History shows that although men ran the large banks the true economy was actually driven by women who run all household affairs. Within all but a few households the pay was always handed over to the wife unopened, after taking into account the needs of the household it was common for the husband then to be [...]

Any one who has had the great fortune of being in the presence of Srimati Vishnupriya Mataji (HDG Sriman Sankarshan das Adhikari’s wife) can surely appreciate Mataji’s ability to capture the essence of the problem and deliver an equally eloquent and concise solution. Here in Austin we have the opportunity to hear Mataji give Srimad-Bhagavatam [...]

Ok, so I admit it I’m totally in love.  A couple months back when I first read ISCOWP’s post on the Brahmin’s coming to New Vrindavan Dham they stole my heart. In a way it’s strange as I’ve never met them but, have just heard about their pastimes and glories. This is a very practical [...]

Today I chanted extras rounds because it's Ekadasi...but also because I felt like chanting more and giving more quality to my chanting at a time of the day when I don't normally chant.

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain.

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

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.31 - Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.31 - Chapter 9: Brahmārsquo;s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain.

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

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.30 - Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.30 - Chapter 9: Brahmārsquo;s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain.

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

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.27-28 - Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.27-28 - Chapter 9: Brahmārsquo;s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain.

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

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.26 - Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.26 - Chapter 9: Brahmārsquo;s Prayers for Creative Energy

1966 February 21: "Todays meeting was attended by greater number of members than other days. They liked the Introduction recording very much. Some of them brought fruits for me and Mrs. Leblanc paid $3.00."Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1968 February 21 : "There are different kinds of hellish life for different kinds of sinful activities. One is sent to a particular type of hell and when practiced to suffer the hellish condition, one is given a similar body as reaction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 February 21 : "So far as the bowing down in Deity worship, there is no restriction on bowing down. As many times as you can is all right."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1972 February 21 : "If the money invested comes back manyfold in the form of books sold, then we may spend thousands on radio advertisements and make Krishna Book very famous all over your country."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 21 : "There is a Bengali proverb "When you pay the price it becomes purified'', just like if I purchase something and it is unclean in so many ways, but, because I have paid, it becomes purified."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 February 21 : "We must become recognized not only by the mass but also by the class. Hearing is the first step; therefore if we can simply convince these big men to hear, then gradually they will accept."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1970 February 21: "I will suggest one thing - that you can organize a mass Sankirtana procession on the Advent Day of Lord Caitanya. If George and John Lennon both lead the procession, I think that will be a great successful program."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1973 February 21: "It is our duty to rectify him. To create a devotee takes much labor and to reject him in a minute is not to our credit."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

The weekly Tuesday programs at ISKCON’s first ever center on New York’s 26 2nd Avenue have been opened up to a potential audience of up to three million people, via a public access TV station.

The GBC North American Leadership Succession Committee announced the launch of the Leadership Development Program, an extensive course of study and practice for current and upcoming ISKCON leaders. Beginning in March, North America will be the first region to open this newly developed path for preparation and further training of the movement’s leaders worldwide.

Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time when romantic couples or other closely related people express their love for each other. But this February 14, ISKCON’s Food For Life staff in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, showed their love for everyone by giving gifts of delicious vegetarian food to people they had never met before.

The 44th president of the United States Barack Obama has been presented with a copy of Bhagavad-gita As It Is by an old friend – the brother of Srila Prabhupada disciple Krishnalaulya Dasi.

We are so happy to inform the devotees that HH Jayapataka Maharaja safely arrived to Mayapur. Maharaja reached Kolkata airport at 11am and there were many hundreds of local devotees receiving Guru Maharaja at the airport. At 12 noon Maharaja was brought in his vehicle to Mayapur assisted by Dr. Acyutananda prabhu, Ekanath Gaura prabhu, Maha Varaha prabhu and Bhadra Balaram prabhu. Guru Maharaja had a lunch break on the way.

read more

Hare Krishna Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Here's an inspiring story about how Krishna consciousness can change things in this world.

There was a nuclear sub stationed off the coast of America during the sixties. They were just waiting for the command to launch the missles to get WW III going. One day they got a notice instead to come home. The war was cancelled.

The commander of that sub later read Srila Prabhupada's biography getting it from his grandson who had become a devotee. While reading he learned that the day he received the order to come home was the very day that Srila Prabhupada stepped foot on American soil!

I learned this personally from the grandson while I was traveling in Russia.

Krishna is the Supreme Controller. Keep preaching and distributing those books. Who knows how many other times WW III has been postphoned. Perhaps it will be permanently postphoned. Krishna consciousness can save this world!

Desiring to always remain a servant of the Vaishnavas, Dhanesvara Das

Priests, farmers and congregational members at Bhaktivedanta Manor – ISKCON’s UK headquarters – witnessed the birth of a healthy female calf this February 20th. She was no ordinary calf, devotees felt, but a symbol of reconciliation and a new era between the RSPCA and Vaishnava communities across Britain.

The Mumbai branch of Rotary International, a humanitarian organization with 32,000 clubs and over 1.2 million members worldwide, organized a charity show this January 29 to honor ISKCON’s Midday Meal Project.

Members of ISKCON’s prison outreach team in Vrindavana, India, were in for a surprise when they paid their regular visit to Bharatpur Jail in Rajasthan this February 13 – they arrived to find a group of fifty inmates holding their own Srimad Bhagavatam class.

MUMBAI: The economic slowdown has kicked many in the stomach, but few as directly as the Midday Meal Project in Mumbai. That's what one of the providers, the ISKCON Food Relief Foundation (FRF), is figuring out the hard way.

Toronto, Ontario

People have been sending their sympathies via email. Thank you all! Bone scans show that infection has hit the bone of the large right toe. A previous serious toe stub incident was likely the cause. Now the catfish incident has enhanced the infection. So I'm laid up, in bed, taking intravenous for an additional week. My assistant monk, Devadatta, applied a poultice of olive oil, turmeric and neem. The toe responded well to the substance but swelling remains high. Such is the woe of my toe.

In the much bigger world, the public is on a roll to hitting a rock. Financial instability seems to remain clearly a reality. Some experts offer advice as to how to cope with what leads on many people to depression. One writer in the National Post suggested "Keep your car at home" as a way to save money. That advise resonated well with me. Stimulating more walking is a saving solution.

Chanakya Pandit, a keen advisor to Indian royalty centuries ago, advised to put out three things when they arise – fire, debt and disease. When these circumstances occur immediate attention must be given to them.

I truly feel for those people who are struggling as a result of weak financial policies. What had started in the U.S as a promising arrangements turned sour and as a result the global economy is now affected. The snow –balling of the U.S. to the world may force us to rethink our terms of subsistence. Our guru spoke of self-sufficiency over and over again that a culture based on land, animals, people and God is a solvent arrangement as opposed to the promotions of lust, anger, greed, madness, envy and illusion.

What are your thoughts on that Readers?

http://wcbstv.com/cbs2crew/nyu.protest.police.2.939419.html
Take Back NYU!

We've heard that about half of our students who usually attend our Monday night cooking class at NYU we're involved in this "occupation." (Must be the turmeric!)

All joking aside, it's quite a shame that this all has to happen, that this is symptomatic in many senses of what the American\Western educational system represents. It's a shame that these students have to pay upwards of $50,000 in tuition and then have to resort to these kinds of tactics to get their voice heard.

It's a shame than the University itself is lacking in open dialogue, communication, and trust between its administration and its student body. Education is a very delicate and intimate exchange of values and experiences, and efforts to insure this positive atmosphere are often put aside in the name of corporate and business interests.

Of course, looking back on my own activist days, I have to roll my eyes a little bit at all of this. In one sense, it's inspiring to see this kind of action and passion with the goal of creating a more open and trusting vibe, but because of the isolated, scattered, and over-provocative nature of their cause and tactics, these students will struggle to have the kind of power and influence they need to affect the changes they want.

It's not the smartest or most productive way to try to change the culture of your school. These students don't lack in spirit-but they are lacking in the spiritual. Whatever revolutionary urges I've had in my life are certainly becoming satisfied by signing up for Lord Caitanya's army.

For the last several years, strategic planning has been a major theme of the GBC meetings. Several days of the Annual General Meeting, as well as the second GBC meeting later in the year, is exclusively focused on this important theme. This year was no exception. Days four through six saw all regular work shelved and the entire Body, plus many other devotees, come together to proactively discuss the best way for the GBC and ISKCON to prepare for the future. <!—break—>

read more

This is not about the history of ISKCON’s GBC meetings, but of the original GBC that was created way back in the days of Queen Victoria. The acronym GBC stands for ‘Governing Body Commission’ and was a term created by the British for its top executive body of the Indian Railways. The British-run railways were one of the miracles of Victorian India.

Lord Rishabhadeva told His sons: My dear boys, of all the living entities who have accepted material bodies in this world, one who has been awarded this human form should not work hard day and night simply for sense gratification, which is available even for dogs and hogs that eat stool. One should engage in penance and austerity to attain the divine position of devotional service. By such activity, one's heart is purified, and when one attains this position, he attains eternal, blissful life, which is transcendental to material happiness and which continues forever.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 1

Hare Krishna Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Here's an inspiring story about how Krishna consciousness can change things in this world.

There was a nuclear sub stationed off the coast of America during the sixties. They were just waiting for the command to launch the missles to get WW III going. One day they got a notice instead to come home. The war was cancelled.

The commander of that sub later read Srila Prabhupada's biography getting it from his grandson who had become a devotee. While reading he learned that the day he received the order to come home was the very day that Srila Prabhupada stepped foot on American soil!

I learned this personally from the grandson while I was traveling in Russia.

Krishna is the Supreme Controller. Keep preaching and distributing those books. Who knows how many other times WW III has been postphoned. Perhaps it will be permanently postphoned. Krishna consciousness can save this world!

Desiring to always remain a servant of the Vaishnavas, Dhanesvara Das

By the time I encountered the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement, I was so eager to transcend material existence that I was willing to renounce practically everything for the sake of liberation. So convinced was I that pain and suffering were of the essence of this life that I did not desire to reserve any attachment, even to the highest and best part of it.

In Thailand, an ominous decree from the government may ban use of such organic, herbal plants such as ginger and turmeric from agricultural practice, deeming them "hazardous substances."

What's the real reason? Is it pressure from chemical companies who would rather have farmers use their own pesticides and fertilizers? Is this the beginning of a worldwide trend?

Click here to read more.

This morning, we will be live broadcasting Srimad Bhagavatam class with HG Sri Prahlad Prabhu. You can ask questions during class using the chat window below the live feed.


Free video streaming by Ustream

Parijata devi dasi - ISKCON Communications: Sethiji met Srila Prabhupada in 1971 at Aakash Ganga, one of the first places where Srila Prabhupada resided with his disciples after returning to India from USA, and realized that he had met a great personality. He became a life-member and a staunch and loyal servant of Srila Prabhupada.

7:33am - We are experiencing some technical difficulties this morning and are in the process of setting up the live webcast. We should have it up and running soon and anticipate the broadcast beginning by 7:45am!

We will continue to update progress!

By Bhakti - vedanta Manor

In the early hours of this morning, amidst tears of joy, priests, farmers and congregational members witnessed the birth of a healthy female calf. This was no ordinary calf, but a symbol of reconciliation and a new era between the RSPCA and Vaishnava communities across Britain.

Basu Ghosh Das: Ras Bihari Das, my "number 3 son" (age 15), has posted more than 650 pictures on the internet of the recent temple inauguration program at Aravade, Maharashtra.

This a short but very interesting film of Srila Prabhupada riding in the back of a car and speaking on the subject of the "lazy intelligence" of the Brahmanas. Very important and interesting points.

This video is presented here courtesy of ISKCON Television.

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

By Ananda Tirtha das

For the last several years, strategic planning has been a major theme of the GBC meetings. Several days of the Annual General Meeting, as well as the second GBC meeting later in the year, is exclusively focused on this important theme. This year was no exception. Days four through six saw all regular work shelved and the entire Body, plus many other devotees, come together to proactively discuss the best way for the GBC and ISKCON to prepare for the future.

Here what scientist William R. Corliss (55 books and a consultant to several corporations including Time-Life Books and General Electric) wrote in 2000:

read more

Amidst the chaos of Mumbai, India, in the district of Chowpatty, an unlikely community of doctors, businessmen and monks dedicate their lives to spiritual devotion. Rising daily before dawn, chanting sanksrit mantras, and performing ritualistic ceremonies, they fight to keep an ancient culture alive in an India increasingly devote to pursuit of the “American Dream.”

This hour-long documentary masterfully crafts rich color and exotic imagery into a story of two seekers who find their common truth within this timeless spiritual culture. Disenchanted with the materialistic west, a young American filmmaker, Arjuna Parker, venture to India searching for the deeper truth about himself, the universe and God. He enters the Radha Gopinatha temple to witness the ancient practices and to document his time with the devotees in this vibrant spiritual community.

Arjuna is befriended by Radhanath Swami, one of the temple’s founders, who had come to India a generation earlier on a similar spiritual quest. In the modern metropolis of Mumbai, Radhanath Swami met his guru, the great Vaishnava saint A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

A US television show with four Christian ministers interviewing Rupanuga Prabhu, one of the first disciples of Srila Prabhuapda who joined ISKCON in 1966. They are trying to understand what is this "Krishna Consciousness movement." This is from about 1980.

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

A group of prominent Indian scientists and engineers has issued an urgent appeal to stop the building of a hydro-electricity project on the Ganges. Their appeal came as noted scientist GD Aggarwala continued his 36-day fast against the project. He has been on a water and honey diet since 14 January.

As if there aren't enough differences between the sexes – now it seems we sin in quite diverse ways. Men struggle most with lust, while for women it's the issue of pride. A Vatican report has found that after excessive pride, the most common sin for women is envy; for men the urge for sex is followed by desire for food, The Advertiser reports.

Kirtan before the Class given at Karuna Bhavan …

Some 59% of Americans say they would rather live in a community where there are many people with different religions, while 25% say they would prefer to live mainly among people who are the same religion as they are. Some 40% of white evangelicals, 42% of Hispanic Catholics, 38% of those who attend religious services at least weekly and 41% of conservative Republicans say they would rather live in communities mainly filled with people who share their religion.

36 hours? surely you must mean 36 minutes. Why don't you use that time in spreading joy among the poor, distribute food maybe? You mean you chant every single day? These are questions that we get asked sometimes, while inviting newbies to a kirtan program. At the outset this might be like comparing apples and bananas. What has spending time in kirtan got to do with helping the poor?Historically

From time to time some of our readers will write in to inform us that we are wrong on different points. According to them they have a higher, more accurate understanding of what is true than what we are presenting. One reader wrote in to tell us that we are crazy if we believe that the spirit-souls in this material world transmigrate through the 8,400,000...

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain.

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

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.29 - Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja at ISKCON Ujjain. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.29 - Chapter 9: Brahmārsquo;s Prayers for Creative Energy

Date: February 19, 2009
Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.24.5
Speaker: Sesa Prabhu

maitreya uvaca
devahuty api sandesam gauravena prajapateh
samyak sraddhaya purusam kuta-stham abhajad gurum

read more

1972 February 20: "I was with my Guru Maharaja only four or five times, but I have never left his association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his instructions, I have never felt any separation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 20: "Personal association is not so important as association through service. There are some of my Godbrothers who had constant personal association with Guru Maharaja, but who are neglecting his orders."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1970 February 19: "We are all new and weak. Everyone in the hospital is diseased, and although trying to become well may relapse, still that does not mean the hospital should be closed."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 February 19: "You have understood rightly. We enter without hesitation into the heart of the biggest cities and preach to anyone and everyone the message of Lord Caitanya who Himself was like the lion in strength."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 19: "I asked my Spiritual Master only one question, 'How shall I serve you?' If you are sincere to serve continuously and always chanting, all questions become answered automatically."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 20: "If we neglect even for a moment our regular program - rising early, 16 rounds, classes, street sankirtana, etc., then everything else we may try will fail."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

We are happy to bring you a live webcast of the Kirtan tonight, 2/20/09 from the Raval’s home. These five brothers that live together host an annual kirtan festival which is going on right now. The main kirtan will begin at 6pm EST and continue ALL NIGHT!

Tune in here:

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.19 - We can stay on track by taking constant guidance from our siksa & diksa gurus.

Bhagavatam class given on Friday, 20th February 2009

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.18 - Sense gratification is ultimately unsatisfying.

March 20, 2009: The anticipation mounts....it's past 5:30pm and the harinama is reaching a crescendo. Joy and love paint each devotees' face. Suddenly a conch is blown and the sound of haribols fill the the air. A car has come to the main gate of the Mayapur compound and rose petals fall from the sky as devotees eagerly try to catch a glimpse....HH Jayaptaka Swami has returned to Sri Mayapur Dham.

For the whole duration of our life we go see different forms in the material world, but none of them is just apt to satisfy the mind, nor can any one of them vanish all perturbance of the mind. ...one who has once seen that form [of Krsna] is not satisfied with anything else; no form in the material world can any longer satisfy the seer... As spiritual beings, having eternal relations with that transcendental form of the Lord, we are, life after life, searching after that form of the Lord, and we are not satisfied by any other form of material appeasement.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 1.6.18

Check these out if you haven't already seen them, also check out chant4change.com.

1957 February 20 : "The Hon'ble Mr. Chief Justice, I have a programme by the order of my spiritual master and I have come to Bombay to enlist some sympathisers. Will your Lordship be kind enough to hear me for a few minutes and oblige?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1966 February 20 :
"Today, recorded Introduction to Geetopanishad, two sides, three Hours. Mr. Banerji did not come. Cohen and Salak came."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 February 20 : "Krishna is very kind. He does not let go anyone who might have done a little bit of service. So how can He allow you to forget Him?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 February 20 : "I lost my mother when I was only 14 years old. But in my old age, Krishna has given me so many young mothers to take care of me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 February 20 : "Perhaps you are now the eldest amongst us living disciples of Srila Prabhupada. As your younger brother I shall always be ready for your service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1975 February 20: "I am very interested to hear of your progress there. Are things going nicely? How is Maharaja doing? How is his preaching? How are the people accepting? You can write me these things promptly."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1972 February 20: "Personal association is not so important as association through service. There are some of my Godbrothers who had constant personal association with Guru Maharaja, but who are neglecting his orders."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 20: "I was with my Guru Maharaja only four or five times, but I have never left his association, not even for a moment. Because I am following his instructions, I have never felt any separation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 20: "If we neglect even for a moment our regular program - rising early, 16 rounds, classes, street sankirtana, etc., then everything else we may try will fail."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1970 February 19: "We are all new and weak. Everyone in the hospital is diseased, and although trying to become well may relapse, still that does not mean the hospital should be closed."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 February 19: "I asked my Spiritual Master only one question, 'How shall I serve you?' If you are sincere to serve continuously and always chanting, all questions become answered automatically."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 19: "You have understood rightly. We enter without hesitation into the heart of the biggest cities and preach to anyone and everyone the message of Lord Caitanya who Himself was like the lion in strength."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1966 February 19 :
"In the evening Mr. Paul and Mrs. Leblanc came. Attended meeting from 6/8.30 pm.
Mr. Banerji invited to come here tomorrow evening
Expenditure -- Butter .40"
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 February 19 : "I thank you very much for the Istagosthi notes. I am very pleased to read how my students are relishing the discussions of Krishna and his associates."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 February 19 : "Many such orders will follow this in the month of April next. In the future also many Sri Murtis may be dispatched from Vrindaban and you will have to take care of them. They are all free gifts."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1973 February 19 :"Krishna is everywhere, He is even between the atoms. If your prayers are sincere then Krishna will accept and if Krishna accepts then automatically I accept."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1975 February 19: "You are invited to the opening celebration of our Krishna-Balarama Temple in Vrndavana. I am now on tour and very soon I will be in Calcutta and you can see me there. I shall advise you personally."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

We were honored to have Indradyumna Swami present for the Valentine's Day Banquet.  He speaks about the importance of Gurukula.

Dallas, TX
2009-02-14

Download: 2009-02-14 - 4 - Lecture by Indradyumna Swami.mp3

Most dolgozunk az újabb VIM magazinon. A témája a Gyereknevelés. Úgy néz ki, hogy a hétévégén befejezzük a designt. Azután a nyomdába kerül. Várhatóan március első hetében lesz készen. Már nagyon várom. Azért is, mert az egész magazin meg fog újulni. Kezdve a méretével. Kisebb lesz, könnyebb. Sankirtana barátabb. Az előzetes minta magazinokat (amik a méretét mutatták) nagyon szerették a bhakták. Emellett a belső design is finomodott, alkalmazkodott az új mérethez. Szép lesz

Reméljük, nektek is fog tetszeni.

By Matsyavatara Dasa

In the summer of 1976 I was in India, on the Himalayas. I was seriously interested in the philosophy of the sage Patanjali (rajayogasutra) and I was living in an ashram in a very austere way, where I studied attentively from dawn to sunset. There nobody knew who I was; I was 31, unmarried and in excellent health. In Europe I was living a period of great material success. In Italy I had founded six companies and I was considered one of the most famous furniture designers in the world. Plenty of money, fame, and a social life studded with VIPs no longer satisfied me, rather the feeling of solitude even among my crowd of anonymous "friends" saddened me. I felt I was wasting my best years in vain and that I was moving in a direction that was completely the opposite of my aspirations. So in 1974, to everyone's great surprise, I gave a turning point to my life: With great caution I selected my friends, eliminated many worldly commitments and directed my interests more and more towards introspection. I found worldly literature nauseating, even if it was written by the most famous authors. Though I had taken part in the student movement in 1968, I had by now lost interest in their requests, which had been betrayed and politicized. Verbal and political violence, sex and drugs, had destroyed the movement's ideals of freedom and fairness, causing it to degenerate in an unacceptable and definitive way. With this state of mind, I was losing interest in the hedonistic, materialistic western culture and, thanks to some material I had read, was starting to look towards the Orient. Likewise, the course of my travels also changed and instead of going to Paris or New York, I began visiting China and India until I finally put into focus the barycentre of my research: My interest was concentrated more and more on the spiritual. I found Vedic literature very interesting, and among this, Patanjali's "Yoga Sutra" was my favorite book. In 1976 I went to India for the third time, resolved to find a satisfying answer to my existential questions. During this, as well as my previous sojourns, I had visited many ashrams and met many yogis and gurus but none of them inspired me deeply, nor did they convince me as much as I had expected. I began to think that I was not yet ready or did not have the "correct vision" and that I would have to purify myself through study and an ascetic life. I was convinced that by doing so God would reveal to me with clarity the path to follow. In this mood, I went to an anonymous ashram to "prepare"myself for spiritual research. This same year, at the end of August in the ashram I have just mentioned, I made friends with a brahmachari of my age, who looked intelligent and ascetic. We both attended the classes on Vedanta-sutra, studying together and talking about our aspirations. Early one day, he told me gravely: " If you want to be happy you have to devote your life to Krishna and in order to do so you must meet Srila Prabhupada personally, since he can introduce you to Krishna. Leave this place, go to Vrindavana and speak with Prabhupada". I had never heard anything about this Swami and the figure of Krishna, as it was presented in the Bhagavad-gita that I had read, did not impressed me much. Struck by my friend's attitude, I asked him for more explanations and he replied that he was a Vaishnava and that he was there to preach. We started to talk about Krishna and Prabhupada and one of the first things he told me, was that the Bhagavad- gita I had read was not authentic and that Krishna can be revealed only by one of His pure devotees which was why I should have immediately gone to meet Prabhupada in Vrindavana. We stopped attending the classes on Vedanta and we regularly met on the banks of the Ganges. We would chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and I would listen to him recount Krishna's and Prabhupada's pastimes. On August 27th we affectionately parted ways and I left for Vrindavana in search of Prabhupada. I did not know exactly where Vrindavana was, nor how far it was from where I was at the present. I knew only that I had to meet Prabhupada, who would introduce me to Krishna.

In this manner, thinking intensively of Prabhupada, my trip began. I left that ashram and travelled up to Haridwara, from there I took a train to Delhi, then another to Mathura, from there I took a tanga (a cart drawn by a horse) to Vrindavana. I got to Vrindavan in the early afternoon and under an implacable sun I immediately began to look for Srila Prabhupada. I only knew that he was in a Krishna temple in Vrindavana, so I asked the driver candidly to take me to the temple of Krishna. He took me to innumerable Krishna temples, where I entered and asked about Prabhupada, but even from my first impressions, I knew I was not yet in the right place. After hours spent going in and out of many temples, the tanga driver lost his temper, afraid that I was making fun of him and would never pay him, after a series of threats, he threw my baggage in the middle of the street. I was in Vrindavana, now I knew there were thousands of Krishna temples and more then one person who was claiming to be Prabhupada, but I did not know in which temple my Prabhupada was. I was alone, tired, hungry, sitting on my luggage in the middle of a dusty street, the passerbys watching me curiously. My poor knowledge of English was not of much help. Since I was standing near a fence, after a while I decided to knock on it's large iron gate, which opened at once. A bright, clean devotee appeared and I asked him the same information I had already implored so many times that afternoon: "I am looking for Srila Prabhupada...", from the open gate I could see a coloured temple and a beautiful garden and even before the devotee answered, I felt I was in the right place. The devotee, who was Italian, invited me to come in and seeing my condition, he prepared me a room where I could rest and wash, then he told me that after taking prasada, I could meet Srila Prabhupada. I was extremely happy: I felt safe and my faith in the protection of Prabhupada and Krishna was increasing. Once I had recovered from my tiredness, the devotees informed me that Prabhupada had left for Delhi the day before, therefore the following day I also left for Delhi. Before leaving, I asked the temple president to write me a letter of introduction. When I arrived in Delhi, it was very late at night: I was to meet Prabhupada the next morning.

It was ten o'clock a.m. and an italo-australian devotee (Sajanashraya dasa), eager for an opportunity to be in Prabhupada's company, agreed to act as translator and accompanied me to Srila Prabhupada's room; I came up a flight of stairs and turned to my right. I went in. The room was bright with sunshine and Srila Prabhupada was sitting between two windows on a big cushion, surrounded by some of his disciples (one of them was Gopal Krishna dasa, at that time a grihasta). The floor was covered with a white sheet. I came close to Prabhupada's desk and bowed down in front of him. I had seen this gesture of respect performed many times before in the ashrams I had visited, but personally had not yet performed it. This time, to bow in respect felt very spontaneous. Prabhupada looked grave and luminous, and we looked each other straight in the eyes for a while. Then he smiled and asked me: "Have we already met?".

I answered: "No, never, but during these days I have intensely and repeatedly thought of you."

Prabhupada: " Do you believe in God?", I answered: "Yes, I do". I thought that this was the first time that I actually meant it. Then he became grave again and told me:" Well, unfortunately modern society is not on God's side, for this reason it can't win, it's already defeated! The false progress that characterizes our society, renders it disgusting: It is a society of ignorant people, with artificial needs. Mankind's greatest victory is to realize that we are not this body, we are spirit souls, part and parcel of Krishna, His eternal servants. Therefore, without God consciousness there can be neither progress nor happiness. To have a material body means to suffer, but people are so ignorant they think that the miseries of life are natural and even enjoyable. To attain the human form is very rare. We are very fortunate to have this body, because the human form is unique among the innumerable other forms of life, in that it can allow us to re-establish our eternal relationship with God. We can attain knowledge of Krishna by leading a simple life based on cultivating the land and protecting, not abusing, cows. Krishna consciousness actually means simple living and high thinking, in harmony with nature. Many people believe themselves independent from nature, they try to take advantage of her as if she were their slave, but inevitably, they are defeated by her laws. The tendency to dominate nature and other living beings can only create a cats and dogs society."

Shrila Prabhupada asked me what I thought about this and I agreed with him. As he spoke to me I realized that meeting him was the opportunity of a lifetime and if I did not take advantage of this experience, it would be useless to continue circling the world looking for God. I felt sure that Prabhupada was totally reliable and for the first time in my life I felt I could abandon myself. All the problems that had previously disturbed me were swept away by his words.

Smiling he asked me: "So, what is the problem?"

I answered: "If I could live here with you and the devotees, dressed like this, there would be no problem. I'm worried about going back home, where I have many responsibilities. I am engaged and will soon be married, I manage various companies and collaborate with many partners. How can I conduct a spiritual life with all of these social responsibilities.

Prabhupada said to me: "Don't worry, just become a devotee, chant Hare Krishna, read the Bhagavad-gita and Krishna will reveal Himself to you. In the Gita you can find the solution to any material problem. In order to put an end once and for all to samsara, the transmigration of the soul from body to body, species to species; animal, plant, human, we have to know Krishna. Don't waste time. You are a gifted man. Do you know where talent comes from? What is it's source, to whom it belongs? It is the property of God, just like everything else that exists, including the fruits of your labor. Therefore you have only one responsibility: put all of your talent to the service of Krishna because the goal of life is to know Krishna and He can be attained only if we serve Him with love and devotion. Go home, chant Hare Krishna, talk about Krishna to the people you meet, Krishna will take care of you, don't worry. Hare Krishna!

A few hours after my encounter with Prabhupada, I left New Delhi to return to Italy. I was determined to follow Prabhupada's instructions, and I planned, after some time, to go back to India to inform him how things were going in my life. During the return trip I was worried about the impact I would have on my surroundings, on my family. How would my girlfriend, friends, parents and partners react to my conversion? But Prabhupada's words rang in my ears, giving me hope: "Don't worry. Simply study the Bhagavad-gita, chant Hare Krishna, and Krishna will take care of you". In this state of mind, on the return trip, I started reading "The Bhagavad-gita As It Is", printed by the Macmillan Company, the first edition of the B.G. printed by Prabhupada in America. Something extraordinary happened. Even though my knowledge of written english was very scarce and I had no pretense of understanding the profundity of a philosophic discourse, I had, instead, the clear sensation of understanding it's significance!

After landing in Rome I took a train to Livorno where my family was waiting to pick me up. On the train I began to think about planning a concise and delicate explanation for my family about how I was going to organize my life, but Krishna and Prabhupada had another plan! The ticket controller, curious about the strange Indian clothes that I was still wearing, started to ask me questions and I spoke to him about Krishna, Prabhupada and existential topics for the whole trip. I was so happy to have glorified the Supreme Lord and His pure devotee, that I realized I was in Livorno only as the train pulled into the station. I hadn't given even a moments thought to what I would say to my family and friends!

At the station, my father and my girlfriend, Marisa were waiting for me. My father drove us back to our home in Perignano di Lari, province of Pisa. My father was driving, I was by Marisa in the back seat. Right away, I started talking to her about Krishna consciousness, about my encounter with Prabhupada and my intention to accept him as my spiritual guide. After listening to me attentively, Marisa told me that everything that I had just explained to her were the values that she had always admired most in life and that she was determined to follow me on the path of Krishna consciousness. My father listened to my whole story without saying one word. In the meantime, we arrived home, where my mother had prepared a sumptuous meal in honor of my return . Unfortunately, as is common in most of Italy, the table was laid with foods not acceptable to a spiritual life. I spoke to my mother alone and explained to her that it was my firm conviction to change my lifestyle and become a devotee of the Lord, Shri Krishna. She had always been profoundly religious and to hear the message of Krishna was like rediscovering something which for some reason had been forgotten. Almost desperate, with her hands in her hair she cried:"What have we been doing all these years? We've wasted time, we've wasted our lives. We have to put ourselves back on the right path and serve the Lord with love and devotion, like Prabhupada says."

My father did not accept all this right away. He was a person with a strong character, solid and concrete and he could not consider changing his life from one day to the next. After some days of observation, reflection and exchanges of points of view between us on various practical and philosophic aspects, more precisely after a few weeks, even he started on the path indicated by Srila Prabhupada, gradually becoming an excellent devotee, generous, loyal and dynamic. From then on, for the rest of his life, he was dedicated to Prabhupada's mission. Among his various services, the last was the realization of the marvelous policrome marble temple for the worship of Shri Sri Radha Vrajasundara at Villa Vrindavana near Florence, Italy.

Srila Prabhupada was right. By his causeless mercy my family was now a family of devotees, and my home was a temple. In the spring of '77 Marisa and I were accepted as disciples of Prabhupada, married and initiated, with the spiritual names of Manu patni devi dasi and Matsya avatara dasa. The following summer I returned to Vrindavana to thank His Divine Grace for the priceless gift he gave to me and to my family.

Srila Prabhupada Ki-jaya!

Hari-sauri dasa: Here's a couple of remembrances about Mr. PL Sethi a very loyal and faithful servant of Srila Prabhupada who, although he never took initiation, always regarded Srila Prabhupada as his guru.

It is with a lot of happiness in our heart that we inform the devotees that our beloved Gurumaharaja HH Jayapataka Swami will arrive at Sri Mayapur Dham on Friday 20th of February 2009, to be present in the very transcendental and great Mahaabhisheka to the Panca Tattva Bhagavan Deities, that he loves and worship the most along with Sri Sri Radha Madhava asta sakhis and Lord Narasimhadeva, the very merciful and presiding Deities of our Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir.

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18 Feb 2009, Sri Mayapur, SBG 3.24.1-3

maitreya uvaca

nirveda-vadinim evam manor duhitaram munih

dayaluh salinim aha suklabhivyahrtam smaran

TRANSLATION: Recalling the words of Lord Vis?n?u, the merciful sage Kardama replied as follows to Svayambhuva Manu’s praiseworthy daughter, Devahuti, who was speaking words full of renunciation. Listen to Audio File

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No one likes to possess anything that is like a will-o'-the-wisp or a flower in the sky, for everyone knows very well that such things do not exist. When Lord Rishabhadeva ruled this planet of Bhâratavarsha, even common men did not want to ask for anything, at any time or by any means. No one ever asks for a will-o'-the-wisp. In other words, everyone was completely satisfied, and therefore there was no chance of anyone's asking for anything. The people were absorbed in great affection for the King. Since this affection was always expanding, they were not inclined to ask for anything.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 4 Verse 15

We've heard that the sky is blue because it's a reflection of Lord Krsna's body. Modern science probably wouldn't agree. Here are some things Srila Prabhupada said about this (excerpted from a lecture in Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.9 in Montreal on 4 July 1968: "Yes. Krsna is bluish. Krsna's color is the sky. When you see the clear sky, bluish sky, are you not very happy? ,Krsna's body, there is a ray, brahmajyoti. That brahmajyoti is reflected in the sky. That brahmajyoti is outside this material sky, but that is being reflected. Therefore the sky's color, it appears bluish,."

Date: February 19, 2009
Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 3.24.4
Speaker: Badrinarayan Prabhu

sa tvayaradhitah suklo
vitanvan mamakam yasah
chetta te hrdaya-granthim
audaryo brahma-bhavanah

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Chanting The Hare Krishna Mahamantra opens Your…