1968 June 21 : "We cannot divert our attention for money making activities. If we direct our attention like others, then it becomes karma. And karma is very dangerous for persons who want to go back to Godhead."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 June 21 : "We are indebted to father and mother in so many ways. Your main business is to keep in Krishna Consciousness, if you keep that point in view, you can deal with others according to social conventions without being attached."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 June 21 : "By the grace of Krsna I was born of a pious father and brought up in one of the richest, aristocratic families of Calcutta (Kasinath Mullick). The Radha Krsna Deity in this family called me to meet Him."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 June 21: "Although I had immense opportunities, throughout my whole life I do not know what is illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating or gambling. Nor do I remember any part of my life when I was forgetful of Krsna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 June 21: "A Spiritual Master is always liberated. In any condition of His life He should not be mistaken as ordinary human being. This position of a Spiritual Master is achieved by sadhana siddha, krpa siddha, and nitya siddha."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 June 21 : "Yes, my order still stands. Sankirtana Party and distribution of our magazines and books is our real program. Other things are secondary. Attention diverted to business is not a very good sign."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 June 21 : "The regulative principles are our life, so why they will not follow? If there is any discrepancy, send me their names. Yes, he may teach a class, I have no objection, but without salary - our work is honorary."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 June 21 : "Why are you giving them spiritual names? You are not authorized to do this. Spiritual names are given by the spiritual master at the time of initiation. It is done strictly according to regulative principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1975 June 21: "Whatever money you pay, you print books. Our work must go on. The world is suffering on account of not taking up Krishna consciousness, so we have to try to save them. So you kindly help me to do this."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 June 21: "So go on collecting, and I shall tell you how to spend. I am presently negotiating and if we get the opportunity I may construct a Varnashrama College and Temple in Kuruksetra."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1966 June 20 :
"Tritiya. One artist has drawn a picture of Sri Sri Radha Krishna. So I have hung over the present Lord Chaitanya's picture. It is looking nice. There was meeting: 16 persons attended and the contribution was $9.00, book collection $1.25."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 June 20: "Your simplicity is a great asset for Krishna Consciousness. Krishna is very kind to the meek and simple. Better to remain dull and simple as you are, and thus make advancement in Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 June 20: "This is very good opportunity that your mind, hand, and attention are all absorbed in Krishna samadhi, and tongue chanting Hare Krishna. This is first class samadhi, and the highest position of the greatest yogis."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1972 June 20 : "We have got enough followers, let us train them up perfectly. Unless all of my students become very much fixed up in their spiritual progress, what is the use of so many programs for expansion?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 June 20 : "If we are able to make a whole generation of our children into fine Krsna Conscious preachers, that will be the glory of our movement. But if we neglect or if we lose even one Vaisnava - that is very great loss."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1975 June 20: "It is my habit to see that money is not being squandered. We are collecting with great effort, if money is spent unnecessarily, I feel very badly. Now I am very much doubtful. I think there has been some cheating."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 June 20: "Yes, I shall arrange to pay. Don't worry. This I have already said. Why are you speaking of a loan when you have already taken two lakhs from the Book Fund? What do you mean that you want another loan?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 June 20: "My mission started by selling my books, and still whatever money we are getting it is coming from selling my books. You simply have to apply your brain to selling my books - then you will have plenty of money."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Things are just warming up here, but here are some photos from this morning:

Wednesday, 3 June 2009. I awoke. I had only made it into bed around 1am today. It was nijala ekadasi. It seemed Krsna had a plan of austerity coming up, seeing as he combined jet lag with fasting. This was most likely a plan to counter my own lazy nature. How merciful… I decided I would take water at some time and keep my ekadasi austerities to the minimum.

I quickly stole some internet with my wireless to let everyone know I arrived in one piece. When Jaggi came around we hit the town of Watford. Some preliminary things needed to be taken care of for the upcoming venture. Jaggi cut me some keys and I took some time to gather my bearings (ie walked around hoping not to get lost).

I spent the day walking the peaceful, back street gardens of Watford, chanting the holy names on beads and reading. It was a nice green environment to assist the focus on the holy names of the Lord (achieving this focus being my usual difficulty).

The day wrapped up at Sanatana’s, moving out of Jaggi’s for the night, and I scoped out some Veda base about ekadasi. I recommend, unless you want to take your tapasya to the next level, to not read up on that one. After some time wasting and some catching up it was time to hit the hay.

Thursday, 4 June 2009. I awoke as if I were going to Mangala arti. 3:45am. I didn’t plan this (Krsna’s plan) but I decided to take advantage of my awkward body clock and read some Bhagavatam (gotta love Veda base!). After this I decided to try sneak in a couple hours more sleep but it seemed it was not my allotted karma. I should have just nailed my rounds for a full morning program!

My day plan was pretty simple: Sadhana and make some chapattis. I spent half the day aimlessly trying to find the cheap supermarket, Tesco. I decided while I was there I would pick up some halava ingredients also. I realized at the check out I was flat broke and decided halava could be another day.

The kitchen was in a share house of 3 or 4 boys so it was a bomb shell. I made sure to purchase some sanitary aid while collecting chapatti ingredients at the supermarket and so I gave the place a good work over. I decided to leave the other half for another day and started to make use of my working space. It occurred to me about half way through the process that there was to much water in the mix as everything was sticking to me. I was now wearing gloves of atta flour. Next it seemed the ghee was burning in the pan (which I speculated by adding in the first place) and the smoke was bellowing.

After offering and honouring the chapattis/rotis I decided to cook up the next batch based on the lessons I had learned from my previous mistakes. I doused the chapatti balls with flour and tried again, leaving out the ghee. This time the flour burned holes in the chapattis and created even more bellowing smoke. The holes also ensured a roti result. After utilizing Jaggi’s kitchen and giving him some jagannatha prasad, I made my way back to Sanatana’s to rest up for the coming day’s excitement.

Friday, 5 June 2009. I awoke in the land of Sanatan. We readied our chariot, in this case motorbike, and scampered off to the Manor. It was becoming a ritual by now to sing my morning prayers on the back of the bike. This served the purpose of keeping my mind regulated by continuing what I would normally do at home (where ever that may be?) and also doubled as a reassurance while looking down at the fast moving tar road beneath me.

I arrived to catch the end of class in temple room. I bumped into Annirudha Prabhu, from Melbourne, as I scoped out a spot to sit. The class was a special power point presentation on many global cutting edge preaching projects going on. At first it was a great inspiration to see all wonderful projects of abroad giving me great faith in this sankirtana movement’s speedy succuss. It appeared that everyone was a cut above our humble arrangement in Australia…or so it seemed until the slides flipped over to Woodford. Woodford is an end of year folk festival held in Australia attracting between 200-300 thousand young people. Our many catering crews participate at this event and distribute many thousands of plates of prasadam. The speaker also complimented the great mood of prasadam distribution which is being acted on all throughout Australia.

The meeting dissipated and I took a more careful look around the room. I noticed HH Ramai Swami, sitting next to Annirudha Prabhu. I cursed myself for missing him seeing as he was only a meter away from me when I passed by. I contemplated if it looked like I ignored him. It was time to forget and move onto the next surrender. Prasadam was served and it was prepared in celebration for…something. Whatever it was I had forgotten by the end of the three courses of flat rice and sweet yogurt! Flavoured with mango, strawberry, something else, another yogurt, kiar and maha savoury to finish it off with!

I spent some quality time roaming the Manor grounds to chant some rounds. I went on a woods walk accompanied by Gita verses written on the sides of the path. It ended with a advertisement to purchase Gita from the temple shop. After this amusing tour I decided to see the gosala. After visiting the bullocks, cows and calves I felt a childhood connection to the whole place. While I was young in New Gokula, Australia, my father used to tend to bullocks (oxen). It was soon after this that I realized that the presiding deities of the Manor were Radha Gokulananda and I was in fact in the English version of my old childhood temple. I glanced longingly at the white complexioned Gokulananda and my thoughts traced back to my dark complexioned Gokulananda, with his intoxicated red eyes.

I decided after this spiritually fulfilling experience to visit the boys doing their work down at the wedding tent. The gurukulis were expertly employed in the temple wedding events. Some did the catering staff and the others were ushers and set up staff. This was a perfect angle to set myself up with some prasadam. To the wedding staff this was peasant food, eating it every time there was a function on, but to me it was excellent. The preps were all delicious, except maybe the wasabi carrots (who would think of such a thing?!), but especially the srikana, which I had been hankering for since London Rathayatra last year.

After taking prasadam the catering crew took time off and we found a sweet spot outside the TP’s office to “look busy” (ie hang out). We tested out the prasadam from the local temple shop including some carob fudge (REAL CAROB! Not even that imitation chocolate stuff!). When all the guys wondered off I decided to mingle in and meet the locals. I met a couple of the sankirtana and temple devotees, had additional prasadam (which was not really required) and the mood changed to something a little more conservative. The philosophy section of the conversation notched up and it was unfiltered Krsna katha.

After some lovely association I went back to distract the gurukulis from their duties. They packed up and we prepped for bhajan. Just when we were about to go I heard my name being called. At this point in time, although everyone knew me, it was hard to tell if many even knew my name, so I was quite shocked. I turned to see Jasmine/Rasesvari, from Australia! After this little catch up all gurukulis, including a gurukuli sanyasi, entered the temple and cooked up a storm (not a prasadam cook up though sorry).

The bhajan started a little awkward for me. I was sad to note after 2 months of sankirtana, ecstatic preaching adventures and all the rest, that I still had no taste for chanting the holy name. Eventually I surrendered and savoured some joy of the mantra. Some time after relishing some mantras I decided it was time to whip out some beats. I stole some wampers from Sanatan and he picked up some kartalas. I pumped a good ole fashion syncopated rhythm. It was going good until someone mentioned SOMETHING to me, not sure if it was good or bad and my false ego folded. I sat down the wampers and tried again to taste the holy name.

The whole scene was ecstatic. After bhajan we were out in the reception hall until someone kicked us all out. Me and Sanatan hopped on his might stallion and rode away. On the ride home we held our own bhajans and they were even more ecstatic than the bhajans we just had (all credit is due to the original bhajans for bringing the rasa to this point - for all those who choose to take offence to my comparison). After some time wasting me and Sanatan hit the hay. Singing kirtana and bhajan on a bike, cruising down Watford made me realize that Krsna consciousness can be included in any activity, we simply have to make the desire to invite Krsna in.

Morning lecture given by Giriraj Swami on the day of the Dallas Rathayatra.

Dallas, TX
2009-04-25

Download: 2009-04-25 - Rathayatra - 1 - Morning Lecture - Giriraj Swami.mp3

Dear Devotees,

Thanks to the efforts of Manu Prabhu and Shyam Pandey, we are broadcasting live video from the 24 Hour Kirtan now! Please visit:

www.newvrindaban.com (click on the video)
www.krishna.com/nv24

Tune in from wherever you are in the world and immerse yourself in the nectar of the holy name!

Hare Krishna!

Your servants from the 24 Hour Kirtan Team

Kirtan Schedule (all times in EDT)

24 Hour Kirtan Schedule

Saturday June 20 to Sunday June 21

7:30 am: Darsana-arati, Gurupuja to Srila Prabhupada, and opening ceremony with Srila Prabhupada’s original drum as played in Tompkins Square Park, 1966 (with procession to Srila Prabhupada’s Palace, weather permitting).

8:00 am: The Mayapuris (Visvambhara)

9:30 am: As Kindred Spirits (Gaura Vani)

10:30 am: NYC Kirtan Group (Ananta Govinda)

Noon: Youth Bus Tour (Manu)

1:00 pm: Uttam Bhakta & Damodar

2:00 pm: New Vrindaban (Thakur)

3:00 pm: Columbus (Dhira Lalita)

4:00 pm: Dallas (Rupa)

5:00 pm: Gaura Prem Bhajan Band (Madhava)

7:00 pm: Agnideva Das

9:00 pm: Radhanath Swami

10:00 pm: NYC Kirtan Group (Ananta Govinda)

11:00 pm: New Vrindaban (Abhay)

Midnight: To be Announced (open slots)

5:00 am: Toronto Kirtan Party (Ajamila)

6:00 am: Gaura Prem Bhajan Band (Madhava)

7:00 am: Agnideva Das

8:00 am: Radhanath Swami

(schedule is subject to change)

Dear devotees,

We will be broadcasting live video and sound for the 24hr Kirtan and thus we will be requiring every bit of bandwidth we can get. In order to facilitate proper and uninterrupted live webcast, we will be blocking the internet connectivity in RVC temple from  Saturday June 20th starting at 6 am to Sunday 21st morning 8 am till the kirtan festival ends.

Please let me know if anyone needs internet in emergency situation.

Thank You

ys
Shyam

Find link to 24 Hour Kirtan at:  http://www.newvrindaban.com/

June 20, New Vrindaban, West Virginia – This weekend sees devotees and guests from all over North America and the world pour into ISKCON’s New Vrindaban community for the third annual 24 Hour Kirtan Festival, a celebration of India’s ancient practice of call and response chanting. The event is modeled after the original 24 Hour Kirtan in Vrindaban, India. First launched in 1975, the program faded away three years later, but was revived in 1986 by Srila Prabhupada disciple Aindra Dasa. Since then, devotees at ISKCON’s Krishna Balaram Mandir have chanted God’s names non-stop—24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

"It is so much better to chant early in the morning, when the mind is calm and the atmosphere is quiet. It’s the best time of the day to chant. You’re usually alert and awake for an early-morning burst. The mind is willing to go along with attentive chanting for a stretch. It seems the later the morning gets, the less your potency. The brahma-muhurta hour is recommended as the best time for spiritual duties."

From Bhajana Kutir #105

Inspired by the legendary “chipped rice festival” described in Caitanya-Caritamrita, ISKCON’s International School in Mayapur, India transformed into the ancient village of Panihati this June 6. The original festival was held 500 years ago during the time of Gaudiya Vaishnavism founder Sri Chaitanya, when Chaitanya’s close associate Nityananda Prabhu directed his follower Raghunatha Dasa Goswami to organize a festival and feed all the devotees with yogurt and chipped rice.

New Guest house coming up in Ekachakra dhama!

We are happy to inform that construction of new guest house at Sri Ekachakra dham is under steady progress. Devotees visiting Ekachakra dhama have always desired to stay in Ekachakra dhama for few days in the tranquil atmosphere and visit the holy places where Lord Nityananda prabhu performed many of his childhood pastimes. Ekachakra is a beautiful village where one can feel the warmth of relaxing in the Mother Nature’s lap. Many holy ponds provide cooling waters and soothing breeze rejuvenating one’s body, mind and soul.

read more

Devotees who have served in ISKCON for at least five years will now be entitled to fifteen days of free accommodation and food per year at Sridham Mayapur, ISKCON’s headquarters in India. “The offer is a gesture of appreciation for devotees’ dedication to Srila Prabhupada’s movement,” says Padmanayana Dasa, Head of International Devotee and Guest Care. “We want all ISKCON devotees to think of Mayapur as their home.”

International School in Mayapur now accepting enrolments for new School year!

The Sri Mayapur International School’s holistic approach to education engages the body, mind, intelligence and words of devotee children from all over the world. It prepares them to fulfill their life’s purpose spiritually, at the same time providing internationally accepted skills, training and academic education.

SMIS immerses students in an alternative educational system that balances traditional, eternal spiritual values and contemporary international academics.

read more

To anyone committed to bringing about a transformation in the iniquitous ways of this world’s misdirected civilization I recommend an ancient system as guide for this undertaking. The system is a science, containing, like any science, both theory and practice. By theory I mean an organized set of categories that illuminate the workings of the world, and by practice I mean the application of the theory to the world so as to bring about desired changes.

Over a thousand rockers danced as the sounds of electro rock fused with the building. Shouting out each and every word, the fans were absorbed in the catchy riffs and tunes that jumped from the stage. Some noticed an unfamiliar scene adjacent the stage. An excellently dressed Krishna girl dressed in a wonderful red sari with full regalia. An equally well dressed little Krishna girl and along with the dad. The dad's white tilak and white dhoti glowed under the black light.


Last night two wonderful souls, Jessica and Lisa of The Veronica's, invited us to visit their show at The House of Blues. The day before I received this message from them, "Hare Kṛṣṇa ♥ We are going to be in Dallas tomorrow, and plan to Visit the Temple for Lunch or Dinner! :) We hope to see you again :)"



Last year we met the two twins lead singers as their tour brought them to Dallas. Everywhere they go, they said, "We look for a temple to eat prasadam." Delicious vegetarian food offered to Lord Krishna. This year they were very happy to bring their mom along as well. When they arrived she was gifted with one of Krishna's beautiful garlands.

We had a nice lunch at Kalachandji's and then gave their mom, and their friends, members of the band Carney, a tour of the temple and the grounds.


The band members of Carney asked some questions about Krishna Consciousness and were also quite nice. After the temple tour Lisa, and Jessica invited us to their show. Jessica said, "We will put your name on list with 5 other all access back stage passes." They were so friendly that we could not refuse. They are both a very sweet and friendly souls. So my wife and I and little baby Visakha as well ventured downtown to the very familiar spot, the House of Blues. Every few weeks we passed this area with around 60 devotee chanting the holy name on harinam.

We had 4 extra back stage passes so we simply passed them on to whoever came us to us to ask us about our attire. We went on the the backstage which had only band members. There we saw their mom again who happily greeted us. Jess and Lisa were on stage and the were preparing for curtains to open for their headline show. But, as soon as they saw us the ran off the stage to give us a big hug and a thanks for coming.

After the rocking concert was over they came over to again talk to us. The curtains were still open, so hundreds of fans simply watched and cheered in curiosity as the Veronica's welcomed their strangely dressed guests. Some also during the show noticed our little Visakha dancing along to the music.



They then invited us to tour their tour bus. An apartment on wheels; 10 beds, a kitchen, a shower, and two lounge areas with wireless internet. Both Lisa and Jessica has Krishna items to accompany them on their beds.


So if you see these nice souls in your town don't hesitate to bring them some delicious prasadam, they will be eternally grateful.
Hare Krishna
Your humble servant,
Nityananda Chandra Das

Necessity is such a strong term. For something to be a necessity it’s got to be almost a matter of life or death. Eating, sleeping, mating, and defending yourself from harm, these are necessities. What’s the proof? The lengths to which we are willing to go in the name of necessity are proof. Even if such necessities push us to dehumanizing behavior.

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

"In Amsterdam, Dhananjaya Prabhu told us that one time Srila Prabhupada, although he wasn’t feeling well, agreed to see George Harrison, who had a recording which he wanted Srila Prabhupada to hear. The song was entitled “Krishna, Where are You?” George had written the lyrics and arranged the music, and Ravi Shankar’s sister, Laksmi, was the singer. Prabhupada said it was in the mood of the Goswamis, and that if George Harrison continued writing songs like that he would quickly advance in spiritual life."

- Krishna-kripa Dasa

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

In a Mayapur lecture from from CC Adi 1.4 on 28 Mar 1975 Srila Prabhupada stated, "Our mission is to establish the desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. That is our business."

This is to inform all the devotees that MIHET Bengali Bhaktisastri course will begin at Sri Mayapur dhama from 5th of July to 19th September 2009. The course details and schedule are as below. Apart from other breaks for festival days, Study Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Nectar of Devotion, Nectar of Instruction and Sri Isopanisad at Mayapur.

Classes timings are convenient for attendees who have regular seva, temple residents and Grihastha devotee’s. More hours of classes will be covered over weekends.

read more

Farming in New Vrindaban, Amish, Lehman farming store

Lord Krishna is portrayed in multiple images as the naughty child, divine lover and eternal philosopher. And television producers and filmmakers are cashing in on his aura to woo audiences. While TV shows like Jai Shri Krishna and the latest animated show Little Krishna have been entertaining viewers, the big screen has also been abuzz with animated movies like Bal Krishna and Krishna: Aayo Natkhat Nandlal in recent times.

The Obama Administration continues to insist, all Congressional evidence to the contrary notwithstanding, that Uncle Sam has no interest in running the U.S. auto industry. About the tobacco industry there is no such Washington scruple on either end of Pennsylvania Avenue. President Obama is poised to sign a bill passed by Congress this week that authorizes the Food and Drug Administration to regulate tobacco products for the first time.

How much faith should the faithless put in Barack Obama? The president said in his inaugural address that the United States is “a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus and nonbelievers.” And in his commencement speech at the University of Notre Dame, he said that the Golden Rule binds “people of all faiths and no faith together.”

MATHURA: At a time when Indian students are becoming targets of racial attacks in Australia, a girl from Down Under tied the knot with an Assamese youth in Vrindaban. Amidst Vedic hymns, the duo got married according to the Hindu rituals at an ashram. The bride's parents were present during the marriage ceremony that took place on Wednesday.

Indian beef production is predicted to increase by 5% in 2009. This is reported to be due to strong export demand and rising domestic consumption (ZMP and Brazilian Meat Monitor). According to reports, production of mainly buffalo meat is set to rise to approximately 2.7 million tonnes. Around a third of production (850,000 tonnes) is predicted to be exported, mainly to South East Asia and the Gulf states.

According to news reports, the University of California in Los Angeles yielded to media pressure and agreed to allow a graduating student to thank Jesus in her personal statement. UCLA student Christina Popa claimed the school's Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology was denying her freedom of speech when a faculty advisor told her that she could not mention "Jesus" in her graduation remarks.

Live Webcast from the 2009 24 Hour Kirtan Festival.

Lord of Universe, Jagannatha, along with His brother Balarama and sister Subhadra are bathed by devotees 2 weeks before Ratha-yatra parade. On this ocasion not only priests, but lituraly EVERYONE is allowed to bathe and touch the Lord. It is once a year ocasion.
Snana yatra - bathing of Lord Jagannatha. The story is that the deity is bathed (on this ocasion everyone is allowed to come and bathe, touch the deity, normally only priests can do it).
Then Lord "catches cold" after so much bathing and goes to bed for 2 weks, when He is given a special medicine to get better, it made of mixed curd, cream, candy and butter with cinamon.
After He gets better we will have even a bigger festival, Ratha-yatra, Lord Jagannatha will go out of His temple (once a year ocasion) in a big cart with large wooden wheels pulled by people. He goes around streets and everyone can come and offer service to the Lord, even people who normally don't go to the temple, animals, etc - all are given darsan and mercy of the Lord on that day.

After unlimited lifetimes of suffering in the rotation of birth, death, old age, and disease there is nothing more wonderful and inconceivably blissful than being released from the prison of material existence and receiving entry into the eternal spiritual sky where the Supreme Person is eternally engaged in loving pastimes with His dear devotees. The...

On Friday July 3 join us at Fusion Hot Yoga for an evening of ecstasy with the World Sankirtan Party serving us earthy music and sacred chant.

Fusion teachers Josh and Jolie are part of the World Sankirtan Party, a world music band that sing sacred Sanskrit mantras in an interactive call-and-response fashion (kirtan). Free your voice and the rest will follow! The evening will be equal parts meditative, relaxing, and shake-your-booty funky, as befitting the Fusion vibe.

The evening kicks off at 7.30 pm after the last class on Friday, and light refreshments will be served. We are asking for a $10 collaboration for the event. The money collected is going towards bringing over Gaura Vani, a kirtan artist from the US, who will be bringing his kirtan party over later in the year.

Here are the deets:

World Sankirtan Party kirtan concert
Where: Fusion Hot Yoga
219 Wynnum Road, Norman Park
Brisbane, Australia

When: Friday July 3, 2009
7.30 pm

In case I missed you via SMS and facebook, here's a heads-up.

No Harinam tomorrow, because we'll be going to this.

I just left the following comment on Dandavats, on the post New Book Reveals Fundamental Flaw in Darwin’s Theory.

I would like to read something that is not a reactionary "Darwin is dogma, we reject it", and something that is more contributive to human understanding. How do you explain the development of different species of life?

A magical one-off event of interventionist creation by the intelligent designer is the Judeo-Christian idea. However, a fossil record that demonstrates multiple mass extinctions and the appearance of new species renders that insufficient as an explanation.

Without another mechanism it seems that magical intervention creationist will have to postulate multiple magical interventions.

The Srimad Bhagavatam does not describe multiple magical interventions. And by magical I mean an event that suspends the ordinary operating laws and procedures of nature - the birth of any living entity is in one sense a "magical" moment, but it is within the ordinary operating parameters of nature. The Bhagavatam speaks of a single magical creation event by the Supreme Being who afterwards remains aloof from the creation, which then carries on under the influence of His energies. Evolution of a species by natural selection is an explanation for species development that places it within the operation of nature. In that sense it seems more in tune with both observable phenomena (the fossil record) and the scriptural version of a single magical event followed by the operation of natural forces.

Arguing that only magical interventionism can be theistic, and that any attempt to explain development of species through natural forces is a priori atheistic, to me, seems incorrect. The origin and nature of life (as in consciousness) is a different issue, and theories of evolutionary development of species should be examined separately from explanations of "consciousness from matter".

This isn't to say that "Darwin's theory is right!", but rather that I want to see another alternative explanation that tallies with the observed facts (and doesn't rely on the "well, science is wrong anyway because it's based on sense perception" get-out-of-jail-free card) and also tallies with philosophy of the Bhagavatam.

I don't find fundamentalist Christian explanations do this, and I don't find that neo-Christian-fundamentalist-Vaisnava mash-ups do either.

Am I the only one?

The comment is still in moderation, but it will be interesting what discussion it generates (aside from the predictable "this is illegal thinking!"). As you probably know, it's a topic I am quite interested in.

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.9.32-33 - Krishna can reciprocate with all His devotees simultaneously in different rasa.

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1972 June 19: "You must encourage the students to read our books as much as possible. Let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly by discussing always and in so many ways instruct them in the right understanding."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1970 June 19: "The first and foremost thing is regular printing of our Back to Godhead magazines. Our next printing will be KRSNA, second volume, minimum 5,000 copies, but if we get good response on the first volume, then it may be increased to 10,000 copies."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1968 June 19: "Your sentiments expressed in this letter are transcendentally relished. Certainly you are mine and I am Krishna's, therefore you are also Krishna's. By following the disciplic succession, beginning from Krishna, everything becomes ultimately connected with Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 June 19: "I wish to send some free copies of KRSNA Book to George Harrison for distribution amongst his intimate friends as he likes. Recently I have recorded some songs. If you so desire, I can send them for George."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 June 19: "Now my desire is that I completely devote my time in the matter of writing and translating books, and arrangement should now be done that our Society be managed automatically. I think we should have a central governing body for dealing with important matters."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 June 19: "Just like milk. We may thin it more and more with water for cheating the customer, but in the end it will cease to be any longer milk. Better to boil the milk now very vigorously and make it thick and sweet, that is the best process."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 June 19: "Now we have got so many students and so many temples but I am fearful that if we expand too much in this way that we shall become weakened and gradually the whole thing will become lost."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1968 June 19: "Your sentiments expressed in this letter are transcendentally relished. Certainly you are mine and I am Krishna's, therefore you are also Krishna's. By following the disciplic succession, beginning from Krishna, everything becomes ultimately connected with Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 June 19: "The first and foremost thing is regular printing of our Back to Godhead magazines. Our next printing will be KRSNA, second volume, minimum 5,000 copies, but if we get good response on the first volume, then it may be increased to 10,000 copies."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 June 19: "I wish to send some free copies of KRSNA Book to George Harrison for distribution amongst his intimate friends as he likes. Recently I have recorded some songs. If you so desire, I can send them for George."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 June 19: "Now my desire is that I completely devote my time in the matter of writing and translating books, and arrangement should now be done that our Society be managed automatically. I think we should have a central governing body for dealing with important matters."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1972 June 19: "Now we have got so many students and so many temples but I am fearful that if we expand too much in this way that we shall become weakened and gradually the whole thing will become lost."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 June 19: "Just like milk. We may thin it more and more with water for cheating the customer, but in the end it will cease to be any longer milk. Better to boil the milk now very vigorously and make it thick and sweet, that is the best process."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 June 19: "You must encourage the students to read our books as much as possible. Let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly by discussing always and in so many ways instruct them in the right understanding."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1974 June 19: "A difficulty has arisen in that we have not yet received visa permission from the Australian government. Do not go outside of India. I want to discuss on some important subject matter and want to meet you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

The saintly person blessed people in different ways. How would he bless me? “Don’t live, don’t die”? “Live or die, it doesn’t matter”? “Live forever”? I don’t know. I don’t know how “they” are judging me or whether they are happy with me or not. I can’t assume I’m a star pupil. Scars on my devotional body. You wrote that you were diminishing but maybe had hope for internal development. Trying to come closer to Krishna.

Satsvarupa dasa Goswami - June 19, 4:38 A.M.

I had trouble getting to sleep last night. I woke up at 3:30 A.M. with a clear head. I radioed Narayana and began chanting my rounds.

Early-morning japa log

My first rounds were silent, and I didn’t keep count of the time. They were somewhat mechanical, without much feeling. I put more feeling into the second batch of four and picked up the speed. It’s hard to find the heart when you wake up so early and start out from scratch. Krishna Nama seems far away. But you reach out and grab for Him, realizing His importance. I began to chant more audibly and with more attention, not thinking of other things but paying attention to the syllables of the names. The chanting started coming out under six minutes per round by the time I finished my eight rounds, and I was communicating more with Nama Prabhu.

Japa essay

Training the complex human package to pay simple attention to the words of the mantra is sometimes difficult. There are so many things going on within yourself, including tiredness and lack of interest, that it takes some time. To realize your focus on the simple combination of syllables is important. You begin to realize the enormity of the gift, and you shape yourself into a simple chanter. The complexities of the mind and body and your mood are all entanglements in material nature. They’re like a fog or a thick undergrowth. You have to clear them up. Chanting is a simple process, and so you have to simplify yourself to only chanting and hearing. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Years of practice start to come into effect, and you start properly again from a new day. The complexities of your human nature start to fade away, and you come face to face with the mahamantra and the function of chanting and hearing. You realize that’s all you’re supposed to do, and other considerations are extraneous and useless. You can’t put off the complexities forever, but an urgency comes that this is the time for chanting and cannot be wasted. You become a simple performer of an easy yajna, given to us by Lord Caitanya. Chant the holy names, chant the holy names. That’s all you have to do. Other things can wait or be completely discarded. You try to avoid dwelling on your physical discomforts—your pains or tiredness—and go to the center of the mahamantra. “This is all I have to do.” How hard it is to be simple. How easily you fall into the complex. All you’re meant to do is chant and hear and focus your emotions on Radha and Krishna, your worshipable Deities and saviors. You are a lost jiva, and you’ve been given this mantra to find your way back to Godhead out of the maze of complex sufferings.

All I want is a simple

soul calling out to the Lord.

The storehouse of memories

and botherations can be

put aside like baggage unneeded.

Just raise your voice

and call on the names

simple and primeval.

You do not belong to history

or your neurotic claims

or your bodily demands;

you just need to sing

and cry like a waif.

7:08 A.M.

Finally there was a bright sunrise at the beach. The tractor man didn’t wave to us. A Coast Guard cutter was moored at sea.

In his lecture yesterday, Prabhupada said Maharaja Pariksit was superficially cursed to death. He left his home, wife, children, animals and wealth. For becoming Krishna conscious, he became bereft, preparing for the next life. So people are afraid to take to Krishna consciousness. To be Krishna conscious, you need to be born in a Krishna conscious family and have a guru. But now Maharaja Pariksit was bereft, and he had to die in seven days.

In this connection, Prabhupada tells a story. A saintly person once visited a king. Everyone wanted a blessing from him, so he gave out blessings in the following way. He blessed the king’s son to live forever. He blessed a muni’s son, saying, “You either live or die.” He blessed a hunter by saying, “Don’t die, and don’t live.” And he blessed a saintly person (a devotee), saying, “Die or live, it’s all the same.” The king was puzzled. He asked his minister what the meanings of the blessings were. The minister said that the king’s son was living very licentiously, so after death, he would go to hell. Therefore, he should live as long as possible. The muni’s son was practicing great, difficult austerities. Therefore, he should not have to suffer any longer. He should die and go to Vaikuntha. The hunter was living a hellish life slaughtering animals, and after death, he would go to hell. So he was blessed to neither live nor die. The devotee was already engaged in blissful devotional service, and after death, he would continue in the same way, so it didn’t matter whether he lived or died.

We should not think that Maharaja Pariksit lost. He got a blessing for going back to Godhead. He and everyone else was blessed by hearing the Srimad-Bhagavatam. But the lesson of his life is that one should be ready to give up all sorts of material enjoyment and make material life nil. But negation of material life is not enough (like the hippies). Krishna consciousness is negation of material life and gain of eternal, blissful life.

1

“You can live or die, it

doesn’t matter.” The devotee

was blessed. His ideal

position is admirable.

What about me? I need

time to advance, but I’m

not advancing much. What

does Krishna have in store

for me?

I seem to be diminishing,

fading. But maybe I

can advance internally.

You can celebrate the here

and now. You can improve

your chanting and hearing.

But other things you cannot seem

to increase in devotional service,

like preaching to the devotees

and nondevotees.

Oh I have to write! I

have to pray. I have to be kinder

to those who share

my life.

2

Once there were two

miniature collie dogs

who were walked by their

master at the beach.

We saw them and wondered

at their breed. How had God

arranged such varied species?

We went about our business,

walking the parking lot out

chanting the mahamantra,

letting the dogs go their way.

The human being has the chance

to go back to Godhead if

he uses his life properly.

A dog cannot do it. The

dog owners are deluded in

giving their love to their pets.

It should be given to God

in all the forms of our

days. Walk the self and

chant the names.

Tell people about Him

and how He has varieties

of bliss. Tell everyone you

meet. We said, “Good

morning” to the collies’

owner and left it at that.

We should show more

compassion on the people

we meet, saying at least,

“Hare Krishna,” and more if

possible.

10:00 A.M.

Free write

The saintly person blessed people in different ways. How would he bless me? “Don’t live, don’t die”? “Live or die, it doesn’t matter”? “Live forever”? I don’t know. I don’t know how “they” are judging me or whether they are happy with me or not. I can’t assume I’m a star pupil. Scars on my devotional body. You wrote that you were diminishing but maybe had hope for internal development. Trying to come closer to Krishna. But can you do that without outward preaching and kirtana? You expect some consideration for your illness, for your long record of service earlier in life. For Prabhupada’s leniency and compassion. But the stern judgment of right and wrong, the complete purity and prema required to enter the spiritual world. How dreadful to have to come back to the material world, even in the human form of life. But a devotee doesn’t mind as long as he can be engaged in devotional service. That higher standard of his serving mentality. “All I want is Your causeless devotional service in my life, birth after birth.”

You could do better and then make it back to Godhead in a future life. Don’t resent what you get. Don’t gnash your teeth and cry tears if you don’t enter the kingdom of God after this life. Just pray for continued devotional service. Pick up where you left off. If you did seventy percent, you pick up from there. Even a little devotional service is never lost, and it saves you from the greatest danger. The greatest danger is missing Krishna, falling down into a lower species of life, going to a hellish planet, a materialistic next life.

Dr. Nitai-Gaurasundara said the policy is, “no pain.” When a headache begins, take immediate steps to abort it with a med. Like right now. This is my temporary struggle in this body in this lifetime. My austerity. At least I got in two good paragraphs about the next life. Now go struggle with this life, this morning. Take a medicine and lie down.

11:30 A.M.

My Dear Lord Krishna...

I am writing to You with a prayer. Please forgive me for my wrongs. To me, this means I must be forgiving to others who may have wronged me or just be forgiving in general to anyone I contact. If I am forgiving, You will be more inclined to forgive me. I have no reason to hold back forgiveness to others. Forgiveness is the jewel of the brahmanas and Vaisnavas.

We may certainly be wronged and ill-treated by others. Our tendency is to get back at them or at least maintain resentment for them. But I should forgo this and find it within myself to forgive them. That softens my heart, makes me a better devotee. I don’t lose when I forgive; I gain. Just bury the hatchet. Let it pass. Don’t strike back. These maxims are easier said than done. It is hard to at least not maintain a quiet (poisonous) enmity within myself toward someone I consider an adversary.

Not forgiving comes close to the offense of offending Vaisnavas. They may not have wronged me, but we envy them. Envy equals not forgiving. I may see a fault in a devotee and dwell on it, hold it against him. This is not forgiving him or her. We all have some faults; no one is perfect. So I should overlook the fault in others. One way to check faultfinding is to consider my own faults. Why should I find faults in others when I have so many in myself? As I forgive myself, I should forgive others. Much of this is done in the privacy of one’s own mind, although it can become so bad that we speak against others or even try to harm them or their reputation. I should be offenseless, inoffensive. The more I am so, the kinder You will look upon me and forgive my faults.

And I do ask You to forgive me. I do not mean to act against You or Your devotees. I do so blindly, foolishly. Please see my good intentions and forgive me for my wrongs. It may be presumptuous or cheap begging to ask forgiveness, but I cannot help but do it. I so much want to be seen kindly in Your eyes and allowed entrance into Your pastimes. But I have done wrongs. Unless You forgive me, I have no hope. I will try my best to be forgiving of others and remain petitioning You for forgiveness upon myself.

from #107→

I’ve been finding it hard to focus on devotional life over the past few months, the mind has been active coming up with reasons and hindrances. One of the main ones has that in regards of initiation and as always the mind focuses on feelings, namely mine. But a bit of me still thinks it’s unjust that [...]

Before we start our chanting we can pray to the Lord for assistance with our Japa.....we can also remind ourselves about the quality and how we need to maintain that....I personally reflect on what I need to strengthen in my Japa and make a mental note before I start chanting.
I know some devotees like to make notes about their Japa, normally after their Japa session....notes that they can read over later and reflect on.
If we remain humble, realising that we can always make improvements in our spiritual lives, then we will give ourselves the best chance to make advancement.

STARTING FROM RUPANUGA’S AND VANI’S HOUSE 12 NOON

It is getting closer to that magical time of the year when Their Lordships disappear for a few days and then triumphantly return to grace Their Rathyatra Chariot. Not to be outdone by last year’s performance, the Rath cart has been revamped since last year.

Gaura Nitai, Who gracefully lead the procession last year, are returning to bless our Festival again. The Rathyatra Festival Team (Malati dd, Radha Sundari, Ananda Tirtha & Braj Mohan, Vrindaban Pryia and Cakori Radha) all look forward to making this a memorable event. Right now, we are looking for vendors, kirtaneers and creative artists in particular.

Later on, other needs will be addressed, such as cooks, decorating the cart, garland making, flower purchasing, and a spectacular menu (cooked in ghee) for the Lord’s pleasure, etc all as offerings of love for the Lord.

Please stop by Malati ’s office or call 304-845-9591 if you would like to participate. Let us get New Vrindaban’s Rathyatra on the map!

On 15th of June, on the disappearance day of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami, his disciples and Mayapur community devotees remembered with love Maharaja’s glorious preaching activities, his commitment to the mission of Srila Prabhupada, personal encounters, pastimes and instructions to his disciples. As it is hot in Mayapur, Shastra dasa, disciple of Bhakti Tirtha maharaj and program organizer, conducted the glorification and homages program in the community hall. After the guru puja and arthi, devotees walked to Maharaja’s Samadhi, which was beautifully decorated for pushpanjali. A variety of bhoga cooked with love by devotees was offered to Maharaja.

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Dharmasetu das: Torchlight Publishing, Badger, CA - When he published his Origin of Species, Darwin gave his adherents hope that the wonderful complexity of living organisms could be explained without appealing to an intelligent designer.

Just like you offer your devotion, respects, to guru. So that respect is offered to Krishna. Guru does not think that he is Krishna, but he collects the devotional services of the disciples to offer to Krishna. This is the process. We cannot approach Krishna directly. We should approach through guru. Tasmad gurum prapadyeta jijnasu sreya uttamam [SB 11.3.21]. That is the injunction of the sastra, that one should approach the guru who can transfer the service from the disciple to the Supreme Person. So... Therefore the first offering is guru, vande gurun. Then guru creates many devotees.

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Friday the 12th was the last day of school for the international school and ashram boys so we decided to celebrate by distributing two pots of kitchuri prasadam. We took the ISKCON boat across the Ganga to a peaceful village near Navadwip with the constant sound of ecstatic kirtan. The boys did a great job of distributing the lord’s mercy to the eager recipients; smiling faces young and old enjoyed the tasty prasadam and the sound of the holy name. On the way back we stopped for a refreshing swim in the purifying waters of mother Ganga.

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Historical places from New Vrindaban. — A New Vrindaban-i farmközösség 1969-ben indult. Az elmúlt 40 évben sok fejlődésen ment keresztül. Ebben a videóban megnézhetjük a korábbi templomok helyszí…

ISKCON news recently gave a write up on Gopal Jiu Publications on the occasion of the 200th issue of Bindu with a very nice article. Check it out!

http://news.iskcon.com/node/2081

The pure devotee of Krishna is an ocean of mercy because he bestows the unlimited benediction of Krishna's mercy upon the suffering humanity. Without any discrimination of who is fit and who is not fit, the pure devotee distributes the pure loving mercy of Lord Sri Krishna to everyone he meets. He does not remain a recluse only concerned with his salvation....

1968 June 18: "You should know that you are always with me. Because you are sincere servitor of Krishna and following my direction sincerely, so you are always with me. In future I shall try to keep you in my association."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 June 18: "Rest assured this Sankirtana Movement is specifically benedicted by Lord Caitanya for achieving all kinds of success. Stick to the principles seriously and faithfully, and there will be no difficulty."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 June 18: "Rathayatra day feast should consist of bhuni kitchari which you make by first frying the dahl and rice in ghee. Other preparations may be a fruit salad, sweet rice, puris, a chutney, and a vegetable which is neither wet nor dry."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1973 June 18: "Preaching means to increase our family members. Initiation means "to begin" not that when one is initiated a disciple becomes slack; rather upon initiation one begins spiritual life in earnest."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 June 18: "You are traveling widely and managing many projects. Krsna will give you stamina and intelligence provided you are sincere and remain strong spiritually by following the regulative principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 June 18: "I am always eager to hear that Gurukula is going well so be very vigilant that this program is just to the standard as I introduced it. There is no more important school in the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 June 18: "You have very carefully considered the candidates and had several interviews. I am especially concerned that second initiation not be taken cheaply and devotees who do not even rise early be recommended for brahmana."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1975 June 18: "Biological evolution is taking place on account of the soul's desire. It takes place because of infection. Krishna Consciousness is the vaccine for all the diseases (different forms of material bodies)."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

New Book Reveals Fundamental Flaw in Darwin\'s Theory Torchlight Publishing, Badger, CA - When he published his Origin of Species, Darwin gave his adherents hope that the wonderful complexity of living organisms could be explained without appealing to an intelligent designer. He proposed that biological complexity and diversity could be explained by variations in population. One hundred and fifty years later this promise has failed to come true. Nature\'s IQ - Extraordinary Animal Behaviors that Defy Evolution confronts us with many wonders of nature that Darwinists fail to explain in any strictly scientific fashion. Using 200 fascinating color photos, Nature\'s IQ cites over 100 behavioral phenomena from the animal kingdom that are unexplainable by evolution.