Chaitanya Charan Das: Book review of “Lessons in Spiritual Economics from the Bhagavad-gita - part 1 Understanding and solving the economic problem” by HG Dhanesvara Dasa

Questions we asked of Marc, the owner of the Propaganda tattoo parlor, are:

• Why in the world do you have a Hare Krishna book-rack in your store?
• Business gurus recommend not to keep religious materials in your business store. Do you find your business diminishing because of the rack?
• How do people react when they see the rack?
• …

Yesterday we finally bought a grill. I say finally because I have wanted one for years upon years. My childhood summers will filled with barbecued dinners, although nothing my folks grilled back in those days would be suitable for me today. It was all meat. The only vegetable was the iceburg lettuce salad mom would toss together.

āpūryamānam acala-pratishamsamudram āpah praviśanti yadvattadvat kāmā yam praviśanti sarvesa śāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmīA person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires — that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still — can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires. - BG 2.70Purport by Srila PrabhupadaAlthough the

Sikhi Mahiti das: Long time ISKCON Atlanta member, Kaviraja das a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, passed away about 2 am Monday morning, June 1st, at his home from cancer.

Aprakrita dasa: We are always working to find good prices for the devotees and friends of Lord Krishna. Sometimes we receive a donation and thus want to share a part of this donation with you.

Dvija priya dasi: Lord Jagannatha's Rathayarta was celebrated in grand style on Saturday at Jacksonville Beach, Florida. More than 400 devotees and many guests attended.

Jagabandhu das: As I was working in the garden this afternoon putting in more marigolds for puspanjali I was remembering Krishna telling Arjuna what He likes to have offered to Him with Love (putram puspam palam toyam...)

Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja used to tell us, "If you have not seen the svarup (spiritual form) of your guru, you have simply been cheated." Of course that does not mean that you are not getting mercy. In spiritual life, cheating is also a kind of mercy, because it makes us cry, thereby intensifying our bhajan.

Realizing the svarup of our guru is the goal of the sadhakas, practitioners in our Gaudiya line. As Krishna says in the Gita, this realization is the topmost understanding -- raja-vidya; it is the most confidential -- raja-guhyam; but it must be realized -- pratyaksavagamam-dharmyam.

I have seen many persons who have put forth various speculated ideas about the svarup of their guru. Personally, I've never felt inspired by such an approach. To me, it just seems to lack dignity and grace. No where have we ever heard of someone realizing the eternal identity of their guru through the process of mundane empiricism. "O he said this. That must mean... He liked this song... He installed these kind of deities mostly, therefore..." etc etc.

Like Samba pretending before the rishis in Dwarka, I don't need to stuff something under my clothes to pretend that I'm pregnant. Thanks, but I prefer to wait for something real.

The following article by Srila Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada was in our recent (203rd) issue of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu. Therein he explains that Krishna, as Sri Guru will reciprocate with you, in any particular relationship your heart aspires for.

Hari Hari!

Das, MD
===================

You've got to approach a mixing job with a vision.

I listened to the songs I've mixed so far from 24 May, on my iPod with headphones.

I think I'm going to remix Parama Karuna with this vision in mind: I want the music to subside into the background, and the vocals to really become the focus. The musical elements should be a bed that the vocal floats over. The flute should sometimes rise up out of the bed and float over the music too, but not at the same time as the vocal.

I'll add a bass guitar track, using a Logic Pro bass amp and a compressor, to fill out the sound.

My concern with the tracks I have to work with are, again, the cartals. The performance is great, but the sound is overbearing, and I don't have a separate chorus track - something that I will be sure to address in the next recording session.

Please take darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, Sri Nrsimhadeva and Sri Pancha-tattva in Mayapur on this most auspicious Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi day. Many devotees observe total fasting and stay awake throughout the night singing and hearing the glories of the Lord. We have special programs in the temple tonight. From 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., HG Naru gopal prabhu will lead kirtans. HG Jananivas prabhu will give a class on glories of this Ekadasi from 11 p.m. to 12 midnight. Tonight’s special kirtans and classes will be available LIVE. Join the devotees in Mayapur to observe the Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi.

read more

Without God as the center and the root of all activity, 'solutions' to social problems only generate further problems. "We may therefore, invent by our advancement of material knowledge all sorts of counteracting material resources, but without being guided by the Lord, all such inventions end in fiasco, however strong and stout the reactionary elements may be (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.38/purport).

Sat, June 6th - Going Deeper into Damodara Lila - 10am to 2pm

1966 June 3:
"Purnima. In the evening there was class and it was the best than all previous classes. There was attendance about twenty and contribution was $19.00."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1969 June 3: "Our principle is to enter into the family life of Krishna. In the Vaikuntha world there are many devotees who have their wives, but they are so much absorbed in Krishna Consciousness they forget the idea of sex-life."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 June 3: "They are gradually deviating on account of stereotyped presentations by sophisticated priests. Modern youths want something dynamic, progressive in spiritual understanding, but the priests cannot satisfy them."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 June 3: "If you follow my instructions there is no doubt that through me, my Spiritual Master will be pleased, and through His mercy, Lord Nityananda. In this way Lord Caitanya and ultimately Radha Krsna will be pleased - and thus your life will be successful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1966 June 3:
"Purnima. In the evening there was class and it was the best than all previous classes. There was attendance about twenty and contribution was $19.00."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1969 June 3: "Our principle is to enter into the family life of Krishna. In the Vaikuntha world there are many devotees who have their wives, but they are so much absorbed in Krishna Consciousness they forget the idea of sex-life."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 June 3: "They are gradually deviating on account of stereotyped presentations by sophisticated priests. Modern youths want something dynamic, progressive in spiritual understanding, but the priests cannot satisfy them."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 June 3: "If you follow my instructions there is no doubt that through me, my Spiritual Master will be pleased, and through His mercy, Lord Nityananda. In this way Lord Caitanya and ultimately Radha Krsna will be pleased - and thus your life will be successful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1974 June 3: "As far as counsel is concerned, simply keep up your fresh utsaha (enthusiasm) for service. That will accomplish wonders. And always remain ideal yourself by strict adherence to the bhakti principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 June 3: "As GBC your first responsibility is to keep yourself spiritually fit and see that all the devotees in your zone of management are strictly avoiding the sinful activities. If they are doing this - then management will be at your finger's end."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 June 3: "I am dispatching this letter through my disciple Sriman Jayananda Adhikari. I shall be very glad to meet you again. You have taken so much pain for writing this book and I thank you very much. May Lord Krishna bless you more and more."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 June 3: "We are very strict. We are not after large numbers. Since I cannot personally interview you, please request the temple manager to recommend you to me for initiation. By this process, it may be possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1974 June 3: "As far as counsel is concerned, simply keep up your fresh utsaha (enthusiasm) for service. That will accomplish wonders. And always remain ideal yourself by strict adherence to the bhakti principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 June 3: "As GBC your first responsibility is to keep yourself spiritually fit and see that all the devotees in your zone of management are strictly avoiding the sinful activities. If they are doing this - then management will be at your finger's end."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 June 3: "We are very strict. We are not after large numbers. Since I cannot personally interview you, please request the temple manager to recommend you to me for initiation. By this process, it may be possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 June 3: "I am dispatching this letter through my disciple Sriman Jayananda Adhikari. I shall be very glad to meet you again. You have taken so much pain for writing this book and I thank you very much. May Lord Krishna bless you more and more."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

New Goloka temple NC USA SRI SRI RADHA KRPA KATAKSA STAVA RAJA

I’ve finally uploaded the class given by HG Adhay Das: HG Abhay Das (Manor 1-6-09 Also I recorded the morning Arti: Morning Arti (1-6-09) Sorry for the delay I decided best to upload the class given by HG Jayapataka Swami first and have been going through the resource pack given to me to present tomorrow.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.9.13 - Mind can offer you very opulent bedstead.

The key to always being happy is to always be in a service mood. Our tendency in this material world is to try to be happy by being in an enjoying mood. But this approach does not work. This is why so many people are unhappy throughout the world. As long as we try to enjoy in this way sometimes we will be happy and sometimes we will be miserable. But...

I just added free tagging to my posts. This will enable me to link posts more easily. So, for example, you can now view the posts arising from the 24 May 2009 H.H. Prabhavishnu Swami bhajan session all in one place, easily.

If you view any post on it's own page (by clicking it's title if you are reading it on the main www.atmayogi.com page or on Planet ISKCON) you can see a list of categories, including free tags, at the bottom of the post. Click on any of these to retrieve all the posts in that category / tag, for further related reading.

This Sunday, June 7, 2009, we will be launching "Lord Baladeva's Postering Crew"! Every Sunday, between now and Ratha-Yatra, volunteers will meet at 1:00pm and hit the streets armed with tape, staple guns and posters!

Postering is one of our most extensive and important tasks as we need to constantly keep the public informed of the festival and one of the best ways is to hit the streets and put up our beauitful posters!

Volunteers will meet at the Hare Krishna Temple (243 Avenue Rd.) at 1:00pm. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear for walking. As a special surprise is that there are always scrumptious snacks and refreshments waiting for everyone once we are finished our "postering missions"! If any of the volunteers with a car would like to help transport volunteers to postering sites please let us know. Please email volunteers@feedyoursoul.to if you would like to participate or have any questions or concerns.

Here's a quick mix down I did this morning of Parama Karuna, from the recent (24 May) bhajan session with H.H. Prabhavishnu Swami.

In this mix I worked on getting the response chorus louder in the mix, as per the request of one correspondent. In order to do this the cartal sound (which is strong in the chorus mic) untamed. I've put a multipressor (a multiband compressor) on it to try to bring it down a little. Having the vocals louder is nice, but the cartals become overbearing. With a low-pass filter on the cartals go down in the mix, but the vocals disappear.

For future recordings I think I'll mic up the audience/chorus with a couple of Behringer C2s, strategically placed behind the cartal players. In that case a microphone specifically to close mic the cartals (to avoid that "playing in a cavern effect") might be a good idea. That way their presence in the mix can be controlled later. Highly directional (hypercardioid) mics such as the Shure Beta series seem like a good avenue of investigation, to avoid leakage of the cartals into other tracks.

The 66Hz tone is still being triggered from the bottom end of the mrdanga [see here], but as Janardana was playing "laghu" style it doesn't feature so much. With the emphasis on the top end of the mrdanga it doesn't sound so plastic. It might be worth investigating replacing the bottom end of the mrdanga with a triggered sound, and using the capture of the top end, for future recordings of badly tuned Balarama bottom ends. Great mrdanga performance on this track.

I also left the same "Minimum Voltage, Maximum Illusion" set up with the vocal, routing the uncompressed vocal track through the reverb [see here]. In a proper mix down I'll have to make some adjustments, as you can hear it go over the top in the line beginning "Dekho ore bhai".

I'm not sure how this sounds along with the other mixes. Together they probably aren't going to come out sounding like an album, as I'm experimenting and learning things as I go. I think I'll just mix each one in isolation, then listen to them all together at the end.

Anyway, here it is:

• Parama Karuna (mp3, 16MB, 11 min)

Sorry about the couple of minutes silence at the end..

I just returned from a visit with to Columbus and Athens Ohio. In Columbus there was a very beautiful initiation ceremony, many wonderful devotees who I have known for long time, and many since the very beginning of their connection to Krishna in this lifetime, received initiation.

It was wonderful to be able to witness how these devotees have grown up in Krishna consciousness. Life will now carry these different devotees in different directions, but I feel privileged to have shared this special time with them and to have been able to serve them in some way.

It is also the end of an era for me personally. On this trip I had a couple of conversations with my spiritual master, Srila Radhanath Swami, and we concluded that at this point in my life the best way for me to move forward in my Krishna consciousness is to change ashrams. I will officially do tomorrow on Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi.

I will be applying to Stanford and possibly some other graduate schools, most probably in the area, to pursue a PHD, in Philosophy. I am hoping to continue my service at Stanford, beyond that I’m not sure about any other details.

I apologize for misrepresenting myself as something I wasn’t.

I sincerely beg the forgiveness of all the vaisnavas, I know that out of false pride I have offended many of you and and I beg your blessings for the next step in my journey.

Your Servant,
Gauranga Kishore Das

This is fresh, heard one hour ago: at the Bhaktivedanta Manor, near London, one initiation ceremony was held today, 2 June 2009. One of the initiates, a lady, had a recommendation from a devotee authorized to issue recommendations. She showed up, submitted the recommendation, fulfilled other requirements, and took initiation. You may tend to comment: “Haribol!” but no celebratory Haribols were heard from a temple president in another city who claims some “jurisdiction” over this person and who objects to the procedure, to the point—I hear—of saying that the initiation should be cancelled, rendered null and void. Another temple president, from yet another English city, is branding this reaction as “politics”… It seems that a holy ceremony for spiritual emancipation risks being tinged by power-politics and fuel some unholy game.

It’s with sadness and concern that I am writing this entry. I have been witnessing the sacred function of recommending a candidate for initiation debasing, in some cases, to a less-sacred social and psychological function of control and territorial jurisdiction.

I have seen a growing tendency of local yatras—on the city, nation and even continental level—imposing more and more demands on the candidates for initiation, a plethora of heavier prerequisites, even in direct contradiction and infringement of existing ISKCON laws.

Perhaps even more disturbingly, such edicts have often no foundation in sastric injunction or traditional Gaudiya Vaisnava practice (in other words, are products of mental speculation).

A couple of examples? In Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, the local temple arbitrarily decided that:

1. Candidates for initiation must accept a counselor if they ever want to be initiated.

2. All the members of the counselors’ council (ten people), must agree that the person is ready for initiation; even one objector has the power to veto the initiation.

ISKCON UK took the radical (and apparently illegitimate) step of doubling the preparation time for initiation: From six months (ISKCON law) of practice (sixteen rounds and four regs) before being able to request the pranama mantra from the guru of one’s choice to one year. After that, from six months (ISKCON law) waiting period before the initiation, to one year. So, from a total of a minimum one year of chanting sixteen rounds and following the four regulative principles, to a minimum of two years.

Not only that; they also demand financial contributions from the candidates, in open disregard of ISKCON law that clearly says:

“15.4.1 - Initiation of Congregational Devotees . . . It shall be prohibited to require a minimum donation or financial commitment or other requirements not mentioned by Srila Prabhupada or ISKCON Law.”

I could go on with examples of such anomalies, these “requirements not mentioned by Srila Prabhupada or ISKCON Law,” but you get the idea.

This situation raises a few questions, which I consider important for the understanding and the future of the mission. For instance, who in ISKCON has the legitimate authority to establish standards for initiation and corresponding requisites for recommendation? My answer: The Governing Body Commission and no one else. Letting each smaller or larger ISKCON enclave establish its own norms is tantamount of declaring those branches and areas beyond GBC control in this most sacred and crucial field of initiating new devotees.

Unfortunately conditioned human (and animal) tendency is to attempt to dominate and control other living entities (tendency known in Sanskrit as “isvara bhava”); Temple Presidents and other officers who aren’t yet completely free from this tendency might rationalize “dovetailing” it in Krishna consciousness by establishing more stringent rules than the elaborate guidelines already existing in ISKCON law. I am not doubting that some of them might have genuine concern for the preparation of the candidates or sincere interest in seeing the process applied as purely and carefully as possible; at the same time the “isvara bhava” might creep in the form of:

1. Unauthorizedly forcing upon candidates new strictures and burdens.

2. Demanding some form of emotional, financial, social and/or service allegiance to one’s own project.

3. Enjoying the subtle (or gross) power of determining if the initiation will take place or not, while keeping the candidates on their toes and exerting some submission-inducing pressure.

4. Having the satisfaction of blockading or immobilizing the process of formal development of the relation between guru and disciple (perhaps unconsciously thinking: “I might not be on the level of giving initiation, but at least I can stop it from being given!”)

What could be the solution to this often painful social and spiritual stalemate?

While we should work to re-establish ISKCON law where it has been locally overturned and disregarded, I am proposing we take a good look at the possibility of deregulating the whole process by empowering other devotees to provide the recommendation.

What do you think about having three brahmanas signing the recommendation? Three devotees—in “good standing”—who have second initiation, who know the candidate well enough to be able to say: “To the best of my understanding I trust this person’s assurance that s/he is chanting sixteen rounds daily and following the four regulative principles.”

Why the temple should be bothered or burdened with the responsibility of being the only authorized outlet for recommending people? Any sastric evidence for such an idea, that the spiritual life of people should be somewhat negotiated only and exclusively through the administrative structures of the places of worship? In Vaisnavism we don’t have a demarcation between clergy and laity: second initiation and the privilege to directly serve the Deities are open to every member of the extended community. Why not empowering those who have come to the stage of being second initiated devotees with the opportunity to recommend candidates for initiation? Why a brahmana living outside the temple should be considered less reliable than every temple officer?

This simplification may well result in less headaches for the temples (who often don’t know the candidates very well); less opportunity for ego-centric controlling sprees; less psychological burdens and tensions for the candidates (who often feel forced to play the political game to be able to get recommended); less artificial strictures on the holy interaction between guru and disciple; less (apparently adharmic) domination by younger devotees who restrict more senior devotees (gurus) in their services to the movement.

I look forward to hear from you about the cases of local yatras inventing stricter rules than those already existing in ISKCON law and on your opinions on these delicate matters.

Krishna.com, the largest Krishna conscious website in the world, is launching an eLearning effort. Our new Bhakti Academy encourages devotees from all around the world, and those interested in learning more about Krsna Consciousness, to study Srila Prabhuapda\'s books online in the association of devotees. We invite you to take advantage of these facilities, and inform others they are now available. Our first project is a Bhagavad-gita As It Is eCourse; studying One Chapter each week for 19 weeks, with a short mid-term break. Several tools enhance online learning of Bhagavad-gita, the book Srila Prabhupada declared "the essence of Vedic knowledge"

Here's the crew of last Saturday's culinary event held in the penthouse apartment of our gracious host Faye, (top row, second-from-right).

We had a great time, with magnificent 360-degree views of the ocean, beaches, and other lovely sub-tropical things.

Club New Vrndavan continue their campaign against Darwin and evolutionary theory (personally my campaign is against religious atheism, which I distinguish from those two). The latest installment is a review of the book "Nature's IQ". Here's an excerpt from a review on their site:

Darwin himself discovered the frog in Chile (Rhinoderma darwinii). After female Darwin’s frogs lay their eggs on wet beaches, males sense the scent of the eggs and fertilize them. They then station themselves beside the eggs in groups and guard them for about twenty days. When the developing eggs begin to move in their tiny, jelly-like globules, the males lean over to them and gulp—they seemingly eat them! Of course, they do not eat the eggs but instead place them with their tongue into their long expandable vocal pouch, situated in the lower part of ther body. The eggs continue to develop in the vocal pouch until one day the male suddenly yawns widely, and the fully developed baby frogs jump out of his mouth….

…For viable offspring to hatch, the frog father must know that he has to keep an eye on the eggs. Furthermore, he has to have the instincts commanding the right behavior: when the young are about to hatch, he has to get them into his specially structured vocal pouch. And when they are fully developed, he has to set them free. If any of these elements were missing, the frog’s reproduction would be unsuccessful. Therefore, it is inconceivable that the Darwin’s frog and its special way of reproduction came into existence step by step, as a result of small changes….It is inconceivable that this frog species, with its specialized behavior, came into existence by a sudden large-scale mutation….The chance mutation of these genes causing a series of concerted, appropriate behaviors would be more than a miracle.

The (favorable) reviewer then goes on to say:

This excerpt provides one example of the methodology employed in analyzing and diffusing evolution theory in terms of reproduction and survival of offspring. Other sections cover predation, defense, symbiosis, animal communication, navigation, and mating behaviors.

Eeek. I hope it gets better than that.

In an evolutionary schema things do not spring forth fully formed. For example, take a look at the evolution of pop music. Pop music today utilizes various musical elements, and various intricate electronic elements. If you were to look at recorded music in the 1930's and that of the latter years of the first decade of the 21st century (that is to say: today), you'd see a great difference.

That didn't happen overnight. There are a series of innovations and gradual developments that lead from single microphone recordings of acoustic instruments to digital audio workstations, vocoders, and auto-tune.

So to imply that evolutionary theory requires all the elements of a complex arrangement to all become present simultaneously is disingenuous.

Obviously there is a difference between pop music and biological organisms, and I'm sure someone is going to pull out a comment about orders of magnitude, but my point here is related to evolutionary development and gradual appearance of increasing complexity.

A series of biological innovations can be postulated that would eventually lead to the particular combination of factors observed in these frogs. In fact, if you observe any system where the conscious living entity, the jiva, is in contact with and animating the material elements, you find all kinds of surprising, unexpected, and frankly wonderful arrangements developing over time.

I've heard evolutionary defenders explain their perspective on the development of the eye, another favorite "irreducibly complex" argument point of anti-evolutionists, and they have a coherent narrative in that area.

Of course, you may not be able to find all the intermediate steps in the fossil record, but as a theoretical exercise it's not a show-stopper.

That's not to say that a particular evolutionary narrative is "true". However, in the battle of theoretical narratives I do not find the argument that intricate complexity is not possible through evolutionary development to be particularly compelling.

Come join us for a three part seminar on the Art of HAPPINESS.

Ace Simpson, international speaker, and who’s working on a Phd in Positive Psychology will give us powerful tools to grasp the happiness we’ve always wanted. June 3rd, 10th and 17th, at 6pm at the Loft Yoga Lounge. Don’t miss this!  

Russell Brand consults spiritual guru

You could never accuse Russell Brand of being conventional, so after seeking enlightenment in drink, drugs and women, the comic is giving his spiritual side a go.

He is apparently paying visits to a guru called Radhanath Swami.

Russell said: "I’m a spiritual gent. Increasingly that’s the level I want to vibrate on, were it not for my crazed lust for sex and glamour."

Speaking of Swami, who is a member of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Russell said: "He’s a beautiful fellow. He’s got the answer."

If he takes this as seriously as he does his pursuit of women then he'll be a monk before the week is out!

Check out the original article here.

Satsvarupa dasa Goswami - June 2, 4:45 A.M.

There was noise in the house last night, and I put earplugs in when I went to bed. I slept the whole night through without waking. I didn’t wake until 4:15 A.M, so I’m starting my morning late.

5:02 A.M.

Early-morning japa log

I concentrated on speed. I chanted too fast to be contemplative. Two of my rounds were chanted at five minutes per round. It was like being on a rollercoaster ride. But I was wide awake and alert. All I did was think of the sounds I was making and listened to the syllables of the names. I chanted at a whisper, but like a waterfall. I was happy to be making up for my late start. We will be able to go to the beach and chant some more. I’ll have to make up my rounds later in the day, but that’s all right. I should not be fanatical about having to get all my rounds chanted before breakfast. The main thing is to chant with attention. Beyond that, immerse yourself in the meanings of the holy names.

from the yellow submarine, my bhajana kutir #90→

Isn't this just so beautiful? You can listen to more of Manjari's sweet bhajans and kirtans here

There is a story of identical twins.

One was a hope-filled optimist. "Everything is coming up roses!" he would say. The other twin was a sad and hopeless pessimist. He thought that Murphy, as in Murphy's Law, was an optimist. The worried parents of the boys brought them to the local psychologist.

He suggested to the parents a plan to balance the twins personalities.

"On their next birthday, put them in separate rooms to open their gifts. Give the pessimist the best toys you can afford, and give the optimist a box of manure."

The parents followed these instructions and carefully observed the results.

When they peeked in on the pessimist, they heard him audibly complaining,

"I don't like the color of this computer . . I'll bet this calculator will break . . . I don't like the game . . . I know someone who's got a bigger toy car than this . . ."

Tiptoeing across the corridor, the parents peeked in and saw their little optimist gleefully throwing the manure up in the air. He was giggling.

"You can't fool me! Where there's this much manure, there's got to be a pony!"

Devout followers of the Hare Krishna tradition are used to the idea of enthusiastically celebrating their spirituality through chanting, dancing and feasting!  The feasting is such an important part of our tradition, that we have become known as the "kitchen religion"!

Here is another new series,
Recently I was invited to participate in the Texas Faith Panel. This new column in the Dallas Morning News, William McKenzie/Editorial Columnist describes as follows ,

Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.

This weeks question.President Barack Obama has made it clear that he wanted a Supreme Court justice with a sense of empathy. Since then, a debate has ballooned up about what empathy means.

Some see it as a code word for judicial activism. Some see it as a trait needed to understand a litigant. The New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote last week that:

"People without social emotions like empathy are not objective decision-makers. They are sociopaths who sometimes end up on death row....But because we're emotional creatures in an idiosyncratic world, it's prudent to have judges who are cautious, incrementalist and minimalist."

I'm not looking for your views on whether Sonia Sotomayor would make a good justice, but I am interested in your thoughts about the role -- and limits -- of emotion in guiding individuals.

People of faith clearly have been known to be passionate about their beliefs. The joy they have in their faith often is seen as a positive, even by skeptics.

But here's the question of the week: How much can anyone rely upon emotion in shaping their religious experience and the way they act in the world? and here was the response:

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas

There is no possibility of personal relationship without emotion. Religion means to develop one's loving relationship with God. Such a relationship involves emotion.

The soul is different from the body as a driver is different from his vehicle. Emotion is properly utilized when the individual acts upon the spiritual emotions of the soul, selfless service to God, rather than just the selfish motivations of the body.

There are 9 stages in developing ones spiritual perfection, a loving relationship with God. They are as follows:

1)Shraddha, Initial faith, then one seeks, 2)Sadhu Sanga, Saintly association, by such association one begins, 3)Bhajana-Kriya, Engaging in service with devotion, which causes, 4)Anarta nivritti, The unwanted tendencies in the heart to be eradicated, which is then followed by 5)Nistha, Firm faith which leads to, 6)Ruchi, Pure taste for devotion to God 7)Asakti, Actual attachment to God, 8)Bhava, Preliminary love of God, 9)Prema, Full in loving relationship with the Lord.

If one is governed by emotions that are motivated by the desires and needs of the material body and mind, one will be stunted in their spiritual growth. However if one purifies the mind, as in stage 4, from all lust, greed, envy, etc, then one can properly utilize ones emotions in spiritual growth.

As Krishna states in the Bhagavad Gita Ch6.4-6,

"A person is said to be elevated in yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities.

One must deliver himself with the help of his mind, and not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well. For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy."

Hare Krishna :)
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das
http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/06/texas-faith-whats-the-role-of.html

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Rasa Rasika dasa

I guess it was time for some purification alright!  It turned out to be of two types known well to devotees - the sublime and the challenging.  I arrived there with a bit of a dodgy stomach from too many chips fried in probably equally dodgy oil during my brief stay in Vrindavana.   No further details on this - you probably know the scenario.  Anyway, I was well on the mend on arrival in Mayapur dhama.  I was to stay with most remarkable Ramadevi, godsister of decades beyond belief.  This was a prime motive for coming to Mayapur as she is “seamstress” extraordinaire (as previously described) and I was desperately hoping she’d help me out with some clothes for our lovely Gaura Nitai as at this point they only had one set and no shirt patterns.  Sitala and I marched over in Hari Nama Sankirtana from her flat to Rama’s, each holding one of Their Lordships and feeling really ecstatic to be in the Dhama, chanting Hare Krishna along the road with Gaura Nitai.  Naturally, Rama was astonished and very happy to see Them at her door and even pleased to see me too.  They took Their place in Rama’s living room next to her altar with Srila Prabhupada and Giriraja.  From this point on They had fabulous breakfasts!  Because of only having one outfit, we made use of a couple of silk shawls that I’d bought and Rama turned them into “all in one” outfits” with no sewing as an interim measure.  As it goes, Gaura Nitai really looked great in this style and they have a few outfits like this now.  I am a lousy sewer so I guess my standard will be to use what I can that will work and accept with gratitude any “proper outfits” offered by those special entities gifted with the ability to sew.  It’s not right, as my dad was a master cutter and my mother could machine but something went wrong with the genes.  Anyway, this may come in as a useful tip for any other lousy sewers.

Rama is always engaged in making Pancatattva’s outfits and other arrangements for Their Lordships so I was very lucky that she made two nice dresses for Gaura Nitai, as well as some jewellery.  We are going to keep it pretty simple though.  Still, I guess that the Deities will gradually reveal Their “style.”  Here are some pics:  

Here is a picture of Giriraja who lives with Ramadevi.  

                                                                                           

 

At this time of year, in the hot season, there are not so many devotees in Mayapur.  The Gaura Purnima festival has passed but the local residents get really excited as there are other very special days to celebrate.  It was the first time that I had seen the Mayapur Boat Festival which is a grand week of nightime fun as small Radha Madhava are taken in procession from the temple to Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi and then off They go on a boat around the lake.  Everyone turns out and brings pots of food preparations made in their own kitchens.  Offering after offering is made as the boat completes its journey round the pond to offload the maha prasad from the previous offering.  Somehow the pots find their way back to their owners who distribute the contents freely.  It is great fun and you never know what you are going to get next…..one minute Rama’s really hot halva and the next someone is pouring noodles or sweet rice into your outstretched hand.  Kirtans are wonderful and devotees are seated all round the lake paying obeisances as the Lords pass by.  The boat is rocked by enthusiastic brahmacaris to our fear and amazement as it continues its course without disaster.  Night after night this goes on and we all also get to offer ghee lamps as the Deities pass our sitting place allowing us to catch a glimpse of Them.  It’s a great family night out and everyone returns home intoxicated from the tasty preparations and wonderful festive mood, all under a starlit Mayapur sky.  

At this point we realised we had left our camera somewhere probably in Australia so there are no pics.  If you ‘d like to see some, I’m sure you will find them on www.mayapur.com   You’ll also get to see the photos of Sri Sri Radha Madhava during this week which is Candan Yatra.  It is the most stunning and exciting week and well looked forward to by dhama bhasis.   Big black Madhava’s exquisite form is anointed with sandalwood paste and so artfully done that it lasts all day without cracking or looking “clunky.”  (Clunky does not work for deity dressing or candan yatra.)  Kurma das brahmacari has had the service of smoothing the Lord’s body with candana for some years now and he has got it down to a fine art.  Somehow he manages to do it all and dress Srimati Radharani and Madhava with very nice turban and colourful painted decorations on top of the candan - all by the time of the Deity greeting (except for the first day which is a fantastic anti-climatic wait till the moment comes when the curtain opens and we’re knocked off our feet by the amazing beauty of Their Lordships).  All the other Deities have candana on Their foreheads but Madhava is the star of the show.  If you are ever unfortunate to be in India in this very hot time of year, you may well get sick from the heat, but you may also be fortunate enough to see Sri Madhava covered in candana.  The biggest surprise of all which actually somehow awakened some hope and desire in me to one day see Krishna in His spiritual abode, was the day that the candan was coloured blue!  Can you imagine!  If you didn’t know that this is being done, what you see is so out of your frame of reference that  you’re shocked into realising you are actually receiving the darshan of the Supreme all attractive Lord, Sri Krishna, of bluish colour, playing his flute with His consort, Srimati Radharana and the cowherd damsels gazing upon Him adoringly.  Of course, we kind of know conceptually that this is what darshan is about but from time to time, Krishna is so merciful that you actually experience a micro second of His divine presence in its ever freshness…………..your conceptual mind is blown to pieces as you are engaged in the experience of darshan.   Year after year, day by day we hear Yamuna’s loving rendition of the Govinda prayers…………another experience that is beyond ritual, that renews our faith and increases our love on a daily basis.  What a brilliant programme Srila Prabhupada established - requesting the Deities to come and receive our service from so early on in the establishment of ISKCON.  Who can surpass the genius of Srila Prabhupada, all such wonder coming from his pure desire to give us Krishna.  

Please see pics of Madhava at Candana Yatra on www.mayapur.com .  Hope there is one of the blue candana.

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

Book Review: Nature’s IQ: Extraordinary Animal Behaviors that Defy Evolution

Reviewed by Lavanya-mangala-devi dasi

Why do arctic terns fly 22,000 miles each year? How can a fish have both eyes on the same side of its body? What is the meaning of the complex patterns of dances performed by honeybees?

The answers to these questions and many more are shared in a virtual odyssey into the kingdom of nature entitled Nature’s IQ: Extraordinary Animal Behaviors that Defy Evolution (Torchlight Publishing, Inc. 2009). Released just after the 200^th Anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birthday, this English translation from the original Hungarian edition will delight inquisitive children, wizened sages, the young at heart, nature lovers, and Intelligent Design theorists alike. The authors, István Tasi (aka Isvara Krsna das), a Cultural Anthropologist and Theologian, and Balázs Hornyánszky, a Bioengineer, present case after compelling case supporting their thesis that Darwinian Evolution is not a logical sequitur of intricate and idiosyncratic animal behaviors but rather, natural intelligence reflects a supreme intelligence and designer. Richly illustrated, offering 200 exquisitely interesting color plates, this 160-page hardbound book scintillates with detail, intrigue, and wit, beckoning the curious reader onward into ensuing vignettes sparkling with enigmatic adventures of mysterious living entities.

A summary of “Darwin’s frogs” is given on pages 122-123:

Darwin himself discovered the frog in Chile (Rhinoderma darwinii). After female Darwin’s frogs lay their eggs on wet beaches, males sense the scent of the eggs and fertilize them. They then station themselves beside the eggs in groups and guard them for about twenty days. When the developing eggs begin to move in their tiny, jelly-like globules, the males lean over to them and gulp—they seemingly eat them! Of course, they do not eat the eggs but instead place them with their tongue into their long expandable vocal pouch, situated in the lower part of ther body. The eggs continue to develop in the vocal pouch until one day the male suddenly yawns widely, and the fully developed baby frogs jump out of his mouth….

…For viable offspring to hatch, the frog father must know that he has to keep an eye on the eggs. Furthermore, he has to have the instincts commanding the right behavior: when the young are about to hatch, he has to get them into his specially structured vocal pouch. And when they are fully developed, he has to set them free. If any of these elements were missing, the frog’s reproduction would be unsuccessful. Therefore, it is inconceivable that the Darwin’s frog and its special way of reproduction came into existence step by step, as a result of small changes….It is inconceivable that this frog species, with its specialized behavior, came into existence by a sudden large-scale mutation….The chance mutation of these genes causing a series of concerted, appropriate behaviors would be more than a miracle.

This excerpt provides one example of the methodology employed in analyzing and diffusing evolution theory in terms of reproduction and survival of offspring. Other sections cover predation, defense, symbiosis, animal communication, navigation, and mating behaviors.

The final chapter, entitled “The Source of Intelligence,” presents an alternative explanation referred to as “inverse evolution” from the Vedic ontology:

The Vedic account of the origin of species has three main principles: existence of a supreme person, living beings on other planets with special creative and multiplication abilities, and descent by modification.

The authors assert that incredible behavioral complexity, species diversity, amazing instinctual intelligence, and symbiotic relationships of living entities emanate from the source of all created beings, the Godhead, as described in elaborate detail throughout the voluminous ancient scriptures of East India. They conclude that “In reality, nature’s IQ is the creator’s IQ.”

Employing a distinctly innovative approach, Nature’s IQ offers original and valuable insights for the Intelligent Design community; however, Charles Darwin’s followers might also find it interesting!

Nature’s IQ website: http://www.naturesiq.com

Available from: http://www.torchlight.com and http://www.mcremo.com/order.htm

Bhagavata-sparsa is a new three-month course offered to you under the direction of Sri Gopiparanadhana Prabhu by the Srimad-Bhagavata Vidyapitham, an educational project set up by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami and HH Umapati Swami inaugurated the course and offered their blessings to students. Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja stated that educational institutions are the real ornaments of Mayapur. He thanked Vidvan Gauranga prabhu for working hard to establish Srimad Bhagavat Vidyapitam in Mayapur.

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Enjoying the intimate rasa of chivalry, Krsna enjoyed the wounds Bhisma inflicted on him. Srila Prabhupada writes about Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura's explanation of this phenomenon as follows: "the wounds created on the body of the Lord by the sharpened arrows of Bhismadeva were as pleasing to the Lord as the biting of a fiancee who bites the body of the Lord directed by a strong sense of sex desire. Such biting by the opposite sex is never taken as a sign of enmity, even if there is a wound on the body.

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In the weeks leading up to the visit of HG Vaisesika das to Toronto's vibrant Hare Krishna temple, excitement began to build about finally bursting beyond the doors of our comfortable home at 243 Avenue Road and hitting the streets to share Krishna Consciousness, our spiritual culture, through sankirtan.  

Nrisimha Deva abhishek in Mayapur

By Amogha das

Translations of Chinese and Russian versions of Mayapur Lord Nrsimhadeva's pastimes have appeared online. The Chinese translation is by Her Grace Jahnava devi dasi, a disciple His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami.

1975 June 2: "There are many examples in history of persons who have been very much disabled but have also executed Krishna Consciousness. So, you should follow their example."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 June 2: "What is the use of criticizing Sai Baba and creating some enemies? Do not do this in public meetings. It is different to do it in a private meeting."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1974 June 2: "I am appointing you as the regular GBC representative. I know you will discharge the duties with full responsibility, especially seeing that the spiritual life in the temples is not neglected."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1969 June 2: "Please take nice care of this boy. There are so many good souls we must inform. When another man is sent by Krishna to help us it is our duty to help him understand Krishna Consciousness as far as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 June 2: "This is the sure and certain method of propagating Krishna Consciousness. Simply chant Hare Krishna with karatalas and mrdanga and speak from Bhagavad-gita, then automatically the people become attracted."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

On the evening of 31 May 2009, in the ISKCON Klang, Malaysia temple room, which was packed full with guests, I initiated two new disciples: Sanat Kumar das and Sacisuta das. Initiation is the most auspicious event because it is at the time of initiation that the devotee enters into deathlessness or immortality. Of course, this requires that he strictly...

1970 June 2: "There will be no difficulty to maintain a center anywhere. So kindly you all together help me in these missionary activities and open at least 108 centers--that will satisfy me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 June 2: "I was so much anxious to hear from you in letter. So you please send me a letter at least once in a week, that will give me a great pleasure."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1974 June 2: "I have decided to send Karandhara to India to replace Tamala Krsna Goswami. Please give him all cooperation and work together for advancement of our mission to make the people of India Krishna Conscious."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1970 June 2: "There will be no difficulty to maintain a center anywhere. So kindly you all together help me in these missionary activities and open at least 108 centers--that will satisfy me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 June 2: "I was so much anxious to hear from you in letter. So you please send me a letter at least once in a week, that will give me a great pleasure."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1974 June 2: "I have decided to send Karandhara to India to replace Tamala Krsna Goswami. Please give him all cooperation and work together for advancement of our mission to make the people of India Krishna Conscious."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 June 2: "I am appointing you as the regular GBC representative. I know you will discharge the duties with full responsibility, especially seeing that the spiritual life in the temples is not neglected."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 June 2: "What is the use of criticizing Sai Baba and creating some enemies? Do not do this in public meetings. It is different to do it in a private meeting."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 June 2: "There are many examples in history of persons who have been very much disabled but have also executed Krishna Consciousness. So, you should follow their example."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1969 June 2: "Please take nice care of this boy. There are so many good souls we must inform. When another man is sent by Krishna to help us it is our duty to help him understand Krishna Consciousness as far as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 June 2: "This is the sure and certain method of propagating Krishna Consciousness. Simply chant Hare Krishna with karatalas and mrdanga and speak from Bhagavad-gita, then automatically the people become attracted."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Yesterday (30 May) was the 5 year since we received Harinam Diksha or first initiation. Your name will be ...My heart was beating fast, and my stomach was churning , my daughter wanted to be fed while I was sitting at the fire sacrifice. I looked at the grim faces of the Maharajas and Guru Maharaj as they talked about the ten defences and the gravity of of initiation and initiation vows. Will I

If you are planning to make a day visit to the farm retreat next weekend, you need to let Kesava know as soon as possible (0405 577 453).


If you have booked accommodation at the farm for the retreat, please note:

It was a very emotionally charged day today as the evening class was given by HH Jayapataka Swami (Bhaktivadanta Manor, London) I have recorded the class due to using the iphone and Maharaja’s continuing speech problems it is low, but you can hear the humor, thoughts and inspirational stories from his time in the hospital and [...]

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.9.12 - Free the mind from the fuel of the modes of nature.

Congratulations to the students and staff of Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School, for their realisation of Srila Prabhupada's desire that ISKCON should exemplify simple living and high thinking:


"The Council for the Indian Secondary Certificate of Education (CISCE) released their final exam results recently and Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School (BGIS) students in the 10th and 12th grade had a 100% pass rate."

My old friend Ben from Bendigo wrote me a letter:

"Mr.K, can you update your recipe of the week more often? I really look forward to it and often challenge myself to make it. One my favourite recipes would have to be the Mung Bean and Tomato Soup, and Palak Panir. Kind regards from Mr. Ben."

How do you Plead?: Due to circumstances beyond my control, I haven't updated the two recipe pages (Recipe of the Week and Vegan Recipe of the Week) for one month.

The verdict: Guilty as charged.

The repurcussions: Thou shalt publish those two pages weekly, without cessation.

Yes, Your Honour.

A few weeks ago, while we were in Hudson NY a CBS New film team came and hung out with us for about 8 hours. The unit was/is working on an interfaith religion special, called Faith, Music and Culture which will be broadcast Sunday, June 7, on the CBS Television Network nationwide. Click here for show times in your region (PDF).

CBS just put out a press release which can be read here.

Click here for show times in your region (PDF).

Satsvarupa dasa Goswami - June 1, 6:08 A.M.

Narayana brakes for birds that zip by our car as we drive to the beach. The tractor man waved to us for the first time. He is a stocky-built man and wears only a yellow T-shirt and jeans, even on cool days. Today the sprinters were out, the first time Narayana has seen them. I’ve seen them for many months, so I might as well mention them because they are a part of the scene. They are a man and woman in their thirties. He is tall and muscular and wears a T-shirt cut wide under the armpits. She is small and blonde. They have a racing ritual they follow. They each have bottles of water and drink frequently from them. They exchange waves with us. First they walk together the length of their racing track. Then he gives her a handicap, and she starts racing first for the length of three beach benches. She then raises her arm, and he bursts off at a furious pace, pumping his arms and legs. He usually catches up to her just as they reach the end of their track. They keep this up for about twenty minutes and then go home. A man was walking his dog, a German shepherd. The people bring their dogs out on a leash but then release them. The dogs are trained to run freely but eventually return to the master and submit to the leash.

I was more awake during my chanting today, I am happy to say. I chanted twelve rounds before we went on our walk. Only gradually my eyes began to grow heavy. I really like the beach schedule and the chanting in relative solitude. I like chanting with Narayana, who doesn’t dominate with a louder sound. I chant routinely, not always aware of the great significance of what I am doing, but as long as I pay attention to the sound vibration and keep my mind relatively undistracted, I am confident the mantra is working. I am achieving union with Krishna, even when I am not fully aware of it. He is kindly filling my being with His holy presence as Nama Prabhu. That’s why these early-morning beach routines are so precious. I feel I am fulfilling Rupa Goswami’s statement that even if you cannot be in Vrndavana physically, you an be there in your mind—by nicely chanting and hearing. Leaving the car and going for the walk adds a variety to the chanting whereby we usually chant louder and are more awake. Coming back to the car, we are refreshed for better chanting without drowsiness.

8:30 A.M.

I am challenged on my view that jazz is spiritual, Krishna consciousness. But what is spiritual? It is being close to God, inspired by Him. Rejoicing in His being the Creator and in His playful, profound pastimes. Reverence for His creation. Beautiful music played by players dedicated to expressing their hearts and souls. It is not confined to a certain ethnic, religious form of music. It is not trivial or frivolous. It is serious, but joyous, too.

“Things Are Getting Better.” Cannonball Adderley, featuring Milt Jackson on vibraphone. What a nice sentiment. Our chanting is getting better. Our collarbone is getting better. We’re growing older, but we’re happier because we feel closer to Krishna. We’re calm and less stressed. Cannonball Adderley plays on his alto sax with a bluesy hard-bop feeling. He’s expressing that things are getting better. That’s how it should be in the spiritual life. Things don’t get worse. Even if material obstacles come that would tend to make us think things are getting worse, our soul reaches to Krishna, and we feel improvement. Cannonball expresses it in an earthy way, playing notes quickly on this medium-tempo piece. He makes you feel happy just by hearing his sound. So theologically, things are getting better, and they’re getting better by the moment, just by hearing Cannonball. Milt Jackson, on the vibraphone, is a celestial sound, but also bluesy. Things are getting better on earth as well as in the spiritual world. The devotees on earth who worship Krishna are getting better, not necessarily in their material dealings. They may not be getting more material amenities, but they’re swinging with good music, which they are able to hear freely. Things are getting better down at the beach. The weather’s nicer, and I’m not so drowsy when I chant. My friend Narayana and I are getting along better. He’s feeling better, getting enough rest, and getting in time for creative writing. Dattatreya is getting more photos of the aquatic bugs, and they’re coming out better, due to his expertise with the technical photographic equipment. Narayana’s making fresh bread today. It’s a simple tune, played over and over on vibraphone and alto sax. It’s really uplifting. You want to tap your toe and express your happiness. The music makes you really believe it. Things are getting better.

“Delilah.” Milt Jackson on vibes again, and Wes Montgomery on guitar. Delilah must be the name of a woman, but there’s nothing about her in the song. It’s a true collaboration of two expert musicians. Collaboration means it’s not that one is the dominant leader and the other is just the background man. But two artists of similar status and differing but compatible approaches played together. They’re getting together was personal as well as musical. Riverside insisted on using their number one rhythm section—Sam Jones on bass, Philly Joe Jones on drums, and Wynton Kelley on piano. The leaders were in agreement with this, and so the whole thing is a collaboration of people happy to play together. Vaisnavas should work in collaboration, not trying to outdo each other but contributing in equal measure, giving each other space for solos and producing something overall that’s nicer than any one outstanding talent. Delilah would like it. When people work together, you get the best results, and each one is happy and satisfied. This is the art of collaboration. But Wes Montgomery’s guitar certainly stands out, with its sharp-noted musicality. The way he plays the individual notes is delightful. Collaboration doesn’t mean merging without individuality. But when they play together, all their individual talents bring a solid oneness in variety.

“Trav’lin’ Light.” Here is another collaboration, a combining of people from different places in the world. Sometimes they have to come together from distances, but when they get together, their affinity stands out. Here is Ben Webster on tenor sax and Joe Zawinul on piano. It’s from a CD called Soul Mates. It’s a very tender, slow ballad. The people who are trav’lin’ light are usually not big family men with houses and children to take care of. A musician may be like that, going here and there, getting gigs, ready to move when there’s another opportunity to play. The Riverside writer says it was his only opportunity to record Ben Webster, one of his all-time heroes, and so the record is a rare collector’s item. Collaborations are sometimes rare moments of getting people together who are hard to find in the same place. It’s special. This “Trav’lin’ Light” is very soulful. I can think of it as an offering to Krishna, made in reverence and intimacy. Krishna used to travel light, also. You don’t hear of Him with many suitcases and much paraphernalia. He walked barefoot throughout Vraja, carrying mostly just His flute and His buffalo bugle. He liked to travel light so that He could go quickly to the gopis without delay And sometimes He was in this quiet mood, too, moving slowly through the night in a soulful mood, eager to meet with Radharani.

“Tickletoe.” These are two ferocious tenor players playing together in 1960, extending a long-standing jazz tradition of tenor sax “battles.” The tenor players are Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. Their competition is not a fight. It’s hard to tell one from another when they play their solos. Davis is a little more fierce. But they’re both playing fast. It’s a natural collaboration initiated by two musicians deciding to work together. These two played together often during the 1960s, displaying their “battles” in nightclubs and on recording dates. So collaboration can be like that, too, a kind of contest. They’re playing a melody composed by the great tenor sax man Lester Young. Krishna could dance as fast as this easily. He sometimes competed with Lord Balarama on a dancing stage. They tried to outdo each other. That was an excellent collaboration and competition. First one performed, and then the other one outperformed Him, and then the other one outperformed Him, with perspiration, fancy footwork, legwork, and whole-body work. It built up and up into higher and higher states of ecstasy and effort. The speed was fast.

10:30 A.M.

My Dear Lord Krishna...

I’m praying for the right balance between remorse and confidence of forgiveness. I committed a grave mistake some years ago and needed to feel remorse for my wrong. I could not just brush it off and not feel sorry to You, Lord, for my offense. Feeling bad was required. The dictionary defines remorse as “a sense of deep regret, a guilt for some misdeed.” The Christians use the word “compunction” as a general feeling of regret, not just for one isolated act but for our whole sinful attitude and neglect of devotion to God. They believe compunction is a requirement of a good Christian. It is similar to the Sanskrit word dainya, or “feelings of unworthiness,” which are also recommended for an aspiring Vaisnava. I don’t want to fail to have these feelings for my specific and general offenses to You, my Lord. You and Srila Prabhupada have taught me the difference between right and wrong, and I have sometimes defied You and have chosen to do wrong. My conscience bites me for these choices, for the misuse of my tiny amount of free will. At certain moments, I recall them, and I am overwhelmed with sorrow and regret. I have been wounded by my wrongs, and sometimes the wounds open again and I feel pain. If I did not feel this remorse, I would be guilty of hardheartedness and have no chance of redemption. So I do not resent the unhappy recollections of sadness over my wrongs. They are personal insults to You, Lord, and therefore I have acted like a demon and not a loving devotee.

But You are very kind, especially to Your aspiring devotees, and You are inclined to accept their sincere remorse and to forgive them. I need to be aware of this and not consider myself forever doomed for offenses. The scriptures state that You wipe away the offenses of devotees if they are resolute in their determination to serve You. In the Bhagavad-gita, You state, “Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in devotional service, he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated in his determination” (Bg. 9.30). In his purport to this verse, Prabhupada says that it is a warning to the nondevotee “that because of an accidental falldown, a devotee should not be derided; he should still be considered saintly, even if he has accidentally fallen down. If one does not follow this rule and derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then one is disobeying the Supreme Lord. The only qualification of a devotee is to be unflinchingly and exclusively engaged in devotional service.” Prabhupada, however, further warns that “no one should take advantage of this verse and commit nonsense and think he is still a devotee.”

Therefore, I say I am trying to find a balance. I want to feel that You have forgiven me for my wrongs, but I don’t want to let myself off easily. It appears that the main criterion for my salvation is not to commit any more wrongs and to be very strict in my behavior. I should also remain remorseful over the sins I have already committed. In the section of the Sixth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, where Ajamila is rescued by the Visnudutas, Prabhupada states that we should always remember what we were and what we have become now, by Krishna’s grace. We should not forget our past mistakes or stop feeling sorry for them.

So I am praying to You, Krishna, for protection from any further offenses. Maya is very powerful, and even an advanced devotee may be victimized. Some of the greatest mistakes are offenses against devotees and attraction to women. There are many other obstacles on the path of devotional service, and I do not think I am above succumbing to them. If I can keep active in preaching Krishna consciousness, I can purify myself from mediocrity and poor performance of duties. I know I am lacking in this area and need to be more daring. When one is fully engaged, there is no room for Maya to enter and cause falldown.

My dear Lord Krishna, please give me a push to be fully occupied in Your service and free from the causes of entanglement by Maya. Then I will not have to feel new causes for remorse.

from the yellow submarine, my bhajana kutir #89→

This past weekend ISKCON Toronto was blessed to have the association of HG Vaisesika Prabhu. Prabhu came from ISKCON Silicon Valley to give a small seminar on book distribution.

For those who haven't had the fortune of hearing Vaisesika prabhu, please find a way without delay! He is so inspirational and so humble. He is truly a role model for both the younger generation of aspiring devotees and the advanced senior ones.

After a Friday night presentation talking about how we should all become "Ambassadors of Good Will" and techniques on how to distribute books, devotees left the temple feeling exhilarated and inspired! The following day, over 30 devotees came for the second part of the mini-seminar....to hit the road!

After a training exercise on how to approach individuals and present the books, devotees were divided into teams and headed to four different spots in the city for a day of book distribution.

The day was so INCREDIBLE! Vaisesika prabhu spent approximately 1 hour at each location and would then head to the next one and so all the devotees got to see the Master in action! In fact many devotees would just stand and watch, wanting to see how Prabhu would speak and enthrall the passer-by's!

Prabhu's incredible compassion and enthusiasm to give Krsna to everyone was so palpable. Everyone was overwhelmed by how people would reciprocate as Prabhu established heart-heart connections with the people walking by.

Book distribution is so dear to Srila Prabhupada and it was truly a privilege to learn the art of sharing this transcendental knowledge from a devotee who has made this their life's mission: to fulfill Srila Prabhupada's greatest desire of making sure everyone in this material world come in contact with his books and get an opportunity to re-develop their relationship with Krsna.

Thank you Vaisesika prabhu for giving us all a glimpse into how nectarean sankirtan actually is! Sankirtana yajna ki JAI!

Check out the pics below of the happy devotees out on the streets!

REINCARNATION IN MANHATTAN
by Woody Allen

(Source: www.newyorker.com/humor/2009/03/30/090330sh_shouts_allen)

Two weeks ago, Abe Moscowitz dropped dead of a heart attack and was reincarnated as a lobster. Trapped off the coast of Maine, he was shipped to Manhattan and dumped into a tank at a posh Upper East Side seafood restaurant. In the tank there were several other lobsters, one of whom recognized him. “Abe, is that you?” the creature asked, his antennae perking up.

“Who’s that? Who’s talking to me?” Moscowitz said, still dazed by the mystical slam-bang postmortem that had transmogrified him into a crustacean.

“It’s me, Moe Silverman,” the other lobster said.

“O.M.G.!” Moscowitz piped, recognizing the voice of an old gin-rummy colleague. “What’s going on?”

“We’re reborn,” Moe explained. “As a couple of two-pounders.”

“Lobsters? This is how I wind up after leading a just life? In a tank on Third Avenue?”

“The Lord works in strange ways,” Moe Silverman explained. “Take Phil Pinchuck. The man keeled over with an aneurysm, he’s now a hamster. All day, running at the stupid wheel. For years he was a Yale professor. My point is he’s gotten to like the wheel. He pedals and pedals, running nowhere, but he smiles.”

Moscowitz did not like his new condition at all. Why should a decent citizen like himself, a dentist, a mensch who deserved to relive life as a soaring eagle or ensconced in the lap of some sexy socialite getting his fur stroked, come back ignominiously as an entrée on a menu? It was his cruel fate to be delicious, to turn up as Today’s Special, along with a baked potato and dessert. This led to a discussion by the two lobsters of the mysteries of existence, of religion, and how capricious the universe was, when someone like Sol Drazin, a schlemiel they knew from the catering business, came back after a fatal stroke as a stud horse impregnating cute little thoroughbred fillies for high fees. Feeling sorry for himself and angry, Moscowitz swam about, unable to buy into Silverman’s Buddha-like resignation over the prospect of being served thermidor.

At that moment, who walked into the restaurant and sits down at a nearby table but Bernie Madoff. If Moscowitz had been bitter and agitated before, now he gasped as his tail started churning the water like an Evinrude.

“I don’t believe this,” he said, pressing his little black peepers to the glass walls. “That goniff who should be doing time, chopping rocks, making license plates, somehow slipped out of his apartment confinement and he’s treating himself to a shore dinner.”

“Clock the ice on his immortal beloved,” Moe observed, scanning Mrs. M.’s rings and bracelets.

Moscowitz fought back his acid reflux, a condition that had followed him from his former life. “He’s the reason I’m here,” he said, riled to a fever pitch.

“Tell me about it,” Moe Silverman said. “I played golf with the man in Florida, which incidentally he’ll move the ball with his foot if you’re not watching.”

“Each month I got a statement from him,” Moscowitz ranted. “I knew such numbers looked too good to be kosher, and when I joked to him how it sounded like a Ponzi scheme he choked on his kugel. I had to do the Heimlich maneuver. Finally, after all that high living, it comes out he was a fraud and my net worth was bupkes. P.S., I had a myocardial infarction that registered at the oceanography lab in Tokyo.”

“With me he played it coy,” Silverman said, instinctively frisking his carapace for a Xanax. “He told me at first he had no room for another investor. The more he put me off, the more I wanted in. I had him to dinner, and because he liked Rosalee’s blintzes he promised me the next opening would be mine. The day I found out he could handle my account I was so thrilled I cut my wife’s head out of our wedding photo and put his in. When I learned I was broke, I committed suicide by jumping off the roof of our golf club in Palm Beach. I had to wait half an hour to jump, I was twelfth in line.”

At this moment, the captain escorted Madoff to the lobster tank, where the unctuous sharpie analyzed the assorted saltwater candidates for potential succulence and pointed to Moscowitz and Silverman. An obliging smile played on the captain’s face as he summoned a waiter to extract the pair from the tank.

 

“This is the last straw!” Moscowitz cried, bracing himself for the consummate outrage. “To swindle me out of my life’s savings and then to nosh me in butter sauce! What kind of universe is this?”

Moscowitz and Silverman, their ire reaching cosmic dimensions, rocked the tank to and fro until it toppled off its table, smashing its glass walls and flooding the hexagonal-tile floor. Heads turned as the alarmed captain looked on in stunned disbelief. Bent on vengeance, the two lobsters scuttled swiftly after Madoff. They reached his table in an instant, and Silverman went for his ankle. Moscowitz, summoning the strength of a madman, leaped from the floor and with one giant pincer took firm hold of Madoff’s nose. Screaming with pain, the gray-haired con artist hopped from the chair as Silverman strangled his instep with both claws. Patrons could not believe their eyes as they recognized Madoff, and began to cheer the lobsters.

“This is for the widows and charities!” yelled Moscowitz. “Thanks to you, Hatikvah Hospital is now a skating rink!”

Madoff, unable to free himself from the two Atlantic denizens, bolted from the restaurant and fled yelping into traffic. When Moscowitz tightened his viselike grip on his septum and Silverman tore through his shoe, they persuaded the oily scammer to plead guilty and apologize for his monumental hustle.

By the end of the day, Madoff was in Lenox Hill Hospital, awash in welts and abrasions. The two renegade main courses, their rage slaked, had just enough strength left to flop away into the cold, deep waters of Sheepshead Bay, where, if I’m not mistaken, Moscowitz lives to this day with Yetta Belkin, whom he recognized from shopping at Fairway. In life she had always resembled a flounder, and after her fatal plane crash she came back as one.

From ISKCON News Weekly

Performing at ISKCON’s annual Festival of Inspiration this May for the seventh time in a row, professional comedian Yadunath Dasa is a ball of energy and edgy humor. His distinctive New Jersey accent booms out over the sound system as he simultaneously plays on the audience’s familiarity with internal ISKCON quirks and throws them unexpected curveballs, plunging them into waves of hysterical laughter.

Perhaps misguidedly, I expect to interview the same character—someone loud, gregarious, and delivering an incessant flow of punchlines.

What I get is a Yadunath who looks the same as he does onstage—small and wiry, smiley, and at 47, possessed of eternally youthful features. But this man is also thoughtful, almost quiet, careful in his answers and very genuine, both in his general attitude and in the depth of his feelings for spiritual life. “When I’m on stage, I have no qualms about being ‘big,’” he says. “But it’s a little uncomfortable for me when people want me to perform offstage too. Sometimes devotees will say stuff like, “I’m not letting you past here unless you tell me a joke.” I usually tense up when that happens, because I don’t have any back-pocket stuff. I don’t really tell jokes, like ‘a Hare Krishna and a Buddhist walk into a bar.’”

Born Joe DeGise II in New Jersey, where he still lives, Yadunath started his theater career early, putting on shows for his grandparents…

Read complete article here

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 5, No. 9a
By Krishna-kripa das
(May 2009, part one, section a)
Antwerp, Munich, Zurich, Bern, and Langenthal
(Sent from Antwerp, Belgium, on 6/1/09)

Highlights
Spiritual Encounters
Harinamas in Munich and Switzerland
Personal Reflection
Insights from Sacinandana Swami, Kadamba Kanana Swami, and Navina Nirada Prabhu

Where I Am and What I Am Doing

After Queen’s Day, we did harinama with five devotees headed by Yadunandana Swami in a square in Antwerp, Belgium, on two consecutive days. Then I returned to Amsterdam, where Dhananjaya Prabhu engaged me in giving the Sunday lecture on the “lamp in a windless place” verse in Bhagavad-gita to their packed little temple. Earlier I went out on harinama by myself on that gray day with sporadic rain. Eager to attend a public sankirtana program with Sacinandana Swami in Munich and the Nrsimha festival at Simachalam, I spent an hour finding a flight for just 55 euros from Brussels on Brussels Airlines for the following day. After a great five-hour harinama in Munich, we went to Simhachalam for the Nrsimha festival which I describe in a separate issue. Kadambda Kanana Swami suggested I go to Zurich, and I got a ride there with devotees from the festival. I did harinamas there and in Bern and Langenthal while on my first trip to Switzerland as a devotee, which turned out to be a very pleasant experience because of the friendliness of the devotees.

Spiritual Encounters

I talked to one photography student who asked permission to photograph our party in Antwerp, Belgium, and proceed to take many pictures. When I heard his assignment was to take pictures that give evidence of devotion, I smiled thinking how nicely Krishna arranged for him to stumble across the harinama party that day. He was excited as his other pictures were of the local Catholics, and he was glad to include other traditions as well.

I met three families from Nepal who had moved to Antwerp, one at the temple and one on each harinama. So many encounters with people from a single country was a surprise for me.

I also talked to a local Belgian who has been attending different religious services, including Hare Krishna ones, for years. The man likes Krishna consciousness because the programs include a spiritual service, socializing, and good food, while others often leave one with unfulfilled needs. As we talked, he mentioned that each Belgian province maintains one psychiatrist specifically assigned to counsel priests whose minds are troubling them, often with feelings of loneliness. Later I mentioned that to Lokanath Swami who used it in Srimad-Bhagavatam class as an example of the degradation of the age. Formerly, when the varnasrama social system was functioning, the religious leaders would give counsel to the governmental leaders, but now the government is making arrangements to counsel the religious leaders because of their lack of realization.

Harinama in Munich


Sacinandana Swami chants for Four Hours in Munich

The devotees set up a stage and a couple booths at Karlsplatz, a fairly crowded downtown square.

During most of the program, at least thirty and sometimes as many as seventy people stood, watching with curiosity, about half of them taking invitations. Some of the people bought books, danced with us, and took some Ekadasi prasadam. There was also face painting and hand painting. When the devotees dance, Sacinandana Swami observed, the people in general are more inclined to stay.

Between songs Sacinandana Swami would speak, and during the lecture the crowd would even increase. The weather was cold and windy, but despite that, many people participated. The devotees in Munich, headed by Doyal Gauranga Prabhu, have such programs every two weeks. Come sometime and add your enthusiasm.
[For more pictures of Sacinandana Swami in Munich, click here.]

Harinama in Switzerland

Of the seven days, I spent Switzerland, I did harinama on six of them, twice going out alone. In Zurich, a harinama counts as a demonstration and requires special permission, but it is possible to sit down by the lake, a favorite place for people to take a stroll, and to chant bhajanas there. I went with temple president Krishna Prema Rupa Prabhu and two book distributors, Bhaktas Dirk and Martin. Krishna tested our determination by making it rain just as we began to set up. I suggested that we chant in the van for fifteen minutes and see how the weather looked. The storm came and left, and the so we got out and chanted for two hours. One man obviously liked us as he spent practically the whole time nearby. A middle-aged woman looked at us with a big smile for sometime and one of the sankirtana devotees in our party sold her a Science of Self-Realization. Then she sat on a nearby bench to continue to listen.

One little girl and her grandmother stopped for quite a while. The grandmother asked the girl if she wanted to go several times, but she just wanted to stay and watch and listen. She told a devotee that the whole day the girl had been wanting to return to her mother, but now she just wanted to stay and listen to the Krishna music. The grandmother gave the girl a 10 Swiss franc ($9) donation to give us.

Devotees based in Langenthal chant in Bern every Wednesday and have a public program at Good Day, a small storefront Indian import shop owned by a friend of the devotees. Bern is a center for alternative people in Switzerland. Bern’s regulation is that two musicians can play for half an hour at a single spot but then must move on. We had five persons for an hour at a time before we changed locations but it was not a problem. At one point a little boy and his mother watched for sometime, and Dirk, who is number three among the European book distributors, talked to the mother. Apparently she had decided the night before that she wanted to get into the philosophy of yoga and even made a prayer about it. Thus she was very happy to meet the devotees, and bought two books.

At the evening program, there were a couple young devotee ladies who love to sing. One of them, Radha Govinda Dasi, has a program every Friday there in Bern, and she invited me to give the lecture. I stayed overnight in Bern with the book distributors from Zurich and the prasadam distributors from Langenthal and did harinama by myself for three hours the next day. I passed out a few invitations and collected 15 Swiss francs, but I did not get a chance to talk with anyone. The devotee we stayed with invited me to move there and do harinama fulltime. At this point, I am not thinking of sticking in one place, and if I did, it would not be in a cold climate!

Radha Govinda’s attendees had some commitment to spiritual life, and to kirtana, which they all seemed rather absorbed in. One young man sang the Gaura arati song playing a guitar. She gets from three to fifteen people at her program each Friday.

We had a half hour harinama in Langenthal (Long Valley), about 40 km from Bern, where the devotees bought a sizeable building for a temple. Bhaktin Sobina, the other lady who likes to sing, did a good job playing my small accordion.

Sunday is lively in Zurich temple with two Sunday feast programs, one for the Tamil community, mostly refugees from Sri Lanka, and another for the Swiss, a japa class, an evening arati and two hours of bhajanas often by Madhava, a talented and popular Vaishnava youth with a friendly and encouraging disposition.

Personal Reflection

One recurrent theme in different lectures I heard recently is that we should find some way we can contribute to Srila Prabhupada’s movement. I proposed to Kadamba Kanana Swami that I try to serve by traveling and endeavoring to increase the faith of the devotees, especially in the holy name and in Srila Prabhupada’s teachings in general. Kadamba Kanana Swami liked the idea. He said that with the fall of many gurus in the 1980s, there was general lack of faith among the devotees, and that the current problems existing in many temples were symptoms of the lack of faith. He cited The Nectar of Devotion as differentiating between the three classes of devotees based on degrees of faith, and that advanced devotees were simply those with more faith. I reflected that recently I had given three classes on the holy name, with many excellent quotes by the previous acaryas, and that lectures like that can help to build faith. I also have encountered many examples from my travels showing the power of Krishna prasadam and the holy name. It is an exciting direction for me, and I attribute the breakthrough in finding a place in our society due to the association of Kadamba Kanana Swami, a very serious, practical, and compassionate devotee. He is like my guru for European preaching, and my activities here are going on under his direction. It is always useful to work under the direction of an authority. By Krishna’s grace, my encounter with him in Zurich is the third time in my three and a half week stay in Europe thus far. Last year our paths crossed five times during the six months I spent in Europe.

Insight from Lectures

Sacinananda Swami:

Caitanya Mahaprabhu blessed new people, “Krishna matir astu.” [May you become Krishna consciousness.] He blessed experienced devotees , “Krishna matir rahu.” [May you remain Krishna consciousness].

The heart of a Vaishnava is not just a pump but a resting place for Govinda.

Srila Prabhupada said that some of his followers had met Lord Caitanya when the Lord was personally present.

Prabhupada told a group of lawyers, “You have to understand that everything belongs to Krishna and nothing belongs any of us.” How do we understand that nothing belongs to us? Because we cannot take anything with us.

To illustrate this point, Sacinandana Swami told the story of the tailor and the millionaire. A dying tailor gives his son a needle and whispers something in his ear when he leaves this world. When it came time for the millionaire to also leave this world, the tailor’s son approached him, saying my father left this world just last year. He wanted you to take his favorite needle with you and give it to him. The millionaire said, “Yes, of course.” Then he began to reflect on how he could carry the needle with him to the other side of death. After sometime it suddenly occurred to him, “Nobody takes anything with him.” He asked a sadhu if there is anything that we can take with us to the next world. The sadhu said, “Your actions.” Thus with his few remaining days he performed many good deeds with his wealth and left this world a very satisfied man. The result of our actions is all we can take with us. So if we really want to become rich, we must perform many nice devotional activities now.

Kadamba Kanana Swami:

Regarding the guru:

Should the spiritual master be just obeyed or be really satisfied in the heart? To catch his heart is something that is complete different from mere obedience. We have to do something more. And the same is true with Krishna. Krishna does not give the same with each one, but according to His mood. We have to individually satisfy the guru. It may not be enough to just to the standard duties. The guru may want more from us. The attitude of the gopis and sakhas are all based on service, dasyam. Kinkara means personal servant of guru or Krishna. This means you do what he likes. Generally you offer anything vegetarian to Krishna, but practically to please Krishna we offer him certain foods at certain times. The mentality to personally serve is higher mentality. If you serve the guru in this way, you will please Krishna.

Prabhupada’s guru told him to preach in English. Prabhupada understood he should actually go the West, and furthermore, he preached, through translators, in many, many other languages, all beyond the guru’s original order.

Srila Prabhupada said to a disciple, “I am waiting six hundred lives for you to become really sincere.”

Some disciples, erroneously do not keep their commitments to their guru, thinking after so many years and life changes, they are not applicable. If we let the guru’s instructions remain in our heart, we will be attracted back to the path of devotion. The guru is eternal, past, present, and future, and so it is not that we select a guru, but Krishna reveals our guru. The guru remembers his commitment to deliver his disciples, although serving Krishna intimately back in the spiritual world. He is still personally working in the life of his disciples. Prabhupada, through his murti and books, is still present.

Kadamba Kanana Swami:

It is more difficult to fix the mind on the holy name than to pick a bar of soap that slips out of hand in the shower. Many people propose different techniques, but my realization is that the more we hear about Krishna, the more we will feel like chanting his holy name.

Krishna is very pleasant in his dealings, even in his chastisement of Kaliya, he spoke so politely to him.

If we hear of the qualities of Krishna, we become attracted to Him, and then we will want chant his name.

How long can you hear? Therefore have to become creative. Sometimes Lord Caitanya and associates would have spontaneous plays, enacting Krishna’s pastimes. Culture is necessary.

We make Krishna consciousness difficult for us by doing everything in the same way every day. Jagannatha has sixty festivals a year. That is more than once a week.

Krishna consciousness is a cultural conquest.

We talk about how all results of spiritual activities increase our spiritual bank account. This is based on Krishna’s statement nehabikrama-naso ’sti . . . In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” (Bg. 2.40) But I always wondered about the interest. Then I read in The Nectar of Devotion that Krishna said, “When I was away from Draupadi, she cried with the words, ‘He Govinda!’ This call for Me has put Me in her debt, and that indebtedness is gradually increasing in My heart!” Then I thought, “Eureka! That’s the interest!” Now the question is, how much is the interest? The answer is infinite. That is because Krishna is eternal. Therefore, Krishna consciousness is the best investment, and therefore I am eager to invest. How about you?

How long can you maintain if Krishna consciousness is unnatural? With this large temple facility we can do so many things, dramas, retreats, etc. Our problem is that the Deity is transcendental, Srila Prabhupada is transcendental, the temple is transcendental, but unfortunately I am not transcendental, so I cannot appreciate! We have to find a situation in which we feel satisfied.

Personal darshan with Kadamba Kanana Swami:

Fifty years old means time to invest in the next life. Not this one. That is what vanaprastha life is all about. That makes perfect sense. There is no sense in getting married at fifty. That means you are still investing in this life.

Kadamba Kanana Swami in Zurich:

Q: If I want to invite to someone to my home, is there a good way to introduce Krishna consciousness to them?
A: Giving them prasadam is a good thing. Coming to a temple is a big thing for some person, but perhaps they will go to a restaurant. Sometimes, if someone is interested in you, they will become interested in Krishna consciousness because you are. Pictures in your home may be attractive. That we cannot do this and that, but we are still happy, that generates inquiry. 

Q: A sannyasi, according to Srimad-Bhagavatam, stays at a householder for long enough to milk a cow. In ISKCON a sannyasi might rather read the Bhagavatam but some grhasthas are inviting him for pizza. What about this?
A: According to the sastra, the sannyasis have no such social obiligations, although due to affection for the householders, they may fulfill their desires in pursuit of developing spiritual relationships. It is important that we give sannyasis the time to really be sannyasis and not entangled in management or social obligations.

Navina Nirada Prabhu:

I have a friend who is distributes books and does congregational preaching in Italy. He had been corresponding for years with one industrialist who once took some books. After some time the businessman showed some interest in inquiring about spiritual life. The devotee asked what induced him to become more interested. The man said that all the letters the devotee wrote were signed “Your servant,” and nobody else signs letters like that.

---

etam sa asthaya paratma-nistham
adhyasitam purvatamair maharsibhih
aham tarisyami duranta-param
tamo mukundanghri-niseveayaiva

“I shall cross over the insurmountable ocean of nescience by being firmly fixed in the service of the lotus feet of Krishna. This was approved by the previous acaryas, who were fixed in firm devotion to the Lord, Paramatma, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.23.57)

Bhakta Nitin: Michele Obama’s mini- organic garden on the White House lawn has attracted worldwide attention, both positive and negative. Organic enthusiasts nationwide laud her effort to grow a tiny patch of vegetable, while the heavily subsidized agri-business giants feel threatened.

Rathayatra das -acbsp: San francisco storefront rented: we are in need of sincere help to run food for life and FOLK program. Couple of prabhupada disciples who are back in service. Want to join us?

Premapallavi Devi Dasi: ISKCON Detroit 's Devasadan Monthly ‏May issue is now online. Please review it at your earliest convenience.

We have a good example of that here at home - we improved our standard for Deity worship, adding more to the bathing and also the boys learned some mantras to chant while bathing...the Brahma Samhita verses. We are also using tilaka with lemon for polishing and Tulasi devi is coming from Vrindavan and Mayapur to make sure we can offer bhoga with Tulasi leaves.
I can say this is all due to chanting....we are always engaged in chanting japa and taking part in the Japa Room sessions. Even Uddhava living in Mayapur joined us in the rooms.
Rasa prabhu always emphasises the importance of making japa the number 1 priority of our day and when we do that we really feel how the Lord reciprocates giving us the best - His association. We start seeing Him blessing our lives in so many different ways, supplying what we need and giving what is necessary to carry on with service.
I have very good advice to give you - everytime you feel lost....chant because you will feel the Lord closer....if you feel your life needs a change, just chant and the Lord will come up with all the solutions you need to solve your problems and especially if you are happy....just chant because it means you have all the reasons to be grateful to our Lord, He is blessing you with joy.

By Praghosa Dasa

"Anyone who has any desire or aspiration for satisfying his senses by becoming more and more important, either in the material sense or in the spiritual sense, cannot actually relish the really sweet taste of devotional service."(NOD p. 33) As devotees we strive to uproot the desire for fame and distinction but paradoxically, as devotees, we generally take as many opportunities to serve, appreciate and indeed glorify the service of other devotees. So naturally it is important that such glorification is appropriate, in so far as who it is directed to.