“Nish, nish, ram, ram, nish, nish, ram, ram.” Prabhupada once imitated how we sometimes chant without focus, without concentration, without proper pronunciation – how we chant when we don’t feel like chanting. You know the mood behind this chanting; “I have to chant but I’d rather be doing something else.” And in our minds we are thinking, “I can’t wait to get these rounds out of the way.”
We all do this and it can get pretty bad...I know devotees who chant rounds while watching football games on TV.
Prabhupada explained that this type of chanting is more or less useless because it will not produce the desired result, love of Krsna.
To even call this chanting is a stretch. It is closer to a ritual. But Prabhupada acknowledged the value in the ritual by saying that although this kind of chanting is not very productive, at least those who are chanting this way are keeping their vow to chant.

From http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2639

Here are 4 ways that I discovered can be helpful for attentive chanting:

1. Listen very carefully to the sound coming out your mouth...by hearing we can control the wandering mind
2. Pronounce each word very clearly (even if it means slowing down your chanting)
3. Don't do anything whilst chanting Japa
4. Read the Mantra whilst you chant (in Temples this was a common addition to the Temple room...the Maha Mantra on the wall)..I personally found this a very effective way to keep the mind from wandering.

We all have to pray to Krsna and the Spiritual Master to help us chant attentively...

Come listen to this motivational and inspirational talk on the power of intentions -- what are the practical ways in which we can apply this to our daily lives? What is the effect? Learn how to:
- Maximize your will power
- Exert your determination
- Improve your character

Please come and join the Krishna Club for an evening of interactive discussion, mantra meditation, and great food!

When: Tuesday, March 18, 2008; 7.00pm-8.30pm
Where: Ross N201, York University - 4700 Keele Street, Toronto
Contact Radhika: krishnaclub@yahoo.ca

Pushkar is famous for it’s temple of Lord Brahma. In fact, it has apparently 400 shrines, but the most important are dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu, Varaha, Savitri and Gayatri. Lord Brahma’s lotus flower fell in three separate places in the Pushkar area, and at each place water came from the ground, creating lakes. Brahma threw the pushpa (flower) with his kar (hand), hence the name Pushkar. Padma Purana states also that Lord Brahma with this lotus flower killed a demon.

Story says that during the Kartik Purnima Brahmaji wanted to perform a sacrifice and was looking for a suitable place. Since the lotus that dropped here created three lakes, it was here where Brahma decided to perform his yajna. To perform the sacrifice the presence of his wife Savitri was required; however, she was late. Brahma requested thus Indra to arrange another marriage for him, so that the sacrifice could go on. The priest manifested a daughter called Gayatri. When Savitri finally arrived and saw what happened, out of anger she cursed Brahma that he wouldn’t be worshiped in any other place around the world, only here, in Pushkar. Hence the Brahmaji Mandir in Pushkar is of a great significance.

Pushkar has certainly a spiritual atmosphere and it has it’s unique twist. Due to the influx of videshi tourists (mostly from Israel), it is a mixture of a spiritual culture and a hippie paradise.

The sacred lake created by Brahmaji. Whoever takes bath here will go to heaven and will never be born again in the material world.

Every evening an arati is performed on the ghats of the lake.

Lord Brahma.

Group of ladies from Gujarat whom I have interviewed in front of the Brahma temple. After having darshan in Pushkar they were all heading to Nathadwar to see Lord Nathaji.

My teachers – Rashmiji and Anitaji.

My teacher – Nilamji - presents the sum and substance of Indian existence – chai (tea) and snacks!

Nilamji, Zain and me are ready for a rocking kirtan!

Here I am getting my homework done – translating Hindi into Marvar – a rajasthani dialect.

The color of Rajasthan!

I also made friends with some local artists.

From the VedaBase:

San Francisco
17 March, 1968
68-03-17

My Dear Hayagriva,

Please accept my blessings. I thank you very much for your letter dated March 9, 1968. I have come back to San Francisco on the 8th March, and while I was in Los Angeles for two months, I received the balance portion of Bhagavad-gita edited by you. I am expecting the foreword also, but I can understand that it was not yet dispatched. So, when it is prepared you can send it to me here in S.F.

I am so glad to understand that you are missing the atmosphere of S.F. which you so nicely enjoyed last year, and similarly, I am also missing your company which I enjoyed last year here. Whenever I go to the class, I remember you, how joyfully you were chanting in the Temple, and whistling the bugle so nicely. Whenever I see the cornet lying idle because nobody can play on this particular instrument, I remember Hayagriva Brahmacari immediately.

So, here the Temple has spiritually improved. Whenever there is Kirtana, either morning or evening, immediately there is a different atmosphere by the Grace of Lord Krishna. And all people, both devotees and outsiders, begin to dance in ecstasy. I am very much encouraged by seeing the atmosphere from S.F. Temple, and when you come here you shall see personally how they are nicely executing Krishna Consciousness.

I have some lectures in the colleges, both in L.A. and S.F., and the other day I delivered lecture in San Francisco State College, and the students enjoyed the atmosphere very much. They heard our Kirtana very attentively, and although my lecture was a little terse, on account of our prohibitory regulations, still the students heard me very attentively. And they stood around me even after the meeting was over. One girl questioned me why I am against meat eating, and she was very satisfactorily replied.

Today also, in the morning, I lectured and held Sankirtana in the local WMCA building, and there were small children, almost within 10 years, along with their teachers. And they very patiently enjoyed our company for one hour. All the teachers and students danced and sang with us and the scene was very pleasing. So I am very much hopeful that this movement can be spread all over the whole world if we organize simply the performance of Kirtana and a little lecture on the principles of Krishna Consciousness.

In your last letter you informed me that you are holding class and Kirtana in your college, and I will be glad to know the reaction. You will be pleased also to learn that Rupanuga das Adhikari has gone to Buffalo to open a branch there and his report is also very encouraging. Although he has started the class just anew, still there is assembly of 30 students twice in a week classes, and out of them, 10 students are regularly attending and taking part in this movement. There was press interview also with Rupanuga and they have reported very nicely in the paper, Buffalo News.

I hoped that Kirtanananda Swami would open some branches in many parts of the country after his return from Vrindaban, but I am sorry that he has left our company. So I am missing also him. But since he is continuing to keep his name, Kirtanananda, which was given by me, I think I have got still some right to say

[PAGE MISSING]

From Hayagriva’s collection:

that he may resume his Krishna Consciousness movement instead of trying to open some ashram of non-denominational type. I think non-denominational type of spiritual activities will never be successful.

I am so glad to learn that one gentleman is going to open an ashram in the West Virginia, and he has secured a big tract of land, 320 acres, and I wish that this tract of land may be turned into New Vrindaban. You have New York, New England, and so many “New ” duplicates of European countries in the USA; why not import New Vrindaban in your country?

I have suggested some of the devotees here that in S.F. they should establish New Jaggannath Puri. It was already inaugurated when last year the Car Festival Ceremony was performed and you took part in it. And when you come next year, please encourage them to enhance the enthusiasm, and just try to have a new settlement on the Pacific side under the name of New Jaggannath Puri.

I am returning back to N.Y. sometimes by the middle of April, provided it is not too cold there. In all probability, I hope I shall get a permanent visa in your country, and if Kirtanananda endeavors to utilize the 320 acres for turning it into New Vrindaban, I may permanently stay there and try to serve you in constructing a New Vrindaban city in W. Virginia. I shall let you know when I shall go to N.Y.C. and if possible, please try to see me there in some weekend, and we shall be glad to talk face to face what is actually the misunderstanding, between ourselves. I do not think there is any misunderstanding on the principles so we can join again as before and combinedly we can work for pushing on the movement of Krishna Consciousness in your country.

Hansadutta, along with his wife Himavati,is organizing a Kirtan Party for demonstrating all over the country, and when I return to N.Y. I shall give it a concrete shape. What about your drama on Chaitanya movement? Please try to finish it. While I was in L.A., Woomapati came there to visit me, and when I came here, he also came. After spending a few days in S.F., he flew back to L.A. where he will be staying to help the Temple there very nicely.

I think all this news will keep you alert in Krishna Consciousness and I shall expect your regular letters whenever you find convenience. Hope you are well

I am your ever well-wisher,

A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami

• Általában helyesebb a guruink, a vaisnavák véleménye magunkról mint a sajátunk.

1966 March 16 :
"Dashami. In the evening there was meeting. The attendance was three only. Income $3.00 only by contribution. Joan was kind enough to get my sixteen sets from Paragon Book Gallery. The books are brought and kept in stock."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1969 March 16 : "Mahatma Gandhi was a great advocate of Bhagavad-gita, and when he was alive I requested him to preach but I did not receive any favorable reply from him, because he was too much politically contaminated."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 March 16 : "When India was divided into Hindustan and Pakistan, there was good opportunity for the Hindu Indians to follow strictly the principles of Bhagavad-gita, and the state religion should have been declared Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 March 16 : "If we have got our own press then we shall print at least four books yearly, and 50,000 magazines every month. So we have now fully equipped staff, printers, binders, managers, and Krishna will be financier."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 March 16 : "When the large Deities are installed, the small Deities should be worshiped as Vijaya Vigraha which means this pair may be taken out with Sankirtana Party, not always, but conveniently."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 March 16 : "Yes, Mr. Faramarz Attar will certainly be a great asset to our society and I am glad to accept him as my initiated disciple. His spiritual name is Atreya Rsi. Svarupa Prabhu has my permission to get himself married to Suzy O'Neil."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1974 March 16: "People are very disturbed, food is not available. I am hopeful if we can widely distribute free foodstuffs to the people of India, we will win over the whole country and the whole world by this activity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 March 16: "Our movement is unique. In Vrindaban we see how hundreds are attending from all parts of the world, not just India, but from all countries they are joining and becoming Vaisnavas."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

This is a class given today (16 March 2008) in Ujjain.

To download the lecture, right click the download link and choose either “Save link as” or “Save target as”

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.1.3 - Chapter 1: Questions by Vidura

This is a class given today (16 March 2008) in Ujjain. To download the lecture, right click the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.1.3 - Chapter 1: Questions by Vidura

Reading from The Liberation of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya…

We cannot compare a liberated devotee’s behavior to ours….

Well, how to put this.

We had a very nice kirtan session in February. Unfortunately, the recording did go as well... Yes, again. It was recorded with the internal mike, which didn't cut the mustard in terms of quality. But hope springs eternal, and so we'll cut the rug (or sit and chant on it) again tomorrow (Sunday March 16th).

Enjoy a few photos, and please come and chant!










Here is a little meditation from the Upanishads:

"There is a light that shines beyond all things on Earth, beyond us all, beyond the heaven, beyond the highest, the very highest heavens. This is the light that shines in our heart." (Chandogya 3.13.7)

Bhakta Attila: I've been looking for a map of holy places in india, and it seems to be impossible to find a good one on the internet. A map (not only the addresses) of all Iskcon temples in india (or worldwide) would be very useful.

We load our stuff - luggage, Deities, bhoga, pots, propane stove - onto the two boats. When we motor away onto the lake, I am held speechless. Wonder and awe seeps into my body as I behold the magnificent sunset on the volcanoes, the misty far-off valleys, the jungle shores, and the glassy gorgeous lake we glide over, the wind filling my lungs. I can hardly believe I am here, right now, on this little boat, speeding off to some adventure here in this tucked-away corner of the world.

When we approach and anchor at the docks, a glowing woman in a sari and tilak greets us, and I feel as though we're entering some spiritual abode. The mood gets completed when the other boat pulls in and they're rocking out to a beautiful bhajan, filling the air with Krishna's name.

Don't get me started, though, on when we're guided to our rooms. Elegant, ethnic, and with a breathtaking view, Prtha, Dhanya, and I take a room on the third floor. We go nuts - jumping and screaming and hugging for the simple fact that we have our own beds. A miracle. Insane. This on a Bus Tour??

After setting down our backpacks, we head down in the quiet evening to the glowing templeroom.

Everyone is arrayed in one giant circle on the warm wooden floors beneath a vaulted roof of palms. We join the quiet circle as the delicate owner of this entire center, Wendy, debriefs us on the ins and outs of this place.

We are then introduced to our Retreat facilitators: Divyambara, Purusha Shukta, and Giri Govardhan. I feel a rush in my veins very unlike the rush from exclaiming over my room or even speeding over the lake. No, this is a rush to draw closer to the holy name.

We end our orientation with a kirtan. Now, coming from such an exhilarating day, I'm kind of expecting a rousing, get-up-and-dance kirtan.

I am softly caught by surprise. Someone dims the lights down low, candles are lit for our beautiful Bus Tour Gaura Nitai deities, and after we array ourselves to face Them, Divyambara begins to sing. Her voice and soft emotion sends chills down my spine.

Aaaahhh... the Japa Retreat has begun.

Today I felt Krishna's reciprocation in a way that I have not felt in a long time.

It seems that in spiritual life there will be prolonged periods where one will be tested, the Lord seems to disappear.

Sometimes you push yourself to do more and more service and nothing, no reciprocation, it seems that the universe is empty.

But that is His way of increasing our love for him, and purifying our devotional service of our mixed motivations.

As a small child Narada went to the forest to take shelter of the Lord and very quickly he had the darshan of the Lord, but then the Lord disappeared from Narada's vision. He again tried to see the Lord but was unable, his trance was broken, then he heard a voice,

"O Narada, I regret that during this lifetime you will not be able to see Me anymore. Those who are incomplete in service and who are not completely free from all material taints can hardly see Me."

"O virtuous one, you have only once seen My person, and this is just to increase your desire for Me, because the more you hanker for Me, the more you will be freed from all material desires."

Krishna's most famous disappearance was during the Rasa Lila. The gopis gave up everything to answer the call of Krishna flute. After luring the gopis to the forest in the middle of the night Krishna disappeared from them. The gopis became completely mad in separation from the Lord, they enacted His pastimes, they chanted His glories, they offered beautiful prayers, and eventually they lost all composure and began to weep like incessantly.

Then Krishna reappeared in their midst. And when the gopis questioned Krishna about his questionable behavior he responded,

The reason I do not immediately reciprocate the affection of living beings even when they worship Me, O gopis, is that I want to intensify their loving devotion. They then become like a poor man who has gained some wealth and then lost it, and who thus becomes so anxious about it that he can think of nothing else.

Just as gold is purified by being placed in fire, love is purified by the fire of separation. The love of the gopis proved to pure gold without any traces of impurities, despite Krishna placing them into the most intense fire of separation their love for Him never wavered.

In the purport to Adi 4.165 Srila Prabhupada writes,

The revealed scriptures describe pure love as follows:

"If there is ample reason for the dissolution of a conjugal relationship and yet such a dissolution does not take place, such a relationship of intimate love is called pure."

The predominated gopis were bound to Krishna in such pure love. For them there was no question of sexual love based on sense gratification. Their only engagement in life was to see Krishna happy in all respects, regardless of their own personal interests. They dedicated their souls only for the satisfaction of the Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. There was not the slightest tinge of sexual love between the gopis and Krishna.

I feel grateful whenever Krishna embraces me and I feel even more grateful for the opportunity to practice devotional service when I can't feel Krishna's presence, because that gives me an opportunity to practice showing Krishna that no matter what, under any circumstance I am eternally his servant and that whether I experience pleasure or pain my only desire is to serve Him.

In the beginning of spiritual life it is all experiencing relief from misery and the joy of the self. But as one progresses the act of service itself becomes a kind of ecstasy, even if it is painful.

That is love.

Someday I hope to truly be able to pray from the core of my heart,

ashlishya va pada-ratam pinashtu mam
adarshanan marma-hatam karotu va
yatha tatha va vidadhatu lampato
mat-prana-nathas tu sa eva naparah

I know no one but Krsna as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord, unconditionally.

I read an article stating that girls are reaching puberty at three years old in Britain. There is something wrong with our modern diet and environment for sure. Some doctors say it is from the fast food and others from contaminated water. Nothing is safe in the modern world.

The Middle East has a long tradition of delicious sweets. Whereas some are time-consuming, this delectable one is a breeze to prepare, and is especially suited to cooking in big quantities. In some ways basbousa reminds me of Indian halava, but it’s easier to make, and according to some friends who recently dropped by our test kitchen, even better. Basbousa is at the peak of perfection if it’s left to soak overnight.

read more

Last night we celebrated the second anniversary of the opening of our Albert St studio, with a small dinner party. There were about 30 people there. Last year we did the big event thing, this year we wanted it to be small and intimate. Prem Yogi and Zak cooked an awesome diary-, gluten-, and sugar-free feast. You'd be surprised how many people cannot take diary or gluten in their diet, and sugar - well, that's just of the devil. ;-)

Vrajadhama shot some video of the kirtan, and hopefully he'll get round to editing it and uploading it at some point... I shot some video before the evening kicked off, and just after people started arriving, but missed the main action. In this video you can see how the space was rearranged for the evening though.

I did, however, manage to get some shots of the preparations that Prem and Zak pulled out:

Some kind of banana lassi

Which we needed for this spicy soup with roast pinenuts

Green salad, roast potato and pumpkin wedges with tomato chutney, and a buckwheat and polenta-based vegetable pizza thing with pesto on top

First round of dessert, coconut jelly

Second and third round: baked banana with date whip and macadamia nuts, and Prem's signature carob, date, and silken tofu pie with a buckwheat base

It was a really nice night, and we stay late chatting, and then dropped Arjuna off at home. We got home close to midnight, so all in all it was a long day with the office move, harinam, mrdanga fixing pastime and then the party... whew!

I probably won't be posting much this week (I've done my dash now...) because I'm on a training course for work from Monday - Thursday.

Every minute is unlimitedly precious. We cannot buy back even one minute of lost time, even if we possess all the world's wealth. Therefore time should not be squandered in unnecessary sense gratification. We should instead fully dedicate our every thought, word, and deed in all times, places, and circumstances to awakening our dormant Krishna consciousness...

    Srimad Bhagavatam 10.82.45-46 - Krsna is an expert speaker.

This week we had a smallish crew, and it was quite hot. We visited the Southside suburb of Coorparoo.

Prahlad chills out under an umbrella

There is a huge Myers megastore in Coorparoo. Myers is a household goods store. This one is closing down. The section of the suburb that we visited was a network of residential streets bordering a main road with heavy commercial (semi-industrial) buildings.

Here we are on the commercial road, outside Macca's (Aussie slang for "McDonalds")

Param Satya leads kirtan.

Vinita leads kirtan

Daya Maya smells the roses

Here's the video, mainly shot by Suvilasa dd, but also featuring a segment at the end that I shot that showcases the Roland amp that we use on these harinams, and Vrajadhama's stonking mrdanga playing:

My realization from going out on these harinams is that for me this is what it means to be a Hare Krishna - to go out and chant Hare Krishna and encourage other people to do the same thing. Post-modern devotees can say that Harinam has had its day for preaching in the West, and detractors can sit around and make anachronistic derogatory comments about "mismatching socks and holes in dhotis" (I have seen some people stuck in a time warp out there on harinam, but where I live we seem to be in a different yuga now); but despite all these counter-arguments, my experience is that the nectar is the same today as it was thirty years ago, and three hundred years ago. It's a timeless activity.

After we finished we went to the servo (gas station) to fill up, and there I ran into Dana, who came to Atma a couple of months ago. He met Ryan on book distribution in the city, and Ryan has kept in contact with him since. When he saw me in a dhoti at the gas station he called out and came over and we chatted for a while. People are out there, waiting to meet the devotees and to hear the Holy Name, and all it requires is that we put ourselves out to bring them in.

Problem: Leather head mrdanga has lost its "black stuff" - it dried up, cracked, and fell off.

Solution: Plan A: Initially I proactively took off the remaining black stuff, and Prahlad and I were going to boil up some rice and make a paste out of the black stuff and the rice syrup. I heard that the black stuff is boiled rice water mixed with burnt bricks - I haven't confirmed that. Anyway, Param Satya threw the black stuff out when she was cleaning up, so we lost that option.

Plan B: Vrajadhama told me that he tried a silicone compound on his naal with good results. So we tried that.

Verdict: Works. Check out the photo and video below.

Note: the video is still processing on Google. I'll upload it again and move this post up when it's available

i switched over today. maybe one day i'll even get a real domain.
ridewithin.wordpress.com

Recently I've been involved in some discussions about Vaisnava satire. There are a few sites around that specialize in Vaisnava satire, and others that frequently use satire as a rhetorical device.

From the Wikipedia entry on satire:

In satire, human or individual vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, irony, or other methods, ideally with an intent to bring about improvement. Although satire is usually meant to be funny, the purpose of satire is not primarily humor itself, but rather an attack using wit on something with which author disapproves .

Satire is a social mechanism for addressing unhealthy imbalances through humor.

Further:

A very common, almost defining feature of satire is its strong vein of irony or sarcasm, but parody, burlesque, exaggeration, juxtaposition, comparison, analogy, and double entendre are all frequently used in satirical speech and writing. The essential point, however, is that "in satire, irony is militant"[2]. This "militant irony" (or sarcasm) often professes to approve the very things the satirist actually wishes to attack.

Satire plays a vital role in human society. It allows commentators on the outside to speak to power, and to make observations that utilize humor as a vehicle to address subjects that otherwise might be too painful.

As a commenter on one Vaisnava satire site said:

I feel happy for those who have never had a traumatic experience within a religion, and have never suffered PDD [Prolonged Duress Disorder] and PTSD due to their involvement in a religious cult.

But for those who have suffered that type of trauma and pain, especially from what should have been an innocent childhood and adolescence, a venue like this may be helpful as one of the many forms of the therapeutic healing arts.

Satire and other forms of humor play a vital role in integrating the human experience.

At the same time, however, satire, and writers who employ satirical devices walk a fine line in terms of appropriate Vaisnava etiquette. While humor is an essential part of the human experience, and one that often allows an author to address otherwise difficult subjects in a "soft" way, it is not a carte blanche that absolves an author of all obligations or accountability for what they write.

My personal observation on the role of satire in Vaisnava writing is that it is appropriate when it is used to target trends, conceptions, and general themes, but is generally inappropriate when it is used to target individuals.

The goal of satire, apart from being a device used to lighten the mood, is to challenge inappropriate behaviour.

The correct "formula" for challenging inappropriate behaviour (which must be done) among Vaisnavas is this:

• Try to be a good example yourself (that in itself will make you humble/realistic)
• Honor the Vaisnava
• Respect the devotional service
• Challenge the inappropriate behaviour

The middle two can be hard to do using satire, because satire uses lampooning of the characters as a device.

Satiricists who successfully walk the line generally use stand-in caricatures as their characters. Writers such as Bhakta Eric at The Hing, and the recent GBC satirical sketch all use stand-ins who embody a conception or school of thought to address issues rather than real-world individual personalities.

In other cases I have seen the humor and the social role of satire used a vehicle for injecting something else.

In these cases devotees are personally targeted, and while inappropriate behaviours are challenged, in doing so the writer unfortunately also disrespects the Vaisnava, disregards the devotional service, and so spoils their offering.

Some of these articles use mangled versions of devotee's names given in parampara, and the intended target is easily identifiable. Often the mangling of the name will take some aspect of the target's personality or behaviour and magnify it, incorporating that into the mashup.

It is one thing to challenge inappropriate behaviour - which is a social responsibility and is something that satire exists for and excels at. However, when satire is employed in a Vaisnava context it should be done in such an expert way that it does not contradict our standards of behaviour and culture. Vaisnava satire must challenge inappropriate behaviour and challenge conceptions without disrespecting individuals or disregarding their devotional service. That type of satire is a welcome addition to our culture, and requires very expert intelligence. Expertise in insulting others, an integral part of mainstream satire, is described by Krishna in Bhagavad-gita 8.28 as a symptom of a worker in the mode of ignorance, and that type of satire will not be beneficial socially or individually.

Personal attacks arising from frustration or resentment (products of the mode of ignorance) can sometimes appear in a satirical piece (or even be the mainstay of it) and cause collateral damage while an inappropriate behaviour is being addressed. It is not correct to then justify the personal attacks on the basis of challenging inappropriate behaviour. Satire has its role, and it is an important one. Challenging inappropriate behaviour is essential in order for a society to have a conscience. However, mixing it up with expertise in insulting others is a dangerous cocktail to serve or to imbibe.

I like a joke as much as the next person, but I like them unmixed with unhealthy personal attacks. So kudos to Vaisnava writers who successfully employ satire as a device for positive social change, and understand the great responsibility that accompanies their role as satiricist.

By Ananda Tirtha das

Date: March 6, 2008 Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.13.13 Speaker: HH Prabhavisnu Swami ( transcript and audio )

By Sarva das

Just wanted to share with you this good news. Attached you will find our new family members photos in Mayapur. She kindly agreed to come and stay with devotees in Mayapur and serve Radha Madhava. Hope you will like her too.

Advaita Candra asks about Nava-vraja-mahima…

by Madhava Gosh

There were some legitimate points raised in comments on the post Bahulaban Restoration Meeting #1-The Minutes).

” I do think it’s a shame to let the buildings at Bahulaban just rot, and something definitely needs to be done about it, but first things first. When there’s so much basic maintenance needed on the temple and lodge, what to speak of the palace, Srila Prabhupada’s only pushpa samadhi outside of India, shouldn’t that be done first?”

One doesn’t preclude the other. If you feel more drawn to help with the Palace restoration, they will gladly welcome your help. They do have an ongoing restoration project there, but it could, and should, be increased if devotees are willing to provide additional positive inputs.

“Why are we focusing on the restoration/development of Bahulaban when we need to focus on what we already are using that is falling down-Lodge, Temple and Palace. I just don’t get it. I’ts like we have this pattern of always going on to the next big thing..”

Actually, going back to restore Bahulaban would be the opposite of “going on to the next big thing”. Bahulaban was what was abandoned due to that mentality.

“If someone is interested in investing in NV then let’s have a meeting on ways to build an eco-friendly lodge, cabins and temple.”

I agree completely with that in principle. However, I don’t think we need to “build an eco-friendly lodge, cabins and temple.” I think we need to retrofit the existing buildings, and starting by doing it at Bahulaban could be the example of how to do so.

While the maintenance on the currently operating temple complex is the responsibility of the current NV management, they haven’t shown any capacity whatsoever to work on preserving Bahulaban. While they should be encouraged to do more in their area of responsibility, that shouldn’t be a bar to others who want to work independently on other projects.

There used to be 3 temples in NV, each with a unique flavor. There was also some talk by Prabhupada of having first 7 temples, and then eventually 5,000 of them, so working to have a second functioning temple is a step in that direction. While the existing active temple has one mood, there is also a place for another temple where the mood could be different.

For myself, I know that in 3 of his 4 visits by Srila Prabhupada to New Vrindaban, he spent time at Bahulaban, and it was the main center of activity in New Vrindaban while he was still on the planet. He never visited the current RVC temple — that was a Kirtanananda project.

Personally, if it was a choice between renovating the currently active temple complex or Bahulaban, and I could only support one of them, I would support the Bahulaban project if it was done correctly.

Of course, that isn’t true — both can be ongoing simultaneously, but my heart is more drawn to support Bahulaban. If your heart is drawn to support the other parts of New Vrindaban, more power to you and I hope you are successful.

Fenntartható, egyszerű, környezetbarát életmód érhető el a fölösleges szokások megváltoztatásával.

1966 March 15 :
"Navami. In the evening five ladies and gentlemen visited. There was some talks. Mrs. Leblanc is now losing interest since she has learnt it that Bhagwat Geeta does not support monism. No income today."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1969 March 15: "No letter from you is useless for me - they are all important. And you can write as long a letter as you can. I shall read them carefully with attention in spite of my various duties always."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 March 15 : "Your only business is how to become pure devotee of Lord Krishna. Then everything is all right. Please remember this truth always, and do your duty for strongly pushing on this Krishna Consciousness movement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 March 15: "Govinda dasi misled me - there is no abundant supply of nice mangos. The fruit will not be ripened until late May or June so I shall soon be returning to the mainland for my other engagements."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 March 15 : "When I remember you all and George Harrison, I become very happy. Whenever this nice boy comes to our Temple, please receive him very nicely. Give him Prasadam and talk with him about Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1973 March 15 : "If Members of Parliament join that will be a new chapter for us. India is the spiritual leader of the world but fools and rascals are trying to sabotage."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 March 15: "It is all right if you live independently but speak the philosophy exactly right as it comes in disciplic succession. You must speak Krsna Consciousness knowledge with no interpretation of your own."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 March 15: "History is also eternal. There is a saying, 'History repeats itself.' Why make a distinction between history and eternity? Things are happening eternally; this is history."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 March 15: "I am inviting you to come to our festival at Mayapur. Then we have also got the opening ceremony for our Vrndavana temple. If it is convenient for you, please try to come and join the ceremonies."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Antaryami Krsna das: We want to heartfully invite You for this Years Sri Narasimha Caturdasi Mahotsava from the 11.05.2008 till the 18.05.2008 on Sri Simhachalam in the wonderful surrounding of the Bavarian Forest in Germany.

This morning we moved office from Milton to Roma St. The new office is spread across two floors and is modeled after our corporate offices in the States. It's kind of like working in the Death Star. Because of my advancement in responsibility I have two cubicles to myself, to spread my four machines across. Here's a photo of the workstation, devoid of my pictures and things:

*The* most awesome thing about the new office location is that I am now literally 10 minutes walk away from Atma, rather than the 40 minutes away that the previous office was. This makes lunch time yoga a possibility for me, and getting to Friday night harinam a cinch.

I walked the route and timed it, then took some photos in Atma during the day. A study in contrasts.

Starting a new chapter from Caitanya-caritamrta…

Atma will be closed over the Easter long weekend, that’s from Friday 21st - Sunday 23rd March, but we’ll be open on Monday 24th.
Also, in April we’re having another yoga retreat! Yes!!! Many people who came to the last one have already signed up again! If you missed it last time, this is your chance! It’s going to be awesome! So, that’s on the ANZAC day long weekend, from Friday 25th - Sunday 27th April. We’ll have a poster up soon! So, Atma will be closed over these days also.

The Vedic knowledge, Krishna consciousness, has been very carefully passed down in its original pure form from the very beginning of the universe 155 trillion years ago when Lord Krishna revealed it to Lord Brahma. Unlike modern science which is constantly being revised by scientists who are trying to perfect it, the Vedic science has always been perfect....

Srimad Bhagavatam 10.82.43-44 - Krsna never breaks His promise.

That's right. How many times have I heard that a DJ Saved my life? Actually it was around this time last year when the KC Soc saved my life! If you are not aware of the KC soc, it's the Krishna Consciousness Society which I setup last year at my university as a forum for the 'spiritual seeker'.

Anyhow, I had just returned from London, running into my dissection session (late as usual!) and then planning to go with friends into town. Some of my friends called me and asked if we could hang together 'downtown' as I hadn't seem them for ages. So I decided to go but then realised, "Oh I can't sorry, need to sort out the posters for the KC Society event this week".

I had to go home and was talking on the phone to one of executives of the KC soc as I tried to open my front door but I couldn't. I tried again and still couldn't get in. Hung up the phone. Then realised something was stuck against it. Went back a few steps then pushed into the door. The door opened and a chair bounced against onto the floor. I looked on the floor and saw shattered glass on the floor. Looked up and saw my friend's room door was completely knocked down. It was quite surreal...I realised we had been burgled!

I rang the police straight away and then my housemates telling him we had been robbed. I ran upstairs and saw that exactly the same had happened to my friends rooms. Their doors were broken down and the rooms in a disarray. I then went downstairs and saw my door had been kicked in but....they hadn't managed to break it down.

I then realised that the burglar was attempting to break into my door the moment I was trying to open our front door. He must of slipped out the kitchen just when I was trying to enter... I thanked God that the burglar hadn't done anything crazy to me.

Unfortunately, all my friends laptops were stolen and they had attempted to steal mine too however I was fortunate that Krishna saved my life aka the KC Soc saved my life. I would never have bothered returning home, if I hadn't had to produce the KC soc posters for the event. So never estimate the power of Krishna. I think this phrase 'last night Krishna saved my life' should become an ISKCONism - if that's possible?!

Dear devotees, Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. The following is the suggested programme for my Vrindavana parikrama in Kartik, and a little after Kartik. We will gather in Vrindavana just after Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day, which will be on the 2nd of November, and then begin on the 5th.

Continuing the readings, plus a slideshow from Mayapur…