Last Sunday I had 3 Devotee friends from Berlin over to my place and I invited friends from Uni also. One of them is a Jehova's Witness and we had a very interesting discussion on "violence". What it is and when and how it can/ should be applied... We agreed that violence is if you neglect to help somebody who is in need of help and generally nothing should be considered violence what elevates

About 2 weeks ago as I was listening to the Nectar of Devotion class, part of our Bhakti Shastri program, the topic of discussion was Mercy. How without Mercy we cannot go anywhere in our spiritual life.Mercy according to webster's is: A blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion.Mercy comes in many ways, we only have to recognize it. My mind was conjuring up images of a stationary

Amint tudjátok én is a Bhaktivedanta Hittudományi Főiskolára járok. A legjobb fősuli a világon!

Nemsokára lejár a jelentkezési határidő. Ha szeretnél te is itt tanulni, akkor még most jelentkezhetsz.

Két szak indul:

• Vaisnava teológus szak
• Jógamester szak

A jelentkezési határidõ: május 18.

Bővebb információ:  www.bhf.hu

In the last issue we discussed how Ticket Collecters (TC) in the train harassed the devotees and by one man's help all the TCs stopped interfering. That man has an interesting story:

Mohan is a very senior officer in the railways. Earlier if he would catch a devotee doing wrong he would heavily fine the person and if the offender could not pay, he would put him behind bars or detain him till the family members came and paid the fine, for which he almost never issued receipt. With the bribe money he nearly every day ate meat and drank in hotels. But all these years, he says, he could never sleep peacefully.

One day, he got a heart attack, but survived. He was advised complete bed rest for three months. While recuperating, his daughter gave him a Krishna book. "God has saved you," she said, "please read about Him in this book." Mohan read the entire book. "God is so beautiful and nice," he discovered and from then on began to pray regularly. "I felt much more peaceful after reading Krishna book," he says.

"I read Bhagvad Gita and found that all my suffering was a reaction of my bad karma."

The reading of Bhagvad Gita and Krishna book completely changed Mohan. He gave up his bad activities, and began to associate with devotees. He formed an organization that performs final rites for the unclaimed dead bodies of the destitute in Mumbai. Sometimes people call him in the dead of the night to claim dead bodies.

Every one is amazed to see such a turnaround in him. He says it's the effect of reading Krishna book. In the December Marathons he makes sure the devotees get all the permission needed.

In the next issue: "Stop this nonsense!" the man shouted. "Whatever you say is all bogus." As the amazed crowd stopped to look at the heckler, the devotee prepared to meet this new challenge. What happened next? Find out in the next letter, "The Soul is not in the Heart."

your servant Murari Gupta das (Text D:638239) --------------------------------------------

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

Continuing with the sweet images from this weekend's Radha-Muralidhara Reunion Festival here at the East Village Temple.

The harinama and arrival of Chota Radha-Muralidhara, from the most loving hands of HG Mother Kamagiri Devi Dasi to us...

In the last issue we discussed how Ticket Collecters (TC) in the train harassed the devotees and by one man's help all the TCs stopped interfering. That man has an interesting story:

Mohan is a very senior officer in the railways. Earlier if he would catch a devotee doing wrong he would heavily fine the person and if the offender could not pay, he would put him behind bars or detain him till the family members came and paid the fine, for which he almost never issued receipt. With the bribe money he nearly every day ate meat and drank in hotels. But all these years, he says, he could never sleep peacefully.

One day, he got a heart attack, but survived. He was advised complete bed rest for three months. While recuperating, his daughter gave him a Krishna book. "God has saved you," she said, "please read about Him in this book." Mohan read the entire book. "God is so beautiful and nice," he discovered and from then on began to pray regularly. "I felt much more peaceful after reading Krishna book," he says.

"I read Bhagvad Gita and found that all my suffering was a reaction of my bad karma."

The reading of Bhagvad Gita and Krishna book completely changed Mohan. He gave up his bad activities, and began to associate with devotees. He formed an organization that performs final rites for the unclaimed dead bodies of the destitute in Mumbai. Sometimes people call him in the dead of the night to claim dead bodies.

Every one is amazed to see such a turnaround in him. He says it's the effect of reading Krishna book. In the December Marathons he makes sure the devotees get all the permission needed.

In the next issue: "Stop this nonsense!" the man shouted. "Whatever you say is all bogus." As the amazed crowd stopped to look at the heckler, the devotee prepared to meet this new challenge. What happened next? Find out in the next letter, "The Soul is not in the Heart."

your servant Murari Gupta das (Text D:638239) --------------------------------------------

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

Question: In Bhajan Rahasya, Thakura Bhaktivinoda writes that in the beginning for some days one should engage in the chanting of the Holy Names according to the first sloka of Siksastaka.

Once, Srila Prabhupada had finished his morning walk and was already in the car. The car door was closed. One of his disciples who had been on this morning walk but had not had a chance to ask a burning question, stepped forward. It was an awkward moment. The car engine was already started and the car was moving, but this devotee really had a question and he had to ask it then. “Prabhupada, may I ask a question?” Prabhupada looked at him, and he must have seen the urgency in the devotee’s eyes and nodded. “Prabhupada, what is necessary to become Krishna conscious?” Prabhupada looked at him and gave his one-word answer: “Desire”.

You can continue reading this article from this link:

http://www.saranagati.net/index.php?S=3&Article=563

Hope your week is being full of nice chanting and spiritual realisations.

your servant,

Aruna devi

The following are the lectures given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami in Boston, USA. These video are posted on the website of ISKCON Boston. Please visit this wonderful site.

Click to view the video lectures ->

You can find the audio lectures here (posted earlier)

Evening lecture
by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami
Wednesday, April 29, 2009.
Duration - 57min. 27sec.

Download video (QuickTime file, 330MB)
(Right click and select “Save Target as” or “Save Link as” to download)

Lecture on “Srimad Bhagavatam” 2.5.20
by His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami
Thursday, April 30, 2009.
Duration - 55min. 10sek.

Download video (QuickTime file, 190MB)
(Right click and select “Save Target as” or “Save Link as” to download)

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami on 3 May 2009 at Manhattan, USA.

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

Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.11 - Chapter 9: Brahmā’s Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a Śrīmad Bhāgavatam class given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami on 3 May 2009 at Manhattan, USA. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo; Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.9.11 - Chapter 9: Brahmā's Prayers for Creative Energy

The following is a lecture given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami in New Jersey, USA.

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

The following is a lecture given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami in New Jersey, USA. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo;

The following are the lectures given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami in Boston, USA.

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

The following are the lectures given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami in Boston, USA. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo;

Please take darshan of first week of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava Chandan Yatra darshan. Every day, small Radha- Madhava is dressed very beautifully by Gurukul boys and girls, depicting various pastimes of the Lord. Because of special deity dressing, it takes around 15 minutes more for Sri Sri Radha-Madhava curtain to be opened for darshan arti after Sri Pancha-tattva Sringar Arti.

read more

The following is a lecture given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami in New York, USA.

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

The following is a lecture given by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami in New York, USA. To download the lecture, right click on the download link and choose either ldquo;Save link asrdquo; or ldquo;Save target asrdquo;

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

Chemical Evolution: A Molecular Concept Of Life

By The Late Dr T.D Singh (HH Bhakti Swarup Damodar Maharaja)

The theory of chemical evolution rests upon three assumptions:

1) The hypothetical primitive atmosphere must have been either reducing or neutral. This means that there was no free oxygen in the atmosphere in the earth’s distant past.

2) Simple molecules like amino acids, purines, pyrimidines and sugars were formed within this atmosphere under the action of ultraviolet radiation, electrical discharges, radioactivity, thermal energy and so on.

3) In the course of time, these molecules gave rise to proto-proteins, protonucleic acids and other protocellular components, which in turn gave rise to the so-called protocells and finally to the living cell.

We can briefly analyze these assumptions by purely scientific reasoning and argument. It is a foregone conclusion of many molecular evolutionists that the primitive atmosphere consisted of carbon in the form of hydrocarbon, such as methane, nitrogen in the form of ammonia, oxygen in the form of water and sulfur in the form of hydrogen sulfide. This was first proposed by Oparin, the Russian evolutionist, and Urey, the American physicist.

Based on this assumption, Miller performed an experiment in 1953 in which he passed an electric discharge through a gaseous mixture of methane, ammonia, hydrogen and water vapor. Amino acids such as glycine, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid were observed as some of the components of the reaction products. Since amino acids are the smallest units of the protein molecule, Miller’s experiment gave the molecular evolutionists great hope and encouragement for their idea of the chemical origin of life. They claim that such steps are the ones that will finally lead to life. However, in the light of many experimental findings, such a claim is far from truth. It is just the wishful thinking of the chemical evolutionists.

The idea of the primitive reducing atmosphere has received strong and serious criticisms from scientists of various disciplines. Their arguments suggest overwhelming drawbacks in the conjecture. Available data from geology, geophysicists and geochemistry argue strongly against this idea. Abelson, for example, argues that there is no evidence for the reducing atmosphere, and that ammonia would have quickly disappeared because the effective threshold for degradation by ultraviolet radiation is 2,250Å. He suggests that a quantity of ammonia equivalent to the present atmospheric nitrogen would be approximately 30,000 years.

Abelson has also suggested that if the primitive atmosphere contained large amounts of methane gas, geologic evidence for it should be available. Laboratory experiments show that irradiating a highly reducing atmosphere produces hydrophobic organic molecules that are absorbed by sedimentary clays. This suggests that the earliest rocks should have contained an unusually large proportion of carbon of organic chemicals. However, this is not the case.

From observations based on the stratigraphical record, Davidson concludes that there is no evidence that a primeval reducing atmosphere might have persisted during much of Precambrian time. Brinkmann shows from theoretical calculation that dissociation of water vapor by ultraviolet light must have generated enough oxygen very early in the history of the earth to create an oxidizing atmosphere.

Besides these, there have been huge numbers of other arguments and findings against primitive reducing atmosphere. Recently, many geo-scientists have also expressed great doubt about it. In light of these arguments, the idea of a primeval reducing atmosphere does not seem tenable.

As we are upgrading www.mayapur.com website, for few days, we were not able to post any report, pictures and updates. From today, we could upload posts, pictures but still gallery could not be accessed. Shortly, gallery services will resume. All the Chandan Yatra pictures of small Sri Radha-Madhava and big Sri Radha- Madhava will be posted in the gallery.

and his lineage. They are still talked about for their innate decency and respect of the enemy and women. There exist old palm-leaf inscriptions on these topics. They are known to many a Kshatriyan families which still believe in the old ways of virtuous Kshatriya living. A trained Kshatriyan -it is said- is never trained till he knows and follows the codes of war.
The Kshatriyan codes of war are stuff of legends and folklore in India. Mahabharatha a Hindu epic also talks about war codes. Conclusive archaeological evidence has not yet been obtained but more or less all sources agree that such codes of war existed and they were followed. Some of the more important codes are listed below.
War should not affect the unarmed - meaning that the civilian population should not be attacked for any reason nor should the disarmed and seriously wounded soldiers or warriors unless it is for killing them as an act of mercy.
Rest should be provided for both sides - meaning that the war should not continue after sunset unless or otherwise it is a guerrilla war.
All foes should be defeated - meaning that even if your kinsman fought against you, you should not hesitate to defeat him.
Raids should not be undertaken unless completely necessary - meaning that a raid should not be undertaken unless the motive is to compensate for past losses or to humiliate the enemy.
Women should not be looked at unless she challenges you - meaning that unless a woman is in your enemy's army as a soldier or warrior you should not attack her. If the woman is the ruler then she can be attacked or asked to surrender only after the whole army is defeated.
A guerrilla war should not be waged unless the objective is victory - meaning that the warriors chosen for a guerrilla war should be the best, able to defeat any large army in the given situation and such an attack should be done only to attain a political goal and not to raid the enemy's supplies.
A traitor should never escape death - meaning that a traitor or defector of ones own army should be guaranteed death.
Kshatriya Dharma
Kshatriya Dharma is the rules to be followed by a Kshatriyan to do justice to his caste and status. It still exists in the more logical and evolved forms.
It used to be unthinkable for a Kshatriya to marry outside his class. It would be breaking the biggest tradition of his family and would cause disgrace to his whole family and community; this has still not changed for most families even today. There is a very strong emphasis on following the customs and traditions of the class which have evolved over centuries. In addition to these, further traditions specific to particular prominent Kshatriya families have been handed down through the generations. Following these traditions is a matter of such great honour and importance that breaking them has resulted in families splitting up or being excluded permanently from the caste (jāti) even in present times. The joint family system is still widely practised among the Kshatriya families and the family elders have the final say on all important decisions. It was believed that the Kshatriyas were assigned to be protectors of Dharma (duty/justice) and their people. They were sanctioned by God to serve humanity. The noble king is regarded as a Dharma Raja (Just Ruler). People ruled by aryas (honourable men) are led by the Divine light.
Kshtariya Dharma is specifically described in the Mahabharata: "Have you never heard the Kshatriya Dharma: Stand straight and never bow down, for this alone is manliness. Rather break at the knots than bend!"


These are codes long lost into days wars where women, children and the elderly are constantly put in harms way. Uncouth leaders and people of today think that our time is less barbaric and more civil then the older time but as stated by Srila Prabhupada when a society does not protect women, children, elderly and animals [these being more defenseless then most] it is not a human society but an animal one.

Mar.10.2009 NewGoloka NC USA

In Kartika (October-November) Krishna's Tour of India will visit Mayapur, Puri and Vrndavana once again this year.

Visit the holy Dhamas in the association of the vaisnavas. Contact Kesava on 0405-577-453 or keshava.tkg@pamho.net for details.

Look out for two special visitors to the Mandir over the next fortnight.

Prabhavisnu Maharaja (left) arrived yesterday and will be giving morning classes until Friday (May 8th.).

Next week, Veda Vyasa Priya Maharaja (below) will be giving Bhagavatam classes from Wednesday (May 13th.) till Sunday (May 17th.).

Krishna consciousness is not static. It is ever-increasingly ecstatic. By absorbing himself in the remembrance of the Lord the devotee goes deeper and deeper into devotional ecstasy. Krishna's remembrance is ever-increasingly nectarean because it is absolute. Absolute means that there is no difference between His remembrance and His personal presence....

BY HIS DIVINE GRACE A. C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA My advice to you under the circumstances is that at least for one hour you must all go to have sankirtana outside on the streets or in the park. That is your life and soul, first business. The next business is completing the chanting of 16 rounds [...]

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.8.10 - An intelligent human being should take the essence from all religious scriptures.

A full cleaning of Radha Kunda and Syama Kunda has finally begun and will continue for the next month and a half. The last cleaning took place in 1987

May 4, 2:30 A.M.

A typical night of sleeping and waking. I got up at 2:30 A.M. I’m ashamed to say I wet my pants while I was stuck in my chair and couldn’t get out. That delayed me, as I had to change my clothes. I’m behind on my rounds. I’m still feeling drowsy.

12:16 P.M.

A rainy, chilly day. Not very cheerful. I can’t think of things to write about. Baladeva suggested the subject “the pros and cons of quiet living,” but I told him I can’t think of any cons of quiet living. I like it. It would be good, however, if I were profound. I could be able to write something deeply spiritual about Krishna. Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I received an invitation to give a lecture at the end of the month, but I don’t think I will accept it. My excuse is stress from headaches. They want me to speak at the Baltimore temple on the occasion of snana-yatra, the time when Lord Jagannatha gets His bath and catches a cold. I could look up material from the Caitanya-caritamrta, if there is something there about it. I could say how Lord Caitanya became so bereft when Lord Jagannatha was not on the altar, due to His being in retirement with a cold, that Caitanya Mahaprabhu left Jagannatha Puri and went to live in Alalanath. He had a deep attachment for Lord Jagannatha. It was connected to His feelings of separation from Krishna while in the mood of Radharani. When He went to Alalanath, someone came to get Him and said that all the devotees had come from Bengal to see Him, and so they convinced Him to go back to Jagannatha Puri to meet them. They said I could set up a table to sell my books there at the temple. It’s a nice opportunity. But I get stress from headaches, and that’s the main excuse for not going and giving a lecture. I’m so much out of practice in giving lectures. I prefer to write quietly in the yellow submarine. But if I can’t even write, what then?

I’m disturbed because I had such a slow start this morning, not going to the beach and having that accident with urination in the chair. I’m behind in my rounds. Baladeva won’t be here to cook lunch. He’s gone to Sam’s Club to shop with Sastra. It will be just Dattatreya and I for lunch. Actually, Baladeva has cooked the lunch and left it for Dattatreya to warm up.

We’re getting visitors. From July 20 to August 24, Yadunandana Swami will be living in our house. In September, Suresvara wants to come to visit me.

From Forgetting the Audience (1993): “High point in morning. Now I have to follow it up. Dry chanting 10:30 to 11:00 A.M. Kirtana-rasa left us, his cheery countenance, willingness to cook, sense of protectiveness of another one in the house—I sit in ‘his’ room and feel his absence. I wish him well. All friends moving here and there under Krishna’s protection, but death is inevitable. He wishes me a safe journey to Italy.

“I don’t write this only for effect.

“The blue page, and over it, the moving shadow of my hand, a strange, lumpy shape.

“The tide is high, but the water is not rough. Sun coming in and out on the water. At the end of every sentence is silence and a potential stuck point, admitting we’ve run out of gas.

“I want to hear those tapes. At breakfast (upma) we heard Srila Prabhupada talking to devotees in a room in India. They laughed like children at his strong logic, defeating an atheistic argument. The challenge was, ‘They say no one knows anything.’ Srila Prabhupada replied that if they say that, then they also don’t know. Ttherefore they are wrong when they claim, ‘No one knows anything.’

“He spoke of how the imperfect suggests the existence of the perfect. A devotee spoke: ‘They say Indira Gandhi knows.’ Srila said, ‘Yes, she has chastised the Pakistanis [this was just after the war of 1971], but she has not chastised the cow slaughterers. Pakistan killed only a few men, and she took stern measures and went to war, but thousands of innocent animals are being slaughtered. Why doesn’t she do something?’

“He spoke of the relative world and the absolute. Indira Gandhi is relatively strong. Therefore India could conquer Pakistan. But if America or China had entered the war against India. . . our strengths are relative.

“I retain this here by putting it in writing. I like such preaching. I also want to hear what Radha and Krishna are doing. It is all one philosophy. I need the foundation—the argument against the atheist who threatens the entire structure of K(r)ß?a consciousness. It is not mythology. Srila Prabhupada will protect me from that. He will also take me to Vrndavana.

“He spoke of a preacher’s compassion. He said we may not be compassionate, but someone else is—the preachers, who are concerned for everyone, who want to give out Krishna consciousness as the solution to misery.

“Hear the whole spectrum. Write some of it here.

“You mean it’s just like notes in a diary?

“I mean writing practice. Practicing to trust the mind and write deeply, what comes, unafraid.”

1:40 P.M.

“Bouncing with Bud.” This is Bud Powell with a group of instrumentalists on horns. It’s nice jazz. It’s his original. If you’re bouncing with Bud, you’re lucky. I think it’s Sonny Rollins joining them, so they’re really bouncing. To play with a jazz band and make it kirtana is the ultimate bounce. It’s an ensemble. It’s upbeat and happy and cheerful. No broken bones here. Life can be this way sometimes, too. Everything goes your way when you’re with a genius. You bounce with him, and he takes you on a ride. It’s rhythmic and sweet. The pianist has invited you to bounce with him, and so you’re fortunate. This is called sanga, to be with good fellows who play together for Krishna’s glories. The bassist binds you. You can take three alternative takes, and you don’t get bored, because each one is a little different. And anyway, you like their association. Who wouldn’t be pleased to place with Sonny and Aindra, Vaisisekha and Agni?

“Dance of the Infidels.” A strange title. Is this a dance for demons? It sounds sweet enough. But demons sometimes take beautiful forms just to bewilder. This is a Bud Powell original. I think he’s just being playful, not malicious. But you never can tell. He’s against authorities, like the police, so they call him an infidel. But he’s actually a free spirit and wants to spread joy. It’s been branded “Dance of the Infidels” by government officials, but maybe it’s really a dance of free spirits. Krishna was considered an infidel by Kamsa and by the husbands of the gopis. So it depends on whose viewpoint you take. Judge by your own palate. This sound’s too sweet to be infidel, to be evil.

“You Go to My Head.” Like a glass of champagne. It’s said that when you meet a mahabhagavata, you fall in love with Krishna just by seeing him. He makes you intoxicated. That’s the power of a pure devotee. You don’t stay sober in his association. You dance and embrace and cry tears, and your hair stands on end. You go to my head. What to speak of Krishna. What to speak of Srimati Radharani. If you get a scent of Their presence, a hint of Their association, you lose all your balance, and you’re overcome with love. Bhakti yoga is not a dull religion.

“Un Poco Loco.” A Latin beat. One time, Bud Powell was taken to the police station on racist, trumped-up charges. The police beat him mercilessly on the head with their nightsticks. He was never the same. Lost his sanity. He was one of the most ill-treated geniuses, like Van Gogh. The world treated him badly. But he made a song out of it. He knew he was un poco loco, but it wasn’t his fault. You could say it was his karma for things he did wrong in the past, but in his lifetime, all he wanted to do was make beautiful music to please people. And he was one of the most beautiful musicians of his time. So he was serving Krishna, and he got mistreated. This tune sounds a little loose in the head, but he’s harmless. He never meant ill toward anyone. He was well-loved in France, but not in his own country. He was too black, and this was in the 1940s. Three takes. A little too much. But no lack of natural, polished talent. I lived in a furnished room on 76th Street in Manhattan and took a Bud Powell record out of the library. I used to play it over and over, especially one tune, and it drove my neighbor crazy. She was a pianist and lived with her piano teacher. The tune I played was “Tea for Two.” Finally, after hating it for so long, she came to my room and admitted that she thought he was a beautiful musician.

3:25 P.M.

If I didn’t have a fractured collarbone, my life would be much easier. It woudn’t be an ordeal to get out of the chair. Now I can’t get out of the chair because I can’t use my right arm as a support. I have to try to wriggle out, wriggling my buttocks and leaning forward. I can sit in a less comfortable chair and get in and out of it easier. That is not real pleasant, either. I would also be able to put on my jeans for going to the beach. Now I cannot do it without help from either Baladeva or Dattatreya. I also can’t dry myself off after taking a shower. I am not able to eat with my right hand, which sometimes makes for a mess. I can’t do anything with my right arm. But sometimes inadvertently I make a move with my right arm, and then I get a sharp pain and probably hamper the healing. I wear a sling at all times, but I can’t put the sling on and take it off myself. It has to be done for me. If I’m wearing my sling and a sweater and it feels too warm, someone has to come and take the sweater off for me and put the sling back on. I can’t do it myself. I have a radio to call the men to come and help me to do these different things during the day, but sometimes, like right now, they’re both out of the house. These are some of the things I could do if I didn’t have the fractured shoulder. But since I do have the fracture, there’s no sense in my mentioning them, because there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m helpless to do these things by myself. [...]

the yellow submarine, my bhajana kutir #61→

Enjoying your Prema

Vaughan, Ontario

Walking territory was the grounds of the country’s largest university, Toronto’s downtown U of T campus.

A group of youth, brahmacaris and I observed the stop light at an intersection. Lit up was the upraised palm of the right hand. In the Vedic culture of India this is a symbol of a blessing coming from a superior. Usually divinities in the form of deities stand with the right hand palm extended for a benediction and often show a smear of red kunkum powder over that palm.

In any event, the image of the red stop image for a pedestrian took on a different meaning for us. When you really think about that STOP HAND, it is indeed a blessing for those who honour it.

My afternoon was time well spent, sitting as director to the drama “The Eighth Boy” in preparation for ‘The Festival of Inspiration’. It’s a great crew and my main choreographer, Nitai Priya, recommended using Michael Jackson’s foot stepping from ‘Thriller’ for our demon scene. So I said, “Yes, it should work.”

To put the demons within out of their misery, our head traveling monk, brahmacari Jaya Kesava, two more men and I headed for a gathering of the Prasher family, a very outgoing Punjabi group. The family has opened a massive room for puja, worship and bhajan, devotional song. We were invited to speak, sing and enjoy their great food.

The highlight of the day was speaking to a curious chap at the benediction hand.

“You guys are monks?”

“Yes, we are,” I said

“What do you believe?” he asked as he lit up his smokey cigarette.

In so many words I explained that our objective is Prema, love of the supreme. For some reason he held that word in his head. As he gestured to leave us he said, “Well, enjoy your prema!”

7 Km

Striking Happy Cords

Toronto, Ontario

The cook in the pizzeria was reeling his dough in the air and thumping to our beat as we passed by. The two store attendants, with their chic clothes, suddenly lit up, looked at each other and broke into big grins as we passed by. The jeweler tossed a generous wave of the hand as we passed by. And the enthusiastic photographer took shots of us as she walked backwards on the street, accidentally falling into a back-roll but quickly springing back up into action.

These were just samplings of responses by people towards our chanting party on Bloor Street.

Organizing the chanting parties is Krishnadas, a devotee and successful family man, who arranges time for this sought-after activity. He and his godbrother, Dharmaprana, a monk at the temple, look forward to being the main core of the chanting group. Both are approaching 60 but are not discouraged by the energetic activity of chanting on the streets to the sound of Krishnadas’s drum. They welcome anyone to join in this joyful expression of the soul. We are very fortunate to have such mature men who demonstrate their loyalty to this chanting, which is normally the exercise of the youth.

We can credit Chaitanya, the early sixteenth century avatar, who introduced this light-hearted brand of spiritualism to the world.

4 Km

What’s Your Shloka?

Toronto, Ontario

One very positive way to engage the mind and avoid distractions while walking is by reciting shlokas. The Bhagavad-Gita is a rich source of shlokas, verses rendered in the ancient Sanskrit language, the mother tongue of many European languages. In the Gita there are seven hundred couplets in Sanskrit, each carrying a strong message.

If you simply take a catchy phrase from one of these shlokas, so much is told about the realities of life. For instance, the phrase sookha dookha refers to the dualities of the world, meaning happiness and sadness respectively. A jazz band picked up on this perky phrase and decided to name themselves “The Sookha Dookha Band”.

Yam yam vapi smaran bhavan…(Gita 8.6) is a sweet sounding line that addresses reincarnation, “Whatever you are thinking of at death that state you will attain in the next existence.”

If it’s not the sound then the message is captivating. For instance, one of my favourite sayings from the Gita is Krishna’s commitment about support. He says about our shortcomings, “I preserve what they have and carry what they lack.” For one approaching spirituality in a sincere manner, there is a guarantee of a mystical backing. That is very reassuring.

There are different shlokas for different folks. What is your favourite phrase or verse (shloka) from the Gita?

Use it when walking. It’s powerful.

5 Km

Muddy Trail

Toronto, Ontario

We slid and got wet and muddy. The base of the ravine became the passage for late April rain as we, a group of five monks, marveled at this concept. You have earth which grips. You have water which flows. You combine the two and you have a slimy, slippery substance which causes one to slide. It seems to be a spring texture.

We met an elderly couple on this slippery trail. With binoculars in hand, they were immersed in a popular hobby – birding. They told us they had viewed several species. Spring does that. It invites a vast array of our feathered friends. Birds flock like crazy during this season.

The couple expressed that they are lovers of these creatures. They complimented us for our food which they had dined on at our temple a while back.

I relished today’s trek like anything because of the good signs, including the muddiness and especially the good company. They were young men interested in developing there spiritual life. The setting is perfect. Buds are bursting on trees on this forested Old Milkman’s Lane which passes by the former brickworks factory and edges by Mount Pleasant cemetery.

I’m a sucker for these trails. Whenever I see a forest I immediately think, “Oh, here’s a place where I can chant, a place where it becomes easy to adjust our consciousness to a better state.”

7 Km

At first, Draupadi had tried to hold on to her sari. But what could she do? After all, she was a woman, and the Kurus were trying to strip her naked. So she cried and prayed to Krsna, "Save my honor," but she also tried to save herself by holding on to her sari. Then she thought, "It is impossible to save my honor in this way," and she let go and simply raised her arms and prayed, "Krsna, if You like You can save me." Thus the Lord responded to her prayers.

Therefore, it is not very good to try to save oneself. Rather, one should simply depend on Krsna: "Krsna, if You save me, that is all right. Otherwise, kill me. You may do as You like."

>>> Ref. VedaBase => TQK 7: Dangerous Encounters

I just returned from Amsterdam where we had a huge Hare Krishna procession for the annual Queensday festival. I’ve never seen such crowded streets in my whole life. As we weaved through the revelers, chanting the famous Hare Krishna mantra, everyone smiled, many sang along, and some enthusiastically danced with us without a care in the world. The chanting seemed to break the barriers of caste, creed or culture and penetrated their hearts on a much deeper level. As I observed our party – men, women, young, old, from all backgrounds economically, socially and politically – all chanting together in great joy, I realized that this really is the process that has the power to unite the world.

The world is desperately searching for the common ground we need for world peace and unity. The great saint Srila Prabhupada who founded this movement once walked by the United Nations building and remarked – “they call this the United Nations, but every time I come here there are more and more flags!” Without a spiritual foundation, we may at best manage some superficial unity and cooperation – but on a deeper level the division will remain.

Real peace and unity comes from seeing the spiritual equality of all beings. Such a vision destroys all racism, nationalism, ageism, sexism – even ‘species-ism’ (the idea that humans are superior to all other animals and can treat them in whatever way they want). Prabhupada was commended as “having built a house in which the whole world can live”. This house is not simply some physical building, but rather a house of profound spiritual consciousness. It’s a house which is centered around the Supreme Person, but not in a way that alienates or marginalizes any living being. It’s a house in which the chanting of the holy names is the activity which creates and sustains the spirituality. Most importantly, it’s a house open to any sincere spiritual searcher who wants to really find the essence in life.

The mind of the spiritualist is compared to a great ocean. As the ocean is deep, the contemplations and thoughts of one on the spiritual path are also deep. As the ocean is clear, the spiritualist also has great clarity in his daily decisions and judgments. As the ocean is continually being filled by rivers but never overflows, similarly, the mind is constantly bombarded with various material desires but the spiritualist remains unaffected. This is quite amazing.

The rich man is not he who has the most, but he who needs the least. We may have an abundance of possessions, good reputation amongst our social circle, nice relationships with those around us, but if our desires are endless we will never feel satisfied. In the world we live in enough is never enough. We fill the internal void, by trying to accumulate and arrange externally.

Socrates was once in Athens when he passed a shop window. He stood there gazing intently at all the different items on display. This went on for a few hours. One man who had passed by a few times finally questioned the great philosopher. "Is there something you need - something I can get you? Maybe the shoes or those clothes?" Socrates replied to him - "No, No, I am simply amazed by seeing how many things there are here that I don't need!"

So next time one of those desires pop up in the mind, we may want to consider whether to take it seriously or not.

A hétvégén Krisna-völgyben voltam. Két fesztivál is volt. Illetve, ha úgy vesszük, három is.

Szombaton tartottuk a Nrsimha Caturdasit. Ezen nagyon sok bhakta vett részt. Ennek keretében 25 bhakta avatást is kapott. Mivel ezen a napon tartották Srila Indradyumna Maharaja Vyasa-pujáját is, ezért nagyon sokan érkeztek külföldről.

A másik napon Srila Sivarama Maharaja Vyasa-puja ünnepségét tartottuk. Sri Sri Radhe-Syama nagyon különleges darshanjukat láthattuk.

A telefonommal néhány képet is készítettem. Ezeket itt megnézhetitek.

Govinda Maharaja sok képet készített. A Facebookon szokta rendszeresen publikálni. Ezen a linken megnézhetitek a most készülteket. Igazi Krisnás paparrazzi.

Egy másik adag képet itt nézhettek meg. Talán Manjari mataji vagy Nandagopa prabhu fényképei.

Ksatriya is feltöltött néhány képet és videót.

Nirriti is beszámolt a rendezvényről.

Kisordas leírása :)

Illetve Sivarama Maharaja oldalán folyamatosan frissül a bhakták által küldött fotó és videó lista.

Indradyumna Maharaja fotói.

Az avatásról Vijay Gouranga prabhu videója.

Ha a rendezvényről ti is csináltatok képeket, videókat, akkor a hozzászólásoknál osszátok meg velem kérlek. Köszönöm.

1966 May 4:
"Purnima. Today I went to search out Sakar but I was lost in the Subway. In the evening the meeting was nice. Seven gentlemen attended. Mr. Carl was very kind to give me over the Tape Record which is better than the one I have lost."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1949 May 4: "Mahatma Gandhijee took up this cause to begin with but he is gone without further progress in the matter. If we are intelligent enough we should again take up the matter more scientifically and do the job very nicely for the peace of the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1949 May 4: "Mahatma Gandhijee took up this cause to begin with but he is gone without further progress in the matter. If we are intelligent enough we should again take up the matter more scientifically and do the job very nicely for the peace of the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64

1966 May 4:
"Purnima. Today I went to search out Sakar but I was lost in the Subway. In the evening the meeting was nice. Seven gentlemen attended. Mr. Carl was very kind to give me over the Tape Record which is better than the one I have lost."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1967 May 4: "One can be peaceful and elevated in Krishna Consciousness only by the mercy of a bonafide Spiritual Master. Your humbleness and sincerity will make you more and more advanced."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1967 May 4: "One can be peaceful and elevated in Krishna Consciousness only by the mercy of a bonafide Spiritual Master. Your humbleness and sincerity will make you more and more advanced."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

If there was any question about how the Obama administration would get behind agricultural biotechnology, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is removing any doubt. In fact, he says he’s going to do a better job than the Bush administration.

Just back from the G8 summit in Italy, Vilsack pledged today to bring a “more comprehensive and integrated” approach to promoting ag biotech overseas.

That will be good news to biotech companies such as Pioneer Hi-Bred and Monsanto but it shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Vilsack was a vocal backer of the biotech industry as governor, and President Barack Obama has been a supporter as well.

Speaking to a group of ag journalists today, Vilsack cited a recent inspector general’s report that said USDA had not done enough to “facilitate trade opportunities” for biotech products. However, the report noted that some USDA officials have been opposed to getting involved in promoting the products of private companies.

Much of the international opposition to genetically engineered seeds is centered in the European Union but that has led to resistance among countries in Africa and elsewhere that export food to Europe.

The declaration issued at the end of the G8 farm ministers’ summit called for increased “investments in agricultural science, research, technology, education, extension services and innovation.”

Taken From:http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17658.cfm

Tagged: Frankenfoods, GMO, USDA, Vilsack

1.Threats to scientist
2.Herbicide Used in Argentina Could Cause Birth Defects

1.Threats to scientist

There are reports coming our of Argentina of attempts to intimidate the lead researcher of the study showing that Roundup - the glyphosate  herbicide developed by Monsanto,  could cause brain, intestinal and heart defects in fetuses.

The lead researcher for the new study, carried out in Argentina where Roundup is used on a massive scale in conjunction with GM herbicide-resistant soy, is embryology professor, Dr. Andres Carrasco.

Dr. Carrasco has worked for nearly thirty years in embryonic development, and was President and Assistant Secretary of Conicet (The National Commission for Scientific Research) and now works at the Defence Ministry in the Science and Technology innovation department. He apparently conducted the experiments in his laboratory of molecular embryology, based at the Institute of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, at the Faculty of Medicine of the Universidad Nacional de Buenos Aires.

Dr. Carrasco has warned that the doses of herbicide used in his study “were much lower than the levels used in the fumigations,” and so the situation “is much more serious” that the study suggests because “glyphosate does not degrade”.

According to an article in the Argentine press, after news about the study broke, Dr. Carrasco was the victim of an act of intimidation, when four men arrived at his laboratory in the Faculty of Medicine and acted extremely aggressively.

Two of the men were said to be members of an agrochemical industry body but refused to give their names. The other two claimed to be a lawyer and notary. They apparently interrogated Dr. Carrasco and demanded to see details of the experiments. They left a card Basílico, Andrada & Santurio, attorneys on behalf of Felipe Alejandro Noël.

Dr. Carrasco also reports being subjected to offensive phone calls and there have been disparaging references to his research in newspapers with links to agribusiness. Dr. Carrasco however is resisting the intimidation, saying, “If I know something, I will not shut my mouth.”

The news report in Spanish is available at http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/elpais/1-123932-2009-04…

2.Herbicide Used in Argentina Could Cause Birth Defects
Latin American Herald Tribune
http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=331718&Category…

BUENOS AIRES ­ The herbicide used on genetically modified soy ­ Argentina’s main crop ­ could cause brain, intestinal and heart defects in fetuses, according to the results of a scientific investigation released Monday.

Although the study “used amphibian embryos,” the results “are completely comparable to what would happen in the development of a human embryo,” embryology professor Andres Carrasco, one of the study’s authors, told Efe.

“The noteworthy thing is that there are no studies of embryos on the world level and none where glyphosate is injected into embryos,” said the researcher with the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research and director of the Molecular Embryology Laboratory.

The doses of herbicide used in the study “were much lower than the levels used in the fumigations,” and so the situation “is much more serious” that the study suggests because “glyphosate does not degrade,” Carrasco warned.

In Argentina, farmers each year use between 180 and 200 million liters of glyphosate, which was developed by the multinational Monsanto and sold in the United States under the brand name Roundup.

Carrasco said that the research found that “pure glyphosate, in doses lower than those used in fumigation, causes defects … (and) could be interfering in some normal embryonic development mechanism having to do with the way in which cells divide and die.”

“The companies say that drinking a glass of glyphosate is healthier than drinking a glass of milk, but the fact is that they’ve used us as guinea pigs,” he said.

He gave as an example what occurred in Ituzaingo, a district where 5,000 people live on the outskirts of the central Argentine city of Cordoba, where over the past eight years about 300 cases of cancer associated with fumigations with pesticides have turned up.

“In communities like Ituzaingo it’s already too late, but we have to have a preventive system, to demand that the companies give us security frameworks and, above all, to have very strict regulations for fumigation, which nobody is adhering to out of ignorance or greed,” he said.

The researcher also said that, apart from the research he carried out, “there has to be a serious study” on the effects of glyphosate on human beings, adding that “the state has all the mechanisms for that.”

In the face of the volley of judicial complaints related to the disproportionate use of agrochemicals in the cultivation of GM soy, last February the Health Ministry created a group to investigate the problem in four Argentine provinces.

Argentina is the world’s third-largest exporter of soy.

Taken From:http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_17680.cfm

Tagged: Monsanto, roundup

slideshow

Sherold Salmon of Stoney Brook Farms on Barron Road in Shannon, said one of his cows became trapped in a standing position between two trees that were downed during Friday or Saturday storms.

A total of four trees were uprooted around the cow, but she was pinned down by only two. Salmon and his son, David, used chain saws to free the animal.

Tagged: cows, pictures

1969 May 4: "Supporting the temple by Sankirtana collections, it is nice. In Los Angeles, New York, and other centers they are chanting on the streets every day and they are getting good remunerations, better than any job."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 May 4: "Supporting the temple by Sankirtana collections, it is nice. In Los Angeles, New York, and other centers they are chanting on the streets every day and they are getting good remunerations, better than any job."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 May 4: "As I have curtailed my moving program, I wish that you may come here at your convenience and stay here for a few days and see personally how things are going on, and by meeting with me personally for necessary instruction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1974 May 4: "If the guru is a representative of the Supreme Lord in disciplic succession and the student is sincere, only then he can get him out of the clutches of the material energy."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 May 4: "I have the same feeling upon you as my beloved son. And I still maintain the feeling hoping you will be a great help in the Krsna Consciousness Movement. Still, we need to meet to talk in detail."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1972 May 4: "I think it is best thing if the GBC members always travel on Sankirtana Party in their zone and go from one village to another and visit the temples to see how the students are learning and do my work. In this way, they will avoid the propensity to sit down and plot and scheme how to eat and sleep."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1969 May 4: "Supporting the temple by Sankirtana collections, it is nice. In Los Angeles, New York, and other centers they are chanting on the streets every day and they are getting good remunerations, better than any job."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 May 4: "As I have curtailed my moving program, I wish that you may come here at your convenience and stay here for a few days and see personally how things are going on, and by meeting with me personally for necessary instruction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. - Mathew 22: 36-37The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be

1972 May 4: "I think it is best thing if the GBC members always travel on Sankirtana Party in their zone and go from one village to another and visit the temples to see how the students are learning and do my work. In this way, they will avoid the propensity to sit down and plot and scheme how to eat and sleep."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1974 May 4: "I have the same feeling upon you as my beloved son. And I still maintain the feeling hoping you will be a great help in the Krsna Consciousness Movement. Still, we need to meet to talk in detail."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 May 4: "If the guru is a representative of the Supreme Lord in disciplic succession and the student is sincere, only then he can get him out of the clutches of the material energy."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

From the Festival of Inspiration website:

PRESENTATION ROOM ASSIGNMENTS:

(A) Main Conference Room under Guest Lodge
(B) Large Prasadam Hall Adjacent to Temple Room (Behind Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasasana)
(C) Small Kitchen/Prasadam Hall Adjacent to Temple Room (Behind Jagannath’s Altar)
(D) Carpeted Room Next to “A”
(E) Room 8 Behind Main Stage in “A”

Friday, May 8th

7:00 am Guru-puja
7:30 am Darsana-arati
7:45 – 9:00 am Inaugural Address: Devamrita Swami

8:15 – 10:30 am Breakfast Prasad Served

11:00 – 11:30 am (A) Welcome by Organizers
11:30 – 1:00 pm SESSION I

(A) The Currency of Relationships: Romapada Swami
(B) The Making of Gauravani.com & As Kindred Spirits: Rasacarya Das
(C) To be announced

1:00 – 2:30 pm Lunch Prasad Served

3:00 – 4:30 pm SESSION II

(A) Global Varnasrama Mission: Bhakti Raghava Swami
(B) Sri Mridanga: Bhima Karma Das
(C) The Fine Art of Deity Dressing: Maharha Dasi
(D) Looking at Our Modus/Modes Operandi: Syamala-sakhi Dasi & Kamalini Dasi

4:45 – 6:15 pm SESSION III

(A) Vedic Cosmology: Danavir Goswami & PhD Candidates
(B) Devotional Leadership: Paratha-sarathi Das
(C) The Musical Aspect of Kirtan: Mitrasena Das
(D) Introduction to Vastu: Sankarananda Das

6:30 – 7:30 pm Dinner Prasad Served
7:00 pm Gaura-arati
8:00 pm Entertainment in Tent

Saturday, May 9th

7:00 am Guru-puja
7:30 am Darsana-arati
7:45 – 9:00 am The Search for True Friendship: Radhika Ramana Das
8:15 – 9:30 am Breakfast Prasad Served

10:00 – 11:30 am SESSION I

(A) Mystery presenter
(B) Sri Mridanga: Bhima Karma Das
(C) Danda Yoga: Yoga Dave
(E) Hands-On Mendhi Workshop for All Ages: Madhurya-lila Dasi

11:45 – 1:15 pm SESSION II

(A) Spiritual Economics Part II – A Radical Approach to a Modern Crisis: Romapada Swami
(B) Seeking Spiritual India: Srinandanandana Das
(C) Homeschooling: Aruddha Dasi & Radhika Ramana Das
(D) Detecting & Disarming the False Ego: Sukhavaha Dasi

1:00 – 2:30 pm Lunch Prasad Served

3:00 – 4:30 pm SESSION III

(A) Parenting as Devotional Service & The Vaisnava Marriage & Family Fest: Grhastha Vision Team
(B) Europe’s Most Developing Sustainable Eco Village – The Eco-Valley Program & New Vraja Dhama: Radha Krsna Das
(C) Distribute Srila Prabhupada’s Books While You Sleep: Vaisesika Das
(D) Ins & Outs of Dramatic Storytelling: Sankirtan Das

4:45 – 6:15 pm SESSION IV

(A) Meditation in Krsna Consciousness: Dravida Das
(B) A Place for Everyone and Everyone in Their Place – Experiments in Education & Varnasrama From ISKCON Hungary: Manoram Das
(C) Helping Devotees Succeed (Spiritual Guidance System): Akrura Das
(D) The Vaisnava Marriage & Family Fest Continued: Grhastha Vision Team

6:30 – 7:30 pm Dinner Prasad Served
7:00 pm Gaura-arati
8:00 – 11:00 pm Entertainment in Tent: Bhaktimarga Swami & Friends

Sunday, May 11th (Mother’s Day)

7:00 am Guru-puja
7:45 am Darsana-arati
8:00 – 9:30 am Inspirational Class: Radhanath Swami

8:15 – 10:30 am Breakfast Prasad Served

10:30 – 12:00 pm SESSION I

(A) Eco-ethics – How to Honor Mother Earth: Varsana Swami
(B) Preventive Health – Making the Best of a Bad Bargain: Ekavira Das
(C) Finding the Gems in Misfortune: Arcana-siddhi Dasi & Karnamrta Das
(D) Memories from Srila Prabhupada’s Daughters: Mahamaya Dasi

12:15 – 1:45 pm SESSION II

(A) The Music of Srila Prabhupada: Bada Haridas & Kosa Rupa Dasi
(B) Authentic Youth: Integrating What You Think, What You Say & What You Do (Ages 15-35 Only): Balarama Candra Das
(C) Radha-sunya: Missing Mercy – Taking Compassion a Step Further – HH Bhakti-tirtha Swami’s Last Written Gift: Vrajalila Dasi
(D) Hands-On Mendhi Workshop for All Ages: Madhurya-lila Dasi

2:00 pm Sunday Love Feast

The Radha-Muralidhara Reunion Festival, here at the East Village Temple, has been a sweet success, a sweet time of service and love, a sweet time of remembrance and renewal, a sweet sweet of sweets that has rejuvenated and inspired our entire community and extended family.

We offer our eternal gratitude to the devotees who have served Sri-Sri Radha Muralidhara with all of their hearts, and we pray to somehow come up to the same standard.

Here's some visual proof, starting with pics from our maha-cleanup featuring the classy and ever-luminous Brahmacaris.



Modern art


The debut album from The Sandals-"Spin On in NYC"




The Man. The Myth. The Pandit

Excellent article on Pre-production, by Ronan Chris Murphy. I found this via the Musician's corner on Ragani's website.

Preproduction is the single most cost effective, "bang for your buck" stage of producing a record, and critically important to making the best use of time, energy and budget in the studio...

The goal of reproduction is to address three fundamental areas: 1) Songwriting and song crafting. 2) Defining the vision of the record. 3) Making sure that the performances serve the vision of the record.

Dear devotees and friends,

Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I haven’t written for some weeks due to be overwhelmed with too many things to do. It’s probably been the busiest period of my life. But as they say “no rest for the wicked”, so I’m sure it’s good for me.

Actually one of the main secrets of Krishna consciousness is to keep fully engaged in devotional service. Srila Prabhupada accepted the idea the “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” and we can certainly experience that it’s true. If we stop engaging the mind then it starts taking off in all sorts of extreme directions, so it’s better to have a little more devotional service than we can easily manage, rather than too little.

So anyway, the last time I wrote was at the end of the Navadvipa Parikama. There were many things I wanted to tell you about it, but you’ll have to wait to see the DVD set we’re making of it to find out !

Then I went back to Mauritius, which I have now become co-GBC for, with BB Govinda Maharaja, and found some of the situation there embroiled in unfortunate tenseness, and had to start giving a lot of attention to that.

I moved around South Africa for most of March and April. The highlight was the Durban Rathayatra from April 10 to 13. I think Their Lordships Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra devi were pleased, as it was one of the best Rathayatras we’ve had.

Two of my disciples from Pietermaritzburg in South Africa, Bhakta Rajesh and his wife Vraja Renu compiled a collection of diary entries of mine from earlier years and published them as a book “Travelling in the Service of Srila Prabhupada - Volume 1″, and we launched it at the Rathayatra. Harideva prabhu, an expert presenter and MC, announced it from the main stage, and told people that I would sign copies if they came forward immediately.

To my surprise only about 3 people came forward, and it took them some minutes to come. I thought this was going to be a big disaster, and became quite anxious. However the next day, the Saturday of the Rathayatra, I went to the tent we had to display the books and my DVDs, and found a number of people had bought books. I stayed there for about 90 minutes, and a steady stream of people came and I signed books and DVDs for them, so in this way everything was saved.

On the 20th of April Govinda Maharaja and I went back to Mauritius to make a concerted effort to help the situation there. Actually Mauritius is one of the best places in the world for preaching. The people are incredibly favourable to Krishna consciousness and supportive of our activities, but sometimes among our devotees a tendency arises to become political and then things become disturbed.

So Maharaja and I separated the two main projects, the Phoenix temple and the Bon Accueill farm, plus a group of devotees doing congregational preaching also wanted to take direct responsibility for their programmes, so we allowed that, and basically the situation seems to have become more peaceful.

Following that I returned to South Africa on the 26th, and then left for Moscow on the 27th. I landed there on the 28th and spent the night in the flat of Talavan prabhu, one of my disciples there, and then on the 29th set out for Izhevsk, about a 2 hour flight to the east.

I had never been there before and didn’t know what to expect, but to my surprise, when I walked through the airport there was a kirtana party mainly made up of my disciples from Kazan, about 400 kms to the south. The whole airport became transformed, and the people who had been on the same flight as me were smiling and appreciating the kirtana.

On the way in from the airport I talked to one of the leaders of the yatra, Vasudeva Suta prabhu, who is the husband of Madhavi Lata dd, one of my disciples there. He told me that the main industry there was making
firearms, particularly rifles. We drove through the downtown area and he pointed out a huge factory. “This is the main factory for Kalashnikov, the makers of the famous AK47″ he told me.

I was shocked to hear that, as the AK47 is probably the most famous weapon in the world, and is used not only by the Russian army, but by about every terrorist and revolutionary in the world. I asked Vasudeva Suta “Who is this Kalashnikov person?”

“Mr Kalashnikov’s still living here in Izhevsk” Vasudeva Suta told me. “He’s a very famous man.”

That night and Thursday night, the 30th, we did programmes in the yatra’s normal Sunday programme place. They rent a room in the Kalashnikov Museum every Sunday! About 80 devotees gather each week in one of the display rooms of the weapons museum, surrounded by rifles and photos from the revolution in the early 20th century.

In the middle of the room are two huge statues of soldiers (with Kalashnikov rifles of course) so we named them Jaya and VIjaya.

Even though the environment was so unusual for a Krishna conscious programme, still, as the kirtana picked up and the devotees chanted and danced, the material situation was forgotten, and everyone relished pleasure on the transcendental platform.

So now I’m back in Moscow, and tonight I’m flying to a city named Omsk, further to the east. I had to fly back west to Moscow for two hours, and then I’ll be flying more than three hours east, as there is no direct
connection between Izhevsk and Omsk, except by train, which takes more than 24 hours.

I will keep you updated more regularly now.

Hoping this meets you well.

Your servant,

Bhakti Caitanya Swami

There are sometimes bubbles and foam in water. This is a sinful reaction water had to accept from Indra in exchange for his blessings that water would increase the volume of substances with which it was mixed. (Srimad Bhagavatam 6.9.10). In the summary to this chapter, Srila Prabhupada wrote, "Since water was also infested with sinful reactions, when bubbles appear in water it cannot be used for any purpose."

Mar.10.2009 NewGoloka NC USA

In Los Angeles, California, USA on 17 December 1973 His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta ordered his disciples, "Become perfect in the understanding of this science and become guru and deliver the whole world." Of course his disciples consider themselves to be nothing. They know that they have no potency for turning world history in completely the opposite...

Here are some threads on the net about recording harmonium (and tablas):

• Recording Harmonium on Gearslutz

Harmonium on Gearslutz

Here are some sampled harmonium soundfonts for use with software instruments - useful for studio recording (or if you were to use a computer or get a hardware VST host you could do it live too).

• Precision Sound
• Peti (Hybrid FM Synthesis)

To be honest the FM Synthesis would not fool me into thinking it was a real harmonium, so I'd avoid it if you want an "authentic" harmonium sound.

I'm going to look into sampling my own harmonium using Logic Pro's ESX24 Sampler, to save having to mike it up every time for studio recordings. Bhairavesh did this.

The Appearance Anniversary of Lord Nrsimha falls on Friday.

Our festival schedule is:

Please join us to accept His mercy, following in the footsteps of our acaryas and Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

When Mahaprabhu toured the holy places of South India, He worshiped Lord Nrsimha:

sva-prabhave loka-sabara karanä vismaya
pana-nrsimhe aila prabhu daya-maya
nrsimhe pranati-stuti premavese kaila
prabhura prabhave loka camatkara haila

Everywhere Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went, His influence astonished everyone. He next arrived at the temple of Pana-nrsimha. The Lord is so merciful. In great ecstatic love, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offered obeisances and prayers unto Lord Nrsimha. The people were astonished to see Lord Caitanya’s influence. (Chaitanya-caritamrta Madhya Lila 9.66-7.)

Today's Sunday Feast recording can be viewed by clicking the image below.

As a reminder, the recordings from our weekly live web broadcasts are stored on our ISKCON Toronto Video Archive Blog.

Ever wondered why the food at Gaura Yoga tastes so good? Well, our chefs will be extending the kitchen into the Lounge so you can come and find out all our top secret recipes in demonstration/hands-on cooking classes. With themed menus taken from countries all around the world we will show you how you can cook a meal at home that will win the hearts of your friends, family and flatmates! Starting our journey in Mexico with our top chef Champak on Tuesday 5th May, then a trip to India on the 12th of May, followed by A Taste of Thai in the following week, then Flavors of the Middle East. Yuuummm!!!

All sessions start at 6pm, finishing by 7.30pm, followed by dinner.  Prices are as below. Please book in advance with Champak, or Vishnu-maya as spaces are limited to 13.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.8.9

Like getting pearls from the depths of oceans the treasures of the Gita are obtained by sincere practice of spiritual life.

Kalindi dasi singing a Hare Krishna Bhajan.

2009-03-20
Dallas, TX

Download: 2009-03-20 - Priti and Sam Home Program - 2 - Kalindi dasi - Bhajan.mp3

My dear Lord Krishna...

I pray to You and Srimati Radharani. You are the God and Goddess. The world does not run automatically without a controller. There must be a supreme intelligence behind everything, and that is You. How foolish I was to think otherwise for some years. And how foolish the arrogant scientists are to think there is no need for a God. Everyone has a controller, and everything has a father. This is explained so beautifully in Bhagavad-gita, and anyone who reads it objectively and submissively will come to accept You as the Supreme Lord. You are not just like an emperor or a tyrant, but You are the most compassionate and beautiful Lord. Evidence of this is in all the Vedic literatures and in testimonies by pure devotees who have been fortunate enough to see You and be with You. In fact, this beautiful feature of You is the most attractive aspect of Your being. As Lord Narayana, You make the ingredients for procreation, appoint the first creator, Lord Brahma, and start the chain of events that brings about all the living beings in all the worlds. And yet as amazing as this is, it is not Your chief attraction. Your main quality is Your tendency to love Your devotees. You love them so much that You like to become subordinate to them and do their bidding. We have just read in the Brhad Bhagavatamrta how You like to serve the Pandavas by being a messenger, the chariot driver of Arjuna and the rescuer of them from their dire plights at the hands of demons. You like to serve Your devotees, and that is even more amazing than the fact that You are responsible for the creation, maintenance and destruction of all the worlds. An intelligent person does not want to stop at recognizing You as God but wants to go on and enter a relationship with You in which he can taste Your kindness and affection in a personal way. I want to know You in this way. My spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, has taught us to approach You as the best friend. He has taught us that the best thing is to have a relationship with You as either servant, friend, parent, or conjugal lover. It is better than being a demigod who serves You by controlling a planet or manifesting great opulence of one’s own. And so I want to do as Prabhupada says, to take the path of bhakti that leads to intimate relationship all the way up to krsna-prema. In krsna-prema, the devotee loves You as his all-in-all, with no care for anything else in this world except to please You.

I know and believe in these things theoretically, and that is very important. In the introduction to his Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Prabhupada says that in order to approach the Bhagavad-gita, one has to at least theoretically accept You as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I have attained this. But there is so much more. Now I have to realize You and love You with lively affection. I have to be willing to sacrifice my own comforts to satisfy Your comforts. And preceding this, I have to actually know You. I cannot love You unless I know You. As the Catholics say, I have to know You, serve You, and love You in this world and the next. You have left this world from Your appearance five thousand years ago, but You still appear here in Your pervading and personal features. Please teach me to know You with realization. I could say, “Please let me know You the way I know my friends Baladeva and Dattatreya,” but they are jivas, ordinary souls, and You are the Supreme Godhead, so it is a different kind of personal knowledge. It is a much harder thing to know You than to know my friends. You do not allow us to know You unless we prove ourselves worthy. And yet it is possible. You have allowed countless souls to know You through devotional service. You have allowed them to love You intimately, and You have intimately loved them in return. There is no qualification by birth or education or wealth that makes this possible. It is done simply by love and desire. Each one of us is equally eligible to love You. Aristocracy has nothing to do with it. Earning this position by hard work and service is valid, but begging for Your causeless is also valid. Please empower and inspire me to work for You, and please be merciful to me. Please protect me from making blunders, and please forgive me when I make them. I thank You for letting me pray to You and come close to You. Please teach me to love You with all my heart.

from the yellow submarine, my bhajana kutir #60→

Please continue your very good service, and do not feel any feeling of uselessness. It is true that Krishna has given some the opportunity to serve Him by nice writing, some by good business ability, some by nice cooking, and so on, but these various services are all accepted equally by Krishna. On the transcendental plane, one service is as good as another. There is no question of higher or lower. We are very tiny, and so we cannot really do very much. Simply we can engage our time and energy, and that is all Krishna sees. He sees this boy or girl is spending his time in My Service, and He is pleased.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Hamsaduta, Himavati -- Los Angeles 3 March, 1968

Council meetings are usually bull and formal events, an agenda is followed and where voting is needed on accepting this or that policy we vote and then move on. But during a recent meeting an interesting and wide reaching question was asked, we were looking at the exam statistics in relationship to religious education. As you [...]

I have been thinking about the point made that any thing the senior devotees ask you to do is for your own good, is it a lack of faith to question, or intelligence? Do we just follow blindly? Or is questioning just an out ward sign of a lack of surrender? There has been many good and some [...]

My chanting was pretty good. I was able to keep a good pace, all under seven minutes. I was attentive to the syllables and did not wander onto other thoughts. My chanting was at a low whisper. I did not take the time to look at Radha and Govinda but purused the japa by sound. It was a mechanical session, without thoughts about the powers of the holy name but just the concentration on it. I took satisfaction in the accumulation of the rounds as they went quickly. My head remained clear. The best part of the session was the regularity of speed. The weakest part was the estrangement from Vrndavana and Radha-Krishna.

Taken from Bhajan Kutir #58

During book distribution in villages in India, we generally set up a stall by 7:30 am and after engaging the early morning shoppers, we move to the next village. Like this we cover 4-5 villages in a day.

One day we had good book distribution in a village. By 9am we were ready to leave. On the way to the next big village there was a smaller one, which I decide to skip. "Better spend more time in the bigger village," I thought. When we were crossing the small village we reached the road where the village people, under the guidance of their sarpanch (village head), were repairing the road. I was surprised to see the village was prosperous. As our bus reached closer everyone stopped work and began staring at us. Srila Prabhupada's kirtan tune was airing from the bus's public address system; the bus itself was brightly painted and inside was cheerful devotees enthusiastically having kirtan, everything was mesmerizing for simple village folk.

The sarpanch waved at us to stop. "What do you have?"

"We distribute Bhagvad Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam," I replied.

"Where will you set up your stall in our village?" the sarpanch asked.

"No, we are not setting up our stall here," I replied. "We are going to the next village. It is bigger."

"Are we so sinfull that you are not stopping in our village?" the sarpanch said. "Please stop here. I will personally come with you and help every one take the books."

He climbed on our bus, and the workers cleared heaps of mud from the road and made way for our bus. As we passed an eager crowd began to follow us. At the village market we stopped the bus and the sarpanch was the first person to take books. He took Srimad Bhagwatam.

I quoted, "Yad yad acharati shreshthas: Whatever action great men do common men follow."

The sarpanch then requested every one to buy the books. "If you don't have money," he declared, "I will lend you. You can return it tomorrow." He lent around two thousand rupees to the villagers, all of whom he knew personally.

In that village of around 100 people around 60% took books. For me it was a big lesson: never to prejudge a place because of its apparent material features. It was a small village-with a large heart.

ys murari gupta das

During book distribution in villages in India, we generally set up a stall by 7:30 am and after engaging the early morning shoppers, we move to the next village. Like this we cover 4-5 villages in a day.

One day we had good book distribution in a village. By 9am we were ready to leave. On the way to the next big village there was a smaller one, which I decide to skip. "Better spend more time in the bigger village," I thought. When we were crossing the small village we reached the road where the village people, under the guidance of their sarpanch (village head), were repairing the road. I was surprised to see the village was prosperous. As our bus reached closer everyone stopped work and began staring at us. Srila Prabhupada's kirtan tune was airing from the bus's public address system; the bus itself was brightly painted and inside was cheerful devotees enthusiastically having kirtan, everything was mesmerizing for simple village folk.

The sarpanch waved at us to stop. "What do you have?"

"We distribute Bhagvad Gita and Srimad Bhagvatam," I replied.

"Where will you set up your stall in our village?" the sarpanch asked.

"No, we are not setting up our stall here," I replied. "We are going to the next village. It is bigger."

"Are we so sinfull that you are not stopping in our village?" the sarpanch said. "Please stop here. I will personally come with you and help every one take the books."

He climbed on our bus, and the workers cleared heaps of mud from the road and made way for our bus. As we passed an eager crowd began to follow us. At the village market we stopped the bus and the sarpanch was the first person to take books. He took Srimad Bhagwatam.

I quoted, "Yad yad acharati shreshthas: Whatever action great men do common men follow."

The sarpanch then requested every one to buy the books. "If you don't have money," he declared, "I will lend you. You can return it tomorrow." He lent around two thousand rupees to the villagers, all of whom he knew personally.

In that village of around 100 people around 60% took books. For me it was a big lesson: never to prejudge a place because of its apparent material features. It was a small village-with a large heart.

ys murari gupta das

Ravindra Svarupa Dasa (William H. Deadwyler) joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in 1971 in Philadelphia, PA where he has served for most of his devotional career. He is an initiated disciple of ISKCON’s founder-acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Ravindra Svarupa dasa earned his B.A. in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in religion from Temple University. He has been a member of ISKCON’s ecclesiastical board, known as the Governing Body Commission, since 1987. He is an initiating guru for ISKCON and is the temple president of ISKCON of Philadelphia.

Check out more of his writings at his blog So It Happens

http://soithappens.com/

Doubt is the motor of the modern mentality, the indefatigable engine that drives the spirit of our age. Such doubt was honored with an early recognition in the essays of the Renaissance courtier Michel de Montaigne: “We are, I know not how, double within ourselves, with the result that we do not believe what we believe, and we cannot rid ourselves of what we condemn.”

During Montaigne’s time, religious wars of unbearable cruelty rent Europe. The absolute certainty of the raging antagonists began to taint conviction itself with bad odor. But Montaigne saw deeper. He descried the doubleness within the very certitude of the religious partisans. He recognized their zeal as a kind of cover up, overcompensation for a hidden, an unacknowledged, lack of faith: “We do not believe what we believe.”

In modern times, disbelief has so far entered into the essence of our existence, that both faithlessness and faith have become fundamentally two varieties of faithlessness.

It is the secret unbelief of true believers that energizes the armies of the night in Mathew Arnold’s poem of 1867:

The Sea of Faith
Was once, too, at the full, and round earth’s shore
Lay like the folds of a bright girdle furled.
But now I only hear
Its melancholy, long, withdrawing roar,
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
And we are here as on a darkling plain
Swept with confused alarms of struggle and flight,
Where ignorant armies clash by night.

William Butler Yeats delivers the ominous news in his prophetic, apocalyptic 1919 poem “The Second Coming”:

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.

Others, of course, celebrated unbelief—it bestows liberation—and proselytized it. Leave it to Friedrich Nietzsche to push it as a jagged little pill: “Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.” (Aphorism 483, Human, All Too Human: 1878 )

So it happened that, as a child of the times, and all too human, I swallowed the pill. I served at the altar of doubt. Unbelief became my credo.

It took half a dozen years in academia for me to recognize that unbelief—skepticism, relativism, nihilism—had itself become dogma. Departments of religion were pledging themselves en masse to the hermeneutics of suspicion. To confess any conviction other than mistrust of all convictions was to court anathema.

All joined in choir to hymn unwavering faith in faithlessness. This dogmatism began to rankle me. Something was wrong. I brooded, irritably.

And then, my breakthrough: We doubters were failing at doubt. We had failed to take our doubt far enough. If we are going to be thoroughly skeptical, then we must be also skeptical about our own skepticism. If all things are relative, then so must be our relativism itself.

I stated my case at an informal religion department gathering.

“You must feel like you’re walking a tightrope over an abyss,” responded a fellow grad student, only recently a nun.
“Yeah, but I’m not sure there’s a rope either,” I said. Everyone laughed.

Let us be bold enough to remove the very ground we stand on and miraculously levitate on nothing.

And so we come full circle. Doubting our own doubting, we find a surprise awaiting us: a tiny crack opens for the possibility of faith.

Just the possibility. Even less—just the openness to the possibility.

This turns out to be a crack even God can squeeze through.

One thing led to another. Several years after the manifestation of the crack, I joined—to my permanent amazement—a high-demand “organized religion.” A religion committed to preaching. Labeled by one academic as “evangelical Hinduism.” (For a systematically misleading expression, this is spot on.)

Then came a time, fifteen or twenty years later, that I realized that I was utterly and completely certain that, as they say, “God exists.” (For a systematically misleading expression, this is spot on.) I did not merely hold that a feasible case for divine existence could be made, that “God exists” can be reasonably affirmed, that the assertion is true with (of course) the possibility that it just might be false. Not at all. I was absolutely, totally certain.

This upset me.

I’m still a modern person. I assailed my own conviction: How could I be so sure? What right did I have to be so certain? How was it possible? How was I entitled to such a degree of certitude? What was wrong with me?

I attacked my own faith, and it repelled my assaults. I couldn’t shake it. It was as if it were simply there of its own accord, an irrevocable fact; it really didn’t depend upon me.

I put the matter before some judicious devotees. “It’s Kṛṣṇa’s causeless mercy,” said one. “It’s a gift,” said another. A Ph.D. who once taught Christian theology to divinity students, she cited the distinction between certainty and certitude.

These conversations relieved me of my anxiety and allowed me to accept the gift wholeheartedly.

Yet—not to look the gift horse in the mouth—I found myself still impelled to understand better what I had been given.

I began my inquiry with this question: Is there anything at all that every person can be absolutely certain of? The question, of course, summoned me back to the origins of modernity, to the very “father of modern philosophy,” Rene Descartes, who turned Montaigne’s doubt into a methodology. Sweeping away, in his Discourse on Method, everything dubitable, he was left with only his own indubitable existence as a cognizant being. He could doubt everything except that he was doubting. Cogito, ergo sum, he famously wrote: “I think, therefore I am.” Descartes explained that by “thought” he meant “what happens in me such that I am immediately conscious of it, insofar as I am conscious of it.” His own existence as a conscious subject was absolutely certain.

Here I got my own clue and cue: Start, like Descartes, with myself.

But in this, it seemed to me, I was able to be more clear that Descartes. To “start with myself” means, to be precise, to start with ātman, the conscious self.

We commonly use the English “soul” or “spirit soul” to denote the same entity, but without the same clear meaning. The Sanskrit word ātman (in the root form) or ātmā (in the nominative singular), is a noun meaning “the self.” (The same word also serves as the reflexive pronoun, the “-self” in words denoting myself, yourself, herself, etc.)

1966 May 3:
"Chaturdasi. Today I delivered the keys of 72nd house to the Landlord at Riverside Drive. So the account of 100 West 72nd St. now closed. I also handed over to Dr. Mishra the keys of the Studio 501. He has invited me to dine with him."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 May 3: "There are two Rathayatra festivals; one going, and one returning. You can make a nice bed for Lord Jagannatha and Lord Balarama, and keep them nicely until I return."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 May 3: "On the day of our departure I was expecting you in the airport, but you were tired. So you young men should not simply eulogize my hard working capacity, but I wish that you should also follow my example."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 May 3: "On the engagement, after the speaking there will be kirtana. But if you so desire, Mr. Ginsberg can lead this last program and all the others shall respond. I think this will be nice program."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 May 3: "George Harrison has rendered some valuable service, so we are trying to do some good to him. This is our duty, anyone who has rendered a little service to Krsna should be given all facilities to take it up seriously."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 May 3: "So you recruit members, English boys and girls. Our Movement is a declaration of war against Maya, so we have to recruit many fighting soldiers - so do it vigorously."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970