Every year Sri Mayapur International School (SMIS) gets a month off of school so that the students can attend the Mayapur Gaura-Purnima festival. In a sense, it is like the Christmas holidays that we have become accustomed to in the West. The last week of school before the break there is a always a sense of excitement among the students and teachers in the air.  In Mayapur, however, instead of seeing an old bearded man with a red suit exhibiting a whimsically jolly mood, we see Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dressed with a brilliant yellow dhoti exhibiting a mood of deep, genuine ecstasy. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu does not have a list of who is naughty and nice. Instead, He is willing to give the gift of ecstatic love of God to whoever opens their hearts to receive it. He knows that, for those who have sincerely accepted the name of Krishna into their hearts that the naughty and nice list can be thrown into the garbage bin. Since there is more than enough of this transcendental product to go around there will not be any quarreling over the commodity. Additionally, the nature of this transcendental commodity is that the more you receive the more you are inspired and want to give it to others. In turn, the more you give it to others the more condensed your own stock becomes.

...on the tip of His nose Lord Gopala wears a rare pearl taken from an elephant's brow: nasagre gaja-mautikam.

From Brhad-Bhagavatamrta 2.7.29 ppt., by Sanatana Goswami Prabhupada; presented by Gopiparanadhana Prabhu

By Indradyumma Swami

Our festivals in Sydney were a huge hit. We had given the event a French name, Le Carnaval Spirituel. During December we averaged more than five hundred people a show. After the New Year, we traveled north to Brisbane and held another round of successful programs on the Gold Coast.

Hare Krsna everyone. I hope your week has been blessed by Krsna's mercy and you have been chanting nicely.

Hare Krishna. Please Accept My Humble Obeisances. All Glories To Srila Prabhupada

I'm still writing from Perth, Western Australia. Most Of the devotees now are in Mayapura engaging in the topmost ecstatic festival in the World, so I'm feeling a little depressed since I can't be there this year. I used to go every year, but due to some financial obligations and some immigration requirements I can't be there. Fortunately next year I'll be able to go. I'm starting to prepare already.

Things have been a little tough here due to not having much association, but Krishna has been helping me to learn to be more dependent on him and it has been strengthening. I've been meeting some really nice people on Sankirtana and having some amazing realizations. I started reading the book, "Radha Damodara Vilas" by Vaiyasaki prabhu again and it has been giving me so much solace. It is really showing me that if the devotees focus on Sankirtana as the main thrust of this movement there will be no stopping Krishna Consciousness taking over the world. Gopala Krishna Maharaja was asked why he was able to distribute so many books in his Zone. He was asked this at the recent GBC meetings. His reply was that if the leaders push book distribution then the devotees will distribute books. That's good instruction for the leaders of ISKCON. This movement is many faceted, but temples must have good Deity worship, good facilities, good leaders, good Harinama parties, and also good book distribution teams. Every temple isn't complete until these areas are filled. One problem that must be rectified in our movement is the fact that many temples are too different in their emphasis and preaching than other temples. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to preach on all fronts. Nice restaurants, book distribution, Deity worship etc. Then our movement can be more successful.

I invited a few people I met on Sankirtana to the Festival of Lord Nityananda's Appearance and that was nice to see them actually come to the temple and receive the blessings of Lord Nityananda.

The other day I gave some books to a group of Chinese girls. The Chinese usually don't take books but these girls were very enthusiastic. When I talk to Chinese people about the books I say they are a type of Yuja or Yoga for the mind. Yuja for the mind and soul. In Chinese Yuja means Yoga. It turns out that two girls in the group actually were named Yuja. Their names were Yuja. The girls told me that their friends address them as Yoga. They each took a book and gave a good donation.

Everyone I meet I invite them to the Sunday feast and restaurant here. Not many come, but out of many thousands some do come and it will make a lasting effect i'm sure. I was reading a letter from Srila Prabhupada yesterday, and I don't have the exact reference, but Srila Prabhupada said that there are Many, Many devotees on every street in the world and all we have to do is go out and meet them. I thought that was amazing how he said Many, Many. They are there, but we must meet them and bring them to the temple. If we have thousands and millions of devotees out meeting people and inviting them like Srila Prabhupada wanted, then amazing things will happen.

Due to the difficulty I sometimes undertake in distributing books Lord Caitanya is sometimes very merciful to me. Probably not because I'm very pleasing to the lord but because he feels sorry for my fallen state of existence and is trying to encourage me and inspire me since I"m so pathetic. I joined ISKCON in 1990 in San Diego. When I first came to the temple the Gaura Nitai deities were smaller Brass ones than the Large Marble ones that are in the temple today. While I was sleeping the other night I had an amazing dream that I went into the temple room for mangala arati. The curtains on the altar were closed so I waited for the arati to begin. I kept waiting and waiting but the arati never came so I got curious and I peeked behind the curtains and the brass Gaura Nitai deities were running back and forth on the Altar and Dancing and chanting with their arms raised! They looked like molten gold. Their effulgence was blinding. It was so beautiful that in the dream I went into a trance and felt ecstatic symptoms. When I woke up I could still feel the bliss. It was amazing. Normally my life is nice due to Krishna Consciousness but every now and then the Lord arranges something like that and it really keeps me going and makes everything worthwhile. No matter how hard things get in this Kali Yuga, never give up preaching and distributing books, Gaura Nitai are right around the corner waiting to reward you.

This Sankirtana mission is so ecstatic that we should flood the world with Krishna Prema by Chanting and Distributing books.

Sankirtana Yajna Ki Jai! Your Servant, Devaki Nandana Dasa. Radha Damodara TSKP.

1966 February 26: "The whole day and night remained at Ananda Ashram. Kirtan demonstration was given. Dr. Mishra appreciated it very much. Next morning also invited. No expense."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1969 February 26: "Kirtana and chanting must be done regularly because that is our strength. We are always in the whirlpool of maya, and only this chanting of Mantra can save us from all pitfalls."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 February 26: "We are arranging to print 20,000 copies of Back to Godhead so now we have to sell in large quantities. Seriously consider how to step up this program."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1971 February 26: "Time is short and I am aging but I want to publish all of Srimad Bhagavatam. After returning from India I shall be seriously engaged in translating work."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1968February 26: "I am very much ambitious for leading a kirtana party all over Europe. If you can move with this kirtana party, say a batch of 12 to 15 heads, I am sure we will be more popular than Maharishi."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 February 26: "I am mendicant and sannyasi. We can make our dwelling place anywhere. Simply I require some quiet place to continue my translating work on Srimad-Bhagavatam, that's all."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1971 February 26: "Although I am getting old, I guarantee I shall give you two tapes daily provided you guarantee to finish printing two tapes daily. That will encourage me more and more."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

Hare Krishna. Please Accept My Humble Obeisances. All Glories To Srila Prabhupada

I'm still writing from Perth, Western Australia. Most Of the devotees now are in Mayapura engaging in the topmost ecstatic festival in the World, so I'm feeling a little depressed since I can't be there this year. I used to go every year, but due to some financial obligations and some immigration requirements I can't be there. Fortunately next year I'll be able to go. I'm starting to prepare already.

Things have been a little tough here due to not having much association, but Krishna has been helping me to learn to be more dependent on him and it has been strengthening. I've been meeting some really nice people on Sankirtana and having some amazing realizations. I started reading the book, "Radha Damodara Vilas" by Vaiyasaki prabhu again and it has been giving me so much solace. It is really showing me that if the devotees focus on Sankirtana as the main thrust of this movement there will be no stopping Krishna Consciousness taking over the world. Gopala Krishna Maharaja was asked why he was able to distribute so many books in his Zone. He was asked this at the recent GBC meetings. His reply was that if the leaders push book distribution then the devotees will distribute books. That's good instruction for the leaders of ISKCON. This movement is many faceted, but temples must have good Deity worship, good facilities, good leaders, good Harinama parties, and also good book distribution teams. Every temple isn't complete until these areas are filled. One problem that must be rectified in our movement is the fact that many temples are too different in their emphasis and preaching than other temples. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to preach on all fronts. Nice restaurants, book distribution, Deity worship etc. Then our movement can be more successful.

I invited a few people I met on Sankirtana to the Festival of Lord Nityananda's Appearance and that was nice to see them actually come to the temple and receive the blessings of Lord Nityananda.

The other day I gave some books to a group of Chinese girls. The Chinese usually don't take books but these girls were very enthusiastic. When I talk to Chinese people about the books I say they are a type of Yuja or Yoga for the mind. Yuja for the mind and soul. In Chinese Yuja means Yoga. It turns out that two girls in the group actually were named Yuja. Their names were Yuja. The girls told me that their friends address them as Yoga. They each took a book and gave a good donation.

Everyone I meet I invite them to the Sunday feast and restaurant here. Not many come, but out of many thousands some do come and it will make a lasting effect i'm sure. I was reading a letter from Srila Prabhupada yesterday, and I don't have the exact reference, but Srila Prabhupada said that there are Many, Many devotees on every street in the world and all we have to do is go out and meet them. I thought that was amazing how he said Many, Many. They are there, but we must meet them and bring them to the temple. If we have thousands and millions of devotees out meeting people and inviting them like Srila Prabhupada wanted, then amazing things will happen.

Due to the difficulty I sometimes undertake in distributing books Lord Caitanya is sometimes very merciful to me. Probably not because I'm very pleasing to the lord but because he feels sorry for my fallen state of existence and is trying to encourage me and inspire me since I"m so pathetic. I joined ISKCON in 1990 in San Diego. When I first came to the temple the Gaura Nitai deities were smaller Brass ones than the Large Marble ones that are in the temple today. While I was sleeping the other night I had an amazing dream that I went into the temple room for mangala arati. The curtains on the altar were closed so I waited for the arati to begin. I kept waiting and waiting but the arati never came so I got curious and I peeked behind the curtains and the brass Gaura Nitai deities were running back and forth on the Altar and Dancing and chanting with their arms raised! They looked like molten gold. Their effulgence was blinding. It was so beautiful that in the dream I went into a trance and felt ecstatic symptoms. When I woke up I could still feel the bliss. It was amazing. Normally my life is nice due to Krishna Consciousness but every now and then the Lord arranges something like that and it really keeps me going and makes everything worthwhile. No matter how hard things get in this Kali Yuga, never give up preaching and distributing books, Gaura Nitai are right around the corner waiting to reward you.

This Sankirtana mission is so ecstatic that we should flood the world with Krishna Prema by Chanting and Distributing books.

Sankirtana Yajna Ki Jai! Your Servant, Devaki Nandana Dasa. Radha Damodara TSKP.

Our clearance of all SUMMER CLOTHING at half the marked price continues... but not for very much longer. Please DO COME IN!!!

Sarva Mangala Prabhavi would like to mention that copies of H.H. Bhanu Swami's translations have just arrived in stock .They include:

• Srimad Bhagavatam Cantos One and Two commentary by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura
• Krsna Karnamrta, by Bilvamangala Thakura, with the commentary of Krsna-dasa Kaviraja
• Sri Brahma Samhita commentary of Sri Jiva Goswami
• Sri Isopanisad, with the commentaries of Madhvacarya, Vedanta Desika, Baladeva Vidyabhusana and Bhaktivinode Thakura.
• Laghu Bhagavatamrta, by Srila Rupa Goswami.

Also new in stock are copies of Srutakirti das' book What Is The Difficulty?... an enthralling Prabhupada-lila book from the diaries of his time as Srila Prabhupada's personal servant.

By Ananda Tirtha das

Thanks to Sukirti Madhavi DD from Chennai and other devotees who are doing the entire transcriptions you can read the SB classes given in Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!

By Vijaya das

For complete results and to send in your scores go to www.SankirtanNewsletter.com (password: wsnhome) Deadline for scores is the 15th of the next month.

By Madhavipriya Dasi

I am telling an extraordinary experience.

Bhaktin Daniela, our friend, student and devotee, is close to leave her body. We have known her since 2005. Her character is sweet, cosy and gentle. She has a math degree and works as a coordinator at a university office. She has been ill for several years with an irreversible degenerative disease.

Saturday, 24 January 2009, Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu speaks with bhaktin Daniela on the phone. It is a moving and touching conversation, from heart to heart, from a Guru to his aspiring disciple.

Bhaktin Daniela confides: “I am surprised of the level of realization that I was able to acquire thanks to You. One thing is not being afraid of death theoretically and another thing is not being afraid when you are dying. The biggest gift that I have received in this life is meeting You and the devotees and being able to dedicate, after years spent for my family and my job, the last ten years of my existence, 40 to 50, to spirituality and to the study and practice of Bhakti.”

While reading inside her heart, Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu asks her if she would like to receive the Holy Diksha.

Bhaktin Daniela reveals that receiving the spiritual initiation is her most intense desire, the most intimate, the deepest one that she does not dare to express.

The Lord reveals to the Spiritual Master what is hidden from words. The language of the soul triumphs and the Guru reads the thoughts, realizes other’s desires, the desires of those who look for Shelter, Truth and Love. Salvations manifests itself beyond words, it overcomes the barriers of space and it expands beyond the ties of time.

Sunday night, Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu tells us that on Tuesday he wants to go to the Bologna hospital where bhaktin Daniela is admitted, to perform the holy ritual and give her the Diksha.

However, the next day we receive the news that her conditions have worsened. The doctors tell us that she could die at anytime. The pain is excruciating and terrible.

Bhaktin Daniela’s husband confides to us: “Ask the devotees to pray so she can survive until Tuesday morning and be able to fulfil her dream.”

Bhaktin Daniela is waiting for her Spiritual Master and desires the consecration intensively. Her husband is transformed by witnessing her spiritual evolution. He has the same only wish, that death find her after initiation, protected and blessed by the Holy Diksha.

Time doesn’t wait. Death is coming. Spiritual life wants to blossom and triumph and overcome the suffering of her decaying body.

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu decides to anticipate his departure.

At 1600 hours on Monday, 26 January, He begins His journey toward bhaktin Daniela. Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu goes to her to help her recognizing Life, valuing it and loving it, the life of the eternal soul that transcends physical decay and is realized by the awakened person who allows others to discover it, feel it and realize it.

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu brings Tulasi leaves, water from 108 holy rivers, a toulasi necklace, Tilak, a japamala, a garland of flowers offered to Shrila Prabhupada, some holy books with holy mantras…and His Bhakti that permeates the heart, each of His gesture, word, move and intention.

We arrive at the hospital. It is 1830 PM. Bhaktin Daniela is in room of the Hospice that the dear devotees have prepared for this occasion, the Great Event. Garlands of flowers offered to the Deities are hung near the bed, of the bed there is a Shri Yatra, on a table there is a picture of Shrimati Radharani and Panchatattva, Bhagavad-Gita and other holy objects.

We enter. Together with Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu, other than me there are Paramtmaji, Bhaktirasa and Daniela’s husband. Bhaktin Daniela is miraculously lucid and conscientious. She was waiting for her Spiritual Master and her heart is crying with joy when she sees him.

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu asks her: “What is the holy image that is mostly dear to you and that you keep in your memory?”

“The Mercy of God” She replies.

“Concentrate on this image and visualize it. God is Love, Mercy and Compassion. The Name of God puts you in contact with God. It allows you to feel God inside you. Krishna manifests Himself in His Name. Learn to memorize Its sound also. Try to say: Krishna….Rama…can you?

“Yes” bhaktin Daniela says the Holy names: Krishna….Rama….

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu shows bhaktin Daniela the image of Shri Krishna with the flute.

Together they recite the Mahamantra.

“Is it your desire to receive the Holy Diksha?”

“Yes!”, bhaktin Daniela replies, with joy springing from her heart. She must lay in bed, her body does not move, the pain is excruciating, death is approaching, but the joy of the soul is springing.

“I wish you that you could discover God inside you. It is the most precious think existing. The only health that has a value is the spiritual one. Bodily health, we all lose it soon or later. No one can maintain it forever. Now I am going to put tilak on your forehead, this will purify your entire body.”

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu recites the Holy Mantra:

Om Keshavaya namah

Om Narayanayah namah

Then he puts the necklace around her neck. “This Tulasi necklace will accompany you through your journey in a wonderful way, it will protect you forever.”

Then he sprinkles her head with Holy Water. “Now it is as if you went to all the pilgrimage places and that you had bathed in their holy waters.”

Bhaktin Daniela wispers: “I am too happy”.

“I brought Tulasi leaves for you. Do you remember Tulasi Devi?”

“Yes, I remember”, bhaktin Daniela answers and takes the Tulasi leaves.

“Can you taste it? It is the flavour of Krishna. Tulasi Devi represents dedication and devotion to God par excellence.”

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu continues: “These preparatory rites that we have performed, in this situation of apatsu dharma, substitute the holy fire. Shri Vishnu has arrived, He is here. It is like we had the holy fire before us.”

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu shows the image of Shri Krishna with the flute once again:

“Krishna, Krishna! Krishna, protect me!”

Bhaktin Daniela repeats.

“Since it is your desire that I initiate you to spiritual life, I offer my blessings to you for this evolutionary journey, for this journey toward Joy and Love. Your name will be: KRISHNABHAKTI dasi, the servant of the Divine Love. Think of Divine Love that is the clearest image that you have!”

Bhaktin Daniela, with a sweet smile says: “It is wonderful!”

“You become your name. This is your nityasvarupa, your eternal spiritual form. Worldly things have an end for everyone and they cannot be really possessed. As much as they shine, they always remain out of us, estranged from our nature, but Bhakti is inside us, it is us! Krishnabhakti dasi is a name of Shrimati Radharani. Shri Krishna expresses Bhakti through Shrimati Radharani. Repeat your name.”

And Krishnabhakti dasi, with love, repeats her name.

The holy mantra sounds in the air and in our hearts, it fills every visible and invisible space.

“Now you have undertaken the initiation journey. Now you are connected with God. Constantly repeat your name: Krishnabhakti dasi! Let it ring inside you. Maybe your words come out with difficulty, but inside you, you must hear you wonderful voice that sings this name. Nothing fearful is happening to you. Your disease is only referred to you body. You are not your body. You are your soul. Now think of yourself, live your inner serenity. You are the servant of Love for God. This is the reason why you came to this world. All of us come to play a certain role and to learn a great lesson: Love for God.

I would like for you to thank your husband for having being close to you so much and for how much he has loved you. He favoured you very much in this journey, he allowed you to make your decisions because he recognized their value. Try to express a thought for him.”

Her husband comes closer to Krishnabhakti dasi, hold her hand and she tells him: “Thank you very much”.

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu continues: “Would you like to confess anything? Would you like to get rid of some burdens? I am here to help you passing the most important exam of your life. Life is wonderful when we understand it on the spiritual level.”

Krishnabhakti dasi says: “Yes, however sometimes we can fall.”

“It is true, but not in your case. You are lucky.”

Then Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu asks for a mirror so Krishnabhakti dasi can see her nice tilaka.

“Everything is an expression of Krishna. Krishna has everything and gives everything. If you search for anything other than God, you can find anything except for God. If you look for God and you find Him, together with Him you will find everything, Mister Eckart said. God is everything.

The mantra that I am about to recite means: Krishna, show Yourself to me, Krishna, protect me.

Krishna pahimam

Krishna rakshamam”

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu starts singing the song and Krishnabhakti dasi sings with Him.

Bhaktirasa and I hold two imagines in front of Krishnabhakti dasi. One represents Shri Krishna playing the flute and the other one represents the merciful lotus face of Shrimati Radharani. Krishnabhakti looks at the divine images. She looks for them with her eyes and holds them with her hands. Then she looks for Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu’s hand.

The singing is spreading, it establishes itself in our hearts and enters our souls.

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu says to her: “You have received the most important of the sacraments that will free you from any danger and from any mistake you have made in the past. Now you can feel the lightness of your heart.”

The dear devotees that came to assist Krishnabhakti das are invited to enter the room.

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu pronounces her name loudly:

Krishnabhakti dasi ki, jay!

And all of the devotees repeat that blessed name.

“Shri Krishna is the Manifestation of Love, Compassion and Welcoming Krishnabhakti dasi, you are very lucky. You have many people that love you and that are close to you. Remember that you are not in any danger. The most intimate and true part of you is connected to Krishna. Hold this japamala, feel its contact. I brought it for you. Only by touching it you can remember me, Shri Krishna and your name. When you think of your name you are directly connected to the Lord.”

Krishnabhakti dasi holds the japamala and together with Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu she recites the Holy Names.

The pain in her body is excruciating. It is however proven in front of our eyes that pain does not affect her conscience.

A nurse enters the room to give her some painkiller to alleviate her pain. While the needle enters her flesh, between a wail of pain and the other, Krishnabhakti repeats her spiritual name that she has just received.

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu writes her name on a piece of paper and gives it to her. “This name will enlighten your journey. You will be protected by the memory of this name and by the memory of the experiences that you have lived with us.

Krishna, Krishna!

Hari, Hari!

Jaya Govinda!

Jaya Gopala!”

Krishnabhakti dasi repeats these Holy Names, she sings the divine glories.

“Be serene, you are not in any danger.” Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu says to her and she replies: “No danger.”

“You are going to a wonderful place, filled with light, greenery and happy people. Your dream will come true. You will feel that any pain of your body will end and you will strongly feel you spiritual dimension. Now just think of your nature of Love, only think about God.”

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu starts singing the Mahamantra in a very sweet tone and Krishnabhakti dasi sings with Him.

All the devotees begin to sing.

Krishnabhakti sings with them! Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu’s hand on hers, his other hand on her head.

Krishnabhakti sings! With the garland around her neck, her wonderful tilak on her forehead, Tulasi leaves in her moth and Love that pervades her mind, deep in her soul.

I pray inside me: “I wish I will have this immense luck, the greatest. Leaving my body at the presence of my Guru Maharaja who reminds me in this crucial moment what he has reminded me through my entire life: only the Spirit is real, It is Everything. It is the only Reality to research, love, desire and realize.”

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu is moved. The devotees are crying. They are tears of Love.

Shri Shri Radha Govinda Deva, ki jay!

Shri Shri Radha Vrajasundara, ki jay!

Shri Bala Gopala, ki jay!

Shrila Prabhupada, ki jay!

Krishnabhakti dasi, ki jay! 

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu asks that each devotee takes turn to come close to Krishnabhakti dasi. Other then the devotees already mentioned there are also Paramakaruna, her daughter Stefania, Jaya Govinda, bhaktin Lucia, bhaktin Angela, Bhadrarupini, Kaliyakrishna, bhakta Francesco and Paramananda.

Krishnabhakti dasi searches for her japamala, she holds it in her hands: it is the sign of her eternal tie to Shri Shri Guru and Krishna.

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu tells her: “Now we are leaving and leave you with the memory of your name. You will feel that you are perfectly protected. All of us are with you in your journey, all directed toward the same supreme goal: Divine Love.”

With the highest level of voice that her body allows, Krishnabhakti dasi happily says: “It has been so beautiful!”

Bhaktirasa starts singing the prayer to Lord Nrsimhadeva. With the little strength remaining in her body, Krishnabhakti dasi moves her lips softly. We see her: in her heart, she sings the glories to God!

…keshava dhrita narahari rupa, jaya jagadisha hare, jaya jagadisha hare, jaya jagadisha hare... 

the Divine Name: Salvation, Life, Spiritual Happiness defeat suffering, Eternity defeats death.

Krishnabhakti dasi wispers: “Thank you for all of this.”

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu: “I am certain that Shri Krishna will take care of you wonderfully. If you need anything, ask Krishna and Krishna will satisfy you. Krishna is Kamadeva, He fulfils any wish. Krishna is endless Mercy, and this is the meaning of the spiritual name that you have received. Keep it as a treasure inside yourself and it will lead you to full success. Life is a journey and this journey has been very lucky for you.”

“Yes, it is very lucky.” Krishnabhakti dasi says this by articulating well these words, just like her consciousness is very clear, lucid and distinct.

“You told me that the divine form that is most dear to you is the one of Mercy and Compassion. Think about Krishna and about His Manifestation of Mercy, this will ease your journey. Look at this image (Krishna that caresses Shrimati Radharani’s lotus feet with His face).”

“Wonderful!” Krishnabhakti says.

“Would you like to have it?”, Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu asks her.

“Yes!”

“It is one of the most beautiful images, I am very affectionate to it.”

“No, then…You keep it.” Krishnabhakti dasi says with care and sensibility, however Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu answers: “I brought it for you, keep it!”

Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu asks her to repeat: “Krishna is our Eternal Friend. Krishna is our Eternal Lover. He is our Joy and Salvation. He is in all the creatures and all the creatures get sustainment from him.

He continues: “If you feel attracted by this image of Krishna, your life has already reached success. Worldly images, even the most beautiful ones do not last. Spiritual images, however cannot ne taken from us. Memorize this divine image and live with this form of the Lord. In Bhagavad-Gita Krishna says: “He who thinks about Me, comes to Me.”

Remember when we used to sing the Holy Names together during our Seminars?

Now we are all with you, we wish you a wonderful journey, with joy, light and Divine Love. The Divine Love that moves the sun and the other stars…remember how much you loved that Seminar on Dante and Bhagavad-Gita?”

KrishnaBhakti dasi answers with enthusiasm: “Oh yes!’

Those that are there observing and listening, can see clearly that Life overcomes death!

“For the soul there is non birth or death. It exists and it never stops existing. It does not die when the body dies.”

“We are in the same journey, on the same boat. We have left from the unhappiness bank to reach the happiness one.”

“Yes, we must believe this.” Says Krishnabhakti dasi with all of her might.

“If you pronounce Krishna’s name, Krishna will become your Reality. Chant your spiritual name inside you and Krishna will grant you infinite Mercy. Chant the Holy Names of the Lord and you will receive plenty of success from this life experience….See you soon!”

Krishnabhakti dasi answers: “See you soon”. She repeats it twice.

The devotees leave the room one at the time and before they go, each of them approaches Krishnabhakti dasi to say farewell.

When I approach her calling her by her name, she says: “This name is wonderful, filled with sweetness!” I add: “I am so happy that you are now a God sister!” She answers with joy: “Me too, very much!”

Then she tells Gurudeva: “Thank You for loving me.”

And he replies: “ May the Lord enlighten and protect you always.”

While we were leaving that room, where Life overcomes death, Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu says: “What matters in our existence is how much we have realized Divine Love. These special moments structure and enforce our spiritual consciousness. We can witness the reality of death and the level of serenity that we can face it with.”

While we are exiting, we see many other rooms where there are terminally ill patients, other consciences, other lives. The TVs are blasting in those rooms where those who must face death are already dead inside. Emptiness rules and causes despair.

We walk by a room where the ward nurses gather. Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu greets them by putting his hands together and bowing his head, as a sign of prayer and they do the same. They gesture and their looks lead us to believe that in a certain way they have understood the importance of what was done. It seems that a little hope has reached them, the suffering assistant to the suffering, that do not have the instruments to understand the meaning of death and the precious lesson of life.

The head nurse had attended Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu’s ECM Seminar and the nurse that is assisting Krishnabhakti dasi would like to learn more about the spiritual teachings that we are practicing. Life brings Life.

As we exit the hospital, Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu says: “ The moment of death is the most crucial moment of the entire life. It is where we play our future whether it will be made of sufferance, or wrapped in darkness, or shining joy of Divine Light.”

It is almost nine at night. We get in the car. The devotees are moved, happy and deeply touched by the extraordinary experience. They say farewell to Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu and offer their obeisances by chanting a kirtana.

They have been unforgettable hours, an experience out of space and time that will remain in our memory forever.

My heart screams: “Krishnabhakti dasi, we are with you! Our beloved Master is in the centre. If we always follow Him, He will guide us to Krishna. He will teach us with his life, example and True Love.”

Right before her health worsened, Krishnabhakti dasi was preparing an exam on the philosophy of Bhagavad-Gita, within the Theology Course. She had reached the following chapter: “Reaching the Supreme”. And we saw our Master accompanying her on the path that leads to God!

I hope that this Life lesson will help each one of us!

Let’s not waste our time, let’s dedicate our life to Life!

I deeply reflect on what has happened and thank Shri Shri Guru and Krishna for this wonderful and very important experience. The Shastra say that the contact with a pure devotee of the Lord can shortly transform the life of any living being from conditioned to liberated and to a fervent lover of God.

The Merciful work of a pure devotee penetrates the daily existence, actions, thoughts, desires, emotions and the sentiments of he who predisposed himself to receive it until his entire conscience is permeated. The studies performed by Krishnabhakti dasi, her association with the devotees, her participation in Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu’s seminars (her last one was on 30 Nov 08), her listening of countless lessons, the individual study sessions or the ones performed by Bhaktirasa, her chanting of the Holy Names…this is how Life progressively awakes us. Love that relights the Wisdom that enlightens, God that manifest Himself in a man and the man that reconnects to God, by discovering Him in his intimate self.

Thank you very much, Shriman Matsyavatara Prabhu for the instruments of salvation that you have given us and that you continue to give us to allow us to realize Bhakti, the only purpose of life.

THANK YOU! Thank from me, Krishnabhakti dasi and all of those that have benefitted from Your teaching and that will benefit from them in the future!

Have a great journey, Krishnabhakti dasi!

See you soon!

By Ananda Tirtha das

So the future of this Krishna Consciousness movement is very bright, so long the managers remain vigilant that 16 rounds are being chanted by everyone without fail, that they are all rising before four in the morning, attending mangal arati-our leaders shall be careful not to kill the spirit of enthusiastic service, which is individual and spontaneous and voluntary. They should try always to generate some atmosphere of fresh challenge to the devotees, so that they will agree enthusiastically to rise and meet it. That is the art of management: to draw out spontaneous loving spirit of sacrificing some energy for Krishna.

Date: February 24, 2009
Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.24.11
Speaker: HH Romapada Swami
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sabhajayan visuddhena cetasa tac-cikirsitam
prahrsyamanair asubhih kardamam cedam abhyadhat

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Lord Rishabhdev:

O My sons, you should accept a highly elevated paramahamsa, a spiritually advanced spiritual master. In this way, you should place your faith and love in Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You should detest sense gratification and tolerate the duality of pleasure and pain, which are like the seasonal changes of summer and winter. Try to realize the miserable condition of living entities, who are miserable even in the higher planetary systems. Philosophically inquire about the truth. Then undergo all kinds of austerities and penances for the sake of devotional service. Give up the endeavor for sense enjoyment and engage in the service of the Lord. Listen to discussions about the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and always associate with devotees. Chant about and glorify the Supreme Lord, and look upon everyone equally on the spiritual platform. Give up enmity and subdue anger and lamentation. Abandon identifying the self with the body and the home, and practice reading the revealed scriptures. Live in a secluded place and practice the process by which you can completely control your life air, mind and senses. Have full faith in the revealed scriptures, the Vedic literatures. Perform your prescribed duties and avoid unnecessary talks. Always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, acquire knowledge from the right source. Thus practicing bhakti-yoga, you will patiently and enthusiastically be elevated in knowledge and will be able to give up the false ego.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verses 10-13

We learn of the Brahma Muhurta hours being the best for spiritual advancement and understanding. This is why early rising and mangala arotrika are so strongly recommended for bhakti yogis.

The Bhagavad-gita tells us: "What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage."

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Tribute To The Lotus Feet Of Sri Prem Vikas Pra… v

Yesterday HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami blogged that HG Brhat-mrdanga Prabhhu has been approved for sannyas. I wish to say congrats to this inspiring devotee. Brhat-mrdanga Prabhu joined Iskcon in Durban, South Africa in around 1980's. He was previously a school teacher and also had a Masters degree.

He has made incredible contributions as a humble servant. One really outstanding achievement is that he distributed more that 60 000 of Srila Prabhupada's books. I recall when I joined as a full time devotees and was sent out to do sankirtan. After my first day out on the street I was asked my score before the Srimad Bhagavatam class. I did 8 books for the entire day. Then the score of Brhat-mrdanga Prabhu was mentioned and it was many sets of Srimad Bhagavatams!!


After inundating schools with thousands of books HH Giriraj Swami asked Brhat-mrdanga Prabhu to structure a program were people study these books. Brhat-mrdanga Prabhu then went to India to study his Bhakti Sastri at VIHE. He returned to South Africa and founded the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture in July 1991 in Durban, South Africa. The college has since served as a forum to discuss and relish the translations and purports of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

After establishing the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture, Brhat-mrdanga Prabhu trained many teachers who now continue to teach these courses based on Srila Prabhupada's books. He then travelled and still travels abroad to Brampton, Houston, Inisrath, London, Mauritius, Nairobi, Phillippines, San Diego, Toronto, Vancouver and other places and teaches these structured courses. He has also formed a section of the college with a special children's syllabus.

Since the inception of the BCEC in 1991 to date, and under the able guidance and inspiration of HG Brhat-mrdanga Prabhu, 13 470 students internationally have graduated in various courses based only on the teachings of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. I got the stats from my husband, Nrsimhananda Prabhu who is the co-international director of BCEC.

BCEC has something for everyone as Srila Prabhupada's teachings are so attractive!!

We wish Brhat-mrdanga Prabhu continued succes in his endeavours to serve Srila Prabhupada's mission.

There is no reason to continue suffering for another minute in this material existence. Take the special mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and immediately come to the transcendental platform by taking complete shelter of the most sublime mahamantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Call...

Here's what Typealyzer had to say about my twitter feed:

ESTP - The Doers

The active and playful type. They are especially attuned to people and things around them and often full of energy, talking, joking and engaging in physical out-door activities.

The Doers are happiest with action-filled work which craves their full attention and focus. They might be very impulsive and more keen on starting something new than following it through. They might have a problem with sitting still or remaining inactive for any period of time.

When I started blogging back on July 27th, 2004, I started with the vision of writing about "what I am doing" and "what I am thinking".

It looks like the twitter microblogging service has become primarily the "what I am doing" venue, and atmayogi.com has become primarily "what I am thinking".

I am currently taking a class at BYU on the humanities in Asia and I would like to write a paper about the Shiva Ratri holiday. Would you please give me more information about the history and symbolism of the holiday? I have read the information provided on the website, but would like more, if possible.

1968 February 25: "My Guru Maharaja wanted this Krishna Consciousness spread all over the Western countries especially, and now in my old age, I am leaving this great responsibility in the hands of all of you, my students."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 February 25: "His heart is so soft, as soft as a good mother's. In Bombay sometimes we lived together and he used to treat my little sons very kindly. I always remember him and shall continue to do so."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 February 25: "There is no evidence in the Vedic literatures that a common, unintelligent person by worshipping the demigoddess Kali can become an incarnation of Godhead."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 February 25: "So we shall save you from the draft. If you stick to the study of our books and continue as a preacher, there will be no difficulty for you to get 4-D classification."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 Febuary 25: "I shall be glad to give him so many themes. If George Harrison can compose such songs in his own words, and sings, I am sure it will be an epoch making event."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 February 25: "If George wants to invite famous people from all over the world to come there and get Krsna Consciousness, we shall cooperate with him with full vigor."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 February 25: "As for your training in theology, if you simply present some of the popular western points of view of theology and then point by point expose them as speculators, then that will be a very nice service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 25: "This art of dancing, as any art, can be employed in the service of glorifying the Supreme Lord. If she is expert dancer, she can organize a dancing group to depict very exquisitely stories from our Krishna Book."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Date: February 23, 2009
Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.24.10
Speaker: HH Jayapataka Swami
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bhagavantam param brahma sattvenamsena satru-han
tattva-sankhyana-vijnaptyai jatam vidvan ajah svarat

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...on the tip of His nose Lord Gopala wears a rare pearl taken from an elephant's brow: nasagre gaja-mautikam.

>From Brhad-Bhagavatamrta 2.7.29 ppt., by Sanatana Goswami Prabhupada; presented by Gopiparanadhana Prabhu

I don't even know where to begin....The past few days have been chaotically intoxicating! Days that have been drenched in the abhisheks of the holy name and Sri Sri Panca Tattva!

On Tuesday the 24th, the 72 hr kirtan officially kicked off! Kirtaneers like HG Aindra prabhu, HH Sivarama Swami, HH BBGS, HH Lokanath Swami and so many more were drowning devotees in oceans of ecstasy as the Panca Tattva temple room began overflowing with the honey soaked voices of devotees chanting the holy names. As the kirtans continued throughout the night and into the next morning it was time for the piece de resistence- THE MAHA ABHISHEK!!!

Words really cannot describe how it feels to physically be present and watch the bathing of Sri Sri Panca Tattva. It is something that can only be felt. It's a feeling of complete connection, utter gratitude and so many other emotions that just overwhelm a devotee. It was even more special for me because I got to see some of my classmates actually participate in bathing their Lordships and I got a glimpse of how wonderful it is to feel complete happiness in seeing others get special mercy.

And the kirtans during the abhishek! I will never forget the feeling of complete happiness when HH Sivarama Swami started singing towards the end of the abhishek.....

The festivities are continuing on here....today marks the final day of the 72 hour kirtan and there are unlimited activities to take part in such as the sat-sanga seminars that are continuing on here, a memorial service for HH Tamal Krsna Goswami in honor of his disappearance day, the graduation ceremony for the students of Mayapur Academy and so much more....

Will post pictures as things start to settle down here. Sri Sri Panca Tattva ki JAI!

I think this comes under the grumpy old man rants category, YES I’m GOING TO MOAN or at least voice my opinion. You see I work in an industry that values training and personal development that is just fantastic for those wanting to enter the profession the UK government not only pays a small bursary but [...]

What's the connection between the i-phone and genocide in Rwanda?

The little known mineral coltan.

It's not just i-phones, it is i-pods, macbooks, pcs, cellphone, gps's and lots of other stuff we use regularly, all require the mineral coltan and it is only found in abundance in one place in the world, the Congo.

Anyone reading this is reading it on a computer and in a very real sense has some responsibility to what is happening in the Congo, and neighboring Rwanda. During the genocide in Rwanda the world got its supply of Coltan from Rwanda, but Rwanda doesn't have any Coltan, it all comes from the Congo. During the genocide in Rwanda $250 million dollars was made as a result of exploitation of coltan in the Congo. Pretty sickening. The instability in that region of the world is not just due to warring tribes but is actually caused by various first world countries actively destabilizing the region in order to drain it's resources. The united states has a whole branch of military dedicated to Africa, it is called AFRICOM. Given our record it is hard to imagine that our intent is purely

Check out this video for more details on the Coltan connection. The rabbit hole goes pretty deep. Here's an interesting article on the international politics surrounding the region and it gives a little history about the genocide in Rwanda.

It is pretty sickening once you get a grasp on world politics, and even more so when you begin to realize that you are inextricably bound in this horrible machine of pain and suffering.

It is easy to point the blame at other people (those meat eating karmis) but this is something that we are all guilty of and there is no clear cut way out. No easy answers here.

The Vedic scriptures declare that only when we live free from all desires for sense gratification and make all of our activities as a sacrifice for to the Lord can we actually be free from the laws of karma.

This is not just a doctrine. It is not that anyone who claims to be a devotee gets a get out of jail from free card, this is about personal responsibility. Whether apparently acting as a devotee or as a non-devotee, to the degree we act for sense gratification we will have to suffer according to the laws of karma.

This should make all of us stop and think about how we are using this modern technology and what are the karmic implications of using it for sense gratification.

"Work done as a sacrifice for Visnu has to be performed; otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage." Bg. 3.9

Gopi Gita dasi singing the Bhajan "Gopinath" while visiting Houston.

Houston, TX
2009-01-03

Download: 2009-01-03 - Gopinath - Gopi Gita dasi.mp3

        This last weekend we went to the Coachella music festival. Bhrigupati Prabhu headed the party that included myself, Nama Kirtana Prabhu, Bhakta Bronson, Dvarakesh Prabhu, Paratpara Prabhu, Jaya Govinda Prabhu, Paramesvara Prabhu, Murti Prabhu, and Bhakta Avatara Prabhu, with Jaya Gauranga Prabhu and Radha Kripa Kataksa Prabhu as the cooks. We arrived on Thursday afternoon at Yudhisthira Prabhu's house. Yudhisthira has been letting us use his house for the past four or five years for this event and he and his family stay in a hotel for the weekend.
        Paramaevara and Murti decided to give the campers a try Thursday evening while the rest of us waited until Friday to start. Paramesvara and Murti had good success with the people parking in the camping lot and they worked from around 6pm until midnight.
        On Friday the whole crew (except the cooks) went out for distribution. We arrived at the lot at 9:15 in the morning and it was very slow. Bronson decided to read a little and I took a little extra rest. By 10:30 it was still really slow in that lot, but I figured I might as well give it a try. After talking to people for around ten minutes, and a few books going out, I knew that they were parking another lot. I asked the parkers to confirm and then headed to lot three with Bronson. Paramasvara and Murti went to the campground to work the tents and the rest of the boys went to lot six. Lot three is a large lot that we worked for the rest of the day. By the mercy of my gurudeva I had a nice time there. I was able to distribute sixty six books from 11:30am to 7:00pm, with an hour break for lunch and a quick nap. At seven the sun went behind the mountains, so we kept to the Vedic standard and called it a day. We went back for dinner at the house. Bronson and I decided to go back out for the blowout and Dvarakesh, Paratpara, Jaya Govinda, and Nama Kirtana joined us. We got there around 10pm, just in time to catch the fist few people leaving the show. Bronson and I stayed until 12:30 in the morning, but the others called it quits around 11pm. Friday was the nicest day for me, with a total of 100 big books distributed.
        On saturday I woke up at 8am because I did not get to sleep until 2:30am. I was not tired, but felt a little sluggish mentally all day. This was also the hottest day, being well over 100 degrees. Everyone had a tough time on this day. The next day, Sunday, was nice. It was a bit cooler than the day before and I was able to chant nicer japa. On Saturday I decided that if I did well during the day on Sunday, then I would stay for the blowout. I did well on Sunday, so Bronson, Bhakta Avatara, and I stayed until around 1am. Murti decided he would stay later at the last minute also. The blowout was nice this evening as well. During the blowout on Friday I found the best thing that worked was to hold out a big book in each hand and chant the Hare Krishna maha mantra out loud. In that way people would come and take books (34 big books that night). But, the Sunday blowout was a little more trying. I tried all the different approaches I knew, but nothing was that successful. After about two hours and only eight books distributed, I remembered Lord Nrsimhadeva. Yudhisthira has beautiful Sri Sri Laksmi Nrsimha Deities, so I was meditating on them as the proprietor of this area. I held out the books again, but started chanting Lord Nrsimhadeva's prayers. Even before I could finish saying "Namaste Narasim..." then someone came up to me: "What do you have here, what kind of books are these?" Within the next half of an hour twenty six more books were distributed! It was ecstatic. We never know how Krishna will do things, but his reciprocation is always wonderful, unexpected, and very much appreciated.
        After the blowout I drove the four of us an hour away to Bhakta Avatara's house. Since it was already 5am, I stayed up to chant my rounds and then took rest at 6:30am. We woke up at noon and then showered and had breakfast (or would that be lunch?) By the time Bronson was done with his rounds it was 3:30pm. We headed out to UC Riverside for a couple of hours more of distribution. We finished at 6pm and then returned to New Dvaraka. By the mercy of my spiritual master, I was allowed to distribute 2 maha-big, 218 big, and 219 medium books.

         It is interesting to see the communications trends in modern society and the effects of globalization. Previously people stayed within their village and had the time to physically talk to others, establishing close relationships. Life was much easier and much less hectic. Now, especially is one lives in the city, it is difficult to co-ordinate schedules with others to have any interaction.

What is the value of even a moment of association with a Vaiṣṇava? Priceless. In the Śrīmad-bhāgavatam (11.2.4-8) the great sage Nārada came to Dvārakā to visit for some time. While there, he visited the house of Vasudeva, the father of Vāsudeva (Dvārakādīśa). After worshiping Nārada with suitable paraphernalia, seating him comfortably and respectfully bowing down to him, Vasudeva spoke as follows: "My lord, your visit, like that of a father to his children, is for the benefit of all living beings. You especially help the most wretched among them, as well as those who are advanced on the path toward the Supreme Lord, Uttamaśloka. The activities of the demigods lead to both misery and happiness for living beings, but the activities of great saints like you, who have accepted the infallible Lord as their very soul, result only in the happiness of all beings. Those who worship the demigods receive reciprocation from the demigods in a way just corresponding to the offering. The demigods are attendants of karma, like a person's shadow, but sādhus are actually merciful to the fallen. O brāhmāṇa, although I am satisfied simply by seeing you, I still wish to inquire about those duties which give pleasure to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Any mortal who faithfully hears about them is freed from all kinds of fear. In a previous birth on this earth, I worshiped the Supreme Lord, Ananta, who alone can award liberation, but because I desired to have a child, I did not worship Him for liberation. Thus I was bewildered by the Lord's illusory energy. My dear lord, you are always true to your vow. Please instruct me clearly, so that by your mercy I may easily free myself from material existence, which is full of many dangers and keep us constantly bound in fear."

        The business of the mind is saṅkalpa and vikalpa. Saṅkalpa means to decide to do something, and vikalpa means again to reject it. That is the business of mind. Everyone desires peacefulness of the mind, but the nature of the material mind is saṅkalpa and vikalpa—restlessness. We cannot fix the mind in a peaceful condition. Without spiritual intelligence, the mind will accept and reject that which is favorable and unfavorable for the comfort of the senses. On the material level this acceptance and rejection translates into hankering and lamentation. No matter how great or horrible of a position we find ourselves in, we are hankering for those things which we do not possess and we are lamenting for those things which we have lost. That is our material business. The restless nature of the mind is what keeps most people from experiencing the bliss of Kṛṣṇa consciousness—even devotees. As aspiring devotees we may have our prescribed service that we regularly engage in, but unless we become satisfied in our position we will not be able to relish the nectar of bhakti. By licking the bottle, we cannot taste the sweetness of the honey.

manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ

maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ

bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat

tapo mānasam ucyate

        "And satisfaction, simplicity, gravity, self-control and purification of one's existence are the austerities of the mind." (Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 17.16) To achieve this satisfaction and austerity of mind we must detach it from sense gratification. Contemplation of the objects of the senses inflames the desire to enjoy those objects. When the burning desire becomes too compelling, the senses sheepishly follow the dictation of the mind. Therefore the mind should be trained to always think of doing good for others. Gravity of thought properly aligns our mind in this vein. Gravity means that we are serious and dignified in quality. We should not deviate from Kṛṣṇa consciousness and must always avoid sense gratification. Avoiding sense-gratification and being straightforward in our dealings will purify our nature and lead us to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. When we come to this level of purity in Kṛṣṇa consciousness we will be equal to everyone and can genuinely be their well-wisher; not hankering for what they have and lamenting that we do not have. This is the test of advancement. We have no lamenting, no hankering, and we are equal to everyone. Paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ. "The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater." (Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 5.18)

        So in this way, when we are situated with equal vision, we come to the devotional platform:

brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā

na śocati na kāṅkṣati

samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu

mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām

"One who is thus transcendentally situated at once realizes the Supreme Brahman and becomes fully joyful. He never laments or desires to have anything. He is equally disposed toward every living entity. In that state he attains pure devotional service unto Me." (Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 18.54) Once we come to this devotional platform, then we are eligible for the highest benefit:

bhaktyā mām abhijānāti

yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ

tato māṁ tattvato jñātvā

viśate tad-anantaram

"One can understand Me as I am, as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of Me by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God." (Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 18.55)

        So, the requisite satisfaction of the mind for the highest goal can be obtained only by taking the mind away from thoughts of sense enjoyment. The more we think of sense enjoyment, the more the mind becomes dissatisfied. In the present age we unnecessarily engage the mind in so many different ways for sense gratification, and so there is no possibility of the mind's becoming satisfied. The best course is to divert the mind to the Vedic literature, which is full of satisfying stories, as in the Purāṇas and the Mahābhārata. One can take advantage of this knowledge and thus become purified. As Parīkṣit Mahārāja heard Śrīmad-bhāgavatam he said, nivṛtta-tarṣair upagīyamānād bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-'bhirāmāt: (Śrīmad-bhāgavatam 10.1.4) "Narrations about Kṛṣṇa are the proper medicine for those suffering in material existence, and such narrations are very relishable to hear, especially for those who are free of all material hankering."

        As long as we are in material existence, we will feel hankering and lamentation because this world is being conducted chiefly by the modes of passion and ignorance. Therefore ordinarily we hanker to possess something, and if somehow or other we acquire that thing and it is lost, we lament. Even sometimes we lament upon acquiring something that we realize is unfavorable once we have it. Hankering and lamenting and other effects of the lower modes of nature are known as abhadrāṇi, dirt within the heart. So while Parīkṣit Mahārāja has said that narrations about Kṛṣṇa are especially relishable for persons who have transcended all hankering and lamenting, he also says that for the common man these narrations are bhavauṣadhāc chrotra-mano-'bhirāmāt—very pleasing to the ears and the heart, and the proper medicine to cure the disease of material life and cleanse the dirt within the heart.

        Therefore our program in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness society is to give people in general a chance to hear about Kṛṣṇa. This is our mission, which has been given to us by Caitanya Mahāprabhu. He said (Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya-līlā 7.128):

yāre dekha, tāre kaha 'kṛṣṇa'-upadeśa

āmāra ājñāya guru hañā tāra' ei deśa

"On my order become a spiritual master and try to explain kṛṣṇa-kathā to everyone you meet." Kṛṣṇa-kathā means words spoken by Kṛṣṇa, such as the Bhagavad-gītā, and words about Kṛṣṇa, such as Śrīmad-bhāgavatam. Caitanya Mahāprabhu ordered us to distribute these two kinds of kṛṣṇa-kathā throughout the whole world. By reading kṛṣṇa-kathā and sharing Kṛṣṇa with everyone, we can very easily traverse this ocean of material existence and relish the supreme taste of Kṛṣṇa consciousness in this very lifetime.

Doctor Doctor,I swallowed a pillCure my cold I thought it willThree times a day was my dosageNow my nose is like a big sausage. Sitting in the crowded doctor's office in Bangalore, delirious with high fever, this rhyme pasted on the wall there, instantly brought a smile to my face. This rhyme sums up the effects of self medication in a light way. From a philosophical angle, it is a reminder of

“The characteristics of Krsna are understood to be a storehouse of transcendental love. Although that storehouse of love certainly came with Krsna when He was present, it was sealed. But when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu came with His associates of the Panca-tattva, they broke the seal and plundered the storehouse to taste transcendental love of Krsna. The more they tasted it, the more their thirst for it grew.”

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Unfortunately it looks like it's on again in Kaz...

The Kazakhstan Society of Krishna Consciousness must vacate its property by February 28, according to a letter sent to them by the Kazakh authorities. Society Chairwoman Galinna Glouz told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service that the government offered to relocate the group to a location she described as a "dumpsite."

Deputy Governor Serik Mukanov said the organization was offered an acceptable alternative location by officials, which it accepted and then turned down at the last minute. Last month, an American representing the Hare Krishnas was deported from Kazakhstan after landing at the Almaty airport, even though he had a valid visa.

The Kazakh government has been in conflict with the Hare Krishna community since last fall, when Almaty Oblast officials decided to demolish houses belonging to Krishna followers living on Almaty's outskirts.

This week's Sunday Feast featured Siva-Ratri Celebrations with HH Indradyumna Swami and HG Sri Prahlad das. The recording of the webcast can be viewed by clicking the image below.

1968 February 25: "My Guru Maharaja wanted this Krishna Consciousness spread all over the Western countries especially, and now in my old age, I am leaving this great responsibility in the hands of all of you, my students."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 February 25: "There is no evidence in the Vedic literatures that a common, unintelligent person by worshipping the demigoddess Kali can become an incarnation of Godhead."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 February 25: "So we shall save you from the draft. If you stick to the study of our books and continue as a preacher, there will be no difficulty for you to get 4-D classification."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 Febuary 25: "I shall be glad to give him so many themes. If George Harrison can compose such songs in his own words, and sings, I am sure it will be an epoch making event."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 February 25: "If George wants to invite famous people from all over the world to come there and get Krsna Consciousness, we shall cooperate with him with full vigor."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 February 25: "This art of dancing, as any art, can be employed in the service of glorifying the Supreme Lord. If she is expert dancer, she can organize a dancing group to depict very exquisitely stories from our Krishna Book."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 25: "As for your training in theology, if you simply present some of the popular western points of view of theology and then point by point expose them as speculators, then that will be a very nice service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1968 February 25: "His heart is so soft, as soft as a good mother's. In Bombay sometimes we lived together and he used to treat my little sons very kindly. I always remember him and shall continue to do so."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Manohara dasa: Radhadesh Administrative Council is looking for department head of Radhadesh Guesthouse. Preference will be given to those who have experience with serving devotees and/or living in community, managerial experience, communications skills and basic book keeping.

Dear devotees,

Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Last night we finished the GBC meetings, and in a couple of days we start the Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama. I haven’t been on it for at least 10 years, and I’m looking forward to it very much.

The meetings were basically nice, although as usual they were somewhat grueling. To sit there for more than ten days and discuss all sorts of often controversial and difficult subjects is quite a challenge, but for Srila
Prabhupada we have to be ready to do things like that.

A number of devotees have been approved for taking sannyasa this year, including the well known South African devotee Brhat Mrdanga prabhu, and Jaya Govinda from Botswana. Altogether 6 devotees were approved for taking sannyasa, which is always something very exciting for the movement.

Another lady was elected to the GBC Body, Dina Sharana devi dasi from Germany, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. To date the only lady GBC has been Malati devi dasi one of Srila Prabhupada’s most senior disciples from America. It has also been confirmed that ladies can become gurus, which is something that many devotees have been waiting for for some years.

An interesting subject that was discussed was about chanting the name of Srimati Radharani in kirtana. There are a small number of devotees in different parts of the world who sometimes really get into chanting “Radhe Radhe” or Jaya Radhe, Jaya Radhe, Jaya Radhe, Jaya Sri Radhe” and variations on these themes on a regular basis, and some devotees argue that this is something that Srila Prabhupada did not approve of. Certainly if it is done in a frivolous way, or if it is done too much, that cannor be right.

There was a disciple of Gopala Bhatta Goswami, one of the 6 Goswamis of Vrindavana, named Hit Harivamsa who is said to have really gone too far in focusing on Srimati Radharani, and as a result he became excommunicated from our Gaudiya sampradaya. He refused to chant Hare Krishna, or particularly to mention the name of Krishna, and would only chant the name of Srimati Radharani. He would not observe ekadasi, and would not observe Krishna Janmastami, but rather only observed Radhastami. Indeed he did not even like to hear the name of Lord Krishna. As a result, it is said that he was declared to be unqualified and was rejected by the Gaudiya Vaisnavas in general.

So there’s no doubt it’s possible to go overboard in this regard. However, of course, Srimati Radharani is our worshipable Deity, and to ignore Her altogether could hardly be right, and as a result a considerable controversy has developed over the past couple of years.

Srila Prabhodananda Sarasvati concludes his Vrindavana Dhama Mahimamrita by glorifying Srimati Radharani’s name: “Vrndavana! Forest filled with the sweetest nectar! Forest that contains the great treasure of spiritual love! Witness of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna’s amorous pastimes! Forest so dear to me! Master of the rasa-dance! Enchanter of the worlds! Wonderful with flowering vines, birds, and a host of beautiful creatures! O beautiful Vrndavana far beyond the world of matter, you are the goal of my life. You are my goal.

“Obeisances to the beautiful couple that stays in Vrndavana. Obeisances to the beautiful couple that wanders in Vrndavana. Obeisances to the beautiful couple that is the life of Vrndavana. Obeisances to the hero and heroine of Vrndavana. Obeisances to the beautiful couple that is merciful to Vrndavana. Obeisances to the beautiful couple that is the transcendental nectar of Vrndavana. Obeisances to the beautiful couple that is the perfection of Vrndavana.

“No place is more exalted than Vrndavana forest. No person is more lowly than me. It is only by the power of Sri Radha’s holy name that these two have met. May the all-wonderful, limitlessly powerful, and supremely
auspicious holy name of Vrndavana’s queen once be glorious in my mouth.”

Actually I don’t know what the result of the vote on the subject was, but from the discussions that took place, and the preliminary voting that happened, it seemed that some type of middle ground would be sought

Perhaps the most enlivening thing was the return of Jayapataka Maharaja to Mayapur for the first time since he suffered his stroke on October 23rd last year. The stroke was so severe that a devotee doctor reported that “normally the survival rate for such a stroke is zero”. However, they reckoned without the amazing determination of Jayapataka Maharaja, plus the mercy of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda, who Maharaja has completely dedicated his life to.

Maharaja returned on the evening of February 20th, flying from Mumbai to Calcutta in the morning, and then coming slowly out in an ambulance to Mayapur. From Calcutta airport to Mayapur is only about 130kms, but a lot of the road is in such a disastrous condition that it takes 3 to 4 hours to make the trip, and because of Maharaja’s condition it took him much longer to arrive.

Maharaja transferred to a car at the Jagannatha temple and then came to Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir. It was early evening, probably around 6pm and all the devotees were gathered from the main entrance down to the temple room. I was with the other GBC members waiting closer to the temple entrance.

We knew that Maharaja had pulled in when the elephant came down the driveway, surrounded by hundreds of devotees. Maharaja’s car was immediately behind, and pulled up close to the courtyard in front of the temple. He was sitting in the front seat, on the left, and Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja opened his door, and some of the GBC members came forward to greet him.

I also came forward and embraced him as he sat in the car. I told him “I’m so happy to see you!” as I hugged him for a little while, and he responded “I’m really happy to see you too.”

It was a very moving experience.

Then he was taken out of the car and put in a wheelchair which was then brought into the temple room. By this time most of the devotees were quite overwhelmed and were pushing to get as close to him as possible, while his personal team tried to keep them back.

I went into the temple room with Prahladananda Maharaja in front of Maharaja and waited for him to come. There was a seething mass of devotees all around him, coming closer to us, and I turned to Prahladananda Maharaja and told him: “in a few seconds we’re going to get crushed!”

Sure enough we were unceremoniously picked up by the swelling mass of devotees and thrown to the side, completely scrunched together with dozens of other devotees.

Maharaja had darsana of Srila Prabhupada, Panca Tattva, and then went onto the platform in front of Radha Madhava. The temple room was pretty chaotic with so many devotees and guests pushing and shoving, and one devotee on the platform started shouting “sit down! Sit down! Sit down!” repeatedly, which hardly anyone seemed to take notice of. Maharaja then spoke from in front of Radha and Madhava. Because of his condition he has difficulty pronouncing words clearly, although his mind is as crystal clear as always, and as a result he had a devotee repeat what he said, to make sure we understood.

Then every day Maharaja would come into the GBC meeting and make some comments on the different subjects we were discussing. One of the days he gave every one in the meeting a gift pack of Nrsinga oil, Ganges water, a gamcha, tilaka and other items.

On the 23rd Maharaja gave Srimad Bhagavatam class and as he began he asked “do we need repetition?” meaning having the devotee say again what he has said. All the devotees shouted out “no!” and Maharaja proceeded to give a very nice Srimad Bhagavatam class on his own.

I have included some photos from Mayapur with this report.

So now we will go on the parikrama, and I will write again after that.

Hoping this meets you well.

Your servant,

Bhakti Caitanya Swami

By Mayapur.tv

Emotional scenes and tumultous crowds greet His Holiness Jayaptaka Swami on his return - watch them in hi-res quality video. In Part 2 he addresses a packed assembly of vaishnavas in the Mandir, and tells of the miracle of his recovery and his gratitude for the prayers of the devotees.

Dravida dasa: Early on the morning of Monday, February 23, Rucirangada Dasi succumbed after a long battle with cancer and passed away peacefully at her brother's home in San Diego.

Tamal Krsna dasa: "The Most Sinful Activity" by HDG ACBS Prabhupada, "Humility with Determination" by Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja, "Devotee Spotlight" by Giri-govardhana dasa, "Envy: The Original Sin" by Rupa-vilasa dasa

Our Tuesday program here at The Sanctuary in Manhattan in hitting the city airwaves!

Click here to head over to ISKCON News to read all about it!

Payonidhi das: dear Vaisnavas Please accept my humble obaisences All glories to Srila Prabhupada In our stage of Bhakti it is very essential to attend mangal artik or perform it in our own home if we live outside the temple.

By Deena Bandhu dasa

On Sunday we had the ecstatic grand finale of the 6th anniversary of Vrinda Kunda Temple. All the devotees gathered beside Pavana Sarovar and after a nice hot breakfast of kichari, we began the preparations for the famous Kalash Yatra.

As long as one does not inquire about the spiritual values of life, one is defeated and subjected to miseries arising from ignorance. Be it sinful or pious, karma has its resultant actions. If a person is engaged in any kind of karma, his mind is called karmâtmaka, colored with fruitive activity. As long as the mind is impure, consciousness is unclear, and as long as one is absorbed in fruitive activity, he has to accept a material body.

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 5 Chapter 5 Verse 5

Bhakta April played whompers and the kirtan soon soared to its peak with the devotees dancing ecstatically. Later he was throughly elated when Nrsimhananda Prabhu gifted him with a new mrdanga. Here in Africa beat is in the blood! At the end of the kirtan everyone is wet and blissed out.

Development during the Year 2008

Bangalore Bhakti-vriksha Yatra follows the Bhakti-vriksha method of preaching to spread Krishna Consciousness. By the causeless mercy of Guru and Gauranga, this year we could attract lots of new people to devotional service under the ISKCON umbrella; this brought about advancement in the existing members' spiritual lives, too. Everyone is enthusiastic, inspired and we could witness a steady growth all around.

Following are some of the factors in the Yatra's growth:

read more

The scientific world tends to praise the human genome project (the mapping of human DNA configuration), cloning of animals and genetically modified organisms, including seeds for food plants.

The genetic mapping or genetic code for a banyan is certainly to be found in the seed of such a tree. Now science can predict from the genes of tree seed, what the tree will look like. But it cannot explain why the seed should transform into a tree.

read more

This is fifteen year old Bhaktin Rasalila who said she throughly enjoyed her sleepover.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur formed a group and named it the August Assembly - he formed the Cirakumara Sabha or the August Assembly amongst his friends with whom he met regularly at Calcutta's Beadon Square. There they used to discuss topics related to religion, and the members were required to take a vow of celibacy. The Society was formed with the purpose of giving people a chance to remain seriously engaged in worship of the Lord and detached from family life. But Bimala Prasad was the only one who observed his vows immaculately.

We strive to reach out to newsouls and introduce the on the path of Bhakti. This blog will report on such activities. As lectures/preachers at Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture for the last 15 years we have had by Krsna's mercy many new souls come and have their lives transformed.

After advertising for new students via email, posters and radio shows we hold an open day were Nrsimhananda Prabhu does a vibrant presentation and normally this results in the students coming back and sometimes with new friends or family members.

Thus far majority of the students stay and become initiated members of the Iskcon Society voluntarily. The preaching entails a Bhakti Sadhacara course consisting of Science of Self Realisation, then Vaisnava Ettiquette and thereafter Spiritual Master and Disciple. This is done in the first year. So this blog will serve to broadcast the preaching strengths to inspire others who have the common motive in life.

H H Radhanath Swami kiran =)

Just a reminder that I'm appearing on next week's episode of The Cook and The Chef, screened on Australia's ABC1 TV network Wednesday 4 March at 6.30pm. It's repeated Saturday at 11.30 am.

It can also be downloaded from the website.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.32-35 - The transcendental nature of Krsna's appearance & disappearance.

In this world we are motivated to action by our dreams of what we would like to achieve. But the difficulty is that when our dreams come true we are still not satisfied. That thing which we considered would be such a glorious achievement, when we attain it we disappointedly discover that is has lost its grandeur. In this way we are defeated again and...

Welcome to Sri Sri Panca-Tattva Maha Abhisheka 2009 !!!

Here we will report live on happennings during the Maha Abhisheka. Please stay tuned in. To see updated information you have to reload page time to time.

You can also watch Live video streaming or if your connection speed is not so fast, then on our live webcams. Also you can listen live audio broadcast directly from temple.

Since the internet speed inside the temple is a bit slow, it may take a few longer for us to send updates.

read more

French Government Tells People to Stop Consuming Wine

To the anger of the wine industry and disbelief of lovers of a good drop worldwide, the French Government has told its people to stop drinking wine.

The French Health Ministry has made alcohol one of the chief villains in a drive against cancer. "The consumption of alcohol, and especially wine, is discouraged," say guidelines drawn from the findings of the National Cancer Institute. Read the whole article...

Yesterday I spent a couple of hours discussing evolutionary biology with one of my science advisers (as you do). There were moments where the hair on my body stood on end as I caught glimpses of the Universal Form and the intelligence behind it. Here are some highlights:

We started off discussing the Cambrian explosion [wikipedia]. Around 530 million years some interpretations of the fossil record tell of a sudden (in geological terms) explosion of life forms, with a large number of species of complex animals appearing in a short space of time.

Shiva das brought this up as an example of a weak point in the evolution narrative, so I was interested to hear how a devotee of that narrative understands this point. Here's an explanation from inside the tradition. I'm going to synthesize parts of the conversation into a single flow here:

It appears that life, once it starts, really takes off fast. Not only at this point, but at various extinction points throughout history, the empty niches are quickly filled up by life form that adapt to fill them. Life is persistent, and pervasive. [my note: "living entities are sarva-gatah"]

Where do these pre-existing niches come from? They arise from the geology and environmental conditions of our planet.

Initially the life forms on Earth were anaerobic - they relied on an atmosphere without oxygen. One of these organisms excreted oxygen as a waste product. It was so efficient that the oxygen production killed the anaerobic life, and only those forms that could respire aerobically survived, to bring us the life forms we see today.

Anaerobic life was forced to find environments and niches where they could survive, so they retreated to the ocean floors around vents. Extremophiles [wikipedia] demonstrate that life can exist in conditions very unlike the ones we commonly think of as necessary for life. [my note: Prabhupada's point about life on every planet, and living entities having bodies adapted to local environmental conditions]

On the question of single celled organisms becoming multi-celled organisms, another science adviser said:

Some bacteria will clump up together in a colony [wikipedia] in a situation of environmental adversity or food shortage. All it takes is for this to be more efficient than staying apart, for the behaviour to become routine, and over time for cells to take on more specialised roles in the colony, and you have a multi-cellular organism

I had a discussion with one adviser about the concept of ahamkara, or the "I-forming energy". What is it that causes multiple cells to conceive of themselves as a single biological unit, distinct from other biological units? This is not well understood by empirical science, but the Vedic narrative contains the idea of the ahamkara.

One manifestation of this is the immune system, specialized cells whose job it is to identify cells who are not responding to the direction of the same ahamkara, "I-forming energy" as the rest of the cells in the body, and eliminate them.

The ahamkara is the most subtle material manifestation. Each cell in the human body has it's own ahamkara. Each cell is its own body, its own living entity. Yet somehow all of the cells are marshalled by the direction of one predominating ahamkara. That would be me, in my case. :-)

I'm changing "Life from chemicals" to "Consciousness from chemicals", btw.

Here's another point that made my hair stand on end:

From single-celled organisms to human beings is billions of years. In all that time spirit-souls are transmigrating between different bodies (brahmanda-bhramite), with no opportunity for self-realization. Do you realize just how rare this human form of life, with its capacity for self-realization is?

After some time our conversation turned to religious traditions, and began to touch on metaphysics. At that moment I asked my friend: "What evolutionary value does this conversation have? How has evolution come to this point?"

He replied: "Some people say that consciousness is the universe experiencing itself."

There are two things at work in the universe: matter and spirit. When spirit comes into contact with matter, the symptoms of life are manifested. Proteins and enzymes begin to act as little machines. Elements begin to organise into complex arrangements and assemble into still more and more complex arrangements.

The Lord is so powerful, and so intelligent, that by creating initial conditions, such as time and space with their intrinsic properties (dharma) that give rise to physics, then chemistry, then biology, he can create human beings. Now that is *real* lazy intelligence - parasya shaktir vividhaiva sruyate, jnana bala kriya ca. His multifarious energies are working automatically and material nature is producing all bodies - karya karana kartrve hetuh praktir ucyate.

Just like when Lord Varaha came from Lord Brahma's nose and looked like a little fly, and the sages wondered what he was, and then he grew to the form of a huge boar, similarly the universe comes out from the pores of Mahavishnu's body, then expands. Then a single-celled organism assembles, then complexity increases until a human being is assembled, self aware and ready to inquire into absolute truth: athato brahma jijnasa. Having experienced billions of births in every conceivable species, tasting all different experiences of life, finally he is ready to receive information of the world beyond the veil of maya.

Complexity in the universe increases against the law of entropy through contact with spirit, the organising intelligence. As my spirit is the organising intelligence of this particular body, the Supreme spirit is the organising intelligence of the universal body. Who is so intelligent that simply by creating the initial conditions, billions of years later all this will be apparent? That's real finesse. [Conway's Game of Life is a small demonstration of how this works]

Our scientific explorations reveal more and more the depths of the glory of God.

After the cupcake drop-off we loaded our people into three two cars and one minivan and made the trip out to St. Augustine. The weather was fair. Could have been warmer but it was in the 70's so I can't really complain. It is February, after all. While the air was balmy, it was also sandy!

1970 February 24: "I have full sanction for this marriage and you can perform the ceremony on my behalf. Under your care they will be trained as good husband and wife, and following your example, be happy in this life."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 February 24: "Krishna is there in your heart and the more you surrender to Him, the more He takes charge, and seeing your sincerity, He will give you all facility for increasing your service more and more."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1971 February 24: "We want to influence these misguided college students. And if we can establish a seat here these students may take their doctorate degree in Krishna Consciousness and go out and preach all over the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 February 24: "Go on in this way and spend your whole time preaching and engaging others to hear and become themselves engaged in Krishna's service, that will cure you of all misgivings and miserable conditions."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 February 24: "I have heard the Nobel Institute is in Sweden. Why don't you present them our books? Find out what to do so we can win the Nobel Prize."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1967 February 24: "Today I have sent you the first installment of Narada Bhakti Sutras. Please let me know how you like it. Here there is no typewriter nor any typist. Therefore you have to type the tapes there is no other alternative."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1966 February 24: "Today one young man, Mr. Robert, came from downtown. The Samkirtan record was played. He liked it. Letter from Captain Pandya received. The plumber did not turn up. No expenditure. Income $1.00."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

Here's what Typealyzer, a personality test that analyses a blog, had to say about atmayogi.com's author:

The logical and analytical type. They are especially attuned to difficult creative and intellectual challenges and always look for something more complex to dig into. They are great at finding subtle connections between things and imagine far-reaching implications.

They enjoy working with complex things using a lot of concepts and imaginative models of reality. Since they are not very good at seeing and understanding the needs of other people, they might come across as arrogant, impatient and insensitive to people that need some time to understand what they are talking about.

Submit your blog URL to http://typealyzer.com and post the results to participate in the meme!

Toronto, Ontario

Lorna is my daily nurse. She does the house calls. She comes to see me daily to change my I.V. bag, adjusts its needle and changes the batteries for the device. She also takes my blood pressure. After checking she said, "You're as fit as a teenager." When poking into a vein she noted the blood runs profusely and was having a hard time catching its trail as it took her by surprise.
"It's for pilgrimage sake - meeting people, encouraging each other and growing internally." I said,
"Is it like that Santiago walk in Spain where people go, they walk and come back a different person?" asked Lorna.
"Yes," I said, "the same idea. These long pilgrimages impact your life to the point of transformation."
With job done today, Lorna left the building, the temple where I stay, carrying a colourful garland of fresh flowers from the deity of Krishna. Each day Lorna leaves the temple with her curiosity satisfied in a small new dose. She rather likes the vibes of the temple . When she pulls off the adhesive tape that fixates the intravenous tube to the arm she expects a scream of agony. Not once has she heard the four letter swear word like from many of her patients. I mentioned to her, "I'm a monk. Here we learn to control our tongue." She was relieved.

This past weekend, devotees at ISKCON Toronto got a flavour of what it must be like to chant, dance and joyfully take part in the annual festivals which HH Indradyumna Swami is famous for!  Like a spiritual tornado, Indradyumna Swami and HG Sri Prahlad das flew into Toronto and brought amazing kirtan, electric discourses and an atmosphere of jubilance!

Sometimes we are accused that we're escaping labor, we are parasites, we are dependent on the society. We are not dependent on the society; we are dependent on Krsna. Yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg. 9.22]. Krsna is supplying us this nice building, nice food, nice opportunity. Not only one -- we have got hundreds of buildings like that, without any labor. We are not working like these laborers. Just see. I went to your country with forty rupees, and now I have got forty crores of worth, property. So I did not work like them. (laughs) Yes. The people are bringing money. Krsna is sending money, daily one to five lakhs of rupees. So this is Krsna consciousness. Why one should work? Nayam deho deha-bhajam nrloke kastan kaman arhate vid-bhujam ye [SB 5.5.1]. Vid-bhujam, the stool-eaters, they will work hard. Human life is not meant for... Take Krsna's shelter. Krsna will supply everything.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.16 -- Mayapur, February 23, 1976

In a recent discussion somebody posed an interesting question: "How can you be sure of the integrity and antiquity of the Bhagavad-gita? Could it not be a man-made scripture?"

From historical linguistics we can tell that ancient Sanskrit texts are very old. We know they are not man-made by the subtleties and nuances of the conversations and descriptions. It would be impossible to cover such large topics, in great detail over many many books, and still remain consistent and comprehensible. It just wouldn't be possible according to the capacity of the human brain.

But that still doesn't prove much. The ultimate proof is in the spiritual science the Gita outlines. There is a certain hypothesis about life, a process by which one can directly perceive such truths... and hopefully an observation where one actually experiences it. Whereas some spiritual paths seem to culminate in faith - the Gita starts with faith, and then moves onto higher dimensional science.