Jaya Radhe-Shyam. During last week I have read nectarean books about the holy name, namely Jaiva-Dharma - starting from chapter 23 and Dhanurdhara Maharaja's Japa Meditations. On Japa Meditations different devotees dedicated to the holy name have been interviewed. H.H.Niranjana Swami's interview is many pages long but here is part which I found especially nectarean:

Inspired by one of Srila Prabhupada's unpublished essays, a senior disciple formulates a plan to bring Krishna consciousness to everyone's doorstep.

by Rupanuga Das

One morning, as I entered the main room of Srila Prabhupada's quarters, I stopped at the tall, glass-topped display table just inside the entrance. The display included a tiny notebook (with notations Srila Prabhupada had made for a meeting with Indira Gandhi in 1975), Srila Prabhupada's old reading glasses, some of his old business cards, and other items. A handwritten, laminated manuscript in one corner of the display table caught my eye. The faded script was hard to read through the reflections on the glass, but the title was clear: "Perfection at Home: A Unique Contribution to the Fallen Humanity." Perfection at home! Why, I had been meditating on this very idea, considering how to bring Krishna consciousness into the homes of people unable to regularly visit a temple of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

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Radhanath Swami: There is no possibility of common devotees getting along if leaders are fighting, if leaders are not respecting each other, and that respect has to come from the heart.

rasa108@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika das

Sunday, 4th Jan, 2009. I awoke, like my birth, as a Queenslander again. We were in a queue to go to the single bathroom downstairs between Sadhu, Mathura, Domo and Myself. Normally such an obstacle would be not even considered but when on tour you choose to sleep us much as you possibly can (which isn’t much) and usually this leaves minimal time to get ready. Domo was also on time police, for good fun.

When we were fresh and ready for our day’s adventures we were fussed upstairs for a grade A Gujarati spread. For me it was excellent as I was in the mood of separation from India and Gujarats are the exemplary prasad preparers for India so we were in good hands.

After a scrumptious breaky I was sent to Brissy temple to pick up some troopers. Domo drove another car we were borrowing and lead the way. I quickly found my roots in my home town and was hoping, being close to home, I wasn’t going to get too lost here. Although I was still pretty amateur with Brisbane directions so it was bound to be interesting for the drives.

When I arrived at the temple I buzzed around to see as many devotees as I could before time was out. It was just powering past breakfast so I caught all the prabhus mainly in the first room, prasad room. I bumped into Atma Yoga man Bhakta Micky, manager and friend Madan Gopal Prabhu, their beloved deities Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and finally on the way out old friend Sukananda. I had spent 3 weeks living in Brisbane Temple in between my shift from work to University, so was familiar with most of the crowd.

We impatiently waited for our two yogi twins in the car. We were heading to Byron Bay for the show and they were late, as was the usual for the tour. Domo lead us off from the temple just to scare one, making him think that we may have left him behind. We tried to call earlier to let the twins know they should eat at a decent time (which is not habitual for these prasad hoarders) but the whole Brisbane temple crew were blissfully listening to Bhagavatam Class all morning (or at least we hope) and couldn’t make it to the phone.

I was not really feeling in much mood for driving on the way down to Byron when we finally headed off. By the end of the drive I had deemed it quite obvious that I was too tired and should not be driving. Not only that, being tired meant something even more dangerous than negligent driving and that was that I was going to be cranky.

After quickly arriving on set and arguing with my good friend Domo, about a complete bunch of nothing in particular, I decided it was a better idea to take a nap than to try deal in this state all day. I picked out a sweet spot back stage in what seemed to be the corner and made like a mayavada with the floor (ie became one with the floor).

I rose to some commotion as the harinam party returned. It was prasad time. There was a queue of people trying to unconditionally serve the Vaisnavas prasad, and without seeking name and fame the charged into this divine nectarian service with all enthusiasm (ok, most of this statement is true. But everyone seemed to want a great pic of themselves serving so I might take back the “without seeking name and fame”).

After some nutritious prasad, courtesy of the Cardamom Pod Hare Krsna Vegetarian Restaurant, on the main stretch coming into Byron Bay, in the first arcade on the left after the main round about proceeding the railway track (advertisement) I was set to get back into some seva. I started to march back towards the doors to the theatre room.

Before I made it a few paces I bumped into an unlikely face. “Kalki?!” Last time I had seen little Kalki was in Mayapur. I had totally forgotten, due to my mass driving marathon, the whole family was moving back to Murwillumbah. I soon saw Vishaka and Mother Gopapatni. Kamala and Radha were sitting with them and it was a nice little family reunion for the gang.

Just as I left the prasad scene Vraja rolled in with a box of surprise donuts. I some how found myself back where the devotees were taking prasad (I don’t think it had anything to do with the presence of donuts). Indradyumna Swami saw me enter and quickly voiced some concern. “Maddy have you had a donut?” “Ummm no” I replied in dull reciprocation. Before I could pretend to a master of the senses and say I wasn’t interested in having any, Maharaja pulled a maha donut off his plate and placed it in my hand.

I relished my little piece of remnants. I was even more joyful when it was revealed that there were still more donuts Indradyumna Swami could have given me instead but rather he gave me his blessings. It was from this point that my day became noticeably brighter. Later on that night I remembered the pastime of Narada Muni taking the remnants of the sages and attaining a spiritual body. I thought to myself “maybe there is still hope for me.”

After everyone had finished their lunch we were whisked up for an ishta goshti on the stage. We all assembled. We had lost Dina Dayal, presumably because he was on Queensland time. But instead of him, I noticed a familiar face; his long hair made him look a little out of place in our group. He was the boy who had tagged along one of our harinams in Sydney. Chandra had kept in touch with him and he was in Byron Bay on his travels. He got to jump in on one of the more personal parts of the tour as HH Indradyumna Swami gave us a low down.

Indradyumna Swami was reminding us that, although we had done a lot of touring and festivals, that we had to keep up our game and make sure our performances were first class. After some encouraging and intimate words from Gurudeva, Domo took the time to pass off some information. He talked about all the important technical details of the venue and previous festivals. He noted that we had to stay back stage the whole time and that we couldn’t make noise behind stage as everyone would hear. He noted us making jokes while Gurudeva gave lectures and Indradyumna Swami almost spoke up when he mentioned this. Most people would find some lessons in such a statement as this but all I heard was “joking while gurudeva was talking” and this sparked some ideas in my head.

The bhajans had began and I was back stage from then on. Me and Sri were busting the groove thang out while the acts were going down. We did our play and it was an amazing response. The layout of the theatre had everyone up close and looking down on us. It had it’s own personal touch. I only had the option to stay back stage and do antics instead of going out to sit at the book table in the quiet time. I soon adopted this routine for every show.

The boys and I were mucking around back stage as Indradyumna Swami stepped on stage. I quickly started to take character. As Gurudeva spoke I imitated with actions. At first I was just doing it to intimidate Gaura Hari and Sri P but all of a sudden they took seats in audience. All of a sudden a few more of the boys had assembled and my act continued. There was a loud rattle as the girls were rushing down for Shyam Dance. Gaura hushed them and then beckoned them to sit and watch. I tried to use as much moves and gestures from our tour so far. There were old and current Gita play moves, robot dancing and a few other improvisations, the most prominent being “force” (for those who remember the little backstage show).

After the show there was some major feet traffic as we all tried to make it from back stage to the front for the books. There was a litter of the devotees who snuck down to have a look. They were in typical New Govardhana shape, having a good ole fashioned yarn. I saw a couple of the young girls from the farm, Tulsi and Rohini. I remembered how once Tulsi had come to my Sunday Feast book table wanting to acquire a Bhagavad Gita. I gave her one for free if she promised me she would read it and she was. I felt indebted to her for taking some initiative and so I called her up to the table. I stood in line with her and introduced her to Indradyumna Swami to get a book signed. Her sister Rohini took to Sibling rivalry and also came up to get a book signed. It was spiritual success for the upcoming kids in Krsna Consciousness.

I bumped into Kaneya and his mum. It was interesting to see the two of them as the rest of their family was in Sydney in Govindas when I saw them last. KK was cooking it up while these guys were at the big preaching fest at Woodford. It was an enthusiastic crowd and the mood was pretty nice. I managed to catch up with a few people from my home in the flurry of action around the bottle neck reception and also managed to show a few books to some new people over the whole evening. After everything was said and done we packed up, took some of the delicious excess prasad and hit the road.

We made it out of Byron Bay and onto the main road. We were cruising looking to get back to Brissy reasonably late. All of a sudden Domo put on his hazard lights and we both quickly skidded to a stop. “My fuel gauge just dropped really low. I need to find fuel fast.” I buzzed into commando mode and remembered the closest petrol station in Brunswick Heads. I told Domo to follow me and we sped off.

We came off the main road into the old highway. We drove along and I let my mind make some decisions. I remembered there being a petrol station in Ocean Shores which would mean a closer petrol station and less time to do our business. I was also a little concerned that the Brunswick station closed down a good 10 years ago. After a good 15 minutes or so of Ocean Shores suburbia and ending up almost back on the road we started on I decided to ask the locals. Apparently there was nothing in Ocean Shores (in fact this petrol station closed down 10 years ago or so) and the closest was Brunswick.

By the time we made it to Brunswick petrol station, those who were still asleep, rode me off for my miscalculation. It was good to be home again and still totally lost. Krsna smashed my false ego and I hoped maybe one day I would loose faith in my own abilities and just depend on him. It would save me a whole lot of embarrassment.

When we made it back to Brisbane, a whole lot later, I felt a little less awkward when Domo got a little lost himself. It didn’t exactly cost us as much time as my epic detour but it was funny to note how much we didn’t know our own local environments. We found our way on the right track just after the midnight point. Another successful event and another unsuccessful navigation scheme. Ki jai.

If one is empowered by Lord Krishna, one can speak as good as sastra
such that his words become, in a sense, equal to sastra. Lord Caitanya
empowered Kolaveca Sridhara to offer prayers which were so full of
realization, that whole books could be written about each of them. And
yet he was ostensibly a poor banana-leaf merchant. Lord Caitanya also
empowered Ramananda Raya. In CC Madhya 9.133 Ramananda says, "My dear
Lord, my tongue is just like a stringed instrument, and You are its
player. Therefore I simply vibrate whatever arises in Your mind."

When it rains, it pours! After our annual Srila Prabhupada Festival on January 1st, the calendar seemed to show that we'd have to wait a few weeks before reaching in our bag of "festival-goodies" to celebrate in grand "Toronto Hare Krishna" fashion!

Well the weeks have flown by and this upcoming weekend marks some very special festivals!

This Friday evening, February 6th (6:00pm to 8:30pm), the Hare Krishna Temple will be celebrating the Appearance of the Boar Incarnation of Krishna (Lord Varahadeva). As described in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Lord Krishna once assumed the form of a splendid, gigantic boar (Varaha), dove to the bottom of the universal ocean, picked up Earth who had fallen from her orbit as a result of demonic persons, and gently carried her on His tusks to the water’s surface (learn more). Festivities will include a enthralling glimpse into this wonderful pastime of Krishna!

On Saturday morning, February 7th (4:30am to 8:30am), the Pandava Sena is inviting one and all (particularly youth) to attend the temple's daily morning program which begins at 4:30am! (more information coming soon)

On Saturday evening (6:00pm to 9:00pm), a very special festival will be taking place as we celebrate Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day! Lord Nityananda is considered identical with Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. He is regarded as being like the elder brother of Lord Chaitanya and always served Him in any way (learn more). With HH Bhaktimarga Swami in attendance, festivities will be highlighted with a "dramatic" display of Lord Nityananda's pastimes and qualities! It will surely be a festival not to be missed!

Of course, on Sunday February 8th (6:00pm to 8:30pm), we will host our weekly Sunday Feast program with the usual wonderful kirtan, the amazing vegetarian feast (prasadam) and an enlightening class!

So come spend your weekend with Toronto's Hare Krishna temple and we promise you will start next week on a spiritually heightened note!

Through a search of the books, letters, conversa - tions, etc. of Srila Prabhupada to find all the instructions he gave for how the GBC should function. A summary in almost exactly or exactly Srila Prabhupada's own words.

The Methodist circuit preacher on horseback, bent double against wind and rain, saddlebags filled with good books, is an icon of American history. Long before the now iconic saloons and general stores came to the American West, and certainly long before the railroads came, the Methodist preacher man was there. There's an old American expression to describe how wild a place was: "Aint nothing out there but crows and Methodist preachers!"...

Here in Britain we recently created a 'Travelling Preacher's Circuit.' Like the Methodists of old, we have a printed Circuit Plan, a chart with towns along the top, dates down the side, and the preacher's initials in the boxes thus created.

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By Hrimati dasi

MAP (Mayapur Animal protection team) attends and presents a paper at National Symposium for Elephant Health care and Management Practices

The other day I was talking to a friend of mine about the diversity of clients I work with and the need to have an individualised approach for each, with an age range from 5 years to 65 years from mild learning difficulties, attention deficit disorders and autism, from mild to severe physical disabilities. This means [...]

1975 February 3: "I have given all of my disciple instructions to follow for making spiritual advancement, but if they do not have the desire to follow, then what can I do?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1974 February 3: "Sankirtana is imported from Goloka Vrindaban - it is not material rock and roll. Work combinedly and Europe can be made filled with Sankirtana."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1970 February 3: "Mr. Allen Ginsberg promised before me that everywhere he would chant Hare Krishna Mantra, and actually he is doing it. So he may be able to understand our philosophy in the future."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1975 February 3: "Without accepting our basic rules and regulations seriously, there is no question of spiritual life. So, I hope you understand the utmost necessity of these things and are remaining pure in your activities."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1974 February 3: "I am glad you are cooperating. That I want. As long as we are sincere there is no question of split amongst us. Split means only someone is not sincere, otherwise there is no question of it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1970 February 3: "Our duty is heavy. If we can save even a single soul from the clutches of Maya, the value of such act is millions of times better than any kind of altruistic and philanthropic activities."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1966 February 3: "Today there was a very nice demonstration of tape-record Samkirtan by me. These Americans cannot understand even a word's meaning yet they were so much attracted? It is all Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's power."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

From a correspondent down Melbourne way - our office there was shut yesterday due to the failure of the building's air conditioning:

At home in Victoria the temperature has been above 44 degrees all week and they are forecasting another week of 40+ temperatures. Power is failing, trains have stopped running because tracks are buckling under the heat. It's just scorching. And it seems that the people are not the only ones suffering.

Check out these photos of a little Koala which just walked onto a back porch looking for a bit of heat relief. The woman filled up a bucket for it and this is what happened!
Mmm, water.

Additional notes from an ex-South Australian working with me here in Queensland:

1. Koalas rarely drink water. They get all their nutrients and fluids from eucalyptus leaves (which explains why they spend most of their time eating or sleeping).

2. Koalas are notoriously skittish and grumpy. For a wild koala to be so calm this close to people indicates just how hot it's been in Southern Australia this past fortnight.

Current weather in Brisbane: a mild 28 degrees (82 for the yanks), and slightly overcast.

Meanwhile: snow brings London to a standstill.

Yes folks, climate apocalypse is upon us!

Poland

Owners of some Nokia handsets have reportedly experienced problems with the clock and other basic operations when phones in South-East Queensland simultaneously pick up signals from NSW and Queensland.
...
One Brisbane customer, who did not wish to be named, said the clock on her E65 stopped working and then one day, when she turned her phone off, it would not turn on again.

She took her handset to a service centre in Spring Hill, where a staff member told her it would cost $50 to repair the glitch.
...
A Nokia spokeswoman said it was "impossible to diagnose what might be these particular customer issues from afar. The daylight savings issue could be completely unrelated to handset turning off issue".

Daylight savings 'glitch' costing phone customers, Brisbane Times

I had this problem with my E61i in November, and blogged the fix/workaround here.

I wondered why it suddenly started happening. The weekend I went away to Melbourne must have been around the time that Daylight Savings kicked in over in NSW.

Here are some pictures from our Raj Bhoga exam of devotees cooking, our esteemed judges HG Jananivas and Pankajanghri prabhus, of devotees showing them their offerings and then serving prasadam to the guests. Between all the vaisnavis who cooked, we prepared over 83 offerings! The feast was then served to over 50 invited guests and the cooks had the honor of serving each of them personally.

Why drink poison when you can be tasting nectar at every minute? I've been blessed with a nectar so sweet and plentiful that there's enough of it for everyone throughout the entire universe to drink unlimited quantities of it at every moment constantly relishing the most sublime taste. Seeing a world around me in which practically everyone is miserable,...

At any given point in time, particularly on weekends and festivals, Toronto's Hare Krishna temple is bustling with activity and energy. A quick glimpse can give us a snapshot of what our burgeoning community is all about!

Marcus, a friendly contributer from Snap Downtown Toronto, a free monthly newspaper, recently ventured to our temple and captured a few memorable moments, including a surprise birthday party and a recent incredible theatrical production.

Snap Downtown Toronto is published and distributed through "exit news racks" at all key retail stores in the downtown core. Below you can see the heart-warming "snapped" moments (Courtesy of Snap Downtown Toronto):

A Surprise Birthday!
Happy Birthday to Taruni Toskoboynik! Held at the Krishna Temple on Avenue Road, the party was a surprise for me as well. I had a feeling to bring my camera, even though I believed I was only there to enjoy the lovely vegetarian dinner. After I introduced myself, I was taken to a room to await the birthday girl's entrance. Her surprise greeting filled the temple to overflowing with love and joy. A life full of many beautiful surprises is certainly one worth living. Thank you everyone. Gratitude all around!
Original Link - http://www.snapdowntowntoronto.com/display/78814/1466/

Krishna Play
The drama of The 8th boy- a story about the appearance of the Shri Krishna (Supreme Personality of the Godhead. Heavens!) on the Earth about 5 million years ago. I found it to be a very colorful play that was quite enlightening, and certainly enjoyable to the hundreds that turned out to watch at the Krishna Temple on Ave. Rd. All this followed by a delicious vegetarian meal! How fabulous is that! It was such a beautiful and heartfelt presentation that it seemed more like a professional theatre performance than 'amateurs' having fun! Shows what's possible when you love what you do.
Original Link - http://www.snapdowntowntoronto.com/display/78815/1466/

1966 Prabhupada Journal:
"Delivered one set of books to Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Posted one letter to the President.
Expenditure Busfare .30
Potato, Banana and apple - .73
One Estey Tape Recorder for $54.02
Guaranteed for 90 days.
55.05"
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1970 Prabhupada Letters : "Everyone says what their Mission could not do in 80 years time, we have done in three. So nobody can check this genuine movement of Krishna Consciousness by artificial means of bluff."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 Prabhupada Letters: "There is no need of anything artificial. We do not want any false pretenders in numbers - but we want a single sincere soul."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

• Krisna-völgyi ökotermékek a piacon. Erről tárgyalok most néhány üzletemberrel. Reméljük hamarosan elérhetők lesznek. #
• Én is megyek az “év magyar geek bulijába” … http://tinyurl.com/dmmjwo #

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.48 - Inimical kings achieved liberation because they were always enviously meditating upon Krsna.

May my Lord, who is four-handed and whose beautifully decorated lotus face, with eyes as red as the rising sun, is smiling, kindly await me at that moment when I quit this material body.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.9.24

In my location, 3 Feb is Bhismastami, the anniversary of Bhisma's departure.

I plan to spend most of this year in India, and to visit Europe for a few weeks. I plan to not visit America this year. This is mainly for health reasons. I have no major problems but am somewhat run down from so much travel and should cut something out. I plan to next visit America in April 2010.

By Bhaktimarga Swami

One of the world’s longest floating bridges, set over the Demerara River, was out-of-bounds for pedestrians due to repairs on the walkway. Somehow, with a monk’s humble persuasion, passage was granted for Rupa and myself. It was 5:30AM.

We are working hard to bring you a new site that will fulfill all your download needs. Wait a few more days and get ready to download.

www.iskconmedia.com

Gopi Gita singing a Hare Krishna bhajan.  This is around 3am -- everyone is pretty tired!

2008-12-31
Dallas, TX

Download: 2008-12-31 - 16 - 12 hr Bhajans - Gopi Gita dasi - Hare Krishna.mp3

Már most sokan keresik, hogy mikor lesz az óraátállítás. Az ő örömükre:

A 2009 évi tavaszi (nyári) óraátállítás március 29-én lesz. Ekkor hajnali 2-kor 3-ra állítjuk az órát.

Szeretettel köszöntöm azokat az olvasókat, akik így találtak az oldalamra. Érdemes még itt időzni, mert sok érdekességről írtam már.

Kesava, who is 10 and lives here, wrote a very nice prayer asking Gopala (who is his favorite form of Krsna in the picture) to help him chant more rounds and be attentive. That's a very important point that even child knows.
Rasa Prabhu nicely explained each topic giving us much attention and discussing each part of our prayer. A devotee wrote this question: "Should we increase the number of our rounds only when we feel we would still be able to fully concentrate?"
Nice question...I have thought about that many times but never asked...the reply was also very wise - good chanting produces more good chanting....also if we chant nicely we will naturally increase our rounds because we feel the taste for chanting.
I got a lot from these sessions and this will help me to chant during the whole week.
My personal prayer was more focused on being grateful to my spiritual master and asking him to always engage me in service to Sri Radha and Krsna.

Karnamrita das: Every step a prayer giving thanks I still walk, every breathe a question when my love will awaken? At every moment life and death are precariously balanced-- we struggle to survive another day before our body’s demise.

Hemant Mallya: ISKCON DC Vaishnava Training and Education has started a weekly presentation of Bhagavad-gita As It Is through a weekly phone conference.

Care for cows: Our February 2009 Care for Cows Newsletter has been posted. Please review it at your earliest convenience.

Lord Caitanya's direct reasons for appearing on earth was to draw
people into constant meditation on the Supreme Lord. Therefore, when He
was a child, he repeatedly acted naughtily and thereby drew everyone's
attention. He chastised brahmanas who claimed He 'broke their
meditation' by distracting them. In reality, however, he was pulling
attention directly onto Him. On such occasions He would sometimes ask,
"Who are you meditating on?"

The Gita Coaching is a process of learning, renewal, application, and feedback that will help you develop the essential skills necessary to live the Bhagavad Gita. It is a step-by-step path for living with fairness, integrity, honesty, human dignity and spiritual intelligence. With a coach, you can actualize this spiritual, principle-centred approach for achieving your personal, spiritual and professional goals and solving all kinds of problems.

How Does A Coach Assist You?

- A Coach helps you to envision and clarify what and where you want to be
- A Coach holds you accountable to act on your highest priorities
- A Coach holds you responsible for taking action to create results
- A Coach helps you improve how you approach interaction with others and create a foundation of trust and mutual benefit

How Does Coaching Help You?

- Coaching helps you apply the process of deep understanding of other people to create interdependent and mutually beneficial relationships
- Coaching plugs you into the power of 1+1=3, helping you work with others to discover the best solution
- Coaching will help you release your potential by helping you make time for the things that renew and enliven you

Forming New Habits Takes Time

As your coach, I am committed to help you transform your life through the principles of the Bhagavad Gita. Coaching will help you become more effective by changing the way you approach yourself, your relationships, and your service.

This type of spiritual transformation requires more than a cosmetic change in techniques; it requires a change in habits - a process that takes time and accountability.

Coaching Lays A Comprehensive Foundation For Change

During the coaching process, we will work together to understand and develop spiritually-based habits of personal, interpersonal, professional and organizational effectiveness.

Long-Term Benefits Of Coaching

Gita Coaching is a learning and implementation process that will ensure that you are better able to internalize and practice the principles of the Bhagavad Gita.

Increased effectiveness in living the Bhagavad Gita will mean greater success in all facets of your life.

I will be your partner, invested in your success. I will help to support, guide and motivate you to apply the Bhagavad Gita principles to your life in a way that most probably you have not done before.

Draft schedule of Maharaja. May be changed or altered.

Current location: Gurgaon (after a short trip to Kanpur)

• 3 Feb: Ujjain
• 10 Feb: Mayapur
• 26 Feb: probably to Bangalore
• 8 Mar: Ujjain
• 15 Mar: possibly to China
• 23 Mar: probably to Bangladesh
• 15 Apr: London, and then on to USA? radha.vinod@hotmail.co.uk
• 12-19 Jul: confirmed European Retreat (Torrox, Spain)
  radha.vinod@hotmail.co.uk / bij_m@hotmail.com / Vinod.Vihari.BCS@pamho.net
• 1-8 Aug: confirmed North American Retreat (Vail, Colorado, USA)
  rupanugabcs@gmail.com
• 10-25 Sep: possible one-week Indian Retreat (Ujjain) to fall in this
  approximate period, either before/during/after Vyas Puja.
  Guesthouse.Ujjain@pamho.net
• 17 Sep: Vyas Puja + Glorification of Srila Prabhupada celebration day
  (Ujjain). Guesthouse.Ujjain@pamho.net

“Because He is non different from Hari, the Supreme Lord, He is called Advaita, and because He propagates the cult of devotion, He is called Acarya. He is the Lord and the incarnation of the Lord’s devotee. Therefore I take shelter of Him. Sri Advaita Acarya is indeed directly the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. His glory is beyond the conception of ordinary living beings.”

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Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama begins on 28th February and ends on 6th March 2009. Devotees who wish to attend the Parikrama can register on arrival in Sridham Mayapur. If you do not wish to stay in parikrama campsite and would like to be back to ISKCON Mayapur on parikrama days for night stay, you should have confirmed accommodation with guest house reservations. The Parikrama fee is Rs.1700. You can pay the parikrama fee at the Parikrama registration counter.

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• Vízjelet szeretnék rakni néhány fényképre. Mac-re milyen megoldást ajánlanátok? #
• Túl korán kérdeztem. Még mindenki alszik. Így senki nem válaszol a kérdésemre. #
• Itt is elkezdett esni a hó. #

1966 Prabhupada Journal:
"Delivered one set of books to Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Posted one letter to the President.
Expenditure Busfare .30
Potato, Banana and apple - .73
One Estey Tape Recorder for $54.02
Guaranteed for 90 days.
55.05"
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1970 Prabhupada Letters: "There is no need of anything artificial. We do not want any false pretenders in numbers - but we want a single sincere soul."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1975 February 2: "Go ahead with obtaining Phd and become a learned scholar in the science of loving Krishna. This will be a wonderful credit for you and you will surely get recognition from Krishna for such an attempt."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 February 2: "Try you best to develop an ideal varna-asrama society to set a perfect example for the human society of how one can live very simply, chanting Hare Krishna and developing love for Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 February 2: "Book distribution is solid. Even if they do not read, simply by touching they are benefited. It is so much powerful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1970 February 2 : "Sumati Morarjee, you will be pleased to know that I now have 24 branches and my Back to Godhead paper has increased in circulation and we are now printing 50,000 copies per month."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1968 February 2 : "Please incorporate our association in the U.N. In the future, we will have very great scope for introducing our Krishna Consciousness amongst the leaders of all the nations."
Letters :: 1968

1970 Prabhupada Letters : "Everyone says what their Mission could not do in 80 years time, we have done in three. So nobody can check this genuine movement of Krishna Consciousness by artificial means of bluff."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

By popular demand, here is my Bhagavad-gita Small Group Resource. It contains resources for a 20 week small group program based on Bhagavad-gita. It is suitable for small groups of 2-20 people.

Each week one chapter or half a chapter of the Gita is covered. Participants read the Gita during the week, then discuss it in a 60-90 minute small group meeting. Having a resource such as this takes the pressure off the facilitator of the group to come up with something each week. There is a structure and some basic material, and they simply have to facilitate discussion and answer questions that arise.

The purposes of this resource and the small group program around it are three:

• 1. To encourage participants to read the Gita in a systematic fashion
• 2. To encourage them to discuss it in a systematic fashion
• 3. To encourage the formation and transmission of values in addition to information.

The resource is licensed under Creative Commons 2.5 BY-SA, so you're free to use, reuse, modify, redistribute, even sell it, as long as you pass on the same rights to others, including giving your modifications away under the same license.

Please feel free to write me with feedback.

Here it is:

• Bhagavad-gita Small Group Resource 1.0 (794KB, 55 page pdf)

Our CSA Policy

We make it convenient for you to pick up your share: For those of you that live reasonably close to the farm, we encourage you to come on one of three days to pick up your share. For those members who live further away, such as Flint, Lansing, south Ann Arbor, and the Metro-Detroit area, we will have a number of drop-off locations. We will arrange with each member a convenient way to get your weekly food share.

You can make partial payments: We most greatly appreciate the full cost of your share to be paid up front. However, if that is not possible, we will accept a payment of half down or 3–5 monthly payments of $100 each. All payment balances are due by April 1st. All payments are non-refundable. We also plan to eventually accept Credit Cards and Bridge Cards.

You can customize your share: Of course, we encourage our members to try their best to use up all the contents of their weekly share and to minimize any waste. However, you are welcome to give us a call to exclude items you cannot seem to use up or may not have any interest in using. As far as possible, we will provide you with more items that you prefer.

You can put a hold on your order: If you are leaving town, simply call us to place a hold on your order. For the number of weekly shares you miss while you’re away, we will credit you for the next season.

You can place special orders: Feel free to call us to request extra items for an event or special meal and we will add them to your next share. And if you need anything before or after your normal delivery or pick up time, call us so we can arrange to get it to you as fresh as possible.

We encourage you to try different foods: Vedic Village wants you to try all the wonderful varieties of vegetables, grains, beans, herbs, flowers, fruits and more that we plan to grow for you. Yes, maybe some of these foods you never knew existed. Others you may have heard about, but never tried. Well, one way we plan to encourage you to try these tasty foods is to include recipes with your weekly shares. In addition to this, when you arrange to visit the farm at lunchtime, we will offer you free of charge a delicious lovingly prepared meal that will most likely include some foods that may be new to you.

If you would like to donate your time, join our team, or have any questions, please either call or email us at (313) 823-3815 / tommilano108@yahoo.com. According to your inquiry, you may be put in touch with either one of our two vice presidents, Antariksa dasa and Navadvipa dasa. If you would like to contribute towards any of our projects, please make your check out to MISCOWP and send it c/o Adiraja dasa, 313 Newport, Detroit, Michigan 48215. You will receive a receipt within two or three days. We also accept payment by credit card. In closing, we would like to thank you again for your interest in the success of Vedic Village and we look forward to your participation. Hare Krishna!

Want to go on a boat cruise on the holy Ganga on the newly renovated ISKCON boat “Vasanta Puspa”, or “Springflower”? (much nicer name than “Mayflower”, isn’t it?). We had a joyful inauguration at the “Prabhupada ghat” on the 30th January, 2009. Featured guests were Umapati Swami, Pankajanghri and Jananivasa Prabhus, and also Nitaiprasad Prabhu and Devarsi Prabhu, who performed a glorious Ganga aratika in the middle of Mother Ganga. This was enchanted by Sastra Prabhu’s unique Harinama party Kirtan.

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Vasanta Pancami marks the beginning of spring season. The fields are full of bright yellow mustard flowers and nature is full in its bounty. In Bengal, new ventures are started and weddings take place. In Mayapur, deities are dressed in yellow coloured outfits and the altar is decorated with yellow marigold, orchid and other flowers. Small Sri Radha-Madhava were offered yellow flower outfits. Matajis are spotted in yellow dresses vibrating the mood of spring season.

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One who is situated in household life and who systematically conquers his mind and five sense organs is like a king in his fortress who conquers his powerful enemies. After one has been trained in household life and his lusty desires have decreased, he can move anywhere without danger.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 1 Verse 18

Hariboool

This is a slimmed-down version of a class I gave in March 2008 at the ISKCON center at Soho Street in London. One mistake: I say that “some girls” who wanted Bhisma to marry them asked his guru to oblige him to do so. In fact there was only one such girl—Amba. The other girls, her two sisters, married Bhisma’s half-brother Vicitravirya. In any case, my point concerning Bhisma’s personal integrity remains the same, as do my points concerning our own.

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At the present moment we are blinded by the fog of illusion. We don't know where we've come from. We don't know who we are or what is the origin of or purpose of our existence. We don't know what is our destination nor how to reach it. In short, we're a mess. We're in bad shape philosophically and psychologically. But the Supreme Personality of Godhead...

Who am I? I am a no one, no one important but I do believe in Krishna, Prabhupada and his movement. I am fairly new to Krishna consciousness in this life time its been around three years now I've had the honor of associating with the devotee's. In that time I have notice some things that I feel should not be over looked for a community thats trying to help others find their way back to Godhead.

I have notice that we have four regulation of no eating meat, no gambling, no intoxication and no illicit sex, But every where I see some of these principles being broken right in our community. I understand we are condition souls with many dirty things in our hearts "trust me I know" I am still praying that these impurities are cleansed from my heart, But what I don't get is when or who has decided that its fine to do these things openly in the community like nothing is wrong with it???? I know its hard to meet the standards but why on earth do we proclaim that there's nothing wrong with what I am doing?? Why are we changing the process to meet our needs? this is the first thing that contaminates all the religions of the world, The process says no chocolate so thats the process "NO CHOCOLATE" so if we have a chocolate addictions we should say " I am SORRY prabhu I have a problem please I wish to change and become better. I just need some time I know I am wrong, But instead we stand up proud-fully and proclaim I'm doing nothing wrong!!!! when Prabhupada ask about chocolate the devotee's at the time didn't give him the proper facts.
Now in the end we have to really ask ourselves is this really for Krishna pleasure or my own, because whether Prabhupada had all the facts or not! we are all addicted to this world and the so called pleasures of maya and thats a fact!!!
Are we really trying to get back to Godhead or just pretending? Do we really want to help people? Do we really want to serve? Or have we all become just another hypocritical religious process that points the finger at the rest of the world but never takes a look at ourselves?? And if that is the case! then as individuals isn't it time we change!! for our Guru for Prabhupada for all the pervious Acaryas for krishna and ultimately don't we owe it to all those lost souls in the world. To set the example, because if we don't then who will if we can't be real with ourselves be honest and admit we have a problem then how on earth are we going to help others???? we are a mess and a mess in denial is even worst then a mess willing to improve,grow and better it self! A mess thats proud to be a mess will only get dirtier but a mess in shame of being messy will eventually become clean.
So please ask your self are you proud and defensive about certain touchy subjects like chocolate and standing up in a roaring voice proclaiming I am right and Prabhupada's facts are wrong (on this matter).

So here is my honesty I eat chocolate once in a blue moon I am also addicted to Maya I am sorry, it is not acceptable and I wish to change please help me!!! "honestly" become a better person and a better devotee! The best I can do for now is keep it outside the community and work on the higher taste and hopefully i will lose taste for the lower ones.


So for the new devotees to come, for my daughter (just born) I ask for us to raise the standard for our community keep the nonsense out. Lets better ourselves lets help each other "please"
Your servant Ryan Lowseck

1968 February 1: "You are always engaged in Krishna's service is the greatest pleasure for me. Actually bodily I am not getting much strength, but spiritually I am getting much strength because my spiritual children are growing in spiritual stength."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 February 1: "Now you have got our books, so you can immediately start a center. I have always had a great desire to open a center there."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 1: "Make a small center immediately. Simply you have to sit down together as you have seen done in New York chanting Hare Krishna in the accompaniment of a beating drum."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Today's Sunday Feast recording can be viewed by clicking the image below. As a reminder, the recordings from our weekly live web broadcasts are stored on our new ISKCON Toronto Video Archive Blog.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.46 - The exalted position of Vasudeva and Devaki.

Maha Mantra means the great chanting for delivering the mind.

When He was contemplating how to propitiate Krsna and cause Him to descend, the following verse from Gautamiya-tantra came to the mind of Advaita Acarya:

tulasi-dala-matrena jalasya culukena va vikrinite svam atmanam bhaktebhyo bhakta-vatsalah

"Sri Krsna, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a devotee who offers Him merely a tulasi leaf and a palmful of water."

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Adi 3.104

2 Feb 2009 is Sri Advaita Acarya's Appearance Day

For the past two weeks we've been learning cooking at Mayapur Academy. It's been such a wonderful experience especially because we got to learn from so many wonderful cooks. We learned to make kachoris, all kinds of sabjis, dahls, different rice dishes, koftas, and one of the highlights was getting Radha Madhava's personal "sweet cook" come in and show us how to make sandesh, rasmali, rasagullas and rasa kadambas! That was definitely a very sweet day and a very sweet lunch! :D

So, the culmination of these two weeks was that students had to cook a raj bhoga offering. A typical raj bhoga offering consists of 3 sabjis, rice, dahl, chapatis/paratas, raita/chutney, and a drink. Of course it is nice to have a savory and sweet but it wasn't required for us. Working in groups of two, students had an allotted 3 hours to complete this meal and were encouraged to make extra preps if they so desired. Of course, we were also encouraged to come in earlier to prep if we wanted to.

My dear partner, Yasomati, was feeling a bit under the weather and so a few days before, I was told that I could do it on my own if I wanted to. Never shy to back away from a challenge, I thought, "Hey, why not?!"

So yesterday, by Radharani's mercy, I was able to make 12 items: a cauliflower and potato sabji, a deep fried panir, eggplant and potato sabji, a steamed broccoli sabji, fried bitter melon, lemon rice, spiced yogurt rice, plain rice, mung dahl, paratas, cucumber raita, lemonade and a ladhu made out of nuts, orange rind and icing sugar.

All the dishes turned out pretty well, but in true Vrndavana Vinodini fashion, I under-salted the dahl and cauliflower/potato sabji. LOL...but like they say, better to under-salt than over salt. And...unfortunately we ALL didn't realize, but the yogurt that was brought turned out to be misthi dhai (sweetened yogurt), so my yogurt rice turned into a bit of a sweet rice and the raita was also a bit sweet! Actually everyone's raita or "salt lassi" ended up being sweet! Oh well...what to do... :D

The highlight was that we all got to serve our dishes to HG Pankajanghri and Jananivas prabhus and that was so sweet. They were so encouraging and giving us such personal feedback.

All glories to cooking! Prasadam ki JAI!

As I'm sitting at the computer a million thoughts are going through my head...this is what happens when you don't get a chance to write for a couple of days! Too many ideas. So...I guess I'll just write two posts today. :D

Lately I've been thinking a lot about compassion. As aspiring spiritual seekers we all strive to have compassion for one another. This is exemplified by Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada had so much compassion for all of us. But how can I, as a beginner on this path of bhakti yoga, develop even 1/1000000000 of that compassion?

One of the easiest ways is to do something that HH Sacinandana Swami often emphasizes and suggests that we practice. Every morning when you get up, thank Krsna for 5 different things. See the funny thing about gratitude is that it is something one has to practice for it to remain foremost in one's consciousness. Yes, we all feel gratitude for things but if you analyze it carefully, it normally doesn't last long. But if one actually practices feeling gratitude, by thanking Krsna everyday consciously for various things he is providing us with, then one starts to feel grateful for: 1. a much longer period of time and 2. one also starts to feel gratitude for small things.

So what does this have to do with compassion? It is only when we see and experience how fortunate we actually are and how Krsna is so nicely arranging things for us, that we begin to value these gifts. Then compassion can start to develop. For example, if you are blessed to have good friends and actually recognize and appreciate that, then it's easier to feel compassion for someone new joining your school/work/temple. On the highest level, when we value Krsna consciousness as the greatest treasure in our lives, then we naturally will feel compassion to those who may be suffering because they haven't been awakened to it.

I pray that I can keep my eyes open to the numerous gifts Krsna is providing me with and be his instrument to share it with others.

One of our guru's was once asked - "what do you have to give up to be a monk?". He immediately replied "just give up suffering!". It really was spot on. The monastic life is a simple, sublime and happy life, free of worry and anxiety.

Thats not to say, however, that there is no strictness. As monks we refrain from intoxication, meat eating, gambling, and maintain vows of celibacy. These principles allow one to become free from the dictates of the mind and senses, and allow one to function on the level of spiritual inspiration. Far from limiting the person, such principles help the person to develop the higher consciousness and awarness, to truly exercise free will in the consumeristic world we live in.

If a man was jumping off a cliff and a friend demanded "DON'T jump!" - that friendly advice (restrictive as it may sound) would significantly affect the mans ability to exercise free will in the future. Restriction is not opposed to a freedom. Such principles do not restrict ones opportunities for happiness in this life, but rather open up a whole new realm to discover.

Let’s face it life in the material world is a struggle. Whether one is in the darkest of ignorance trying to find their bliss at the bottom of a 40 oz. or whether one is attempting to reach that stage of  pure, unmotivated, uninterupted devotional service, struggle will indeed be there. In the material world we [...]

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure."

Also we can say that to succeed you should know that you need to fail often. If we know that we have to fail before we succeed, then perhaps the fear of failure can be removed, and we can actually look forward to failing because we will understand that every time we fail we are getting closer to our goal.

- Mahatma dasa, Alachua Florida

"If you stick to these principles with determination, you will be freed from all attachment to Maya, by Krishna's grace. The example is that when the sun is in the sky, then where is the question of darkness? Similarly, when Hare Krishna mantra is vibrating on your tongue, and you are hearing attentively, then your consciousness becomes clear, or Krishna consciousness, and there is no question of Maya or hazy consciousness."
Letter - Wednesday 2 August 1972

Searching for instructions by Srila Prabhupada on how regular home programs should be conducted, I came across this essay from Kripamoya Prabhu, published by ISKCON Communication Journal in January 1994 (article link).

I've read this article before and thought it had been re-published on namahatta.org already, but found that was not the case. Editing it for better online readability, I am surprised how many of our current problems Kripamoya Prabhu recognized and analyzed so much earlier in ISKCON's history. His recommendations not how to avoid, but how to deal with conflict and problems could help devotees deal better with many of today's issues, I think. Here's the essay's 'teaser' from the IC Journal:

"We all want to avoid conflict but life seems to thrust it at us in bucket-loads, so we might as well learn how to deal with it. Kripamoya Prabhu's study of the manifestation of conflict in Nama-hatta groups and the steps he recommends to remedy this, based on his considerable experience and research, is important for all devotees."

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Who am I? I am no one, no one important, but I do believe in Krishna, Prabhupada, and his movement. I am fairly new to Krishna consciousness; in this lifetime its been around three years now I've had the honor of associating with the devotee's. In that time I have noticed some things that I feel should not be overlooked for a community thats trying to help others find their way back to Godhead.

I have noticed that we have four regulation of no eating meat, no gambling, no intoxication, and no sex outside of marriage. But everywhere I see some of these principles being broken right in our community. I understand we are conditioned souls with many dirty things in our hearts—trust me, I know; I am still praying that these impurities are cleansed from my heart. What I don't get is when or who has decided that it's fine to do these things openly in the community, like nothing is wrong with it?

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Each week I select a verse from the Bhagavad-gita and compare/contrast four different translations. These translators all subscribe to the Gaudia-Vaisnava philosophy. This examination isn’t to prove one more superior to another, but to highlight the similarities and learn from the differences in ideologies.

The four Gitas are:
-Bhagavad-gita: As It Is by Srila Prabhupada (1972 edition)
-Bhagavad-gita: It’s Feeling and Philosophy by Tripurari Swami
-Srimad Bhagavad-gita by Narayana Maharaja
-Bhagavad-gita: The Beloved Lord’s Secret Love Song by Garuda dasa (Graham Schweig)

Though I’m hardly qualified to do so, I dissect each translation, sometimes interjecting my own unsolicited commentary. More on this can be found here.

In the second chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna the warrior has just surrendered to Krishna, God. He is requesting Krishna to teach him everything he needs to know.

This verse, 2.13, is a basic verse. It’s one of the most referenced and quoted. But it’s also one of the most difficult to realize. The second chapter as a whole is full of stuff like this. It’s the building blocks of spirituality, but even the great gurus and masters struggle with these realizations.

Two verses prior, Krishna explains to Arjuna that a wise person does not lament either for the living or the dead. In this verse, He explains further.

dihino ’smin yatha dehe
kaumaram yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati

As the embodied soul continually passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. The self-realized soul is not bewildered by such a change.
-Srila Prabhupada

Just as the embodied soul experiences changes of body, such as childhood, adulthood, and old age, so similarly it will acquire another body after death. Wise persons are not deluded about this.
-Tripurari Swami

Just as the embodied atma passes from boyhood to youth to old age, similarly, after death, he passes into another body. An intelligent person is not bewildered by the birth and death of the body.
-Narayana Maharaja

Just as the embodied
    while in this body
    passes through childhood,
    youth, and old age,
So also the embodied
    attains another body -
    the wise person
    is not bewildered by this.
-Garuda dasa (Graham M. Schweig)

Krishna is setting up an analogy. It is understood that we are not the body, that we are spirit souls. We are the soul, we have a body. And just as we experience our bodies changing from a baby all the way to an old fellow, we will also experience a new body after this one dies. This is reincarnation, one of the core beliefs in many spiritual philosophies.

The first line dehino ’smin yatha dehe is one of the few lines of Sanskrit that I have memorized. I have a lot of trouble with learning a language and very little sticks. This, however, has stuck (well, the first line of it).

All four translations match up here. “(Just) as the embodied soul…” Narayana Maharaja uses the Sanskrit term atma, which means soul. Garuda dasa, however, continues “Just as the embodied while in this body.” It seems a little awkward, but the Sanskrit and the other translations, except Narayana Maharaja’s supports that, though less awkwardly.

It does seem redundant to restate that an embodied soul is in a body. That is why both Srila Prabhupada and Tripurari Swami slide that restatement into the next line, kaumaram yauvanam jara.

These three words are simply “from boyhood to youth to old age.” Only Tripurari Swami translates yauvanam to adulthood. While other Sanskrit sources and dictionaries translate this as “youth,” it does get the point across. We don’t go straight from youth to old age, though in the eyes of the elderly, I’m sure it seems like we do. Time flies….

The second half of the verse is the target of the analogy. As Garuda dasa has put it: “So also the embodied attains another body.” The term praptih, which ends this third line, is glossed as “achievement” by both Srila Prabhupada and Narayana Maharaja, though neither of them use it in their verses. Instead, they both use the word “passes,” as in “passes into another body.” Tripurari Swami glosses praptih as “acquiring.” Garuda dasa uses “attains.”

The slight variations in meaning between “achieve,” “pass,” “acquire,” and “attain” are too minuscule to break a sweat over.

Garuda dasa, whose version of the Gita attempts to follow the Sanskrit as much as possible, is the only translator to not mention death. The original Sanskrit verse does not mention death at all. But our other three translators clarify that it is “at death” or “after death” when the soul acquires another body. Though we may not like to hear this, we are going to die. But when we die, we will receive another body.

With the analogy complete, Krishna adds: dhiras tatra na muhyati. As Tripurari Swami puts it, “Wise persons are not deluded about this.”

Dhirah is a commonly used term describing a person. Sober, thoughtful and wise were used by our authors. Srila Prabhupada chose “sober” for his word-for-word rendering, but went with “self-realized” in his verse.

The Sanskrit doesn’t mention self-realization here. It only notes that a wise or sober person is not bewildered by this idea of changing bodies. Srila Prabhupada takes it a step farther, as he often does, interpreting the verse rather than providing a straight translation. In his purport, he again translates dhirah as sober.

A self-realized person is wise and sober, though not all wise or sober people are self-realized. But either way, they are all na nuhyati: not bewildered by this change.

All of the translations, except Tripurari Swami’s use “not bewildered.” He uses “not deluded,” just as his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada used in his word-for-word (though wound up using “not bewildered” in his verse). Narayana Maharaja uses “not confused” in his word-for-word, though chose “not bewildered” in his verse translation, as does Garuda dasa.

The commentary of Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, as provided by Narayana Maharaja, sums up this verse very well:

The following point may be raised: Since the atma is associated with the body, the body will also be an object of our love. Furthermore, those who are related to the body, such as sons, brothers, relatives, grandsons and so on, will also be the objects of our love, so when they die we will certainly feel grief.

Sri Bhagavan [Krishna] speaks this sloka [verse] beginning with dehinah, in answer to this. “The jiva [soul] in the body attains boyhood; at the end of boyhood he attains youth, and at the end of youth he attains old age. Similarly, at the loss of the body he attains another body. Just as one does not grieve at the end of boyhood and youth, wish are objects of love due to their relationship with the atma, similarly one should not grieve for the body itself, which is also an object of love due to its relationship with the atma, when it is lost.

If a person grieves when he attains old age at the loss of youth, then he also feels happy when he attains youth at the loss of boyhood. Therefore, you should feel happy because when Bhisma and Drona [Arjuna's relatives] lose their old bodies they will attain new ones.

Lord Caitanya's indirect reasons for appearing on earth was to detach
people from everything material. Therefore as a child, he trashed many
items, especially in his mother's kitchen. Vrindavana Das Thakura
describes the phenomenon and why it occurs in Caitanya Bhagavat.

DURLABHA MANAVA JANMA
by
BHAKTIVINODA THAKUR

1.
durlabha manava-janma labhiya samsare
krsna na bhajinu — duhkha kahibo kahare?

Born in this rare human body, I did not worship you.
Now Lord I am left lamenting. Who shall I tell this to?

2.
’samsar’ ’samsar’, ko’re miche gelo kal
labha na koilo kichu, ghatilo janjal

My time passed in wordly pursuits, without the slightest gain.
My one and only profit was pure anguish and pain.

3.
kiser samsar ei chayabaji pray
ihate mamata kori’ brtha dina jay

This world has no more meaning than a magical display.
Caught up in it with no purpose, my life passes away.

4.
e deho patana ho’le ki ro’be amar?
keho sukha nahi dibe putra-paribar

When at last I drop down dead, what will I then possess?
How then will friends and family afford me happiness?

5.
gardhaber mata ami kori parisram
ka’r lagi’ eto kori, na ghucilo bhram

Why do I work just like an ass each and every day?
Despite my hard endeavour still in darkness I do stay.

6.
dina jay micha kaje, nisa nidra-base
nahi bhavi — marana nikate ache bo’se

Wasting my days in useless work, losing my nights in sleep.
Never seeing that by my side, death does his vigil keep.

7.
bhalo manda khai, heri, pari, cinta-hina
nahi bhavi, e deho chadibo kon dina

Dressing myself so carefully, eating just as I choose.
Living carefree I cannot see that soon this body I’ll lose.

8.
deho-geho-kalatradi-cinta abirata
jagiche hrdoye mor buddhi kori’ hata

In truth I am always anxious, to maintain me and mine.
Ever perplexed by pressing woes, crushing my heart and mind.

9.
hay, hay! nahi bhavi — anitya e saba
jivana bigate kotha rohibe baibhava?

Alas, alas, for my poor plight; unheeding of my death.
What in this world will still be mine after my final breath?

10.
smasane sarir mama podiya rohibe
bihanga-patanga tay bihar koribe

Then this body will lie quite still in the cremation ground
Jackals and crows, ants and worms, will soon gather around.

11.
kukkur srgal sab anandita ho’ye
mahotsava koribe amar deho lo’ye

They will then be in ecstasy, enjoying a great feast.
This body will be a festival, for every bug and beast.

12.
je deher ei gati, ta’r anugata
samsar-baibhava ar bandhu-jana jata

Thus ends my beloved body, with house and family.
And all that I proudly possess, will all but dust soon be.

13.
ataeva maya-moha chadi’ buddhiman
nitya-tattva krsna-bhakti korun sandhan

Be wise then and abandon now, your worldly illusion
Seek out at once the only truth; Krishna’s pure devotion.

1975 February 1: "Your Bhagavad-gita study aids seem alright. The thing is, you must see that the meaning of the verse is in no way altered or changed. Simplification is alright but do not change anything."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1969 February 1 : "As soon as there is a slackness on our part Maya can take Krishna's place in our heart. Otherwise, if Krishna is seated always, maya has no opportunity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 1 : "Besides attending class, you should always read the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Then I can surely recommend to the draft board that you are a very serious student of Bhagavad-gita under my supervision."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 1 : "If they are actually serious to receive instructions from Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, they absolutely must read Bhagavad-gita As It Is. If they want some nonsense there is nothing we can do to help them."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Vrndavana dasa: Yes Padayatra has returned to Guyana with a big bang and Bhaktimarg Swami! It will parade along the beautiful coast of Demerara from Stratspey to Cummings Lodge.

1969 February 1: "Make a small center immediately. Simply you have to sit down together as you have seen done in New York chanting Hare Krishna in the accompaniment of a beating drum."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 1: "Now you have got our books, so you can immediately start a center. I have always had a great desire to open a center there."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1968 February 1: "You are always engaged in Krishna's service is the greatest pleasure for me. Actually bodily I am not getting much strength, but spiritually I am getting much strength because my spiritual children are growing in spiritual stength."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1966 February 1 :
"It is arranged today by phone that the Universalist Church will allow house for holding meeting on every Wednesday evening from 7/30 to 9 pm.
Expenditure - Busfare .30"
Journal :: 1966

Even if one is liberated, he nevertheless accepts the body he has received according to his past karma. Without misconceptions, however, he regards his enjoyment and suffering due to that karma the way an awakened person regards a dream he had while sleeping. He thus remains steadfast and never works to achieve another material body under the influence of the three modes of material nature.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 1 Verse 16

Even if he goes from forest to forest, one who is not self-controlled must always fear material bondage because he is living with six co-wives--the mind and knowledge-acquiring senses. Even householder life, however, cannot harm a self-satisfied, learned man who has conquered his senses.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 1 Verse 17

This is the most confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his endeavours will know perfection. PURPORT The Lord clearly explains here that this is the substance of all revealed scriptures. And one should understand this as it is given by [...]