by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 10, 2009 04:06 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 10, 2009 04:05 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 10, 2009 04:04 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 10, 2009 04:03 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 10, 2009 03:56 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 10, 2009 03:45 PM
We just had another weekend Gita workshop in Rio de Janeiro.
We celebrated the successful completion of our first full series of Gita workshops. We had nine weekend workshops in all - two chapters each, one chapter on the Saturday, the other on the Sunday, with a workshop every two months or so - the first happening in July 2007.
The good news is that we’re starting a new series in April! Also, the group at the last workshop was the biggest yet (only 11 people, but still!). Only one person did all nine workshops, and she has already signed up to do them again! Another person did 8 of them, and two did 7.
And here is our newest student, Bhakta Theo:
His mother started participating back in the 3rd workshop and her husband, Theo´s father, started participating in the 5th.
On Friday I’m off to Porto Alegre to do the second in the series (chapters 3 and 4) there.
“This is the mission of this Krsna consciousness movement. We simply have to voluntarily undergo some penance in the beginning. It may be a little painful in the beginning to refrain from illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling, but one has to be tolerant. To be cured of a disease, we may have to agree to undergo some surgical operation. Although the operation may be very painful, we have to tolerate it. This is called titiksavah.
“At the same time, we have to be karunikah — that is, we have to take compassion upon fallen souls by going from town to town to enlighten others in Krsna consciousness. This is a sadhu’s duty. Those who are preachers are superior to those who go to the Himalayas to meditate. It is good to go to the Himalayas to meditate for one’s personal benefit, but those who undergo many difficulties in order to preach are superior. They are actually fighting for Krsna’s sake, and they are certainly more compassionate. Those sadhus who leave Vrndavana to go fight in the world, to spread Krsna consciousness, are superior sadhus.”
TLK Vs 24
Reflection: “Christian asceticism does not provide a flight from the world, a refuge from stress and the distractions of manifold wickedness. It enables us to enter into the confusion of the world bearing something of the light of Truth in our hearts,and capable of exercising something of the mysterious, transforming power of the Cross, of love and sacrifice.”
Thomas Merton, Seasons of Celebration, p. 132
Reading from the Bible: “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on
the lamp stand so that those who enter may see the light.”
Luke 11:33 [NRSV]
Prayer: “Dislodge the darkness in our hearts. Let the light of your Holy Presence within us shine forth through us to our neighbors.”
Posted in Thomas Merton
Mukunda Goswami wrote:
Regardless, biological texts worldwide, generally refer to randomness as the cause for the existence of today's complex universe and its varieties of life.
This is an interesting conflation of biology and metaphysics that allows an atheist agenda to hijack evolutionary theory, and that interestingly, devotees seem to have difficulty discerning, although the Catholic Church has picked up on it.
The "cause of the universe" is not a biological question. It's not even a physics question. It's a metaphysical question.
Professor Richard Dawkins, known as "Darwin's Bulldog" and perhaps the most vociferous contemporary proponent of evolutionary theory, agrees.
In a video I watched of him the other day he made this exact point: biology has its unifying theory in evolution - physics on the other hand, does not. How do we get a universe that can support evolution? That's the metaphysical question. Dawkins mentioned the infinite universes theory as the the leading proposal, but it has no experimental support, and so far no planned experiments that can prove or falsify it. As such, Dawkins did not mention it as a doctrine, but rather as the leading in a field of so-far purely speculative hypotheses.
American scientist Carl Sagan once famously said that "to make an apple pie from scratch you have to start by making the universe".
It's not necessary to attack the idea of infinite universes on empirical grounds, for in reality it has no empirical grounds to support it; rather the question to pose is: "Why is such a metaphysical claim conflated with the empirical theory of evolution?"
The two are quite distinct.
Here is an exchange that I had today with Gauranga Kishore:
GK: Darwinism is a theory of the origin of species that is specifically non-theistic, it posits random mutation and natural selection as the two mechanism responsible for the creation of living organism.
[My note: non-theistic and atheistic are two different things. The statement above is correct. Evolutionary theory makes no claim about the origin of the universe, and is thus non-theistic. When someone asserts that there is no God, which is not scientifically provable, it becomes an atheistic dogma]
SP:The universe is deterministic and infinite complexity arises from the massive repeated interaction of simple principles. Chaos is just massive complexity. "Random" is a word used to describe it, but it's just a word.
The question is this: where does the stochastic system come from?
Is it self-manifested, or does it have a cause? If it is self-manifested then Darwinian evolution has no cause, which is the atheist's metaphysical definition of "random".
Otherwise, Darwinian evolution is indirectly caused by the direct cause of the universe.
According to Vedic metaphysics the Param Brahma is the direct cause of the cosmic manifestation, therefore He is the indirect cause of Darwinian evolution.
GK: I agree that Darwinism is, in theory, science and not metaphysics, but in practice it has become metaphysics.
In this context random took on the metaphysical connotation of atheism, the randomness of Darwinian evolution was contrasted with the idea that we were created by God.
If God created the world, with certain laws, with the intention of it ultimately producing conscious living organisms, then it is innapropriate to use the word random. And in that sense we don't have Darwinian evolution.
I don't think the intention of random in this context has to do with scientific determinism.
SP: And here we get to the crux of the matter.
The real argument is not against Darwin's empirical explanation, it's against extended metaphysical claims made using this as support.
In other words, we're not against evolution, we're against atheistic evolution - and evolution is not intrinsically atheistic.
My contention is that evolution became atheistic because the church allowed it to, or even forced it to - on several fronts.
1. By trying to fight on empirical ground, asserting the creation model of the Bible as their empirical explanation. This was something that was bound to fail, because empirically it's weak. As is the Bhagavatam version. Neither contains dinosaurs or epochs with different forms of bodies. Evolution does. A counter-explanation has to account for these things.
2. By trying to control society politically and viewing science as a threat to that control. Just as Buddha rejected the Veda in order to depose the corrupted brahmanas and effect a social revolution, science was the philosophical system that was used to throw off the stranglehold of the Catholic Church, which propped up the feudal system. This was replaced by today's liberal democracy, which is based on similar principles to the scientific method.
Religion gets into trouble when it is wedded to a) a particular empirical model b) a particular political structure.
If the empirical model is disproved or superseded, or the political structure becomes corrupted, then religion gets kicked out along with it.
I think that it's important to recognise the valid progress of science and liberal democracy, and point out it's failings, or excesses.
Darwinian evolution is an elegant explanation. It may be wrong, but it should be treated scientifically. As an empirical explanation we should look for areas where it can explain things and make testable predications, and look for evidence that can falsify or modify it.
If you attack it on empirical grounds, or even attack the scientific method itself, don't be surprised when the counter attack takes the form of a metaphysical counter-offensive.
Acknowledging it within its bounds helps keep it within its bounds, and it is this exceeding of bounds (linking it with unscientific metaphysical assumptions) that is the real crux of the matter.
It's not meant to be a doctrine, it's meant to be a working hypothesis. I prefer to keep it scientific and stop it from escalating into a Holy War.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I prefer to talk about Darwin's theory of evolution, or evolutionary theory. "Darwinism" seems to be a code word for evolutionary theory + an atheistic metaphysical belief system.
Happy to deal with them separately, each on its own merits.
Today is a holiday called Gaura Purnima. It celebrates the appearance day (birthday) of the founder of the Sankirtana movement, Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
The Sankirtana movement is what most folks would call the “Hare Krishnas.” But the Hare Krishnas are one of many branches of this tree. Sankirtana literally means “group chanting.” 500 or so years ago, Caitanya Mahaprabhu took religion from the so-called higher classes and distributed it to the masses. He and His followers took to the streets with a mantra that has become known the world over:
Before Mahaprabhu, there were practitioners of this faith, but never on such a grand and public scale. His followers were from all walks of life and from different religions. He did not discriminate, love of God is for everyone.
From the days when He started this tradition to the present, devotees of the Gaudia-Vaisnava philosophy regard Caitanya Mahaprabhu as an incarnation of Krishna, God.
Though He traveled widely and spoke countless times to the public, He only wrote eight verses, called Siksastakam. Here in these eight short stanzas one can find everything needed for the perfect spiritual life.
Of these eight, it is said that the path to true love of God runs through one very in particular. If all of Mahaprabhu’s instructions were to be summarized into one verse, the third verse would be it.
Being humble like a blade of grass,
being more tolerant than a tree,
expecting no admiration
yet showing others veneration,
one should glorify Hari [God] constantly.
I first heard this verse soon after discovering that being a Gaudia Vaisnava was for me. It was the one verse that I kept in mind, always trying my best to live up to this high standard. Of course, I failed miserably for the longest time, but, thanks to age and a better understanding of just what kind of a role humility and tolerance play in spiritual life, I’m slowly getting better.
Each spiritual path has teachings that are meant solely for that specific spiritual path, Gaudia Vaisnavism is no different. But this verse can be taken by anyone who is even a little serious about spiritual life. It will help the neophyte just as it will help the wise old sage.
A few years ago, Tripurari Swami wrote a book called Siksastakam of Sri Caitanya. He takes each verse and breaks it down from the most basic, universal meaning to the esoteric. For a deeper study of the Siksastakam, I strongly recommend this book.
Happy Gaura Purnima!
Dear devotees and friends,
Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The GBC meetings finished on the 23rd, and I had a couple of days “free” before the Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama began on the 28th. One day I went with some disciples to Lord Caitanya’s birthplace up the road from our Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, and then to Srivasa Angan, where Lord Caitanya would have kirtanas for the whole night when He began the sankirtana movement.
On the 26th we went with a group of Russian devotees to Ekacakra, the birthplace of Lord Nityananda. Caitanya Bhagavata describes how an old man told Mother Jahnava, Lord Nityananda’s main wife, about the Lord’s childhood:
“Harai Pandita was very happy when he heard that His wife Parvati was pregnant. She gave birth to a beautiful child on an auspicious day and the religious minded ladies of the village came to see the child and bless Him. Each gave a different opinion of the child. One woman questioned whether the child was actually a boy or a doll made of golden butter. Another woman commented that she had never seen a child who could cool both the eyes and the heart. Every day a crowd gathered at the house of Harai Ojha and for the well being of His son Harai Ojha would distribute money to needy people and perform other types of charitable activities. Harai Ojha’s son grew like the waxing moon and remained the center of pleasure for His parents. His mother
loved Him so much that she never put Him down from her lap. At the time of His name giving ceremony someone suggested the name Rama and someone else suggested the name Nityananda for the child. When he was old enough to crawl on the ground people spontaneously called Him Nitai and wanted to hold Him
on their laps. People were enchanted by His sweet smile and His tiny teeth which looked like drops of milk. Nityananda became the centre of life for the people of Ekachakra.
“The old man continued to tell His story to Jahnava Isvari and her associates. He said that one day he felt disturbed for some reason so he went to the house of Harai simply to see Nitai. When he took the child in
His lap, all His miseries seemed to vanish. Harai Pandita’s affection for His son was boundless and he would never go anywhere far from the child. Once he went to the house of a Yajamana but returned immediately to His home to check on Nityananda. His mother used to smear the dust of tumeric on His body to brighten His complexion but the tumeric seemed dull next to Nityananda’s own golden color. She smeared scented oil on His head to cool it but His body was cooler and sweeter than the oil itself. After giving Him a bath His mother would dry Him with a soft piece of cloth. Then she would dress Him in silk and advise Him to play in the house.”
Such were some of the childhood activities of Lord Nityananda.
When Lord Caitanya appeared, Lord Nityananda was already about 12 years old, and understanding that His friend had at last appeared, Lord Nityananda roared with delight. Caitanya Bhagavata describes: “Some people speculated, ‘It must be a thunderclap.’ Others thought it was the sound of some impending disaster. Still others said, ‘We know the reason for this sound. Lord Nityananda, the Lord of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, is roaring in ecstasy.’”
But then shortly after that, when Lord Nityananda was still 12, He left home, and everyone in Ekacakra became devastated. Caitanya Bhagavata describes:
“The residents of Ekachakra regularly visited the house of Harai Pandita to console him and his wife. Three months had passed but Harai and Parvati had not taken a bit of food. They had grown mad by continuous crying and calling out the name of Nityananda. Villagers would offer them food but the thought of sustaining their lives simply increased their misery.
“In his madness Harai would call out to Nitai requesting Him to come and sit on his lap for he had not seen Him in such a long time. Other times he would call Nitai to accompany him to the tank for a bath. Then he would call his son to walk in front as they walked in the field inspecting the ripeness of the rice plants. Then he would call Nitai to accompany him to the market to buy new clothes and other things. He would call his son to come and eat the prasad of Visnu, telling Him that His mother was waiting. Or he would ask Nitai to take part in a debate on Sastra with other students of the Pandita. Occasionally he would call his wife in great excitement to come and see that Nityananda was coming down the road. The sannyasi Thakura had kindly returned their son.
“In this way the parents of Nityananda passed their day until the time of their death. After their disappearance the friends of Nityananda left Ekachakra and the villagers also moved to other places without telling anyone where they were going. Across the river a Yavana had built a village in his own name and a small population had developed there. In the passing of time, Ekachakra had become simply ruins.
“The old brahmana continued to tell Jahnava Isvari and the Vaisnavas that only he and a few other men remained in Ekachakra because of the memory of Nityananda. Although he was old and he could not walk properly, he would nevertheless leave his home each day and wander the streets and fields of Ekachakra to visit the places where Nityananda used to play. Just in the shadow of his peepal tree Nityananda and His friends would eat and play.
“‘Providence is cruel for I have lived this long life with only my memories of Nityandanda. I simply hoped that one day I would see Him again but, alas, he has never returned to Ekchakra. I simply pray to be reborn in Ekchakra life after life on the hope of seeing my Nityananda. And at the end of each life let me simply call the name of Nitai Cand.’”
Srila Vrindavana das Thakura glorifies Lord Nityananda and Lord Caitanya: “All glories to Sri Nityananda, the primeval Lord and first manifestation of Sri Caitanya, it is only by His causeless mercy that the glorious pastimes of Sri Caitanya manifest within one’s heart.
“By the grace of Sri Gauracandra, one can become lovingly attached to Sri Nityananda. All obstacles and misfortunes in life are then extirpated as soon as the truth about Sri Nityananda becomes revealed within one’s heart.
“Those who desire to overcome the material whirlpool and drown in the nectarine ocean of devotional service should worship Sri Nitaicandra.
“Many praise My Lord saying, ‘Lord Nityananda is like Lord Balarama.’ While others say, ‘He is most dear to Lord Caitanya.’
“I hear various opinions about Him-that He is a sannyasi, or a humble devotee, or an erudite Vedic scholar. People may say whatever is their desire and conjecture without inhibition, stopping at nothing. Some may even go to the extent of saying that His connection with Lord Caitanya is not intimate-that He is just a menial servant. None of this affects me at all. I simply pray that His lotus feet remain impressed upon my heart eternally.
“After repeated attempts to invoke good judgment in all people, if some sinful lot continues to criticize My Lord, then I will kick them on their heads to save them from imminent disaster.
“Those persons, who misinterpret the playful remarks of Advaita Acarya Prabhu to Sri Nityananda as criticism, should realize that those remarks were actually shaded glorifications of My Lord.
“All the Vaisnava associates of Lord Caitanya are eternally liberated and enlightened souls. What is sometimes wrongly understood to be disturbing arguments or abusive language used between them is actually one of the ways they express their deep love for each other and is part of their pastimes.
“An ordinary person is therefore discouraged from taking sides in such a mock fight, for if he criticizes any one of the parties, he then places himself in a most precarious position.
“One who follows Sri Nityananda without being critical of Him becomes steadfast in his spiritual practices and will certainly attain the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya.
“I intensely yearn for the day when I will see my Lords, Sri Nityananda Prabhu and Sri Caitanya, surrounded by all their devotees. Lord Nityananda is my absolute master. By taking shelter of His lotus feet and His
instructions, let me serve and worship Lord Caitanya. I greatly desire to study the Srimad Bhagavatam in the presence of Sri Nityananda-svarupa, birth after birth. This is my humble submission eternally.
“All glories to the Supreme Lord, Sri Caitanya! You are fully independent to act as You wish. You can give me the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda, or You can separate me from them. Therefore, I pray that You-My dear Lord, Sri Caitanya-will mercifully grant that my whole heart and soul will eternally remain fixed at Your lotus feet and at the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda.
“O Lord Caitanya, Sri Nitaicandra is devoted exclusively to You, so no one can attain His shelter without Your blessings.”
Hoping this meets you well.
Your servant,
Bhakti Caitanya Swami
PS I will write a report about the Navadvipa Parikrama in a few days.
Mayapur is busier than ever before with enthusiastic devotees from all over the world eagerly waiting to celebrate the 523rd appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. On this Gaura Purnima day, there will be 523 lamps offering for the pleasure of the Lord. The lamps offering will be performed during the arati time after the Maha abhisheka. To make this offering complete, still more lamps are available for sponsorship. Come forward and celebrate this glorious moment of Lord’s appearance by offering a lamp. You can also sponsor kalash/ conch for bathing the Lordships.
***Update - 10:00pm - 03/10/09 - The temple was not able to secure free parking at the underground parking lot on Pears Ave. Devotees are are encouraged to find legal parking on the surrounding streets. However if street parking is unavailable, please feel free to park at the Pears Ave lot, at a cost of $5, and provide your receipt to the temple reception desk for reimbursement. 
Hundreds of devotees from all over the world, amongst them were HH Chandra Mauli Swami , MahaVisnu Swami and several Senior devotees, gathered on Saturday, 7th of March in front of Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s Chandradoya temple at 4 pm, well equipped with towels and sun hats, to celebrate together the “Gangapuja”. They all carried an earthen water pot to collect Gangawater for the bathing ceremony on Gaura purnima. A traditional Indian music band headed the procession, followed by Sri Sri Gaura Nitai deities, Sastra Prabhu’s joyful Harinama party and the heavy palanquin with the small yet majestic deity of Jagatguru Srila Prabhupada’ under an pompous umbrella.
by noreply@blogger.com (Dasanudas) at March 10, 2009 09:28 AM
Bhagavata-sparsa is a new three-month course offered to you under the direction of Sri Gopiparanadhana Prabhu by the Srimad-Bhagavata Vidyapitham, an educational project set up by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
The course is designed to
By Ananda Tirtha dasThanks 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!
We would like to introduce you to our new web blog, where we can regularly share new pictures and updates with you. In this way you can remain connected to our Harinama and Food For Life activities in Mayapur wherever you are, and also show your friends something about our program here.
We’re 3700 pilgrims on board the train of bliss; we are walking, chanting and dancing, island by island, through Ganges Delta, for seven days, recreating pastimes of Lord Caitanya. Navadvipa, nine transcendental islands, which are the root of all holy places.
In his book "God The Evidence," author Patrick Glynn poses an argument introduced by ISKCON's Sadaputa dasa more than a quarter of century ago.
There is a "random" theory of how the universe and its life came into existence. That new-Darwinian theory is based on chance.
The festive bonfire; the smearing of dyes; the spraying of colored water; the joyful faces of all – these memories flash through any Indian mind, when reminded of Holi, one of the most important of all Indian festivals.
Gaura Purnima in London! Such good quality you'll think you're there! Devotees worldwide are welcome to celebrate Gaura Purnima with Iskcon London devotees and take darsana of Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara & Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.
By Bhaktin SueMayapur Worldwide with the Krishna Conscious Society have launched their first “9 Island University Tour “for Gaura Purnima. The tour starts on 28th July until 3rd August 2009.
The departure of a Vaishnava saint is a time of mixed feelings. As devotees, we are joyous that the pure devotee has returned back to home back to Godhead, joining the eternal lila of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as He spreads His sankirtan throughout the Universe.
Dear Rasa Rasika pr,
Pls. accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Shree Guru & Gauranga!
Today I noticed for what I think may be at least the 2nd time that my 9-yr old son was chanting in his sleep!
Once I was chanting with him and he fell asleep, all of a sudden I noticed his volume went down, he was chanting the Maha mantra softly a few times.
He has not been feeling well the last 3 days or so; he had fever for the last 2 days, so last night (just before falling asleep), after he said his, "Jaya" while I recited a few pranams, I told him to pray to Lord Narasimhadeva to get rid of his illness. Then this morning I woke up while he was softly saying the Maha mantra in his sleep!
Pls. bless him to be a dedicated follower of Srila Prabhupada.
So I am praying to also be like this everyday 24 hrs day - in sleep or while awake. "When oh when will that day be mine?"
Thanks for your time.
Your servant
by Rasa Rasika (noreply@blogger.com) at March 10, 2009 06:06 AM
Sports in Pakistan:
Gunmen in rickshaws attack cricket team
LAHORE, Pakistan – A team of heavily armed gunmen, some traveling in rickshaws, ambushed Sri Lanka’s national cricket team Tuesday as it arrived for a match, killing six police guards and wounding seven players. The brazen attack heightened fears that Pakistan is becoming increasingly unstable.
The assault bore striking similarities to last year’s three-day hostage drama in the Indian financial capital of Mumbai.
Working in pairs, the attackers in Lahore carried walkie-talkies and backpacks stuffed with water, dried fruit and other high-energy food — a sign they anticipated a protracted siege and may have been planning to take the players hostage.
The bus sped through the ambush, but the gunmen’s preparations indicated they may been planning to hijack the vehicle, Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told The Associated Press. None of the gunmen were killed and all apparently escaped into this teeming eastern city. (read more)
Sports in America:
Pirates sign Indian—not Cleveland—pitchers
PITTSBURGH (AP)—The Pittsburgh Pirates hope Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel really do have million-dollar arms.
The two 20-year-old pitchers, neither of whom had picked up a baseball until earlier this year, signed free-agent contracts Monday with the Pirates. They are believed to be the first athletes from India to sign professional baseball contracts outside their country.
Singh and Patel came to the United States six months ago after being the top finishers in an Indian reality TV show called the “Million Dollar Arm” that drew about 30,000 contestants. The show sought to find athletes who could throw strikes at 85 miles per hour or faster.
While neither pitcher threw hard enough to earn the $1 million prize, Singh made $100,000 from the contest and Patel made $2,500, plus his trip to the United States
The contest was sponsored by a California sports management company that believed it could locate major league-worthy arms in a country of more than 1 billion. After working extensively with Southern California pitching coach Tom House since May, the pitchers staged a tryout in Tempe, Ariz., on Nov. 6 that was attended by 30 major league scouts.
“The Pirates are committed to creatively adding talent to our organization,” Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said Monday. “By adding these two young men, the Pirates are pleased to not only add two prospects to our system but also hope to open a pathway to an untapped market. We are intrigued by Patel’s arm strength and Singh’s frame and potential.” (read more)
Posted in Sports
by Vrndavana Vinodini dd (noreply@blogger.com) at March 10, 2009 01:39 AM
Bhakta Prabhu is one the big Gaura-Nitai's pujaris. Here is a timely hint - from someone in the know - if you are buying birthday presents to offer with love and devotion:
by noreply@blogger.com (Devadeva Mirel) at March 10, 2009 12:16 AM
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Visakha -- Mexico City 6 June, 1972
>>> Ref. VedaBase => EK 5: Knowing Krsna's Energies
"Hello. My children will eat most raw vegetables and salads, but dislike nearly all meals that I make with cooked vegetables. Can you recommend any of your recipes that I can try to get them interested again? Thank you."
My reply:
"Thanks for your letter. Without knowing what the children like and your specific circumstances it is a little hard to exactly answer your question. But if you go to my website, and visit the RECIPES page, then scroll down, all the titles listed there are linked to a recipe.
I've selected some vegetable-based recipes from that list that I would strongly suggest you look at. Go to the recipe page, and click on any of these for some sure-fire kid-pleasing vegetable fun."
Assorted Crisp Vegetable Fritters (Pakoras) Barbecued Haloumi and Char-grilled Asparagus with Salsa Verde Barbecued Idaho Potatoes with Parsley Pesto Barbecued Pumpkin with Mango Salsa Barbecued Skewered Baby Okra with Sage Butter Barbecued White Sweet Potato with Fresh Corn Chutney Brussels Sprouts, Potatoes & Peas with Sour Cream Cauliflower and Potato Curry, North Indian-style Creamed Spinach with Fresh Curd Cheese (Palak Panir) Crusty North Indian Masala Potatoes with Cashews Eggplant & Panir Cheese in Spicy Tomato Glaze Green Curry of Vegetables & Fried Tofu Khichari (Melange of Seasonal Vegetables, Lentils and Basmati Rice) Mixed Vegetables in Creamy Gujarati-style Karhi Sauce Oven-roasted White Sweet Potato with Fresh Corn Chutney Panir Cheese Steaks with Salad Greens on Crusty Bread Pumpkin Soup Simple Carrot and Ginger Soup Succulent Gujarati Pumpkin Succulent Mixed Vegetable Balls in Herbed Tomato Sauce (Kofta) Sweet & Sour Dal Soup with Mixed Vegetables Tomato, Basil and Fresh Mozzarella Salad (Insalata Caprese) Vegetable Soup
Gopi Gita dasi singing a Hare Krishna bhajan. This was during the annual Temple President meeting in Houston.
Houston, TX
2009-01-18
by Rupa Schomaker (rupa@rupa.com) at March 09, 2009 07:45 PM
When you get right down to it, this is the heart of atheism. This is what all the arguments are about.
Dawkins striking a pose. He looks so cool and is just so smart, he's not afraid of death. He looks death in the face and says, "Don't worry God probably doesn't exist, so go ahead enjoy life." (note "enjoy life" is a euphemism for have as much sex as possible.)
by Gauranga Kishore Das (gaurangakishore@gmail.com) at March 09, 2009 05:50 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 09, 2009 04:03 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 09, 2009 04:02 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 09, 2009 04:02 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 09, 2009 04:02 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 09, 2009 04:01 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 09, 2009 04:01 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 09, 2009 04:01 PM
by letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) at March 09, 2009 04:00 PM
By Matsyavatara dasa
Sublimation is the art of transferring our impulses to a superior level. It can therefore be defined as the art of transformation of the psychological contents.
It is fundamental to apply our willpower on superior ideal levels because if such strength goes downward, the result will not lead us to achieving our projects of cultural, psychological and spiritual growth. Instead it will lead us to dissatisfaction and we will risk many incidents in our path.
The process of sublimation happens at the highest level through prayer and meditation. It could also be favored by the aesthetic experience. Think of music or dance that is expressed through the body, mimic and rhythm. They could seem like simple aesthetic exercises, but, through them, a kind of energy of negative and sometime destructive nature, deriving from rancor, violence, hostility, etc., can regenerate into ecological and positive energy if what we do is done as an offer to the Divine.
The art of raising our psychological energy to superior levels is of great beneficial value.
Through this art, the levels of individual egoism can gradually be overcome through increasingly better evolutionary levels. It can spread from a personal level to a family level, from a group level to one that is increasingly extended to the entire social structure, until we give priority to the wellbeing of all creatures of any species.
The expansion of benevolence toward all the living beings leads to a cosmic fraternity and to the rediscovery of God as an origin, seed and sustainment of the universe in all of its forms and life manifestations.
Every experience should be considered as a precious opportunity for better oneself without distinction between friends and enemies because every creature should look at itself as a fragment of God like he would be able to look at a turf of dirt and at a gold nugget with impartiality (Bhagavad-Gita VI.8). The psychological tradition of Bhakti offers theoretical and practical instruments to acquire this capability and attitude toward life, by reaching that high level of consciousness that allows us to face in a constructive-evolutionary way, any event, even the most painful one without being emotionally overcome.
Managing ones emotions is much more difficult than managing ones thoughts. On contrary of our thoughts, emotions are psychological impulses produced by the interaction of external and internal stimulus that do not pass through the rationale process. Therefore they are not mediated, not sufficiently controlled by the buddy (intellect). As a flood of a river, they overflow from our subconscious level to the exterior.
Often, ones comprehension of the importance of sublimation is blocked at a merely rationale-theoretical level, without a significant exercise dedicated to its realization with the result of a flow of emotions that becomes unstoppable from the subconscious which work in a opposite direction that the individual would like to pursue.
To overcome such inner discrepancies and realize substantial improvements of the personality we should operate at the deep psyche level through instruments of meditative visualization and active imagination and overcome the merely emotional-intellectual level by reactivating the consciousness of the Self and ascending to consciousness and spiritual vision.
by noreply@blogger.com (Anantadeva dasa) at March 09, 2009 02:27 PM
After visiting the temple of Jiyara-nṛsiḿha, the Lord proceeded further south into India and ultimately reached the bank of the Godāvarī. While on the bank of this river, the Lord remembered the Yamunā River in Vṛndāvana, and He considered the trees on the bank to be the forest of Vṛndāvana. Thus He was in ecstasy there. After taking a bath on the banks of the Godāvarī, the Lord sat near the bank and began chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare. While sitting and chanting, the Lord saw that the governor of the province, Śrī Rāmānanda Rāya, had reached the banks of the river accompanied by his associates, which included many brāhmaṇas. Previously the Lord had been asked by Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya to visit the great devotee Rāmānanda Rāya at Kabur. The Lord could understand that the man approaching the river bank was Rāmānanda Rāya, and He desired to see him immediately. However, because He was in the renounced order of life, He restrained Himself from going to see a political personage. Being a great devotee, Rāmānanda Rāya was attracted by the features of Lord Caitanya, who appeared as a sannyāsī, and he himself came to see the Lord. Upon reaching Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Rāmānanda Rāya prostrated himself and offered his obeisances and respects. Lord Caitanya received him by vibrating Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma Hare Hare."
Lord Chaitanya and Ramananda Raya - Chapter 27 - TLC
Gaura Yoga will be closed on Wednesday the 11th of March, 2009 due to a special celebration.
We're all going to die. Chant Hare Krishna.
So, we think we know it all, do we? We may have earned our Iskcon degrees, or may be senior devotees, and therefore do not have to hear from ‘less qualified’ or junior devotees when they give class.
The present global turmoil is indeed much worse than most anticipate and nations will fall in collapse as history is quickly re-written before our eyes, never to be the same ever again.
Get ready to rock and roll! Its one of the biggest Festivals at the Loft this Sunday March 15th! Hilarious drama: “A Fish Out of Water”, rockout beats, and an out-of-this-world Vegan Feast. Koha, starts at 4:45pm.
Tear drop beads give a nice ending as seen above in these chokers. Sri Sri Nitai Gaura-Hari is the object of these endeavors. I use satin ribbons to fasten around the neck. These are secured with a knot to the beadwork. Drops of glue is dotted on the knot for greater security.by noreply@blogger.com (Dasanudas) at March 09, 2009 07:29 AM
Dear Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Door to door in New Papatoetoe New Zealand brought me to the home of an elderly Indian fellow who was all too enthusiastic to see me. After presenting the books he quickly ran into another room and came back with 51 dollars cash and explained that this money was in the pocket of his brother's pants when he passed away some time ago. He was waiting for an opportunity to give it Krishna, so he eagerly gave it to me in exchange for some books. His friend, who was present during the conversation, was so moved by the exchange that she donated another 20 dollars, allowing them to take two Srimad Bhagavatams, two Bhagavad Gitas, two Isopanisads, one Searching for Vedic India, etc... even after I had left their home, she came back down the street with more money to buy some small books for her friends.
I was sharing a spot in Henderson with a christian busker who was singing songs on his guitar and preaching from the bible. We maintained a congenial relationship by not speaking to each other, and things were moving along smoothly in this way. At one point he called me over and asked, "Are you one of those monks?" I said, "Yes, sir. We're all out here preaching about the Lord." We shared a short conversation about being completely dependent on the Lord's mercy to spread His glories around. As it turned out, he was a very simple fellow and probably less envious than myself. He suddenly interrupted the conversation by asking, "Do you want some money?" I said, "Sure, chip in a few dollars!", expecting him to give some small change. He quickly pulled 20 dollars out his own wallet, gave it to me and said, "The Lord told me to give this to you." Unfortunately, he refused to take a book in exchange...
your servant, Yosodev das
Dear Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Door to door in New Papatoetoe New Zealand brought me to the home of an elderly Indian fellow who was all too enthusiastic to see me. After presenting the books he quickly ran into another room and came back with 51 dollars cash and explained that this money was in the pocket of his brother's pants when he passed away some time ago. He was waiting for an opportunity to give it Krishna, so he eagerly gave it to me in exchange for some books. His friend, who was present during the conversation, was so moved by the exchange that she donated another 20 dollars, allowing them to take two Srimad Bhagavatams, two Bhagavad Gitas, two Isopanisads, one Searching for Vedic India, etc... even after I had left their home, she came back down the street with more money to buy some small books for her friends.
I was sharing a spot in Henderson with a christian busker who was singing songs on his guitar and preaching from the bible. We maintained a congenial relationship by not speaking to each other, and things were moving along smoothly in this way. At one point he called me over and asked, "Are you one of those monks?" I said, "Yes, sir. We're all out here preaching about the Lord." We shared a short conversation about being completely dependent on the Lord's mercy to spread His glories around. As it turned out, he was a very simple fellow and probably less envious than myself. He suddenly interrupted the conversation by asking, "Do you want some money?" I said, "Sure, chip in a few dollars!", expecting him to give some small change. He quickly pulled 20 dollars out his own wallet, gave it to me and said, "The Lord told me to give this to you." Unfortunately, he refused to take a book in exchange...
your servant, Yosodev das
Random House Webster's give these as its first two definitions of the word unique:
I'd like to personally invite you to attend an important conference called "Building Bridges" to be held at the ISKCON of Washington DC temple from April 10th-12th, 2009. This conference focuses on the question: How can we best share the timeless wisdom of Krishna consciousness with increasingly diverse audiences? |
by Gaura-Nitai das (Eric Rush) (noreply@blogger.com) at March 09, 2009 06:09 AM
We are calling our new place the Gopa Cabana.
Our next housesit doesn’t start until June, so I found us this one-room schoolhouse to rent. The very charming German owners call the place a “cabana.” This (plus Barry Manilow and the Sanskrit word for “cowboy”) inspired the name.
We haven’t lived in one room together since we stayed at the Villager Lodge in Deerfield Beach back in 1996-97. A prostitute rented the room next door to us who used to shout, “I love you, Booby!” to her boyfriend.
We didn’t stay long.
Recently we’ve had the luxury of housesitting for friends with big houses, so we’ve had multiple rooms in which to avoid stepping on each other’s toes every seven or eight minutes. We value our space, man. We’re artists. We like to be left alone, and we expect the same.
Space management is now going to become a key issue, since there ain’t any.
As I write this, for example, we’re both typing away on our keyboards, in the same room. We might as well be in separate rooms, in one sense, but being actually physically separated by walls and doors and dozens of feet of intervening space sure makes intrusion more difficult.
In other words, I had better learn to mind my own business, or I’m going to drive us both nuts.
***
Speaking of space, I’ve always preferred sleeping in my own bed.
Practically the only time I remember my wife and I sleeping in the same bed was to keep from freezing to death during the ice storm (and total power outage) at Kutsher’s Kosher Country Club in Monticello, New York at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance in 2003.
By sleeping alone, I strive to guarantee a lack of disturbance caused by bumping into another person during the night, or being bumped into. I’m a light sleeper, and I like to throw my arms and legs around when I yawn, so if I’m too anxious about bumping into somebody, I won’t be able to sleep at all. And if I get bumped, forget it.
In college, I had a friend who was a girl, (though not my “girlfriend,” much as I would have liked) whom I would occasionally sleep with in her dorm room.
There was none of the usual business that goes on when boys and girls sleep together, though. We just listened to music until we fell asleep. Except I didn’t fall asleep.
I was too excited to get much sleep, being eighteen and in bed with the object of my attractions. (note: “excitement” does not guarantee “peace,” what to speak of “happiness.”)
Now that girl is practically the only memory I have from that college, except for student loans. Ah, the glories of coeducation—so conducive to the process of learning.
Anyway, better to train people in the art of brahmacharya. So much less anxiety. So much better your chances of getting a decent night’s sleep. BTW: Good night.
Gaura Purnima celebrations are less than 48 hours away and devotees at Toronto's Hare Krishna temple are preparing for an unforgettable Tuesday night festival! HH Bhaktimarga Swami, who will be attending Gaura Purnima festivities here for the first time in many years (he is normally in India at this time of year) will be pulling a very special treat from his bag of spiritual magic tricks.
by noreply@blogger.com (Devadeva Mirel) at March 09, 2009 01:15 AM
On Tuesday, March 10th, 2009, Toronto's Hare Krishna temple will be celebrating the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya in grand fashion! Lord Caitanya is none other than Lord Krishna Himself. 
Unfortunately, we encountered a glitch when recording our live broadcast of the Sunday Feast today and so we are unable to post a recording this week. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Saturday was spent at Govinda's in Darlinghurst. From the booking list it was looking like the smallest class ever, so Pratapana, the Main Man, persuaded me to cut my shopping list down by 60%. By class time, however, we had over 10 extra attendees, and the biggest class ever. The amazing thing was, there was ample lunch for all.
Peggy has scooped out a whole batch of anise-scented doughnuts with my all-time favourite scooper-thingy.
What better final resting place for all those doughnuts than a giant vat of fresh berries and Greek-style yogurt? Annie strikes a charming pose with spoon.
Seems like I've been here before. Same place, different time and a whole different crew. Cookery class number #3000 is looming. Is that what they call an "illustrious career?" Well, at least I've found my niche.
Sunday's class was a surprise. It was actually held beachside on the boardwalk adjoining Rose Bay harbour - my first ever outdoor class! That's Scott chopping the macadamias for the pesto.
Maxine, Jackie and Willow absorb themselves in mis-en-place as looming storm clouds rumble over Sydney Harbour. A few raindrops fell into my hot wok of frying oil (it was a vegan class) in the concluding moments of the afternoon session.
Soon after the class was over and I was safely home, those massive black rainclouds opened up over the eastern suburbs. In fact, Rose Bay was inundated for 5 hours, recording the highest rainfall in the whole of New South Wales. Cracker timing old chap, say what!
We are grateful that we have been given the good fortune of being involved in such a revolutionary movement. It is a movement with the soul purpose of distributing genuine compassion and care to all living entities.
Let's go the kirtan is beginning...
sri-krsna-caitanya-daya karaha vicara
vicara karite citte pabe camatkara
If you are indeed interested in logic and argument, kindly apply it to the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If you do so, you will find it to be strikingly wonderful.
Gauranitaidas.com
by Gaura-Nitai das (Eric Rush) (noreply@blogger.com) at March 08, 2009 09:15 PM
by Gaura-Nitai das (Eric Rush) (noreply@blogger.com) at March 08, 2009 09:12 PM
PURPORT By the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, even an inexperienced boy with no educational culture can be saved from the ocean of nescience, which is full of various types of philosophical doctrines that are like dangerous aquatic animals. The philosophy of the Buddha, the argumentative presentations of the jnanis, the yoga systems of Patanjali and Gautama, and the systems of philosophers like Kanada, Kapila and Dattatreya are dangerous creatures in the ocean of nescience. By the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu one can have real understanding of the essence of knowledge by avoiding these sectarian views and accepting the lotus feet of Krsna as the ultimate goal of life. Let us all worship Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for His gracious mercy to the conditioned souls.
Cc Adi 2.1
by Anuradha Keshavi (rt.kanna@gmail.com) at March 08, 2009 08:29 PM
Last updated:
Facebook Group
Get updates via
twitter
Subscribe via
rss
Powered by:
Subscribe via RSS:
![[RSS 2.0 Feed]](images/rss20.png){kind=small}
