerity as we can muster.

We must not abandon or fall into a sense of aversion as to our duty on this planet at this time, a planet in which Krsna Himself, in numerous incarnations, has sported and charmed His pure devotees. This world is not our home, but it is a testing ground, a school of love, with many hard knocks, to see if we are sincere and capable enough of following in some pretty transcendental footsteps. So, we have to rise above! Now is the time to do so much more than just simply decorating the dead body of the material world.

Robert Edwards: Giridhari Prabhu and the UK Festival Team will be holding their first festival in central London since the disappearance of their leader and inspiration, Tribhuvanatha Prabhu, six years ago.

On the 27th of October the month of Damodara begins. This month is the time of the festival of Kartika, and Vaisnavas sing the song Damodarastakam each day, along with offering a lamp to baby Krishna.

Dama means "bound" and udara means "abdomen". Together they form Damodara, and this is a name of Krishna that refers to his pastime of being bound by his mother Yasoda to prevent his running away after having been naughty and threatened with punishment. It refers to the ties of the devotees' love that bind the Lord to them.

The word astakam refers to a poetic form with eight stanzas or verses (from asta - "eight"). The Damodarastakam is spoken by Satyavrata Muni in the Padma Purana.

This prayer is sung to the accompaniment of musical instruments such as harmonium, mrdanga, cartals and guitar. There are two main melodies that are used to sing it - one is in 3/4 time ("waltz"-time), also known colloquially in ISKCON as "2-beat", and the other is in 4/4 time - known colloquially and misleadingly as "3-beat".

I have been requested by a number of devotees to provide them with guidance on the musical accompaniment for this song, so in the days leading up to Kartika I will post videos here showing how to play the mrdanga and cartals for these two different melodies and time signatures, and also a number of different chords that can accompany these melodies on harmonium and guitar.

If Krishna Dharma prabhu publishes an english rendition before then I will endeavour to record a version of that for the pleasure of the Vaisnavas.

I'll start soon so that you have time to practise before Kartika arrives.

When Maharaj left Italy to go to back to London, I went with the Slovenian devotees back to Slovenia. I was a little sad to be miss Maharaj's visit to London, especially the Friday evening program with the Local Gurukulis, but duty called. The trip to Slovenia was really wonderful, the devotees there are so sweet and sincere, you would have to be to tolerate me.

After spending the weekend in Slovenia I flew to London. Sundar Govinda Prabhu's and his wonderful wife Haripriya Devi were kind to invite to their home. Early the next morning I caught the train into London for for morning Bhagavatam class with Maharaj. Even though I was only in London for one full day I was happy to get to attend at least one program with Maharaj, and of course it is always a great joy to see so many dear god brothers.

Maharaj was speaking about focus. I was trying to pay attention but I was tired and my mind was not cooperating. Maharaj got my attention by using me as an example, “I remember when I used to visit New Raman Reti, our dear Gauranga Kishore used to drive me, and while driving he used to ask me philosophical questions, and as far as I could tell he would not be aware of what was going on the road. It is a very important principle to be absorbed in Hari Katha but we must be aware of time, place, and circumstance.” Everyone of course was laughing.

I always like when Maharaj makes everyone laugh by using me as an example, I am too stupid to do any important service but at least I can be of some service to Maharaj if he can use my stupidity to make everyone laugh.

During my teenage years I used to drive Maharaj around and I really was not aware of proper vaishnava etiquette or how to serve Maharaj properly. Now I know how serious Maharaj take safety in cars but at the time I had no idea. At one point he was instructing me to be more careful while driving. I told him, “I know that I am not a good driver and I would not be surprised if I end of in an accident but I figured that as long as you are in the car Krishna will protect us.” Maharaj responded, “That is not devotion. Mother Yashoda does not think that Krishna is God, I don't have to protect him.” I was very grateful to receive such a beautiful instruction in how to serve guru.

I remember one time in the car somehow we started speaking about some bhajan, then Maharaj started singing it, and instead of keeping my hands on the steering wheel I started using it as a Mrdanga to play along to Maharaj singing. He stopped singing. And I realized how careless I was being.

After the class the devotees invited me upstairs to eat breakfast with Maharaj, I reluctantly went up to where Maharaj was but when it was time to eat I tried to sneak away. I felt bad leaving without saying anything to Maharaj. I wanted to offer my respects but at the same time I didn't want to disturb him so I walked out of the room in such a way that he would see me leaving. He saw and called me back, “Where are you going?” I came back in and Maharaj asked me about how my boils were doing. Then again he started talk about his experiences with boils, he started telling me about when he and my father were both very sick, they were in Pittsburgh just laying on the floor suffering and chanting Hare Krishna, Maharaj's body was covered with boils, he had twelve boils just in his nose, and the doctors told him that if he touch them the infection would spread to his brain, and my father was also in extreme pain, he had a huge cancerous tumor on his spine, although at the time he didn't know what it was.

He also told one story that I was very happy to hear from him personally. Earlier this year he took Balaramachandra Prabhu, Chaitanya Prabhu and Myself to Athens Ohio where he used to do his college preaching programs. He told us how he used to preach, and I was amazed at how hard he worked to preach Krishna Consciousness to the youth of America. Previously I heard that one time he even collapsed on the vyasanana, but I didn't know any details about this incident, and it sounded so unbelievable that I wanted so direct confirmation. Then today he fulfilled this desire of mine, he was explaining about how sick he was with boils. He said that his body had become so poisoned due to all these boils that once as he was about to begin a lecture at a college and he fell unconscious. He laughed it off by saying, “Luckily it was a class on mystical religious experience so everyone just thought I was giving some kind of demonstration.” Then he said, “Maybe it was a mystical religious experience.”

As Maharaj was talking others were sitting to eat, I was just near Maharaj listening, when it was time to eat I started to walk away and Maharaj gestured that I should sit down and eat. I used to eat with Maharaj all the time, he would always invite me, but I can't remember the last time I ate with him, I just don't feel comfortable in that situation. But on Maharaj's instruction I sat down.

Sometimes the dog waits for the master to finish eating and eats the remanants but occasionally the master is feeling especially merciful and he throws the dog some food even while he is still eating. What can I say somehow I am like a dog but I have taken shelter of him and he, being very compassionate vaishnava cannot reject me.

I was really surprised to get so much mercy and attention from Maharaj, you can never predict when such mercy will come.

Before Maharaj left he did ask me again, "When are you going to Govardhan?" I explained that I would spend a few days in Mumbai and then go to Govardhan. He was very kind saying, "Then I'll see you in Mumbai."

I took the incident in class as an instruction that now I need be exclusively focused on my studies at Govardhan. Classes actually started the day before yesterday, I will be over week late by the time I reach Govardhan. I did get permission from the school but now that my little vacation is coming to a close it will soon be time again to be very focused on my specific service of studying.

But before that I still have a few days of vacation left. I'll be in Mumbai for four days before going to Govardhan. I am very much looking forward to seeing all my Godbrothers, and of course I will get to see Maharaj, for one last time before I begin at Govardhan.

I better go before I miss my flight.

Here are a few pictures from the past few days.

The most gorgeous Shri Shri Radha Londonisvara.


Radhanath Swami chanting "Jaya Radha Madhava" at Soho Street Temple, London.



Ananta Prabhu, was kind of enough to allow me travel through Italy with him and the Slovenian devotees, and then they were kind enough to invite me to Slovenian for the weekend.


Lalita Govinda Prabhu, the saint of Slovenia, he is such a wonderful, sweet, loving, devotee, his humility breaks your heart. The trip to Slovenia is worth it just to have his association.


"Sukadeva Goswami Escaping from the Womb" greets all guest as they enter the ISKCON Slovenia property. The building used to be a prison during WWII, and this a statue to honor the one luck soul that escaped alive.



Shri Shri Pancha Tattva, the presiding deities of Slovenia. They are a hidden gem nestled in the mountains of Slovenia.



Holy Food, one of the nice Hare Krishna restaurant, prasadam distribution programs I've seen, it is right in the heart of the main university in Slovenia with over 50,000 students. And the food is great.

I can understand that you are a very sincere girl and that is the first qualification for developing love for Krishna. Now increase that sincerity more and more by engaging yourself whole-heartedly and with great enthusiasm for serving Krishna and very soon love of Godhead will fructify. You will become more and more happy in this life and in the end go back to home, back to Krishna, to enjoy eternal life, full of bliss and knowledge and in association with the supreme lovable object, Krishna. And our process for obtaining to such a wonderful existence is not at all difficult. Following the regulative principles strictly, chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily and always think of Krishna

- Letter from Srila Prabhupada to: Ksama (Lynn Edwards) -- 6 November, 1971

Ez a hangfelvétel egy vasárnapi gyűlésen készült, ahol Guru Maharaja a Nava Vraja Mahima című új könyvének művészeti munkáját vitatta meg….

In this world everyone is struggling to achieve material success. It is not an easy struggle because one must compete with everyone else who is also struggling for their portion of a limited pool of material resources. The Lord's devotee, however, is free from this anxiety because his only desire is to please the Lord. He knows that he can please...

If you need an excuse to visit the National Gallery of Victoria then here's one...

Krishna is one of the most popular of the Hindu gods worshipped throughout Asia and in particular India. The exhibition Krishna: Love and Devotion will explore Krishna iconography, through approximately 70 works including paintings, sculpture, textiles, photography, and jewellery.

The scope of the exhibition includes both historical and contemporary interpretations of Krishna worship and devotion, and explores the narrative of Krisha's life story in works from across India.

Thanks to Anandini for the tip. Her employer is sponsoring the event.

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.66.1 - Cultivating knowledge of humility & pridlelessness.
Jaya Radha Madhava

Tegnap ünnepeltük a 42. évfordulóját annak, hogy Srila Prabhupada megérkezett Amerikába.

Yesterday was the 42nd anniversary of Srila Prabhupada arriving to the USA.

Vrajraj Priya Prabhu, a devotee undergoing Brhamchari Training in Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, describes this experience:

Everyday we distribute books in the local trains in Mumbai. When we finish distributing in one compartment, we get down at the station and rush to the next compartment. The time a train halts at a station is merely 40 seconds. So we have to be really fast. The real test comes when there is a ladies' or a first class compartment in between. We can enter neither and sometimes we miss the train. But no problem! There is always the next one.

One day I entered a car with a partition dividing it into gents and ladies compartments. A wall made of metal on the bottom half and a wire mesh on the top separated them. I made my announcements adjoining the ladies compartment.

I heard someone calling me from the ladies' wing: "Hare Krishna! Do you have a Hindi Bhagawad Gita?"

A middle-aged women was standing next to the wire mesh.

"Yes," I replied.

"Does it have all the shlokas and word meanings?"

"Yes."

I edged closer to the mesh. A row of commuters was between me and the partition, and so for her I opened the Gita and stretched and pressed it to the mesh for her to see. She put on her glasses and strained her neck to see the verses, word meanings and the translation. Then I showed her the cover, which persuaded her that she was buying a genuine ISKCON book. She agreed to buy. But here began the problem. How could I pass the book to her?

I peered all around the mesh. There was an opening at the top wide enough for me to pass the book, but the seats below were all packed. I dared not ask anyone to move so that I could climb up on the seat. Meanwhile she folded the money and passed it through the mesh. I returned the change. Then I looked at the side. There seemed to be enough of a gap.

I pushed the book and called out, "Mataji, please take the book from here."

She was slow to react, and at the same moment suddenly the train jerked to a halt. The book fell from my hand and landed on someone's head. The lady who received this 'bolt from the blue' did not mind. She held the book, glanced over it and calmly handed it to the customer, who apologized for the mishap. Both of us heaved a sigh of relief.

I learned that our efforts to distribute Srila Prabhupada's books are never in vain. There is always someone who is looking for them, and if we meet someone like this we should spare no effort to break down the barriers and reach out to them.

http://www.sankirtandiary.com/

I was recently reading a story in the 5th Canto about one Maharaja who was meditating in a cave and who became attracted to a heavenly girl sent by Lord Brahma. It dawned on me that the lust, the principle of attraction, between the male and female, is actually no different than say, the attraction between a male dog and a bitch (a female dog, that is). Different bodies, but the exact same principle. In other words, the lusty desire to satisfy the bodily demand (to put it into polite language) between a demigod and a heavenly girl is actually no different than the lusty desire of the male dog to impregnate the bitch. So whenever I read about a story like that, I simply think about dogs and realize that the sex desire between humans is no different than the sex desire of two dogs.



"Oh, you are such a beautiful dog. I love the big black nose, and the white stripes in your fur."
"Yes, and what a beautiful dog you are. I love your small thin ears that just hang down, they are so beautiful. Also, your soft white fur... Let's spend the rest of our life together, and be happy!"

My friends, this is called material illusion.

www.sankirtandiary.com

Glimpses of Traditional Indian Life by Bhakti Vikasa Swami, Part 9:

Still, whatever real culture remains in India is valuable and worth learning from. For even today bits and pieces of traditional India still survive. Behold the Saurashtrian cowherd leaning on his elaborately carved stick, his feet adorned with curled-up, ornately designed shoes, his face with a similarly curling mustache, and his head covered with fifty meters of ribboned white cloth, intricately wrapped as a huge turban. And see his son calling each cow of his herd by name and playing a flute to gather them. Meet a small band of pilgrims on perhaps a thousand-kilometer journey to visit places of God, singing bhajans as they walk, taking provisions from pious people along the way, and stopping at midday to cook chapatis on a fire made from twigs and leaves. Note groups of village women walking several kilometers to the nearest well or river- their brass water pots stacked one atop another on their heads, their colorful clothing reflecting the early morning sun; their thick silver anklets just visible under their saris; their bracelets jostling up and down as they march along, singing to Krishna with childish simplicity.

Yet the essense of Indian culture goes far deeper even than these charming external manifestations. It is based on a subtle spiritual philosophy impenetrable by those not prepared to enter into its intricacies. And the difficulty in comprehension is compounded by negative propaganda inflicted for over two hundred years by Western scholars upon Indian culture and religion.

It's time for me to pack my bags again, a task that has become a well-honed art. Travelling is now a regular event in my life, and it has become almost second nature.

Not only will I pack my bag at my home base, but there are multiple packings and unpackings all the way around Australia, and beyond our shores, when I commence my overseas leg in a few weeks. Last year I packed and unpacked over 75 times.

Here's some tips:

Invest in top quality luggage. Your investment will pay off, especially if you travel often. I still like Samsonite hard shell, though they seem to have gotten less strong over the years.

Check beforehand any weight restrictions with your airline(s) and pack accordingly. Especially pay heed to flights with multiple carriers. Paying for excess baggage is a very disappointing way to start a journey.

Make a plan - write a list, and carry it in your hand luggage when you fly. A packing list eliminates the panic of last minute packing chaos, serves as a handy guide for repacking at the end of the trip, and can be beneficial in the unfortunate event of lost or stolen luggage.

When planning your clothing choice

, consider the events you will participate in both day and night and write down the clothes you will need for each activity. Cross check this list to determine if one piece can cover multiple occasions.

Check the season/weather forecast of the destination(s) and plan accordingly.

Always wear or carry some warm clothing for the flight. It sometimes can get quite cold up there, especially on long-haul flights. You can always peel off layers.

Plan to carry a pen in a easily-accessible place in your hand luggage, and make sure it's on your person when you sit in your allotted seat. When you have to fill in landing documentation, and you're sitting in a window seat with no pen, it's very inconvenient squeezing past other passengers to rustle through stuffed overhead lockers.

Pack a tiny notebook along with your pen to jot down things that come mind and need to be recalled after your flight.

Pack earplugs for some serious inflight resting, if they work for you.

Some time before you depart, set aside the pieces you intend to bring and ensure that they are clean and ready to be packed.

Be aware that in a number of countries there are now security restrictions on the amount of liquids that passengers can carry in your hand luggage.

Iron everything before placing it in the suitcase. If it goes in crisp and clean, odds are more in its favor of coming out the same. Button all buttons and zip all zippers.

Learn to fold. Practice folding like they do in clothing stores – they use that method for a reason. The better the fold, the fewer the creases. All garments can be folded in many different ways, an some can be rolled.

The interlocking method of folding clothes is ideal for suitcases. Overlap two pieces of clothing flat and then fold them into each other so that each piece cushions the other to aid in defying wrinkles.

Always pack tightly. Packing loosely wastes precious space and causes clothes to wrinkle. Eliminate wasted space, such as the insides of shoes, which are perfect for socks or underwear.

Always carry travel documents, keys and other valuables in your carry-on luggage. Items such as these should never be packed in checked luggage.

Label each piece of luggage, both inside and out, with your name and telephone number, but not your home address.

Unpack as completely as possible as soon as you get to the destination. When repacking, remember that balled-up, dirty laundry takes more space than carefully folded clothes, so repack your used clothing identically to your original packing method.

Once Jayapataka Maharaja, who serves as the Congregational Development Minister of ISKCON, gave us a videocassette featuring a talk by a Christian pastor in Korea. This pastor was totally sold out to cell preaching. He spoke about the miracles it did to both the quantity and quality of his Christian congregation

The pastor said there were two kinds of churches: the cell church, whose whole focus was on growth and engagement of the congregation (all active in small groups), and the program based church, that might conduct cells, but only among many other activities and projects (centered on church building).

Churches purely promoting cells witnessed an unprecedented boom in their membership and patronage, while other churches found their membership dwindling. The results of cell churches were astounding. Their members were multiplying by the thousands even in a modern city like Seoul. They were spreading so much faith in God in an age of skepticism and hedonism.

But any change brings resistance from those used to the status quo, and, despite all the evidence, some of the Christian old guard were against changing their strategy. They didn’t see the need to adapt to the times to remain relevant; they didn’t realize they were becoming obsolete.

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Trying like a small child, struggling to walk, once again but this time different, not alone. Which is good and bad, for now there is help but also greater responsibility to help her and set the proper example. Anartha-- unnecessary, NO NEED... but still the mind challenges, "Just a little, a slight glance, what's the harm?" Implanting seeds of desire that take strong roots without even noticing until your creeper is choked almost to death. You may call it harmless but I know the truth, I know how far I can fall.

What is so hard about rising early no matter what and starting the day immersed in spiritual vibration? For how much does it help keep one fixed in Transcendence. But don't go back to sleep, at least during the sacred time of pre-dawn. Sometimes you are fooled and left with the vivid, crazy dreams of regret. Make it this far and then use your time (oh so valuable) wisely in service-- even apparently mundane but not if you know what to do with the fruits. Push on, push forward and so much can be accomplished.

It hit me during the football game and she, left in the the other room alone and upset-- am I sacrificing my dreams for this? "You can do both," my mind retorts. "Don't be a fanatic." But you've told me that before and I listened and failed and failed again. Must get back the determination I once had...

By Punya Palaka dasa

An especially positive feature is the festival samizdat [originally a Russian word denoting literature produced and distributed unofficially during the communist times, avoiding any censorship], Martin’s brochure containing the program and description of the performers and also many tips and ideas of how to avoid becoming a contented member of the consumer society.

By Hector Rosario

I have purposely used the term existence rather loosely trusting that the reader may have a better sense than I about what that is. With that concession, I have given a sketch for a scientific proof of God's (Platonic) existence.

Servants at the Moscow temple: We thank all applicants in advance for their interest; however, only those applicants who are being considered for an interview will be contacted.

Today is Groucho Marx’s birthday. Groucho is one of my all time favorite comedians. I love how he can be crass and suggestive without being the least bit dirty. And Duck Soup is one of the finest films ever shot.

I was reading some essays written by Groucho while I was living at New Vrndavana in 1995ish. I came across one entitled “What This Country Needs.” It was written around 1940 when everyone was talking about World War II and the presidential election (Wilkie vs. FDR). Outlined were Groucho’s ideas on how to make this country great! Of course, most of them are very out-dated, it being 1940 and all.

But at least one point still stands true, maybe even truer today:

Two Oxen in Every Garage!

We need two oxen in every garage. There! I’ve said it. Not that I don’t realize it will mean a political break with the automobile industry (I need any kind of break I can get), but because I wouldn’t worth of a Vice-Presidential boom if I didn’t have the courage of my convictions, both of which were for parking forty minutes in half-hour zones.

That’s the problem: parking. With oxcarts, our great-grandfathers had nothing to worry about. Although it took them an hour to drive six miles to the downtown shopping district, they could immediately pull up in front of any store they chose. And, while we can drive the same distance in ten minutes, it takes an hour to find a place to park. That gives the ox a clear ten-minute advantage over the automobile.

Of course I realize that no ox is as good-looking as one of the 1940 sport models (the yellow, snappy job): also that it might be a little inconvenient trying to buy hay at a filling station. But we cannot overlook the fact that ten minutes saved every day amounts to 3,650 minutes a year, or sixty hours and fifty minutes. And that time, properly used - say on the radio by Carlie McCarthy - is worth approximately $250,000. And while $250,000 ain’t hay, it would feed a lot of oxen.

When I came across this at New Vrndavana, a lot of devotees were really trying to make the horse cart idea work (though I think they were going to do it using a bull). They even made tshirts! Which is much farther than most plans at New Vrndavana got. The tshirts were of a drawing that Srila Prabhupada did while at New Vrndavana:

Pretty cool, huh?

And speaking of drawings, as soon as I read this bit by Groucho, I copied it and put it on NV’s bulletin board. The next day, some cheeky brahmacari drew a GREAT cartoon face of Groucho smoking his cigar, saying “HARIBOL, Bhakta Eric!” It was great. Totally made my day.

So, happy birthday, Groucho! All glories to your “two oxen in every garage”!

Girish Parikh: ISKCON Chicago Hare Krishna Temple will celebrate Diwali, and Lakshmi Pujan on Friday, November 9, 2007 beginning at 6 pm; and Govardhan Puja and Annakut on Saturday, November 10, the New Year Day.

Recently added a link to ISKCON Leicester http://iskconleicester.org/index.html this is a wonderful thought out and easy to navigate.
Lots of lovely information and the devotees I’ve met over the years from Leicester are just lovely

Apologies for taking such a long time to include

By Dina Dayala Das

Proposals to Euro GBC, Global GBC and GBC Committees: Appreciation for service done by the GBC Constitutional Committee. An ISKCON Constitution. Support for the grihasta ashram within ISKCON Europe. Assisting in a survey of spiritual masters and disciples. Support to ISKCON farms and ISKCON farmers. Standards for initiation in Europe. Potential future leaders in Europe

By Sudheer dasa

On sept 23rd, ekadasi, a special program was held at our Sri Sri Radha Damodara Temple, Masok where 150 devotees gathered to get darshan of Lord. The program started with bhajan and kirtan followed by a class by Bhakti Purusottam Swami. The program ended with arati and of course a prasadam feast.

 

 The Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the source of light in all luminous objects like the sun, moon and stars. In the Vedic literature we find that in the spiritual kingdom there is no need of sun or moon, because the effulgence of the Supreme Lord is there. In the material world that brahmajyoti, the Lord's spiritual effulgence, is covered by the mahat-tattva, the material elements; therefore in this material world we require the assistance of sun, moon, electricity, etc., for light. But in the spiritual world there is no need of such things.

It is clearly stated in the Vedic literature that because of His luminous effulgence, everything is illuminated. It is clear, therefore, that His situation is not in the material world. He is situated in the spiritual world, which is far, far away in the spiritual sky. That is also confirmed in the Vedic literature. Aditya -- varnam tamasah parastat (Svetasvatara Upanisad 3.8). He is just like the sun, eternally luminous, but He is far, far beyond the darkness of this material world.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bg 13.18

 

 

By Hridayananda das Goswami

Today I saw your smiling face, and read about you, on dandavats.com. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: you are setting a magnificent example for the entire world. Your irrepressible love for Krishna, your humble kindness toward the Lord's servants, your constant compassion for the fallen souls, are all exemplary and inspiring.

 

Nonviolence is generally taken to mean not killing or destroying the body, but actually nonviolence means not to put others into distress. People in general are trapped by ignorance in the material concept of life, and they perpetually suffer material pains. So unless one elevates people to spiritual knowledge, one is practicing violence. One should try his best to distribute real knowledge to the people, so that they may become enlightened and leave this material entanglement. That is nonviolence.

By Sita Pati Das

Giving class is also kirtan. Here is a 5 page comic book that I wrote last year about giving a class or presentation on Krishna Consciousness. Of course, the principles are universal, so you can use them for whatever you do.

For all of you west coasters out there, LA stylee, a post-festival Burning Man party will be happening on October 13 from noon to midnight. Krishna Camp will be in attendance along with Lord Jagannath and his chariot. For directions to the festival click here.

Please contact Nitai and Mandali if you can help out with Krishna camp in any way: 347 409 3897

Giving class is also kirtan. Here is a 5 page comic book that I wrote last year about giving a class or presentation on Krishna Consciousness. Of course, the principles are universal, so you can use them for whatever you do.

You can download a pdf version here: "Communicating for Change"

There is no substitute for experience, and don't be afraid to give the same class over and over again, in different settings, refining it further and further.

Here's the intro section of the book (click on the comic strips for larger versions):

Communicating for Change

These are a few points about giving classes and presentations that I have picked up. By learning about these you can gain a framework of reference that you can use to evaluate and categorize your experience of your own classes and the classes of others, and hopefully can use to improve your game. There is nothing worse than not having the conceptual vocabulary to describe or evaluate your performance. This leads to a feeling of hopelessness, fear of giving class, and difficulty in improving.

I hope this is of some use to you.

If people can't relate to what you're talking about – you don't have communication. Communication starts with what you have in common. You need to reach out and start from common ground to take people to unfamiliar ground. Throw most people in the deep end and they'll sink pretty fast. So you need to be sensitive to your audience.

So begin with audience in mind. Remember that they are the reason you are speaking. You are speaking for their benefit. Of course, from the absolute perspective you are speaking for your own benefit also, but speaking for their benefit is for your benefit. So think long and hard about them. Pray for them. Pray to be able to speak to their needs.

Here are some terms and concepts about classes and presentations that will help you.

Giving class is also kirtan. Here is a 5 page comic book that I wrote last year about giving a class or presentation on Krishna Consciousness. Of course, the principles are universal, so you can use them for whatever you do.

You can download a pdf version here: "Communicating for Change"

There is no substitute for experience, and don't be afraid to give the same class over and over again, in different settings, refining it further and further.

Here's the intro section of the book (click on the comic strips for larger versions):

Communicating for Change

These are a few points about giving classes and presentations that I have picked up. By learning about these you can gain a framework of reference that you can use to evaluate and categorize your experience of your own classes and the classes of others, and hopefully can use to improve your game. There is nothing worse than not having the conceptual vocabulary to describe or evaluate your performance. This leads to a feeling of hopelessness, fear of giving class, and difficulty in improving.

I hope this is of some use to you.

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No one called me out on this, but one observation that could be made about my recent Sunday Feast experience in Melbourne is that I had the "X-factor" benefit. Since I was new and unknown to most people there they were expectant. "New"-ness does this - it creates a space of opportunity where people wait expectantly, giving you the benefit of the doubt and a window of entry to make a change.

So in addition to the local brahmacari crew headed by stalwarts such as Uddhava and Adam, I also had that on my side. You can use "new" to create momentum. Every time you do something new you generate excitement and momentum.

• To create momentum, harness the power of "new".

Someone might say: "Well, you might not be able to have the same effect if you were there all the time." Probably true. However, you can still find ways to do something new. And once you create momentum, you harness another practice to sustain that momentum:

• To sustain momentum, harness the power of "continual improvement".

Here are some examples:

When we moved from our old premises at the Loft in Elizabeth St, next to Govindas, to our new flash digs on Albert St we changed our name from "The Loft" to "Atma Yoga".

Atma Yoga is a more powerful brand. It stands for something in the mind of the public - as Aniruddha prabhu pointed out two years ago: "Yoga" is the ultimate truth brand. In that sense it nicely lines up what we're all about with what public preconception and perception.

Starting with "A" is primal, like Krishna's instructions in the Bhagavad-gita (asocyan anvasocas tvam) - and it puts us early in the alphabetical listings. "Atma" is short, punchy, easy to remember and easy to pronounce.

The "newness" of the Atma Yoga identity created buzz and a sense of progress. New is always fresh and exciting.

Here's our first flyer, with the original logo:

In order to continue to build on that momentum we've engaged in a process of continual improvement over the past year. Check out our new website with the new logo.

The latest piece in this process are our new t-shirts. There is a Melbourne connection here again, because our Melbourne-based friend Ram Kumar, who stayed with us in Brisbane for 5 months, organized these shirts to be printed in India.

These t-shirts contain our new logo, and our slogan: "Be the change"

Last Friday night was "Atma Bling night" with guests and staff blinging out on the new t-shirts. Here are some photos. I apologize for the quality - I'm a lousy photographer, but you get the idea:

Mike straps on his apron and gets ready for serious serving action.

Zoe is directing, Anu is starring.

Ryan teaches Tai Chi on Sundays, Zoe teaches Vinyasa classes.

Campak Gaura is famous for her cooking. However, she taught the yoga class tonight - Acyuta Bhava and Bhakti are responsible for this lasagne.

Here Ryan points out the old logo on Prem Yogi's old school Atma t-shirt.

There are actually two different t-shirt designs, and here you see only the over-the-top one. There is another, more subdued one with a small logo on it, like Prem Yogi's older one.

These t-shirts implement another principle, in addition to the principle of continual improvement - the principle that "Organizational Identity fosters Organizational Integrity".

If there was one thing we learnt from Nuremberg (the rallies, not the trials) - that was it. If there was one thing that we learnt from the trials, it was that you can't hide behind the orders of the spiritual master - you are responsible for what you do, so think long and hard about it before you do it, and don't blame anyone else.

Anyway, back to the Sunday Feast application - the principles are all there. Do something new, then relentlessly improve it. Simple really.

The next thing that I'll speak about on this topic is the reason why it's hard to keep improving the Sunday Feast program in this way over time - lack of results. And my realization is that this comes from "Strategic Irrelevance of the Sunday Feast". That's the next post.

btw, I've created a new "Sunday Feast" category for these posts.

1951 October 2 : "Philosophical ways are practical and it is no use simply indulging in speculation without any practical result just like keeping a cow without getting any milk."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1973 October 2 : "I am pleased your wife is expecting. You offer her my blessings for a safe delivery. She should not be shocked in any circumstance and should eat child foodstuff so as not to cause any irritation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 October 2 : "After a great struggle it appears that I have won. The charges of the several litigations have all been withdrawn and the preparations for the conveyance is in progress."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 October 2 : "I am finalizing the sale of land in Bombay, the gift of land in Hyderabad is now almost complete and in Vrindaban and Mayapur construction is progressing. We have undertaken very great projects and by the grace of Lord Krishna they may all come out nicely."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 October 2 : "Whatever I have been able to do it has been due to the help of all my disciples. Therefore, I want that from all over our Society fifty more men may immediately come bringing the total to one hundred."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

Costa Rica

“Govinda Time” in Los Angeles Hare Krishna Temple

On our way back to Vrindavana (India) we stopped three day in Los Angeles and visited the local Hare Krishna community.