Included are blogs on Holi as well as some shot You tube videos. We add more as they become availbable, so check back.

By Matsya Avatara Dasa

Re-sentment means, literally, to feel once again in a certain way. In such cases one remains trapped into psychic bubbles created in the past, making thus sense only in the past and having nothing more to do with the present. To feel resentment means, therefore, to go back to past events with our feelings. This is really a big mistake; if we act like this we will have no chance of success, as the only way to get some benefit from every experience is to become emotionally detached from anything that happened and to take care of the effects in our present time. The solution to our problems is to be looked for in the present; the past doesn't exist, apart from its effects today; the future is not yet manifested, so we can worry about that only in case it will turn into present. People usually live as prisoners of the past and at the same time they are projected in the future. Our ego likes to keep the past alive because in the past it keeps its false identity alive, but it also likes to run towards the future hoping to find some pleasure in order to survive (that's what the ego thinks). Generally people look at the present with the eyes of the past, or just as a means to conquer a future goal. Those who live in the present with the awareness that the only reality is their “here and now” are very few. Realized souls, instead, live in the present and visit the past and the future only to face necessary, practical aspects of their present life.

In the XVI century astronomy went through an amazing turning point known as Copernican Revolution (the solar system was conceived as theocentric and heliocentric); the comprehension that the present is the only reality could now represent another astonishing turning point. To remain prisoners of the past or to project ourselves in the future are both two ways of evasion, but those who act rightly today have no reasons to be worried about tomorrow. Due to a powerful psychic law, people who do good today, will probably do the same in the future, and those who do evil at present, will do so also in the future, unless they put into action their potential evolutional drive.

“When they say that someone is like this and someone else is like that, it has to be understood that one becomes of the nature of his own actions. Who does good becomes good, who does evil becomes evil; one becomes virtuous by a virtuous action and bad by a bad action” (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, IV.4.5).

Resentment is never good; not even when we feel it for real iniquities we have undergone. It prevents us to live well and sometimes looking for unfairnesses turns into a real dependence, for we become addicted to resentment and if there are no objective injustices we end up imagining some. This is the feature of an insane mind. A wise person sees an injustice (towards him/herself) and reduces it to zero by tolerating the offender's behaviour thanks to his/her mature understanding: those who commit an injustice do it pushed by strong conditionings and are therefore already damaged enough, so they don't need a further punishment.

When someone gets the habit to play the victim, it is rather simple for him to find the “evidence” of the injustice, or to convince himself that he was wronged, even when what happend was just an innocent, trivial circumstance. If resentment becomes usual, it inevitably takes to self-pity, one of the worst feelings one can feed: those who let themselves go to this kind of feeling spend all their energies trying to justify their lacks and defects, often blaming others for that. In this way they lose the chance to invest such energies to think positive, look for the solution and practically apply it to solve the problem.

There are people who feel good only when they think themselves wronged and we can suppose that this perverse mechanism is the root of the so called masochism. Resentment and self-pity, of course, go hand in hand with a negative image of ourselves: a victim created to feel unhappy. But resentment is not provoked by others, by events or circumstances; it is generated by our emotional answer to the situations. We have the power to choose the best answer, especially if we understand that resentment and self-pity always lead to defeat and unhappiness. Someone stuck in the feeling of resentment can't be confident, autonomous, able to guide his life and to become responsible for his own destiny. On the contrary, his life will be guided by others who will tell him what to do and the way he has to feel. And when he will meet a person who makes him happy, the moment it all will be over he will feel resentment.

If you think you deserve eternal gratitude, esteem or some kind of award, the time you don't get it you will be resentful. But resentment is just the way to failure: nobody owes you anything, you are the protagonist of your life, you only are responsible for your happiness and success. 

We are happy to announce a major upgrade to GauraVani.com! Based on data and statistics of our visitors, we’ve changed the design to offer the most popular content on the front page. Free Kirtan downloads, news and upcoming shows.

From humble beginnings we are growing slowly but surely. In the first quarter of 2009 GauraVani.com has had 19,000+ visits with 50,000+ page views (Source: Google Analytics). We host over 75 Gigabytes of free kirtan downloads and music and use an average of 1 Terabyte (1000 Gigabytes) of bandwidth per month. Since we allow hot-linking, or for other sites to link directly to downloads we host, the number of people that touched our servers in the first quarter of 2009 is 130,000+ with 475,000+ hits.

Each month our visitor rates grow at 9%.

Thank you for supporting us through this first year and a half. With your help we can spread the joys of kirtan far and wide.

Thanks to the inspiration of Soma prabhu, we are embarking on a very practical project that has long lasting benefits for our community – planting nut and fruit trees. Of course, over the years, devotees have planted apples, blueberries etc some of which are still around today.
Talking to Soma, who is a very gentle soft spoken devotee, I got turned on to the idea of planting trees, especially fruit and nut trees here at New Vrindavan. Soma has been planting paw paw trees ( a local fruit) for the last few years as well as some chestnut trees. So, when I heard about pecans, which are one of my favorite nuts, I got “nutspired”.
So, we have 10 chinese chestnut trees (I was told that these can live to be 1000 years), 10 chickapens and about 200 asparagus plants on the way. We are also expecting some Carpathian walnuts and northern pecans and an assortment of other berries.
WE NEED HELP to plant these trees. The best help is to volunteer physically with the planting. Other help that we could use is to buy fencing and other materials to protect the plants.

Imagine one day we could be offering nuts grown in New Vrindavan to the Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra!!! Pecans! Walnuts!

for more information or to volunteer to help, please contact  Madhava Gosh (gourdmad@ovnet.com), Soma , or Hari Bhakta (haribhakta@hotmail.com)

by Rasika Murari das

As per our agreement and commitment at the 3rd CD Ministry Convention in Taiping, two members of our Vision Team visited the Johor Bharu yatra, located some three-hundred km South of Kuala Lumpur, for a weekend seminar on congregational development.

The yatraleader, Giri Gopal Prabhu, a very enthusiastic and dynamic person, who attended the Taiping CD Ministry Convention, requested assistance on the subject of service attitude, etiquette, self development, and organizational structure for vertical and lateral growth of the yatra.

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In this material world everyone is looking for sweetness, for happiness. They want some joy, some thrill, some adventure. But even though there are so many varieties of pleasures to be tasted here, no one is getting permanent satisfaction. People sometimes get temporary satisfaction, but then they have to endure suffering again waiting for the time...

BY ANANDA TIRTHA DAS MAYAPUR, INDIA - After the three-day session on strategic planning and the team-building day, February 19-21 saw a return to regular meeting mode. The 19th was largely devoted to straw voting and final voting on previously-discussed topics, such as Resolution 311 of last year and the appointment of Devakinandan Das as Minister [...]

by Bhaktin Kyra

If your eyes led you to this, you’ll be reading about my new adventures or discoveries of sorts as a baby devotee living in the dham. My point of view… I do not feel qualified to share this with you but see it as a service by doing so.

Since the weather has been nicer (I lived on a tropical beach for 4 years, HATE the cold!!!) I was able to go to the Goshala & check out how Krishna’s beautiful cows were doing & get the 411 on them — somethings always new with the cows — so I asked Vrinda to come along & share some of Krishna’s favorite pastimes with me.

We were welcomed with 5 cows coming from the hills expecting Jaya Prabhupada to feed them some oats, it was about that time. Surabhi, Punya, Ganga, Kamadhenu, Gauri & Tulasi strolled in.

Vrinda showed me where the feed is kept in the wintertime & we fed them about 3 metal buckets full of oats.

Godavari is a HUGE black & white pregnant cow and due to give birth anyday. Tulasi has been pregnant since December. Bhakta Patrick from Chicago was staying in New V then, milking & caring for the cows was part of his many outdoor services. I remember him in DETAIL telling me the story about how the previous evening he was waiting for the veterinarian to come and upon his arrival he placed his ENTIRE hand into the cow to impregnate her.

Apparently there is a 12 hour window from when the cow shows or “says” shes “ready” to make some babies, that’s when they call the vet (or I suppose if we had a bull, he’d be roped in to perform his “daddy Duties”).

Cows give milk for a good 2 years after giving birth, the 1st 3-4 days the milk is ONLY given to the baby.

The cow with the largest MILKAGE??? (whadda-ya want from me, these terms arent generally used in Brooklyn…) is Gauri, she gives 20 lbs in the morning & 20 Lbs in the evening. Punja gives 12 lbs total per day.

The amount of milk given from the birth of the baby decreases by 1/2 in one year.

This past Wednesday the 3rd cow, Surabhi, was inseminated. So we’re going to have a lot of calves around the dham & a whole lot of milk. Some of which will be used by Mother Dhara to make Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra their delicious burfies.

Malati devi dasi: Resident Temple President / Manager for large established North American rural project. Must be Brahmin initiated, following principles and willing to commit to visible sadhana, able to inspire and convince others about KC-devotional service as well as manage in challenging circumstances on occasion.

Malati devi dasi: The following is a description of the character who cheated a gurukuli couple in Alachua by so called "selling" them a house that he did not own...although he presented himself as the owner.

By Drdha Vrata das

I remember Harish being so helpful to us western boys, showing us how to wash our clothes, keep clean and maintain sadhana. Physically strong as a bull, he would be often do the toughest of the chores, with a challenging smile on his face.

March 27, 2009 marked a very special day. It was the day that Radha Madan Mohan were installed in a new temple in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. At the moment only the temple and a few other structures have been built but the vision is to have a cultural and education centre.

It was packed, noisy, exciting and full of anticipation. It's not everyday that deities are installed. It's the day that Krsna is officially asked to please enter his arca vigraha form and after that he is fully present. What made the day even more special was that the Safari devotees got to witness the abhishek and the gurukulis led a rockin' kirtan!

After the abhishek was an appreciation ceremony in a huge pandal, followed by the first aarti offered to their Lordships. It was crazy! Devotees were so excited to get a better glimpse of the Lord that it became complete mayhem. Although it got a bit too much for some, it was amazing to see that despite the craziness the majority of devotees didn't take any offense or get upset but just accepted the fact that everyone was so eager to see the Lord. The aarti was then followed by a yummy prasadam feast served out to hundreds!

The secondary rules are of three types: rules regarding self; rules regarding society; rules regarding the afterlife. Rules regarding the self are of two categories: those for the body and those for the mind. Those rules to keep a person's body properly nourished so that they can remain healthy are the bodily rules. Such things as regulated drinking, eating, sleeping, exercise, and for sickness, prescriptions for cure, are bodily rules.

If people do not follow these rules, they cannot pass through life smoothly. If they do not follow the mental rules, their power of realization, concentration, imagination, contemplation and judgment will be weak and will not properly function. There will be no advancement in arts and sciences, and moreover one will not be able to take the mind from material thoughts and direct it to thoughts of God. As a result, sinful thoughts and atheistic attitude will dominate the mind; finally a person will become no better than a beast. Therefore these bodily and mental rules are very necessary for success in human life.

- Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Caitanya Siksamrta

The fourth verse of Upadesamrita,

"dadati pratigrhnati, guhyam akhyati prcchati, bhunkte bhojayate caiva, sad-vidham priti-laksanam

(Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one's mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasada and offering prasada are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another)"

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If leader is servant, then why so many leaders behave like a master?

By Michael Pappas, M.Div. Executive Director of the San Francisco Interfaith Council

In fact, the lines between our deliberations and the spiritual life of the ISKCON community seemed blurred most of the time. Some of the participants in the Young Leaders Program donned the dress of Krishna devotees and curious devotees were often spotted sitting in on Global Assembly workshops and cultural events. It did not take long to assimilate to the rhythm of the enthusiastic Krishna chant, accompanied by cymbals, drums and an accordion-like instrument, that could be heard morning, noon and night at ISKCON.

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2009 02 07 Nityananda Mahaprabhu megjelenési napja Kirtan

Here is a link to an article in the Salt Lake Tribune. It includes a multi media show on the event.

We are traveling all over the world simply for the purpose of helping others to become happy. By focusing our lives in this way, our own personal happiness is guaranteed. The entire world is suffering due to a lack of Krishna consciousness, and by the grace of the great saintly teachers of the past we have the formula by which anyone and everyone can...

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your weekend was blessed and wish you a coming week full of nice realisations with chanting and in your devotional service.
Here at home things have been nice the kids who I usually chant with are now helping to take care of the Deities - there are 2 Sundays we are bathing the Lordships of Gaura Nitai and Advaita, who has been more commited, helped today. Actually he prepared the yogurt, milk, honey and also the garlands for the Deities and picked nice clothing for Them. He collected jasmine for the garlands and prepared nice ones, they were smelling so good that the whole house was with it's scent. I was responsible to cook nice samosas to the offering and I did so, in the end we all appreciated nice caranamrta from the Deities and could observe how nicely dressed They were.
I told Advaita that everytime he helped with the Deities it was important to chant before Them after and we are doing this together. Everytime we offer some incense, flowers or bhoga we chant....we make the holy names as an offering to Them and usually pray so we can be freed from offenses. The mood of Lord Caitanya is to be completely absorbed in chanting and today I heard about the Lord chanting to the animals and getting them to chant. It's amazing how Sri Krsna Caitanya can bring us this mood of eternal service, I will add here some verses to describe Sri Gauranga's unlimited qualities:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu forever nourishes His eternal associates such as Svarupa Damodara, He is very dear to Advaita Acarya and the object of Srivasa Pandita’s surrender. He honoured and respected Paramananda Puri. He is known as Hari, because He takes away the ignorance of the material existence and delivers the conditioned souls who are suffering from the threefold miseries. He is always eager to shower His mercy on King Prataparudra, the King of Orissa. When will Sri Caitanyadeva become again visible on the path of my eyes?
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is forever maddened by relishing the mellows of devotional service. His captivating form is more splendrous than the sweet, enchanting radiance of millions of Kamadevas. He is the crest-jewel of the sannyasis. His garments display the effulgence of the rising sun and His bodily complexion defeats the splendor of molten gold. When will Sri Caitanyadeva become again visible on the path of my eyes?
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is walking on the beach and upon seeing the beautiful gardens, which line the shores of the ocean of Jagannatha Puri, He remembers Vrindavana and becomes completely overwhelmed by ecstatic love for Sri Krishna. He is the supreme relisher of prema-bhakti and His tongue thus sings incessantly the names of Krishna. When will Sri Caitanyadeva become again visible on the path of my eyes?

Sri Chaitanyastakam

Hope you week is completely blessed by the essence of the holy names which you may be absorbed and feel the purifying effects through attentive chanting.

your servant,

Aruna dd

Elkészült a Bombay news 6. száma.

Ebben a részben Murlidhara prabhu tanácsadói gyűlésébe tekinthettek be.

A magyar bhakták közül pedig Guruttama prabhu osztja meg veletek a tapasztalatait.

In Pennsylvania the strawberries came in end of April/beginning of May and hung around just long enough for the June sun to shed a little sunlight on them. Florida, on the other hand, has months of strawberries, which makes the jam making process more enjoyable. If Pennsylvania was a strawberry jam sprint, Florida is a a meandering stroll. One week jam, one week off, another week more berries to boil. No hurries. No worries. Plenty of time to linger.

This weekend I lingered over a few pots of strawberry jam. All of the jam I made was super low in sugar--only 15%. And due to the size of my business (very very small) and difficulties getting natural evaporated cane juice, Sabjimata has officially switched to organic evaporated cane juice.

My favorite batches this weekend were the pots of Strawberry Basil Conserve. Because these jams are officially too low in sugar to legally be labeled as jam, you have my guarantee that this stuff is full of the sweetness of fresh strawberries and the earthy herbal warmth of basil. And yes, this combination may strike some as odd. And yes, it may remind you a bit of strawberry pizza. But if you have an Italian bone in your body (or an attraction to Italian bones) this jam will certainly put the ba-da in your bing.

That's not to say that the Strawberry Vanilla Bean Conserve lacks any attention. Again, low sugar and high fruit equals big yum in a jam jar. Madagascar vanilla bean added in abundance gives this jam strong accents of pure vanilla flavor. Extra-long Madagascar vanilla beans, which have been on the vine the longest--allowing for the deepest vanilla flavor to develop, were scraped and the pods and beans added to the boiling berries. Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, right behind saffron (Sabjimata's favorite flavor). There is no skimping on this jam. Fresh Florida berries, organic evaporated cane juice and lots and lots of real natural vanilla beans speckle this jam.

Both flavors are available in 9.5 ounce and 4 ounce jars from the Sabjimata Store. More strawberry fun is on its way. The season ends in June so please check the store or blog regularly to see what new combinations manifest from the pots of Sabjimata.

1974 March 29: "India has gone from dependence to independence, but factually the situation has deteriorated from bad to worse. This is due to imperfect leaders."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1961 March 29: "You know that I am a Sannyasi without any relation with Bank neither I am attached with financing institution. But the Japanese organizers want me to be present there."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1966 March 29:
"Navami. Today I went to see the loft of Mr. Paul. I do not know if Lord Chaitanya wants me to change my present place just to facilitate my missionary work. I do not mind my loss for the typewriter and tape recorder if I am given the facility of my missionary work."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 March 29: "You practice chanting, husband and wife together, and Krishna may send some friends. We have to create the atmosphere of Krishna Consciousness, and thus create devotees also."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 March 29: "Father and Mother should be offered proper respect but you cannot accept their non-Godly instructions. Try to keep our friendship with everyone in the world, but we cannot sacrifice our principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1974 March 29: "Everyone has to accept a particular leader and follow his instructions. But because the leaders are all fools and rascals, the ultimate result is disappointment."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1970 March 29: "The path of Krsna Consciousness is compared to a sharpened razor blade. If you carefully manipulate it, the blade helps by clean shaving; but a little inattention causes a bloody cheek."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 March 29: "Caitanya Mahaprabhu was selling the transcendental commodity in exchange for eagerness. If people simply become faithful, that will be the price for our transcendental commodity, Hare Krsna Mantra."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

March 29, 3:30 A.M.

A disturbing night. I woke with a nightmare at 9:38 P.M. and had a twinge behind my right eye. I ignored it and went back to sleep, but at 11:30, I woke, and the twinge was still there. So I took a medication. I woke with a clear head at 3:30 A.M. with a nightmare. I tried to recall the nightmare, but I couldn’t remember it except that it was about my sister again. I skipped the Bhagavad-gita recitation and hurried through. I began japa at 4:04 A.M.

4:40 A.M.

Early-morning japa log

I’ve only chanted four rounds, but I want to write something before Baladeva comes up. The japa is a chore at the beginning, but soon that feeling is overcome, and you’re sailing into stringing the mantras together effortlessly. They’re slow for the first couple of rounds by the stopwatch, but then fast. I averaged under six minutes per round. My mind stayed focused on the mechanical act of hearing the syllables, not daydreaming or roaming over other subjects. But I was rushing too much. Neither did I think of Radha and Krishna in a natural way. Today I folded Srimati Radharani’s shawl over Her hand so that She would not be guarding Her face from Krishna’s sight. Dattatreya remarked yesterday that She was being shy and was hiding Her face from Krishna, so I’ve adjusted that. Her face is now visible to His.

I chanted at a whisper. I do not have a headache yet. My headaches come as if on a time clock every twenty-four hours in the early morning, unless it comes more frequently, like last night, when it came in the middle of the night. Nevertheless, I derive deep satisfaction from this opening japa session. It’s a real sense of accomplishment, even though it’s not suddha-nama.

7:44 A.M.

It looks like we’re going to follow the doctor’s instructions not to travel for six months. Baladeva is elated about it. He drew a picture outlining his hand, with five fingers, and added another hand with a “thumb’s up.” Six digits. At the top of the page, he wrote, “I’ll see you in September,” and on the palm of the hand, he wrote, “Six big ones, baby.” At the bottom of the page, he wrote, “Happy days are here again.” I’m not sure I feel that euphoric about it, but it does seem to be the best resolution to deal with this tumbling crisis of three headaches a day.

Chic Boom

Celebrate Chicago with

Cecil Payne old man

rocking with his band.

The band plays well together

then he plays alone, hoarse

voice, stumbling a little but

surefooted, just stepping heavily, lightly. We like to

hear him.

He’s like an animal crying

like a human through a horn

decades of experience and

gobs of talent make

his solo a rhythmic treat

for Chicago listeners—

they applaud.

A trumpet comes in waffling

and trippingly, like a

Shakespearean actor who

speaks his lines like

music. Rapid

while Cecil sits it out,

his boys play for him.

More applause. Young tenor

with modulated voice and

plenty of energy to bounce

to balance out the aged Payne.

Bobbedy-boobededy-boo,

he grinds many riffs and

arpeggios and turns and

melodies all pressed together

in youthful spirit.

The pianist, we’ve heard, has only

one good hand, but he plays

as if he had two, and you

hear nothing’s missing as

he clumps and fingers—

a bit of “Moanin’” passes

through, and he’s into

other phases

in quick order.

This ode to Chicago is rousing.

It’s a band who knows how

to take its turn and let

the soloists stretch, the

audience in high appreciation

at the Jazz Showcase.

Everyone’s quiet while the

bassist walks his own,

punctuated by a click of

the drummer and the tinkle

of the piano.

then all together, chic-boom,

happy experience. Could have lasted longer and we’d

be happy with it but

they know just when to quit.

Status Seeking

This is a mystery band,

Eric Dolphy and Booker Little

ahead of their time.

The famous bass clarinet

of Dolphy, unique in jazz,

like a porpoise diving

and surfacing. He cries,

Etheridge Knight said, like

Knight’s little sister cried when

the older brother was getting

a beating by dad.

He plays out of his skin.

didn’t live long they say

because he played too hard,

always practicing, even

in the kitchen during the

break. Trying to reach

the hidden notes, trying

to reach.

Mal Waldron on piano

is fast and repetitious, he

casts a spell. You want

to go back and hear it again.

He’s a master of the

driving move.

Mal Waldron in command

and everyone listens as

he takes over the room

and plays ringingly on

a good piano, the echo

hangs in the air. He

drives a hundred miles an hour.

Booker Little, like Dolphy,

died young, in his twenties,

left a legacy of good

music on recorded disks,

could have lived to mature

even further.

Like The Flight of the

Bumblebee, that fast

But with superior music,

he calls out to someone

perhaps aware of his

short life.

After a long, tumultuous

drum solo, they’re

back together again,

the flighty Booker,

the crying Dolphy.

A dark, quick-moving

bass solo keeps the tune

and not a melody,

the others wait it through

and then keep burning on

with the head. Little and Dolphy

together bring us to the end.

We’ve been together thirteen minutes

but it seems quicker than that.

9:41 A.M.

Wasted time reading a news magazine. But you want to keep abreast of the suffering in the world. I want to write now, but I’ve just incurred a headache. I’d like to read the book I wrote in 2000 and make some comments on it, but I can’t. I’d like to read seriously in The Nectar of Devotion, but I can’t. I’d like to write something sastric, but with my own conviction, a refreshing outlook, but I can’t. I can say we are having angel hair spaghetti and fresh homemade bread and asparagus for lunch. On our morning walk, a young man wearing only a T-shirt and jeans greeted us as he exited his pickup truck: “How are you doing, fellas?” We greeted him back. He was accompanied by a pretty girl in tight jeans. When we passed by him on our second lap, he smiled broadly and said, “How are you doing, fellas? Are you okay?” Once was enough. I said we were doing “pretty good.” I somehow got the impression he was being condescending and cocky, showing off that he had a girlfriend whom he was making out with, whereas we were just two old farts. Was I being envious? But his attempt to play Radha and Krishna is abominable, according to Vedic scriptures. Then I thought of the Bhagavad-gita excerpt from the other day, that God is in everyone’s heart, and everyone is His servant. So even if he is acting wrongly at present, he’s still part and parcel of Krishna. I should have told him something about Krishna.

I ought to be lying back in my chair, but I want to write. Barack Obama is starting to get blamed for the economic crisis he inherited from the Bush administration. It will take him years for his good policies to reverse the Great Recession. I hope he can do it and stay popular. I just remembered: I haven’t finished my minimum quota of japa rounds. Do I dare try chanting with a headache? I’m running out of morning time and not getting my writing quota done. They tell me I don’t have to write so many pages, but I want to do nine or ten if possible. So many explosive issues in the news. It’s not a happy place to live.

11:35 A.M.

In the book I wrote in 2000, I wrote about my weekly phone calls to Dr. Krohe, of Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. Sometimes I fibbed to him that I didn’t take meds. No good in that. He said, “If I’m only a C patient, it means he’s only a C doctor.” You talk about it. You’re worshiping Radha-Govinda and changing Their clothes daily, maybe even bathing them daily. Making all offerings to Them. Some actual devotion to the two beautiful brass arca-vigrahas of Radha and Krishna. Then writing quite a few poems, down the page they go in divided lines. Been preparing a lecture for days on the theme that we should associate with devotees but not nondevotees.

“I just finished painting. I like this life. When the mail comes, sometimes there’s a threat to get me out of here. I like to look out the skylight at the treetops to paint my wild dancers, to honor prasadam, worship the Deities, go twice a month to lecture in Dublin, to get free of a headache, to write here, to break the lines into poem form.

“The paintings can go out to people and give them a taste of Krishna consciousness. The writings too. Or maybe it won’t happen widely. But I have fun doing it. A serious process.”

I will be your best friend

left alone, I’ll tell

the world what I

see.

Your best friends are in

the sastra. This is not

a canned speech.

You know the night

and the day as I don’t.

I’m just a little monk

poet, he said.

I’m not afraid of

people. I’m rehearsing

for the final hour

but I’m not ready

to enter the spiritual world.

Sorry about that. It’s my

loss, not Krishna’s.

He has plenty to eat but

I need to give Him

my devotion.

It’s for Me, he says putram

puspam phalam toyam.

When will I learn to be

courageous, stand up to the

opposition?

I’m spacing out looking

out the window. Syamananda

says he wants to walk to

the top of the hill,

it takes two hours and

he’ll do it after he

says goodnight to me.

Sure, do it. I’ll be

looking for sleep and

dreams. I don’t feel

bad about that, just want

a little respite

from social complications, a little flute solo,

but not too much.

Nine years later, I am pretty much the same. No improvement in headaches. Like to live alone. Hope my few friends don’t desert me. I wrote that I was running low on gopi candan, and Upendra sent me a chunk in the mail. Kirtana-rasa sends me checks. Yadunandana Swami writes me often. Jaya Govinda phones me from Italy, talks briefly to stay in touch. These are affectionate dealings.

1:44 P.M.

My dear Lord Krishna...

When I write to You, I should ask for service. “All I want in my life is Your causeless devotional service, birth after birth.” I know what You want me to do. You want me to contribute to Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement—“Tell everyone you meet about Krishna.” Chant Hare Krishna. I have done it for many years. I still do it, mostly by writing.

And aside from making propaganda, I try to write to You personally, to get to know You. Of course, You will reveal Yourself to me by Your own sweet will, as You desire. If I act for You, You will be pleased with me and reveal Yourself in my heart. I contend that writing itself is an action to approach You. When I make a sincere, well-composed prayer, that is an act of devotion recognized by You. A prayer expresses Your glories, describes Your beauties, and praises Your devotees.

I cite Your glories by describing You as the Supreme Truth, the Supreme Person, the Cause of all causes. From Your original form emanates all the expansions of Godhead, all the individual spirit souls, and all the energies and manifestations of the material and spiritual worlds. Everything comes from You and is maintained by You.

A prayer expresses Your beauty by describing Your personal form, especially as appreciated by the gopis of Vrndavana. They see You as the conqueror of the beauty of Cupid. You are indeed the original Cupid. Your form attracts all the women in the universe and makes them give up their attention to their husbands or mundane paramours.

A prayer praises Your devotees because You can only be approached through them. Those who love You and distribute Your message are very dear to You. One who becomes dear to Your devotees becomes dear to You.

I am not qualified to make wonderful prayers (uttama sloka) because I do not know Your universal glories, I have not perceived Your personal beauty, and I do not render devotional service to Your devotees. My prayers are poor, broken offerings, made out of a personal need to express myself to You. I am a “wannabe” devotee. My desire to know You is “self-ish,” not broadminded. It is vertical (from me to You), not horizontal (from You to me—to others).

As I write this impromptu prayer to You, I am getting a headache and my thinking process is becoming disturbed. I want to close it out by saying something in favor of my writing to You, feeble as it may be. The fact that I write to You means i want to reach You and to behold You. And if You want me to serve You, then I want to serve You. I am not a warrior. I am not a poet. I am not a scholar. Am I a devotee? That You will judge. You will ask my spiritual master, and he will tell You. If I am to make it as a devotee, writing to You will have to be included. It is a virtue, of a kind. I pray to You that my writing and my other services may improve. Let my heart broaden to include love of others. Let my writing become a true prayer by a true devotee. This I ask You, even as I am forced to end this present prayer.

sdgonline.org: the yellow submarine, my bhajana kutir #25 →

1968 March 29: "You practice chanting, husband and wife together, and Krishna may send some friends. We have to create the atmosphere of Krishna Consciousness, and thus create devotees also."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 March 29: "The path of Krsna Consciousness is compared to a sharpened razor blade. If you carefully manipulate it, the blade helps by clean shaving; but a little inattention causes a bloody cheek."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1974 March 29: "Everyone has to accept a particular leader and follow his instructions. But because the leaders are all fools and rascals, the ultimate result is disappointment."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1961 March 29: "You know that I am a Sannyasi without any relation with Bank neither I am attached with financing institution. But the Japanese organizers want me to be present there."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1968 March 29: "Father and Mother should be offered proper respect but you cannot accept their non-Godly instructions. Try to keep our friendship with everyone in the world, but we cannot sacrifice our principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1966 March 29:
"Navami. Today I went to see the loft of Mr. Paul. I do not know if Lord Chaitanya wants me to change my present place just to facilitate my missionary work. I do not mind my loss for the typewriter and tape recorder if I am given the facility of my missionary work."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1970 March 29: "Caitanya Mahaprabhu was selling the transcendental commodity in exchange for eagerness. If people simply become faithful, that will be the price for our transcendental commodity, Hare Krsna Mantra."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1974 March 29: "India has gone from dependence to independence, but factually the situation has deteriorated from bad to worse. This is due to imperfect leaders."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1960 March 28: "The best thing is to hear the from the highest authority Sri Krishna or His devotee representative coming down in the chain of disciplic succession. I shall be very glad if you join my mission (The League of Devotees)."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1966 March 28:
"Astami. One letter received from Sri Teertha Maharaj. The state of the country is too much perplexing on account of food situation. It is understood that loss of life and property in Bengal is beyond imagination."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1967 March 28: "We must get possession of the house for Krishna's Temple or we must get back the money for Krishna's service. Forget the great loss. Work sincerely in Krishna Consciousness and everything will be in order."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

guru-mukha-padma-vakya, cittete kariya aikya, ara na kariha mane asa Narottama dasa Thakura advises everyone to stick to the principle of carrying out the orders of the spiritual master. One should not desire anything else. If the regulative principles ordered by the spiritual master are followed rigidly, the mind will gradually be trained to desire nothing but the service of Krsna. Such training is the perfection of life.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 4.29.68

Sunday 29th March, 2009.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.7.21 - Bhakti-yoga is the most potent spiritual practice because it attracts the Lord.

Param Satya and Bronwyn doing their weekly Bible study

Every week Bronwyn, our local Jehovah's Witness, comes around and does a Bible study with Param.

This time I was taking lunch on the deck and listening to their conversation. Bronwyn asked Param: "How do we know that God's purpose for the universe will be realized?"

I think the answer that came out was something along the lines of: "Because of the multiple times that He says it will in the Bible."

My mind wandered along a different track, and then returned to the conversation as Param struggled with the phrase: "God purposed the universe to...", wanting to read "purposed" as "proposed".

"Purpose" is usually a noun. It means "the object toward which one strives or for which something exists; an aim or a goal" [dictionary].

However, it is also used as a verb. I'm familiar with this because it's a contemporary business neologism, where they turn nouns into verbs like it's a standard feature of English. We sometimes talk about "re-purposing content". This phrase means to take some content which is used for one end, and then reuse it for another.

I suggested that what was meant in this case was "intend", and Bronwyn made an important distinction.

When you intend for something it represents an imposition of will on a neutral situation. When you purpose a thing for something, you encode that intention into the thing itself.

Thus God's purpose for the universe will be achieved because there is no way it can not be achieved. It is encoded into the fabric of the universe itself.

Teleology and Dharma

In Sanskrit this is known as dharma. The purpose of fire is to be hot. This intrinsic quality of fire cannot be divorced from it. It cannot not be hot.

The idea that purpose, conscious intention, is encoded into things is known technically as teleology [wikipedia], and it arises from an understanding that consciousness is distinct from and precedes matter. For those who understand consciousness as an emergent property of matter (I have another post on this), teleology is an illusion.

As a digression - I've lost the link now, but a recent study shows that even non-religious and atheist persons frequently ascribe teleological attributes to the environment. For example, they agree with a statement such as "ozone exists to protect the Earth from UV radiation"

For the committed atheist there is no purpose encoded into anything above the level of human (sub) creation, because purpose implies consciousness, and encoding purpose into matter such as natural phenomena means that consciousness precedes matter.

When religious people object to the description of evolution as being driven by "random events", this is actually what they are objecting to.

The teleological implications of evolutionary theory

In its broadest sense, the general theory of evolutionary makes these assertions:

• The different species of life on Earth develop at different times. They are not all present initially
• The different species of life develop by natural processes that do not require suspension of the laws of nature as we can perceive and understand them

The exact mechanism of the "natural processes" is a detail which is still under investigation. That's why Modern Genetic Synthesis and Punctuated Equilibrium do not represent a refutation of general evolutionary theory, but rather a refinement of the same core tenets.

Somehow, however, a metaphysical assertion has become associated with evolutionary theory - that purpose is missing from this process. If consciousness precedes matter then any natural process has a purpose - "God purposed the universe", as Bronwyn would put it.

Evolutionary theory has become strongly linked with an atheist dismissal of teleology however.

Here are some thoughts on why.

The implications of general evolutionary theory for Christianity

On Saturday, as I washed the floor before our evening program, I listened to an audio book of Bertrand Russell's Science and Religion [google books].

In the chapter entitled Evolution he nicely spelled out the implications of general evolutionary theory for Christianity. It represents the latest in a string of scientific challenges to the empirical model of the scriptures, beginning with the Copernican revolution.

Christianity's empirical model has (had) or was hard linked to the following tenets:

• The Earth is flat
• The Earth is at the center of the universe
• The universe consists of the Earth and the Sun
• The world was created in six days
• All the existing species were created by God in a special event, fully formed as they are now

Scientific discoveries have challenged these empirical tenets one after another. This has challenged the underlying claim to teleology of Christianity.

Christianity's metaphysical model has the following tenets which made it particularly hard, if not impossible, to reconcile with the narrative of the general theory of evolution:

• Only human beings have souls
• Human beings are at the center of the universe - the universe exists for them

The following questions, difficult for teleology, arise from this:

If it turns out that the human body is "evolved" from a non-human body, at what point does it gain a soul?

If there are no humans on Earth (if not the only planet, the only inhabited one) for long periods of history, then what is the point of its existence for those billions of years?

How Vedic metaphysics differ from Christianity's

Vedic metaphysics make a clear distinction between the living entity (the "conscious experiencer of the body", or ksetra-jña) and the body ("that which is experienced", or ksetra) [Bg. 13.2].

Thus, all life forms are a combination of two things - a body produced by the material nature (apara-prakrti), and a consciousness (para-prakrti) that experiences this body [Bg. 7.4-5].

Human beings do not have the same unique, privileged position that they occupy in Christian philosophy.

In Bhagavad-gita (7.5) Krishna states:

"'Besides these inferior energies, which are material, there is another energy, a spiritual energy, and this is the living being, O mighty-armed one. The entire material world is sustained by the living entities.'

[This is the translation from the present edition of Caitanya-caritamrita (Madhya-lila 6.165) and more closely resembles the translation in the first edition of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. The word dharyate (here translated "sustaining", while rendered as "exploiting" in the 2nd ed. of Bhagavad-gita As It Is) comes from the word dhrt, which gives us Gadadhara - "one who holds a club", Dhrtarastra - "one who holds on to the kingdom", and dharma - "that which sustains". See dharyate]

The purpose of the universe is to provide a field of experience for the living entities. They sustain the universe by providing it with its purpose. Life means "the conscious experience of the physical universe". There are millions of different forms of life to provide the living entities with a multitude of experiences.

The human form of life does retain uniqueness among all other forms of life. It is a junction point between pure physical existence and awareness of the spiritual nature of the self. In the human form the living entity has the ability and opportunity to become "self-realized" - to become first aware of their spiritual nature in a theoretical sense, and then directly cognizant of it through experience ("pratyaksavagamam" - Bg. 9.2).

Conclusion

The idea of a gradual manifestation of different species of life on Earth, and the idea that human beings are not always present on Earth do not pose the same threat to the teleology of Vedic metaphysics that they pose to Christian metaphysics.

That's not to say that human beings were not present on the Earth millions of years ago. Empirically we may well discover that they were, in which case we will need a new explanation of the mechanism by which material nature produces the species of life, or a revision of the history of the Earth and its interaction with extra-terrestrial visitors.

But the point remains: the general theory of evolution does not lead to the dismissal of teleology ("purpose") for the Vedic metaphysical model as it does for Christianity.

For Vedantists evolution's "random" processes indicate a stochastic system [wikipedia] - an extremely complex one with (humanly) unpredictable outcomes over long periods of time.

For historical Christianity it's a much scarier scenario - that same word "random" for them necessarily means devoid of any purpose.

---

some animals, has allowed us to deny their suffering or to rationalize killing them for food as their subservient role on the planet.Second, supporting agribusiness — which is responsible for three-fourths of the nitrous oxide emissions and two-thirds of the methane gas in our atmosphere, and the killing of animals — contributes more to global warming and toxicity in our environment than any other human activity.

Third, and many people know this by now, meat is not good for humans. We can get our protein elsewhere and our B vitamins from supplements.

Finally, the happiness of animals matters. Denying our instinct — the voice that tells us this when we eat animals, when we hear about how they are raised and mistreated — is unhealthy for us.

Masson does not hold back here; he is hard even on organic food proponents like Barbara Kingsolver, whose book “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life” included sections on animal slaughter that Masson found offensively cavalier. He depends, in his own life, on the Buddhist concept of “ahimsa,” or nonviolence, and the effort to live without causing harm.

Masson began his public life as a Sanskrit scholar. After reading Freud’s letters on child sexual abuse, he wrote extensively about Freudian psychoanalysis. In the past two decades, he has written several books on the emotional lives of animals: elephants, farm animals, cats and dogs.

He grew up in Los Angeles, the son of two vegetarians, and moved in and out of vegetarianism. He has been vegan for many years and offers his own experience (including what he eats on an average day) here.

“The Face on Your Plate” is one of many books by scholars, scientists, fiction writers, animal-rights activists, environmentalists and journalists (Kingsolver, Michael Pollan, Peter Singer, Theo Colborn, Alice Waters, Jane Goodall, Marion Nestle, Carl Honore and Eric Schlosser, to name a few) written in the past few years that implore readers to consider and reimagine how what they eat affects not just their own health but the health of the Earth.

Each has a different slant — eat local, buy organic, and so forth. Masson’s aim is a life with a purpose; his interests follow a powerful trajectory that has led him here, bringing everything to bear on the certainty that eating meat is cruel and immoral.

He’s not mincing words.

TITLE: “The Face on Your Plate: The Truth About Food”

AUTHOR: Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

PUBLISHER: W.W. Norton

PRICE: $24.95 PAGES: 288

Taken From: http://www.mercurynews.com/books/ci_12002474

Tagged: books, Masson, vegan

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope you have had a nice week of chanting and that you have been inspired by Krsna's mercy to develop a relationship with Him through japa.
Today I have listened to my Gurudev's lecture talking about prayers, since the topic of our Japa Room session is related to that....the verse he was reading was the SB 8.5.25 which talks about the prayers Lord Brahma offers to Krsna even though he had not seen the Supreme Lord. The prayers offered by Lord Brahma are very beautiful and made in a very humble state of mind, which is the main mood of prayer.
There are 2 kinds of prayer...Stuti is the one which are the verses from the Vedic literature from great authorities. The other one is Stava which is our own prayer, coming from the heart.
According to Srila Prabhupada our prayers need to come with a deep feeling and humility....first by glorifying the Lord, then stating ourselves in a disqualified position and finally begging for mercy. In the song from Narotama Das Thakur - Sri Krsna Chaitanya Prabhu we can see this mood:

"My dear Lord, please be merciful to me, because who can be more merciful than Your Lordship within these three worlds."

The mood of surrender, humility and an open heart must be in the prayer when we want to call Krsnas attention.
Another beautiful prayer from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is the following from Kabe Ha'be Bolo (2)

"Considering myself lower than a blade of grass, bringing the quality of forbearance into my heart, showing respect to all, myself being freed from all false pride-when will I taste the essence of the liquid nectar of the holy names..."

It's ok to use the prayers of other Acharyas to inspire our mood and practice the right way of addressing the Lord, through praying with our heart is also important so our relationship with the Lord is created and we can start seeing His will in our lives.
When I pray I feel like telling the Lord all my weaknesses and begging for mercy, I am doing this every day to the Deities and even when I am not at home, I am praying on my mind when I see some situations that need to be fixed.
Being grateful is also very valuable, so we can recognize how Krsna is already taking good care of us and we sometimes don't see it. When we are grateful our hearts become softer and the tendency of complaining decreases....bringing a feeling of surrender - that everything Krsna sends to us being good or bad, there is a lesson behind - so we should be happy and grateful that we are being tested and are able to overcome all obstacles by Krsna's grace. Hope I could contribute to your prayer this week.

May your weekend be blessed and you are able to develop a deeper relationship with Krsna through prayer.

your servant and friend,

Aruna dd

Mukunda Datta das singing a Hare Krishna bhajan.

Dallas, TX
2008-03-05

Download: 2009-03-05 - 4 - Noon Bhajans - Mukunda Datta das - Hare Krishna.mp3

How easy is it to chant the holy names? Do we take it forgranted? The importance of the recitation of the holy names emphasized by this most quoted verse: harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha [Adi 17.21] “In this age of quarrel and hypocrisy the only means of deliverance is chanting the [...]

As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master. SB 4.28.47 It has been some time since I’ve written this simply is as most of my [...]

A few days ago my husband went up to DC...and returned with a cooler full of Yuan Fu--my favorite kosher vegan food from the DC metro area (the restaurant is actually located in Rockville, Maryland). Sometimes I wonder why we didn't just move to DC so that we could eat regularly at this onion and garlic free Chinese place. Having grown up Jewish, I can say without hesitation that (American ) Chinese food is definitely my favorite cuisine! And then I go on Realtor.com and see that despite the dip in real estate prices, we would still only be able to buy a place 2 hours away--minimum. Turns out its cheaper to drive up to DC and get take out once in a while.

The Gita Comparisons posts will return next week at their regularly scheduled time. For now, enjoy this little nugget of wackiness!

I don’t read Sampradaya Sun very much. Maybe once a week, maybe less. I’ll glance at it here and there. So it was surprising when I noticed that my blog was getting a lot of hits from the Sampradaya Sun site. I didn’t post there, never have. The folks who rant at the SS seem to rant about the same things over and over and over and never get anywhere and it gets amazingly dull.

Anyway, yesterday some fellow named Janmastami dasa posted a mini-rant about me, proving once and for all that the Sampradaya Sun’s editorial policy is a very loose “anything goes” kind of policy.

Apparently, he took issue with my post questioning Srila Prabhupada’s use of “lower birth.” You can read what I wrote here.

Though possibly controversial, I thought my post was, at least, a fair question to ask. I explained my idea of “lower birth” and did take issue with Srila Prabhupada’s use of it in translating this verse. I wasn’t a jerk about it. I wasn’t offensive. I was merely questioning why he chose to do so.

And Janmastami answered (which is fine) on the Sampradaya Sun (which is sort of weird). I’m not really sure why he didn’t just comment here, since that seems the sensible thing to do. But as we’ll soon find out, “sensible” probably isn’t something he’s regularly accused of being.

He starts off with some wild ideas:

One of ISKCON’s current and more prolific bloggers is Bhakta Eric, who recently posted this alleged “spiritual knowledge”. Clearly, if the ISKCON he purports to speak for felt that he was misrepresenting the facts, they would admonish him rather than making him a contributing editor at the Planet ISKCON. If, however, the points that the powers that be want made are as volatile and politically incorrect as some now being brought up, it would behoove them to have a surrogate speak “the philosophy” vicariously for them.

First, while I am a current and prolific blogger, I’m not ISKCON’s blogger. Hell, most of my posts are about scooters and Godzilla. As far as I know, they have nothing to do with ISKCON. And why does he put “spiritual knowledge” in quotes like he’s quoting me? That’s weird. I never said that.

I’ve also never purported to speak for ISKCON. They’ve never asked me and I’m certainly not holding my breath waiting for that phone call. And while I don’t want to throw pipe bombs at ISKCON temples, you could hardly call me a company man. I’ve openly taken issue with MANY things ISKCON has done and is doing. I mean, ever read The Hing?

I’m also not an editor at Planet ISKCON. I’m actually surprised I’m still allowed to post there [thanks, btw]. I also don’t think ISKCON has the power to make people contributing editors to Planet ISKCON, though I’m not sure.

I do agree, however, that if ISKCON, unbeknownst to me, is using me as their spokesperson, they should probably find a surrogate.

His second paragraph was an incomplete sentence and a couple of quotes from my post, so I’ll not trouble you with it.

Then in his third:

We find accusations about the various errors he finds in Srila Prabhupada’s writings. One must be struck with wonder as to whom this bhakta aspires to seek initiation from. One who feels the need to issue his bhakta’s eye view of Srila Prabhupada’s mistakes, complete with his analysis and corrections, must surely find some of ISKCON’s “in good standing” gurus highly attractive.

I don’t think I was accusatory. And I never used the word “error,” but it’s cute how he tried to link me with those who say that Prabhupada’s books are filled with errors and must be changed.

And yes! One must be struck with wonder! This bhakta aspires to seek initiation from nobody. I’ve been a devotee for fifteen or so years and when Krishna sees fit to send me a guru, I will most assuredly accept. Maybe Janmastami has some suggestions? To be honest, I’ve not found anyone “highly attractive.” Sorry?

The magnitude of the deviation is obvious when some overly pampered bhakta has the audacity to criticise Srila Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta purports because the idiots that he has been reciting Gita with for his entire time in association with ISKCON have no real understanding or appreciation of the mass of information they almost have at their disposal. These are the times we find ourselves immersed in. Can the massive correction be far off?

I’m a little cloudy on “magnitude of the deviation.” And I’m not really sure what an “overly pampered bhakta” is. But while I don’t feel that I’m overly (or underly) pampered, I am a bhakta, and pretty happy about that. Bhakta means student, right? Actually it means “devotee,” but the connotation is on studying bhakti. And I am. But nobody feeds me peeled grapes or does my laundry for me.

I’ve also not been reciting Gita with anyone, really. I mean, sure, I do the weekly Gita comparison post and there’s some chit chat about it that I have really grown to love, but I’ve not really recited Gita with anyone since my days at New Vrndavana. Now that I think about it, that’s sort of a bummer. Hopefully when I find people to recite Gita with they’re not idiots, goodness!

I guess I am the times you find yourself immersed in. Ho-hum.

And what is this “massive correction?” He’s so cryptic!

So, that’s about it. Half the things he said meant something else and the other half didn’t mean anything at all. Sad, really.

Inspired by my readings of "Contemplative Prayer" and "Contemplation In A World Of Action" by Thomas Merton

Recently, whilst minding the wares at our Starving Students dinner program at 26 Second Avenue, I met a young gentleman who walked in a little disheveled, wanting to replace the Prabhupada Gita that had been taken away from him the other night by rough-and-tumble NYC cops giving him and his friends some trouble (and vice versa I might imagine)

In talking to this chap, I found out that he was a refugee of our post-modern mess, an otherwise bright, talented, and seeking young man who is choosing to live in Manhattan as a drifter rather than be forced to take on the drudgery of home, job, "ordinary" responsibility, etc.

In other words, he's taking a bold and probably unwise response to his total alienation from the societal situation in which he is forced to deal with one way or another. In Contemplation in a World of Action, Merton defines alienation as such:

"The term alienation is used of a human being who is systematically kept, or who allows himself to be kept, in a social situation in which he exists purely and simply for somebody else."

Or in other words, as Merton writes:

"To sum it all up in one word, our postulants come to us from a society in which man is alienated, in which he is systematically deprived of a serious identity, in which he cannot believe in his dignity, in which he has good reason to be profoundly skeptical of everything and everyone, and in which he tends to renounce all hope of experiencing himself as real and genuinely worthwhile. It is a society in which he has not much left to resign himself, with a sigh, to passivity with a can of beer in front of the TV."

Ah, I know that feeling all too well...so does my friend, with the difference being that I am taking shelter of a spiritual society, designed to cure one of all physical and metaphysical alienation, whilst my friend instead rides the waves of the concrete surf of the city and its motley inhabitants. I pray he may clean and sober up enough to deepen his sincere desire to associate with our community.

It is our duty to Prabhupada to improve upon our own spiritual society so that we can give real and meaningful shelter to such refugees of our times. In the ultimate sense, we gotta serve somebody, or as we understand, we must exist "purely and simply for somebody else", with this somebody else being the sweet, Supreme Persona of Govinda.

The alienated man of our times shuns himself from such a binding relationship with the other, suffering grandly and minutely from the perverted reflection of this divine dependence. Merton writes on this account:

"The alienated man cannot love. He has nothing to give. Nothing is his. The lover is able to give himself completely to another precisely because he is his own to give. He is not alienated. He has an identity. He knows what is his to surrender. The alienated man has no chance to surrender. He has simply been taken over by total control."

A full and heart-felt spiritual society, in Prabhupada's mold, must have the courage and intelligence to bring these refugees into the fold, let them realize their true identity through the fullness of the devotional mood, so that they can give their most natural gift, themselves, willingly and with full love and knowledge.

Merton, of course, is speaking from a monastic and Christian perspective, but his realization is so deep as to hit to the very simple essence, beyond all externals and lifting them up, in our desperate need to build real community. He writes:

"The monastic life today stands over against the world with a mission to affirm not only the message of salvation but also those most basic human values which the world most desperately needs to regain: personal integrity, inner peace, authenticity, identity, inner depth, spiritual joy, the capacity to love, the capacity to enjoy God's creation and to give thanks"

And he concludes with:

"Our first task is to be fully human and to enable the youth of our time to find themselves and develop as men and as sons of God. There is no need for a community of religious robots without minds, without hearts, without ideas, and without faces. It is this mindless alienation that characterizes the world and life in the world...Spirituality today must be a personalistic...humanism that seeks and saves man's intimate truth, his personal identity, in order to consecrate it entirely to God."

March 28, 2:30 A.M.

The evening was calm, with no perceptible disturbance by dreams. I woke up at 2:30 A.M. with a clear head. I took a preventative medication. The Bhagavad-gita excerpt that caught my attention was Krishna’s statement that He is present as the Supersoul in the heart of the believer and the nonbeliever, like the mother who is neutral to all her children. Everyone, regardless of their physical body or mental disposition, is part and parcel of the Lord, a servant of Krishna. The true yogi sees this. He sees the soul in all beings. I like the broadmindedness of this nonsectarian view. I began my japa at 3:15 A.M.

Early-morning japa log

4:18 A.M.

I chanted more audibly. The result was that my rounds went very slowly. So I dropped to a whisper and gained speed. I kept my mind on the mantras without distractions. For brief periods, I went deeper than counting. I yearned to chant better. But I asked myself, “How to go deeper than just counting rounds?” I don’t have the answer.

I was afraid a headache might come, but I persisted in chanting rapidly, coming to average seven minutes per round. I had to bring my mind away from a “numbers game” and instead think of the persons Radha and Krishna. I recalled a conversation I had yesterday with Dattatreya about the relative characteristics of Radha and Krishna. D. portrays Krishna as cavalier in cheating the gopis, telling them He will return within a couple of days after He leaves for Mathura. He said Radharani would never leave Her girlfriends like that. But when Krishna turns His all-attractive charms on the gopis, they are helpless to abandon Him, and they simply wait helplessly in the hope of His return. Of course, there are many serious reasons why He had to stay away from Vrndavana. D.’s views are open and nondogmatic, and he makes hari-katha challenging and exciting. Chanting should not be a dull time to recite Their names without thinking of Their dynamic pastimes and Their attraction for one another.

Oh What a Night

Piano beginning with drum

kicking behind, then the group.

Oh what a night.

Romping nice, it came from

Krishna, special delivery

group music upbeat.

Tenor sax rumbling and rambling

remembering the good time they had.

He plays so nicely, it’s now.

Lee Morgan enters the same

way, flowing, squeezing out

the notes by pressing the valves

and throwing his head back.

I’m not doing this right.

You can’t write the sound of music

but you can recall the bop

and rock to it. But the

music’s in the air, not

on paper words.

You can state your appreciation,

say, “Piano chords,”

say, “They’re repeating the head,”

but you can’t be there, only

be happy to write and

attempt, a report of

the chorus.

A jolly crew, they love

to play and it seems they love

each other too.

I said it’s from Krishna, that much is true.

My Favorite Things

A flourish of a piano

incomprehensible intro

waiting for sense to

enter, oh, we’re waiting...

The things he likes

played soft in tenor

not like Trane’s famous soprano.

It’s a standard treatment

on the melody but to

improvise, he tremolos

and repeats a riff.

It becomes like the Trane

solo, snake charmer, lots

of notes, these are a few

of my favorite notes.

The dancing on the ceiling,

the delivery of sankirtana to the pretty lady

the no-hands-touching dancing,

the rhythm must be swinging.

He goes to flute, all subdued

I want to deliver it to you,

all the favorite things

you can bring to your favorite

persons, so they can hear

the music.

A little honky tonk

a little underachieved

but we will stay with you.

Here are apples and pears,

honey-seeking bears,

words for the sake of saying,

all your favorite melodies

in due time, rippling

sound up and down.

Sun Ra’s Arkestra is among them.

He wants to be a favorite

but it’s too ordinary and

sweet to stay out late

past curfew. These are

a few of his favorite things.

9:59 A.M.

It’s a rainy, cold, windy Saturday. Baladeva is suggested we attend a movie matinee at 2:00 P.M. of Slumdog Millionaire. It won eight Academy Awards. It features all East Indian actors and actresses, and it’s about a poverty-stricken man of Mumbai who becomes a millionaire. Hindus worship the demigods Ganesh and Siva for wealth, so maybe there’ll be some of that in it. I haven’t made up my mind if I want to go. It would be better to read The Nectar of Devotion and write my Krishna conscious prayer. I could also read some more of EJW 54 and visit the past. Because of the rain and a right-eye headache, we didn’t go to the beach this morning, and I only finished my rounds at 9:58 A.M.

One characteristic of an advanced devotee is that he does not waste his time. He doesn’t engage in frivolous activities. But Bala is advertising the movie as a good rainy Saturday outing for the family. He’s tempting me.

I had my weekly phone call with the doctor this morning. Because I’m averaging three headaches a day, he advised me not to travel for six months. He says I’m doing plenty by staying in the yellow submarine and writing a daily journal that’s printed on the website. I can handle the headaches better by staying at home. He also thinks I’ll eventually get less headaches that way.

At breakfast, Dattatreya read the Bhajana-rahasya where the Srimad-Bhagavatam section is quoted where Krishna abandons all the gopis, even Radharani, at the time of the rasa dance. D. says this shows Krishna’s irresponsible behavior toward His lovers by driving them crazy by His separation. The gopis are so attracted to Krishna’s beauty that whenever He appears again, they forget their sorrow and become amorously happy to see Him again. D. admitted that Krishna showed remorse for His causing the gopis grief by His disappearance. He asked them to forgive Him, and they did. We cannot make a judgment on Krishna’s behavior or criticize Him. If He says He disappeared from the gopis to increase their prema for Him, we have to accept that. His ways are inconceivable and not open to blasphemy by demeaning His moral behavior.

11:52 A.M.

In the book I wrote in spring 2000, I wrote a poem with these lines: “The others are/ tired of hearing/ your hypochrondriac/ soul.” I was experimenting with not taking abortive meds on certain days and just gutting it out. But writing a lot about it. Going to bed for the night at 5:00 P.M. Lying in bed just waiting during the day or getting restless and getting up and sitting in a chair. Couldn’t paint on non-med HA days. And I wrote this: “There is no contest in the spiritual world. The demons are banished. I say those dandelions look bright in the grass, too, and the leaves of the ash tree are happy and dancing on the branch ends. The wind is a bit noisy, but it’s sun-shiny. I don’t think I will die just yet. However, I am not getting any younger. The old men have gay eyes, said Yeats, and he didn’t mean queer but merry.” I roamed around my mind in the Wicklow flora and fauna and the Vedic scriptures and my hypochrondriac soul. I wrote about “wu-wei,” “doing nothing” as the Taoists describe. “Wu-wei” also means not playing any role.

1:07 P.M.

My dear Lord Krishna...

I have been reading the gopis’ reproachful words to You when they met You at Kuruksetra during a solar eclipse, after long separation. You met them in a solitary place and tried to console them. You told them that You were all-pervading and so there was never any separation between You and them. The gopis regarded these instructions as jnana-yoga and became angry with You for trying to instruct them in this way. They said jnana-yoga was suitable for those suffering in material existence, but they were not in material existence; they were simply suffering in separation from You. They called you a “simpleton” for instructing them in the way suitable for a jnana yogi. They wanted You to leave the opulence of Dvaraka and return with them to Vrndavana, where You formerly engaged in love sports with them in the simple, pleasing atmosphere of Vraja.

In response, You said that You would soon return. You had only a few more demons to extinguish, and then You would be free to come back to Your blissful abode of Gokula. Only the gopis are capable of speaking like that to You and making You feel remorse at Your separation from them. You said that You too wanted to return to Vrndavana and that You felt constant pain of separation.

These are the topmost exchanges of You and Your dearmost devotees, Radha and Her sakhis. It is purifying just to hear these exchanges and to know You have such relationships with Your intimate devotees.

Such loving relationships are open for any devotees who follow in the footsteps of the gopis. It can be taken up by devotedly following the instructions of the spiritual master, who is a representative of Srimati Radharani. As the gopis gave up all obligations to serve family and society in order to go to You, so the disciple has to single-mindedly serve the order of his spiritual master. He should do so without fear of being socially or religiously ostracized and be confident that You will protect him.

I did this on first meeting Prabhupada. My parents forbade me from following him and from worshiping You as the Supreme Godhead, but I defied them and became the sisya of my spiritual master and the chanter of Your holy names, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. That initial push was given by You in my heart. You gave me the strength to resolutely go forward and join ISKCON without hesitation.

That was Your mercy, Lord, to make me a student of Bhagavad-gita and a menial servant of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. As I enter old age, my body and even my mind are losing vigor and determination. But You are standing by me and supporting me in my weakness. You are showing me how to remain surrendered and how to even increase my surrender, despite my physical delapidation and my growing lack of mental sharpness. I am grateful to You for this and wish to show You I am still dedicated, as when I left my parents’ home and joined the Swami. Externally, my service has diminished, but internally, I try to pray with fervor, “Please engage me in Your service.” I do what I can, not what I can’t.

Please accept my service, and if possible, rejuvenate me. I don’t want to fade out and diminish in my remaining years. Chanting and hearing and writing remain open to me as valid services that I may render to You. Give me a young man’s enthusiasm to perform them. Let me follow the path of the gopis, as is suitable for a sannyasi. May Prabhupada encourage me and continue to accept me as he has for most of my life. I have no other desires.

sdgonline.org: the yellow submarine, my bhajana kutir #24 →

At any one time thousands, maybe millions or billions of tons of water are floating just above us, above the earth in the form of clouds. This defies gravity because water ALWAYS descends. And yet there it is: floating in the sky above. This mystic phenomenon is evidence of God.

By Ananda Tirtha das

Six devotees--Jagat-caksur Das, Yadunandana Das, Sarvaisvarya Das, Brhat Mrdanga Das, Jaya Govinda Das, and Vasudeva Das--are to take sannyasa this year. Jagat-caksur Prabhu is a disciple of Srila Prabhupada from Venezuela and Latin American preacher, Yadunandana Prabhu the headmaster of the Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh, and Sarvaisvarya Prabhu a leader based in South India. Africa will have three new sannyasis: Brhat Mrdanga, the South-African based preacher and educator, Jaya Govinda, a preacher in Botswana, and Vasudeva, an academic preacher originally from Nigeria.

By Michael Pappas, M.Div

For the 300 plus peace pilgrims, representing cooperation circles from over 80 countries, the journey to the United Religions Initiative Global Assembly in Mayapur, India, proved no less profound than the destination.

By Labangalatika dasi

March 21 marked the first anniversary of Vanipedia, the multifaceted and ambitious web-based encyclopedia dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

By Amrta Gaurangi Devi Dasi

Congregational Development Ministry hopes to serve the worldwide community of ISKCON devotees through consultancy, education and networking in the aspects of community development.

Ambarisa Prabhu (A.B.Ford) offers Gurupuja in ISKCON temple in Mayapur - worshiping his spiritual master, A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of ISKCON.

Elkészült a bombayi beszámoló 5. része.
Ebben a Banka Bihari prabhu és Vraja priya matajiéknál tett látogatásunkba pillanthattok be.
A tapasztalatait pedig Kamsari prabhu osztja meg veletek.

Kirtan is so nice that it immediately connects everyone with the Supreme Personality in super ecstatic transcendental bliss. There is no reason for anyone in any part of the world to be miserable. All they have to do is join fully in the sweet Hari kirtan and feel themselves being carried away on a transcendental airplane to the transcendental plane...

Where there's light there's hope...

"That is what brought him to Kazakhstan, a former Communist country composed mainly of Muslim, Catholics and Orthodox believers. The Kazakhstan constitution allows broad religious freedom, but amendments severely limit the activities of such non-traditional faiths as Hare Krishnas.

A few years ago, the Krishnas bought property and began building a small community of believers, which raised the ire of local residents. The courts supported the Krishnas, but officials bulldozed their homes anyway. Since then, Durham and other international observers have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to defend the Krishnas.

"We are not there to impose our American values," he says. "We just want to protect the powerless." "

BY RATNAVALLI DD MUMBAI, INDIA -Today HH Jayapataka Maharaja was on his way to Juhu ISKCON temple and during his vehicle ride dictated the following report about himself through a phone call. Shiromani mataji was repeating Guru Maharaja’s words as I took the notes. “My right side of the body is not fully paralysed but temporarily paralysed [...]

In the Japa Room Stage 9 we have been discussing our continuing obstacles during chanting....I thought I would share the transcript from the room with you all (this is an audio/visual room and my answers are spoken but I have typed them for this article). Names have been truncated for privacy.

RK: wasn't able to chant much because of exams

Rasa Rasika: Just try to arrange your day so that the first thing you do is chant your rounds...whatever that takes....go to bed earlier.

RK: but now completing the remaining beads left day by day

RasaRasika: "Chanting japa should be done early in the morning with full concentration preferably during the Brahma Muhurta time. Concentrate fully on the sound vibration of the mantra, pronouncing each name distinctly and gradually your speed in chanting will increase naturally. Do not worry so much about chanting fast, most important is the hearing." Srila Prabhupada 6/1/72

RK: actually I was in the colleg for the whole 2 dayz...i didn;t hv my bead bag wityh me..that's wy

Rasa Rasika: If you forget your beads you can actually use your fingers, there are three divisions on each finger that you count with your thumb (4 x 3 = 12) and on the other hand count 9....4 x 3 x 9 = 108

R: this room really is a great encouragement in chanting Japa

R: i dont remember,is chanting mentally the same as chanting out loud

Rasa Rasika: Mental chanting can be done outside the time we chant on beads....SP recommended for us to audibly chant the Holy names.

RasaRasika: "The first regulative principle is that one must chant the Hare Krsna maha-mantra loudly enough so that he can hear himself, and one must vow to chant a fixed number of rounds." Sri Caitanya caritamrta Antya-lila 11.24

M: I think that the most important thing to do is really get absorbed in the sound completely

AD: nice quote

R: so you say that there is an a as in day sound in Hare on the e in Hare?

Rasa Rasika: Yes correct, I find it of great benefit to listen to SP's Japa recording (the slow one) and you can get a good idea of the pronounciation.

AD: Do you have any experience of yours to share, when you started chanting, when did you get more concerned about your japa

Rasa Rasika: I personally started reforming my Japa many years ago and found that I had to slow down my chanting, right down to 10 mins per round (SP recommends not longer than 10 mins per round)...this enabled me to work on my pronounciation and I also starting hearing properly...to the sound vibration, which helps to counteract the wandering mind.

A: these days i have to struggle with my japa i cannot concentrate

A: my mind is wandering yes there r other things on my mind although i do my japa early @ 5am

Rasa Rasika: Devotee: "Srila Prabhupäda, it's very difficult to control my mind when I chant. It wanders.

Srila Prabhupada: "So what is the controlling of mind? You have to chant and hear. That is all. You have to chant with your tongue, and the sound you hear. What is the question of mind?"

RK: Is it neceassry to complete all ur rounds in a single sitting?

Rasa Rasika: Yes it's better to chant all your rounds in one sitting, it increases your chances to get in the zone and be able to capitalise on good consciousness when you're on a roll

RK: YES, I ill try..Thnks for the answer.....

R: what do you know about sitting while chanting or walking while chanting?Any difference

Rasa Rasika: It depends on the individual...some find sitting better but others fall asleep whilst sitting...if this is the case then you should walk around, whatever facilitates good Japa is desirable.

RK: What r the symptoms of one's getting into samadhi or progressing towards the samadhi stage?

Rasa Rasika: There are many symptoms that can be experienced, shivering of the body, crying uncontrollably, hair standing on end, a feeling of separation from Krsna etc. the main thing is to get the basics right first...SP has given us basic guidelines so that we can chant without offense....if we continue to avoid offenses and follow these guidelines, then naturally we will make progress towards samadhi.

RK: Can't ny1 reach this stage while still living in ghrahastya?

Rasa Rasika: Yes, regardless of asrama or varna, if we just chant very seriously then we will make progress to this stage...the main thing is that whatever situation we find ourselves in, if we chant the Hare Krsna mantra with great concentration and sincerity, then we can develop love of Krsna.

RK: wat's the max time 1 must chant out his 1 round??

Rasa Rasika: SP recommends not more than 10 mins per round.

A: i have lot of reforming to do before the next session. I take abt 6 mins to chant a round

Rasa Rasika: The main thing is to preserve good and clear pronounciation and hearing is the main thing for this....if it means slowing down your chanting then you can do that.

Rasa Rasika: "...Concentrate fully on the sound vibration of the mantra, pronouncing each name distinctly and gradually your speed in chanting will increase naturally. Do not worry so much about chanting fast, most important is the hearing." Srila Prabhupada 6/1/72

RK: I can't concenterate on all the words equally..particularly "hare" word..at other times sometimes i hear krishna word n sometimes rama word

Rasa Rasika: It's a matter of focusing the mind on the whole mantra...if you hear properly then that will be balanced.

R: at the first time when I chanted ,it took me about 15 minutes to complete a round

RK: I took me 45 min ..I chanted really slowly really concenterating very very hard on each word

RK: first time

RK: 2 rounds i think

R: my problems are either skipping beads or repeating a mantra on the same bead

Rasa Rasika: Then you may need to concentrate more and make sure this doesn't occur.....or get larger beads if your fingers are too big.

RK: I skip hare word a lot..

Rasa Rasika: Just concentrate very seriously on what you are chanting, it's very important to chant all the words clearly.

AD: How can we see our advancement as something natural, and not being anxious to feel attration to the Holy names faster

Rasa Rasika: Have faith that the Lord will bestow upon you spiritual advancement, as long as we are making a serious effort and are sincere, then Krsna will reward us accordingly. Krsna will bestow on us attraction for the Holy name if we are making an effort with our Japa.

RK: Im seeing improvement in my memory n thinking skills

AD: Does faith develop with determination on chanting .

Rasa Rasika: Faith comes from experiencing first hand the effects of chanting the Hare Krsna mantra, then our determination to continue comes from that faith and direct realisation.

R: If we make offense to Hare Krishna ,then its to Hare Krishna we must go for relief.

Rasa Rasika: Yes, by improving our Japa and continuing to chant, avoiding offenses, then we will get relief

RK: Is it ok FOR sm1 to chant japa if he is not interested in doing japa on bead?

Rasa Rasika: Beads are the best, I personally find it helps with concentration, also if they are Tulasi beads then you get the benefit of contact with the body of a pure devotee. Fingers can also be used as mentioned before.

RK: 1 of my friend chant like this

R: the name is actually a physical taste?

Rasa Rasika: The taste is a spiritual one not material....the taste comes from Krsna directly and he bestows that upon us when He sees our effort

AD: Talking about offense , how can we chant without wandering minds if we have commited an offense even , without having noticed

Rasa Rasika: Yes, we can still be committing offenses even if our mind isn't wandering...for instance to blaspheme a devotee who is chanting the Holy names of the Lord....if we continue to offend devotees then we are being offensive to the Holy names regardless if our mind is wandering or not.

RK: Today's japa room was really wonderful..got to know a lot of things..Thanks to rasa for the expalanations n all for their discussions

Rasa Rasika: Thank you all for coming along today, next week is Stage 10, summarization of all the stages.

By Your servants of The Holy Name

Coming up: Madhava live from Switzerland, then Sri Prahlad from New Zealand, Gaura Vani from Washington DC, Lokanatha Swami live from Bangladesh... 7 more hours, but some of the best is yet to come

Knowledge is meant for distribution. Although there is already much scientific knowledge, whenever scientists or philosophers awaken to a particular type of knowledge, they try to distribute it throughout the world, for otherwise the knowledge gradually dries up and no one benefits from it. India has the knowledge of Bhagavad-gita, but unfortunately, for some reason or other, this sublime knowledge of the science of God was not distributed throughout the world, although it is meant for all of human society. Therefore Krsna Himself appeared as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and ordered all Indians to take up the cause of distributing the knowledge of Bhagavad-gita throughout the entire world. yare dekha, tare kaha 'krsna'-upadesa amara ajnaya guru hana tara' ei desa "Instruct everyone to follow the orders of Lord Sri Krsna as they are given in Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. In this way become a spiritual master and try to liberate everyone in this land." (Cc. Madhya 7.128) Although India has the sublime knowledge of Bhagavad-gita, Indians have not done their proper duty of distributing it. Now, therefore, the Krsna consciousness movement has been set up to distribute this knowledge as it is, without distortion. Although previously there were attempts to distribute the knowledge of Bhagavad-gita, these attempts involved distortion and compromise with mundane knowledge. But now the Krsna consciousness movement, without mundane compromises, is distributing Bhagavad-gita as it is, and people are deriving the benefits of awakening to Krsna consciousness and becoming devotees of Lord Krsna. Therefore the proper distribution of knowledge has begun by which not only will the whole world benefit, but India's glory will be magnified in human society. Kamsa tried to arrest Krsna consciousness within his house (bhojendra-gehe), with the result that Kamsa, with all his opulences, was later vanquished. Similarly, the real knowledge of Bhagavad-gita was being choked by unscrupulous Indian leaders, with the result that India's culture, and knowledge of the Supreme were being lost. Now, however, because Krsna consciousness is spreading, the proper use of Bhagavad-gita is being attempted.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 10.2.20

1970 March 28: "I understand some of you have moved to George Harrison's place. What is the program there? Also you were in Paris with George for a television engagement. Did you find our Paris Temple?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 March 28: "Your reports of Sankirtana are all very much encouraging. There is great potential there for spreading our Movement in Malaysia. So work with determination and sincerity and Krishna will give you all facility."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1973 March 28: "Tokyo is unlimited. They are distributing large amounts of BTGs there, 500 to 1000 per day. I expect to visit Tokyo sooon and I can see you at that time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 March 28: "If you can establish a strong center in Taiwan it will be a great idea. We have one branch in Moscow, if we get a branch in China, on the mainland, it will be a great achievement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1968 March 28: "I am expecting you to be very powerful preachers in the near future so that this Movement will be spread all over the world. You keep yourself in that very humble mentality and Krishna will be very pleased upon you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 March 28: "I understand some of you have moved to George Harrison's place. What is the program there? Also you were in Paris with George for a television engagement. Did you find our Paris Temple? Give George my blessings."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1966 March 28:
"Astami. One letter received from Sri Teertha Maharaj. The state of the country is too much perplexing on account of food situation. It is understood that loss of life and property in Bengal is beyond imagination."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1973 March 28: "Tokyo is unlimited. They are distributing large amounts of BTGs there, 500 to 1000 per day. I expect to visit Tokyo soon and I can see you at that time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1960 March 28: "The best thing is to hear the from the highest authority Sri Krishna or His devotee representative coming down in the chain of disciplic succession. I shall be very glad if you join my mission (The League of Devotees)."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1967 March 28: "We must get possession of the house for Krishna's Temple or we must get back the money for Krishna's service. Forget the great loss. Work sincerely in Krishna Consciousness and everything will be in order."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 March 28: "I am expecting you to be very powerful preachers in the near future so that this Movement will be spread all over the world. You keep yourself in that very humble mentality and Krishna will be very pleased upon you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1971 March 28: "Your reports of Sankirtana are all very much encouraging. There is great potential there for spreading our Movement in Malaysia. So work with determination and sincerity and Krishna will give you all facility."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

An interesting book by a Christian author:

The Darwin Delusion - $4.99 for the ebook. Excerpts available on the website.

Another book with the same name by an ISKCON devotee, Lalitanatha das, is coming up from the BBT, but it looks like someone else beat him to the punch. This book was released in Feb of this year.

1974 March 28: "If you can establish a strong center in Taiwan it will be a great idea. We have one branch in Moscow, if we get a branch in China, on the mainland, it will be a great achievement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

The easiest way to be prepared for whatever reality dishes out is to be prepared for anything. We should not put any limits on what we will find to be acceptable. If we demand that our life's experiences be confined to certain parameters, we are setting ourselves up for certain disappointment. The fact is that according to our previous pious and impious...

That’s what happened to me.

A little over two years ago, I began reading a blog written by a couple of guys to document their journey to Vrindavan. When their trip ended, so did their blog, but the seed of inspiration was planted. I had caught the blog bug.

So on March 28^th, 2007, I wrote my first blog post.

Two years and 130 blog posts later, I’m still writing. I hope I continue to summon the courage to keep going. Blogs – for all of their ease to begin – are tough to maintain. Ultimately, steady readers are the key to inspiration. 

Thus you, my dear reader, inspire me to continue on with Seed of Devotion. Thank you.

So maybe you'll catch the blog bug, too... and when you do, let me know your URL. 

Some Seed of Devotion stats:

* over 11,000 hits

* visits from over 100 countries

* around 60 subscribers

* over 100 comments

* most popular post: Liberation at 21 (over 1000 hits)

* post with most comments: take a wild guess

write a little more but
the raod and the internet are two different places
and sometimes they never meet.
Today the met and i met many emails and pokes and friend requests and invitations.
I'll get a camera today and post some pictures while i have a computer available
Florida was fun, didn't see Jackson or Chris or Max, wanted to.
Houston was awesome, Dallas rocked. Rupa has the best family in the world.
Tucson is cool and hot and open minded,
Teaching keeps on and learning keeps on
livng keeps on and the bliss keeps on.
Betsy (the Van) went back to Car head, but fred, the Minivan
is coming soon :)

ISKCON youth around the world are still in shock as they mourn the passing of their dear friend Hari Kirtan Dasa, an alumni of ISKCON’s Mayapur school and disciple of Bhakti Tirtha Swami. Hari Kirtan, known to his friends as Harish, was working at a store in Atlanta, USA on March 22 when at 8:01pm, the store was robbed and he was shot.

March 21 marked the first anniversary of Vanipedia, the multifaceted and ambitious web-based encyclopedia dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Luca Pistolese didn't have an easy start to life. Born premature, he was placed in an incubator to care for his frail body. But a malfunction caused too much oxygen to be released into the chamber, burning his eyes. Luca would be blind for life. The darkness was complete, enveloping him both physically and spiritually. As a young man, he tried to dispel it by studying different books on spirituality, but they only left him unsatisfied and confused.

At 5pm on March 21 – the first day of spring – devotees in Vrindavana, India sat on the steps leading down to the holy Keshi Ghat bathing area, waiting for the famous annual “Boat Festival” to begin. The morning had shown a threat of rain, but clouds passed quickly, leaving a clear, cool evening in its wake.