Planet ISKCON

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 3 July 2009--Perplexed but not Discouraged

course@ultimateselfrealization.com — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:30:00 +0000

A devotee of the Lord sometimes faces very perplexing situations. But because he has complete faith in Lord Krishna he is never discouraged even in the most devastating of circumstances. Once upon a time in the early days of the universe while Lord Brahma was engaged in the process of creation, the earth was inundated by a deluge and fell down into...

Namahatta.org: Book Distribution, what is our Focus?

David Haslan — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:17:55 +0000

by David Haslam

The other day I was reading an article about the preaching work done by Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Mormons compared to ISKCON devotees' book distribution. They noted that from what they could see, both were more successful in making followers, and questioned how this could be.

One focus is, what is the purpose of book distribution?

General Content

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Swarupa-sakti Mataji

Timothy Mcleod — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:13:35 +0000

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.10.12 - The guru-disciple relationship.

Japa Group: At The Regular Pace

Rasa Rasika (noreply@blogger.com) — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:08:47 +0000

"When you’re behind in your quota, you tend to rush, and this is not good. You should be sure that you get your rounds done in the course of the day at the regular pace. Try to go deeply into thoughts of the Divine Couple. Hear each syllable. Don’t let your mind get distracted to other thoughts. I was able to slow down and control my anxiety and chant nicely. I was wide awake and enjoyed the chanting of the holy names. Just don’t worry about your quota; it will be done."

Taken from Bhajan Kutir #119

Utah Krishnas, USA: Llama Rental

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:18:20 +0000

Utah Krishnas, USA: Chant & Be Happy Part Three (of Five)

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:46:34 +0000

When entering the temple room, the centerpiece of the room and the worship is always the elaborate altar holding the deities. On a carpet to the devotees' left, to Krishna's right, sits a group of six or seven devotees who lead the music. The sides and back of the room are lined with benches and chairs where visitors sit; the majority of the devotees and some of the visitors occupy three or four carpets set up on the marble floors of the temple room—altogether a group averaging fifty or sixty people on any given week.

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Wednesday, July1st, 2009

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:31:54 +0000

OM Canada

Ottawa, Ontario

Canada became a nation as we know it in 1867. Today is the birthday and one of our able youth’s, Vrajabhumi who hails from the small town of Norwood arranged for four carloads of us Krishna enthusiasts to make the journey to Ottawa, the nations capital. There as every year devotees from Montreal, Ottawa, and Toronto converge to chant to the public in the midst of baskers, break dancers, marching bands and the like.

As soon as we arrived at the war memorial near Pariliament Hill I had a chap who works for the Department of Native Affairs say, “Hey I just saw you on T.V. last night, on Vision TV. “ To my recollection I had been interviewed at a studio in Vancouver last fall and that was what this fellow was reffering to. I recall before the interview I asked what kind of questions they would be asking?

“First of all we were going to bring up the topic about the charge laid against your founder Swami Bhaktivedanta on child abuse,” said the interviewer.

“Excuse me but our leader / founder is a clean as a whistle. I think you have your information a bit confused, “ I retorted.

“oh, well, I guess we’ll skip that one, ‘ said the popular broadcaster. He brought up another topic which escapes me now, but was one of controversy with Krishna Consciousness and some distorted view so I again declared, “That’s misinformation.’

“Okay, so we’ll also leave that one out.”

I had not seen a playback of the interview but in the end the show went well and so the response from the public in Ottawa confirmed this by people telling me so. In fact I felt proud to be in the company of singing and dancing devotees to a very participatory crowd making some kind of affirmation that Krishna Consciousness is not a criminal culture but a tradition of happy and genuine spiritual expression.

By the way the national anthem here is called, “Oh Canada!”. We have our version, “OM Canada!”.

7 KM

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:27:38 +0000

Heaps of Garbage
Toronto, Ontario

One of our members put it very bluntly, “The unions are destroying everything.” Referring to the most recent strike for garbage collection. “They are rascals,” said another acquaintance. “In such cash strapped times as these and receiving forty dollars per hour, how dare they.”

When perishable items remain hanging around stanching and taking up space it’s no wonder that tax payers start beefing. Someone else said that unions were formed to protect the worker but the times of oppression are by-gone and the situation has gone in reverse. The public is left at a stranglehold until negotiations unfreeze the strikers demand.

That’s the simple and one sided end of the story. It is a side that I have been sold on. Mind you much can be said about the public’s lack of thriftiness, being non-frugal and so very wasteful. I’m sure that you’ll agree that a monk’s message should always include putting out a good word for Mother Nature and it’s seed-giving Father.

I will give credit to the people of this city and many places with garbage strikes that they try to shove a throw away item into a city bin even though overloaded because strikers refuse to pick up the garbage.
Somehow in this world of discontent, this world of throw- out we have managed to do that with GOD-throw Him out. As I walk Yonge st. I’m saddened to see the pile ups and that the Wind-God doesn’t hold back on the distribution of trashed items.

The whole thing wreaks of greed. It’s stronger than the smell of garbage.

Will someone please light up some incense?

6 KM

Krishna Festivals, Brisbane, AU: Krishna’s Birthday in Brisbane

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:22:26 +0000

This year will see the first ever “Krishna’s Birthday” festival in Brisbane, Australia.

It will be held in the Roma Street Parklands on Sunday August 23 from midday to 6pm.

To get an idea of what it will be like, think Buddha’s Birthday meets the Brisbane Multicultural Festival.

There will be yummy Krishna food, free yoga classes, music, dance, multimedia presentations, a jumping castle for the kids, and much more…

We’ve held two festivals prior to this one, but nothing on this scale. The other two were in 2006 and 2008, and had around 1000 people attending. This year we are expecting 4000 to attend. I’ll be featuring performers and participants, and sponsors of the festival on this blog in the weeks leading up to the festiva, so that you can get an idea of what to expect.

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Monday, June 29th, 2009

Bhaktimarga Swami (noreply@blogger.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:21:16 +0000

Concentric Inspiration

Toronto, ON

Our photographer friend Haidee gave a generous offer of a choice at her top of the line photos. After perusing through the dozens of massive pictures projected on canvas and peering at portraits and people in action at both rural and urban India, I chose my pick. One piece called "Concentric" stole my heart. It depicts a turban wearing farmer watching over his oxen harnessed and anchored by a device and moving in centrifugal motion. The picture reminds me of what we, as a society of eco-friendliness should be going toward. It also reminds me of a verse from the book Bhagavatam wherein it states that our lives can evolve when we place ourselves at the post of dharma always moving around that sense of duty and obligation and never to swerve away from it.

Of course I had that picture, frame and all, in mind to adorn a wall in the temple. But I confessed to Haidee that we need a mate to "Concentric".

"Sure, which other one would you like?": she expressed with her continuous kind heart.

"Well, it's the one with the woman in a green saree seated at her stock of produce up for selling at the market. Haidee graciously reciprocated with us for the use of our space by granting the second photo.

This one also reminds me of what we all should be supporting - the growing of local food. How removed we are from living the truly natural life! Food get shipped in unripe from all parts of the world except your own place. It raises questions about the loss of the art of growing employment, good clean living, being practical and doing God's will.

I can't wait to get those photos on the wall to give our community members something serious to think about.

6 KM

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:20:02 +0000

1968 July 2: "By denying my application injustice has been done to me. Please try to convince him that my presence is essential. I am qualified Religious Minister. I have got sufficient money to maintain myself."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:03:35 +0000

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:03:35 +0000

1969 July 2: "In our Krishna Book we are showing the Western World for the first time what is God. So painting is no unimportant task. I have so many ideas for paintings. Try to help us out in this way as far as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:03:35 +0000

1969 July 2: "I am pleased that this boy has become attracted. Please take nice care of him. When someone is sent by Krishna to help us it is our duty to help them understand Krishna Consciousness as far as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:03:35 +0000

1969 July 2: "This is the sure and certain method. If we simply chant Hare Krishna with karatalas and mrdanga and if we speak from Bhagavad-gita As It Is then automatically the people become attracted."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Gundica Clean-Up this Sunday - 10am to 4pm

Vijay Teli (noreply@blogger.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:03:25 +0000

This weekend is our annual Gundica Cleanup, which will be held on Sunday, July 5th. As many of you know, we will be celebrating the 37th Annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra) on July 18-19, 2009. Every year, we traditionally clean the temple two weeks in advance of this huge festival!

This is following the example set by Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who held the first Gundica Cleanup some 500 years ago. The famous Ratha-Yatra parade in Jagannatha Puri begins at the Jagannatha Puri temple and proceeds all the way till the Gundica Temple. Preparing for the arrival of Lord Jagannatha, Caitanya Mahaprabhu with His associates personally cleaned the entire temple.

This year we will be cleaning our temple on the auspicious occasion of Snana-Yatra. The clean-up will start at 10:00am in the temple room and will continue till 4:00pm. Lunch (prasadam) will be provided for those who come out to help clean! For further information, please contact Gopal at psenatoronto@gmail.com.

David Haslam, UK: Sarvabhauma

David — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:59:03 +0000

Sarvabhauma Dasa is one of the many characters you find at the Manor, he always says Hi and asks how you are keeping, I didn’t know that he had such a wonderful voice or sung such sweet songs, so for those who love a musical treat here is two links: Sarvabhauma On The Hare Krishna Bench [...]

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:20:03 +0000

1969 July 2: "I have so many ideas for paintings. In our Krishna Book we are showing the Western World for the first time what is God. So painting is no unimportant task, and try to help us out in this as far as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:20:03 +0000

1969 July 2: "I am pleased that one boy has become attracted. Please take nice care of him. When a man is sent by Krishna to help us it is our duty to help him understand Krishna Consciousness as far as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:20:03 +0000

David Haslam, UK: Were do we put the magnifying glass?

David — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:57:47 +0000

The other day I wrote about the need to follow by example. This is always easier said than done, to turn the magnifying glass on ourselves rather than pointing it to others is never easy. I have also been pondering these words: The word khala means “jealous.” This material world is a world of jealousy and envy. [...]

Kurma dasa, AU: Cool It!

Kurma — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:09:13 +0000

Efi from Israel writes:

Please tell me which foodstuff is not warming in the hot summer. I'm living in Israel and it's very warm now. Hope it's not disturbance to you. Efi.

My reply:

Dear Efi,

Not a disturbance at all. Your Ayurvedic body type will have some bearing on what is most appropriate to cool you down, but here's a few things:

Bamboo shoot, banana, barley water, bitter gourd, cumin seeds, grapefruit, lettuce, mung beans, persimmon, salt, seaweed, star fruit, sugar cane, water chestnut, watermelon, lotus root, cucumber, barley, bean curd, marjoram, pear, peppermint, radish, strawberry, tangerine, yogurt, broccoli, cauliflower, zuccini, corn, tomatoes, pineapple, turmeric.

Trust this helps, Kurma.

New Vrndavan, USA: The Emerging Alliance of Religion and Ecology

mg — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:33:09 +0000

FOOD, FAITH AND FARMING

The Emerging Alliance of Religion and Ecology

Sunday, July 12th 11:00 a.m. to 2: 00 pm

Organic teaching garden directly across the street from Palace Lodge
New Vrindaban Community, Moundsville

What role does religion and spirituality play in shaping a socially just and sustainable food system? Join us for a fast moving workshop which examines the link between ethics and natural living.

Our panel includes experts in the fields of academia, organic agriculture, animal husbandry, children’s education and community development.

Key Speakers:

Whitney Sanford: Assistant Professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Department of Religion at the University of Florida.

Navina Shyam Dasa: Assistant Director of Hare Krishna Montessori School in Alachua, Florida. (MA in urban development).

William Dove: Founder of International Society for Cow Protection, Moundsville , WV.

Mark Meberg: Organic farmer/gardener, Middle Mountain Acres, Moundsville, WV.

Danny Swan: Director of the East Wheeling Community Gardens project, Wheeling, WV.

FREE and OPEN to the PUBLIC

Entertainment provided, refreshments served!

For more information, please contact Terry Sheldon

The Small Farm Training Center info@farmeducation.org

(304) 243-5990

Radha Priya dd, Austin, TX, USA: Fast Food Life Style/ Jesus is the Only Way

radhapriya — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:08:14 +0000

Life has been extraordinarily busy…2 jobs, college, yoga,temple seva, e-seva,sadhana,maintenance, etc, etc. Many ideas have come & gone for writing here mostly as I haven’t been able to sit down & write when I actually had the inspiration to do so. As I write this I have approximately a half hour before I need to [...]

Bhagavat Asraya das and Sarva Mangala dd: Isolation Row

Sarva Mangala d.d. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:39:26 +0000

I am practically better now and eager to write up lots of things. I’m kind of over writing things that happened more than a few days ago but I just found this poem which I’ve shortened as I do go on a bit. It’s just some observations from when I was put in the isolation ward in hospital.

Gentle nurse Ian
who loves what he does
wheels me out of yellow ward
past the hustle and bustle
of purple and green
into the narrow lift
and up into
old unrefurbished
Letchmore on 5th

the door closes
and we are behind
the Iron Curtain
deceptively O.K. at first
sister is friendly
lets me use the phone
as they do in yellow downstairs

health care worker
is incredibly rude
really insulting
about how she thinks
I got my sores
“if you are spiritual”
how sensitive can you get!

I see a sign on the wall
all the rules for honouring
patients’ dignity
that’s a laugh for a start

Ian tells them I have
cauliflower cheese on order
for my dinner
I’m now more optimistic
I might get something
to eat after two days
nothing happens
I decide not to ask much
from night sister
who has already laid down the law
I can’t use the phone
as I’m in isolation
can’t cross the corridor
to get hot drinking water

O.K. I get the message
I slide into accommodating mode
and am the essence of cheer
and co-operation
I get one flicker of personalism
when African night sister sees
my brightly coloured sarong
“Oh, it looks like my country”
then the curtain closes again

brusque, mildly chastising,
rarely smiling except
with nurse buddies
comments such as
“just relax” in curt tones
that tense me up

“I know what I’m doing!”
as she really tenses me up
with the penicillin shots
Health service……
in “yellow” I felt
their service mood,
here control rules
they are in charge
and watch out
if you go over the line

no clock, no food
I peep round the corner
down the corridor I see
night sister and nurse buddy chatting
having a bit of a laugh
they look around and see me
I try to be polite, hoping
they will feel I am
“honouring their dignity”
as the sign says
maybe some connection will occur

I ask, “what time do they bring the meal?”
It’s half past nine now
too late to ask for food
O.K. I let go of cauli cheese bhoga

to her credit she offers me a meat sandwich
I unfortunately can’t co-operate
(being a vegetarian)
again she offers
to get hot water
for my emergency instant mash

It’s one big emergency behind the Iron Curtain,

the registrar visits with two other curious doctors
everyone wants to see my mystery scabs and lesions
they are normal, friendly and uncondescending
it’s like heaven connecting with good professionals
who know how to treat you like a person
obviously imbibing the “dignity” rule
bit of fresh air really
they are gentle, polite, even a bit chummy
as the Indian registrar is leaving
he sees my pictures of Krishna and Prabhupada
he sneaks in a quick “Hare Krishna’
when no-one is listening

comfort relieves mild panic
as my mind had begun to revert to
wild imaginings –scenarios like
“One flew over the cuckoo’s nest!”

next day the docs will be here again
again I have to face
“God in a suit”
as I have called Dr X
whose icy politeness
could freeze the heart and hope of anyone,
perfect in a suit and impeccably clever
she commands obedience and obsequiousness
from her juniors
she’s up the ladder alright
and the hierarchical structure
looms large in her aura

the “nice yellow” consultant
whose name I keep forgetting
is direct, no-nonsense, respected
by other doctors but downright ‘good’
her warmth (which is not frilly)
enhances her professionalism
I get the feeling that aloofness
and icy superiority
are but a coat of fear
or perhaps even terror
at the possibility
of not being in control

seen it all before
in government
in religious organizations
everywhere you see it
impersonalism and voidism
all stemming from the fundamental desire
to control, enjoy and defend

no wonder someone is trying to enforce
rules to honour human dignity
easily lost in paradigms
where toxic mixes lurk
power, control, personal ambition, fear
plus a few chips on the shoulder
hey, how about a bit of
personal development here?!
“What’s that? Oh yes,
they don’t do it
behind the Iron Curtain”

what will today bring?
curt night sister might not be pleased
if she should sense that I am tense
but it’s day again!
maybe day sister will be O.K.
maybe I can call out
speak to a devotee on the phone
still the meeting with icy X
looms near and chills me
I nervously wonder
is “icy” higher on the ladder
than fabulous yellow
or even jokey tropical disease doc
can they force me to have a biopsy?

I muse over the immense courage
of devotees behind the Iron Curtain
in Russia, in Armenia who somehow survived
the atrocities of the prisons, psych wards
and labour camps, all for devotional service

Service is the Essence of Personalism

you can perceive its auspiciousness
in the little acts of kindness people perform
by their innate propensity to connect with others
their ability to put their own egotistic agenda aside
sufficient humility to let go of asserting what they know
in order to find out more by being open

knowledge is coming from the Supersoul
within the heart of every living being
those in the mode of goodness
less arrogant with good qualities
more likely to hear and assimilate
than those who hide behind their proud reserve

it’s an amazing experience observing
the modes of nature, how they cover
one’s consciousness, how Maya
propagates impersonalism
in every sphere of life
she leaves not a stone unturned

and myself, I have fear of isolation
isolation from devotees is scarey
isolation even from mode of goodness
and kind people is scarey
the one good thing about Isolation Row
is that I have my own room
and can put Prabhupada’s japa tape
on the computer – Hare Krishna!
Time to chant some more,
come what may!

Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: “The Spider and the Fly” by Mary Howitt

Madhava Gosh — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:45:52 +0000

Will you walk into my parlour?” said the Spider to the Fly,
‘Tis the prettiest little parlour that ever you did spy;
The way into my parlour is up a winding stair,
And I’ve a many curious things to shew when you are there.”
Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne’er come down again.”

“I’m sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;
Will you rest upon my little bed?” said the Spider to the Fly.
“There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I’ll snugly tuck you in!”
Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “for I’ve often heard it said,
They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed!”

Said the cunning Spider to the Fly, ” Dear friend what can I do,
To prove the warm affection I ‘ve always felt for you?
I have within my pantry, good store of all that’s nice;
I’m sure you’re very welcome — will you please to take a slice?”
“Oh no, no,” said the little Fly, “kind Sir, that cannot be,
I’ve heard what’s in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!”

“Sweet creature!” said the Spider, “you’re witty and you’re wise,
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your eyes!
I’ve a little looking-glass upon my parlour shelf,
If you’ll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself.”
“I thank you, gentle sir,” she said, “for what you ‘re pleased to say,
And bidding you good morning now, I’ll call another day.”

The Spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon come back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready, to dine upon the Fly.
Then he came out to his door again, and merrily did sing,
“Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing;
Your robes are green and purple — there’s a crest upon your head;
Your eyes are like the diamond bright, but mine are dull as lead!”

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,
Hearing his wily, flattering words, came slowly flitting by;
With buzzing wings she hung aloft, then near and nearer drew,
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and purple hue –
Thinking only of her crested head — poor foolish thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning Spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her up his winding stair, into his dismal den,
Within his little parlour — but she ne’er came out again!

And now dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly flattering words, I pray you ne’er give heed:
Unto an evil counsellor, close heart and ear and eye,
And take a lesson from this tale, of the Spider and the Fly.

Posted in Poetry

Japa Group: Success In Japa

Aruna (noreply@blogger.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:29:10 +0000

Hare Krsna my dear devotees. I hope your chanting has been peaceful and with nice realisations coming from the relationship with the Lord. This week I received a very nice Japa Reform booklet from the last Japa Retreat of H.H. Sacinandana Swami given at Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium. This material gave me great lessons about how I can improve my chanting and what to do to achieve the desired results in japa. For sure many of them I have already been learning from my Japa Room sessions, but they are spoken in a different way that gives me the strong desire to study it more. This is something our minds does to us, it is always telling us we need new things to offer and they never get satisfied - they don't like routine and the same thing all the time so we get disturbed because we think we need but it's not that, it's because we try other ways to get to the same goal....just using another direction.

A very nice topic of this booklet is "observation" - saying that we need to observe our chanting and check what our habits are, if we are concentrated, if we are doing other things at the same time while chanting - if we chant without interuption, this is regarding quality. He also talks about quantity and how we can increase our japa weekly, for the ones who want to achieve 16 rounds and still chanting less. Then he gives some forms and you are supposed to fill in and check your japa daily- by the end of the week you take 30 minutes and evaluate your whole week of chanting and see what you need to work on for the next week. He said that if we do that for a month, our minds will be trained and will be more peaceful while we chant.
I liked very much his guidelines and I think we can follow that as an example for our daily japa. Our aim is love of God....offenseless chanting and one day achieve pure love of God through chanting but to achieve this stage, we must focus on the sound vibration of the mantra because the Lord is there in the sound. When we understand that Krsna and His holy names are the same, we perceive that maybe we could give more attention to our japa time and make this time our personal moment with Krsna. The mood of prayer is also mentioned and the reasons why is so important....to have this child calling mood towards Krsna when we chant His holy names. Eagerness to achieve our spiritual goals is the key to success and when we give more attention to that, put efforts on this subject of improving the Lord Himself, gives you everything you need to get there. We just need to trust the Lord is with us all the time, living in our hearts and helping us to understand how we can develop a deeper relationship with Him through chanting....the main thing is to give a head start.

May our hearts be opened to new ways of learning how to improve our chanting so we can achieve pure love of God.

your servant,

Aruna devi

H.H. Bhakti Caitanya Swami: Photos from Russia

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:04:59 +0000

H.H. Bhakti Caitanya Swami: A very enthusiastic team of mosquitoes

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:04:59 +0000

Dear devotees,

Please accept my blessings. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I last wrote from the festival in the Altai Mountains in Siberia. That was about 2 weeks ago, and unfortunately I’ve had a cold since then, and even now it’s trying to hang on, although it’s 90% finished. I’m resting my voice today and most of tomorrow and hopefully it will stabilize more in the meantime.

From Altai I went to Moscow for a night, where I stayed in the beautiful flat of Denis and Svetlana, aspiring disciples of BB Govinda Maharaja, and then on the morning of June 22nd I flew with Bhakta Igor from St Petersburg to Syktyvkar, a place I had never heard of before. We stayed there till the 24th, when I had to fly to Arkangelsk via Moscow.

Syktyvkar is a relatively new yatra, being developed under the supervision of Vanamali Kaviraja prabhu the Regional Secretary for most of North West Russia. He’s an older person, and although still a householder he’s
traveling around the region all the time, encouraging the devotees. We did evening programmes in a hall, which were attended by 30 or so devotees and others, and one day we did a harinama.

Of course I had to lead the harinama, at least at the beginning, and that was quite a strain considering my health. There was no sound system so somehow I had to shout over the top of the instruments, which made it worse. In between mantras I would cough to clear my voice a bit, and somehow I managed to carry on for about 30 minutes.

In Russia generally the devotees have to get permission to do harinama, and this day we only had permission to stay in a particular spot near the centre of town, and not to move around the town. Because of being new the devotees were not so expert when it came to dancing and generally developing the kirtana, and I wasn’t feeling up to running around too much, so we basically stood in the same spot and sang, although the ladies, as Russian ladies often do, got into some simple dancing.

There is no temple in Syktyvkar, and all the devotees are living at home, so I appreciated very much that practically the whole yatra came out and chanted in the streets with us.

One thing I noticed about Syktyvkar was the mosquitoes! When we left on the 24th morning they had taken over the airport, and it was practically impossible to avoid being bitten several times. Actually the most powerful mosquitoes in Russia, and maybe the world, are the Siberian mosquitoes, who are relentless in their pursuit of blood, but their Syktyvkar brothers did very well for themselves that morning. It was something like a Food for Life programme for them!

Vanamali Kaviraja prabhu and I then flew to Moscow, and he went on to the Russian National Council meeting in Sochi, and I flew back to Arkanglesk. Arkangelsk is a very nice yatra, which has been going for many years. There used to be a temple there, which had many brahmacaris and barhmacarinis, but then some of them married and others moved elsewhere, and the temple closed. Now they regularly hold their programmes in the house of one of my disciples, Lalita Madhava devi dasi, and this was where we met.

Nearby is the town of Severodvinsk, which is a closed city where they make submarines. You need permission to get in there, and the devotees have not been able to get it for me yet, so again I wasn’t able to go in. but the devotees from there came and joined us for our programmes at Lalita Madhava’s.

One day I went for a walk on the river front with Aravindaksha prabhu the Arkangelsk yatra leader and husband of my disciple and Arkangelsk translator, Jaya Radhika devi dasi. As we walked along the river bank we saw a couple of Indian boys drinking beer with some Russian boys. Aravindaksha called out “Hare Krishna!” to them and they responded, although they seemed a little embarrassed to be seen by us, drinking liquor. But Aravindaksha prabhu told me that he lives nearby, and Indian boys like this, who are
studying at the medical school in Arkangelsk, often come to the shop near his flat and buy meat and liquor. As soon as they leave India behind they start losing their culture.

I then flew to St Petersburg, where the devotees have a Saturday programme instead of a Sunday programme. On Sunday they do harinama. I arrived on Saturday and we went to the programme, and found at least 300 or so devotees there, chanting and dancing very enthusiastically.

St Petersburg used to have the biggest temple in Russia, which was being rented at the time Harikesa das left ISKCON. When he left his followers kept the temple, and since then, more than 10 years ago, we haven’t had a temple here, but have had to rent halls for all our programmes. However the devotees have now got some land and will hopefully start construction soon.

I had to meet devotees on Sunday, so I didn’t go on the harinama, and in one sense that was good, as I need to rest, particularly my voice. Then on Monday afternoon we had another programme in the same hall we used on Saturday. I was skeptical whether the devotees would come, but to my surprise, when we started at 3pm, there was almost the same number of devotees there as on Saturday, despite it being a working day.

That evening, the 29th of June, I flew on my own to Murmansk. The plane took off at about 9pm and as we approached Murmansk I noticed some spots of snow on some of the hills nearby. Even though it is officially midsummer, still this part of the world is cold.

Murmansk is in the Arctic Circle, and as far as I know it’s the northern most temple in ISKCON worldwide. We finally arrived at the temple around midnight, after being met at the airport by a large group of devotees
(accompanied by a very enthusiastic team of mosquitoes), and when I went to the bathroom at 12.15 I saw that the sun was still up in the sky, shining directly on some of the buildings in the city. Living in the far north is quite an amazing experience.

Again we went on harinama in Murmansk. There were about 15 or so of us, with accordion, and it all went very well, although the weather was a bit too cold for me, and my cold returned again. I assumed we had permission as usual, but as we stood in a particular place with a crowd gathered around us we noticed a police car stop right next to us.

The Temple President, Paramananda prabhu, immediately told us to move on, and as we walked down the street the police car followed us, stopping occasionally next to us and staring at us. When we finished I asked Paramananda if we had had permission, but he said no. In the past they would get permission, but the authorities would only let them go to quiet parts of the city, and they wanted to go into the centre, so they decided not to bother with permission and just take a chance with the police.

That was ok for them, but for me as a foreigner it’s very dangerous to get caught doing something that’s against the law. The Russian authorities are very touchy about such things, and will arrest foreigners easily if they do something they shouldn’t.

In both Syktyvkar and Arkangelsk news people came to interview. In Syktyvkar they did a very favourable half page article about my visit, and in Murmansk two television stations and a newspaper came. I saw on the temple noticeboard a clipping of an article done the previous year by a reporter who was a big George Harrison fan. When he heard that I had met George and spoken with him, the reporter couldn’t believe it, and thought I was some sort of big celebrity, and then wrote the article, which was very favourable indeed, and also half a page of the newspaper.

In Murmansk the devotees own the temple, having bought it from the profits from their transcendental cake business. They have cakes named Vrindavana, Mayapur, Radhe Syama, and many other names. We’ve included some photos of them, so please have a look. Some of them are quite amazing.

This morning I had to get up at 2am to take a cheap flight to Moscow, where I am now, waiting to fly to South Africa for the Phoenix Rathayatra this weekend. I will write further from there.

Hoping this meets you well.

Your servant,

Bhakti Caitanya Swami

Vrndavana Vinodini dd, Toronto, Canada: 37th Annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra) Commerical

Vrndavana Vinodini dd (noreply@blogger.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:21:13 +0000

I am so grateful to be part of such a progressive and innovative team of individuals who are trying to share the beauty of bhakti-yoga. Below is this year's commercial which will be seen by millions in Toronto, inviting them to take part in this event.

Vrndavana Vinodini dd, Toronto, Canada: Kirtan- Toronto Style!

Vrndavana Vinodini dd (noreply@blogger.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:14:29 +0000

Mayapur Online: Artistic Paintings

Shyamagopika dd — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 09:04:24 +0000

‘Akalpa refers to the texture of Krsna’s hair, His nicely dressed body anointed with sandalwood pulp and decorated with flower garlands, His tilaka and His chewing pan. Krsna was decorated constantly in this akalpa process. Krsna’s hair was sometimes decorated with flowers placed on the middle of His head, or else it was reaching down to His back. In this way Krsna dressed His hair differently at different times.

H.H. Mukunda Goswami: Even Demons Can Get A Taste Devotional Service

Mukunda Goswami — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Srila Prabhupada has said that his movement has created a taste for devotional service, even in DEMONS. "But our propaganda is, by some way or other, even they are sudras, even they're demons, we are creating the taste."

(Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.16 in SF on 19 Aug, 1972). A scriptural proof of this is that Arjuna engaged the demon Maya Danava in constructing a beautiful assembly house in Dwarka and the gift of a great club to Bhima:

Pandu das: Twitter Updates for 2009-07-02

Pandu das — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:08:00 +0000

When I stand in front of Srila Prabhupada’s murti, I feel like he can see me, body, mind, & soul. I presume he sees me other times as well. #

Gouranga TV: Ratha Yatra Wrocław 13 06 2009 cz 4

uploader — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:08 +0000

Ratha Yatra Wrocław 13 06 2009 cz 4. Ratha Yatra we Wrocławiu, Festiwal pochodzący z Orissy, z miasta Jaganath Puri w Indiach, najstarsza parada uliczna świata. Co roku milion ludzi bierze udział w tym festiwalu w Indiach, dzięki Mi…

Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Dance / Bhajan - Diana's Yoga Studio - Surata and Gopi Krishna - Yasomati Nandana

Rupa Schomaker (rupa@rupa.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:47:00 +0000

Dance performed by Surata and Gopi Krishna. Hari das is singing the bhajan Yasomati Nandana. Performed at Diana's Yoga Studio.

Dallas, TX
2009-05-02

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 2 July 2009--Prayer to Krishna Kaliya

course@ultimateselfrealization.com — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:30:00 +0000

We took our final darshan of Krishna Kaliya at our ISKCON temple in Lautoka, Fiji on 30 June. It was a very heart touching moment for me. After putting some money into the donation box I humbly bowed down at Krishna Kaliya's feet thanking Him for the so many wonderful Krishna conscious experiences I have had preaching in Fiji over the years since 1985....

Gauranga Kishore das,USA: Humans evolved in Asia?

Gauranga Kishore Das (gaurangakishore@gmail.com) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:19:38 +0000

Fossil Suggests Human, Ape Ancestor Hails From Asia

Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News

June 30, 2009 -- A new Myanmar fossil primate, Ganlea megacanina, suggests the common ancestor of humans, monkeys and apes evolved from large-toothed primates in Asia and not Africa, according to new research published in the latest Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

If Myanmar, formerly called Burma, is confirmed as being the ancestral homeland of higher primates, or close to it, the discovery points to a circuitous migration route for some early primates, which must have gone to Africa and then come back to Asia. . . . Beard still believes modern humans descended from an African population that lived around 200,000 years ago. "But," he said, "some extinct species of humans, such as the 'hobbit' Homo floresiensis, almost certainly evolved in Asia." (Read the article thing here.)

This is interesting on a couple of levels, the first is that it shows the idea of evolution as a scientific theory is almost a joke. The whole thing can be turned on its head. At the very least it still evolving. The admittance that Homo floresiensis "almost certainly evolved in Asia" has huge implications. One of the big holes in the Vedic narative was India being the center of everything, when genetic evidence seemed to indicate that people migrated out of Africa. But it looks like the same evidence could also be used to show that people migrated to Africa from Asia. This is important for anyone who accepts the Vedic paradigm, whether we except the Vedas literally or whether we accept some type of guided theistic evolution.

New Vrndavan, USA: I Wish Everyone Could Experience It

mg — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:03:23 +0000

by Bhaktin Rita

Recently, the devotees organized a large kirtan in a public park in Pittsburgh. Almost right at the beginning of the festival, I saw a young lady, Elizabeth, standing in one corner of the tent. She was listening and watching, and seemed to be enjoying the festival. She was very pretty, dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, and was carrying a business portfolio and backpack. From her appearance, she looked like a passer-by, and not like a devotee. So, I approached her and began speaking to her. As soon as I began speaking with her, however, I thought I had made a mistake. She seemed to belong there. I thought that she must be a second-generation devotee, so I apologized immediately. I said, “Sorry, I didn’t realize you are with this group.”

Elizabeth told me, “No, I’m not with this group. I was walking through the park and saw this happening.”

I asked Elizabeth whether she would like to join the ladies who were dancing in a circle on the other side of the tent. I expected her to say no, and for the interaction to end but she surprised me by saying OK. She put down her portfolio and backpack, and we joined the circle and started dancing.

A few minutes later, I saw two young ladies standing just inside the tent, and I invited them to join us. They immediately put their bags down and joined the circle. And a few minutes after that, I saw another young lady standing close by, and she joined us as well. For the next twenty or thirty minutes, I was simultaneously dancing in the circle, scanning the crowd for more ladies who might be interested in joining the circle, and scanning the ladies who had already joined us. I kept looking at Elizabeth. She never stopped dancing, and she never looked tired.

During the dancing, one of the ladies I had invited left the festival. She gave me a hug and thanked me for drawing her in. I asked whether she wanted to be put in touch with the group who organized the festival. She said yes, and wrote down her contact information. As she handed me the slip of paper, she said, “I used to chant ‘Hare Krishna.’” I told her, “Welcome back.” She hugged me again. I was very happy for her.

After the dancing ended, Radhanath Maharaja prepared to speak. All of my guests left except Elizabeth. She did not talk to anyone or look around to see what anyone was doing – she simply stood there. To me, it looked like she was unaware of what was happening around her.
I approached her cautiously and asked whether she would like to sit in a chair and listen to the lecture. She said yes, and again followed me.

After the class, Radhanath Maharaja invited everyone to dance and chant with him. He taught everyone the proper way to dance in kirtan. First, he demonstrated the “swami step.” Next, he explained that when the leader is chanting, everyone should stand with their hands folded, in a prayerful mood. Finally, when the group chants together, everyone should raise their hands in the air.

When the kirtan started, I could see that Elizabeth was following what I was doing. When I raised my arms up, she raised her arms. And when I lowered my arms, she lowered hers. But very soon after, she closed her eyes and moved her arms by following the kirtan. And she chanted the entire time.

Prabhupada explains in Nectar of Devotion that “it is found that a person actually attached to material enjoyment or salvation has the good fortune to associate with pure devotees while they are engaged in chanting the holy name of the Lord. By the good grace of the Lord one may also cooperate and join in the chanting. At that time, simply by the association of such pure devotees, the moonlike rays from their hearts reflect on him, and by the influence of the pure devotees he may show some likeness of attachment caused by inquisitiveness, but this is very flickering. And if by the manifestation of such shadow attachment one feels the disappearance of all material pangs, then it is called parä attachment.”

After kirtan ended, I asked Elizabeth whether she wanted to meet Radhanath Maharaja. She said yes, so I immediately took her behind the stage. I knew if I waited, Maharaja would be swamped by devotees, and Elizabeth would miss her opportunity.

I introduced Elizabeth to Maharaja and said, “Elizabeth had a wonderful time here.” Maharaja said a few words to her.

Then Elizabeth said, “I had a wonderful time. I’ve never heard of this before. I wish everyone could have been here. Thank you.”

Maharaja said a few more words, and Elizabeth thanked him again, “This was really wonderful. Thank you for organizing this.”

Maharaja looked at me to see whether I wanted to say anything. I turned to leave, but Elizabeth stood in her place. After a few seconds, she said again, “Thank you for doing this. I wish everyone could experience it.”

Malati dd, USA: Little Krishna and Arjuna

mala108 — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:02:55 +0000

Everyone get ready for this amazing animated film of Little Krishna and Arjuna coming this 2009.

The 13 episodes of animated Little Krishna just started streaming in Nick TV India last May 11 on Monday-Friday at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. The series has been written by Emmy award winning international writer Jeffrey Scott. On the other hand, I don’t have any information yet about Arjuna, but I’ll update you guys as soon as I get it. I’m a big anime fan, and I can’t wait to see these awesome animated world class film about Krishna and Arjuna.

For more info about Little Krishna, please click here.

Little Krishna

Arjuna

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara Prabhu

jayendra — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:05:31 +0000

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.10.11 - Understanding the spirit soul.

HH. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Prabhupada… Bhajana Kutir #119

Satsvarupa das Goswami — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:13:55 +0000

7:23 A.M.

When Prabhupada first came to India, he tended to build temples and recruit Indian youths. At first, he complained that the young Indians were not interested in Krishna consciousness. But he eventually achieved grand success, both in building temples and in recruiting. In 1972, he was only pioneering, touring with his American disciples.

Yesterday, I heard a lecture he gave on Octobet 28, 1972, in Vrndavan, India. He began by saying that Krishna consciousness is not difficult, but it is the only way one can be happy. To be peaceful and happy, you have to recognize Krishna. But the material world is made in such a way that you can’t be happy. We have come to serve our senses, not Krishna’s. Due to illusion, we can’t understand. The hog feels happy, and he gets fat. But what is his happiness? Living in a filthy place and eating stool. Krishna is so kind, He’ll give you any kind of body you want—a body like a dog, a demigod’s body, or a body like His.

The safest way is to hear about Krishna. This is pious activity. We have dirty things in the heart, and they have to be cleansed. Krishna is trying to help us, but we refuse. Elicit sex is hard to give up, but if one is attracted to Krishna, Krishna will save him. If we want to remove the dirty things from the heart, we must scrutinizingly hear about Krishna. There are four pillars of sinful life, and they are dismantled by hearing. I can’t get out of the material world by my own endeavor, but Krishna helps. When the intelligence is purified by hearing about Krishna, you are elevated to the spiritual platform.

8:00 A.M.

Chanting is better than remembering.

Chanting captures the mind

and enables others to hear.

Just because controlling the mind is

so hard doesn’t make it better than

chanting. So say the messengers of

Vaikuntha against the opinion of

the sages of Tapoloka.

I love hearing the music of kirtana

and chanting. It is easy and

sublime. It is superior.

It wails and sails and brings

enjoyment on the sensual level.

Pretty tunes, and even horns

take part. The singers give it

wholehearted cry.

So take to kirtana and hearing and

don’t bother with the effort

to remember.

You reach Krishna soon in kirtana.

A man sings for his lover.

It’s a reflection of the love in the

spiritual world.

It’s moving, but only a shadow.

It contains grief at loss, and

anger, and cruelty. Krishna’s

love for Radha is a ballad with

no taints.

He sings, and She sings back

in pure bliss. Even when Krishna

is away, Radha’s songs are pure

lament, with an ecstasy at the core.

So we should not be deceived by

romantic ballads of this world.

Use them as a reminder

of the true love that goes

on in Vraja.

from #119→

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:20:04 +0000

1966 July 1:
"Chaturdasi. Today I entered the new house at 26 Second Avenue. For my purpose it is all good. I do not why Krishna is trying to establish me in New York. I am his servant's servant and therefore let His desire be fulfilled through my agency. In the evening there was meeting in the New Store. There was about eight men."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:20:04 +0000

1969 July 1: "I am glad to know that one rich Indian is prepared to contribute. But my mission will be more successful if the Americans construct a temple."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 22:20:04 +0000

1970 July 1: "I do not know what Kirtanananda has told you. If there is scarcity of qualified pujaris, each center should be satisfied only by worshipping Panca Tattva by performance of Sankirtana."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:31:06 +0000

1974 July 1: "We do not have to be dependent on taking help from persons who will not even eat with us, thinking us inferior. We are not dependent on any Indian goswami. Let them come as invited but we shall conduct the affair ourselves."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:29:26 +0000

1974 July 1: "All big officers should be invited. Goswamis and godbrothers also. All the inhabitants of Vrindaban will be invited. There is no question of money. Let it be a first class, A-1 arrangement"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:28:54 +0000

1972 July 1: "I am so much pleased that you have taken Sannyas and are preaching whole-heartedly. Do not worry about your wife and child, Krishna will take care of them. Just you save the foolish world from going to hell."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:25:35 +0000

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:21:38 +0000

1969 July 1: "I am glad to know that one rich Indian is prepared to contribute. But my mission will be more successful if the Americans construct a temple."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:17:10 +0000

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:11:14 +0000

1971 July 1: "I'm very sorry that you are separated from the temple. But don't worry. Krishna will save you, you can be sure. There is no doubt about it. So go on chanting Hare Krishna at all costs and never mind these tribulations of maya."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

Kurma dasa, AU: The Best of Kurma Blog #3 - Cabbages and Isothiocyanates

Kurma — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:04:47 +0000

Cabbages 'cut lung cancer risks'

"Eating vegetables from the cabbage family can reduce the risk of lung cancer for people with a certain genetic make-up, scientists say. Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli and sprouts are rich in chemicals called isothiocyanates, which strongly protect against lung cancer." more...

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

letters (wmdean@btopenworld.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:01:02 +0000

1975 July 1: "Actually we are not fond of having businesses. Regard your main business as trying to become Krsna conscious through reading my books and associating with the devotees in the Sankirtana movement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:20:03 +0000

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:20:02 +0000

1972 July 1: "I am so much pleased that you have taken Sannyas and are preaching whole-heartedly. Do not worry about your wife and child, Krishna will take care of them. J
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972ust you save the foolish world from going to hell."

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:20:02 +0000

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:20:02 +0000

1974 July 1: "We do not have to be dependent on taking help from persons who will not even eat with us, thinking us inferior. we are not dependent on any Indian goswami. Let them come as invited but we shall conduct the affair ourselves."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

Bharatavarsa.net: Prabhupada letters

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:20:02 +0000

Kripamoya dasa, UK: New animated versions of Krishna, Arjuna

deshika — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:16:47 +0000

From time to time my readers send me clips of films that have some spiritual message. Here are a few that are directly related to stories from our Vedic heritage.

In general, Srila Prabhupada was interested in any medium that would take the messages of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam to a greater audience. He was more reserved with regards to animated cartoons however, since he thought that they would not have the effect of the viewers actually understanding the reality of Krishna. ‘Cartoon’ means ‘unfinished painting’ and Srila Prabhupada stated that he wanted the paintings of Krishna and His incarnations to be as realistic as possible so that they would act as ‘windows to the spiritual world.’

Some people have tried hard with these, and apparently extensive research was involved in the Little Krishna that is soon to be shown on the Nickleodeon channel. I think the artwork is significantly more real than non CGI cartoon images and I also feel that they may promote factual attraction for Krishna within children.

More information on Little Krishna can be had here: LITTLE KRISHNA

The Arjuna clip reveals – to those who’ve read The Mahabharata – that the story has been changed to accomodate greater dramatic effect. Still, people may be stimulated to enquire further and to read the original stories, now translated into almost 100 different languages by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. See what you think:

David Haslam, UK: Book distribution, what is the focus?

David — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:05:34 +0000

The other day I was reading an article which was talking about the preaching work done be the Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormon’s in relation to devotees book distribution. They noted that from what they could see that both were more successful in making followers, and questioned why this could be? One is focus, what is the [...]

Utah Krishnas, USA: Chant & Be Happy Part Two

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:57:03 +0000

In the beginning, according to Indian philosophers, was sound. Sound is, according to writings dating back thousands of years, the original primordial, creative force. According to Lewis Rowell, "musical sound[s]…are identified with the creative vital force by which the entire universe is animated."

Japa Group: Get Right Down To Business

Rasa Rasika (noreply@blogger.com) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:29:44 +0000

"Conversing before your japa uses up energy and is a distraction and shouldn’t be indulged in. Get right down to business as soon as you get up. Call to Krishna for help, and He will help you stay awake. Keeping up a good speed is also helpful. Gradually, you gain your wakefulness and take advantage of it. Harinama deserves your best effort."

From Bhajan Kutir #116

Sanatana Goswami das, UK: Progressive thought

sgd1008@gmail.com (Sanatana Goswami das) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:00:00 +0000

Thought is progressive. The author's thought must have progress in the reader in the shape of correction or development. He is the best critic, who can show the further development of an old thought; but a mere denouncer is the enemy of progress and consequently of Nature. "Begin anew," says the critic, "because the old masonry does not answer at present. Let the old author be buried because his time is gone." These are shallow expressions. Progress certainly is the law of nature and there must be corrections and developments with the progress of time. But progress means going further or rising higher.

Now, if we are to follow our foolish critic, we are to go back to our former terminus and make a new race, and when we have run half the race another critic of his stamp will cry out: "Begin anew, because the wrong road has been taken!" In this way our stupid critics will never allow us to go over the whole road and see what is in the other terminus. Thus the shallow critic and the fruitless reader are the two greatest enemies of progress. We must shun them.

The true critic, on the other hand, advises us to preserve what we have already obtained, and to adjust our race from that point where we have arrived in the heat of our progress. He will never advise us to go back to the point whence we started, as he fully knows that in that case there will be a fruitless loss of our valuable time and labor. He will direct the adjustment of the angle of the race at the point where we are. This is also the characteristic of the useful student. He will read an old author and will find out his exact position in the progress of thought. He will never propose to burn the book on the ground that it contains thoughts which are useless.

No thought is useless. Thoughts are means by which we attain our objects. The reader who denounces a bad thought does not know that a bad road is even capable of improvement and conversion into a good one. One thought is a road leading to another. Thus the reader will find that one thought which is the object today will be the means of a further object tomorrow. Thoughts will necessarily continue to be an endless series of means and objects in the, progress of humanity.

- Bhaktivinoda Thakur, The Bhagavata (here)

-Biography (here)

Manoj, Melbourne, AU: 146. Part 8 – Weekend away with Bhurijan Prabhu

9days8nights — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:43:38 +0000

Part 8 – Association with puppets

On 2 of the evenings, Jagattarini mataji took us to the world of puppetry. She had recorded a puppet show which recreated the pastimes of Madhavendra puri and Ramachandra puri. Although the 2 were extremely interesting, almost everyone in the hall enjoyed the narration of Ramachandra puri.

As you all know, Ramachandra puri was one of the disciples of Madhavendra puri but he was influenced by Mayavadi philosophy, which led him to criticize his spiritual master, then other vaishnavas and finally he was so fallen that he even criticized Lord Chaitanya. The entire story can be found in the Chaitanya Caritamrta, Chapter 8 – “Ramachandra Puri Criticizes the Lord”.

The screen went up. A bedside desk was made available for the laptop and a projector. Everyone settled onto the ground. There were humming here and there. Everyone felt like kids. And even more when the lights were turned off. It was like a village in some remote corner of India where people gather to watch a bollywood movie.

Madhavendra puri was at the last stage of his life and while in his bed, he would chant the holy name of Krishna and sometimes he would cry, “O my Lord, I did not get shelter at Mathura.”

One day, Ramachandra puri came to Madhavendra puri’s house. Not knowing the reason behind Madhavendra puri’s crying, he instructed his spiritual master, “If you are in full transcendental bliss, you should now remember only Brahman. Why are you crying?”

Hearing this instruction, Madhavendra puri, greatly angry, rebuked him by saying, “Get out, you sinful rascal ! O my Krishna, I could not reach You, nor could I reach Your abode, Mathura. I am dying in my unhappiness, and now this rascal has come to give more pain”,and he yelled at Ramachandra puri again, “ Don’t show your face to me ! Go anywhere else you like, If I die seeing your face, I shall not achieve the destination of my life. I am dying without achieving the shelter of Krishna, and therefore I am greatly unhappy. Now this condemned foolish rascal has come to instruct me about Brahman.”

This sannyasi, Ramachandra Puri, now denounced by Madhavendra Puri, gradually began to lose his devotional qualities. Slowly, material qualities crept in and he began to find faults with devotees. There was no certainty where Ramachandra puri would take his meal and he often went to people’s house uninvited. And he would keep an account of how his hosts and other devotees he met would take their meals. And then he would criticize them.

At Jagannath Puri, he came to see Paramananda Puri and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. His main purpose of the meeting was to find faults with Sri Chaitanya and His devotees. But he was finding it tough as he could not even locate a single one.

During this meeting, when the 3 of them were talking about Krishna for a long time, Jagadananda came and extended an invitation to Ramachandra Puri. A large quantity of the remnants of food from Lord Jagannatha was brought in for distribution. Ramachandra Puri ate sumptuously, and then he wanted to find faults in Jagadananda Pandita. With great eagerness, he seated Jagadananda Pandita and personally served him prasadam. Encouraging him again and again, Ramachandra Puri fed him sumptuously, but when Jagadananda had washed his hands and mouth, Ramachandra puri began criticizing him.

“I have heard,” he said, “that the followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu eat more than necessary. Now I have directly seen that this is true. Feeding a sanyasi too much breaks his regulative principles, for when a sannyasi eats too much, his renunciation is destroyed.”

This was his plan. He would induce a devotee to eat and then criticize. Finally, after much thought he placed his criticism on Lord Chaitanya, “How can a person in the renounced order eat so many sweetmeats?”,he said. “If one eats sweets, controlling senses is difficult.” In this way, he blasphemed Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu before everyone, but nevertheless he would regularly come to see the Lord everyday. However, when they met, the Lord would offer him full respects, considering him a God brother. The Lord knew of his plans, yet with great attention, due respects were paid. Eventually, the Lord reduced the amount He ate and instructed his disciple not to serve him more. This was devastating news for His dear disciples. And they lamented.

Sri Chaitanya would humbly say to Ramachandra Puri, “I am just like an ignorant boy and am like your disciple. It is My great fortune that you are instructing Me.”

Finally, after his few days of stay at Jagannath Puri, Ramachandra Puri left for some other holy place. The devotees considered this sannyasi to be like a great burden on their heads. When he left, everyone were extremely happy. After his departure, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu accepted his invitations as usual and everyone accepted prasadam without hindrances. And so, everyone continued to live blissfully ever after !

The conclusion of this pastime can be found in the “Antya Lila” section, Chapter 8, verse 27 of Chaitanya Charitamrta.

sushka-brahma-jnani, nahi krishnera ’sambandha’
sarva loka ninda kare, nindate nirbandha

TRANSLATION
One who is attached to dry speculative knowledge has no relationship with Krishna. His occupation is criticizing Vaishnavas. Thus he is situated in criticism.

PURPORT
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura has explained in his Anubhashya that the word nirbandha indicates that Ramacandra Puri had a steady desire to criticize others. Impersonalist Mayavadis, who have no relationship with Krishna, who cannot take to devotional service, and who simply engage in material arguments to understand Brahman, regard devotional service to Krishna as karma-kanda, or fruitiveactivities. According to them, devotional service to Krishna is but another means for attaining dharma, artha, kama and moksha. Therefore they criticize the devotees for engaging in material activities. They think that devotional service is mayaand that Krishna or Vishnu is also maya. Therefore they are called Mayavadis. Such a mentality awakens in a person who is an offender to Krishna and His devotees.

And then the lights came on. In the room and in our heads – It’s not a good idea to criticize anyone. Many of the western minds have deliberated on this matter too.

They have great tranquility of heart who care neither for the praises nor the fault-finding of people.
- Honoré de Balzac

The learner always begins by finding fault,but the scholar sees the positive merit in everything.
- Georg Wilhelm Hegel

Another reason why we do not regard others as precious is that we pay attention to their faults whilst ignoring their good qualities. Unfortunately we have become very skilled in recognizing the faults of others, and we devote a great deal of mental energy to listing them, analyzing them, and even meditating on them! With this critical attitude, if we disagree with our partner or colleagues about something, instead of trying to understand their point of view we repeatedly think of many reasons why we are right and they are wrong. By focusing exclusively on their faults and limitations we become angry and resentful, and rather than cherishing them we develop the wish to harm or discredit them. In this way small disagreements can easily turn into conflicts that simmer for months.
- unattributed

Do not look for faults in others,but look for faults in yourself,and purge them like bad blood.
- Advice from Atisha’s Heart

We communicate happiness to others not often by great acts of devotion and self-sacrifice, but by the absence of fault-finding and censure, by being ready to sympathize with their notions and feelings, instead of forcing them to sympathize with ours.
- Adam Clarke

My days of whining and complaining about others have come to an end.Nothing is easier than fault-finding. All it will do is discolor my personality so that none will want to associate with me. That was my old life. No more.Never allow anyone to rain on your parade and thus cast a pall of gloom and defeat on the entire day. Remember that no talent, no self-denial, no brains, no character, are required to set up in the fault-finding business. Nothing external can have any power over you unless you permit it. Your time is too precious to be sacrificed in wasted days combating the menial forces of hate, jealously, and envy.
- Og Mandino

And our scriptures boldly declared these as well. Srimad Bhagavatam 11.28.1 says,

sri-bhagavan uvaca
para-svabhava-karmani
na prasamsen na garhayet
visvam ekamakam pasyan
prakritya purushena ca

TRANSLATION
The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: One should neither praise nor criticize the conditioned nature and activities of other persons. Rather, one should see this world as simply the combination of material nature and the enjoying souls, all based on the one Absolute Truth.

So I say, “Find the good in all !”