“Gee something smells good in there,” I heard the voice coming from the open front door as I stirred the pot of dahl that I was cooking to offer my Deities this afternoon. “Oh no,” I thought to myself, “I don't want someone lusting over my offering before I've offered it.” I turned to see a pleasant looking woman with her 10 year old daughter standing at the door, looking ever so well-meaning with a magazine in her hand.

“Good afternoon,” I pleasantly greeted them as I slowly walked up to the doorway to talk. The smiling lady started to preach to me about how they were giving out these magazines today, and that they told how God is the answer to all the problems of the world today.

I agreed and immediately told her that He certainly is, and that He is the cause and source of everything, and that we worship Him with everything we do. I went on to explain to her in a nice way, how we even offer our cooking to God as a sacrament before we eat it, and we don't even enjoy the smell of food before it's been offered to God.

She obviously understood my reference to her previous comment and countered with her own argument, “Yes, but God gave us smelling didn't he?”

“Well yes”, I replied, “but we use our smelling to serve Him, for His pleasure, not to enjoy the sense separately from Him. Once the food is offered to God, then we appreciate how wonderful it smells.”

The concept seemed to float past her, strangely attractive, but slightly out of reach. I reflected on how such concepts that devotees who practically serve the Deity form of the Lord find simple and straightforward, are very difficult to grasp for one who does not have a personal relationship with the Deity.

My smiling visitor then took another tack, utilizing a well-worn tenant of post-Christ Christianity: “Well we're all sinful at heart aren't we?”

I immediately thought of the verse from Caitanya Caritamrita where Krsnadas Kaviraja Goswami tells us, 'nitya siddha krsna prema, sadhya kabu naya, sravanadi suddha citte karaye udhaya' and gave her the essence: “Well, we believe that we are pure and beautiful at heart, but we are just covered by this material sinfulness. Just like Jesus said to hate the sin, not the sinner. By serving God with our sense we can reawaken our original pure and beautiful nature”.

“That's such a beautiful way of looking at things,” said the lady, genuinely appreciative of the sampradayic knowledge, as she went back to her main mission of trying to get me to take her magazine; while her daughter watched on, seemingly bemused that her mother was being preached to by someone else, who seemed to know as much, or even more about God than she.

“Thanks all the same, and I really appreciate your sincerity in coming out here and knocking on doors, but we are going to live in a holy place in India in a week, so I won't be needing that. But I wish you all the best, and may God be with you.”

“And may he be with you too”, said the sincere preacher at my door, who took my leave and went on to spread the good word leaving me reflecting on what an amazing process of self-realization we have been given by Lord Caitanya, that easily and clearly illuminates the subtlest of spiritual truths, which remain hidden to even the most sincere practitioners of other traditions.

Patricia N from Southwark, London, UK writes: "Kurma, can you share with me some non-grain flour ideas?"

My reply: "Yes. Here's my list of non-grain flours, some you may not have encountered."

amaranth

Amaranth flour: Milled from the seeds of the amaranth plant, this flour boasts a higher percentage of protein than most other grains, and has more fibre than wheat and rice. It is also higher in the amino acid lysine, which some food scientists believe makes it a more complete protein than flour made from other grains. Amaranth flour can be used in cookies, crackers, baking mixes, and cereals.

Arrowroot flour: The rootstalks of a tropical plant are the source of this flour, often used as a thickener for sauces and desserts; the finely powdered arrowroot turns completely clear when dissolved (giving gloss to sauces), and adds no starchy flavor. Because of its easy digestibility, it is also an used as an ingredient in cookies intended for infants and young children. I use it as a grain-free substitute to corn flour (cornstarch for all US readers).

Buckwheat flour: A common ingredient in pancake mixes, buckwheat flour is also used to make Japanese soba noodles. It is available in light, medium, and dark varieties (the dark flour boasts the strongest flavor), depending on the kind of buckwheat it is milled from. You can make your own buckwheat flour by processing whole white buckwheat groats in a blender or food processor.

Chestnut flour: This tan flour is made from chestnuts, the meaty, lowfat nuts that are often served as a vegetable. The flour is a little sweet and is traditionally used in Italian holiday desserts. Italian shops sell it.

Potato flour (potato starch): Steamed potatoes are dried and then ground to a powder to make this gluten-free flour, which is commonly used in baked goods for Jewish Passover (when wheat flour may not be used).

Quinoa flour: Higher in fat than wheat flour, quinoa flour makes baked goods more moist. You can make your own quinoa flour by processing whole quinoa in a blender; stop before the flour is too fine - it should be slightly coarse, like cornmeal.

Tapioca flour: Milled from the dried starch of the cassava root, this flour thickens when heated with water and is often used to give body to puddings, fruit pie fillings, and soups. It can also be used in baking.

Water-chestnut flour (water-chestnut powder): This Asian ingredient is a fine, powdery starch that is used to thicken sauces (it can be substituted for cornstarch) and to coat foods before frying to give them a delicate, crisp coating.

I am sure this is not a complete list. I also encountered flatbreads made from banana flour whilst in India. Last time I posted this information I received this letter from a reader:

"I also have some more flours used by Gujarati Krishna Devotees.

1) Ragigara (or Ragigaro or rajgira) flour - Very small - is a very small tiny seeds like yellow mustard seeds but much smaller. The seeds can be used to make popcorn and these popped seeds are used to make khir with milk and sugar. The flour is used to make halavah which turns out to be a brown and sticker than regular halavah. The flour is used to make vada, parathas, puris, rotis and small pakoras with mashed potatoes using herbs, ground black pepper and salt added. (note from Kurma: this is amaranth, as described in my list above.)

2) Singado flour. Pakoras are made using ground peanuts and mashed potatoes, little baking power, salt and coriander leaves and ground black pepper. (note from Kurma: this is another name for Water Chestnut flour, as described above.)

3) Cassava grits and flour. (very starchy but sweet tasting roots). Boil the grits with 2 to 3 times the water. It turns into mashed potato consistency and any chopped vegetables can be added. These can also be used to make halavah and base for the Ekadasi Pizza. Boiled Cassava makes excellent subji with lots of fresh tomatoes. Boiled - sliced (one inch thick sticks) - Fried sticks sprinkled with black pepper and salt and a little lemon, make amazing chips that far surpass potato chips. Hope this helps. Gandhari Dasi"

I awoke to the sounds of stomping feet and beating drums. There was a contagious buzz already surrounding the group the morning of the event. Gaura’s house was filled with busy people. Some were rehearsing, some were ironing, some were rushing from here to there to help with the preparations for the event but everyone was excited, and everyone had a smile on their face. For the first time that I could see, busy preparation time had actually turned into “service attitude of love” time. Although everyone had their part to do, people were happy to be a part of making this event happen. I took a deep breath and smiled, not quite knowing what the evening was going to bring. I knew that the show had been sold out and that there would be standing room only, but I wasn’t quite sure what that meant. (more…)

1967 February 11 : "Here the climate is certainly like India and I am feeling comfortable but uncomfortable also because in New York I felt so much at home on account of beloved students like you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 February 11 : "There will be a great exposition in Montral and millions of people will gather there from all parts of the world. We have to prepare literatures and draw the attention of the university students as our members."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 February 11 : "Wherever we get opportunities we must perform Kirtana. Our popularity in this part of the country is increasing. You should also arrange for such Kirtana programs in different churches and societies."
Letters :: 1967

1970 February 11 : "We should not pray to Krishna for anything except to ask to engage in His service. If we are engaged in His service then automatically everything will be revealed."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 February 11 : "This is very essential. I would like to know if the initiated devotees are chanting regularly sixteen rounds and following the regulative principles rigidly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1973 February 11: "Even they are going to jail daily, but still they will not stop their chanting and distributing. Our Sankirtana activities will go on unchecked. Simply we must have the determination to continue under all circumstances."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1966 February 11: "There was no response of the visitors invited to come and join Hari Kirtan this evening. But I alone executed the Kirtan ceremony with my tape recorder till 10 pm. The following letters were posted: Morning Telegram, Times Mirror Co., N.B.C. Radio, WOR, WNYC."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1967 February 11: "I wish that each and every Branch shall keep their independent identity and cooperate keeping the Acarya in the centre. On this principle we can open any number of Branches all over the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

By Mayapur.tv

The Mercy of Pancha-Tattva Within Everyone's Reach. Six fancy cameras have been installed in the temple room with a high-speed internet connection. A broadcasting/mixing room has been constructed and a film crew have come from the UK to film around the campus

We rang in the New Year at Radha Govinda Mandir with kirtan, and spent the first day of the New Year doing kirtan in Princeton, NJ. It was the first time that I was able to attend the program, even though the devotees there have the program monthly. The room was small but we were able to fit enough devotees in it to have a rocking kirtan that everyone was able to enjoy. (more…)

Whatever choices we make, we have to live with the consequences - good or bad.

Book distribution is never an experience out of a textbook-no two days are same, no two customers alike. Preparing for challenges help, but one should be ready to expect the unexpected. And with advancing Kaliyuga, the tests will be not only more frequent, but also more bewildering, more so in a metropolis like Mumbai. One day, during the December marathon last year, Bhagwan Pandit Prabhu, a devotee in Brahmchari training in Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, was faced with one such challenge. Bhagwan Pandit Prabhu is a young devotee from Orissa. He is dark and medium built and always has a bright smile on his face. He recalls: One day I was distributing books in the local trains in Mumbai when I came across a boy sitting with his girlfriend. Generally such couples are lost in their own world and rarely accept books. Anyway, I made my announcements about the books and began showing it to interested people. Then a hand shot up. It was the boy. I showed him the book. He flipped through it, showed it the girl, and then returned it. "Nice book," he smiled.

"Then please take it," I smiled too.

"Well I err. I have to ask my mom before I take it."

I looked in his eyes and said, "Did you ask your mom before sitting with this girl?"

The remark was heavy but I said it with a smile. He could have easily got up and smacked me, and in no ways I could have defended myself. I quickly decided to exit.

As I turned he called me, "Wait a minute. You are right. Give me the book."

This was not the only time Bhagwan Pandit Prabhu boldly preached the truth. Once he met a gang of young men who were having a wild time in the train. Again he decided to confront them.

I went to this group who were talking loudly and were very animated. I made announcement. They stared at me quizzically and then one of them spoke up,

"Don't waste your time here Pandit Ji, we are not interested in your books." One said in a soft voice, "We are Muslims."

"No,' I replied, "Laws of nature spare no one. If you put your hands in fire it will burn. You can not say that you don't believe in its burning power. Similarly the wisdom of Bhagwad Gita is for everyone,"

The same man who said that he was not interested called me and took a Bhagavad Gita. (Text D:41644) ---------------------------------------------

------- End of Forwarded Message ------

Book distribution is never an experience out of a textbook-no two days are same, no two customers alike. Preparing for challenges help, but one should be ready to expect the unexpected. And with advancing Kaliyuga, the tests will be not only more frequent, but also more bewildering, more so in a metropolis like Mumbai. One day, during the December marathon last year, Bhagwan Pandit Prabhu, a devotee in Brahmchari training in Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, was faced with one such challenge. Bhagwan Pandit Prabhu is a young devotee from Orissa. He is dark and medium built and always has a bright smile on his face. He recalls: One day I was distributing books in the local trains in Mumbai when I came across a boy sitting with his girlfriend. Generally such couples are lost in their own world and rarely accept books. Anyway, I made my announcements about the books and began showing it to interested people. Then a hand shot up. It was the boy. I showed him the book. He flipped through it, showed it the girl, and then returned it. "Nice book," he smiled.

"Then please take it," I smiled too.

"Well I err. I have to ask my mom before I take it."

I looked in his eyes and said, "Did you ask your mom before sitting with this girl?"

The remark was heavy but I said it with a smile. He could have easily got up and smacked me, and in no ways I could have defended myself. I quickly decided to exit.

As I turned he called me, "Wait a minute. You are right. Give me the book."

This was not the only time Bhagwan Pandit Prabhu boldly preached the truth. Once he met a gang of young men who were having a wild time in the train. Again he decided to confront them.

I went to this group who were talking loudly and were very animated. I made announcement. They stared at me quizzically and then one of them spoke up,

"Don't waste your time here Pandit Ji, we are not interested in your books." One said in a soft voice, "We are Muslims."

"No,' I replied, "Laws of nature spare no one. If you put your hands in fire it will burn. You can not say that you don't believe in its burning power. Similarly the wisdom of Bhagwad Gita is for everyone,"

The same man who said that he was not interested called me and took a Bhagavad Gita. (Text D:41644) ---------------------------------------------

------- End of Forwarded Message ------

The Morning Program
A friend of mine was semi new to the temple. He was staying in the ashram on weekends. Some temple authorities sat down with him and told him that he should be careful because he was associating with some people who were not very good association. He then asked who is good assocation. The authorities, according to my friend, told him that he should only associate with people who go to the morning program, and actually gave him a list of names of people who go to the morning program with whom he should associate. This attempt to control his association had an opposite effect of turning him off because it seeemed so controlling and judgemental to say that only this list of people are good association and everyone else is not.

I have not heard the other side of the story, so needless to say, there may be more detailed reasons for this list.However, assuming that all details presented here are true, I would like to present the perspective of someone who does not go to the temple morning program, just for communication's sake, so that those of us living in the temple and those of us not living in the temple can better understand each other rather than judge each other as good or bad association just based on attendance in the morning program.

These are some points that came to mind:
1) Nobody knows what another person is doing within the privacy of their own home - a person who does not attend the temple morning program, may be having a full morning program at home. In fact, throughout my travels, I have met many sincere and inspiring devotees who taught me about having home morning programs. At the home morning program, one gets to be the pujari, lead the kirtana, really engage the mind since there is a lot involved in this.
2) Although there is extremely high value in chanting during the brahma muhurta (sorry for the spelling errors), and also in regulation and saddhana, ultimately Krishna accepts the mood of devotion above all else. Someone may attend the morning program daily with a great mood of devotion, but another may do it ritualistically or out of pride or other reasons. Similarly, someone may stay home and chant there with great devotion, or may stay home out of laziness, or other reasons as well. It is not the place, but the motivation, sincerity of purpose, and mood that counts. The gopis pleased Krishna by giving them the dust from their feet because He wanted it, and the wives of the brahamanas pleased Krishna by their great devotion. Those following rituals alone did not please Krishna as much.
3) Health - attending a five hour morning program before going to work can be exhausting for the body, whereas having a three hour morning program at home can be spiritually enlivening but more practical for the grihasta who has many other duties to perform. It's not the same as living in the temple. Work is a genuine duty as well, and one has to adjust things to be practical.
4) The morning program provides a solid foundation for one's spiritual life, but again everyone is at a different place spiritually, materially, etc. We should not be in competition with one another but be sincere to ourselves and make gradual advancement. Someone may chant 2 rounds a day but those rounds might be so sincere and attentive, and that person might live their life in such a devotional, sincere way that pleases Krishna, whereas another person may chant 16 rounds and go to the full morning program and be proud of that and mean to other people, controlling, etc. I would rather associate with the person chanting 2 rounds in this scenario - it is the person not just attending the morning program that counts. Ideally we can chant 16 rounds and be that warm, loving, sincere person, but out of the two options above the first one seems better association to me.
5) Personally, I choose to go to the evening program rather than the morning program for one additional main reason - I like the mood hundreds of times better in the evening. This is just my personal inclination. Others may love the morning program mood, and it's wonderful that we have both so that all kinds of people can find a place where they fit in to worship Krishna. I am not saying the evening program is better, but that for me personally it is better. For me, I like the evening program because everyone who is there, is there because they want to be there, not because they have to be there. In my persepctive that sets up a loving, enthusiastic, inspirational mood. Also in the evening the women can lead kirtana, play mrdanga, and sit up closer, all of which help me meditate more intensely on Krishna and on the chanting. In the evening people are dressed in various clothes whereas in the morning I feel out of place if I am not wearing a sari. In the morning I have witnessed people being kicked out of the program which upset me because I thought the temple should be a place where all are welcome. In the evening all kinds of people come, and it seems that all are welcome. When I go to the morning program I sometimes leave it feeling upset, hurt, or frustrated because I don't understand the mood of it, but I leave the evening program feeling enlivened, happy, and in thoughts of Krishna because I feel I fit in better there and also feel more welcome. I am not criticizing the morning program, rather I truly admire people who have the discipline to attend every day. I think that to be something amazing that I find very difficult to do. I love associating with people who have such strict saddhana as well. There is definate strong power in daily intense saddhana. I am just presenting another perspective. Another person may love daily routine, be enlivened by everyone wearing he same type of clothes in the morning, someone may find that totally enlivening. That's great. The point is that everyone is different, and there is not just one way to eat a Resces. Krishna accepts many forms of service from many types of people. Just as there are pujaris, book distributors, etc. there are also people who attend the morning program at the temple, and people who please Krishna in other ways.

I would be happy to hear another perspective, but all I know is that I can say with full faith that I have a personal relationship with Krishna, and that He loves me no matter what, and that I feel a stronger connection with Him when I am being practical, real, and true to myself and where I am at in spiritual life, and even moreso when I focus on sharing Krishna with others, than when I follow everything to the exact "T" without being able to adjust things practically according to the situation. If that makes me and others who do not go to the morning program bad association, then I am not sure where to go from here. But such kind of preaching does seem to scare people away rather than keep them coming to the temple. I also clearly remember a time when I lived in the ashram, and we were being read to during breakfast during the marathon. One temple leader told us that Srila Prabhupada once said that anyone who does not go to the morning program is a demon. I understand that if one is really devoted to God, that person will naturally want to rise early and spend five hours glorifying Him, and hearing and chanting about Him, and that a person who would rather just sleep or do other things is in some way not as God loving, or may have some demonic mentality. However, to preach in this heavy way that works to inspire fear in people is a big turn off for some. Is there any in between? Are there only pure demons and pure devotees, or are there people who were raised in the kali yuga who are trying to become devotees in a gradual and practical way? When I heard that quote about everyone else being demons who do not go to the morning program, I felt scared inside that I was in some kind of cult, and did not feel so comfortable with that kind of mood. I think we have to be careful the way we present things to new devotees if we don't want to scare them away. Maybe some people will not like this post. I don't intend to offend or criticize, I really don't want to do that.I just felt it to be quite scary to give someone a list of who he can and cannot associate with and base that list on attendance in the temple morning program and wanted to open up communication about this issue. I know when I lived in the ashram there I was also taught to avoid people who don't go to the morning program or follow as strictly, but I did not know such a mood was still being presented. And I can also say that I turned off many a friend and family member by having an attitude of being better than others (for going to the morning program) whereas now I find much more happiness in seeing other's strengths and good qualities rather than thinking everyone else besides temple people are demons - that was a horrible way to live, and my heart felt tremendous relieft upon letting go of that attitude. Please correct me if I am wrong - I write only according to my level of realization - my intent is to speak what I know to be truth and thus please Krishna, but of course I have imperfect senses and am open for discussion and to hear other ideas on this topic.
My summary of the situation is that it is a rare soul who even comes to take an interest in Krishna Consciousness let alone start right away at a young age to chant 16 rounds, go on harinams, etc. When such a rare soul comes to our movement, why not fan the spark within with positive engagement in Krishna's service and a mood of joy and love rather than scare people away with rigid rules and sectarianistic thinking which seems to go against the jist of Lord Caitanya's movement and Srila Prabhupada's teachings.
Thank you.

Further along in the introduction to Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton, he speaks, in his own unique realization and style, that the prime gift of monastic/spiritual life is the ability to find the internal spiritual strength that is void in contemporary, consumerist society, and being able to share this strength with all those who need it most.

In a planet on edge, the opportunity strengthens to bring the full compassion of Krsna consciousness to the suffering hearts of our brothers and sisters. Merton writes:

"This is an age that, by its very nature as a time of crisis, of revolution, of struggle, calls for the special searching and questioning which are the work of the monk in his meditation and prayer. For the monk searches not only his own heart: he plunges deep into the heart of that world of which he remains a part although he seems to have left it. In reality the monk abandons the world only in order to listen more intently to the deepest and most neglected voices that proceed from its inner depth."

This is also Prabhupada's mood. It is our deepest responsibility as devotees, having received the gift of the wisdom from Prabhupada's books, to give it freely and with great intelligence and compassion.

We cannot remain holed up in ourselves or within our temple walls. We only waste away if we do not express to others the seed of devotion within our own hearts.

Ultimately we must bring up all the reserves of courage to face our own inner demons, for it is our duty to understand them, to face them, and to transcend them, only so we can learn to help others to do the same. Merton writes:

"The monk who is truly a man of prayer and who seriously faces the challenge of his vocation in all its depth is by that very fact exposed to existential dread. He experiences in himself the emptiness, the lack of authenticity, the quest for fidelity, the 'lostness' of modern man, but her experiences all this in an altogether different and deeper way that does man in the modern world. The monk confronts his own humanity and that of his world at the deepest and most central point where the void seems to open out to black despair. The monk confronts this serious possibility and rejects it, as Camusian man confronts 'the absurd' and transcends it by his freedom...The monk faces the worst and discovers in it the hope of the best. From the darkness comes light. From death, life."

Or as HH Bhakti-Tirtha Swami often said, we must die before dying, allowing Krsna through His mercy and our sincere effort to destroy the false ego.

Our sincere chanting, our sincere prayer, opens the door for this process to begin and continue, and we must have the courage and humility to allow Krsna to express His love and His neverending desire to deliver us back to Him.

The chanting of the Holy Name of Krsna, our most intimate prayer, is our strength and our guide, and the key to our higher self, by giving us countless opportunities to cast off our lower self.

By doing so, we please Prabhupada by becoming his dynamic, loving servants, empowered to offer the proof of eternal happiness to a world that needs it desperately.

To begin our "celebration" of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, we here at Club 108 offer you and yours a special bit of katha from Srila Prabhupada, from the excellent book "Life Comes From Life"

Morning Walk
4-19-73, Cheviot Hills Park, Los Angeles

"The Missing Link"
Dr.Singh (His Holiness Bhakti Swarup Damodar Maharaj): In fact, there are several theories explaining how life originated from matter, how living matter came from the non-living

Prabhupada: (casting Dr. Singh in the role of a materialistic scientist) All right, scientist, why is life not coming from matter now? You rascal. Why isn't life coming from matter now?

Actually such scientists are rascals. They childishly say that life came from matter, although they are not at all able to prove it. Our Krsna consciousness movement should expose all these rascals. They are only bluffing. Why don't they create life immediately? In the past, they say, life arose from matter, and they say that this will happen again in the future. They even say that they will create life from matter. What kind of theory is this? They have already commented that life began from matter. This refers to the past-"began". Then why do they now speak of the future? Is it not contradictory? They are expecting the past to occur in the future. This is childish nonsense.

Karandhar Prabhu: They say that life arose from matter in the past and that they will create life this way in the future.

P: What is this nonsense? If they cannot prove that life arises from matter in the present, how do they know life arose this way in the past?

Dr.S: They are assuming...

P: Everyone can assume, but this is not science. Everyone can assume something. You can assume something, I can assume something. But there must be proof. We can prove that life arises from life. For example, a father begets a child. The father is living, and the child is living. But where is there proof that a father can be a dead stone? Where is their proof? We can easily prove that life begins from life. And the original life is Krsna. That can also be proven. But what evidence exists that a child is born of stone? They cannot actually prove that life comes from matter. They are leaving that aside for the future. (Laughter)

K: The scientisis say that they can now formulate acids, amino acids, that are almost like one-celled living organisms. They say that because these acids so closely resemble living beings, there must be just one missing link needed before they can create life.

P: Nonsense! Missing link. I'll challenge them to their face! (Laughter) They are missing this challenge. The missing link is this challenge to their face.

If you would like to contribute to our year-long "celebration" of Darwin's 200th birthday, please send your articles, editorials, or any other creative and informative pieces to nvclub108@gmail.com

Australian Traveller's Beth Peglar visits the new Sticky Rice Cooking School in the Adelaide Hills and discovers the perfect balance of food, design, flavours and personalities. More...

Simhachalam

For Australian families: Wait until Friday and do your grocery shopping at Cole's.

Coles has contributed food and other assistance to authorities co-ordinating relief efforts in affected areas and will donate this Friday's profits from its 750 stores nationally to the Victoria bushfires appeal.

from news.com.au

One of the most essential qualities which must be developed in the hearts of those who are serious about perfecting the science of bhakti is the quality of patience. We have to be patient in terms of our personal progress and in terms of other's acceptance of Krishna consciousness as well. Just as we cannot expect ourselves to become immediately fully...

Thursday, 8th Jan, 2009. I awoke in good time. Breakfast time! We honoured an ecstatic breaky with a serious side of mango milk shake. Actually I think the meal was the side for the mango milk shake in my case. I was so intoxicated with mango milk shake that I didn’t even realise it was ekodasi. After breakfast our mother from our house we were staying brought up my diary. “Prabhu I really like your diary but you need too…” “Edit it right? So I have been told.” “Yes well there are no paragraphs.” “Excuse me? Where are you reading my diaries?” “Planet ISKCON Prabhu.”

I had only just found out the day before that people were reading my crazy diary now all over the world but now I have found that they are reading it in a crazy block. It was like 9 inch square chunk of ladu. Normally this would concern me but on tour there is no time for concern, only for eating such ladus. There is also concern if I am spelling ladu correctly.

So we were off. And it was a rush. Domo was out and communicating by a mobile device. He was asking for his “shirt”. I was struggling (as per usual) to locate this object of his. In the end it was a sure sign that we were missing Vana from Polish Tour. Vana would translate Domo to me and Me to Domo. Domo was actually after his “shoes” not “shirt”. Ki jai. After a lot of time wasted Domo got his maha lotus shoes.

Next step was the drop off. We went to our hall in local Brisbane City. I dropped the parachute troopers and I was sent in….that direction?…to find parking. What parking? No parking on this street? Or the next block? Or the next main road? Or the next suburb? I decided to drive back to the hall, talk to a security guard and park in the back parking lot. The only price was to greet the guard lady every time I saw her, talk aimlessly about my car still being parked there and all these formalities.

I ran and hid in the foyer. I had not had enough ladu to deal with this day. In fact I had had no ladu. Where is the ladu? Me and Mathura, who also hadn’t had access to ladus, were browsing around the book table (make that 2 tables!) trying to rest and be busy at the same time (does anyone know how to do that yet?). Domo changed the plans and we went for a drive. We drove a little further than I did looking for parks. The traffic had to wait for Domo to get his chips. We had something safety tagged and the man wrote me out a receipt while chewing down his meat sandwich. Ki Jai!

There was no time to sit around. Well there was after we went for a walk to get a can of spray. It would have helped that I had an ID (you need ID in Australia to purchase drugs, knives, pray paint and small children). In the end my honest look of complete forgetfulness got me through. I found myself minding the hall/using my laptop while everyone went for lunch. An official came in to tell me a lot of useless information about fire alarms, venue capacity and all other things that are only useful to save human lives. She was very worried that someone might light incense or ghee lamps but I reassured her that we would behave and pretend we weren’t crazy cultists from the future.

Upon returning Sadhu had epic tails of Srikan and I knew I had broken the first rule of the tour commandment. Thou shalt make lunch on time. I went to Govindas by foot but it was too late. I arrived as some mothers downed the last litres of srikan. It is always interesting that people tend to go up a sari size on ekodasi when it’s quite clearly about eating raw food and becoming emaciated. There was some attempt at apology but I was not insulted…as long as I found a convenience store and got myself some kettle chips. The real reason Krsna made ekodasi was to keep kettle in business till the next satya yuga.

Govindas was good for a few other things besides prasad honouring in the end. We took a photo of someone who fell asleep and I got to catch up with Mothers Jambavati and Carmella who had made their way up from Syd to get back into tour. I led the army to the hall armed with my mighty bag of chips. I showed them the quick and painless way to the hall. Upon heading back out I found mother Rajesvari diddle dawdling far behind. She had gone back for some prasad for me! I was touched.

I decided to reward her with a guided tour of the hall before I honoured the whole bucket by myself. By guided I meant I felt like seeing if I could actually find the hall from the front entrance rather than going in the back way. It was a lot of running around up and down stairs and a sneak peak of some other halls in the building. In the end we submitted and asked someone directions. What a party poop.

Mmmmmm potato. Ekodasi is the one day that people make potato taste good. It is must as it’s the closest thing that resembles food besides various traditional cheeses. Just after potatoes I got my first gist of the locals. I caught up with Vishnu from New Govardhana back stage. Our conversation was cut short when I was asked to escort Gurudeva into the foyer of the show. I am still unsure why I am asked to take people anywhere but it happened.

Before mentioning the likelihood of normally getting lost I will mention the circumstances. There are four entrances to the building, each had a lobby that is identical, I don’t like reading signs and there is renovations on the floor beneath the show. So where are we? Fortunately Maharaja was to transcendental to realise how totally confused I was but I think it was some excitement for him. Mission successful in the end.

I bumped into Shyam from New Gokul in the foyer. I think he’s stalking me. I rushed off to save the catching up for later. It was play time. There was an impressive light show. We had some extra lighting courtesy the local venue. It was epilepticly exquisite. I took some time after the show to reset my eyes in our immaculate changing rooms. Indradyumna Swami returned. He was feeling a little nervous before the speech. This was one of those intimate moments you only get on tour (and then blab it to everyone on my diary). I spotted a small dab of tilak on his cheek and brushed it off for him.

Before I knew it I ended up back on stage. I was setting up maharaja’s seat…and water too. When things go crazy I am used as a back. Fortunately the norm didn’t happen and it didn’t go crazy. For once I did something right. In other word, Krsna had his hand in this one.

After the show there was an epic book session. Our double table was buzzing double time. We sliced off 22 Cds from our collection. There were many asks where our local centre was. There was one lady from England. She was deciding which book would suit her. I was pushing the Gita until I realized it made no difference. She pulled the usual line “can I get this at your centre where I live?” except she was talking about the Manor in England. She purchased the SSR for travel purpose and purchased Chant and Be Happy for Gaura to autograph (for his performance of Krsna). She had Indradyumna Swami sign her other book and told the guys she was going to buy Gita when she got home. Gaura invited her to come to the parikrama Kartika in Vrindavan.

I caught up with Shyam and Nandini after the book table buzzed a little quieter. Just at the end Maha Mantra rocked onto the scene. He was talking to Dina Dayal and both of them were looking to go to Mayapur for Gaurapurnim. I was excited as I was booked to be there also. There were to be a few boys to make trouble with this year it seemed.

We had a grand ekodasi feast up late to celebrate. We scuttled our ways into our vehicles and headed home. It would normally be a short drive but we found our way around epic detours as the main road was totally blocked off for some night work. We powered home with some good memories of the show. There were lovely devotees and lovely devotees to come from one of our more spectacular shows. We were set to do something rare in tour routine also. That was sleep before the next day officially started. It was an early night for the introspective sages and plenty of thoughts of upcoming ecstasies. I don’t think ladu is for ekodasi after all.

Someone challenged. "I say we have evolved from monkeys." to which Srila Prabhupada countered." Where is the the question of evolution? I say you are still monkeys." (Monkey mentality)

Up to 300 people are dead in the worst bush fires in Australia's European history. The fires continue to burn in the state of Victoria. Entire towns have been wiped off the map. In one town up to 20% of the inhabitants have perished. Firefighters are coming into the state from as far away as New Zealand to fight the fires.

Day time temperatures in the region have reached 47 degrees Celsius. At night they plunge to as low as 7 degrees.

Here is a photo from the fire zone. Koalas are generally very shy creatures and do not interact with humans. They also obtain their liquids by eating eucalyptus leaves and rarely drink water.

The CFA is the Country Fire Authority [website], responsible for the full-time and volunteer fire brigades in the rural areas of the state of Victoria.

The song "Gurvastakam" by Visvanath Chakravarti Thakura describes material existence itself as a blazing forest fire - samsara davanala-lidha-loka. Since material existence is all we have experience of we discriminate between good and bad experiences and states of being within it. Visvanatha describes them all, however, as minute gradations of the same bad - he compares it to a salt mine where everything tastes like salt. Similarly all situations in the material world, whether considered good or bad in mundane terms, are unfavorable in absolute terms. Just like our Koala friend here. We could say that this picture is good or nice, but when you look at the overall situation that they are in, it's pretty much all bad right now.

Another example is being waterboarded at Guantanamo bay - when they let your head out of the bucket and let you breathe you experience that as "good" - but is it really? It's quite relative.

So Visvanatha, and the wider Vedic tradition, claim that life in this body, experienced as the interaction of the senses of the body with the objects of the senses, may be considered relatively good or bad, but it is absolutely bad, compared to another, as-yet unexperienced reality. They also offer a process to be able to experience that other reality directly, in this lifetime (pratyaksavagamam dharmyam). I can't say that I've experienced more than a glimpse of it, but I can say that the idea and their explanation of it is sufficiently intriguing and superficially credible, and my own experience so far sufficiently encouraging to keep me pursuing it.

As Srila B.R. Sridhara Maharaja put it: "I won't be so bold as to say that I've seen God, but I've seen signs along the way and I am encouraged."

How many words of text on web pages do you think will be read this year in the US and other first-world countries with similar Internet penetration? How do you think that compares with the number of words that will be read from books in the same time period by those same people?

-
The once and future e-book: on reading in the digital age

1966 February 10: "His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's advent ceremony. The following letters delivered personally at the respective offices: New York Times, New York Herald Tribune, New York News Daily and Sunday."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1970 February 10: "Your attitude of humbleness and meekness in the service is the only qualification which can lead us to upper grade of Krishna Consciousness, and this is the version of Lord Caitanya."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1973 February 10: "If there are any defects within our Society it is only symptom that the instructions of the Spiritual Master are being neglected."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

• Durván esik a hó… #

Last Saturday was the most glorious appearance day of Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda is the personification of mercy and as such his appearance day rained mercy upon one and all! That rain visibly appeared during the abhishek when various substances were poured upon Nitai. Buckets upon buckets of various ingredients were poured upon Nitai as he smilingly accepted everything. From yogurt to colored water, coconut water to freshly squeezed grape juice, Nitai looked resplendent no matter what was covering him.

Dear Readers

I am sorry I have not been able to update the walking adventure, there is a good reason. For the time being my walking has come to a halt and I am confined to a hospital bed in Burlington. I received an infection on the right foot after an encounter with a catfish. I am spending time to heal the foot.

As I am looking out the window of the hospital room overlooking Lake Ontario, it's a beautiful scene, there are geese that fly by my window and below I can see a park. I can see the home of the famous historian Joseph Brant. I can see people walking and I envy them somewhat. How we take our feet for granted.

The foot is somewhat painful but I will get through it by God's grace. I have not logged any kilometres since last Wednesday when I was in Guyana on the beach. I only hobble to the toilet. That's the only walking I do. But certainly increasing Mantra Meditation. If you have time a little prayer for my recovery will be much appreciated.

Your servant,
Bhaktimarga Swami

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.11 - We should not have high hopes in the material world.

Srila Prabhupada once told this to Hamsadutta Prabhu, who told it to Manidhar Prabhu, who relayed it to me.

Every occasion is an opportunity to glorify Krishna. Today happens to be the starting of the fiftieth year of marriage of my parents. The golden Jubilee year. Interestingly, i was reading the meaning of Jubilee and came across this on the Webster's dictionary. Though it means a special anniversary, this one struck as a more apt meaning especially when in reference to marriage anniversary :"A

If you take Gita Coaching seriously, it can bring you from hopelessness to an unbreakable enthusiasm and determination.

Thus the wise living entity’s pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.   PURPORT It is said in the Manu-smrti that lust cannot be satisfied by any amount of sense enjoyment, just as fire is never extinguished by a constant supply of fuel. [...]

11 Feb 2009: From tomorrow (12 Feb) onwards, annual GBC meetings will begin in Sri dham Mayapur. GBC meetings will continue until 23rd of February. Many Sanyasis and GBC’s have arrived in Mayapur. Though Gaura Purnima festival will be officially will be inaugurated on 24th February, many devotees plan their arrival much ahead of the festival to take full advantage of the great opportunity to have association of senior members of ISKCON and get to hear the special lectures.

read more

rasa108@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika das

1973 February 10 : "We must not lower our position but we must educate others to come up to our standards. "
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 February 10 : "Each GBC man can act as my secretary for one month at a time as I originally planned. In this way you will all be trained up nicely."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 February 10 : "The women must be protected and it is the duty of the leaders of our Society to see that this is carried out."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1973 February 10 : "I want that Mayapur be self-sufficient by having its own production of grains, vegetables, fruits and milk products, etc. This will be better than trying to arrange for maintenance funds to come from outside."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1967 February 10 : "Accept Krishna as your Husband and He will never cheat you. So remain busy in the service of your Husband and you will be happy in this life as well as in the next."
Letters :: 1967

1973 February 10: "If there are any defects within our Society it is only symptom that the instructions of the Spiritual Master are being neglected."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1970 February 10: "Your attitude of humbleness and meekness in the service is the only qualification which can lead us to upper grade of Krishna Consciousness, and this is the version of Lord Caitanya."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1966 February 10: "His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada's advent ceremony. The following letters delivered personally at the respective offices: New York Times, New York Herald Tribune, New York News Daily and Sunday."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

 

Midnight came not with the striking of a clock, but with the blowing of a conch-shell. The auspicious sound rang through the temple room of Radha Govinda Mandir and announced that a new year had come. Everyone began to dance as the kirtan started.

It soon became a kirtan where no one led and the leader would simply rotate to whoever had the microphone for that specific mantra. There was joy and excitement in the air, ushering in this New Year that everyone had high hopes for. People danced back and forth, in circles and with their arms raised. Everyone sang as loudly as they could. We prayed for the blessings of our spiritual masters so that we would be able to carry on this year and be the best that we could.

Some rededicated themselves to what they held dearest in their lives. I took another look at how blessed I truly was just to be able to do kirtan all the time, even if it wasn’t everyday or what I was able to do for my full-time job. It was clear that people were ready for 2009. I hope that we all make plans to live more, love more, show our joy more fully and engage in kirtan completely.

Live your kirtan!
Acyuta Gopi

Acyuta Gopi is a member of As Kindred Spirits and a powerhouse kirtan leader in her own right. Browse the Downloads page for some of her transforming kirtans.

Having trouble downloading? Read our Help Section.

• 01 Ananta Govinda - New Years Kirtan (58)
• 02 Srikanta - Nrsimhadeva Prayers (63)
• 03 Gaura Vani - Hare Krsna (97)

 

We were invited by our dear friend Ray Ippolito to perform at the Chapel of the Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) one last time on New Year’s eve. This being the last time because CoSM is closing down it’s location in Manhattan to Upstate NY. We had a great jam session with master of bass and drums Sri Shyam and Gaura Vani on flute, vocals and harmonium. (more…)

This past Saturday, ISKCON Toronto, the Hare Krishna Centre, celebrated the Appearance Day of Lord Nityananda. This particular festival continues to be a favourite for local devotees and this year's festival was marked by some special features. 

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI KLANG, MALAYSIA - An intricately designed white dress with Holy Names sewn in various languages spoken here in Malaysia was embroidered  by our expert seamstress HG Vimala Madhavi mataji for Nityananda Trayodasi. The ‘Hare Krishna’ mahamantra was written in English, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil on all the dresses of the deities here. White [...]

BY GAURAV MOHNOT Bhaktivedanta Book Trust INDIA — What follows is a small collection of verses and bhajans in glorification of Sri Nityananda Rama. This collection is far from being exhaustive and complete, for Nityananda Prabhu’s glories are unlimited! Even Ananta-sesa, with His thousands of mouths, has been speaking the glories of Nityananda Prabhu since the beginning [...]

Seeing the Lord present before them, King Nâbhi and his priests and associates felt just like poor people who have suddenly attained great riches. They received the Lord and respectfully bent their heads and offered Him things in worship.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 3 Verse 3

Sri Sri Sad-gosvamy-astaka

By Srila Srinivasa Acharya

1.
krsnotkirtana-gana-nartana-parau premamrtambho-nidhi
dhiradhira-jana-priyau priya-karau nirmatsarau pujitau
sri-caitanya-krpa-bharau bhuvi bhuvo bharavahantarakau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Like oceans of loving ecstasy, they chant and dance in Krishna sankirtan
Granting freely Gauranga’s grace to all the world, assuaging all affliction.
Beloved to both the good and bad, worshipped by all, free from malevolence.
To Rupa, Sanatana, both Raghunathas, Gopal and Jiva, my obeisance.

2.
nana-sastra-vicaranaika-nipunau sad-dharma-samsthapakau
lokanam hita-karinau tri-bhuvane manyau saranyakarau
radha-krsna-padaravinda-bhajananandena mattalikau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Expertly establishing from all scripture the essence of real religion
Shelter to all throughout all the worlds they bestow the highest benediction.
Ever enrapt with euphoria, serving Krishna in total loving trance.
To Rupa, Sanatana, both Raghunathas, Gopal and Jiva, my obeisance.

3.
sri-gauranga-gunanuvarnana-vidhau sraddha-samrddhy-anvitau
papottapa-nikrntanau tanu-bhrtam govinda-ganamrtaih
anandambudhi-vardhanaika-nipunau kaivalya-nistarakau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Fully grasping Gauranga’s transcendental truths that they narrate perfectly.
Freeing all fallen souls from all of their sins by Govinda’s pure eulogy.
Growing the ocean of bhakti bliss, and from mukti, our safe deliverance.
To Rupa, Sanatana, both Raghunathas, Gopal and Jiva, my obeisance.

4.
tyakva turnam asesa-mandala-pati-srenim sada tuccha-vat
bhutva dina-ganesakau karunaya kaupina-kanthasritau
gopi-bhava-rasamrtabdhi-lahari-kallola-magnau muhur
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Abandoning aristocracy as meaningless, they mendicants became.
Living simply in loincloths, to save all souls from suffering their one aim.
Swimming in a sea of ecstasy, in the pure mood of the gopis’ romance.
To Rupa, Sanatana, both Raghunathas, Gopal and Jiva, my obeisance.

5.
kujat-kokila-hamsa-sarasa-ganakirne mayurakule
nana-ratna-nibaddha-mula-vitapa-sri-yukta-vrndavane
radha-krsnam ahar-nisam prabhajatau jivarthadau yau muda
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Always worshipping Radha Shyam in Vraja dhama, bright abode of all beauties.
Where Peacocks, swans, cranes, and cuckoos call among the gems found round flowering trees,
Bestowing the boon of life’s greatest goal upon all souls, in great jubilance.
To Rupa, Sanatana, both Raghunathas, Gopal and Jiva, my obeisance.

6.
sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih kalavasani-krtau
nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau catyanta-dinau ca yau
radha-krsna-guna-smrter madhurimanandena sammohitau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Spending their days chanting Krishna’s name and bowing down in a regulated way.
Ever enchanted by the loveliness and love, that Radha Krishna display.
Meek and mild with subdued senses they ever were emblems of all tolerance.
To Rupa, Sanatana, both Raghunathas, Gopal and Jiva, my obeisance.

7.
radha-kunda-tate kalinda-tanaya-tire ca vamsivate
premonmada-vasad asesa-dasaya grastau pramattau sada
gayantau ca kada harer guna-varam bhavabhibhutau muda
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

Sometimes seen around Vamsivat and Radha Kunda and by the Yamuna’s shore.
Divine symptoms of delirious love of god manifesting more and more.
Always absorbed in the glories of Govindaji in blissful song and dance.
To Rupa, Sanatana, both Raghunathas, Gopal and Jiva, my obeisance.

8.
he radhe vraja-devike ca lalite he nanda-suno kutah
sri-govardhana-kalpa-padapa-tale kalindi-vanye kutah
ghosantav iti sarvato vraja-pure khedair maha-vihvalau
vande rupa-sanatanau raghu-yugau sri-jiva-gopalakau

All around sacred Vrindavan seeking their Lord, their loud shouts were heard each day.
Dear son of Nanda, Dear Radhika, Dear Lalita, where now your wondrous play?
By Goverdhan or Yamuna’s banks, where shall we see your sports of transcendence?
To Rupa, Sanatana, both Raghunathas, Gopal and Jiva, my obeisance.

Prague, Taichi akademie

His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Maharaja will be preaching in Melbourne until next Sunday. He will give Bhagavatam classes at the temple in the mornings from 7:30am.

Here is Maharaja's itinerary to date:

Tonight
Gopal's Kirtana Night (Swanston St.)

Wednesday February 11
Harinama from Crossways (Swanston St.) at 4:30pm.
Krishnafest from 6:00pm. at Urban Yoga (Level 2 above Crossways)

Friday February 13
Harinama from Crossways (Swanston St.) at 6:30pm.

Saturday February 14
Bhajans for Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada 11:00am (temple)
Class on Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada 11:30am (temple)

Sunday February 15
Sunday Feast class from 5:00pm. (temple)

Next Saturday is the Appearance anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's Guru Maharaja, Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada.


Beginning at 11am., we will celebrate with a program glorifying Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada's preaching spirit. His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Maharaja will lead bhajans and give class.

Our program is as follows:
11:00am - Bhajans
11:30am - Class
12:00pm - Pushpanjali
12:30pm - Guru Puja arati
1:00pm   - Prasadam feast

Please join us.

Melbourne's ISKCON community joyfully celebrated Nityananda Trayodasi last Sunday.

Right from Mangalarati at 4:30am. till the middle of the afternoon and beyond, devotees hungry  for Nityananda Mahasaya's mercy enthusiastically engaged in His service.

You can see a slide show here. If you find that the slide screen appears blank, you may need to check your Flash Player.

No matter how we analyze it this material world is a place of miseries. It has always been that way and it will always be that day. It's a world full of material forms which take birth, get sick, get old, and die. No amount of material scientific technological advancement can put a stop to the onslaught of these material miseries. So is there any way...

This is the Schedule of the Satsang Seminars (Without Service Charges) to be held as part of the Gaura Purnima Festival 2009 in Sri Dham Mayapur.

2009 Sat-sanga Seminars

Feb 24 - 27, 2009
(Without Service Charges)

read more

'Warcraft' Sequel Lets Gamers Play A Character Playing 'Warcraft'

Dude, this is so totally going to become part of my "Internet Addiction" presentation...

1969 February 9: "On hearing from you, I shall start for London by the end of this month. When I go there I am sure I shall find out a suitable temple-house."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 9: "I shall be very happy to know what is happening to the second issue of our Back To Godhead. I hope the new issue will be ready very soon. Please inform me what is the problem in this important matter."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 9: "The articles like Dr. Spock, the Beach Boys, or nonsense book reviews should be completely avoided. Avoid the hippy advertisements as far as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Last night Prahlad and I read the following in Bhaktivinode Thakur's Jaiva Dharma:

Lahiri: There are two kinds of people in this world: those who are spiritually awake and those who are spiritually unconscious. The sastras have praised secondary results for the benefit of those who are spiritually unconscious, and who do not perform any pious activity unless they can visualize a forthcoming result. However, the sastras do not intend such people to remain satisfied with secondary results; rather, their attraction to secondary results should induce them to perform virtuous acts, which will hasten their contact with sadhus. Then, by the mercy of the sadhus, they will come to know of the primary results of hari-bhajana, and taste for those results will awaken within them.

Devidasa: Then are we to understand that Raghunandana and the other authors of the smrti-sastras are spiritually unconscious?

Lahiri: No, but the system that they have prescribed is for the spiritually unconscious. However, they themselves seek the primary result.

Devidasa: Some sastras only describe the secondary results and do not mention the primary results at all. Why is this?

Lahiri: There are three types of sastra, corresponding to the varieties of adhikara (eligibility) among human beings: sattvika, of the nature of goodness; rajasika, of the nature of passion; and tamasika, of the nature of ignorance. The sattvika-sastras are for people who are imbued with the nature of goodness (sattva-guna); the rajasika-sastras are for those enveloped by the nature of passion (rajo-guna); and the tamasika-sastras are for those engrossed in the nature of ignorance (tamo-guna).

Devidasa: If that is the case, how should one know which directives of the sastra to have faith in? And how may those of lower adhikara (eligibility) attain a higher destination?

Lahiri: Human beings have different natures and faiths according to their different levels of adhikara. People who are impelled primarily by the mode of ignorance have natural faith in the tamasika-sastras. Those affected primarily by the mode of passion have natural faith in the rajasika-sastras, and those in the mode of goodness naturally have faith in the sattvika-sastras. One’s belief in a particular conclusion of the sastra is naturally in accordance with one’s faith.

As one faithfully carries out the duties for which one has the adhikara, he may come into contact with sadhus and develop a higher adhikara through their association. As soon as a higher adhikara is awakened, one’s nature is elevated, and one’s faith in a more elevated sastra will follow accordingly. The authors of the sastras were infallible in their wisdom and composed the sastras in such a way that one will gradually develop higher adhikara by carrying out the duties for which one is eligible and in which one naturally has faith. It is for this reason that different directives have been given in different sastras. Faith in the sastra is the root of all auspiciousness.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita is the mimamsa-sastra of all the sastras. This siddhanta is clearly stated there.

Devidasa: I have studied many sastras since my childhood, but today, by your grace, I have understood their purpose in an entirely new light.

Lahiri: It is written in Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.8.10):

anubhyas ca mahadbhyas ca sastrebhyah kusalo narah
sarvatah saram adadyat puspebhya iva satpadah

An intelligent person will take the essence of all the sastras, whether they are great or small, just as a bumblebee gathers honey from many different types of flowers.

My dear son, I used to call you an atheist. Now I don’t criticize anyone, because faith depends on adhikara. There is no question of criticism in this regard. Everyone is working according to their own adhikara, and they will advance gradually when the time is appropriate. You are a scholar of the sastras dealing with logic and fruitive action, and since your statements are in accordance with your adhikara, there is no fault in them.

Devidasa: Until now, I believed that there were no scholars in the Vaisnava sampradaya. I thought that the Vaisnavas were merely fanatics who concerned themselves solely with one part of the sastra, but what you have explained today has completely dispelled my misconceptions. Now I have faith that some of the Vaisnavas have truly understood the essence of the sastra.

- Jaiva Dharma, by Bhaktivinode Thakura, chapter 5

My thought: let gays have their own scene where they can have standards, rather than making it "all or nothing" out of a fear that it will destroy ISKCON's standard.

There is no need to transform temple (brahminical) standards, but at the same time, in order to create a path of progressive elevation we have to have secondary structures.

Without this we create a situation where as a gay person there is no difference between having 1 partner or 100 partners - both are equally outside the purview of any structure. And the fact is that there is a difference between those two scenarios, both socially and individually.

Give devotees like Amara prabhu the blessing to help people to rise to the platform of devotional service and to support them in their practice and gradual purification.

This is not transformation of ISKCON's core, but expansion of its mission. In addition to the brahminical temple we need the wider society with infrastructure and standards for people at all levels of spiritual development.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.10 - Sages are ready to adjust according to Krsna's desire.

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On the topic of international terrorism, Prabhupada said that people should not expect to do away with terrorism as long as the vast majority of human beings were behaving as animals. If one ferocious beast fights with another in the jungle, he said, we should not be surprised. Similarly, as long as humanity lived as animals, without knowledge of selfrealization, then we could not expect an end to terroristic violence.

>From Living with the Scriptures by SDG

Radha Damodara got a new outfit for Lord Nityananda's appearance day! Here are their lordships in the beautiful home they arranged for themselves here in Mayapur.

Their Lordships Shri Shri Gaura Nitia and Shri Shri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha looking stunning on the Appearance Day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Darshan of my deities from the festival can be found in my gallery.

These necklaces are easy to make and the technique can be modified to add or subtract tiers. This style creates the look of multiple necklaces but because it is a single piece you don’t need to worry about different necklaces getting tangled, making dressing really simple.

Supplies:

1. Polyester Sewing Thread
2. Extra Fine Beading Needle
3. Seed Beads
4. Decorative Beads (5 crystal bi-cones and 6 glass beads)
5. Scissors
   Step 1: Begin by double stringing a generous length of the sewing thread on to your needle and tying a stop bead (simply tie a knot around a seed bead) towards the end, leaving a 3-4 inch tail.
   
   Step 2: String on 8-10 seed beads followed by a crystal bi-cone, then string on more seed beads to the desired length of the first necklace.
   
   Step 3: Next, string on one glass bead, a crystal bi-cone and three seed beads. To create the pendant, pass the needle back through the crystal bi-cone and pull the thread all the way through.
   
   Step 4: Complete the second side of the necklace with the glass bead, seed beads, crystal bi-cone and the seed beads. Then securely tie the ends of the string together.
   
   Step 5: Now to create the second tier pass the needle back through the seed beads and crystal bi-cone. Then you can begin stringing on your seed beads adding a few more than you did for the first tier to ensure this necklace will sit below the first one. Continue with the pattern as you did for the first necklace and securely tying off the thread.
   
   Step 6: At this point you could finish your necklace with two tiers, or you can repeat step five with more seed beads to create a third tier.

By Radhaprema Devi Dasi

The official opening of the temple in Aravade is set to turn the usually quiet bucolic village into a buzzing, spiritual wonderland, with thousands of cosmopolitan devotees from all over the world descending to engage in the festival, unarguably a first for this pastoral land.

 

There is a revolution building. It started five hundred years ago and has been slowly leaking into cracks and crevices ever since. It’s slow moving, but very patient. It needs no one to thrive, but a chosen few are given the gift of being able to spread it. This revolution uplifts the heart and makes it dance, makes it sing, makes it laugh. It has the power to transport anyone to the best place ever. A place where there is nothing but love, where every word is a song and every step is a dance. This revolution is kirtan. We take up war against pride, envy, and greed every time we do kirtan and we re-dedicate ourselves to the cause: being loving, gentle, humble more full human beings. Our battle-cry and our armor is the Hare Krsna mantra and we can be heard singing at the top of our lungs. We sing into battle and defeat our opponents with dance, taking over their hearts and holding them captive. We hold onto our prisoners of war and only ask that they help take up our mission and spread kirtan as far and wide as they possibly can. This is As Kindred Spirits, this is our revolution. Our mission was the theme of the kirtan at the East Village Temple Yoga Studio performance. We implored that people look at the revolution that has been getting bigger and bigger and to become a part of it. We negotiated with them, telling them all the good points about it, and in the end, we did the one thing that we knew would capture them fully and bring them whole-heartedly to the cause…we did kirtan. (more…)

Are we aware of the problems of individuals coming out of Brahmacarya life into Grhastha? Should they be supported, guided? It is without a shadow of a doubt that temple life is the best, but practicality means that a majority will leave and take up household life. The transition can be difficult especially when it comes to the [...]

1969 February 9 : "I am glad to know that you are anxious to begin tending the Deities in grand style. Before I instruct you further, let me know how you are conducting temple worship now from morning till night."
Letters :: 1969

1969 February 9 : "It is up to the sons to obey the father and keep the relationship natural. A father cannot be displeased with his sons, but sometimes they create disturbances, and the father has to tolerate. "
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 9 : "I am not displeased with any of my disciples. The little disturbances created by them were temporary. Now again they have come to their real consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1966 February 9 :
"Today morning I met Manager of 33 Riverside Drive, New York, N.Y. for occupying apartment No 307 on rent. Agreed and in the evening at 4/30 $140.00 was paid.
Expenditure: Bus fare .30 and rent above total $140.30"
Journal :: 1966

1969 February 9: "On hearing from you, I shall start for London by the end of this month. When I go there I am sure I shall find out a suitable temple-house."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969