[Via MarriageDebate.com:] From "Parents and Children at Odds In Defining Mr. or Mrs. Right," Washington Post, April 14, 2008:

...In a study involving Dutch, American and Kurdish students, psychologists in the Netherlands found that...young people invariably considered [their] potential mate's attractiveness the most important quality, whereas parents uniformly paid more attention to the suitors' social background or group affiliation -- race, religious background and social class...

...Parents and offspring clash, the researchers argued, because their genetic self-interests, while overlapping, are not identical.

The reason young people care so much about intellectual and physical attractiveness, the scientists suggested, is that these characteristics are markers of genetic fitness. By contrast, they said, parents care about group affiliations because parents are primarily interested in whether an incoming member of the family is likely to make a good parent -- and a good all-around team player...

[H]istorian Stephanie Coontz argues that the researchers did not draw a clear enough distinction between love and marriage. Evolution might play a big role in shaping the reproductive drive, she says, but it would be a mistake to think that the institution of marriage has primarily been about either love or reproduction.

Until very recently, Coontz contends, children and parents were rarely in conflict about whom to marry -- they both agreed that marriage was not about love, but about social and economic ties...

Nearly everyone in the West -- and growing numbers of young people elsewhere in the world -- believes in the ideal of marrying for love, an idea that would have been ludicrous and dangerous a century ago, said Coontz, author of "Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage." Coontz traces the change in attitudes about marriage to the fact that growing economic self-reliance has made it less likely that people need to marry for money...

Intellectual and physical attractiveness are not incompatible with being dutiful, although traditional (and morally sane) societies do happen to privilege being dutiful over intellectual and physical attractiveness. Short-lived Hollywood marriages should be reason enough to believe that privileging duty over intelligence and beauty is the correct ordering of priorities.

It is the duty of a father and mother to arrange for the marriage of their sons and daughters. That is the obligation in Vedic society. Sons and daughters should not be allowed freedom to intermingle with the opposite sex unless they are married. This Vedic social organization is very good in that it stops the promulgation of illicit sex life, or varna-sankara, which appears under different names in this present day. Unfortunately in this age although the father and mother are anxious to get their children married, the children refuse to get married by the arrangement of the parents. Consequently, the number of varna-sankara has increased throughout the world under different names.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 4.27.8

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Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acharya:
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
August 6, 1969

My Dear Hayagriva,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter dated July 28th, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. I am so pleased to learn of your hard work for writing Krishna Consciousness essays. When Shama Dasi leaves for Columbus to begin her composing tasks, you will require another dictaphone. There is one almost new dictaphone lying in Montreal temple. You can write to Jayapataka, who is in charge there, that when I come to New York on my way to Europe he may bring the dictaphone for you to take back to New Vrindaban for the time being. Then when other arrangements are made you shall return it to him.

Please take care of Birbhadra, Girish and Dwarkadish, and make them nice brahmacharies. Treat them like your own children. These boys are future hope for our preaching Krishna Consciousness, so help them grow in that spirit. I am enclosing herewith separate letters for Anuradha and Labangalatika Dasi. I have informed them that they may remain in New Vrindaban for the remainder of the summer if this is their wish and if Kirtanananda Maharaj agrees.

Please offer my blessings to the others. I hope this will meet you in very good health.

Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Yogamaya Devi and Gopesvara move to their summer residences on New Vraja Dhama … view their parikrama today right here.

Just like a river or a sea wave, Supreme Lord’s incarnations are also countless and forever. Amongst these countless incarnations, Ramacandra’s place is special; He is showing us “dharma”, living a life of rightfullness, goodness. Today is Rama Navami; we are celebrating Lord Rama’s appearance in Treta-yuga (about 2 million years ago). In the morning we danced long time with a wonderful kirtan. Radhe Shyama was in the mood of Rama Sita, They were very beautifully prepared. Sivarama Maharaja told that today we may especially pray to Lord Rama for receiving His power of goodness in life to keep us strong on dharmic life.
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Lecke Úr Ramacandra kedvteléseiről a Srimad Bhagavatam 9. énekének 10. fejezete alapján.

• Biztosabb a fülünkkel látni, mint a szemünkkel.
• Nagyon nehéz az erdőben élni.
• Az anyagi ragaszkodás következményei.
• A vaisnavák örökké kapcsolatban vannak.
• Ravana nem tudta megfogni az igazi Sita Devit.
• Imádkozzunk Sita Devihez és Ramacandrához, hogy sikeresek lehessünk a lelki életben, jó követők tudjunk lenni.

Ma vitték ki Yogamaya devit és Gopesvart a nyári lakhelyükre… (Kattints a képre!)

God's definition is given by the Parasara Muni. What is that? (excerpted from a lecture in Los Angeles on 26 June 1975 on Srimad Bhagavatam 6.1.13-14)

aisvaryasya samagrasya
viryasya yasasah sriyah
jnana-vairagyayos caiva
sad iti bhagamgana
           and
sannam iti bhagan gana (this latter Sanskrit usage appears more often in the data base than “sad iti abhgamgana) and therefore it may be more correct)
           
(Visnu Purana 6.5.47)

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When you have Radhe Syama, the holy name, and New Vraja Dhama, there is nothing more to say than this:

…from New Vraja Dhama

We did harinam for about 45 minutes. It seemed like there were very few people there, and there was not much of a reception from anyone. However, the sound vibration is transcendental and penetrates the material coverings to reach the soul, wherever it may be.

On Sunday morning Param Satya went to the local organic market. There she met a lady who said to her: "I was in Ekibin the other day and I was trying to use my cellphone. I couldn't get any reception, when suddenly I heard the sound of a kirtan! I couldn't believe it! It was so nice!"

So there you go. Krishna confirms yet again that He is real, He is a person, and He has a personal interest in the lives and activities of devotees who are engaged in fulfilling His will for this world.

He wants that His name should be heard and chanted in every town and village.

Param vijayate sri krishna sankirtanam!

Here are some of the best websites to help you learn to play mrdanga:

• KK Songs Khol Lessons - as well as fundamentals this site will teach you the double time beat and the dadra taal "breakdown" beat, as well as a lot of good background information.
• Learning Mrdanga - the basics of transcendental drumming - Jagannatha Mishra prabhu and his son Arjuna teach you to play the standard ISKCON kirtan mid-range and fast swing beats.
• Chant and Be Happy.com - the grand daddy of online mrdanga lessons. This site will teach you to play the "Prabhupada beat".

Enjoy!

When one becomes accustomed to inoffensive chanting, then his fruit is that he is promoted to the stage of pure Love of Godhead, or prema. This prema is the perfectional stage of consciousness and the most blissful by very far.

- Srila Prabhupada

Here's the end of evening kirtan for Krishnafest on Saturday night.

Bhakticandrika recorded it with Vrajadhama's HD video camera with a wide angle lens and Rhode shotgun mic. The result is extremely highly detailed footage, even compressed and streamed by youtube.

I replaced my mrdanga heads this weekend for the first time in four years. The new heads have greater sustain and a deeper sound that the set that were on there last week.

Vrajadhama is playing "The Black Beast" (you should say that with your best heavy metal face on), a Remo djembe which I'll talk a bit about in a following post. Suffice it to say that when this puppy plays a gandharva doesn't fall from the sky - whole legions of them are put to the sword. Vraj is a good mrdanga player, as you can see in the video posted before this one, so his djembe playing complements and reinforces the mrdanga nicely.

The part of the kirtan in this clip is from a 1998 live recording I have of Aindra. It starts off in dadra taal, then we switch to kairava taal when we speed up. This is a standard Vrndavan Mellows move to go from a funky, head bopping groove to the fast part.

Vrajadhama in form on the mrdanga in a kirtan at Atma one evening.

Those Denizens of Cyberspace who are either young, young at heart or have teenagers will undoubtedly have heard of World of Warcraft by Blizzard Entertainment, or WoW as its commonly known amongst those initiated in its mysteries. WoW is not the latest of what is called MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games) but it is certainly the most popular.

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J writes:

"Dear Kurma, I have enjoyed your recipes over the years. My sister and I are recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer. We are young with children. We were told to follow a mostly alkaline diet to prevent recurrence of the cancer. Do you have an acid/alkaline food list? Thankyou for your great recipes and have a nice day. Sincerely, J."

My reply:

Hello J, Here's a brief list:

Ranked Foods: Alkaline to Acidic

Extremely Alkaline

Lemons, Watermelon (yes, citrus fruits have an alkaline effect on the body)

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Alkaline Forming

Cantaloupe, Cayenne, Celery, Dates, Figs, Kelp, Limes, Mango, Melons, Papaya, Parsley, Seaweeds, Seedless Grapes (sweet), Watercress Asparagus, Fruit Juices, Grapes (sweet), Kiwifruit, Passionfruit, Pears (sweet), Pineapple, Raisins, Umeboshi Plums, Vegetable Juices

........................

Moderately Alkaline

Apples (sweet), Alfalfa Sprouts, Apricots, Avocados, Bananas (ripe), Currants, Dates, Figs (fresh), Garlic, Grapefruit, Grapes (less sweet), Guavas, Herbs (leafy green), Lettuce (leafy green), Nectarine, Peaches (sweet), Pears (less sweet), Peas (fresh, sweet), Pumpkin (sweet), Sea Salt (vegetable)

Apples (sour), Beans (fresh, green), Beets, Bell Peppers, Broccoli, Cabbage, Carob, Cauliflower, Ginger (fresh), Grapes (sour), Lettuce (pale green), Oranges, Peaches (less sweet), Peas (less sweet), Potatoes (with skin), Pumpkin (less sweet), Raspberries, Strawberries, Squash, Sweet Corn (fresh), Turnip, Vinegar (apple cider)

........................

Slightly Alkaline

Almonds, Artichokes (Jerusalem), Brussel Sprouts, Cherries, Coconut (fresh), Cucumbers, Eggplant, Honey (raw), Leeks, Mushrooms, Okra, Olives (ripe), Onions, Pickles (homemade), Radishes, Sea Salt, Spices, Tomatoes (sweet), Vinegar (sweet brown rice)

Chestnuts (dry, roasted), Egg Yolks (soft cooked), Essene Bread, Goat's Milk and Whey (raw), Mayonnaise (homemade), Olive Oil, Sesame Seeds (whole), Soy Beans (dry), Soy Cheese, Soy Milk, Sprouted Grains, Tofu, Tomatoes (less sweet), Yeast (nutritional flakes)

........................

Neutral

Butter (fresh, unsalted), Cream (fresh, raw), Cow's Milk and Whey (raw), Margarine, Oils (except olive), Yogurt (plain)

........................

Moderately Acidic

Bananas (green), Barley (rye), Blueberries, Bran, Butter, Cereals (unrefined), Cheeses, Crackers (unrefined rye, rice and wheat), Cranberries, Dried Beans (mung, adzuki, pinto, kidney, garbanzo), Dry Coconut, Egg Whites, Eggs Whole (cooked hard), Fructose, Goat's Milk (homogenized), Honey (pasteurized), Ketchup, Maple Syrup (unprocessed), Milk (homogenized), Molasses (unsulferd and organic), Most Nuts, Mustard, Oats (rye, organic), Olives (pickled), Pasta (whole grain), Pastry (whole grain and honey), Plums, Popcorn (with salt and/or butter), Potatoes, Prunes, Rice (basmati and brown), Seeds (pumpkin, sunflower), Soy Sauce, Wheat Bread (sprouted organic)

........................

Extremely Acidic

Artificial Sweeteners, Beef, Beer, Breads, Brown Sugar, Carbonated Soft Drinks, Cereals (refined), Chocolate, Cigarettes and Tobacco, Coffee, Cream of Wheat (unrefined), Custard (with white sugar), Deer, Drugs, Fish, Flour (white wheat), Fruit Juices with Sugar, Jams, Jellies, Lamb, Liquor, Maple Syrup (processed), Molasses (sulphured), Pasta (white), Pastries and Cakes from White Flour, Pickles (commercial), Pork, Poultry, Seafood, Sugar (white), Table Salt (refined and iodized), Tea (black), White Bread, White Vinegar (processed), Whole Wheat Foods, Wine, Yogurt (sweetened)

Much more information:

Here...

And here...

And if you do a Google search on alkaline foods, you'll get loads of links.

Wishing you all success in beating your cancer, and a long and healthy life."

Stories about our last week in Finland . . .

I approached a lady sitting in the car and showed her The Science of Self-realization. She put it aside immediately and took a big bible into her hand.

"I already have a book. I'm on the way to a Bible-group meeting, and I work for the Lutheran church," she informed me.

Good, I said happily. Then you can also take one to your priest there! She was suprised, looking like a big question mark - WHY? I explained to her that my mother also used to go to similar meetings.

Really! she said.

I asked, Who is your priest? And I said that it would be a meaningful thing.

She mentioned some name. While bringing this book to him convey my best regards!

Definitely! she said. From whom? she asked happily. I mentioned my name, and she paid for the book.

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A man was smoking outside an office and looked quite well dressed. I presented a book, and he said that I may not believe it, but he has practically no money. Recently his dog chewed up his credit card. After that he moved all his money to his wife's account. Then she started to control his account completely. Now, he said sadly, I have only 4.40 euros per day that she gives me for cigarettes.

Just leave the next cigarettes aside, I said. That is exactly enough for one book. He was happy to do that and took a book.

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We stayed a whole week in a former hotel. Avadhuta Chandra Prabhu had met a man in the street who was so happy to see some non-Christian missionaries in that small city. This man, Mr Kulosaari, had been taking care of that hotel after it had closed sometime ago. He offered rooms for the whole week free for our group of seven traveling brachmacaris. The man maintains himself through a studio for making advertisements in various media. He said that whenever it is needed he can also do that kind of work for ISKCON without any payment. He liked the traveling sadhus a lot and said that they are welcomed to his accommondation anytime.

Traveling Finnish sankirtana, ki jaya!

Ys Tattvavada Dasa