Planet ISKCON

Mayapur Online: Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!

Madri_dasi — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:08:09 +0000

Date: February 8,2010
Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.32.25
Speaker: HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami
sa tadaivatmanatmanam
nihsangam sama-darsanam
heyopadeya-rahitam
arudham padam iksate

Listen here HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami

Mayapur Online: Daily GBC Report Day 1-February 6th, 2010

Ananda Tirtha Das — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 09:53:16 +0000

The 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON commenced Saturday morning in Sri Mayapur Dham with Bhakti Caru Maharaja offering the traditional guru-puja ceremony to ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya, Srila Prabhupada, while Ekalavya Prabhu led an enthusiastic and inspirational kirtan. This year’s GBC Chairman, Romapada Maharaja, welcomed everyone in attendance and delivered a reading from the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam.

H.H. Bhakti Caitanya Swami: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.32.25 - from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 08:04:54 +0000

sa tadaivatmanatmanam nihsangam sama-darsanam heyopadeya-rahitam arudham padam iksate TRANSLATION: Because of his transcendental intelligence, the pure devotee is equipoised in his vision and sees himself to be uncontaminated by matter. He does not see anything as superior or inferior, and he feels himself elevated to the transcendental platform of being equal in qualities with the Supreme Person. PURPORT: Perception of [...]

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Sevamrita & Bhagavat Katha's Wedding: Pictures

Rasanandini — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:39:10 +0000

Here are some photos from Sevamrita and Bhagavat Katha Prabhus' wedding last month.

Sevamrita asked me to photograph her wedding 'from the vaisnavis' side,' so here you'll find my perspective on the celebration so far as I am able.

Please pray for them to develop unalloyed Krishna consciousness in their new ashram.

Book Distribution News: Bali, Indonesia

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 07:15:01 +0000

Although the island of Bali has only about four million people, there are more than four thousand devotees here, and many are active book distributors. Two days after I arrived they held the Prabhupada Marathon awards ceremony. Fifty devotees received awards -- three of them doctors. In fact, there are quite a few devotee doctors there.

While I was staying at the home of Padma Locana Prabhu, a bank consultant and book distributor, he related an incident that had happened while he was distributing books. He had already distributed all day and was about to go home. But something inside him (the Supersoul?) pulled him to a nearby beach. He saw a man sitting on the sand staring out into the ocean. Padma went up to him and, standing behind him, said, "I have something I think you'll find interesting. You look thoughtful." At that the man reached back, and Padma handed him the Bhagavad-gita. Padma started telling him about the teachings while the man was looking at the book. He didn't look at Padma at all; he was just listening and looking through the Gita. Then he said, "How much?" Padma gave the price and the man paid. Padma then told him about the temple, which was not far away.

That night the man went to the temple and asked the devotees, "What more can I do to advance in spiritual life?" They told him to chant the Hare Krsna mantra, and he took up japa. Now, one year later, he is chanting 16 rounds and aspiring for initiation.

Recently the man told Padma what he had been through up till the time he had received the Gita. "I was an avid gambler and had lost two houses because of it. I was an alcoholic, addicted to drugs, and often coughed up blood. My doctor said I might have only six months to live if I didn't change my ways. I'm only forty years old. When you saw me on the beach I was so confused and depressed I didn't know what to do. Then you brought Krsna into my life. Now I'm so happy. Thank you." (Text D:2213006) -------------------------------------------

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

Book Distribution News: Some nectar stories from the marathon.

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:15:02 +0000

I was at central train station, Sydney Australia, and had just finished an exchange when amboy about 14 years old came up behind me and said "Excuse me sir, I've been watching you, do you mind if I give you some advice" I said "Sure, I need all the help I can get". "OK, lose the hat, lose the bag, stand up straight and alway's finish with a firm hand shake, I'm not racist but don't stop the Asian's because the're close minded, I noticed you don't stop many women, you should stop them because they are more likely to buy, but don't stop them with a compliment or they'll think you're coming on to them". It turn's out Emery's dad is a salesman and Emery came top in selling chocolate's for his local church. So I said to him "Why don't you show me how it's done?" and handed him an SSR. It turn's out he miss heard what I said, and said back, "You know, many people when they get book's they don't read them, but you know what? I'm going to read this one!" I said "Great, can you give a donation then?" He pulled out his wallet and gave $5 and walked away with the SSR.

At the same place on the last day of the marathon I was standing by my box drinking some water when a rough looking Mouri with long dreadlocks walked up to me, put his hand's together offered pranams and exclaimed "Hare Krishna!!, when I woke up this morning I was hoping that I would run in to one of you guy's." He pointed to the SSR on top of my box and said "That book there and the perfect escape are 2 of the best book's I've ever read, today my friend, I would like 2 perfect escapes 2 SSR's and a B.G. I said, "That's great, no worries." He pulled out his wallet and said, "Now I know the B.G.'s $28 right?" I said "Yeah, that sound's about right." So he pulled out $50 and said "Will that cover it, is that enough?" I said "Well if your feeling generous you can give a bit more." So he pulled out another $10 and gave it to me. So I put a K.B. in his hand as well. He was holding all the book's in his hand's and said "Now I've done my Christmas shopping for my boy." And walked away.

Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement Ki! Jaya!! Srila Prabhupada Ki!! Jaya!!

Your servant,

Stambha bhava das (Text D:2155462) -------------------------------------------

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

Japa Group: Chant While You Can

Rasa Rasika (noreply@blogger.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:04:21 +0000

There is no “secret” to japa; it is a struggle. There is no easy shortcut. The secret is to surrender to the struggle. The secret is to be afraid of death and to take it as very urgent that you must chant Hare Kåñëa. We used to have a slogan, “Chant while you can,” on some posters and show a scary picture of a graveyard. So we have to think like that: “Chant while you can.” That is the secret.

From Japa Reform Notebook by SDG

Gouranga TV: TKG Academy – Flute Performance

uploader — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:00:25 +0000

Gopinath das playing the flute at the TKG Academy fundraiser at Barnes and Noble. Dallas, TX 2009-11-07

H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta (Bengali) Seminar

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:50:34 +0000

The Following lectures are given by H.H. Bhakti Caru Swami on Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛtanbsp; recently at ISKCON kolkata.

Krishna-kripa das, Mayapura: Travel Journal#5.24: Mayapur

Krishna-kripa das (noreply@blogger.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:02:06 +0000

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 5, No. 24
By Krishna-kripa das
(December 2009, part two)
Mayapur

(Sent from Gainesville, Florida, USA, on February 8, 2010)

Highlights

Mayapur Harinama Highlights

A Nice Experience on the Train

Summary of 2009

Insights from Candramauli Swami, Jayadvaita Swami,

Kadamba Kanana Swami, Padmalocana Prabhu, and Suresvara Prabhu

Where I Was and What I Was Doing

For the second half of December I continued in Mayapur as part of Shastra Prabhu’s nagar-sankirtana program. Christmastime is lively in Mayapur because many, many pilgrims visit. One day Gada kitchen alone served lunch to 4,000 pilgrims, what to speak of the other, larger kitchen. Lots of people got to participate in the harinama-sankirtana and honoring Krishna prasadam.

Mayapur Harinama Highlights

Beginning from Christmas Day (December 25), we had a stage set up outside in the field between the temple and Srila Prabhupada’s Puspa Samadhi, closer to the Samadhi where we had kirtana from 3-7 p.m. Shastra Prabhu’s international harinama party and a Russian harinama party lead the singing for two hours each, but most members of both parties stayed the whole time.

One day Ekalavya Prabhu, who plays trumpet with great zeal, joined our party.
Several hundred pilgrims were listening the whole time, and between forty and seventy danced at any one time. It was so lively. The pilgrims enjoyed taking pictures with the devotees. I feel so indebted to Srila Prabhupada for his plan to develop Mayapur into such a beautiful facility that thousands of people would be attracted to come on the weekends, and more during holidays, like this Christmas to New Year’s period. You can see more Christmas 2009 harinama pictures on the Mayapur.com website at http://mayapur.com/node/1238.

A Nice Experience on the Train

On the way to Mayapur, I chanted on twice on the train ride to Howrah from Mumbai. I didn’t want to push my luck, so I decided not to chant again unless someone asked me to. Later a Moslem man from Bangladesh who was in my compartment asked if I would be willing to sing again. So I chanted Hare Krishna for the people there for another ten minutes. Had it been another Vaishnava, it would not be a surprise, but that Moslem man wanted to hear the Hare Krishna mantra again, from me, who am not even a very good singer, was a very pleasant surprise.

Summary of 2009

This last year (2009) contained several new events, some just new for me, and some new altogether.

The devotees had not done Ratha-yatras in Wroclaw, Poland, nor Trutnov, Czech Republic before this year. Both were successful in that more people came in touch with Krishna and His message. Also this year, the Polish Woodstock festival served a new record of 137,000 plates of spiritual food in five days.

I went to four new countries, none of which I had really planned to go to when the year had begun. By Krishna’s mercy, it just worked out that way. Advised by Kadamba Kanana Swami, I went to Switzerland, and did harinama in Zurich, Bern, and Langenthal. Encouraged by Lokanath Swami, I joined the Slovenian padayatra for five and a half days through many villages in that country. I went to Croatia twice, first joining the devotees from Karlovac and doing harinama, morning and evening for two hours each, for eleven days in at least a dozen towns. The eveningharinamas in the tourist resorts on the Adraitic Sea were often watched by over one hundred people at one time. On the second trip, I went on harinama on Radhastami with Sacinandana Swami and over sixty devotees in Zagreb. I also went to South Africa by the grace of Kadamba Kanana Swami, doing harinama in Pretoria and Durban.

Some cities, ISKCON projects, and events in countries I went to for the first time, although I had been to those countries before. I went on the Czech padayatra for five days, also visiting our Czech farm, where padayatra begins. I went on harinama in Kosice, Slovakia, and visited the nearby Hare Krishna farm, New Ekacakra. I did harinama in Budapest this year for the first time, along it was my fourth visit there. Although traveling through Lvov, Ukraine, many times, I had not done harinama there nor been to a nama-hatta program, but I did both in 2009. I also went to the Sunday feast in Dnepropotrovsk, Ukraine, where a lot of the devotees who help out on the Polish festival tour are based. The week-long festival celebrating forty years since the installation of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara in London must have been one of the best festivals in 2009, with lots of appreciation for Srila Prabhupada, his mission, and his followers.

I also went to many events that I found to be enlivening in previous years. It was my ninth Polish Woodstock, eighth Polish tour, fifth Berlin Ratha-yatra, fifth Ukraine festival, second Queen’s Day harinama, and second month-long stay at our London temple on Soho Street.

From all the traveling my realization is that by the grace of Srila Prabhupada there are many sincere souls who have take up the practices of Krishna consciousness in different parts of the world and who are enthusiastic to share them with others, and that is a cause of inspiration. Although not as large and influential as His followers may desire, still Lord Caitanya’s mission is firmly rooted in many cities, towns, and villages of this world.

Personally I learned a few practical things by bitter experience. You can save a lot of trouble if (1) you have your visa and passport in perfect order and (2) when entering a country, you have enough of the local currency for your transportation needs from its border to your destination. I was warned by Niranjana Swami to get my Indian visa copied into my new passport, but because I didn’t want to spend the $25 to do it, I got into trouble later.

From the spiritual point of view, I learned I have to focus more on my personal spiritual practices, so I will be better able to benefit people. I also have to avoid promising to do more things than I have time to do. I also have to take the time to encourage more people in their spiritual lives.

Because of reading Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami’s daily journal, I am always conscious of the need to improve my chanting of japa, and I am enthusiastic to make more progress on that in the coming year. Good japa can revolutionize my spiritual life.

Insight from Lectures

Candramauli Swami:

It is an essential point in devotional service of the Lord that whatever one has attained is by the Lord’s grace. There is one monk in Europe who was senior by realization, although just a pot washer. People came to him for blessings. Sometimes they would have some physical problem and ask to overcome it. He would say that he could not do anything as the Lord had put the person in that situation for a reason.

Bhakti Tirtha Swami’s cancer had invaded every part of his body except his brain, and he suffered greatly. But hearing Radhanatha Swami read Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Bhakti Tirtha Swami shed tears of ecstasy and said that he would not trade his position for that of anyone else.

What makes Krishna consciousness easy or difficult? Srila Prabhupada said it is a question of determination.

Q (to Srila Prabhupada): What if we have no determination?

A (by Srila Prabhupada): You are an animal.

Bhaktivinoda Thakura said that sense objects are stumbling blocks. Srila Prabhupada said that our senses are servants or serpents.

We must pray for the Lord’s mercy, both in difficult and easy situations.

Sridhara Swami, who was dying from Hepititis C, said, “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”

Material enjoyment is illusory, and in that sense, there is no enjoyment at all.

Stages of dealing with bad scenes: denial, thinking “why me?”, anger, and acceptance.

Q: Is there a time limit on the “tat te ’nukampum…” verse?

A: No, but the sooner you see suffering like that, the sooner you will be relieved.

Out of his mercy, Narada encouraged a man named Kailasa to take spiritual life seriously. Kailasa was respectful, but told Narada that he had to built up his business. Later Narada came, trying again to inspire Kailasa who replied that he had to bring up his children. After many years went by Narada again returned. Kailasa told Narada that he had to show his children how to raise their own children. Next time Narada returned, Kailasa was nowhere to be seen. The residents of the house told Narada that he had left his body some time before. One dog guarding the house came up to Narada, and barked, “It’s me, Kailasa.” Narada again spoke to Kailasa, now a dog, about spiritual life, but he replied he had to guard his house. After some time Narada returned. The dog was nowhere to be seen. One snake in the yard, slithered up to Narada, and hissed, “It’s me, Kailasa.” Narada try to interest him in spiritual life, but the snake replied he had to keep an eye on his property and his relatives. Then Narada told the residents of the house, “Watch out! There is a dangerous snake nearby your house.” Kailasa’s relatives grabbed sticks and tried to kill Kailasa, now a snake. In anxiety, the snake took shelter of Narada, telling him, “Narada! I am ready to hear about spiritual life!”

Q: Can’t material opulence inspire us in Krishna’s service as it is His energy?

A: It is fine if Krishna gives it, but not if we ask for it, because we actually do not need much material opulence to perform the chanting of Hare Krishna and to associate with devotees.

In Vrindavan, you get love of Krishna from the dust, in Puri from Jagannatha prasadam, and Mayapur from harinama.

Jayadvaita Swami:

In his last life, he got the Nobel prize for physics, and now as a baby, he is devoid of knowledge, not much better off than a worm. If we have done devotional service, that knowledge will come back, but look what you have to go through first. The parents have good intentions, but cannot understand the baby’s mind, and so he suffers. He is described as “anisvaram,” without control. He may have been the heavyweight champion of the world, but now he cannot even control his bowels. And it is not just a few months of misery as a baby, but then there are the childhood miseries, and the miseries of youth. As soon as we forget the devotional service of Krishna, there is at once birth and death. And when we remember devotional service to Krishna, birth and death is ended. As miserable as conditioned life is, it is just superimposed on the conditioned soul. We are trying to enjoy like a bear eating honeycomb and getting stung. Enjoyment is bewilderment, and suffering is also bewilderment. Anartha means useless, no profit. Suppose you are offered a business deal where you work day and night for no profit, who would be foolish enough to sign such a contract? That is maya’s deal, but we eagerly sign on.

Lord Caitanya does not ask for liberation. He says to Krishna, “Please think of me as your servant.” Liberation is included. He does not say, “Take me to Goloka I think I would like it better there.”

Q: We hear the descriptions miseries of life as a baby, but we forget. What is the value of this if we do not remember?

A: Yes, we blame God for not letting us remember, but if we could remember all of our previous sufferings, we would blame God for being so cruel to make us so that we remember all that suffering. Even though we do not remember, we can see babies around and understand how they suffer. Lust steals away our knowledge, and so we forget. By the authorized process of devotional service gradually become free from lust. We do not see that people who remember their past lives or life in the womb take to Krishna consciousness or any other spiritual path more than others, so it is really no advantage.

Q: What do we say to someone who says, “I know I heard it, but I going to do it anyway, because that is what Krishna arranged for me.”?

A: I would say, “You idiot. Krishna has made two arrangements for us, one under his internal energy and another under his external energy. It is up to you to choose.”

The whole material existence expands from the idea that “I am something other than an eternal servant of Krishna.”

There is a stage when yoga becomes enjoyable, but it is not stage one, however, sankirtana is pleasurable from begin to end.

Q: In the course of our service there are miseries like cold weather and miseries of household life. Is it better we think about these or not, as they will be minimized by our devotional service?

A: They are two answers. (1) We should just chant “Hare Krishna” and think of Krishna. (2) We should think of the miseries as Krishna recommends in Bhagavad-gita 12.9. One item of knowledge is “perception of the evil of birth, death, disease, and old age.” This is so that we think, “I should finish my business in this world, and just serve Krishna.”

We become like our association. Lord Caitanya says we should associate with sadhus, devotees of Krishna. We should avoid bad association. For the sake of women, people become like madmen, sacrificing anything for them. When a man becomes attracted to the illusory prospect of enjoying a woman, he loses his finer qualities. Men have created a whole culture of enjoying women, but as a result they become completely controlled by them like a toy animal. It does not matter our background. We have heard, we know, and still we are drinking the poison of worldly mindedness because “everyone else is doing it.” Therefore, the boys would sent to gurukula to associate with sadhus, not sent to public school to associate with girls, and boys who attached to girls. Our association should be those seriously interested in Krishna. We should be dancing dogs in the hands of Krishna, not in the hands of the opposite sex.

The problem is not to learn to career or not learn a career. But we should not be educated in a place where we also learn unrestricted association with the opposite sex, as well as whatever else we may be trying to learn.

Q: You say that the woman is the greatest attraction for man, but what is the greatest attraction for women. I don’t think it is man.

A: You don’t think it is man. But it is. But theirs is focused differently. Kapila mentions this. “A woman, therefore, should consider her husband, her house and her children to be the arrangement of the external energy of the Lord for her death, just as the sweet singing of the hunter is death for the deer.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.31.42).

Women should not associate with women who talk of men, but those who talk of Krishna.

Nobody should grow up in the society of sense gratifiers. They should grow up in a atmosphere of Krishna consciousness, with chanting and dancing and Bhagavata katha.

The modern education is turning ladies into unpaid prostitutes. At least previously then got money for their services. Now they have a degree in economics, but they do not know they should charge for their services.

Q: If wanting a husband who provides security is maya, why should a girl get married?

A: Because the maya of one man is better than the maya of many man. And the same with is true with a man. Better one woman than a variety of women. So once the regulated sex relationship is established, then both the man and the woman can get on with the real business of human life—developing our relationship with Krishna.

Q: Do we say the girls should get married at a young age?

A: Yes. Srila Prabhupada said it, and I say it. You cannot stop the young girls from being attracted to the boys. If they do not have a relationship with a fixed husband, they will go from one boy to another and the result will be worse. So although it is trouble to for the father to find a suitable husband for his daughter, it is his responsibility. The boy should be older as girls mature faster. Usually girls left to their own become attached to boys the same age who they know from school and not an older, more responsible one, and that becomes a problem for them.

Kadamba Kanana Swami:

Never at any time is the living entity neglected by the Lord. We are not left to battle with maya on our own. That we remember Krishna is His gift, and we should be grateful.

In my family, I am very popular on the occasion of funerals. “Please speak,” they say, “you speak so nicely.” But the rest of the time, I am not so popular.

It is nice enough in the material world that we think it may be possible to be happy here.

We all believe that somewhere wandering in this world is a member of the opposite sex who is our ideal mate in every respect and who will satisfy all our desires, but that is a complete illusion. It is not in happiness that I destroy this illusion, but out of duty, so we can move on.

Srila Prabhupada said that we are between Hiranyakasipu [the greatest demon] and Prahlada [the greatest saint].

But we are sheltered by Krishna, as the caitya-guru, who gives inspiration in the heart, the spiritual masters, and the devotees of the Lord, and so we have to turn to the shelters the Lord has provided.

“Spiritual life may be difficult, but material life is impossible.”

Durga’s trident is the three-fold miseries.

As the dhama, Krishna has given us the entire spiritual world within the material world.

Gradually we realize we cannot make it on our own. We are dependent on the mercy of the devotees. Krishna and his devotee can save us from our desires. Devotees inspire and correct. We must always stay near a temple. Srila Prabhupada said that 99% of our advancement is based on devotee association. Bhaktivinoda Thakura says that maya operates within us like spies in an army.

Q: Is it maya to want a good devotee partner?

A: Yes. But if you cannot give yourself completely to Krishna, then it is OK to have a good devotee partner.

It is wise to acquire the Vaishnava qualities, otherwise Krishna may make a situation where we are forced to acquire the Vaishnava qualities.

Q: How do I remember Krishna in difficult situations?

A: Have a regular program of hearing. The chanting we do because we have promised, but we have not promised to hear, so we don’t do it. Gajendra remembered due to his past practice—how important it is!

Padmalocana Prabhu:

The living entity is getting what he desires. If we desire Krishna, we will get Krishna. If we desire a good excuse for not practicing Krishna consciousness, that is what we will get.

Suresvara Prabhu:

In 1972, in Pittsburg, Srila Prabhupada said, “Kali-yuga is so bad, even in the womb, they are coming after you with knife.” In 1973, abortion was legalized in America.

There is always a song playing in everyone’s head, but in most cases, it is the wrong song. The most popular song in a film in the entire history film is “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” because it is a search for freedom. The star of that movie, Judy Garland, became an alcoholic and went through five marriages. The materialists do not know where to find the real freedom. The holy name can give us that freedom.

In Yadubara Prabhu’s video, Following Srila Prabhupada, volume 9, an Indian devotee tells how Srila Prabhupada challenged the devotees, “How to know Krishna is real?” Some devotees quoted verses and asserted the authority of Srila Prabhupada, but this devotee said, “I am a new person, but by chanting Hare Krishna I can feel Krishna.”

-----

anarthopasamam saksad

bhakti-yogam adhoksaje

lokasyajanato vidvams

cakre satvata samhitam

“The material miseries of the living entity, which are superfluous to him, can be directly mitigated by the linking process of devotional service. But the mass of people do not know this, and therefore the learned Vyasadeva compiled this Vedic literature, which is in relation to the Supreme Truth.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.6)

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Tuesday 9 February 2010--Invest Your Energy Wisely--and--Why is Krishna Surrounded by So Many Women?

course@ultimateselfrealization.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:30:00 +0000

Why live miserably and ignorantly in temporality when you can live wisely and blissfully in immortality? In other words, why suffer in this material world, where ignorance is so-called bliss, when you can enjoy unlimitedly in the most sublime eternal realm of Krishna consciousness at every minute? The choice is yours. You can do what you want. But as...

Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Electric Out For 54 Hours

Madhava Gosh — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:16:21 +0000

I published my last blog post while on standby power from my Uninterrupted Power Supply then goodbye computer for almost three business days due to the 15 inches (38 cm) of snow we received in a 24 hour period. Trees fall, power lines get tangled, fuses blow and viola! No juice.

Vidya got a little cabin fever because there isn’t enough natural light in her basement studio to do any painting and other gourd work needs electric powered tools. So instead of working, she was cooped up in the house. She survived.

We were basically okay as we had water and our heat source is a biomass thermal conversion unit that utilizes natural convective forces for distribution. Which is to say we have wood stoves that aren’t dependent on fans.

US Renewable Energy Industry Needs the Heat in Biomass

by Charlie Niebling and Jon Strimling, BTEC

The U.S. biomass thermal industry is poised to offer significant carbon and financial savings for consumers. Biomass for thermal energy is up to 90% efficient; in contrast, using biomass for the production of electricity is up to 40% efficient, and producing transportation fuels from biomass resources uses only 15% of the energy potential in this precious resource. It is vital to our economy – and our planet – to promote energy resources that are efficient and renewable. As part of the broader renewable energy solution, biomass thermal can uniquely address the need for low-cost, locally supported energy sources…

Read full article here.

I spent the time undistracted by the computer finishing up my seed, fruit and nut tree, berries, and ornamental orders. I have totally succumbed to catalog fever and ended up ordering from 14 catalogs.

I will type them up and share the lists later. My thinking is I feel reasonably well that with some help I can get a lot of stuff planted this year and next year I may not be able to.

2 catalogs are just growers supplies like floating row cover and some tools, one I only ordered two things from including a passionflower that is hardy to Zone 5. Fragrant blooms and edible fruit, how could I resist? A couple of catalogs were only fragrant perennial flowers, vines and shrubs but they all sound so great, I have no willpower.

We also spent a lot of time digging paths and driveways out so we can move around easily.

The car chose this time to not start. During some routine maintenance I had discovered the positive clamp on the battery was loose and tightened it but it came loose again and the battery was dead. We tried jumping it, using two sets of jumper cables hooked together to reach the battery from behind the vehicle but no luck. I pulled the battery and we drove up to Janaki’s who lives out on Rt. 250 and still had electric. I hooked up the battery to a charger and left it there over night, then drove into town and bought a new battery clamp.

We had to take the Astro van which even with a few hundred pounds in the back for traction is still less capable of tackling an icy road then the front wheel drive Toyota.

I had to swing into the left lane at Billy Aston’s and then gun it into the turn which required a sliding turn to maintain enough momentum to pull the slick hill. I slowly lost speed to a crawl by the top but made it — you can’t gain speed going up slick hills. All that practice cutting cookies on icy roads in North Dakota as a bored youth paid off.

It is all good today, Toyota running, electric back on, most of the orders placed. Hare Krishna.

Filed under: Cows and Environment

ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday February 7, 2010

Vijay Teli (noreply@blogger.com) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:03:01 +0000

ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Siva Ratri Celebrations this Sunday!

Vijay Teli (noreply@blogger.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:36:48 +0000

This Sunday, February 14, 2009, Toronto's Hare Krishna Temple will be celebrating Siva Ratri.

Siva Ratri literally translates as “the Night of Lord Siva,” the actual date of Siva Ratri is Friday, February 12. Lord Siva is described as the “the greatest Vaishnava (devotee of Lord Krishna)." As such this week's Sunday "Love" Feast will be dedicated to honouring Lord Siva.

The tentative schedule (subject to change) is as follows:

6:00pm to 6:30pm - Arati
6:30pm to 6:40pm - Welcome and Announcements
6:40pm to 7:30pm - Class about Lord Siva by Rupanuga das
7:30pm to 7:50pm - Abhisheka (bathing ceremony) for Lord Siva
7:45pm to 8:00pm - Arati for Lord Siva
8:00pm to 8:30pm - Arati
8:30pm - Vegetarian Feast (Prasadam)

HH. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 341

sdg — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:32:37 +0000

From 1966 to 1971 I had access to you with no difficulty and you saw me as a crucial leader. I think later when your need for money was so great and you needed expert managers, I was maybe not as important. At least I began to feel that way, although you always treated me with respect as one of your oldest and loyal disciples. I began to feel a little left out. I was confused when you reversed our GBC decision to forbid the book distributors to go out dressed as Santa Claus. I lacked the transcendental vision and the fighting spirit which you possessed. You saw we were at war and in certain situations the ends justify the means. I was too timid and hung up on worldly morality. Maybe I was like King Yudhisthira when Krishna asked him to tell a lie.

ISKCON Toronto, Canada: A Visit to Hamilton's Hindu Samaj Temple

Vijay Teli (noreply@blogger.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:30:43 +0000

On Sunday, February 7th, 2010, the Hare Krishna temple's kirtan-yoga band, Gaura-Shakti was invited to lead kirtan at the Hamilton Hindu Samaj Temple during their weekly Sunday program. With instruments in tow, the group trekked down the QEW and found a community of devotees that not only opened their temple, but also their hearts to the sweet sounds of Krishna-kirtan. Check out this video of Gaura-Shakti opening their Sunday program by chanting Narasimha-Pranama (prayers to Lord Narasimhadeva).

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Kesava Prabhu

Kanapathy Ramasamy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:28:25 +0000

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.17.33 - Asrama means shelter of service to Guru and Krishna.

Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: TKG Academy - Magic Show - Barnes and Noble 7/9

Rupa Schomaker (rupa@rupa.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:21:00 +0000

Dwayne Andrew performing a magic show at the TKG Academy fundraiser at Barnes and Noble. He was definitely one of the highlights of the day.

Dallas, TX
2009-11-07

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Adi purusa Prabhu

Kanapathy Ramasamy — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:39:18 +0000

Class given on 08-02-2010
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.17.32 - The varnasrama dharma is like a launch pad to elevate oneself to bhagavat dharma

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:43:09 +0000

Looking!

Mayapura, West Bengal

On the topic of bhakti, devotion, my good friend from Ireland, Pragosh, who heads up our leader's Team Building Committee slipped over to me some folded pieces of paper with names of peers on each one. I was to choose one. So I did, like you would from a hat. Whatever name is bore in that paper is your secret service person -to put it more clearly "secret devotional service" person. How innovative! You are not to have the person know whose name you have. The task is to serve that person in some way without him or her knowing who you are.

This smart little endeavour is supposed to enhance your devotional propensities. If your recipient cannot detect who is doing the service he or she does not get the chance to say thanks. You serve without motivation, without recognition other than what Krishna witnesses.

Most of today's trekking is on the campus here at our international headquarters between buildings. It's not really what I call walking but it is something.

The curse of having a cell phone, is that it reduces walking time. It may be efficient but it's definitely not healthy. I do not carry one and that's very intentional. If I need to find someone I'll go looking for him.

In the world of Vaikuntha all are searching for the Divine. They look on foot. The very reputable Goswami's of Vrindavana in their mood of separation were searching for Krishna who wasn't easy to find. They were going on foot in a labour of love seeking the lotus feet of Krishna.

3 KM

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, February 6th, 2010

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:42:39 +0000

Perfect Mating

Mayapur, West Bengal

It is almost like I wanted it to happen. Our cab driver from Kolkata to Mayapur, Babu, pulled over off the road. "I have a flat," he said. I opened the door to see if it was true or not. Sure enough his tire was flat. This type of thing is very common in India. Babu's claim is that the last flat he had was 5 months ago. In any event flattening your tire it goes on. It's my opportunity to do some trekking in the direction of our destination, Mayapura. We had been sitting down too long.

Dustin joined me. We got the opportunity to trek through raw Bengal's countryside. The dust, the smells, moustached men, sareed ladies, playing kids, tin stalls, tacky restaurants are there. People acknowledged us. Two men strained to bring their cart of merchandise over the hill, one pulled and one pushed. They work hard here and without complaints.

You know, what I really am impressed by in Asia is the hospitable smiles and soft toned voice. This is evident in the airlines from Asia as well. There's charm there and a sense of bhakti. In Europe, where people can be abrupt and rigid, there exists a sense of bhakti in it's cleanliness and orderliness.

The institution Iskcon, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, is perceived by many to be a combination of east and west assets. Wherever there are strengths from either hemisphere the mating of the two produces a good result. It only needs the spiritual component to make it complete.

4 KM

Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Drama - Lonely People by Bhaktimarga Swami

Rupa Schomaker (rupa@rupa.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:13:00 +0000

A Drama by Bhaktimarga Swami titled "Lonely People."

Explore the lives of Lonely People and try to understand why people are lonely and how we can detect some of the ways in which loneliness can be tackled. A combination of humor and drama designed to make one evaluate one's life.

Narration by Bhaktimarga Swami, Scenes by Nitai Priya dasi and Hridaya Gauranga dasa.

Dallas, TX
2010-01-17

Purchase the DVD. $15 + Shipping ($5 US, $15 International)

Japa Group: Naturally Brings A Mood Of Devotion

Rasa Rasika (noreply@blogger.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:19:01 +0000

The main thing is to fix your mind on the sound of the chanting. As you strain and yearn to keep your attention fixed, this naturally brings a mood of devotion. This is the way you serve the holy name. Just as when cooking, if you try very hard not to burn the preparation, to spice it nicely, and to keep it cooking nicely, then you express your devotion in this way.

From Japa Reform Notebook by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.32.25 (H.H. Bhakti Caitanya Swami)

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:34:37 +0000

The following lecture was given by H.H. Bhakti Caitanya Swami Maharaja on February 8th, 2010, in Mayapur. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam Canto 3: The Status Quo ndash; Chapter 32: Entanglement in Fruitive Activitiesndash; Text 25

H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.32.24 (H.H. Devamrita Swami)

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:28:41 +0000

The following lecture was given by H.H. Devamrita Swami Maharaja on February 7th, 2010, in Mayapur. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam Canto 3: The Status Quo ndash; Chapter 32: Entanglement in Fruitive Activitiesndash; Text 24

Dandavats.com: GBC Report #1

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:08:28 +0000

By Praghosa das

The 2010 Annual General Meeting of the Governing Body Commission of ISKCON commenced Saturday morning in Sri Mayapur Dham with Bhakti Caru Maharaja offering the traditional guru-puja ceremony to ISKCON's Founder-Acarya, Srila Prabhupada, while Ekalavya Prabhu led an enthusiastic and inspirational kirtan. This year's GBC Chairman, Romapada Maharaja, welcomed everyone in attendance and delivered a reading from the tenth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam

H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 3.32.23 (H.H. Lokanath Swami)

Anshul — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:52:06 +0000

The following lecture was given by H.H. Loknath Swami Maharaj on February 6th, 2010, at Mayapur. This was the first day of the GBC annual summit. Śrīmad Bhāgavatam Canto 3: The Status Quo ndash; Chapter 32: Entanglement in Fruitive Activitiesndash; Text 23

Dandavats.com: Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 12:17:36 +0000

By Bhakti Caitanya Swami

Because of his transcendental intelligence, the pure devotee is equipoised in his vision and sees himself to be uncontaminated by matter. He does not see anything as superior or inferior, and he feels himself elevated to the transcendental platform of being equal in qualities with the Supreme Person

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:45:28 +0000

1969 February 8: "Material entanglement is no problem; if Krishna was not so powerful that He can easily undo our material entanglement then there would be no need to follow the path of Krishna Consciousness. If you are sincere of purpose, there is no problem."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:45:16 +0000

1970 February 8: "First one should dedicate his life for Krishna's service; that is very nice. If he cannot dedicate his whole life, then let him devote his money; if he cannot devote his money, then let him devote his intelligence; and if he cannot devote his intelligence, then let him devote his voice by uttering Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna Mantra is the greatest common factor for self-realization. Preach this philosophy whole heartedly and Krishna will be very much pleased upon you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:45:08 +0000

1970 February 8: "You say that no one can deal with the devotees except Visnujana; that is not a good proposal. There are so many old and experienced devotees; if there is no one to look after the other devotees , that does not sound very good."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:44:57 +0000

1970 February 8: "Just now it is not possible to give you the two missing points. So without waiting further for these minor discrepancies, you can finish the subject adding "etc." Use your best discretion as Krsna will dictate from within you. You are a good and scrutinizing editor. I can rely on you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:44:47 +0000

1972 February 8: "Your big brother has assured me he will come here and take full charge to make this the first ISKCON City and immediately we shall raise up a grand Temple and form a cooperative housing society for devotees of Krishna. We shall plan everything out nicely when we meet later this month."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:44:35 +0000

1974 February 8: "So they have accused you as bad because you are Indian, yet they have accepted a bad Indian as guru. Why be affected by these bodily relationships? Come back and if you feel inconvenience, it doesn't matter whether from Indians or Americans, you can live with me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:44:23 +0000

1974 February 8: "I am glad you are now concentrating on improving the regulative life of the temple rather than so much advertising. This is what I want. A good example is better than precept. The pamphlet is precept - but if we don't follow the precepts ourselves then such advertisement is not good."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:44:15 +0000

1974 February 8: "He said personally to me that under dictation of Srimati Radharani he has given the land to us in charity, now if he uses the front portion for other purposes there will be great damage to the view. Kindly treat this as very urgent and reply."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Bhajan – Se sab din

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:37:40 +0000

The following bhajan was recorded on February 3rd, 2010, during a village program at Dhannakudia. This song was written by Srila Bhakti Siddhanata Saraswati Thakur in the year 1907 and was translated into Bengali by H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami in 1981.

Mayapur Online: From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!

Madri dasi — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:35:01 +0000

Date: February 5, 2010
Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.32.22
Speaker: HH Bhanu Swami

tasmat tvam sarva-bhavena bhajasva paramesthinam tad-gunasrayaya bhaktya bhajaniya-padambujam

TRANSLATION: My dear mother, I therefore advise that you take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for His lotus feet are worth worshiping.

Listen here HH Bhanu Swami’s class.

Sita-pati dasa, AU: Upcoming Kirtans

sitapati — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:19:04 +0000

Here are our upcoming gigs:

Thu Feb 11 - Jai Uttal, Byron Bay Community Centre (Vraj - mrdanga) www.oneentertainment.com.au
Tue Mar 16 - Dave Stringer, Yoga Den, Brisbane (Vraj - mrdanga, Sitapati - bass) www.davestringer.com
Wed Mar 17 - Dave Stringer, Sacred Cow Yoga, Ipswich (Vraj - mrdanga, Sitapati - bass) www.davestringer.com
Thu Mar 18 - Dave Stringer, Byron Community Centre (Vraj - mrdanga, Sitapati - bass) www.davestringer.com
Mar 25 - April 18 - Madhava "Yoga is Music Tour" Australia (Vraj - mrdanga, Sitapati - bass, Krishnapada - guitar) www.davestringer.com

Dandavats.com: Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Bhanu Swami

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:48:00 +0000

By Bhanu Swami

My dear mother, I therefore advise that you take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for His lotus feet are worth worshiping. Accept this with all devotion and love, for thus you can be situated in transcendental devotional service

Dandavats.com: Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Devamrta Swami

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:20:57 +0000

By Devamrta Swami

The exalted devotee's mind becomes equipoised in sensory activities, and he is transcendental to that which is agreeable and not agreeable.

Dandavats.com: Six Continents Join in Global Prayer for the Yamuna River

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:15:59 +0000

By Madhava Smullen

Organized by members of the ISKCON second-generation project, the Kuli Mela Association, the Global Kirtan for the Yamuna River was held in 128 locations, covering all six inhabited continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Australia.

Dandavats.com: Setting the Record Straight on Srila Prabhupada’s Audio

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:12:05 +0000

By Ekanatha dasa

My appreciation goes out to those who have brought issues about the Bhaktivedanta Archives audio collection to everyone's attention. I apologize for failing to properly communicate details on this all-important topic

Dandavats.com: Is Astrology Useful in Krishna Consciousness? Part Two

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:08:29 +0000

By Patita Pavana das

Properly utilized, astrology can make the difference between a life of loneliness and suffering, or a contented platform from which to blissfully serve the lotus feet of Shri Guru and Shri Krishna.

Dandavats.com: Another fraud - watch out!

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:06:17 +0000

Praharana dd: Thank you Malati prabhu for sending this out. I am not in the U.K.a nd I don't need money!! I want to tell you what happened so that others can prevent this from happening to them.

Dandavats.com: Demigods come through the airport

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:03:35 +0000

Sunanda das: The nectar in iskcon Philadelphia of book distribution in 1990 onwards was non existent but I tought let me try and go out alone. Most of the time I did not know which way to turn for it was new to me the airport.

Dandavats.com: Looking for pujari Queens New York

Administrator — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:02:09 +0000

Sunandanadas: The sri sri krsna balarama mandir of queens new York is looking for a male pujari . our temple is small and have good book distribution spots. candidate must have good sadhana 16 rounds four regs. and be able to dress deities beautifully .

Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Living Near Green Lowers Anxiety, Depression

Club 108 (noreply@blogger.com) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:00:03 +0000

From our friend Madhava Ghosh's blog "View From a New Vrindaban Ridge"

“In all directions of Dvaraka City, wherever one would turn his eyes he would find green parks and gardens, each of them filled with trees and plants laden with fruits and flowers. Because there were so many nice trees of fruits and flowers, all the sweetly chirping birds and buzzing bumblebees joined together to make sweet vibrations. The city of Dvaraka thus fully displayed all opulences. “

Krishna Book 90: Summary Description of Lord Krsna’s Pastimes

Living Near Green Lowers Anxiety, Depression Rates, Study Finds

By Kristen Hallam

Oct. 15 (Bloomberg) — People living near gardens, parks and other green spaces have lower rates of anxiety, depression and poor physical health than those living in urban areas, Dutch researchers found.

The scientists reviewed the medical records of more than 345,000 people in the Netherlands and calculated the percentage of green space near the patients’ homes. For those with 10 percent of green space within a 1-kilometer radius of their homes, the prevalence of anxiety disorders was 26 out of 1,000 people, according to the study. In a residential area that was 90 percent green, the prevalence was 18 out of 1,000.

Better health may stem from access to fresher air and more opportunities to relax, socialize or exercise, though more research is needed to confirm those theories, said Jolanda Maas and colleagues at VU University Medical Center in Amsterdam. Expanding green spaces may help prevent chronic illnesses that cost billions of dollars to treat each year, they said.

“The role of green space in the living environment for health should not be underestimated,” they wrote in the study published in the British Medical Journal’s Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. “Most of the diseases which were found to be related to the percentage of green space in the living environment are highly prevalent in society and in many countries, they are the subject of large-scale prevention programs.”

The study also found fewer cases of depression, heart disease, back pain and asthma among those living near green spaces. The link between green space and health was strongest for children and people with low incomes, who are less mobile and spend more time closer to home, the study found.

The research was funded by a grant from the Netherlands Organization forScientific Research.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601124&sid=aaVDXmgskQmg

H.H. Mukunda Goswami: "Being Active for Krishna"

Mukunda Goswami — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 07:54:46 +0000

Srila Prabhupada is known for saying that temples aren't places for "lazies and crazies." This is a quote from the Narada Bhakti Sutra, "And Srila Prabhupada was also stern, cautioning his followers, 'An easy-going life and Krsna consciousness go ill together.' " Another quote we have heard is this. "There are three types of people: those who make things happen; those who watch things happen; and those who wonder, 'what happened?'"

Mayapur Online: Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir!

gopijana — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:57:13 +0000

Date: February 7,2010
Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.32.24
Speaker: HH Devamrta Swami

yadasya cittam arthesu
samesv indriya-vrttibhih
na vigrhnati vaisamyam
priyam apriyam ity uta

TRANSLATION:

The exalted devotee’s mind becomes equipoised in sensory activities, and he is transcendental to that which is agreeable and not agreeable.

Listen here HH Devamrita Swami’s class.

Mayapur Online: Grahila Pr- Update!

Hari Sauri dasa — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:47:47 +0000

We are very happy to report that against all odds, Grahila prabhu has been making steady progress in the last week and his health is improving to the point that his doctor is saying that he may recover his normal health within one month.

He is making a comeback against all odds and this is certainly due to the merciful well-wishes and prayers of the devotees, and the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Madhava.

Gouranga TV: TKG Academy – Bhajan – Hari Haraye Namaha – Barnes and Noble

uploader — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:00:32 +0000

Hari das singing the bhajan “Hari Haraye” at the TKG Academy Barnes and Noble fundraiser. Dallas, TX 2009-11-07

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Monday 8 February 2010--Unperturbed by Death--and--How Can Alaskans Be Vegetarians?

course@ultimateselfrealization.com — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 03:30:00 +0000

The pure devotee of the Lord is so advanced in his Krishna consciousness that he is completely undisturbed at the time of death. Because he is completely free from bodily identification, death for him is nothing more than going from one room into another room. In other words, it is not a traumatic, anxiety-ridden experience. It is simply another routine...

ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Sunday Feast Recordings - February 7, 2010

Mahasundari Madhavi dasi (noreply@blogger.com) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:36:47 +0000

The Sunday Feast recording can be viewed by clicking the image below. As a reminder, the recordings from our weekly live web broadcasts are stored on our ISKCON Toronto Video Archive Blog.

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Friday, February 5th, 2010

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:49:37 +0000

Coming to the Veggies

Brussels, Belgium

I have nothing glorious to report about walking on this day. I took turns with my companions: Doug, Dustin, and Max walking up and down Concourse B of the Brussels airport. Because we were in brief transit we did not get the chance to see the city nor have the chance to appreciate its highlights.

The country boasts about having some of the best chocolate items in the world. Well I generally don’t consume chocolate for the caffeine content. But I really, really am deeply in love with brussel sprouts if there is any connection between this city and the vegetable. Sprouts offered to Krishna are just about the most heavenly thing to eat. I would walk an extra mile for some. That is impossible to do today because of flying circumstances.

We are en-route to India which has its major diversity of vegetables. West Bengal, our destination, has some of the best greens in the world. Greens were a favourite of Sri Caitanya, whose birthplace we will visit. The preparation was called Shak. The general term is Bhaji. The food, mind, ego is a secondary reason for coming to India.

Our real fuel is the chanting.

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:46:51 +0000

Good Soul B.P.

Toronto, Ontario

The most significant aspect of today was a phone call conversation with godsister, Bhadra Priya. Suffering from and advanced form of cancer she is finding it rather tough to cope right now. Her health is deteriorating very quickly and she had recently shifted residence from Toronto to Alachua, Florida where she is receiving special care. She needs a lot of encouragement. Prayer is also helpful.

She is a very gentle soul who is a first generation pioneer person for spreading Krishna Consciousness in Canada and the U.S. Like many of us in the late sixties and early seventies she was looking hard for a purpose and a people to devote to. She found a happy group of students of the Bhagavad-gita living communally, ladies on the second floor and men on the third floor in a house at 187 Gerrard St. of what’s called Toronto’s Cabbagetown. She moved into this house-made-temple not long before I did. She was a great helper and also took many excellent photos of the presiding Krishna deities. In the fall of 1973 she and I had our first initiation ceremony presided over by our Brahmana priest Sri Pati who hailed from the U.K.

Circumstances had it that she left the mission for a while and she feels terrible about that but she’s back and has been keeping the company of her dear godsisters. The main thing I emphasized to her over the phone is that she is blessed with great association like friend Nirmal and she has the pure sound of sabdha brahman as her shelter.

Readers here may not have met her. Please mark my word she is a great and gentle soul. Please chant for her strength to cope and give her hope with your good wishes.

HARE KRISHNA
HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA
HARE HARE
HARE RAMA
HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA
HARE HARE.

5 Km

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:41:37 +0000

Health/Wealth

Toronto, Ontario

This day and tomorrow is spent on preparation for the flight to India. One of the best ways to prepare for my journey in the air, as mentioned before, is to put in some walking. Our superstar monk, Dustin, from Halifax (they all are over there), Premavati, one of our Toronto nuns and I made our way to a ravine at 5:30AM for a genuine work-out. It is a real workout considering the steepness in some areas and the sliding conditions with snow and ice, and trying to hold on to your japa (meditation beads). What an obstacle course! At moments you are forced to be extremely attentive to the meditative sound as you are holding on for dear life to branches of trees, fallen trunks and clutching on to anything you can grab.

We did not intend to hit an obstacle course. Once we were in the ravine ice paths on acute angles caused us to detour. Anyways we built up a good sweat. I’m now 57 and proud that I can do this stuff. I hope it continues for another 20 years.

While in the Caribbean last week I came to know that a good number of our devotees were apprehensive to join in the walking and why? There are serious diabetic problems amongst those in their 40’s. Can it be the rich food and lack or little of any exercise? This is not exactly what our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had in mind for us. He desired healthy followers.

I cannot label one part of the world as guilty of not being physically active enough. It is across the board, this issue of poor health. If you want to make a difference try trekking our icy ravine and then come and give a class from the Bhagavatam book. That’s what’s happening with me. I’m liking it.

I admire the stout and strong image of Bhaktisiddhanta. For a monk he seemed to carry a powerful demeanor both physically and spiritually. Today was his birth anniversary and he is noted for many honorable contributions such as ushering in the chanting process into India’s time of industrialization.

5 Km

HH. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 340

sdg — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:20:20 +0000

My dear Srila Prabhupada, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to you. I am seeking to get into the groove of writing to you. Not much happens from one day to the next so there may seem to be not much to say but if I am thoughtful I will find something. There should not be a conflict between outward and inward things to say. I can speak of both. But it may be that every day, I have to struggle to think of a topic to speak to you about. I’m thinking of why I wanted to leave as your permanent servant in 1974. It was such a great honor that out of all your disciples, you thought of me and asked me to join you when Srutakirti had to leave because he had just gotten married. At first I was very excited to be your right-hand man and do all the personal services for you. Bali-mardana said I was like your Govinda and you were Lord Caitanya. How lucky! I got to be always with the person all the devotees wanted to be with. I massaged you daily, a great treat, so intimate. I read you your mail and took down your replies and typed them up as letters, something I had a proclivity for. I couldn’t cook well but after a while I did not have to do that when we got to India. You really did not ask me to do managing and you saw I wasn’t a good manager. I was your secretary, arranged travel tickets, your masseur, arranged to set out your clothes which someone else washed and ironed and—best of all—I got to go on all your morning walks with you and record them. In Bombay it was difficult having to share the apartment with you and chant my rounds in complete silence in the kitchen. I saw sannyasis coming to see you and overheard you encourage them in their preaching programs. I did no preaching. I hear you preach. I carried your karatalas and eyeglasses into the temple and sat and tried to keep awake while you lectured. I was always tired from overwork and little sleep. I got sick and it lasted for weeks. In India I got homesick for America. I wanted my own preaching party of brahmacaris such as I had when you called me to be with you. It was very intense living so close to a pure devotee and sometimes getting criticized by him. My false ego rebelled. I sometimes came close to finding fault with some little things you did. I was always true to you and loved you and wanted to preach on your behalf, but the proximity and lack of preaching became overbearing sometimes.

ISKCON News.com: Six Continents Join in Global Prayer for the Yamuna River

Shyam — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:08:06 +0000

By Madhava Smullen on 7 Feb 2010

ISKCON youth chant for dozens of hours to preserve the sanctity of Krishna's home from potentially harmful development.

ISKCON News.com: Vaishnava Website Offers Online Prayers for Ill Devotees

Shyam — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:34:14 +0000

By Madhava Smullen on 7 Feb 2010

C.A.R.E. invites both volunteers and those in need to visit and participate in the global flow of compassion.

Radha Priya dd, Austin, TX, USA: The Process Works if you Work the Process

radhapriya — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 18:24:23 +0000

First post of 2010…not sure what happened to January, somehow the whole month slipped past without even noticing. Spring semester is in full force, which if all goes according to plan this should be my last intense semester. One more class in the summer then I will be done with yet another degree program. We’ve [...]

ISKCON News.com: Food For Life Heads into Center of Haiti “Disaster Zone”

Shyam — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:40:46 +0000

By Madhava Smullen on 7 Feb 2010

Volunteers continue to arrive from around the world to prepare and serve meals to survivors.

ISKCON News.com: ISKCON Manipur to Host International Dance Festival

Shyam — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:15:22 +0000

By Madhava Smullen on 7 Feb 2010

Artistic event targets the youth of the East Indian state.

ISKCON News.com: Natural Gas Royalties to Improve Hare Krishna Community

Shyam — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:01:06 +0000

By Keri Brown for West Virginia Public Broadcasting on 2 Feb 2010

Both the temple and devotee residents take advantage of the opportunity to lease their land.

ISKCON News.com: Grand Debut for Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan Kumbha Mela

Shyam — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:12:51 +0000

By Deena Bandhu Dasa on 7 Feb 2010

The Society's unique procession adds energy to the event

ISKCON News.com: ISKCON Mumbai Celebrates 30th Annual Rathayatra

Shyam — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 16:03:29 +0000

By Basu Ghosh on 7 Feb 2010

Leaders and devotees from throughout India and the world participated in the milestone event.

Japa Group: Enlightenment From Krsna Katha

Aruna (noreply@blogger.com) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:08:04 +0000

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your chanting has been nice and that your spiritual life is always blissful with lots of realisations. Today I was reading an email from my Guru Maharaj, there he said he was going to meet H.H. Jayapataka Maharaja and they would be doing a program, he also took the opportunity to talk about association, he quoted this verse:

"Devotees exchange thoughts and realizations as great scientists exchange their views and discuss the results of their research in scientific academies. Such exchanges in regard to Krsna give pleasure to the Lord, who favors such devotees with all enlightenment."

CC Adi 1.49 purport

I was thinking today how devotees association made me aware of how important chanting is, how we should give value to our time with the Lord. I can say I am so different from the person I was and this is due to proper association - we become so weak when we are alone but when there are many sticks together it's more difficult to break. So being with other devotees make us stronger, more focused in our spiritual life...our japa is always changing, sometimes we have a better time with the Lord sometimes we are so focused in our own life that we forget to take advantage of our devotional service of hearing and chanting the holy names.

Because we are always with devotees we tend to take this chanting for granted and not make our japa priority in our lives, but our spiritual life depends on that. Once Srila Prabhupada said in a quote, 90% of our spiritual life depends on good japa. So we don't have too much of a spiritual life if don't give too much appreciation to this precious time with Krsna.

I can say that I am completely dependant on devotees association to chant, the boys inspire me... when I get home and they say they chanted their rounds in the morning, they increased the number of 4 to 6, I felt so inspired when Kesava told me that this is association, even being just 11, he makes me aware of my commitment with the Lord and how I need to keep showing by example to them and when they need become a good association as well. Krsna is always protecting His devotee, sometimes we think He is not near us but then He sends His pure devotee, other serious chanters and gives us all we need to become enthused to chant more and develop a deeper relationship with Him.

I would like to pray today. I wish to always get inspiration to chant nicely, observing other vaisnavas and getting their blessings. May Nama Prabhu forgive my constant offenses and accept my japa as a service at His lotus feet.

Hope you have a nice week and your japa is blessed by the Lord,

your servant,

Aruna devi

H.H. Mukunda Goswami: Sacrifice is important for healthy supply of food

Mukunda Goswami — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:53:43 +0000

Published 15 January 2002

IN 1825 the Reverend Robert Thomas Malthus predicted that within a century, the world's population would outstrip its food supply. Fortunately, history has proved Malthus wrong.

Dandavats.com: Live from Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Lokanath Swami

Administrator — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:50:37 +0000

By Lokanath Swami

Engagement in Krsna consciousness and application of devotional service unto Krsna make it possible to advance in knowledge and detachment, as well as in self-realization

Namahatta.org: How not to use the Bhagavad-gita

kmdasa — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:49:45 +0000

by Kripamoya das

Wouldn't it be nice if all the religions could get along? Peacemakers like to suggest an impersonal way to do it. Sometimes they even try to use the Gita to support their ideas

"Well, we can understand that all you spiritual and religious people still need something to believe in. But please listen to us—there is a difference between the God of Religion and the Ultimate Reality. The first is the figure you believe in, pray to, and have a kind of emotional faith in. The second is a slightly more abstract notion of a state of universal, cosmic light from where all the incarnations and saints, angels and prophets come from and into which they merge after their time with us is finished."

General Content

Book Distribution News: a life of adventure

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:15:02 +0000

Dear Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Mantreal, Canada

One morning recently I was on my way to offices from the temple with some books. I was already late, so I was hurrying to the metro to try some other areas. I found that the metro station was not operating, so the lady in charge told all of us to go outside and a bus would come to take us to another metro station. I went out and was hit by a cold blast of air -- Montreal. Standing in the queue for long time, I tried to approach the few people around me. I was getting more and more worried about becoming even later for my work, but I knew that the books in my bag were very dangerous: I didn't know where they would take me.

While standing in line, I met an aspiring devotee whose parents were following a little bit of Krsna consciousness. She had been to the temple a few times, so I had a nice time speaking with her. She became my friend. After a long wait the bus finally arrived, and after boarding we continued our conversation. It was no nice speaking with her. I gave her a Nectar of Instruction.

Finally, I went to some other metro station where I never usually go. While inside the metro I thought of giving out some books, but I also wanted to read the NOI to get some inspiration.

Suddenly two policemen entered the metro. I was so scared they might fine me for distributing books inside the metro. I thought this was a good excuse for me to sit quietly and read the NOI, which I did. I had hardly read one line when an old man in front of me, whom I had not even noticed, saw the few books in my hand and asked me, "Can I purchase one of these books?Ó

The police were right behind me, so I thought, "Oh, these books make a real adventure of my life! They will not allow me to do what I want, namely read. They always want my attention and want to go to their real owner." With this I felt like I was completely under the care and shelter of the books and boldly gave several to the old man, not worrying about the policemen. I gave him an SSR and a Bhagavad-gita, and he gave a nice donation. He was so happy to have the books. I did not even say a word to him: I just gave them to him when he asked.

The books are wonderful, nondifferent from Guru and Krishna. They are so merciful that they themselves attract people to them. This incident shattered my ego, my idea that "I am distributing books." Actually it is Guru and Krishna who distribute the books. I am just an unfaithful tool whom they mercifully engage even though I'm unqualified.

Your servant, Lakshmi dd

Vijaya (das) HDG (USA) wrote: > Hari bol Dravida Prabhu, could you please edit this for me. > Your servant, Vijaya das > > > > I was going office to office from the temple in the morning with some > books, I > was already late so I was hurrying to the metro to try some other areas. I > found that the mertro station was not operating so the lady in charge > told all > of us to go outside and one bus will come which take us to another metro > station, I went out and it was so cold, Montreal. Standing in Q for > long time I > tried to approach the few around me. I was more worried about getting more > late, but knew that these books are very dangerous, if they are in my > bag I > don't know where they will take me. > > While in line just before me I met an aspiring devotee whose parents > are also > following a little bit of KC. She comes some times to the temple, so I > had a > nice time speaking to her, she became my friend. The bus came after a long > time, we were also in bus together speaking, it was no nice speaking > to her. I > gave her NOI. > > Finally I went to some other metro station were I never usually go. Then I > got into the metro I thought of giving books (but internally also had the > desire to read NOI (to get some inspriration) then two policemen entered > the metro where I was, I was so scared that they might fine me for > distributing > books inside the metro and thought it was good excuse for me to > quietly sit and > read NOI, so I sat to read. I had hardly read one line and one old man in > front of me whom I had not even noticed, saw the few books in my hand, and > asked me, "Can I purchase one of these books? (the police were just > behind me), > so I felt, "Oh these books make a real adventure of my life, and will > not leave > me to do what I like (read) they always want my attention and want to > go to > their owner." With this I felt like I was completely under the care > and shelter > of the books and boldly gave him the books not worrying about the > policemen, I > gave him SSR and BG and he gave a nice donation, he was so happy to > have the > books, I did not even say a word to him, I just gave them to him when > he asked. > > The books are wonderful, non different from Guru and Krishna, so > merciful, they > themselves attract people to them. This incident scattered my ego, > with the > idea that "I am distributing books," actually it is Guru and Krishna > distributing books, and I am just an unfaithful tool, whom they mercifully > accept even though I'm unqualified. > > Yhs > Lakshmi > >From Montreal, Canada > (Text D:2151787) ------------------------------------------- > > ------- End of Forwarded Message ------ > (Text D:2184696) -------------------------------------------

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

Manorama dasa: Szélhámosok

Mrd — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 07:00:52 +0000

Ricsi prabhu a blogján megosztott egy történetet az olvasóival. Tanulságos. Mesének nem nevezném, de hasznos olvasmány. A lényege, hogy az emberi naivitást kihasználva hogyan próbálják lehúzni még a bhaktákat is.

Remélem, a történet publikussá tételével másokat nem tud megvezetni ez a szélhámos.

Mayapur Online: Transcription - HH Lokanath Swami lecture in Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir

gopijana — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:24:03 +0000

Date: February 6, 2010
Verse: Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.32.23
Speaker: HH Lokanath Swami

vasudeve bhagavati
bhakti-yogah prayojitah
janayaty asu vairagyam
jnanam ca yad ahaitukam

Listen here HH Lokanath Maharaja’s class.

Gouranga TV: Krishna Avanti – First State funded Hindu Primary School

uploader — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 06:00:32 +0000

The Krishna-Avanti School helps children realise their spiritual, moral and academic potential in a welcoming, secure and supportive environment centred on loving service to Lord Krishna.

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Sunday 7 February 2010--Always Prepared for the Unexpected--and--Who is an Advanced Devotee?

course@ultimateselfrealization.com — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:30:00 +0000

In this world we never know what is going to happen at any particular moment. Although things normally go on in a more or less routine way, sometimes apparently out of the blue we are hit by a devastating experience which completely overrides our normal life style. But a Krishna conscious person maintains his equilibrium in all circumstances without...

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara Prabhu

Jayendra — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:13:17 +0000

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.17.31

"Forgotten Krishna
We fallen souls,
Paying most heavy
The illusion's toll.
Darkness around
All untrace.
The only hope
His Divine Grace."

Jahnavi, UK: Boy Scout Fry Out

jahnavi — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:35:09 +0000

Come an emergency, all good boy scouts must know how to: start a fire, tie a reef knot, send messages in morse code, and frankly, knowing how to make puris and pakoras comes in handy in a spot of trouble too.

The other night our whole family was invited to Mali’s scout group to show them how to cook up a full Indian meal: rice, pakoras, puris, chutney, matar panir and halava. The scout leader had been to the temple and wanted the boys to get the full experience!

It was so much fun. Hyperactive boys + hot oil + messy ingredients is always a recipe for excitement, and these boys didn’t disappoint. My team was making puris, and within minutes they were beating up the dough to within an inch of its life, and rolling the puris into hearts, faces, and quite a few unmentionables too (much to their delight when they puffed up).

At the end of the evening, they all lined up for the tasting, jostling and elbowing to go first. My dad said a prayer, and we served until the pots were empty. One boy came up for four helpings of halava, and said he wished he could eat it everyday. Give him a few years – he’ll probably end up living in the temple.

Mukunda Charan das, SA: Chanting of the Holy Names (Part 2)

Mukunda Charan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:19:26 +0000

Vaishnava texts state that just as a sleeping person is awakened by the calling of his/her name, similarly that chanting of the Holy Names of God can awaken us from our dream of material life. There are many names of God. Secondary names of God describe the Lord’s majesty, compassion, omniscience and mercifulness. Whereas primary names describe the Lord in His full personal aspect. Chanting the names of God is a practice that exists in all religions.

Mohammed, for example, exhorted his followers to, ‘Glorify the name of your Lord, the most high’ (Koran 87.2); Saint Paul wrote, ‘Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved’ (Romans 10.15); Buddha stated, ‘All who sincerely call upon my name will come to me after death, and I will take them to paradise’ (Vows of Amida Buddha 18); King David preached, ‘From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised (Psalms 113.3); and the Vaishnava scriptures say, ‘Chant the Holy Name, chant the Holy Name, chant the Holy Name of the Lord. In this age of quarrel there is no other way, no other way, no other way to attain self-realization (Brihan-naradiya Purana 3.8.126). There are many wonderful descriptions of the value of chanting in the Vaishnava literary tradition. Chanting is a meditation, a religious practice and a way of life.

Chanting Hare Krishna Hare Krishna/ Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama/ Rama Rama Hare Hare, is the process of awakening our spiritual identity. We are not these bodies which are made of matter. We are the life or soul (atma) within the material body. Our spiritual identity is eternal and it is realized through pure chanting of the Holy Names of God. This chanting can be performed as a meditation on prayer beads or japa mala. Japa beads are something like the Christian rosary or Muslim zikr. The maha-mantra can also be sung. Such congregational chanting (where one person leads the chanting and others follow in unison) is called kirtan. Kirtan is usually accompanied by traditional drums called mridangas, cymbals called karatalas and various other instruments. Kirtan is spiritually enlivening.

The Vedic literatures recommend the chanting of Hare Krishna in this modern age. The chanting purifies the heart or consciousness and evokes spiritual realization. The word ‘Hare’ refers to Lord Hari – a name of Krishna that indicates His ability to remove obstacles from His devotees’ path. ‘Hari’ means ‘He who takes away all inauspiciousness.’ ‘Hare’, in a higher sense, is a vocative (ie. that which calls out) form of ‘Hara’. Mother Hara or Srimati Radharani embodies the Divine Feminine energy. ‘Krishna’ means ‘all-attractive’ and refers to the original form of God.

Krish means the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence and na means spiritual pleasure. The combination of these ‘krish’ and ‘na’, krishna, means, ‘the absolute person who gives spiritual pleasure through His all-attractive qualities’. In the ancient Sanskrit (the language of Ancient India) language, na refers to the Lord’s ability to check samsara, or the cycle of repeated birth and death; and krish means sattartha, or ‘existential totality’ ie. ‘the Lord who embodies all of existence and who can help the living entities overcome the repeated suffering of birth and death’. Rama is a reference to Krishna’s older brother, Balarama and Lord Ramachandra (an incarnation of the Lord). ‘Rama’, however, refers to Radha-Ramana which is a name of Krishna meaning, ‘the one who brings pleasure to Radharani’. This mantra contains confidential names of the Lord that embody the essence of the Divine. It is a prayer, spoken from the core of the heart, that means, ‘O Lord, O Divine energy of the Lord! Please engage me in Your service!’

(from Steven Rosen’s The Hidden Glory of India)

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Padayatra - Berbice, Guyana

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:14:37 +0000

Kurma dasa, AU: Deep in the Heart of Texas

Kurma — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:03:40 +0000

A friend wrote me the other day asking if I had heard of a particular vegetarian restaurant in Dallas. I replied that I had not, and that the only restaurant I was familiar with in that city was the famous Kalachandji's.

Here's Lisa and Jessica from The Veronica's on a recent visit to Kalachandji's.

Check out Kalachandji's website, and when next in Dallas, be sure to visit.

HH. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 339

sdg — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:43:33 +0000

4:30 A.M Last night I had to take a migraine medicine. The pain went down, and I slept peacefully until 3:00 A.M. There has been a snowstorm all night and just now the lights went out. Then they came on again. There is a gusty wind outside, but I’m snug inside the Yellow Submarine. I have [...]

Gauranga Kishore das,USA: Dolphins - Scientists say dolphins should be treated as non-human persons

Gauranga Kishore Das (gaurangakishore@gmail.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:26:20 +0000

It's time for something a little more light, we've had way too much heavy philosophy lately, so here's a cool little article I came across recently.

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists studying dolphin behavior have suggested they could be the most intelligent creatures on Earth after humans, saying the size of their brains in relation to body size is larger than that of our closest relatives, the chimpanzees, and their behaviors suggest complex intelligence. One scientist said they should therefore be treated as "non-human persons" and granted rights as individuals

The behavioral studies showed dolphins (especially the bottlenose) have distinct personalities and self-awareness, and they can think about the future. The research also confirmed dolphins have complex social structures, with individuals co-operating to solve difficult problems or to round up shoals of fish to eat, and with new behaviors being passed from one dolphin to another.

Several examples of learning being passed on to other individuals have been observed. In one case a rescued dolphin in South Australia, taught to tail-walk during recuperation, in turn taught the trick to other wild dolphins in the Port Adelaide river estuary when she was released. According to marine biologist Mike Bossley it was "like watching a dance craze take off", with the dolphins apparently learning the trick just for fun, since tail-walking has no natural function.

Work carried out by professor of psychology at the City University of New York, Diana Reiss, showed dolphins could recognize themselves in a mirror, and could use it to inspect other parts of their bodies, an ability previously only demonstrated in humans and a few animals such as apes, elephants and pigs. In another study Reiss was able to teach captive dolphins a rudimentary language based on symbols.

In anatomical studies of the dolphin, zoologist Lori Marino and colleagues from Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia in the US, used MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans to map the brains of dolphins and compare them with the brains of primates. She found the ratio of dolphin brain mass to body size to be second only to the human brain, which means dolphin brains are relatively larger than those of chimpanzees.

The neocortex and cerebral cortex of the bottlenose dolphins were particularly large and the cortex had similar convoluted folds to those found in human brains and strongly associated with intelligence. Cortical folds increase the volume of the cortex and its capacity for interconnections to form. Marino said the findings on brain anatomy and intelligence of dolphins mean we should re-examine the treatment of dolphins, especially when their treatment results in suffering.

Reiss and Marino say their behavioral and anatomical findings and our new understanding of dolphin intelligence mean it may not be ethical to keep dolphins in aquatic amusement parks for our entertainment, or to kill them for food. Around 300,000 whales, dolphins, and porpoises die each year, with some being killed for food, such as the annual killing of thousands of dolphins and small whales in Taijii, Japan, or even to prove the manhood of those killing them, such as the slaughter of Calderon dolphins at Faroe Island, in Denmark.

Reiss and Marino will present their findings at a conference in San Diego, California next month. Also speaking at the conference will be professor of ethics and business at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Thomas White, who said the new research adds weight to his ideas that dolphins should be regarded as "non-human persons" with the right to be treated as individuals. White is the author of the book "In Defense of Dolphins".

See the original article here.

David Haslam, UK: Fan the Spark

David — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:14:51 +0000

Letter to Satsvarupa — New Delhi 2 November, 1973: Regarding the black lady in Cleveland, if she is actually serious about Krsna consciousness, give her a little freedom. Just behave with her a little gently, so she may be encouraged to spread Krsna consciousness amongst the blacks. Actually if she preaches the importance of this [...]

H.H. Sivarama Swami

Manjari — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:47:17 +0000

The devotees of the Lord, who are all confidential servitors, are
sometimes perplexed in the discharge of their respective duties, but they
are never discouraged. They have full faith in the Lord, and He paves the
way for the smooth progress of the devotee’s duty.

- Srila Prabhupada

Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: 52 Photos of a Poisonous, Abandoned Factory: Enter & Die

Madhava Gosh — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:43:31 +0000

“Muhahaha and enter. This place in Warsaw, Poland, was once a fluorescent light factory. The plant was called many things but is known as “Polam” aka “Rosa Luxemburg.” Rosa was born in Poland in 1871, and was a philosopher, activist, and ideologist of the Polish and German worker’s movement. She was shot with a pistol to her temple. Her corpse was thrown into the Berlin Canal Division and not found until 1919. As turbulent as her life was, so too is the history of this abandoned factory…

“The sign on the right reads, “This building is out of order! You are not allowed to enter because you may DIE!” Welcome to the abandoned Polam Philips factory in Poland. “Polam” manufactured fluorescent lights, mercury lamps and electron tubes. The factory was partially modernized before renovation stopped due to a very high mercury contamination…”

52 Photos of a Poisonous, Abandoned Factory: Enter & Die

“Grains and vegetables can sumptuously feed a man and animals, and a fatty cow delivers enough milk to supply a man sumptuously with vigor and vitality. If there is enough milk, enough grains, enough fruit, enough cotton, enough silk and enough jewels, then why do the people need cinemas, houses of prostitution, slaughterhouses, etc.? What is the need of an artificial luxurious life of cinema, cars, radio, flesh and hotels? Has this civilization produced anything but quarreling individually and nationally? Has this civilization enhanced the cause of equality and fraternity by sending thousands of men into a hellish factory and the war fields at the whims of a particular man?”

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.10.4

Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever

New Vrndavan, USA: Gaura Purnima Organization Meeting This Sunday

mg — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:40:55 +0000

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu KI JAYA!

Sunday, Feb. 28th, will be the appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Since this celebration is on a Sunday, we have an opportunity to organize an all day celebration. That requires the community devotees to participate in the organizing and running of the festival. Please step forward to help us honor Lord Caitanya. By his mercy, we have been saved from clutches of Maya. Let’s show our thanks by taking on some responsibility for the festival.

All those who are willing, please meet with me at the temple this Sunday, Feb 7th, at 3 pm (after Sunday Feast!) in Nityo’s office/conference room. I can be reached via phone, 304-843-1600 ext 105, if you want to talk or via email, sikhimahiti(at)gmail.com

Thanks!

ys,
Sikhi Mahiti das

ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Bon Voyage to Our Dearest Ajamila das!

Keshav (noreply@blogger.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:34:58 +0000

If Toronto's Hare Krishna Centre is known for one thing, it's the thumping sounds of kirtan that seemingly pour from the windows and doors of our beautiful building.

Over the last 20 years, Toronto's foremost kirtan "songbird" has been our dear Ajamila das! Be it his sweet bhajans or midnight kirtans on festivals like Janmastami (Lord Krishna's birthday), his inimitable style has made Toronto kirtans famous around the world!

It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Ajamila prabhu will be heading to India for almost a year! He may return for a visit or two, but we would like to wish him a fond farewell. As a special treat, Ajamila das will be leading both the 6pm and 8pm aratis tomorrow during the Sunday "Love" Feast. Make sure you're there!

Japa Group: It Was Much Better Than Yesterday

Rasa Rasika (noreply@blogger.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 12:19:46 +0000

My chanting was very good. I’ve chanted straight through sixteen rounds before my shower. I was not sleepy and uttered the syllables rapidly through my mind. It was much better than yesterday. I was wide awake and steadily gained at numerical strength. My mind did not go to distracting thoughts but stayed with the mantras. I only wish I could do this every day.

From Bhajan Kutir #338

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:47:55 +0000

1968 February 7: "He is very clever man to collect fund. He is proposing individual mantra and he is charging and allowing his disciples to enjoy life as they like. It is folly to be wise where ignorance is bliss."
iPrabhupada Letters :: 1968

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:47:35 +0000

1968 February 7 : "If some of my selected followers form a Kirtana party and have an extensive tour all over the world I am very much hopeful of being successful . We shall consult together. "
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:47:06 +0000

1968 February 7 : "Regarding your proposal for opening a center in London: I am prepared to go there at any moment. Even I do not mind the severe cold."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:46:42 +0000

1968 February 7 : "Man proposes, God disposes. I do not know what is Krishna's desire, but I have chalked out my program. Pray to Krishna that He may give me strength to render some service to you and humanity at large."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:46:15 +0000

1969 February 7: "Why this mentality of suppressing the facts? Will you kindly let me know why you have suppressed so many facts? Don't you know the history?"

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:45:41 +0000

1969 February 7: "This is against the will of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I therefore request you to give me a plot of land within the precincts of Sri Caitanya Math."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:45:18 +0000

1975 February 7: "It is the mercy of Krishna that you are getting fair warning of your nearing death. You must be very careful and always praying to Krishna that you will not forget Him at the time of dying."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975:

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:44:56 +0000

1975 February 7: "Everyone has to die sometime. Take advantage of this advance notice, consider it a blessing and prepare yourself to go back to home, back to Godhead."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975:

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:44:33 +0000

1966 February 6
"Cohen with Salak and other two ladies attended today's meeting. I took meals at Dr. Mishra's apartment. President Case replied to his letter. There was no expenditure."
Journal :: 1966

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:44:09 +0000

1969 February 6: "I have sent six boys and girls, neither elderly nor very conversant with Vedic philosophy but by their character, behavior, and devotion, they are attracting many people in London."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:43:55 +0000

1969 February 6: "Poet Tagore became very popular in the West by presenting his Gitanjali which is full of Vaisnava sentiments. We have immense literatures. These should all be presented to the Western world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:43:35 +0000

1971 February 6 : "If we can get some Chinese followers it will be a great success. I know amongst them there are many scholars and learned cultured gentlemen. I shall be glad to go there whenever you will call me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971