By Badrinarayan dasa

The health of Radhanatha Prabhu, the Srila Prabhupada disciple who joined on the east coast of the USA (in Philadelphia I believe) and who served on the Radha-Damodar party and remains a book distributor even though in a wheel chair for years, has taken a turn for the worse.

Two long, ecstatic, wonderful NVD kirtans….

By Paramatma das

For the first time a donation of Srila Prabhupada's Srimad Bhagavatam set and other smaller books were donated by devotees of ISKCON Guyana to the only University in the country.

By Deena Bandhu dasa

A couple of days ago, while I was studying for giving Bhagavatam Class, one of the members of the Vrindavan Municipality called me. He informed me that there were 25,000 people from all over India walking by foot from Gwalior to New Delhi.

By VIHE

The skills you will learn in this course can be applied in many situations, not just in a formal classroom. You will find that besides the teaching application, there are unlimited possibilities in using the information in preaching work.

1966 October 20 :
"Today first hearing was done in the matter of my visa extension It will be heard again on 10/28/66 at 9 a.m."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1972 October 20 : "Our position is very strong. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Why you should be afraid of him? He is simply planning tricks. We can satisfy any court of law."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 October 20 : "So immediately you can file criminal case. It is simple case of his cheating. He has taken money but he has not executed. So why you should be disappointed and afraid of him?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 October 20 : "I am very glad to learn you are distributing our books to the libraries in Calcutta. So you are a nice boy, continue on in this way. I am returning to Calcutta for Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day and I look forward to seeing you then."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 October 20 : "Regarding your opening another school, if you can do it, I have no objection. But, it is a great responsibility. To open for a few days, and then close it is not good."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 October 20 : "Regarding my seeing the Pope, now I am India, and then I shall go to Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, and U.S.A. So it is not possible to go there at this time. It can be postponed to a future date. I shall let you know."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

Once upon a time I was bored at work. And then this fellow came in, noticed the Krishna Art book on the coffee table and some of Prabhupada’s books on a shelf and told me that he used to go to Gita Nagari a lot. He also used to know a fellow named Steve.

Steve used to live at the State College temple. Now he’s a post master in some small town around State College. Anyway, Steve went to India and while he was there, he stayed with a large Indian family. The family was entertaining a large group of Americans (nondevotees). The family performed some traditional Indian dances and songs and then they asked the Americans sing or dance something from American culture. The Americans sang the national anthem and then couldn’t figure out what else to do.

So they did the hokey pokey.

Put your right foot in, take your right foot out, put your right foot in and you shake it all about…

While the hokey was pokeying, it was being translated from English to Hindi. Curious, Steve asked the translator to translate it back to English so that he could hear it as the Indians were hearing it.

At the end of the song, you put your whole self in and take your whole self out, put your whole self in and shake it all about.

Here’s how that part went:

“You place your entire being inside
You place your entire being outside
You place your entire being inside and vibrate your entire being everywhere
You do the hokey pokey and revolve your being in a circle
That is the complete essence of everything.”

Kind of deep when you think about it, eh? :)

.

[…Tomorrow… Bhakta Pee Wee’s Playhouse.]
Ready?

I have been trying to encourage my son (7yrs old) to chant each day but he finds this difficult because he is very busy with his homework and other activities that take up his time.

I was telling him that he should run a kirtan through his mind during the day...something I try to do myself.

Chanting doesn't have to be restricted to Japa time and kirtan at the morning program...I find that when I play a kirtan in my mind during the day - the attraction for the Holy Name increases and this helps my next Japa session.

If y'all head on over to www.krishna.com, you can check out the feature "Serving Love", a film about the awesome and ecstatic Vegan Cooking Workshop prasad program run by the monks of the New Vrindaban Brahmacari Ashram.

This film was made by HG Sri-Kishore Das, a super-friend of the Brahmacari Ashram and New Vrindaban Community, currently working for his master's degree in Film at Ohio University. This earthly planet will no doubt hear and see a lot more from Sri-Kishore, for he is a soul of great determination, drive, heart, and appetite!

by mrupa

It has been one year since devotees got the sad email that our dear Godbrother, Bhakta Seva had passed away alone in his apartment.

Bhakta Seva lived in New Vrindavana many years after coming here with his parents and one of his sisters. His father left his body here quite some years back.

He performed many kinds of service for Lord Nrsinghadeva and Prahlada, was like a loving parent to Krishna’s calves, was famous for his exquisite kachoris for Radha Vrindavana Chandra’s evening offering, and made first class whole grain bread for the devotees’ lunch prasadam.

Over and above all that, Bhakta Seva was known for his gentle, intelligent, steady determination and being a faithful friend to his Godbrothers. His sense of humor was also a great asset for all who knew, or worked with him. There was not a vicious or ambitious bone in his body.

We reverence his memory, the example he set in his dealings with devotees, and his association.

Doughnut Plant: We are California dreaming, and we want to work with devotees who could help us in our prashad distribution of doughnuts. We are open to all devotees who seek engagement in service at Doughnut Plant.

Last weeks Thursday program was awesome.

Really nice people showed up. People I feel like I could really be friends with in the long run. People who aren't blind to the problems of materialism and who are ready to make changes within themselves and who aren't scared to question the mainstream.

The program started with tea and a little chatting and then we launched into ecstatic bhajans.

I really like to play the exotic ragas of India on harmonium, because it creates a really intense spiritual mood that acompanies the mantras.

I gave a short talk about how religion is yoga and yoga means to be connected. To the universe to the Earth, to each other, most most importantly to God and Goddess. Sri Sri Radha-Krishna


After some performance type kirtan, it was time to involve the audience and I played sitar and we all just chanted really slowly the original Srila Prabhupada melody for about 20 min.


It was great.

after that we served the vegan prasadam dinner and everyone was feeling pretty convivial.

I am really impressed by the sweet people that came, there are the next generation of spiritual warriors I can see it.

Plus when I talk in front of crowds I get nervous because there is usually some negative envious energy in the crowd, but thise crowd was very accepting and liked what I had to say about how we are already divine and simply need to water this seed of enlightenment in the heart.

So I look forward to another Thursday next week and hope to continue growing a relationships with all the sweet sweet souls that Krishna sends for us to serve. Thank you all so much!

manasa, deho, geho, jo kichu mor
arpilu tuwa pade, nanda-kisor!

Body, mind and family, all that I own,
Nanda Kishor my Lord, I offer you alone.

sampade vipade, jivane-marane
day mama gela, tuwa o-pada barane

Prosperity or penury, in life or in death,
I never will worry with you as my breath.

marobi rakhobi-jo iccha tohara
nitya-dasa prati tuwa adhikara

Whether I live or die Lord, choose as you will.
For my place is ever your wish to fulfil.

janmaobi moe iccha jadi tor
bhakta-grhe jani janma hau mor

If by your behest, I be born again,
I pray that your pure servant’s house I attain.

kita-janma hau jatha tuwa das
bahir-mukha brahma janme nahi as

Born as a worm in your bhakta’s abode,
is better than a Brahma, forgetful and proud.

bhukti-mukti-sprha vihina je bhakta
labhaite tako sanga anurakta

I long but to always be in the company
of your sinless servants, who praise you purely.

janaka, janani, dayita, tanay
prabhu, guru, pati-tuhu sarva-moy

Father, mother, lover, guide, son and protector,
you to me are everything, forever my Lord.

bhakativinoda kohe, suno kana!
radha-natha! tuhu hamara parana

Bhaktivinoda prays, please Krishna hear me,
you are my life and soul Lord, eternally.

The most important event happening this weekend….

There is nothing sweeter than chanting the holy names of God in a mood of loving devotion because such chanting brings one into direct contact with the Supreme Person Himself. Such chanting is best done in the early morning hours before sunrise when the material world is not offering many distractions to lure the mind away from Krishna's holy names....

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.68.43-54 - The illusory potency of Krsna.

The price of success? Everyone wants to stay in Vrndavana...

We look for peace in and around cities of religious importance. But as visitors throng in thousands to such places, these become chaotic. Poor infrastructure becomes poorer. Those who come on religious pilgrimage either stay here forever or look for a cheap accommodation for a temporary stay. The answer lies in providing more accommodation to the visitors. Vrindavan is a place, where such a transformation is taking place at a fast pace.

A Second Chance for Real Life

Nanda Gopa Prabhu from the Brahmcari Training Program at the Sri Sri Radha-Gopinatha Mandir in Mumbai recently had a wonderful experience on sankirtana. He recalls:

After distributing books on the local trains, I was on my way to Muralidhar Prabhu's clinic for dental work. Bhakta Gauranga Prabhu was with me. When we reached Sion Square we saw an amazing incident.

A man was running to catch a bus that had slowed for a red light. When he reached the bus and caught hold of the door-bar, the light turned green and the bus, which had not completely halted, roared off. The man ran along with it for some time, trying to jump on, but then he slipped off and was dragged along. Then he let go of the door-bar. The last I saw of him was his head disappearing before the huge rear wheels.

"He is gone! Alas!" I sighed and turned to Gauranga.

"Krishna!" he exclaimed and fell silent.

Then suddenly the man reappeared from behind the bus, which had screeched to a halt. He looked around in a daze, apparently still in shock, and sat down on the sidewalk.

"That man needs a book," I said to Gauranga and ran off with my bookbag.

"Are you ok, sir?" I said as I reached out to him.

"Uh, yes," he said, though he was still shaking in fear.

I wiped some dust off his clothes and spoke some soothing words. He seemed a little more comfortable. "This is your re-birth, isn't it?" I said.

"Yes, yes," he nodded.

"God really saved you; He has given you a second chance. Now please don't waste this chance; please thank Him. I have this book by Srila Prabhupada on reincarnation." I handed him a "Coming Back." "Please take this as a token of thanksgiving to the Lord, and read it and practice it."

The man nodded and took the book.

Every day is a second chance for all of us. Some see it dramatically and some don't. At all times we should feel deep gratitude to the Lord for helping us in Krishna consciousness. We should thank Him for every step we take. He is protecting us so that we can mature in Krishna consciousness and serve with a pure heart and also share this message with others, who may die without even once reading Srila Prabhupada's books.

Tomorrow is Rama Vijaya..um..KillRavana Day (bad with names, alright?). I badly wanted to get to Gita Nagari for it. I usually have off on weekends, so no problem, right? However, like Radhastami, I randomly have to work. Marti, who usually fills in for me on the weekends, is away this weekend.

Since I own my own business, it’s not like I can just call in sick, either. I have to be here. Duty, blah blah blah.

Right now, I’m waiting for a call to tell me whether or not someone (in particular) can work for me tonight and tomorrow. I thought she was going to let me know on Tuesday, but I guess not.

It’s not often that I get to Gita Nagari. It’s only about two hours away and I just don’t go. Granted, two hours isn’t exactly next door, but I’m more apt to go to Philly or New Vrndavana. I don’t really know anyone at GN, so that doesn’t help much either.

But for this festival I was hoping to get there.

If I can’t get there, I guess I’ll have to celebrate with a watching of the Ramayana.

Or perhaps this…

I lost everything I had, but in the process I found myself.

You yourself are your own obstacle. Rise above yourself!

How would you find out how good you are if you are not challenged?

Here are two articles on the subject of hugging between vaisnavas; one from Tulasi-priya Mataji, published on ISKCON News today, the other from Braja Sevaki Mataji, published on Dandavats more than one year ago. I find both of them interesting, thought-provoking, and particularly useful for new devotees—and those who are 'old' in years, but lacking spiritual maturity, like myself. Fist Braja Sevaki's article, since chances are that you've recently read the other one. (There's a link at the bottom to Tulasi-priya's article.)

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You have more brains, more ability, and more intelligence than you are using at the moment. You are far smarter than you can imagine. If you intelligently apply your mind to your situation, you can overcome obstacles, solve problems, and achieve goals.

Your mind is like a muscle, it only develops with use. Just as you have to strain your physical muscles to build them, you have to work your mental muscles to build your mind as well. The good news is that the more you learn, the more you can learn. Just like the more you play a sport, the better you get at the sport. The more you dedicate yourself to lifelong learning, the easier and faster it is for you to learn even more.

Leaders are learners. Continuous learning is the key to success. Lifelong learning is the minimum requirement for success in your field, or in any field. Make a decision today that you are going to become a student of your service and that you are going to continue learning and becoming better in that field for the rest of your life.

There are several keys to lifelong learning.

The first key is that you get up and you read in your field for 30 to 60 minutes each day. Reading is to the mind as exercise is to the body. When you read for an hour each day, this will translate into about one book per week. One book per week will translate into about fifty books per year. Fifty books per year will translate into 500 books over the next ten years.

Since the average adult reads less than one book per year, when you begin reading one hour per day, this alone will give you an incredible edge in your field. You will become one of the smartest and most competent devotees in your service by simply reading one hour each day.

The second key to lifelong learning is to listen to audio programs and lectures, especially in your car as you drive from place to place. The average person sits in his or her car 500 to 1000 hours per year. This is the equivalent of twelve to twenty-four 40 hour weeks, or as much as three to six months of working time. This is the equivalent to one to two full time semesters at university. Turn your car or a bus or a train into a learning machine. Turn it into a university on wheels. Never let your car motor be running without an educational audio program playing. Many people have become successful through the miracle of audio learning. This is why audio learning is often called the greatest breakthrough in education since the invention of the printing press.

A third key to lifelong learning is for you to take every course and seminar you can possibly find that can help you to be better in your life and service.

The combination of books, audio programs, and seminars will enable you to save hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars and many years of hard work in achieving the same level of success. Many people have actually become successful as the result of a single book, a single audio program, or a single seminar.

Make a decision today to become a lifelong learner. You will be amazed at the effect it has on your devotional life and service.

When you are humble and respectful, you will refrain from judging other people. You will realize that the way you see the world is not how the world is, but how you are. How you see others is more of reflection of you than them.

The Power of Giving

One way to show deep respect is to listen attentively. When you listen actively, you understand the person talking to you much better and so are able to communicate better. This lets another person feels validated, understood, and perhaps even loved.

The Power of Giving, page 115

Read this recently. Giving possesions is good. However, giving of yourself has more impact. When you give possesions, the gifts may be temporary and short-lived. When you give of yourself to others, the benefits they reap are sustained.

Interesting day in college on Wednesday I have been pondering some thoughts since then.
We had a small exercise were we had to say who we were? And so we were put into pairs.

My partner was on the course with me last year and eagerly took a Gita as she wished to read more.

I started by expressing that I felt in order to explain who I am than there has to be an recognition of the spiritual how do she feel on this point?

There was an acknowledgment and so we entered into a beep discussion about the spirit soul, how this body is only temporary she used an interesting term of expression: it’s only on loan for us to learn. I felt that I was in a room with a devotee sharing insight. As we discussed she finally admitted that although she felt that that was the case only by reading the Gita was it confirmed.

It got me thinking how the books not only find their own home at the time I was given three books to give away and so I sat thinking very carefully and had a beep desire to give then to certain individuals.

But then that the books only reveal themselves to those pure in heart and sincere in wishing to learn more. She desired to learn more about Krishna and what we believed and so the scriptures revealed themselves to her in an individual way.

I recalled how I ended up with a copy of the CC it had been promised to someone else; I so wanted them and was saddened by not being able to get them. The devotees also wished that they came to me. So by a strange turn of events they ended up in my car and to my home a lovely addition to my already increasing Library (remembering that I’m dyslexic and have an aversion to books).

Now I did try to start reading them before reading the SB and before I was truly ready, my thought was that there was simply less books that the SB. But I couldn’t, it was only after finishing the SB that I could finally read the CC and what nectar inside those sweet covers.

Just thought I would share these few thoughts with you all

Today Maharaja is going to New Vraja Dhama for the Holy name festival, taking place tonight, tomorrow and Sunday.

In honor of the last few posts, and my recent bold confessional about being a Wonder Years fan, I thought I'd give Kevin Arnold and friends some time as the featured Video of the Week. Hope you enjoy this documentary which aired on A&E as part of their TV'ography series.

Incidentally, I'd always secretly hoped (and simultaneously feared) that they'd run an episode where the sister (Karen) became a Hare Krishna. The closest they came to that was having her go vegetarian and have her marriage performed by a hippy-dippy Hindu guru. Not bad, I guess.

And while we're at it, here's some trivia for you... do any WY fans out there recall episodes where the Hare Krishna movement was depicted or referenced? Comment if you do.

• Beszámoló a romániai prédikálási tapasztalatokról.

Other than that, I remained stuck to the computer last night, listening to the narration of the killing of Duryodhana, although the style of the narration is so cheesy per se, it's so charming to hear Krsna speaking and behaving like a politician and warrior, and yet expressing his love for his devotees at any given occasion,..

I don't really like hugging, but there are some people--male and female--that I feel so much affection for, that I force myself to show it in that fashion. Other times, the hug is just a social formality, or even a kind of preaching.

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With a number of video projects that we have in mind, one of our most immediate needs with Club 108 and New Vrindaban Dham is a professional quality digital video camera. We are humbly asking members of our community and congregation to help donate in the effort to provide Club 108 and the New Vrindaban Community with an essential piece of technology that will help to create so many fantastic service projects, with benefits in the fields of fundraising, advertising, historical preservation, and outreach. Some projects we have in mind are a Palace of Gold Memories video, a Palace of Gold Promotional film, a film commemorating the 40th Anniversary of New Vrindaban in 2008, more films of our college preaching programs, and regular video blogs, or "vlogs", showing you in color and sound what is happening here in the Dham.

Our price range is flexible, and our most important consideration is a quality camera (with tripod) that can create professional-quality films (i.e not “home movies”) for the pleasure of RVC and Their devotees. (Some examples include the Sony HDRSR7 DV Camcorder, the Panasonic PV-GS320 DV Camcorder, and the Sony HDR-FX1 High Definition DV Camcorder) Please contact us at nvclub108.gmail.com or come by the Club 108 office to help us in this important service.

1967 October 19 : "As your ever well-wisher I wish that you may preach Krishna Consciousness to the students of the entire Western world. Please continue this attitude & you will be blessed not only in this life but in your next eternal life."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 October 19 : "I am very much obliged to him & I am very sorry that Maya has taken advantage of his disobedience & he has fallen into illusion. But he should not continue for very long as I will always pray to Krishna for his recovery."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 October 19 : "I do not believe that he has gone to such an extent but if he does not rectify himself immediately his future is very dark. I shall request that you save this poor creature from the impersonal calamity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 October 19 : "We must always know that we are executing the topmost yoga system and we do not require any inferior quality yoga system. That is a fact."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1972 October 19: "So there is only some delay, that's all. That will not be sufficient grounds to rescind the contract. Rather, our position is very strong."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 October 19: " We have already got our book-selling program. It is better not to divert to other lines of business. The situation is not very favorable."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

In my Bhagavatam reading today (1.6.26) I came across this sentence, "They are conducted by one single desire: to go back to Godhead."

I was reminded of my train ride to Vrindavan. At one point I saw a man walk by with a bag and then I saw one of the train employees grab his bag, they started screaming at him, then they began to beat him I could not see it, nor did I want to but I could hear the sound of this poor man being hit in the face and I could hear his piteous cries.

From the core of my heart I cried out to Krishna, "Please take me away from this terrible place of suffering, misery, and cruelty."

It was so sad because here is this man who is so poor and obviously suffering, and here you have these people taking so much pleasure in beating him.

In India the suffering of life is much more exposed than in the West. You can see this suffering everywhere here in India. You see crippled people, poor people, people suffering from leprosy, orphans, and old people with no shelter and no one to care for them.

In that instance when I truly wanted nothing to do with the suffering and the cruelty of this world I could see how attached I am to remain here rotting life after life. Enjoying as as Srila Prabhupada describes in the last verse of the chapter, the happiness of the hog who lives on filthy stool.

I pray that my life may always be conducted by this one single desire: to go back to Godhead.

1973 October 19 : "Unless we become very strong in Krsna consciousness, it is very risky to handle material things and business. We are naturally business minded, and so as we get some opportunity, that mentality becomes strong."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 October 19 : "Unless everyone of us sticks to the regulative principles of chanting, there is no other alternative than fall-down. That is a fact. I repeatedly say this, so if people do not follow, what can I do?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

• I finally finished the online-publication of "Free to Preach," including the last chapter, Bhakti-vriksha, a Shelter for Everyone, and an Appendix with statements from devotees.
• In addition I prepared a pdf-file that's probably better if you want to read the whole book, or print it out in order to use with or give to others.
• Download-link: FTP.pdf
• You can purchase hard-copies of the (soft-bound) book in our online-store, at this address (U$ 5 outside India).

[Post ends here.]

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By Candra das

Maharaja was requested to visit Oregon's largest prison on the invite from the devotees of the Sri Sri Radha Bankebihari Temple in Boise, Idaho. The Boise Temple, in its fortune, has been the host and sponsor of Maharaja's trips to Boise and prison preaching programs.

By Bhakti - vedanta College

On October fourteenth, a warm and sunny day, devotees at Bhaktivedanta College and Radhadesh celebrated a cornerstone-laying ceremony at the construction site of the College’s first residential building. Guiding them in this auspicious and elaborate ceremony was Sadya Sresta Dasa, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada’s from Spain, who was the head pujari at Radhadesh in the early 1980s.

By Deenanath dasa

We would be very grateful if, when you visit Vrindavan, you could bring us some good picture books and storybooks. Perhaps your own children have books that they have out-grown.