On a personal level I have decided to remain lacto-prasadarian. The basis of my decision comes from consulting with my spiritual master, understanding my desperate need of developing the finer brain tissues, and having faith that Srila Prabhupada is the best judge of time, place and circumstance. At the same time while I feel confident [...]

The following is a little exchange I stole from Sabjimata (Devadeva)’s facebook (hope that’s ok?) in response to a link she posted to the article: As Recession Deepens, So Does the Milk Surplus. I have omitted names for privacy purposes. TPD at 8:23pm January 1 What to do with too many cows? That’s easy: KILL them. If [...]

Gita Coaching will help you succeed by:

1. Communicating your worth and potential

2. Discovering new possibilities for you

3. Finding solutions that exactly meet your needs

Coaching is weekly or fortnightly, focused conversation (face-to-face or on the phone), that helps you clarify what you want, make an inspiring plan and take dynamic, intelligent action.

It is focused on you, your needs, your goals, your dreams and your success.

You do most of the talking.

Here's my friend executive coach Marshall Goldsmith at his best:

http://de.youtube.com/watch?v=3WBeGAAYWg8&eurl=http://video.google.co.uk/videosearch?q=brian+tracy&emb=0&aq=f

A one hour free video seminar at Google.

Question: Is Gita Coach someone who will tell me what to do?

Answer: No. He will ask you what you want to do and assist you in doing it (presuming it's Krsna conscious).

Q: Does having a coach means I'm incompetent?

A: No. A sports champion whose coach helps him achieve results is not incompetent. He is highly competent. Still, he uses a coach to achieve even better results.

Q: Should I accept coaching from a junior or someone less advanced?

A: Coaching is a service. It doesn't mean the coach is superior or better. Srila Prabhupada said: "If you find that in a filthy place there is some gold, take it out."

Q: Is a coach really necessary, since I can think for myself?

A: A coach encourages you to think for yourself, even more deeply than you usually do. He will not think for you.

Q: Can a coach be useful to me if he has less knowledge than I have?

A: A coach is expert in the process of coaching. He doesn't have to be expert in any other field (though he may be).

Q: Isn't training enough (courses, classes, instructions, advice, etc.)?

A: My experience, at least, shows that it's not. Coaching complements all kinds of training by helping apply what has been learned.

Q: Are there ISKCON leaders or other devotees who have benefited from coaching so far?

A: Yes. You may check testimonials on the Gita Coaching website if you like (www.vedicilluminations.com/gitacoaching).

Q: Is a coach like a siksa guru?

A: No, but he does facilitate understanding the benefits of spiritual instructions (siksa) and following them with determination and enthusiasm.

Q: In what ways is coaching connected to Krsna consciousness?

A: It helps devotees learn and practice Krsna consciousness more successfully. It also helps improve leadership, management and preaching skills.

I just got back from a 10 day retreat to Kalachandji dham (ISKCON Dallas).  During my time there I got a lot of mercy in the form of seva, sadhu sanga and of course maha-prasadam. I learned a bit more about sankirtan thanks to Nityananda Candra Prabhu taking me out to show me the ropes [...]

this was with my mum, her partner and my stepsisters on december 25th

This is how I spent my New Years Eve! I will add more pictures as soon as I get them... Happy & Krishna Conscious New Year to everyone! :) Govinda and me Vrajananda and me

This great quiche recipe which you may prepare and taste with friends, there is also white beetroot and pakchoy from this years trial garden products. The taste of the white beetroot is unbelievably nice, sweet and light. A chinese favorite, pakchoy, is a type of cabbage.

Dough:
1 cup oat flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
125gr butter
3 spoon cold water
fresh dill

After preparing the pie dough, we place it into a pie form and leave half an hour to rest.

Filling:

1 teacup yoghurt
1/2 teacup milk
Tomatoe souce (a little fruktose, oregano and amaranth)
Grated carrot, white beetroot and spinach-pakchoy (with a little salt and blackpepper)
Fresh yellow cheese, sour cream, turmeric

Place the filling onto the dough and spread the cheese, turmeric-sour cream on top. After cooking in a pre-heated owen for about 40min, decorate the top with parsley.

close to where my mum lives (Hamburg) there is a small national park, very beautiful and peaceful... I went there every day for Japa. this is the market church in Hannover. There is a big christmas market going on in December where it really becomes obvious how christianity's culture has become commercialized in so many ridiculous ways which is a pitty because it could have so much to offer in

 

Our last concert completed, we woke the next morning to face our final day in South Africa. As with every day, the sun rose high in the clear blue sky. One of the best things about such reliable good weather, is being able to do so much outside. As a final farewell, our hosts were going to introduce us to one of the most popular South African outdoor activities - the braai! Basically a barbecue, but with a much more catchy Afrikaans name, we’d been anticipating it for our entire trip. Gaura spent a few moments each day practicing shouting ‘BRAAI!’ with just the right macho Afrikaner intonation (with success)! (more…)

Yves Saint Laurent fashion icon

Of all the exercise supplements that you can get, the one that gives you the most bang for your buck, without an iota of doubt, is the humble sodium bicarbonate, aka baking soda.

The alkalinity / acidity of our body is measured on a pH scale. On this scale, from 1 to 14, 7 is neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline.

Our body's ideal pH is around 7.36, on the alkaline side of things. When the body becomes acidic all sorts of health problems develop.

I'll talk first about exercise, then about general health.

Alkalinity and Exercise

When you do exercise that works your muscles they first burn oxygen in the blood stream as fuel. Once you exceed the oxygen carrying capacity of your heart/lungs/blood your muscles turn to anaerobic respiration - literally "breathing without air". Stored reserves are burned in a chemical reaction that releases oxygen for the muscles to use, and also lactic acid. As the acidity in the muscle rises it begins to fatigue. This lactic acid build up is also responsible for muscle soreness and stiffness the day after exercising.

There are two things that will increase your body's ability to stretch - heat and alkalinity.

Drinking sodium bicarbonate helps to keep the acidity of your body down. An intracellular pH buffer like Beta Alanine does the same thing on a really low level, but it's more expensive than sodium bicarb.

Alkalinity and General Health

You can read more on this subject in this article: The pH Equation & Health.

Here's a chart of Acid and Alkaline Foods.

The bottom line is: alkalize to survive.

I can say that with 100% certainty. Let me tell you my own story in this regard. After a lot of research I'm able to describe this to you, and let it be a cautionary tale:

My wife found a lump in her breast, and she didn't do anything about it. She's almost afraid of hospitals and doctors, and it's only with great effort that I'm able to get her to go when it's really necessary.

By the time she told me about it, it had grown significantly, and it was increasing in size at a rapid rate.

What had happened was that due to her diet her body had become very acidic. As a result her body drew the acidity away from her organs by building up cellulite. She then went on a fast from grains. This resulted in her body consuming the cellulite, but drawing the acidity back in.

If you want to lose weight, and especially cellulite, make sure that you alkalize your body, because cellulite is the body's natural defense against an acidic state.

The acidity accumulated in her body tissues, and the breasts are particularly susceptible to this. As a result of the pathologically acidic state a tumor began.

The doctors were not able to describe this to us, but merely told us that we had no choice but for her to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. I noted that the chart that they used to describe the situation to us had been supplied by a pharmaceutical company, and I also noted that they asked no questions about lifestyle, or showed any inclination to understand, explain, or address the preconditions that had caused the tumor. I also noted that with a small amount of product training I could also sell those products to people coming in to the hospital.

We went out and did the research instead. Yes, there are conflicting opinions and experiences out there on the net, but it's just a matter of reading through hundreds, or even thousands of them, and picking up the patterns.

That's what we did, and alkalinity/acidity came out as the common factor.

We switched to an alkalizing diet and lifestyle, juicing greens hourly, eating alkalizing foods, and dropping acidic foods.

The result was that the tumor stopped growing completely.

One of the easiest and most powerful ways to alkalize your body is by drinking alkaline water. You can get pH strips at a health food store and test the water you drink. We found that the bottled water supply that we were using was actually slightly acidic. By adding a small amount of sodium bicarbonate to it you can make it alkaline.

You can use pH strips to figure out how much to use, but I do it by taste - just enough to make the water taste "mellow". Param Satya overdid it (as she is apt to do) and her face broke out with a rash due to excessive alkalinity. You'll figure it out.

Sodium bicarb ftw!

Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

The many letters, prayers, and phone calls have been a great source of comfort for Balabhadra. Thank you again and again. Our hearts are touched with your kindness.

Balabhadra is now at home. It was concluded that heart surgery was not necessary. He has been given many medicines to take for his heart and high blood pressure. In one month he is to meet with the cardiologist again to see how he is doing. He is not feeling so good from the medicines but we are told that his body will adjust within a few days. His heart was not at all damaged by the heart attack.

The test results on his liver came back normal.

The whole situation with his leg has not been resolved as the neurologist did not come into the hospital on the weekend. Our general doctor there gave us the name of the expert neurologist in the area and wants us to call him and get an appointment as soon as possible. The fact that he has been immobile and in pain for so long is not good for his present and future health.

Right now he is sleeping soundly which he wasn't able to do in the hospital. The pain in his leg comes and goes in severity. He is scheduled for the acupuncturist in a few days and hopefully he will be feeling well enough to have the treatment as it gave him much relief.

Balabhadra is receiivng phone calls at our home phone: 304-843-1658. I am hoping he wil feel well enough to access on his laptop his own email at balabhadra.iscowp@earthlink.net . You can still also write to iscowp@earthlink.net and I will make sure he will receive it.

If you could continue to pray for his improved general health and that his leg situation is resolved soon so that he may be able again to walk amongst the cows.

Your servant,
Chayadevi

Hare Krsna everyone. This past weekend we had nice sessions of the Japa Room, the first session which is being presented in Krishna.com live was nicely talking about our obstacles during chanting. Each devotee explained the habits they still have and need to fix in japa, others being there for the first time, felt comfortable to share their japa obstacles and what they should do to reform it.

“An intelligent person, expert in perceiving the world around him and in applying sound logic, can achieve real benefit through his own intelligence. Thus sometimes one acts as his own instructing spiritual master.”

Srila Prabhupada's Purport:

As illustrated in this chapter by the conversation between King Yadu and the avadhūta, a sensitive, reasonable person can acquire real knowledge and happiness simply by carefully observing the world around him. By observing the happiness and distress of other living entities, one can understand what is beneficial and what is destructive.

Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī states in this connection, gurv-anusaraṇe pravartaka ity arthaḥ: the knowledge acquired by one's own perception and intelligence leads one to appreciate the value of the representative of Lord Kṛṣṇa. The word śreyas in this verse indicates that one can advance in life through one's own intelligence. By good association one should gradually come to understand one's eternal position as servant of Kṛṣṇa, and then one becomes very eager to live in the company of other enlightened persons. Birds of a feather flock together. The symptom of an enlightened servant of Kṛṣṇa is that he is eager for the company of other such great souls. Thus by one's sensitive and rational observation of this material world, one should come to appreciate the value of spiritual life in the association of the devotees.

When the lion travels in the forest with its tail turned upward, all menial animals hide themselves. Similarly, when King Prithu will travel over his kingdom and vibrate the string of his bow, which is made of the horns of goats and bulls and is irresistible in battle, all demoniac rogues and thieves will hide themselves in all directions.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 4 Chapter 16 Verse 23

From the day I started the blog, I wanted to create a good page design for the blog but have been postponing this design issue for more than a year. But thanks to my wife with her graphic design capabilities, she volunteered to help me with the title bar picture. Check out the title bar!

Hare Krishna

By Chayadevi dd

We would like to thank all of you for your phone calls, messages and prayers. It means a lot to Balabhadra. I will try to explain as simply as possibly what has been happening with Balabhadra's health.

Karnamrita das: Dear God please help me Hare Krishna Hare Krishna chanting toward the wood pile. Darkness has fallen felling like a blanket making the yard small; another world existing only as far as the lights.

Divyambara dasi: Dates are Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, in the enchanting Joshua Tree Forest, California.We have incredible facilitators: Giriraj Swami, Bada Haridas Prabhu, Dravida Prabhu and Yajna Purusa Prabhu... and Apurva delicious cooking waiting to serve all of you!

Ila devi dasi: Rare and unique opportunity for a mature, faithful, enthusiastic web-master ISKCON devotee to compile and run the first ISKCON Guru website!

Sunday, 14th Dec, 2008. I awoke for breakfast. Even that was risky and I begged Sadhu to fetch me a plate. After I showered I ate breakfast in bed (well my bed was rolled up but the basic principle still applies). It was a new day and I had survived the marathon. Today was supposed to be a kirtana show at Pratapana’s yoga centre. I received an urgent call to pack my car full of lights to hurl off to the Lotus Room (yoga centre). I some how, miraculously, convinced Gaura to help us in this endeavour. Gaura was worried I would not make it back in time. We had already planned our “day at the beach”. I maniaced around the block to make it back in time. We waited in the lobby for Sri Prahlad to come, who was “deep under cover” (napping). Chandra Shakara was heading out for sankirtana and we dampened his ecstatic mood by letting him in on our plans for the day. The was a look of excitement and then the opposite as he realised he was already planned to do some Prabhupada nectar on the streets. When the team was assembled we hopped in the chariot and were ready to roll. While driving we asked our inside man, Gaura, the low down on the ho down. He broke it down for us: “Manly for waves and there is another place closer with no waves”. He seemed to be excited to go to the beach closer. Me and Sri Prahlad both looked at each other and Manly was decided. Gaura was not quite sure why we wanted waves but he was soon to be educated. We followed the super soul sense of the boys to a free beach side parking spot as apposed to my $5-7 “shoppers” parking. The boys slicked up (drenched themselves in sun screen) and we were off. We found a good spot right where we parked and the waves were almost constant and good for catching. Me and Sri Prahlad got into an epic water fight and he seemed to have the upper hand. All of a sudden a wave came along and he disappeared under it. I was ready to plummet him when he rose out of the water but he just didn’t seem to come up. I looked down at the shore and he was there?? He had caught the wave in a flash. From then on our new game was focused on the waves. Me and Prahlad were explaining many scientific formulas to Gaura on “how to catch a wave”. I scoped out Prahlad’s technique and improved my game also. Gaura was enthused to be catching waves after some time and was doing very well for a first time body surfer. While at the beach it was also enjoyable to watch a cute little Chinese couple get totally massacred by a wave. They scrambled out in total confusion leaving the surf for the day. After catching a fair few more waves than we expected, creating a wave catching following of about 40 people, having a few more wild non stop water fights and overstaying our one hour parking 2 or 3 times over, we thought it would be a good time to leave. We scrubbed off what sand we could and hit the road. We followed the boys “super souls” back home. On the way back it was heavy discussion on whether we should have an ice cream competition or not, and if not, why?? Sri Prahlad was on a calorie counting diet which he was doing with Indradyumna Swami and we were heavily tempting him to renounce his vows and admit to ice cream carnage. After him differing our thoughts for a fruit juice, and making a side quest to look for shoes, me and Gaura gorged down some serious Bulla imitation magnum ice creams. Gaura was insisting he would only eat 4 or maybe 5 of the twelve of the ice creams and leave the rest for me. By the end of it Gaura raced to the lead and had 7 ice creams and left me on my old score of 5. Sri Prahlad….enjoyed his fruit juice. We briefed back at the Falcon st temple. Domo was talking of assembling Village of Peace for Peats Ridge festival. I brought along my bass guitar for the possibility of playing along with the tour but after having 8 months off playing, due to travelling to Polish tour and asrham life, I had become pretty rusty. I hadn’t had any practice on tour either being a full commitment tour so I was rejected the opportunity. It was a little sad to hear I was missing out on being in the band seeing as my dad originally advertised travelling with Indradyumna Swami back in my “rock star” days. My inner child was crushed but logically it was not meant to be. We were quickly trying to make arrangements to fly Bhakta Adam from Melbourne, whom played bass in our shows. We were off to Govindas for the show and for a feed. I settled on finding my way to the buffet first before finding my way into the show. I was “supposedly” going to be doing the sound for Tribi’s starting bhajan. I was a bit anxious that it may start some time soon so I rushed down to get some sort of idea of what in tarnations I was doing?? I found a full house and Tribi was on the stage crowd pleasing. I couldn’t even make it to the front to get to the mixing desk and possibly have Domo yell his head off at me. The concept of me doing any sound work seemed to be quickly be forgotten. I stopped upstairs for a little more of the social scene until the crowd thinned out. I returned to the packed yoga centre for Indradyumna Swami’s speech and kirtana. He talked a bit on some positive vibes and then everyone stood up for some dancing. It was a small sampler of the wild kirtanas of Woodstock. I tried to live it out again and found myself dancing wildly with the Manipur boys who busted out like lunes on a full moon. After this I sat on a table close to Indradyumna Swami in the restaurant and chanted some serious japa. He called on Dwaipana Prabhu and asked him questions on different programs. They were talking also about Krsna Das, an influential mayavad kirtaneer. He seemed to be using hare krsna mantras to make big money. It was a hard hit for the Vaisnava train of thought. Later on in the trip I talked to my father about Dwaipana Prabhu, who had a successful Krsna Conscious program which brought 32 people to our culture in only a year. My dad mentioned 4 names I recognised including my MUM! When we returned to the pad we had a chill session in our ‘shram room (my getto way of saying ashram). Gopa Kumara was on the phone, someone who I met on Polish tour. We were all yelling different messages of love and comedy at him. At one time in the night me and Domo decided to have an epic wrestling match. Domo was carelessly throwing me around the room and leaving it to me to dodge bass guitars, laptops, digital cameras and people. Eventually it came to a stop when I went through one layer of the plaster wall. We quickly decided on ways to hide the damage. This reminded me of my childhood wrestles with my father where my brothers some how managed to go through a plaster wall. Before bed I decided to hook into some sankirtana stories for some inspiration. If I had more time in life I would probably absorb it in reading some inspiring stories of the sankirtana soldiers far more advanced than myself. I ended my day on a high note and hit the hay. Monday, 15th Dec, 2008. I woke up for a serious vege fest on the laptop. After assembling myself me and Domo did the finances. It was time to get pay backs for all my expenses. There were large bundles of cash getting thrown around for different sound gear, tolls and other essentials I had purchased over the last month. Sadhu expressed some enthusiasm to go test out his new boomerang. I reciprocated his feelings and we were off to the park. I had memory of throwing one in my childhood rather impressively and I learnt pretty quickly….that I was under some illusion. Eventually we managed to get some function out of the unpredictable throwing stick. After some time Domo gave me a call and the fun had to end. Just as I was leaving Bhavananda walked through and mocked us, “is this what you do with your time. Throw boomerangs around?” After a trip for some sound stuff I was doing a readingf session in the front lobby of the temple. Indradyumna Swami rolled in anxiously looking for his japa bag. He had some how lost it and we were all on foot looking for it. Having my reading done I headed off to the park for a long japa session. Everyone was out, Dina doing some jogging and the Yogis doing their asanas for practice. A few other devotees rolled through being the place to be. Eventually Domo came out into the park calling for me. I forgot my phone (or did I leave it on purpose?). We were off to the matajis house. We chowed down some pasta, Pringles and stolen chocolate. We headed back and Domo and Raja went to the shops leaving me in a dodgy back alley car park. It was mug fest for sure. Fortunately after what seemed like forever they came back and I was still alive. My plans for an early night had long gone out the door. It was almost mid night as I slipped into bed. I checked my email just before bed. Kusha was writing me to catch up in Sydney. Dad also had sent me an ecstatic email about one of the original TP’s from Sydney who was up in my home town. He was there for a few months and I would probably get to meet him when I returned to see if I could do bonafide book tables. This was a cool concept as I was hoping to do something like this somewhere down the line. It was another awesome note to hit the hay on. Tuesday, 16th Dec, 2008. I awoke and readied myself for gurupuja. It was HDG Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Goswami’s disappearance day today, a major on the Gaudiya Vaisnava calendar. Indradyumna Swami gave a bhagavatam class on Dhruva Maharaja. He mentioned loosing his japa bag the day before and finding them as he dropped them off his lap somewhere in the city. Breaky was off due to half day fast. I went upstairs to take advantage and do some hearing and chanting, thus being the point of such fasting. Gaura was on my mini harmonium busting out a bhajan and I joined in with my kartalas from Navadwipa which I manifested for the first time on tour. I started reading the passage of Bhagavatam out for the boys “joy”. It ended up being a strange subject matter, one I would otherwise recommend for personal study and not open brahmacari ashram recital, which I did very loudly. After this we procrastinated around a little more. There was information that Adam, our to be bassist, was sick. It was not a good sign for Village of Peace. After this I had a cool catch up session with Nimai on web cam and audio (all glories to modern technology). He was due to be the drummer fof VOP for the concert. He was hitting me up that I should take up the bass roll but I knew it was just a fleeting dream and was not worth anything but sentimentality. From Nimai it was genuine but last time we jammed I was in my prime and it was all our own original stuff. The fact was, if Adam was sick then it may not happen at all. Without warning I was rushed off to Peat’s Ridge with Domo and Tomtom. He drove and we wizzed off with a strangely manifested break fast. I had some milky sweet goodness that Dina had renounced due to some offence and Domo some how manifested 6 milk sweets and a whole lot of nuts. We stopped frequently for drinks on the way also. One thing we forgot was water for washing our hands. I took advantage of the window washer as a hand washer living up to my reputation of a madman. After receiving some local directions, totally ignoring the judgment of Tomtom the robo navigator, we made our way down the valley side of Peat’s Ridge. After cruising past the horses we battled flies for about an hour as we checked out our site. Domo had his camera making “official” footage for Indradyumna Swami. Upon returning I hid myself in our room. Dina came in and split me a burfi. It was Dina maha all day. I complimented him on his maha stealing skills, a serious kuli compliment. Me and Domo discovered Gaura’s chocolate stash, the same one we had been eating the day before at the matajis house. We guiltlessly consumed his minty chocy goodness leaving him whatever we felt he deserved (or couldn’t stuff down our own throats). As night dawned we were off for harinams in New Town. I took on a bit of madness on the harinam. I fled the responsibility of handing out fliers for the option of dancing like a lune down the streets of New Town. At one point I was carrying the amplifier. I some how didn’t seem to notice that the amp was totally running out of batteries. I just presumed the volume had died and, not knowing the amp so well, was waiting on Domo to come spruce it up. Chandra Shakara noticed first and flipped nobs like a mad man not seeming to know what he was doing. At this point Domo came for a battery change and a bit of chastisement. At this time we had totally juiced New Town for all it was worth. We had flyer bombed everything including vehicles (I don’t approve of vehicle bombing..). We had successfully bbq flavoured New Town (overcooked). On the way back with Tomtom I found myself alongside one of the vans. I pulled faces at the passengers and Gaura Hari (driver) until I realised Indradyumna Swami was on board also. Coming to the end of the night I had to find myself some fuel. Disobeying the orders of my highly insisting Tomtom I searched out a petrol station. After filling up I asked him to take me home but instead find myself down some hills where I had taken a japa walk some days before. After some serious mucking around I found myself back home and into bed. Wednesday, 17th Dec, 2008. I escaped slumber to find a line up for the bathrooms. I heard my glories while waiting for the bathroom. Apparently early in the morning I was snoring something chronic and totally fried my counterparts. Gaura was also telling me how in the van last night Prahlad had seen me and laughed. Indradyumna Swami asked Sri Prahlad “what are you laughing at?” “Oh just Maddy. He’s joking in the car next to us.” “Hmmm. He’s an eccentric one isn’t he.” I was now officially just a bit nutty in the eyes of the guru and most likely disciples. I did some maha cleaning of my car because today I had a special mission. I was to pick up Sadbhuja Prabhu from the domestic airport in the morning. He is a big man on the mayapur project (ie massive temple ISKCON is working on). After this it was class from Sri Prahlad. Gaura had been given a mission by Indradyumna Swami, to count how many slokas Sri Prahlad used in his class. Indradyumna Swami had noted that Sri Prahlad’s classes were good but he should quote more slokas to strengthen them. I decided I would help Gaura out and count some myself. It was real gurukul style class with heaps of references to different Mahabharata incidents. After 5 slokas I had to hit the road to pick up Sadbhuja. After doing some circuits around the airport I chilled in a little spot near by. I cruised back through for the pick up, doing a few more circuits while Sadbhuja made his way out into the pick up bay. We had a good catch up chat on the way home. It was ironic because last time I saw him was when he was dropping me off to the airport. It was in Calcutta heading out from Mayapur. I dropped him off at his place next to the temple, pranamed Bhavananda who manifested there and drove back to base. I had missed breaky and had snacked on nuts in the car. After the comment of Indradyumna Swami (through the grape vine) I had heard that morning I was feeling a bit extra nutty. I also ate a lot of nuts so the expression was rather literal and this also meant I had missed breaky (which for sure meant today I would be off my rocker). I was wondering around, singing and quoting sastric Sanskrit verses. Just as the lunch maha came out I had to head off in a rush with the sound gear. Food please??! After dropping off the sound gear in New Town for the show I was straight back for some more DRIVING. I picked up some matais, some silly stuff I forgot and headed back to New Town. I called Domo and he told me to take a “slight” detour. We went to pick up our favourite 3 phase to single phase gismo for the show. Tomtom, after trying to tell me I was going the wrong way, took us into heavy traffic back to New Town. I called Kusha and my father in the car while waiting for the lights and entertained the second language English back seaters with the blabbering of thick accents and mumbling. After the long wait we were back at the venue hanging out. We had Pratapana bringing more chairs and Gaura going to a party hire to pick up even more. We wanted to make the last show jam packed. While doing decorations with Dina One of the ropes on my dodgy, old, stage ladder broke. With total calmness, the kind one acquires from working a year and a half on power lines, I descended the collapsing ladder that may have given way leaving me mangled on the stage floor. Later on I was standing at the back of the hall and the boys decided to decorate the lights near me with some of our signature Indian style mobiles. I took a short step to the side to leave the room when I heard “crash”. I looked back to see in my place a pile of freshly broken glass. They managed to loose the light from above. After two near death (well near injury) experiences I decided to chill out a bit. Finally there came the much needed Prasadam. By this time I had a serious head ache. I gorged myself in my first real meal for the day. It was me and the two Mathurs on books, Slingy and Polish (Mathuresvari-Mataji with arm in a sling & Mathuranatha-Polish Prabhu from previous festival book table). We waited as the people piled in for the food. After some time Uncle John rolled in. I was expecting a few of my relatives to come to the show and he was the first. He let me know that most of the rest bailed out on me. He had some Prasadam and we had some photos taken. The first Udhava jumped into and the second a total stranger thought it was cool to jump into also. John was in total confusion it seemed. The call came for make up and I was off. After I got mine done I suddenly felt the need to nap it out and hit the floor in our tiny change room packed with people. After about one minute I was moved along but was fully satisfied. I normally lift my long sleeved up as not to get any of the make up paint from my hands on them, only this time I forgot to put them down (if you see the play you will realize what a difference this might make). The play was a bit of a dudd but everyone in the audience loved it. I stared out to see if I could see my grandparents but they were not there. I nearly fell off one of the yogis shoulders and Chandra Shekarararararara (how many raras??) avoided his stunt of me slapping him in the face. I was very much disappointed with him for protecting his face over making a good effect for the show (but I did hit him pretty hard the last performance). Me and Mathuranatha were sent down town to pick up some water for the performers. He was happy to find that he could roam around in dohti (traditional Vaisnava dress) and no one would make such a deal in Australia. We also bumped into the girl I met at the temple who was with Sy, a man I met some time back at the Sunday feast in New Guardian (as I may have explained in earlier diary entries). I was feeling a bit sore in the head still and had some Ch’I. After this I was back stage. Indradyumna Swami had just finished his talk and was asking Bhavananda to give him an honest opinion. It ended with the two embracing and Bhavananda headed off, giving me a pat on the back as he headed out. At the end of show kirtana I was holding down the lights just so they didn’t fall into the enthusiastic crowd. This gave me a front row seat of the kirtana and of the crowds. It was so nice seeing so many people chanting the holy names of the lord and dancing for fun. After all the excitement I rushed back out to the table for the last Sydney book crowd. The table was cool as anything. We sold all our 14 Gitas, including 3 I had to bring from my own personal collection. I met a cool couple who got a Gita and totally loved the show. They loved the Yogis pushing their limits on stage. I talked to them about the concept of perfection. After the crowds began to dicipate John came out. Behind John was my grand parents, affectionately known as Gram-mae and Gram-pae. We had a nice long hug session and some what of a chat. Grandma was crying with our first hug and was squeezing me as tightly as her little body could handle. I gave Grandpa a gift of our sound track CD. I knew he would benefit from the kirtanas on there if he listened to them. It was a fond goodbye. Grandma was constantly saying “You good boy” which she often has said throughout time in her limited English to express her happiness with us. Grandpa said “good luck on your path” slightly confused with two generations of his children escaping his traditional Christian upbringing. I think he was happy with the crowd I was in all other senses of things. I could tell now by his children and grandchildren that he was in some way a very godly man. The Mathurs were touched by the exchange. Mathuranatha noted that by my Grandmother’s general expression that she really cared for me. It was all a big warm and fluffy incident with tears and all sappy stuff. I was pleasantly happy they could make it to the show and soak in the nectar while they had the chance. Me and Mathura teamed up on pack up. After this I loaded up with a funny group and headed home. After some expressions of doubt from Chandra I overcompensated my city driving and found myself stuck behind the Sydney harbour bridge totally closed off. Once everyone had fallen asleep I managed to make my familiar way home. At this point in time Tomtom managed to do great disservice. The day had totally moved onto the next as we wound down to bed. The Sydney shows were over. Our tour was officially over for the region. The shows almost all managed to escalate in success. [Position Vacant: Editor. Hello guys. I have been getting great wraps for my blog and this in turn has swollen my head to the size of a melon with an excess of false ego. But I am still being deflated when it is commonly spoken that I need an editor. So the salary is pure unalloyed semi devotional service. I can send this in daily or weekly instalments. Basically you will get a sneak peak at the diaries (wow…) and you will have to be able to edit them in a day or two. Jiv Jago! Bolo!]

This post is by Dr. Amir Farid Isahak, who visited Mayapur as URI pilgrim. He is a medical specialist who practises holistic, aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine.

Interfaith Prayer

by Dr. Amid Farid Isahak.

I recently spent nearly two weeks as a vegan, interfaith explorer and peace-pilgrim at the world headquarters of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness, more popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement) at Sri Mayapur, West Bengal, India.

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4 Jan, 2008. Report from Ratanvali dd

During the week Maharaja’s schedule is very tight doing three kinds of therapies. Weekly once on Sunday is a holiday for the physiotherapists and it is a break day for Maharaja. As today is Sunday the plan was to take Maharaja to Hanuman Tekri temple and Braja Hari Prabhu also suggested Guru Maharaja to be taken to the beach which is very close by. It was scheduled to leave at 10am.

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Battlefield Bhajans Vol. 32

written in the Minneapolis Airport

Dedicated to Srila Prabhupada and his servants, HG Puspavan, Caitanya and Vinay Prabhus and Gopisvari & Bhaktin Vicky

Holidays at ISV

Most people spend the holidays eating unmentionable foodstuffs, consuming alcohol , etc., the ISV family is far form the average american family.  On Christmas Eve many devotee met at the temple to absorb themselves in hearing and chanting the Holy Names of Krsna.  This temple lead by HG Vaisesika Prabhu spends hours together hearing, chanting and preaching the message of Lord Caitanya. On Christmas Day we went to the temple, for a class and for bhajans. We were treated to a terrific feast by HG Gauranga Kishore and Vaisnava Prabhus. I lead the first chanting session and the devotee were so enthusiastic. HG Rasikananda Prabhu lead the next shift and he had the devotees experiencing high states of ecstasy from chanting the Lord’s name in such a sweet melody. I was thinking how wonderful it is to just sit down together and chant. The following day is one of the biggest shopping days in the US. Most go and return gifts. This was a great opportunity to give the gift of KC. We arrived on the site and started harinama, the book table was set up but the devotees with the books were stuck in traffic. I had a few small books. Out of nowhere a car pulls up… it’s the devotees with the books with an emergency resupply of books. Devotees run over to car before it starts and within seconds the books are unloaded. Even more amazing was as boxes of books were hitting the ground, devotees were opening them and gabbing books.  I met some very nice people out on the street. One man came up to me very excited, he was saying how he loves the art in our books and asked if we had that painting with the changing of bodies, I showed the Bhagavad-Gita and he gave a donation and said if anyone gives you a problem, tell them big Jon said it’s ok. I didn’t really know how to take that, but it was nice that he was very excited about getting one of Prabhupada’s books. There were so many devotees out distributing books, at one point I counted twelve devotees. Combine that with the harinama party attracting a crowd and they easily passed their goal of 500 books! ISV is an amazing place that is centered on sankritana. They even have small children out distributing books. They don’t force the kids, the naturally want to be involved in giving out the mercy.  I met many people that were very interested in Srila Prabhupada’s books, some said they were searching for something spiritual in their lives.  After harinama, we were treated to a wonderful feast prepared by Mother Nirakula and more hearing and chanting. I was catching up with Gauranga Kishore Prabhu and we discuss many topics.  On saturday I was able to spend some quality time with Vaisesika Prabhu and Mother Nirakula. We went for a walk in the Redwood Forest, the same forest that Srila Prabhupada walked in. On the way to the forest we stopped at a store to get a juice and Vaisesika Prabhu distributed a book to the clerk! The redwood forest was very peaceful.  I shared some of my thoughts with Vaisesika Prabhu who gave me great me sound advice.  I felt much better after our walk. The next day I boarded my flight for lonely Seattle. I was sad because this was my last visit for the next six months.

New Years in DC

I was invited to DC to conduct programs over the New Years holiday week. I was on my flight and the person next to me told me her whole life story before we even taxied out of the gate. She expressed sorrow that her sister just died and she doesn’t have much time left in this life. She saw the Srimad Bhagavatam I was trying to read and asked if that was the same as the Bhagavad Gita, I said yes and started explaining to her about Srila Prabhupada’s books. She was very interested and asked if I had any extra books. I reached into my laptop bag and handed her a Bhakti book. The man next to her said that this sounds interesting and if I had a book for him, why yes I said and also gave him a book. Just then the man next to me said hey dude, ya got a book? I said yup and handed him my last small book. So many people are hungry for Srila Prabhupada’s books. I arrived and was picked up, and I settled in. Being New Years I know the program would go late. We were treated to a screening of HG Yadubara and Vishaka Prabhu’s  new Vol. of Following Srila Prabhupada. This Vol. focused on the opening of Krsna Balarama Mandir in Vrdinavana. It was breath taking to watch and hear form the devotees. The part where Srila Prabhupada was offering arati… wow, can you say powerful! One memory captured my mind. Mother Vishaka was saying how she was trying to photograph Prabhupada but Tripurari Swami was standing in the way and not moving. After trying a few time to get him the move, she whispered to him, if you stay there you can see the arati, but if you move millions will see Srila Prabhupada. With that said Maharaja moved and she took a very famous photo of Prabhupada. Afterwards Mother Rukimini and me talked. She was explaining her concern about my health and how I am traveling a lot. She used the same quote that Mother Vishaka said. She said Prabhu, if you neglect your body, and don’t care for it properly on you will know about Krsna, but if you care for it, many more people will have the chance to know about Krsna. I surrendered, that really got in mind, and made me finally realize that I need to step back and breathe, and stop living such an intense life. I need to leave the tempo of the Army behind me and really transition properly in my new service. The youth lead some amazing bhajans and they requested me to sing. Afterwards I went to take rest at 11:30 p.m. Next day back up at 3:30 am and off to glorify the spiritual master. I love going to Mangala Arati, it really helps make your day more devotional. I gave class on Srimad Bhagavatam Third Canto about chanting and offenses to the Holy Name.  That evening I was invited my the youth to give class in Baltimore. The Baltimore temple room is very tiny, which makes standing in front of Deities very intimate.  I gave a short class and the kids asked many questions. I wanted to focus and helping them and encouraging them in spiritual life. Some are very dedicated, one girl Vrnda has been chanting 16 rounds everyday, and still goes to high school. That is very impressive. Vinay was in Vrindavan doing food for life.   The next day I was invited to a home program at Bhaktin Vicky and Gauravani Mataji’s house. I arrived and went into the temple room and immediately was staring at two life size murtis of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura! I was blown away and the presence of Them was felt. I prayed to Srila Bhaktisiddanta Thakura that he can bestow his mercy on me and give the strength to continue in my new service and make a difference in this world.  The program was small and personal. I gave a short talk form the Bhagavad-Gita and  some nice questions were asked. Afterwards we chanted one round together and honored prasadam.  More bhajans followed. Bhaktin Vicky lead a nice tune and Ram Das lead an amazing bhajan. I was inspired to sing a new tune I was trying to learn, but was very shy because I have almost no musical ability. Ram Prabhu really encouraged me and everyone enjoyed the tune. I was amazed because like I said I am a horrible singer. The mercy of the devotee can take one a long way on the path back to Godhead. The next day I had a packed schedule, in the morning I was giving class at the Institute in DC. This house is amazing, they leave the door open so devotees can come in all day and do some service. Also the compassion of the devotees can be seen. One devotee who comes in handicapped, the devotees welcomed him in, sat him down, took his coat off, took his shoes off and during prasadam feed him and wiped his face afterwards. It really touched my heart. Also this house is a tirtha because HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami spend a considerable amount of time there. His presence is really felt in his quarters. I gave a short class focusing on the need to preach to people in kali yuga to get them off the material platform. We had a big discussion on book distribution and they were very interested in establishing smart boxes. I offered my assistance in any way and felt encouraged to see these devotee fired up about distributing books. The prasadam was amazing, and I ate much more than I normally eat. That evening was sacred sounds program at Puspavan Prabhus home. Two years ago, he expressed his desire to worship Sri Salagram Sila. He asked me how to invote the Lord. I told him buy the needed items for worship and invite Him, He will come. So two years later he sent an email asking if I could arrange a Sila for Him. I agreed and now it was time to welcome the Lord to His new home. I remember my Guru Maharaja forwarded me a verse about the power of worshipping a Narsimha Salagram Sila. The verse states

“A tulasi leaf offered to the lotus feet of the Nrsimha Salagrama Sila
destroys the sin of murder. Water that has washed the lotus feet of the
Nrsimha Salagrama Sila destroys the sin of theft. Foodstuff offered to the
Nrsimha Salagrama Sila destroys the sin of drinking liquor. Sincere
surrender to the Nrsimha Salagrama Sila destroys the sin of adultery with
the wife of the spiritual master. Association with the devotees of the
Nrsimha Salagrama Sila destroys the sin of offenses to the devotees. This is
the extraordinary glory of the Nrsimha Salagrama Sila”
-Sri Agama

From Rupa Gosvami’s personal verse book entitled Padyavali, pada 2, text 116

I gave a class describing the Glories of Lord Nrsimha and how he acts like a lioness with her cubs to His devotees and how He kills the demons. I spoke a little about how this form of the Lord helped many soldiers leave their bodies in Iraq. After the class HG Yadubara Prabhu lead and amazing Nrsmiha Pranams and we honored prasadam.  We continued with the hearing and chanting and eventually left for the temple. It was a very trip to DC and I enjoyed my time spent there.

Sadhana:
Japa: give you heart to the Holy Name. We should just surrender to the Holy Name and allow it to fully cleanse out hearts
Reading: Reading the 2nd Canto now, and to start developing my relationship with Vrindavan I am reading and memorizing slokas from the Sri Vraja-riti-cintamani written by Srila Vsivanatha Cakravarti Thakura
Book distribution: It is upsetting that more devotees don’t encourage book distribution. We read so many stories about how devotees were made by coming in contact with Prabhupada’s books. Even after hearing this, we still don’t understand the importance of this service. Prabhupada would hear the book scores when he was ill and it brought him great joy. Here are my book scores for the month of Dec
small 210
maha big hrd 3
big sft 1
big hrd 4
magazines 110

We have twenty-one days left in the military, time is flying by. I am starting the out processing this week and then the following week I am in Houston. I beg the devotees to bless me to make the most out of the once in a lifetime opportunity that Krsna has arranged.

Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service
Partha-sarathi Dasa

Parikrama

A recent zdnet article IT ethics and the recession examined the ethics of IT workers in three countries. The punch line: a large percentage of folks surveyed would steal confidential company data in the event of layoff rumors. The results are fairly ugly, painting a negative picture of ethics in the workplace.

What this demonstrates is that for many people ethics are situational, that is to say: ethical behaviour is acceptable when it produces a desired result. When desired results and ethical behaviour diverge, ethical behaviour goes out the window, and chasing results by whatever means necessary becomes the modus operandi.

These people are not Doing the Right Thing(tm) under normal circumstances. They are Pretending to Do the Right Thing. That their actions are ethical under normal circumstances is a matter of convenience - it's an appearance only. Their underlying orientation and attachment to the material outcomes of action is the cause of sinful behaviour.

A devotee performs his or her actions as a means of pleasing the Supreme Lord. That is the single motivation for action ("one-pointed intelligence"). Thus their commitment to right action (dharma) is unaffected by the "good" and "bad" results that may or may not eventuate. Those with irresolute intelligence are chasing many different goals (in terms of the results of activities - different material outcomes). They will modify their actions and misalign themselves with dharma if they perceive that it will allow them to achieve their goals.

The Right Thing to Do is always the right thing to do.
- Dr. John C. Maxwell

Always choose the hard right over the easy wrong
- Andy Stanley

Related posts:
The Right Thing
The Right Thing Part 2

By Krishna-kripa das

(December 2008, part two)

Philadelphia, Queens, and Montreal
(Sent from Albany, New York, on 1/4/09)

Where I Am and What I Am Doing

I split the second half of December between Philadelphia and Montreal, both of which have daily harinama programs. One Sunday I took a day trip to Queens.

I lived in Philadelphia in the mid-1980s.

I was so happy to see the Deities Radha Saradbihari once again.

It was also nice to see devotees who had lived in Philadelphia ever since I was last there, headed by Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu.

There are unique things about each of our temples: In Philly they offer the Deities flower petals during the greeting, they chant the Prabhupada Strotam before Guru Puja, and they have lots of maha sweets at breakfast, including burfi, which is rarely attained without special endeavor in most temples. They have a Sunday School with three different grade levels. Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu gives regular lectures during which you always learn something new about Krishna, and Vishnu Gada Prabhu is there to lead some great kirtanas. Then there is Govinda’s which is both fast food and a regular restaurant.

 

Prabhupada Nectar

One Prabhupada disciple told me he stopped chanting for some years. Prabhupada came to him in dreams several times and asked him to chant. The last time Prabhupada asked him to chant in a dream, the devotee replied, “But I have to work to maintain my family.” Prabhupada responded, “So did I, but I chanted.” Since then the devotee has chanted sixteen rounds each day.

One young lady, although attracted by Krishna consciousness, had doubts when the devotees described Srila Prabhupada as being completely pure. “How can anyone be completely pure?” she thought. Later she had a dream in which she saw Srila Prabhupada conducting an initiation ceremony, chanting on the devotees’ beads, etc. The more she watched him, the more she appreciated the purity of his actions. Finally, she came to the point of accepting that Prabhupada really was a pure devotee. Just then, in the dream, Srila Prabhupada handed her some beads and told her to chant Hare Krishna.

 

For me, these kinds of dreams remind us that although Srila Prabhupada appears not to be present, he is still here, ready to reciprocate with us and elevate us to spiritual life. If we really are sincere, we need not worry.

 

Gaura Prabhu: Srila Prabhupada says that if someone leaves we should think that it is at least 50% our fault.

 

Gokulananda Prabhu: One devotee was telling Srila Prabhupada that many devotees, especially the big devotees, were coming where Prabhupada was for the Ratha-yatra. “Big devotees?” Srila Prabhupada replied, with surprise, “We are trying to become small devotees.”

From Srila Prabhupada’s CC Adi 5.66, purport: “The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Absolute Whole, and the living entities are parts of the Absolute Whole. This relationship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the living entities is eternal. One should never mistakenly think that the spiritual whole can be divided into small parts by the small material energy. The Bhagavad-gita does not support this Mayavada theory. Rather, it clearly states that the living entities are eternally small fragments of the supreme spiritual whole. As a part can never be equal with the whole, so a living entity, as a minute fragment of the spiritual whole, cannot be equal at any time to the Supreme Whole, the absolute Personality of Godhead.”

 

From his SB 5.18.4 purport: “No one should think of himself as a liberated person immune to the influence of maya. Everyone should very cautiously execute devotional service by rigidly following regulative principles. Thus he will remain fixed at the lotus feet of the Lord. Otherwise, a little inattention will create havoc.”

From his SB 5.18.11 purport: “All the great saints in the devotional line very strongly recommend the process of hearing. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu introduced the congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra to give everyone a chance to hear Krishna’s holy name, for simply by hearing Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, one becomes purified (ceto-darpana-marjanam [Cc. Antya 20.12]). Therefore our Krishna consciousness movement is chiefly engaged in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra all over the world.”

From NOD, Chapter 25: “Anyone who becomes exhilarated by hearing of the pastimes of Lord Krishna when He was present on this earth with His associates is to be understood as nitya-siddha, eternally perfect.”

From his SB 3.21.31, purport: “To award fearlessness to the common man is the great act of charity.”

From Friends of the BBT Newsletter, January 2009:

When Tribhuvanath Dasa, who had been staging festivals up till then, asked, “Should I stop and just do book distribution?” Prabhupada replied, “No. Do everything side by side.” He elaborated, in a 1973 letter to Prabhavishnu Swami, “Go and do these six things: Distribute books, chant in public, give out prasadam, give out flyers, answer people’s questions, and hold a program in someone’s home.”

 

A Dream That Increased My Faith

 

A teenaged girl who had some attraction to Krishna consciousness wondered how to proceed. It was difficult for her to get devotional association as the nearest temple was several hours from her home. At one point, a devotee who was one of the ISKCON initiating gurus appeared to her in a dream and introduced himself by name. He then began to teach her from a book called Science of Self-Realization, proceeding through it, chapter by chapter. Finally, he instructed her to teach others. After awakening, she remembered the guru’s name from the dream, and did an Internet search, finding a web page with his name and photo. Indeed, the photo matched the person in the dream! She got his contact information from some devotees she met who, coincidentally, were his disciples. She corresponded with him for some time, and ultimately took shelter of him by initiation. Now a decade since the dream, she is very happily engaged in his service.

For me the amazing part of the story is that she did not know the name of the guru or what he looked like, nor had she ever seen the book called Science of Self-Realization before. Usually, in dreams, images we have seen previously are often combined in new or odd ways, but how would content that we had not experienced enter our dreams, except by divine intervention. The story may increase the faith of some people who doubt the potency of ISKCON gurus. It might also benefit new persons who are worried about choosing a guru. Sometimes, as in this case, the Lord makes an obvious arrangement.

 

Christmas Eve Day in Suburban Station

 

Philly’s Suburban Station is a great location to chant on cold, windy, or wet days. You do not need permission to do music, only if you set up a table and sell things. There is, however, the problem of competition with other musicians. Anindita Mataji, took a break from her book table to make a deal with the acoustic guitarist with an amplifier who was playing at the same time, and he agreed we could play together.

I started out playing my mini accordion, with the guitarist following.

 

He was a great musician who had been playing for twenty years. It must have been a great act of tolerance for him to follow me, an amateur musician playing the accordion just a few months. Some people appreciated the unusual experience. Seeing the guitarist begin to tire of chanting Hare Krishna, Bhagavatananda Prabhu suggested that he play George Harrison’s classic “My Sweet Lord”, which includes a Hare Krishna mantra chorus in it.

 

Queens Sunday Feast

 

Sunanda Prabhu, and some of my godbrothers from Queens, invited me to give the Sunday lecture at our temple there. They have the most beautiful Krishna-Balarama Deities, carved by the same person as the Vrindavana’s Krishna-Balarama.

The temple is attended mostly devotees of Indian descent from the Caribbean, many who love kirtana and have a nice service mentality. I had a very positive experience there.

Montreal Metro Meditations

 

Radha Govinda Prabhu of Montreal told me back in 2005 that the devotees chant daily in the subways in Montreal in the winters, so I decided to spend part of my winter break there. I went out for four days of harinama and gave at least a lecture a day for five days as well. They reserve two hours slots in the subway station six days a week, once the weather gets cold in mid-November, and from four to seven devotees go chant there, more on Saturdays. Harinama leader Nrsimha Caitanya Prabhu goes to the metro station sometime between 3 and 5 a.m. in the morning to reserve the spot, a great sacrifice. Guy Concordia station, near a college in the English speaking area of Montreal is a favorite location.

 

Gaura Prabhu, who I met in Mayapur, and chanted with on the sidewalks of London and the park in Amsterdam led harinama the first day. The rightmost devotee gave a flyer to a Chinese man, who came to the Sunday feast. A well wisher gave a donation of $20.

 

One day a flute player stopped to join us briefly.

 

Some passers by look with curiosity.

 

Some leave donations and receive Bhagavad-gita for $5 or a small book for less.

 

Once someone asked if we had Bhagavad-gita for sale, and gave a $10 donation. In December the devotees received over $500 just by doing harinama.

The acoustics is great in the metro station and while waiting for the trains and when leaving them one can easily near the kirtana which fills the air. We also can chant softly with harmonium and drum on the metro back to the temple. The regular harinama devotees were all enthusiastic singers and dancers, and very friendly. I hope they can keep up their nice standard.

 

Although never in Montreal as a devotee, I met many devotees I knew in addition to Gaura Prabhu, who I already mentioned. Jagannatha Prabhu studied Bhakti Sastri with me in Mayapur. Janadhana Prabhu took a course on Sadaputa Prabhu’s Origins lectures I taught at Rupanuga Vedic College., and I met Golukananda Prabhu and his son, as well as Nrsimha Caitanya, in Mayapur. The newlyweds, Jaya and Uddhava, who showed pictures from their marriage one evening, I knew from Alachua. Akhilesvara Prabhu once spent some time in Alachua as well. It is truly a small world!

 

On New Year’s Eve, the Montreal youth had a program at the temple until midnight including three plays, two in English and one in French. All thanks to Bhakin Tanya for directing them. One was the best rendition of “The Brahmana and the Cobbler” I had ever seen, with both the brahmana and the cobbler playing their parts very nicely. In another play, Bhakta Greedy heard in one Bhagavatam class that you could go back to Godhead by merely taking prasadam. Following that leading, he ate so much prasadam, it took four brahmacaris two hours to pull him through the temple room. Finally he could not rise, and a doctor put him on a diet of boiled vegetables, which cured him. When cured, he could not take only one plate of halava, remembering the austerity of the diet. His saving grace was a great service attitude he acquired through prasadam and devotee association.

 

Montreal is not on the circuit of many world preachers, and the devotees there are hungry for good association, and they do reciprocate. There biggest day for harinama is June 24, and their Ratha-yatra is one or two weekends after July 4. Check out their web site at www.iskconmontreal.ca.

 

Their Radha Manohara are ever-fresh beauties.

 

I had a great time there, and I look forward to returning next time I come to Albany, NY to see my family.

 

Insight from Lectures

 

Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu, SB 11.4.6, weekly conference call class:

 

Nara-Narayana Rsi promotes naiskarmya karma-yoga.

 

Indra was worried about Nara-Narayana Rsi’s powerful penances, thinking the Rsi may seize his kingdom. “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.” (From Shakespeare’s Henry IV. Part II, 1597.)

 

Tridasapura-akasa-puspayate: The cities of the heavenly kingdom are like flowers in the sky. Devotees are not attracted by such illusory pleasure.

 

Nara-Narayana Rsi lack of anger when tempted by Indra’s dancing girls is especially mentioned. Lord Siva once conquered lust with wrath but was unable to be free from wrath’s effects. Sometimes demigods place obstacles in the path of those, who do not give sacrificial results to them, because they prefer to worship the Supreme Lord alone.

 

The way to deal with obstacles is to use their energy in a positive way, just as an expert martial artist uses his opponent’s energy to defeat him.

 

Not only does Indra get carried away by lust and anger, but in the Greek tradition, the gods also get carried away by such things. Thus thinkers like Socrates did not have a high opinion of the worship of “the gods.”

Q: In the Christian tradition, saints see temptations as sent by demons, but here we see that temptations are sent by the demigods.

A: Any Christian who thinks about it must come to the conclusion that the devil must be some representative of God, otherwise there must be two Gods. In the course of spiritual life we see that material things come to us, and we have to reject them. The early Christians believed the Greek and Roman gods to be demons. Sometimes when they exorcized the spirits, the spirits would say as they departed, “I am Apollo and my temple is there.”

 

Ramananda Prabhu: If a peon comes and gives you a letter with a thousand dollars, you don’t reject it, thinking how can this poor man give me a thousand dollars. Similarly we do not reject the spiritual knowledge, when given by the humble representative of God.

 

Gaura Prabhu: When we chant “Sri Vishnu, Sri Vishnu, Sri Vishnu” before taking medicine, it is not that we are offering the medicine to the Lord, but we are remembering the medicine is not all in all. Without the mercy of Lord Vishnu, medicine alone is not enough.

 

Gokulananda Prabhu: The upraised arms of the devotee dancers have a dual meaning:

1) All glories to You, O Lord.

2) I surrender to You.

 

Anubhava Prabhu:

 

When you chant Hare Krishna you must do it while willing to attain Krishna.

Whatever devotional service we are doing, we should be very glad that we have the opportunity to serve Krishna, instead of serving our senses.

When we conquer over our lower self, we feel satisfied.

When love is there, you can do anything to serve Krishna.

 

Vibisana Prabhu:

 

What ever the spiritual master says, you must try to execute. You may be successful or not, but you have to try.

 

While serving the Lord we feel more satisfied as the tree is satisfied when the root is supplied water and not the leaves.

 

One friend who was very advanced intellectually, but when I showed him Bhagavad-gita he could not understand a word of it, and he became angry with me.

 

One man in LA used to spit and throw rocks at the harinama party. He later became a devotee.

 

Ramananda Prabhu tells a story of a man who was so angry seeing a devotee lady distributing a Krishna book on the train, he ripped up the book and threw the lady, who was very slight in stature, off the train as it was pulling out, injuring her. He had thrown the damaged book in his own bag. At home, his maid found it, repaired it, and put it on his bookshelf, where it remained for years. After his wife died, and his son left home, he happened to read the book. The philosophy concerning reincarnation comforted him in his loss. He came to a Hare Krishna temple near his home in very humble and apologetic mood, explaining the whole story to the temple president. He gave a donation to the temple and regularly attended, and finally became a devotee.

 

Mother Savitri: “Hiranyakasipu, on the occasion of Hiranyaksa’s death, gave a very Krishna conscious lecture to his relatives about the immortality of the soul. He is the best example of a person who gives a great class but doesn’t follow his own instructions.”

 

Celia, a UF student who chants on the campus with us in Gainesville, from an internet chat: “When you miss devotees, it’s a different kind of missing. You miss more and stronger because you miss a link to Krishna. Every devotee is like a little link to Krishna.”

duhkha-madhye kona duhkha haya gurutara?

krishna-bhakta-viraha vina duhkha nahi dekhi para

 

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Of all kinds of distress, what is the most
painful?”

Sri Ramananda Raya replied, “Apart from separation from the devotee of Krishna, I know of no unbearable unhappiness” (Cc. Madhya 8.248).

Today's Sunday Feast recording can be viewed by clicking the image below. The videos feature class by HG Rupanuga das and the 8:00pm arati by Ajamila das.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

For many people across the globe it is "inner"-ventory time, a check list of what's personally in stock, good and bad. New Year's resolutions are expressed openly or reserved as private commitments. We review and renew vows that are hopefully doable. It is a very personal thing.

My own personal vows have been in the making for some months now. Like some brew that had been steeping - herbs, leaves, spices and essence, certain wishes have been on the simmer cooking up, anticipating the conversion into something practical. First, you desire, then plan, then put into action.

The success of trekking Ireland this last summer gave me the inspiration to test other nations' soils on foot. I have Guyana in mind as well as Fiji and maybe New Zealand, as sponsors have come forward to have me in those countries for teaching. Time will allow for the walks while I'm there.

Signs of encouragement are out there to insert the message of bhakti, devotion. For instance after an exuberant drumming and chanting session on New Year's Eve held at Old City Hall following the count down to usher in 2009 to the explosion of fireworks, a tall native fellow came up to me to express, "You guys did really good getting everyone to sing and dance." Earlier in the day, a CBC television interviewer came by the temple to ask what particular way will followers of Krishna celebrate.

"What is the goal of life?" he asked additionally.

The encouragement is on. So resolutions may be flying. We just have to make them land.

4 Km

Every week I see thousands of people come to the temple from far away places... they stand in front of the temple altar and with folded hands make their heartfelt prayer to God. Sometimes i wonder what they are actually praying for. Good health? Wealth and prosperity? Success in exams and career? Many of us may have made these prayers in our own lives. However, are these the best things we can ask God for?

A great saintly king from thousands of years ago compared material benefits to broken glass. Such glass is useless, providing no real benefit, and must be immediately disposed of due to its dangerous nature. Will our material aspirations really bring us the peace, satisfaction and happiness that we are longing for? Nobody can deny the temporary comfort and pleasure they provide us, but in the ultimate sense they fall short. Whats more, in the frantic pursuit for these goals we are diverted from our real purpose and actual source of happiness.

Can we afford to spend our valuable lives building castles in the sand? Castles that will inevitabley be washed away by the indiscriminate waves of time...

You can see a slide show of Saturday's celebration of Ratha Yatra here.

What's my favourite sweet in the whole world? Rasgullas. Unfortunately they are hard to make, and I have rarely encountered perfect ones outside of Bengal, their home.

Dr Rajesh Khatwani has been corresponding with me for some time, trying to perfect the art himself. The goal: Round, soft and spongy Rasgullas that squeak when bitten.

He just sent me some film footage of his success. Impressive, though only for serious cooks.

Check it out:

Part One Part Two

Update [6:30 pm EST] - Fortunately we were able to fix the technical difficulties! Enjoy the first Sunday feast of the New Year !!!Hare Krishna.

Live Broadcasting by Ustream

Ratha-yatra report from Manoj. There are some nice pictures in this report...

Luckily, I woke up early today at 2:30am ! After a nice cold shower (forgot to turn that hot water system again !!), I reported for Mangal arti by 4:20am. There were already a few devotees there and as usual we had a nice morning session. The highlight today was the return of Lord Jagannath back to the altar.

You can see Adrian's Facebook photos here and Bernadette's here.

I was thinking about this aspect of Japa during the Japa Room presentation today . When I think about my Japa when I rise in the morning, do I chant because I have to chant? Or is it because I want to chant!

1971 January 4: "My Guru Maharaja has declared that the real life of a man is preaching. If one has got any life at all in him then he will preach. So I am very, very pleased by your constant efforts."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 January 4 : "People are appreciating how pure our devotees are. Stick very strictly to these principles. Then very soon our movement will become the world religion as has been predicted."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 January 4: "Unless I order you otherwise, go on with the usual standard way. I have given you everything already, there is no need for you to add anything or change anything."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 January 4: "The greatest danger to our movement will come when we manufacture and create our own process. Whatever is going on, follow it just to the exact standard as I have given you, that's all."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 January 4 : "You may be appointed by me to give first initiations. They shall, of course, still be considered as my disciples, but you will be empowered by me to chant their beads and that is the same effect as if I were personally chanting."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 January 4 : "My Dear George, I am so much pleased that you sent your car filled-up with fruits and flowers on the Disappearance day of my Guru Maharaja. Surely you will become blessed by Him more and more."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 January 4 : "Yes, if we have too much money then unwise spending enters. You have just enough to get by and you are therefore having to spend wisely."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 January 4 : "Those young boys are living as true brahmacaris. Bring them all to India for Lord Caitanya's appearance day and they can also attend the opening of the Krishna-Balarama Temple in Vrndavana."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975:

Source: thestar.com.my BY DR AMIR SHAIK A gathering in India of different religions and different people offers hope for the unity of religions. PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA - I recently spent nearly two weeks as a vegan, interfaith explorer and peace-pilgrim at the world headquarters of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness, more popularly known as the Hare Krishna [...]

COMPASSION
Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode’s Sri Caitanya-Siksamrta

When a person takes shelter of bhakti, mercy towards all living entities is a natural quality. Compassion does not have a separate existence from bhakti. The quality which when offered to the Lord is called bhakti or prema, becomes friendship, compassion and indifference when directed towards other living beings. It is a feeling which is inherent in the eternal nature of the soul. In the spiritual realm this quality manifests only as friendship, but in the material world it manifests as friendship towards devotees, mercy towards the innocent, and indifference towards the offenders. These are but different aspects of the same compassion.

In the conditioned state this compassion is extremely stunted. It starts with one’s own body, then widens to include one’s household, then one’s varna, then one’s countrymen. Expanding, it includes the human beings of the whole world. Compassion becomes complete when it is directed towards all living entities.

Patriotism is but an aspect of this sentiment in relation to one's country. Philanthropy is compassion directed towards all humanity. The vaisnava should not be limited by these sentiments. He has compassion for all living entities, not wanting to cause harm to any of them.

* Bhaktivinode Thakur’s footnote:
tasmat sarvesu bhutesu dayam kuruta sauhrdam
bhavam asuram unmucya yaya tusyaty adhoksajah

"Therefore, my dear young friends born of demons, please act in such a way that the Supreme Lord, who is beyond the conception of material knowledge, will be satisfied. Give up your demoniac nature and act without enmity or duality. Show mercy to all living entities by enlightening them in devotional service, thus becoming their well-wishers." (Bhag. 7.6.24)

The Bhagavad-gita verse that I’ve picked for this week comes from Chapter 8: Attaining the Supreme. The original Sanskrit title of this chapter is Taraka Brahma Yoga. Directly translated, it’s The Yoga of Attaining the Absolute (as translated by Tripurari Swami).

Each week, I am choosing a Bhagavad-gita verse and sharing four different Gaudia-Vaisnava translations of it. I then pick it apart and sometimes interject my own unsolicited commentary.

Chapter Eight begins with Arjuna asking Krishna some very important questions. He asks “what is the absolute truth? what is karma?” Krishna then teaches him that whatever one remembers at the time of death is what he attains in his next life. Those who remember the Supreme Lord, attain Him.

Bhagavad-gita 8.16 sums up the first part of the chapter and of Krishna’s teachings.

abrahma-bhuvanal lokah
punar avartino ‘rjuna
mamupetya tu kaunteya
punar janma na vidyate

From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kunti, never takes birth again.
-Srila Prabhupada

O Arjuna, all realms of existence up to and including the abode of Brahma are places from which one must again return. Only on who reaches me is never reborn.
-Tripurari Swami

O Arjuna, all planets in this universe up to Brahma-loka are places of repeated birth and death, but one who attains Me, O Kaunteya, never takes birth again.
-Narayana Maharaja

From the earth up to
    the realm of Brahma,
    the worlds undergo
    repeated cycle, O Arjuna.
Having come to me,
    however, O Kaunteya,
    one does not find
    repeated birth.
-Garuda dasa
-Garuda dasa (Graham M. Schweig)

Arjuna is not addressed by name until the end of the first stanza of the verse (’rjuna). While Srila Prabhupada skips this entirely, both Tripurari Swami and Narayana Maharaja begin their translations with “O Arjuna.” Garuda dasa’s poetic translation stays as true as possible to the original sanskrit, placing this addressing at the end of the first stanza. While this does not add or take away from the meaning of the verse, it’s a good example in showing the different personalities of the different translations, especially Garuda dasa’s which strives to be as poetically accurate as possible.

The Sanskrit actually starts off as Srila Prabhupada and Garuda dasa have translated. Though the original text does not state that it is speaking specifically of planets “in the material world,” Srila Prabhupada adds that phrase where the others do not.

Loka, as many devotees know, is often translated as “planet.” Tripurari Swami translates it as “realms of existence,” which seems to indicate that not only is it planets in the material world, but everywhere in the material world, planetary or not.

Srila Prabhupada translates that it is the highest planet to the lowest. Tripurari Swami’s translation puts it that it is “up to and including the abode of Brahma.” Narayana Maharaja’s is roughly the same.

However, Garuda dasa’s leaves out the lower planets, stating “earth up to the realm of Brahma.” I’m not sure why this is as there is no word-for-word commentary in his edition. It can be deduced that bhuvanal, which is basically translated by the other three devotees as “all the way up to [Brahma-loka, the highest planet],” may have the starting point of the speaker. Meaning, when Krishna says bhuvanal, it means “from here on up.” Obviously the lower planets aren’t to be left out of the material world.

Continuing on, Srila Prabhupada, when compared to the others, is a little wordy. The Sanskrit phrase punah avartinah literally means “again returning.” Srila Prabhupada expands on this, describing these realms as “places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place.” He seems to be explaining the verse as he is translating it. While this might not suit some Sanskrit scholars, I personally enjoy when he does this.

Tripurari Swami and Narayana Maharaja both stick closer to a literal translation: “places form which one must again return” and “places of repeated birth and death” respectively.

Garuda dasa’s translation is a bit more vague, “the worlds undergo repeated cycles.” It’s times like this when I wish he would have also published a word-for-word. It’s true, the worlds and all of material creation undergo repeated cycles, but if punah avartinah means “again returning” with avartinah emphasizing birth and death, why translate it in such a removed fashion?

The second part of the verse clarifies any confusion. It explains that one who reaches Krishna never experiences this repeated birth and death again.

Mam upetya means “arriving unto me” or, in this case, “Attaining the Supreme.” Srila Prabhupada translates it “attains My abode.” While the other three translate it as “attains Me.”

In Krishna consciousness, we believe in a truly absolute God. There is no difference between the abode of God and God Himself.

Krishna explains this material world is one of misery. While it might seem pretty good here and there, it’s not at all comparable to God. In fact, there really is no comparison. As Tripurari Swami states in his purport, “a life of spiritual culture is infinitely better than a life motivated by materialistic values.”

A gathering in India of different religions and different people offers hope for the unity of religions.

I RECENTLY spent nearly two weeks as a vegan, interfaith explorer and peace-pilgrim at the world headquarters of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness, more popularly known as the Hare Krishna movement) at Sri Mayapur, West Bengal, India.

King Prithu will be able to see all the internal and external activities of every one of his citizens. Still no one will be able to know his system of espionage, and he himself will remain neutral regarding all matters of glorification or vilification paid to him. He will be exactly like air, the life force within the body, which is exhibited internally and externally but is always neutral to all affairs.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 4 Chapter 16 Verse 12

Parikrama

Conch.

Consciousness.

Environment? Dark. Pre-dawn. It must be before 4 am. Conch outside the house? I hope not. If the conch, it means Param Satya is outside the house, instead of in bed downstairs. An airhorn maybe? One that sounds like a conch? A stretch.

Conch.

Conch in the temple means arati. Conch outside means something very different: War.

A window shatters outside. Voices are raised and in conflict. Heart rate increases. Is that our car? Adrenaline hits the bloodstream. Body surges up, mind focuses to a single point: no matter, what is done is done, what is about to be done has to be done with full focused attention.

Searching for my glasses. Not there. Curses! Deviation from routine leads to dangerous vulnerability.

Abandon the search for glasses. Lights. Check time. 2.55 am. Outside pants? On the railing. Retrieve them. Glasses nearby. No shirt - if application of force is required appearing with no shirt will be a greater deterrent.

Outside. No movement near our car. Voices across the road. Param Satya is there. Approach at an angle, stand off and assess.

Two people, both disturbed. Listen to the tones of voice, look for the posture of the body. No immediate threat. Don't go in, because with no shirt on and adrenaline in the bloodstream it will raise the intensity.

Situation seems stable. Another neighbour appears. Christopher, an older man. He reminds me of Bhagavat Asraya. He reassures the couple and together he and Param Satya work with them to resolve their situation. The girls feet and hand are cut from broken glass. She is drunk and distressed. The guy is rapidly sobering, and embarrassed.

Return to the house and put on a shirt and hooded jacket. Watch from the shadows.

They go back inside. We return to the house. 3.30 am.

Happiness in the mode of ignorance is nectar in the beginning and poison in the end. When you trace the chain of action and reaction back from your suffering you find that it directly connects with your proactive attempt to create enjoyment.

"Don't worry," Param Satya told her. "When you've been married for twenty years you'll look back at this and laugh."

Reassuring, perhaps, but I am more cynical. Statistically it is unlikely that they will marry, or remain married for 20 years if they do. And then, I would be more likely to cringe than laugh looking back at it.

Social destruction.

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