Since children have very impressionable minds, if they are taught Krishna consciousness, they will carry lasting impressions throughout their lives. And if they get proper association in their youth they can become strong devotees. With this in mind, IYF has also designed courses for children to give them an opportunity to become Krishna conscious. Children books were conceived to help children understand and appreciate the timeless wisdom and culture of the Vedas. You will find stories, songs, scripts for dramas and puppet shows, art and craft activities that thrill the children. The books offer thought-provoking quizzes that relate to their practical day-to-day life. There are two courses for children depending on their age group:•Junior course:This is meant for children in the age group 5-9. The books for this course teach pastimes of Lord Krishna together with enlivening teaching aids such as drawings, paintings etc. •Senior Course:This is meant for children in the age group 10-15. The books for this course teach pastimes of Lord Krishna together with their morals, Vaishnava songs and etiquette, important slokas and prayers and assignment questions. Publications: My First Krishna Book Getting To Know Krishna More About Krishna Devotees of Krishna Wonderful Krishna Krishna\'s Childhood Pastimes http://www.iskconpune.in/HTML/books.html

Life-Enriching Education, by Marshall Rosenberg (NVC0302) The Compassionate Classroom: Relationship Based Teaching and Learning, by Sura Hart and Victoria Kindle Hodson (NVC0407) Teaching Children Compassionately: How Students and Teachers Can Succeed with Mutual Understanding, by Marshall Rosenberg (NVC0316) Raising Children Compassionately: Parenting the Nonviolent Communication Way, by Marshall Rosenberg (NVC0144R) Parenting From Your Heart: Sharing the Gifts of Compassion, Connection, and Choice, by Inbal Kashtan (NVC0314) http://www.cnvc.org/node/425#conflict

Srila Prabhupada told us that recitation of mantras was important, even
if we didn't know the meaning of the words. He even taught a tune to
the devotees in Los Angeles during a lecture, saying it was "very
nice." If you'd like a copy of that melody, you can find out how to
obtain it by contacting Lokadhyaksa prabhu at lagarwal@us.oracle.com

Regular reading of Srimad Bhagavatam (in verse) is like a regular
shower, cleansing the mind. Srimad Bhagavatam is for hearing and
reading daily. It is said therein (1.2.18): "By regular attendance in
classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure
devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely
destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is
praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable
fact."

As evidence of empowerment, it's significant how the Caitanya Bhagvat
describes Kolaveca Sridhara's prayers to Sri Caitanya. After the Lord
commanded Kolaveca to recite prayers, Kolaveca said he was worthless,
incompetent and unable to utter anything worthy of the Lord. But the
Lord insisted, telling him to say anything, and He would consider it
prayer. Then, according to Vrindava das Thakur, the goddess Sarasvati
entered the tongue of Kolaveca Sridhara such that he began to speak
more eloquently than anything he had ever known. His prayers are

read more

Sound vibration is all powerful. Any seasoned mountain climber knows
that mantras can cause avalanches, and we have heard how certain
sopranos can break drinking glasses. We learn from Vedic sources that
sound does, literally, move mountains. Snake charmers and Vedic
'medicine men' have worked 'miracles' with mantras. One can just
imagine then how powerful the Hare Krishna mantra is, given that it is
what Prabhupada once called, the 'great chant for deliverance.'

Report by Dr Madhavananda Das, Director of Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai...

In the morning Maharaja's condition was the same as yesterday but fortunately by 12 pm, he moved all his four limbs and the intensivist was pleasantly surprised. Dr Goel, a general surgeon from USA, visited Maharaja and gave some suggestions to the doctors to help Maharaja come off the ventilator. Dr Yogeshcandra, an acupuncturist also did his therapy on Maharaj today.

Maharaja is still on the ventilator. Though improving, he remains to be critical. Please continue to pray intensely.

From Bhaktisiddhanta Swami...

Some progression is there with Guru Maharaja's external consciousness. While reading CC to him, Guru Maharaja was listening with open eyes, first looking straight ahead, then to the left where the speaker was, then he kept his sight on me. The nurse asked me to move away from his left side so she could do something with the tubes, so her and I changed positions. I went to the other side and the nurse said to Maharaja, "Don't worry, he has gone to the
other side." Although it was small movements, Guru Maharaja was looking around, searching (the swami had turned into a nurse....smile).

The main doctor on the floor acknowledged that Guru Maharaja looks a lot better than before: in fact everyone agrees that he looks effulgent...so different than the auras surrounding the other patients.

Bhakti Caru Swami was present at this time and noted how he moved both his legs on command. Earlier he had moved both hands...he today has moved all four limbs.

Also during his check up he actually was able to grasp Sita Rama Laksmana Prabhu's hand and give it a slight squeeze.

This is a beginning...

Srila Prabhupada has told us that as soon as envy is wiped out we are
effectively living in the spiritual world. He said we don't need a
certificate. We can examine out hearts and see how much we have freed
ourselves of envy. If there is envy, we live in the material world; as
soon as envy is eradicated we are residents of the spiritual world.
Here's the relevant text from the Teachings of Queen Kunti: "The word khala
means 'jealous.' This material world is a world of jealousy and envy. I
am envious of you, and you are envious of me. The Krsna consciousness

read more

From Bhakti Purusottama Swami...

At present Maharaja is showing less signs of consciousness and not responding to doctors orders. The doctors say this doesn't mean there's less hope, but it is difficult to give a prognosis of how long he will remain this way.

At present there is no treatment going on for the the brain haemorrhage. The doctors are simply trying to keep his blood pressure, blood sugar, and platelet count stable.

Now devotees are reading Srila Prabhupada books Maharaja throughout the day and night, 24 hours.

The doctors will observe Maharaja's condition for the next four days; after that time it will be reviewed and a decision made as to the next step.

We request everyone to continue with their intense prayers .

Thank you very much.

Your humble servant

Bhakti Purusottama Swami

from Ratnavali...

Bhaktisiddhanta Swami Maharaja visited Jayapataka Maharaja and he wrote the following note:

When I saw Guru Maharaja in the morning around 11am and again at 7:00 pm he was sleeping, some coughing clearing of mucus etc, and I was a little sad to not see so much of a continuation from the previous day, however in leaving the hospital one doctor alleviated my lamentations about the fact that Guru Maharaja’s external condition has been pretty much unchanged for the last 15 days. He said that there have been some cases where patients have even been in this state for 3 to 6 months or even up to a year and they suddenly snap out of it with no memory of the time involved and recover 100%.

Of course we are not insinuating that it will take a long time for GM to recover from this state but my point is that we should not be disheartened at the apparent slow progress and that we has crossed a point of no return.

The doctors are optimistic of a recovery.

Bhanu Swami has also indicated that astrologically after Nov 14 tithis is a period that GM should come out of his present condition.

The following is a Srimad Bhagavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja on 06 November 2008 in Ujjain.

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

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.6.30 - Chapter 6: Creation of the Universal Form

The following is a Srimad Bhagavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja on 06 November 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 3.6.30 - Chapter 6: Creation of the Universal Form

Here is an excellent and very important video - Mahatma prabhu explains about what to be conscious of during our Japa.

Lord Brahma to Lord Shiva: Persons who observe everything with differentiation, who are simply attached to fruitive activities, who are mean minded, who are always pained to see the happiness of others and who thus give distress to them bu uttering harsh and piercing words have been already killed by providence. Thus there is no need for them to be killed by an exalted personality like yours.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 4 Chapter 6 Verse 47

CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- President-elect Barack Obama told the nation Tuesday night that "the dream of our founders is alive" and that he's ready to fulfill his campaign mantra of bringing change to America.

read more

This week I had to travel into central London for a meeting, this is the continuing service for Parasharam Dasa in getting some formal qualifications in place for the Matchless Gifts centre in Camden. So off I went to see Rachel Johnson of City Lit planning my journey and day. I decided against going to the [...]

From HH Prahladananda Swami:
Dear Jayapataka Swami,
Please accept my obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

read more

The Temple Bhajan Band (www.TempleBhajanBand.com) pe…

Tuesday, November 4/08 - Deseronto, Ontario, Canada

There are certain words that cannot be repeated here- words that were volleyed towards me expressing that I was not welcome.

While on return to Toronto from Montreal, a distance of 600kms, Yajna Gauranga, another monk from Toronto acting as my driver wanted to take a nap due to driver’s fatigue. I decided to walk ahead, catch some fresh air and a gaze at that intense red sun in front of me. Just west of the town Desronto is Mohawk territory. It is clearly marked along highway 2. While 3 kilometers into the trek a male voice shouted from the side “freak”, Foreigner” and other colorful expressions. I stopped for a moment and took-up the challenge. I could see no one beyond the trees and a clump of three houses tightly built together.

“Would you like a conversation? We can talk!” The voice continued but from his distance, no body appeared. It was mild out and easily he could have spoken through a window from inside. Command to leave kept asserting itself and I again challenged a friendly conversation. But to no avail.

I would have defended myself expressing That I’m not a foreigner (I guess my robes didn’t fit into his form of reality) and that I was born in Chatham, Ontario close to the famed Uncle Tom’s cabin where black slaves were given refuge during America’s revolution. I’m a monk and not a freak. And besides we are not these bodies. We are spirit souls. Using bodily designation is somewhat unhealthy. We can share the earth together. If you check out history even indigenous people came from somewhere, the common belief being that they migrated from Asia through the Bering Strait. Which community wasn’t nomadic by will or by force looking for a promised land or put into exile on an island or desert? We are all essentially brothers sharing the common father, the Creator.

Unfortunately there was no receptivity or a will to meet and converse. The non-hospitable remarks persisted and I was left to bear an ounce of humility, which isn’t bad.

12 Km

Jagadbandhu das: We've been taught to offer reverent gratitude to our beloved preceptor who has so mercifully opened our eyes from the darkness of ignorance with the torchlight of knowledge.

Adi Guru Dasa: Devotees had a big presence at this year's three-day Yoga Show at Olympia, Kensington, in London, with two stands and three stage shows.

By Dr Prayag Narayan Misra

Keynote speaker was Jannah Scott, Policy Advisor, Faith & Community Initiatives Office of Governor Janet Napolitano ISKCON of Phoenix was invited and allotted VIP Table in the front of the podium.

================================================================== Thought for the Day--Saturday 8 November 2008 ================================================================== Dedicated with love to you, our treasured readers, and to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Our purpose is to help everyone awaken...

We may have read about, dreamed about and prayed for the opportunity to experience what we read in sastra....about the cintamani gems of the spiritual world that fulfill all desires. Well....after years of searching I found it. Here in Mayapur. Really and truly.

The past few days here have been...well, indescribable! Its been a mixture of a little apprehension, a lot of excitement, a lot of gratitude, and a lot of prayer. The thought of four months in the holy dham for a city dweller definitely can warp one's mind a bit!

Already I have started to realize what an intensely passionate person I am. I just can't seem to sit in one place for too long without thinking that I should be doing something else and these past few days before I start the deity worship course, I've realized how much time I have and how much of it I normally waste! Here, despite my little trips to to the internet cafe, most of the time I chant, read, go see the deities or speak to devotees. That's my life. It's so simple and uncomplicated! It's so uncomplicated that I actually try to complicate it! Such is my restless nature!

But slowly, slowly the dham's magic is working away at this stone heart of mine, starting to chip away and starting to reveal that "hey, I actually have one or two spiritual desires!" For example, I wanted badly to go on parikrama for the past couple of years. This year I was hoping to go on the Vrndavana yatra but this amazing service opportunity came up to sing at the Washington National Cathedral (something I'm hoping to post next time) and so I decided to come to India later. But irregardless, just having that desire was enough and where did I find myself today? Joining in on the last couple of days of HH Romapada Swami's Mayapur Yatra! WOW! So amazing.

And so today I got to go to Champahasti where the beautiful Gaura Gadhadhara deities stand that belonged to Gadhadhara pandit's younger brother and is also the place where Jayadeva Goswami resided for sometime. Such an intensely spiritual and beautiful place. After that we headed to the temple where stood the deities of Nakula Brahmachari who Lord Caitanya personally empowered. Finally the last stop on our tour was Ambikakalana- the place where the beautiful Gaura Nitai deities of Gauridas jumped off the altar and joined in the Gaura Purnima festivities that Gauridas and his disciple Caitanya das put on. And when the deities started to run away, Gauridas started chasing them with a stick and where did Lord Caitanya hide? But in the heart of Caitanya das who later became known as Hrdaya Caitanya. Such an amazing pastime and even more amazing to actually be physically present in these beautiful lila sthanas.

I feel so intensely fortunate to be able to be here and experience this magic, this cintamani nature of Sri Mayapur Dham....but I'll state some well chosen words of advice a friend just gave me....be careful what you wish for, because it will come true! I pray that my wishes will be infused with the desire to serve the Sri Guru, Gauranga and the vaisnavas. Here's to hoping that one will come true too! Bolo Gauranga Mahaprabhu ki JAI!

I have a dilemma. I see posts on devotee websites and bulk emails full of slogans meant to change the hearts of their audiences. Devotees are connected with Krsna so anything posted by a devotee is in some way connected with the supreme. But slogans are so close to symbols, and symbols are fine for the masses, and though there's no harm in getting the masses off of their haunches in order to do something good for themselves and others, i cannot categorize devotees as part of the masses. The masses in this day and age are...... let me put it this way - not so Krsna conscious. Any small creeper of spiritual inquiry is immediately stamped out by their desires to eat, sleep, mate and defend. That is why slogans and symbols (even mode-of-goodness ones) are good for them - they need something catchy to clear the material mist once in a while. But it's rare souls, like devotees, who begin to inquiry further. And to throw slogans at these souls is, for want of a better word, sad. My dilemma is that i want to say something about how inquiry means so much more than symbolism and sloganism, but i can't for the slogans that devotees pass on are, in a certain capacity, correct - and they do attract attention.

I guess i did say something. By the way, did the images above inspire you to read this?

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.25 - Use your intelligence to spread Krsna's love during the upcoming book marathon (and any other time).

Friday 7th November, 2008.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.24 - Qualities we can develop to better serve our grand-spiritual master, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Sunday 2nd November, 2008.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.19 - The true standard of happiness is constantly being sacrificed to so-called material advancement in the shape of concrete, iron, trucks and highways.

Apologies for the late posting. Please hear the wisdom imparted by one of Melbourne temples senior devotees.

Tomorrow evening at the Hare Krishna Temple, Global Kartik Kirtan will be celebrated. From 6:00pm to 10:00pm, devotees will gather at the temple to join devotees around the whole world as we collectively chant the holy name in the form of kirtan!

As a new feature, the ISKCON Toronto Blog will try to broadcast the kirtan live tomorrow evening! Log on to our blog tomorrow evening at 6:00pm and we should have a live stream going. (Please forgive us if there are technical difficulties... this is our first time trying it!) :-)

See you tomorrow at 6:00pm! Hare Krishna!

ND: Wow! I'm, like, really, really into the "Devis With Babies" site. What do you think?

G: It's megatons better than Devis Who Have Abortions.*

Vrindavan is crowded during Kartik. Sometimes the traffic near Krishna Balarama Mandir or further down the main road creates gridlock. All it takes is one or two buses or tempos to stop in the middle of the road. The "shortcut" to Loi Bazaar is via the Bengali neighborhood where the Madan Mohan temple is located. That area is especially historic. The hill on which the original Madan Mohan temple was built is Dwadash Aditya Teela, the place where Lord Krishna rested and warmed up under 12 suns after dancing on Kaliya's heads.

I heard that there were three reasons why Krishna spared the life of Kaliya. First, although he had no interest in bhakti, he permitted his wives, who were devotees, to continue their devotional activities and to see Krishna's pastimes on the banks of the Yamuna. Second, those vaisnavi wives prayed on Kaliya's behalf to Krishna. When Krishna was defeating Kaliya, the wives were at first indifferent to his fate. But when Kaliya realized he was going to die, he repented and it was then that his wives felt compassion for him and asked Krishna to protect him. Finally, once Kaliya had eaten another snake that had been intended as a sacrifice for Garuda. Garuda become angry at this, and brushed Kaliya with his wings, which caused Kaliya to be thrown back. Because of that passing contact with Garuda, Kaliya was purified, and had become eligible for further mercy from the Lord. These things were told to me by Manjari, my former wife, during this visit to Vrindavan. I don't have any sastric reference.

Back on the hill where Madan Mohan mandir is located, the view of the Yamuna in the distance is very nice. Fields of yellow mustard dot the flood plain. Green parrots can be seen flying from treetop to treetop. Next to the old temple is the bhajan kutir where Srila Sanatan Goswami did his bhajan. I also heard that our Srila Prabhupada, when he was a young householder, spent one week here, during his first visit to Vrindavan, doing his own kirtan. This was a few years before he took initiation from his guru maharaj, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Thakur.

Down from the hill and old temple that was later desecrated by soldiers of Arungzeb, a few meters around a back lane is the entrance to Srila Sanatan Goswami's samadhi. Sanatan was much loved by the local Brijbasis as a baba, and at times he would wander from village to village and the villagers would treat him as a family member. He would enter a village and spend only one nite, listening to the everyday problems of the villagers and offering them advice. The next morning they would beg him to stay for at least one more day, but he would move on to the next village. When Sanatan Goswami left his body, many of the Brijbasi men who heard about his passing shaved their heads, as they did when their own fathers died.

It's here in this garden-like area where Rupa Goswami, Sanatan's younger brother, who accepted Sanatan as his guru, put him in samadhi. Sanatan Goswami helps us to establish our eternal relationship (sambandha) with Krishna. He is the senior of the Six Goswamis whom were sent to excavate Vrindavan and reestablish it as the earthly counterpart to Goloka Vrindavan by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Today I cooked for my client. Of course I did. It's Friday.

There are no pictures because I didn't take any. So believe me or not when I tell you what I made him. Pasta primavera, zuchini/cannellini patties, tomato sauce con vegetables, cannellini zuppa and a couple of artichokes. Personally I didn't find the meal inspiring but my client did. Go figure.


Right now I am in the process of trying to streamline my life by making it more complicated. Four days ago, inspired by the "to dream an impossible dream" victory of the United States' first non-white male president and also boosted by my score on a practice LSAT which I took at a Kaplan testing center, I have decided to apply to law school (really, it had nothing to do with my husband's insistence, I mean suggestion, that I apply). I realize there is a very good chance I won't get in since I am applying to just one school and since the 2,000 other applicants have most likely been preparing for this process a good amount longer than 3 weeks, but hey, what the hell.

I am at an age where I honestly am not afraid to embarrass myself (those of you who know me personally may find this shocking...since I voluntarily embarrass myself all the time). I guess what I mean to say is, I don't give a damn about embarrassing myself. Besides, applying and not getting in is nothing to be embarrassed about. Really, it's not. I mean it. Hey, stop laughing at me!!!

So I will not be setting up at the Sunday feast until law school application madness is over. Jam making, as mentioned earlier today, is officially on hold. Basically I just plan to sit on my butt as much as possible, laptop on lap, trying to hammer out a personal statement, request transcripts from the six undergraduate schools I attended (I know, that's a lot...and yes, I only got one degree. Let's not talk about it) and drink a lot of lemon ginger tea.




Already I am starting to feel so post-Victorian. So very Bluestockings.

My sincere prayers are with H.H. Jayapataka Swami at this time of a challenge to the physical health of his body.

Maharaja has always been very kind and encouraging to me, and his disciples have also.

I wish Maharaja a speedy recovery and many years of continued service to the devotees of ISKCON and the people of this world. If this doesn't happen, I am sure that his service will continue anyway, in another body.

Amidst all the esotericness of the the mantras, yajnas, and prayers, I'd like to point out that what has happened to H.H. Jayapataka Swami is not surprising or unexpected, and it's important to understand this, rather than simply ascribe everything to "inscrutable destiny". If your perspective is that everything is the divine will and as mere mortals we have no ability to understand or influence that, then you can stop reading now and go back to praying without ceasing.

If you follow in Maharaja's footsteps in terms of lifestyle, you'll probably get the same result from a physical health perspective.

Different people have a different consciousness while they do the same thing, so unless you have the same consciousness as Maharaja, I do not recommend following the same program. H.H. Jayapataka Swami is a great soul. His personal example in this regard should be taken as extraordinary.

For the ordinary among us, it's not maya to expend energy to look after your health and to manage your body correctly in terms of sleep cycles, nutrition, exercise, and balance of activities.

If you run your body ragged, it will break down. For sustained high physical performance you need training, nutrition, supplementation and prayer. I wouldn't try to do what I've seen him doing, full stop. However, if I did, I'd be on a strict high performance diet and physical maintenance program.

In a recent article Dr. John C. Maxwell wrote: "From my experience there are 10 things you should do as a leader prior to reaching age 40". Number 1 is "Know Yourself". Number 5 is "get physically fit".

If you deliberately run your body into the ground, does it make sense to then pray for physical salvation? Some responsibility for our fate lies with us.

For me the lesson of what is happening to H.H. Jayapataka Swami is clear. If you don't take care of your body it will break down dramatically. If you don't care about that, because you're too transcendental, then that's fine. If you do care about that, then you should probably take care of your body.

The message is clear: spend some cycles taking care of your body to extend its useful life.

When my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, you better believe that I did a lot of praying. However, I also fired up Google and spent three months researching on sites like The Wolfe Clinic and Natural News, and made radical changes to our diet and lifestyle based on the results of my research.

Back when society was being run by religious fanatics the medical profession was based on superstition. Now that society is being run by merchants it's based on selling you products and services produced by medical companies. Actual responsibility for our well-being lies with us. Mike Adam's article "Disease names like diabetes and osteoporosis are misleading and misinform patients about disease prevention" is very illuminating in this regard. Here's an excerpt:

when a person follows an unhealthy lifestyle that results in a symptom such as high blood pressure, that symptom is actually be assumed to be a disease all by itself and it will be given a disease name. What disease? The disease is, of course, "high blood pressure." Doctors throw this phrase around as if it were an actual disease and not merely descriptive of patient physiology.

What actually causes high blood pressure? Many doctors would say high blood pressure is caused by a specific, measurable interaction between circulating chemicals in the human body. Thus, the ill-behaved chemical compounds are the cause of the high blood pressure, and therefore the solution is to regulate these chemicals. That's exactly what pharmaceuticals do -- they attempt to manipulate the chemicals in the body to adjust the symptoms of high blood pressure. Thus, they only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

Acknowledging the ultimate control of the Lord is important. However, agency (free will and responsibility of the individual) is still there. Taking responsibility for the consequences of our actions is also important. Either we're totally transcendental to our physical situation (in which case why then pray for physical salvation?) or we have to get real about the body and its maintenance.

Blasphemy? What do you think?

One of the blogresses (Deepa) from the Devis with Babies (DWB) site dropped a link to a post on their site she thought the readership here at Siddhanta.com might find interesting. So, now for some commentary from Siddhanta.com:

The discussion at the DWB site is basically about miscegination (or, in finer terms, interracial dating / marriage) from the perspective of an expatriate, by-birth Hindu. What is most striking about the post are the presentations between a better-defined conception of the self grounded in classical Western liberal thought and a less-defined, perhaps visceral, (but nevertheless assertive) notion of the self that emphasized caste and jati over the individual. In other words, Deepa's post presents the classic tension between the individual and the family. Western liberalism privileges the individual over family and society whereas classical Hindu society (and for that matter, any Middle-Eastern or Asian society) privileges family and community over the individual.

It is inevitable that Hindu children who grow up in the Western countries are more likely to adopt the values and mores of the host culture rather than their birth culture. This debate is happening amongst the Hindu diaspora because they are diaspora. On the other hand, loss of culture (which means accepting another's culture) may be inevitable. How "Hindu" will descendents of Hindu parents be if, in thought and habit, there is little difference between them and their white cohorts? How different, for example, is a secular Western Christian from a secular Western Jew? Some differences are there, to be sure, but not many.

If significant difference is to be maintained despite uniformity of thought and habit, and not in terms of culture, thought, or belief, then it must be defined in terms of race, skin color, bodily features, etc. In a significant way, attempting to define a distinct identity sans ideology and theology leads to racism, for skin color and bodily differences are all that one is left with to distinguish one from the other. But if the criterion of skin color is abandoned as a distinguishing feature, then it would be difficult to call the grandchildren and great-grand-children of Hindus who emmigrated to America. To continue to do so would strip the term "Hindu" from its remaining religious connotations and designate it as a purely racial term. In this way, racism would be perpetuated, and the culture itself lost.

But then what else would maintaining a culture involve, except for perpetuating the very beliefs, values, habits, and patterns of thinking that distinguish one culture from another. Which is also to say that pretty much the only chance of Hindus remaining Hindu outside of Hindudom is for them to rembrace and reaffirm their religious heritage. Christians and Muslims have been able to not only preseve but spread their culture because they defined their self-identity not in terms of race, birth, or even culture but in terms of belief, thought, and habit. It did not matter that someone else was of a different skin color as long as he (or she) accepted the beliefs and way of life that could unambiguously be called Christian or Muslim.

Thus, if Hindus really want to preserve their culture, despite living outside of an area where they are, numerically, the majority population, then they must change their thinking about their own identies from race to ideology. "Hindu" has to stop being a racial, or even cultural, term and become an ideological term for Hinduism and Hindu culture to keep from passing into history.

And, us Vaishnavas over here at this site and elsewhere are in the business of providing the right kind of ideology, beliefs, and patterns of thought that will preserve Hindu culture.

read more

Sudarshan Yajna for H.H Jayapataka Swami at ISKCON Brisbane. Sunday 9am, at the conclusion of the 24 hr kirtan.

Did Ben (AKA BenLoka) shave up? What's his story? WHERE IS BENLOKA!!!

Does the Manor not let him blog? What's wrong with your country? How unjust!!!! Obama for Prime Minister!!!!!!

I have about 50 paw paw tree seedlings for sale. 

 They are from last years seed, in 14 inch pots, and have a good root system. The price is $5. a tree. 

 Also this year seeds are for sale at $1. a piece.

 If interested contact me by phone at 347-393-0131 or email soma108@gmail.com

 I am leaving for Ireland on November 14 so contact me before then.

 your servant,

Somadas das

As spiritual souls, parts and parcels of the Supreme we are by nature eternal and blissful but because we are illusioned by this temporary body and situation we are in, we forget our constitutional position and sometimes, as any other living entity, we look for a position in this material world which is temporary. We invest a lot of our time and energy to work for the body and to mantain it. Even our family and friends will go away one day because they are temporary. Why don't we invest more in our soul, our spiritual lives, in our eternal purpose, as eternal servants of the Supreme Soul?
The process to realize this eternal relationship is through chanting...this is our key to the spiritual world. Through Japa and kirtan we can experiment with the medicine for this age of Kali. The basic principle of bhakti or regulated devotional service is to always remember Krsna and never forget Him....and by chanting we are always engaged on this remembrance.
It's said that just by chanting the Holy Names once, one can be freed from commiting more sins than one is able to commit but this also depends on good chanting.

1970 November 7: "The big temple on the bank of the Yamuna at Kesighat is for sale. I know of this temple. I used to live next to it before living in the Radha-Damodara temple. We would like to get this temple at all costs."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 November 7: "Instead of Sankirtana if you, husband and wife, try to see so many ministers and other important men, that will be nice. You may try and see Indira Gandhi. And perhaps you can meet with this President Giri."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 November 7: "Just like in our ISKCON there are so many false things: 'Prabhupada said this, Prabhupada said that.' Do not be deviated by such ideas. Krishna is knowledge, He is the object of knowledge, He is the goal of knowledge."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 November 7: "Now my program is fixed up for going to Nairobi on November 23, instant, and from there I will return to Los Angeles via Rome. I will stop there for two days for meeting with the Pope."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 November 7: "I want that there be published one volume of Caitanya Caritamrta for Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Appearance Day. So please arrange for this."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 November 7: "Regarding Washington, D.C., that Damodara is also resigning, we are increasing in so many ways, but our men are deteriorating. What to do?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 November 7: "N.B. I refer to the Direction of Management as follows: 'Removal of a Temple President by GBC requires support by the local Temple members.' Therefore you should take a vote of the Temple members."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Well actually, Saffron Vanilla Bean Persimmon Jam.  But I just call it yum for short.  I poured this batch into fancy schmancy faceted 4 oz. jars, perfect for party favors.  The compact size fits easily into your Paris Hilton Handbag or zipped into a pocket of your Members Only jacket,making Saffron Vanilla Bean Persimmon Jam highly portable.  Never know when you just might need a spot of jam!




Life is moving into full swing and I don't think I will get much more jam making done over the next month. I have some persimmons still ripening which I will turn into sorbetto for my client's Thanksgiving feast. Hopefully the month will pass quickly (but not too quickly...I have a lot to get done!) and I can get back in the jam of things in time not to miss the area's citrus bounty.

The i-limb hand It came in at 14th place in the Time Magazine poll, beating competition from the likes of the latest Mars Rover, designed to explore the red planet.

The prosthetic hand took more than 20 years to develop and has five separately working fingers, each powered by its own motor.

This makes it more versatile than previous hands, which have often been hook-like and limited to simple opening and closing movements.

The i-limb has a much wider range of capabilities. It has a credit-card grip, for taking hold of narrow objects, and a power hold for larger objects such as mugs.

It is made of high-strength plastics, and the fingers can easily be unscrewed from the hand, making it easy to service.

Other prosthetic hands have to be removed entirely if they break – meaning amputees are sometimes left for weeks without a hand while they wait for a repair. - The Sun

The invention took 20 years and is only minimally versatile. We already have a hand created by Nature (God’s nature) that is flexible and perfect. Why can’t we give God the credit as Srila Prabhupada once said that God should get the Noble prize.

No…we will not, humans are too proud, we will either outright reject His authority or fight in His name like a fool!

Hare Krishna

By Dr Madhavananda das, Director of Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai

Maharaj's consciousness level is the same. The different parameters are stable.

The doctors are saying there is more or less no active management except nursing care which is being well taken care of.

From our side, we have suggested to integrate acupuncture and acupressure along with the ongoing treatment which is to be discussed with the intensivist and acupuncturist tomorrow.

Maharaja is still on the ventilator. He, though stable, continues to be
critical. Please continue to pray intensely.

Finally i get out of bed in my room at Yamuna Kunj, and open the door which leads to a veranda. From the veranda to the left you can see the white marble towers and brass cakras of the Imli Tala Mandir. The original Imli Tala is the tamarind tree that Krishna sat under during the ras lila after Radha disappeared from His sight. He meditated on Radha and turned a golden color, foreshadowing His appearance as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. In that avatara, Mahaprabhu returned to this same spot on the Yamuna where he sat and meditated on Himself. It's at this sacred place that the Imli Tala Mandir was built by Sripad Bhakti Sarangi Goswami, a godbrother of Srila Prabhupada. He installed beautiful deities of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai here, as well as the footprints of Lord Caitanya. Sometimes Prabhupada would visit this godbrother's temple when he lived at Radha Damodar.

The sun shines every day in India during this season and it is surprisingly hot in the late morning. I just need a t shirt and lungi and baseball cap as a sunscreen. No coat, jacket, sweatshirt, shoes and socks. Life is simple here.

I pay my obeisances to Imli Tala as i leave Yamuna Kunj and catch a ricksaw to take me to Gopeswar Mahadev, my first stop in Vrindavan. This temple is in the old part of Vrindavan where no tourists come and most pilgrims rarely visit. I buy a 10 rupee garland from one of the flower wallas who sit on the temple steps, take off my shoes and walk in. It's around 11 am and the morning worship is coming to an end. Inside the inner sanctum where Gopiswar Mahadev sits, a brahmin priest presides over the final washing of the Lingam while reciting prayers before the temple closes for midday. I appear with my garland and the priest decides to let me offer it and participate in the worship. First he indicates i can drink some "caranamrita" that has been collected in a gumshaw from the washing of the Lingam. An assistant wrings a piece of the gumshaw into my cupped right hand, and i sip the caranamrita. Then the priest asks me to come close to the Lingam and offers me a lota of clean water to bathe Mahadev. I first ask him to purify my hand that sipped the caranamrita by pouring some water on it, then i take the lota and do my impromptu abhiseka. After the bathing, i bow down on my knees and the priest takes my head and touches it three times to the low silver or brass walls that surround the Lingam. I feel a bit like a child in doing this "forced obeisance" but don't mind since it's for Gopiswar Mahadev. I offer a quick silent prayer while this is happening. Obeisances complete, the priest asks me for a donation. I was already thinking about that. I take out a 50 rupee note and place it on the floor next to the Lingam. The priest looks satisfied and i am also satisfied and get up. He gives me a leaf cup of Lord Siva's maha prasad to take with me as i leave.

On my way out of the inner sanctum, the worker who had given me caranamrita from the gumshaw takes 2 flower garlands that are the maha prasad of Mahadev, and puts them around me. I give him a 10 rupee donation. As i'm leaving the outer temple, a couple of brahmans who are sitting on the floor reading scriptures also indicate that they want a donation. I place two 10 rupee notes on their place sittings. They also appear satisfied. Now i go out to the street. I see a street dog and offer him a piece of the maha prasad by placing it in front of him. A couple of local beggars see that and ask for some maha prasad for themselves. I oblige until there is only a small amount of prasad left, which i pop in my mouth.

From Gopiswar Mahadev it's only 100 meters to Vrinda Kunj, a beautiful ashram developed by my godbrother, Paramadwaiti Swami. I'm glad to see him. Last time we met was one year earlier in Miami. Vrinda Kunj is much nicer than Miami, a green garden with monkeys playing freely, basic bungalows for brahmacaries and guests and an old restored temple for Giriraj. It's ekadasi and i stay for a simple lunch of vegetables and peanuts.

This is a ‘Get Well’ letter received from Bir Krishna das Goswami. Bhakti Siddhanta Maharaja read out this letter along with letters from Sivarama Swami and Radhanatha Swami to Jayapataka Maharaja.

My dear Jayapataka Maharaja,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have been praying intensely to my Deities every day for your health.

It is essential that you get well as quickly as possible. I am saying

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One week ago the world tour of Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana (Ananda Vidya on guitar and vocals, Pat on mrdanga and vocals, Tess on kartals and vocals, Mauricio on violin, Jason on grand piano, and Chris on electric bass) began in the Front Room Coffeehouse at the Baker Center on the campus of Ohio University.

A small but appreciative crowd were treated to spirited renditions of the Panca-Tattva prayers, the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, "Jaya Radha Madhava", and "Radhe Radhe Jaya Jaya Madhava Dayite".

It was a warm evening of sharing the Holy Names, and we hope to continue it again in the future, perhaps with a full light and laser show and maybe even a rock opera! We can only dream...

The Temple Bhajan Band (www.TempleBhajanBand.com) pe…

If you're in Brisbane this weekend here are a few options for things to do and see:

Global 24 hour kirtan.

Saturday November 8th 9am - Sunday November 9th 9am at ISKCON Brisbane

"The Joy of Dharma - A Definitive Guide to Happiness" presentation. Two nights only!

Saturday November 8th, 5pm at Atma Yoga.
Sunday November 9th, 5pm at the Hare Krishna Sunday Feast at Govindas.

This Saturday (November 8th) at Krishnafest Sitapati will be giving a presentation on “The Joy of Dharma”. It will be equal parts metaphysical voyage into the esoteric underpinnings of reality, and practical guidance for daily living.

Krishnafest starts at 5 pm.

Sridevi dasi: Welcoming one and all for the "Annual GO-PUJA MELA" at New Talavana on Nov 8th, 2008 Saturday from noon to dusk. We humbly request you to please come and support the protection of "GO-MATA."

Gokulananda Das: The ISKCON Temple, Bhubaneswar is the last founded project of Srila Prabhupad who laid the foundation stone of the Temple (108th Temple) on the birth day of Nityananda Pabhu in 1977 and entrusted the construction work on his blessed disciple H. D. G. Gour Govinda Swami.