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"Planet ISKCON" - 24 new articles
- H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Monday 20 June 2011--Transcendental Bliss in Malaysia--and--Soul and Spirit--What's the Difference?
- Kurma dasa, AU: Farewell Yaso
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
- Kurma dasa, AU: Garden Yoga
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Nanda Mandir Prabhu
- Gaura Yoga, NZ: Samadhi kirtan band, playing this Saturday!
- H.H. Devamrita Swami: A Young Lady Doing a Man's Job?
- Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: from BTG 31-03, 1997
- Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Our request: don't be rascals
- Kurma dasa, AU: Kaliya and the Cows - a Blessed Encounter
- ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Sunday Feast Live!
- Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: In the news: A Swami and His Father
- Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Weekly Round-Up!
- Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: The glories of Syamananda Prabhu
- Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: The Morning After
- Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: 2011 tour – Sydney Reunion – final post
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: Answering questions from Purusottama Hirani, Gopala and Kancana-vali dd
- Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Reggie gets the mercy
- Mayapur Online: Tamal Krishna Goswami's Appearance Day
- Book Distribution News: Reggie gets the mercy
- Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: The Humble Musings Of The Manhattan Monk 6/19/11
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - HG Bhurijana Prabhu
- Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
- Gouranga TV: Lecture – Tamal Krishna Goswami – Prema Bhakti Candrika Verse 4
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Monday 20 June 2011--Transcendental Bliss in Malaysia--and--Soul and Spirit--What's the Difference?
bb A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Monday 20 June 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. Today's Thought: Transcendental Bliss in Malaysia Uploaded from Kuala, Lumpur The greatest, sweetest aspect of Krishna consciousness is its transcendental nature. It does not depend on any particular time, place, and circumstance. Through Krishna consciousness you can transform any situation you find yourself in to be the ultimate adventure. You can be in any part of the world and experience the sweetest transcendental bliss simply by remembering and glorifying Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Describing the Glories of Lord Sri Krishna Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--19 June 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Spring/Kuala_Lumpu_Lect.JPG Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Soul and Spirit--What's the Difference? Can you please explain for me the difference between the soul and the spirit? I understand that our physical body is but a vessel which houses these sacred entities, but I don't know where one starts and the other ends. Christian teachings say they are both different entities, but even Christians don't seem to be able to agree on where one starts and another ends or even if they're one and the same thing. I am very confused by it all Thank you Andrew Answer: The Spirit and the Soul are the Same Kindly do not be confused any longer. The spirit and the soul are the same thing. Therefore we usually use the term spirit soul to denote the living being who exists forever as the servant of God without the need for a material body. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Sankarshan Das Adhikari on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SDASITE Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:
•Kurma dasa, AU: Farewell Yaso
My dear Godbrother Yasomatinandana passed away this morning in hospital from cancer of the stomach. He had seen his grandchild yesterday for the first time, and had said his farewells to all.
Around 8.30 am, while his son Ramananda was chanting softly with him at his bedside, he fell silent, closed his eyes and peacefully departed. A blessed death!
He joined us exactly one month ago on May 20 for our 40th Anniversary celebrations and Prabhupada Disciples Reunion, and was at that time 2 weeks into a course of chemotherapy. The photos here were taken on our kirtan cruise on Sydney Harbour where Yaso sung for us all for the very last time.
We are happy that his pain was short-lived, and we are confident that Yaso has been able to enter into transcendence, having devoted the best years of his life to the sacred Sankirtana Movement of Sri Caitanya.
Farewell Yaso. Thank you for your association. Thank you for your great kirtans. Thank you for your comedic brilliance and rapier-sharp wit. And thank you for those tens of thousands of sacred books you distributed in every town and village of Australia. We will miss you.
•ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
Srila Prabhupada declares:
"I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krsna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you...
As the vast mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu conquers all directions, a flood of transcendental ecstasy will certainly cover the land. When all the sinful, miserable living entities become happy, the Vaisnavas' desire is then fulfilled..."
(Prayer unto the Lotus Feet of Krsna, on board of the Jaladuta, 13 September 1965).
The fact that we enjoy the darsana of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu everyday is a proof that His vast mercy is steadily conquering all directions.
•Kurma dasa, AU: Garden Yoga
Newly sprouted coriander seeds in Kurma's garden.
"O Arjuna, I am the generating seed of all existences. There is no being - moving or unmoving - that can exist without Me.
(Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 10, verse 39: "The Opulence of the Absolute")
•ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Nanda Mandir Prabhu
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.10.35-42 - Krsna, through the agency of maya, gives us various temptations to test our fixedness in devotional service (...mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te).
•Gaura Yoga, NZ: Samadhi kirtan band, playing this Saturday!
•H.H. Devamrita Swami: A Young Lady Doing a Man's Job?
What would you do if, born in North India to atheistic parents, accruing a husband who doesn't practice bhakti, at age twenty-seven you recently relocated to Toronto, working as a project manager in the intense world of corporate finance?
Mangal-aarti dasi's response was simple: distribute Prabhupada's books and start an ISKCON urban outreach center aimed at Canadians.
Oh.
Besides her home and corporate duties, several times a week she frequents Toronto's bustling, sophisticated central city streets to distribute Prabhupada's books and invitations to the mid-city bhakti outlet she runs, Urban Edge Yoga.
Just this month she has moved from the suburbs to the very center, so she can be perfectly situated for devotional-service urban immersion, descending from the 20th floor, walking straight out into the crowds.
Dealing with hectic and harried denizens of the Western world whose lives, compared to India, often lack social, familial, and personal stability, has been a massive on-the-job-training for her. She sees firsthand the personal and interpersonal breakdowns happening when society becomes godless and greedy.
Someone has to do this divine work.
And someone will get the divine credit.
For the past few days, I've been doing programs at Urban Edge (see link for info), where Toronto's native Canadian population can feel comfortable to come and discover bhakti-yoga in a hospitable, low-keyed, nontraditional atmosphere, emphasizing camaraderie in enlightenment.
Together with my dear Godbrother kirtan-maker Bada Hari Prabhu, we seek to flood Urban Edge, and the university venues we'll be doing, with soulful talks, music, and delicious eatables.
Mangal-aarti has taken her mission statement from the similar outreach operations in New Zealand and Australia: "We make it easy. We make it easy to 1. approach bhakti, 2. organically grow in bhakti, and 3. distribute bhakti to others. We make it easy."
Please Facebook her your blessings and encouragement:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/UrbanEdge-Yoga/174894551677
•Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: from BTG 31-03, 1997
The Treasure of the City of Victory In Jaipur, the capital of "the Land of Kings," Lord Krsna is the center of devotion. By Visakha-priya Devi Dasi WHILE VISITING JAIPUR, the capital of the Indian state of Rajasthan ("the Land of Kings"), I have the good fortune to stay two houses away from the city's most famous Krsna temple, the Govindaji Temple. I can easily walk to mangala-arati, the early-morning worship, without having to look for a ricksha. At 4:55 A.M. I walk out my host's front gate and join the hundreds of rickshas, scooters, bicycles, and pedestrians hurrying toward the temple. The street buzzes with spiritual energy. I walk across the temple compound and leave my shoes under a tree, praying to find them again among the thousands of shoes scattered all around. The large pink latticed wooden doors to the Deity room are still locked and chained, but a large crowd has already gathered, and people are singing again and again, "Govinda Hari, Gopala Hari, Jaya Jaya Prabhu Dina-dayala Hari." As the doors open, a white curtain is drawn sideways, unveiling another white curtain. Worshipers throw coins and flower petals toward the Deity chamber. Then the second curtain opens to disclose the beloved forms of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. A shower of coins and petals falls at Their feet, amid shouts of "Jaya ho! Govinda! Radhe-Govinda!" The men gather to the left, the women to the right, and while the pujari (priest) offers arati (a ceremony of worship), the people sing. All at once, devotees ring brass gongs, at the back of the hall a group plays hand cymbals and clay drums, and small groups carry on with separate kirtanas -- a joyous cacophony in praise of Lord Govinda. As the pujaris prepare to sprinkle sacred water over the heads of the worshipers, the crowd edges forward. No need to push -- the mighty waves of the crowd's ecstatic love for Govindaji carry one forward, closer and closer to the railing separating the hall from the raised platform around the Deity chamber. Some devotees dip under the rail and, arms outstretched, press their foreheads against the marble platform strewn with ghee-soaked grains. Their torsos forward, lower body in the kirtana hall, they are pressed still further forward by eager seekers of Govindaji's mercy. Yet soon they pull themselves back from under the rail and rejoin the crowd. For about half an hour, Lord Govinda's devotees happily walk a circle around the Deity chamber, singing "Radhe-Govinda, Jaya Radhe Govinda, Radhe-Govinda, Jaya Radhe-Govinda, Jaya Radhe-Krsna, Pyare Krsna, Radhe-Govinda ..." And while encircling the Deity, or on their way out, people share Deity prasadam. Women sit together in small groups to sing or speak about Govindaji and His wonderful pastimes. Looking at the great multicolored river of devotees, crosscurrents flowing in and out of the Govindaji Temple, I remember Srila Rupa Gosvami's "warning": "My dear friend, if you are indeed attached to your worldly friends, do not look at the smiling face of Lord Govinda as He stands at Kesi-ghata on the bank of the Yamuna. Casting sidelong glances, He places His flute to His lips, which seem like newly blossomed twigs. His transcendental body, bending in three places, appears very bright in the moonlight." Yes, Govindaji has ruined the worldly life of many of the people of Jaipur. All they seem to care for is to see Him and get His mercy.
Visakha-priya Devi Dasi, originally from France, joined ISKCON in 1978 in South Africa, where she served until 1991. She now lives at ISKCON's Krsna-Balarama Temple in Vrndavana, India, and is one of the managers of the Vrndavana Institute for Higher Education (VIHE). Jaipur: City of Victory IN 1727 THE RAJPUT KING Jai Singh II laid the foundation for a new capital city on a recently annexed territory. Jai Singh dedicated the city to Lord Govindaji and named it Jaipur, "city of victory." Jai Singh had Jaipur designed according to silpa sastra, the part of the Vedas that deals with design, architecture, and construction. The city was so well planned that even today town planners from all over the world come to study its layout. The original city was protected by seven fortified gateways (pols), all still standing, and a masonry wall twenty feet high and nine feet thick. The city has now spread far beyond the wall, much of which has been torn down for building material. The buildings of old Jaipur are built from solid blocks of reddish-pink sandstone. Sandstone readily cleaves into slabs, so buildings not built of it are faced with it. Jaipur was painted pink for a visit by Prince Albert in 1853 and became known as the Pink City. Staying true to the name, Jaipur still keeps the buildings diligently pink. The major streets of the city are 111 feet wide. They cut the straight, narrow side lanes at right angles. The main street, two and a half miles long, runs from the Chand Pol to the Suraj Pol. On this street lies the entrance to the City Palace. Within the precincts of the City Palace, which covers one seventh of the original city, Jai Singh built the Jantar Mantar, then India's greatest astronomical observatory. Its sundial gives the time down to two-second accuracy. Jai Singh's great attachment to Lord Govinda led him to place Govindaji's temple across from his palace and link the two with fountains bordered with four rectangles of gardens. The gardens, where peacocks still strut about, are neatly surrounded by stone balustrades. From his bedroom Jai Singh could see Govindaji on the altar. The flat-roofed temple includes a hall in front of the Deities, a wide area for walking around them, and a large Deity chamber topped with marble-embossed domes with brass spires. The walls and ceilings of the temple are decorated with intricate white stucco designs on a pink background. North of the temple are extensive pools and gardens dotted with chatras, or gazebos. The rectangular gardens line the sides of two intersecting rows of fountains and pools. A watchtower stands above each of the four entrances to the temple compound. Other Temples to Visit
MANY DEITIES of Lord Krsna left Vrndavana during the Mogul invasions, and several of them ended up in Jaipur. A few are within walking distance of the Govindaji Temple.
Radha-Gopinatha Madhu Pandita Gosvami worshiped these Deities in Vrndavana. The temple is located in the Topkhanadesh area of Jaipur, near Chandpol Bazaar. Ask for directions when you're in the area.
Radha-Damodara These are the original Deities worshiped by Srila Jiva Gosvami in Vrndavana. The temple is on the right side of Chaura Rasta Road, about two hundred feet south of Tripolia Bazaar Road.
Vinodilal In this temple devotees worship the Deities of Radha-Vinoda originally worshiped by Srila Lokanatha Gosvami at the Radha-Gokulananda Temple in Vrndavana. The Vinodilal Temple is on Tri-poliya Bazaar Road, about 150 feet west of Chaura Rasta Road. To the left of shop 295, a flight of stairs goes up to the temple.
Radha-Madhava Srila Jayadeva Gosvami worshiped these Deities. The temple is about five kilometers from downtown on Amber Road, on the right, next to a temple called Kanak Vrindavana. Look for the sign "Kanak Vrindavana and Govinda Deoji, Birla Restored."
•Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Our request: don't be rascals
So this Krsna consciousness movement is to give the greatest benefit to the human society to clear their brain, the rascal brain. We call, declare, they are all rascals. Let any scientist, philosopher come here, I shall prove that he is nothing but a rascal. I shall prove that. I challenge them. What they are doing? Nonsense. So you do not become rascals. By the grace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, you are trying to understand this Krsna consciousness philosophy, and there is no difficulty, everything is there in our Bhagavad-gita. You simply try to understand, and make your life successful. That is our request. Don't be rascals, mudhas, naradhamas, mayayapahrta-jnana. This education has no value, because the real knowledge, there is nothing. Real knowledge is to understand God. There is no education throughout the whole world, there is no university. So they are simply producing rascals. So my only request is that don't become rascals. You just worship here Radha-Krsna. Radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtih, just try to understand Krsna and then your life will be successful.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Arrival Address -- Paris, June 8, 1974
•Kurma dasa, AU: Kaliya and the Cows - a Blessed Encounter
My friend Kaliya Krishna is a cowherd from the Sydney Hare Krishna Farm, New Gokula, in the lush Hunter Valley region.
I am indebted to Kaliya and his crew who are diligently trying to set an example of looking after cows and calves with love and affection and making an honest living off the land. Kaliya walks the walk, not just talks the talk. He always has good farm dirt under his nails and smells like a cowshed. How blessed he is!
A few weeks ago we spoke about the possibility of my purchasing some dairy produce from the farm, and he informed me that the next time he visited Sydney he would bring me some. That next time was yesterday.
I ordered 10kg of fresh vacuum-packed homemade panir cheese straight from contented cows. How lucky I am! That's panir cheese made from close to 80 litres of farm fresh milk. These cows will never be sent to slaughter and will be happy to reciprocate with their loving human guardians for the duration of their lives. I also purchased 1kg of the best ghee I have ever tasted. Non-violent, ahimsa dairy products. Heaven!
Here's the mother (cow) lode, resplendent in the morning sunlight.
Kaliya told me that since the cheese is vacuum packed it will last in the fridge for a few weeks without the need to freeze. So some of it is now in the fridge, and some is frozen. Obviously it will take me a while to get through it.
My son has a friend over for a weekend sleepover, and they wake to find a mountain of vacuum-packed panir still sitting on the dinner table (since Kaliya had dropped of the load quite late, having gotten lost last night in Sydney's confusing Eastern Suburbs streets).
So this morning one thing leads to another, and since the boys want breakfast I decide to break open a pack o'panir and make some quick burgers. Nothing fancy, just with whatever I have. Just the way I like it, as long as I do actually have a store of goodies.
Lucky for me I think I inherited my mother's knack of always having a pantry and fridge full to the brim. It would come in handy if ever a nuclear war struck.
I pan-fry a couple of slabs of the panir cheese in a teaspoon of the ghee with a spritz of asafetida, then splash them with some good quality soy sauce and sweet chili sauce. Always a quick and perfect combination.
I find two lonely burger breads in the freezer and thaw them out real quick. When you're cooking for hungry 14 year old boys, you've gotta a be quick, and very practical!
Some fresh lettuce leaves from the garden, and a pretty nice oxheart tomato, a splurt of ketchup and a dollop of some eggless mayo - and there we have it. Hungry boy food.
The boys gobble them down in silence (a good sign, methinks) and then they head off for the day doing the sort of things 14 year old boys do on Saturday mornings. Don't ask.
•ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Sunday Feast Live!
•Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: In the news: A Swami and His Father
He is Jewish, but not particularly religious. Rather, he expressed his faith in God through his gratitude, kindness, and dedication to his family. He grew up during the Great Depression, and had to leave school at the age of fifteen to work in order to assist his parents. As a result, ever since his childhood he sincerely valued working hard and supporting his family. He and my beloved mother, Idelle, wanted the best for their three sons, but they were also careful not to spoil us.
In 1958, my father invested everything he had in a business venture and became the largest automobile dealership in Chicago for Ford's new Edsel line. But Edsel sales plummeted and my father fell into bankruptcy. I watched him struggle; working long hours to protect us from poverty. Throughout the struggle, I do not recollect where he displayed weak-heartedness or bitterness at his situation. Rather, he remained determined to keep trying and taught by his example to be grateful for whatever we had. The day before I was to leave home for college, my father told me, "Richie, let's take a ride together." As we drove along the tranquil streets of Highland Park's Sherwood Forest, he spoke his heart. "Son," he began, "as long as I'm alive, I'm always here for you." Stopping the car, he held my hand as his voice quivered. "As your father, I expect you to do your best, but whether you succeed or fail, do good deeds or bad ones, or even betray me, as long as I'm alive, I'll love you and I'm here for you. This is a promise I will live and die to keep. Please, never forget this." Overwhelmed, I listened. I knew that he meant every word he spoke.
One year later, I would test my father's promise beyond his farthest expectations. A summer vacation in Europe unexpectedly transformed into an open-ended spiritual quest that had me hitchhiking for several years across three continents as a penniless seeker for truth. It was only weeks after they expected me home to continue college that I finally wrote my parents a letter and explained my resolve to travel overland to India in search of my spiritual calling. I wrote that letter en route, somewhere in Iran; it bore no return address. After that, I wrote to them at irregular frequencies while living in caves and sleeping under trees. I told them of meeting teachers and guides, and I eagerly and excitedly shared my reflections and realizations. I had some idea how much grief my quest must have caused them but as a teenager I couldn't fathom the extent. And they had no means to convey their feelings to me.
Later in my travels, when I settled for some time in a sacred village called Vrindavan, and finally had a return address to include, my father wrote me a letter that shook me. His tears had washed away words and whole passages. "Every day seems to last forever in guilt and worry," he wrote. "How can I live knowing my son to be living in jungle caves, alone with no money? What horrible things have I done to you that you have rejected me?" I felt so grateful for my father's love and hated the fact that I was causing him pain. At the same time, the burning in my heart for God's love was stronger than anything else I'd ever experienced. Searching my heart for the words to reassure him, I wrote him back. I knew that he could not comprehend my calling, and that my naïve words would likely perpetuate my parents' grief. But I had a simple faith that God understood my heart and would extend a loving hand to help them.
Many years have passed since then and my father has remained true to his word. At times, just to see me, he rode on primitive horse drawn wagons up muddy mountain paths to the ashrams where I resided. Although it was difficult for him to understand my choices, he has always loved and accepted me unconditionally, and he continues to do so today.
Two years ago, I shared the story of my journey in a book called The Journey Home. One morning I called my father on the telephone and asked how he was.
"Terrible," he exclaimed,
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"I couldn't sleep all night."
"What happened?"
"I read your book before going to sleep."
"Was it that bad?"
"It was worse!" he gasped. "I read about how you were all alone in a desolate place being sucked down by quicksand. In the hot Indian sun you desperately struggled. If you had died that day and disappeared into the earth, your mother and I would have suffered our whole lives never knowing what happened to you."
"But father," I reassured, "that was 40 years ago. I'm safe now."
His reply was telling. "Son, you don't understand the heart of a father."
I realized that a father's love and concern is timeless. All spiritual paths teach us the importance of honoring one's parents. In my own spiritual journey, I became a swami on the Hindu path of Bhakti. In the Hindu tradition, a swami is a monk who forgoes regular family life for the purpose of making the whole world his family and channels his full energy into spiritual practice, devotion to God and service to humanity. This was difficult for my parents to comprehend, but they never discouraged me. In time they became proud and happy about the life I had chosen, beyond my imagination.
In 1989 my parents finally visited me in India for the first time. It was a transformative experience for them. They fell in love with the members of the community I serve with in Mumbai. To this day, my father considers these people some of his closest friends.
When my beloved mother passed from this world in 2004, my father requested that I deliver the eulogy at a Jewish funeral home and carry her ashes to India. "She took such pride in what you're doing there," he said, "and she had such love for your people." In a ceremony on the banks of the River Ganges, with over three thousand of our devotees chanting prayers, I immersed her ashes in the sacred river and prayed that her immortal self swiftly reach the sea of the Divine's loving grace. The moment was deeply significant for me. More than thirty years before, finding myself so far from home, I accepted the River Ganges as a mother. It was while meditating on her banks and in her cooling waters that I was nourished with sacred blessings that led me to my path. And now, through my father's broadmindedness and kindness, my biological mother and my spiritual mother had beautifully united. It was one of the most meaningful gifts my father had ever given to me.
My parents' selfless affection and dedication nourished and prepared me to receive the love of my guru or spiritual father, Swami Prabhupada. My parents prepared the soil in which my guru sowed the seeds of his compassion. His compassion transformed my life and enabled me to deeply appreciate the love of my parents and the dormant love that is the spiritual essence, in the hearts of all beings.
In Dr. West's beautiful words, "I am who I am", and aspire to be who I aspire to be, "because someone loved me". On this Father's Day let us all offer our gratitude to the fathers in our lives ... and our precious mothers too.
•Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Weekly Round-Up!
Happy Father’s Day! Here is my gift to you, Dad–a blog post that is not your size and you cannot return! Enjoy. Click the pic to follow back to the original post.
This NYTimes food article published by Amanda Hesser is from 2009. But we're traveling even further back in time than that! Amanda revisits a 1951 NYTimes recipe on brandied peaches. Saveur!
Love is a rose! I am Baker is back from baby-leave with more easy rose inspiration! Check out these cookies. You know I am going to bust out the 1M tip and get frosting.
I've been collecting a lot of jar inspiration in my bookmark folders. Thought I would share this lovely post by My Baking Addiction with you. The Weck jars really make the shot!
Wegmans. I love you. You are sorely missed from my life. While Alachua/Gainesville is not exactly North Philly in it's food ghetto-ness, weekly I have to visit about 4-5 different shops to get my groceries. Driving. To put it bluntly. it sucks exhaust pipe. At Wegmans I was able to get my organics, regular crap, Indian store items, Asian store items, and really great looking (and tasting!) produce all in one stop. *Sigh.* If you are thinking of moving to Alachua County, save yourself the disappointment, visit the Wegmans website and choose your new locale based on proximity to my favorite chain grocery. But that's not what this post is about. I'm posting about Wegmans because I want you to know their website kicks ass! Type in any food in the search box and you can pull up the ingredients to see if it is vegan. Or not! Brilliant.
Not much to say here. Too busy drooling....
For anyone interested in the politics of food and the intersections with race and gender, do check out The Sistah Vegan Project. I love it!
While it's too late to order Blue Chair Fruit's delicious jams for Father's Day, do check out the site for inspiration for your own jam making this summer. Fill your pantry with homemade jammies and save yourself shopping trips for the next round of holiday giving.
Wendolonia has a lot of great craft ideas. Check out her uber cute DIY dry erase summer to-do list and check that box off your list!
•Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: The glories of Syamananda Prabhu
Everyone said that this child would be a very high-souled saintly person. "On the full moon day of the month of Caitra he has taken his birth at a very auspicious moment, by the mercy of Lord Jagannatha. It is as though Lord Jagannatha has personally brought him here in order to propagate His teachings, and therefore He is personally maintaining him. He looks just like a new cupid. One’s eyes and mind are soothed just to look upon him."
As time passed, the purificatory rites, his first taking of grains, tonsure and the rites for beginning his education were performed, one after the other. The scholars were astounded to see his profound intellect. Within a short period he completed his studies of grammar, poetry and rhetoric. When he heard of the glories of Sri Gaura-Nityananda from the Vaishnavas of his village, a very deep attachment to Their lotus feet developed in him.
Sri Krsna Mandal was himself a very advanced devotee. Seeing that his son was always absorbed in thinking of Gaura-Nityananda. He told him that he should be initiated into the divine mantra.
The boy replied, "Sri Hrdaya Caitanya is my guru. He is at Ambika Kalna. His guru is Sri Gauri dasa Pandita. The two brothers, Sri Gaura-Nityananda, are eternally present in his house. If you give your permission, I will proceed to there to become his disciple." His father asked, "But Duhkhiya, how will you get there?" "Father, there are many people from here who go there to bath in the Ganges. I will go with them."
His father deliberated for a great while on this matter and after going so he finally gave his permission. Thus Duhkhiya set out for Gaudadesa. Gradually he came to Navadwipa, then Santipur and finally Ambika Kalna, where he inquired from the local people where he might find the house of Gauri dasa Pandita. Outside the gate of the mandira, he fell down and offered his dandavats. Sri Hrdaya Caitanya happened to be passing by at this time. Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu looked at him for a few moments and then asked, "Who are you?"
Dukhiya replied, "I have come to serve Your lotus feet. My home is at Dharenda Bahadurpur. I was born in the caste of sad-gopas. My father’s name is Sri Krsna Mandal. My name is Duhkhiya."
Sri Hrdaya Caitanya was very pleased by this sweet speech. He told the boy, "From now your name is Krsna das. Since early this morning I was feeling that someone would come today."
Sri Krsna dasa began his service with great devotion, and on an auspicious day his guru initiated him into the divine mantra. Sri Hrdaya Caitanya could see that his new disciple was extremely intelligent and at the same time very devoted, so he ordered him to go to Vrindavana to study the literatures of the under the tutelage of Srila Jiva Gosvami. Sri Krsna das bowed his head in assent, and on an auspicious day he set out for the holy dhama. At the time of his departure, his guru gave him many instructions and conveyed through his disciple his obeisances to the lotus feet of the Gosvamis of Vrindavan.
Duhkhi Krsna das first came to Navadwipa. After inquiring from someone as to the whereabouts of Sri Jagannatha Misra Bhavan, he came there and went inside. Seeing Sri Isana Thakura, he fell down and offered his obeisances. Isana Thakura then asked him who he was, and so the boy introduced himself. Isana Thakura blessed him and he remained there that day.
The next day he set out for Mathura with a party of pilgrims. Upon coming to Gaya Dham he took of the lotus feet of Sri Visnu there. He remembered Mahaprabhu’s lila of accepting initiation from Sri Isvara Puri here and became overwhelmed in ecstatic love. From Gaya he came to Kasi Dham where he met with Tapan Misra, Candrasekhara and the other devotees, and he offered his salutations to their lotus feet. They in turn blessed him.
He finally entered Mathura Dhama. After taking bath at Visrama Ghata, he took darsana of Sri Adikesava and rolled on the ground in the dust of the birthplace of Sri Krsna. From here he proceeded towards Vrindavana where, after learning the where abouts of Srila Jiva Gosvami, he offered his obeisances to the lotus feet of that great acarya. After being asked, he introduced himself with full particulars.
"Gurudeva has committed me to your charge. His petition to Your Divine Grace is, ‘I am entrusting Duhkhi Krsna das to your care. Please fulfill his mind’s desire and send him back to me after some time.’"
Srila Jiva Gosvami was extremely happy to receive Duhkhi Krsna dasa into his care. Krsna das very carefully began to serve Jiva Gosvami as well as study the literatures of the Gosvamis.
Srinivasa Acarya and Narottama dasa Thakura also came to Sri Jiva at this time to study under him. Thus Krsna das had the opportunity to meet them.
Krsna das requested Srila Jiva Gosvami for a special service. Sri Jiva instructed him to sweep the forest grove of Sevakunja everyday. From that day he began to carry out this service with great pleasure. He felt that his life had become successful. As he swept, tears flowed from his eyes. Sometimes he would loudly chant the names of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda and sometimes he would become inert while remembering Their pastimes. Sometimes he would put the broom, which was full of dust, on his head. Even Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva pray to receive a little of this dust of Vrindavana on their heads.
The Lord of Vrindavana and His consort were very pleased with the service of Krsna das, and desired to grant him Their darshan. One day while Krsna das was cleaning the kunja, his heart filled with love. Just then he happened to notice a very beautiful ankle bracelet lying in the dust. He picked it up, touched it to his head and then bound it in the corner of his upper cloth. "I’ll give it to whom ever it belongs to when they come to look for it," he thought.
The next morning the were quite shocked when they noticed that Srimati Radharani’s left ankle bracelet was missing. Radharani explained, "Last night, when I was dancing in the kunja, it must have fallen off. Please look for it and bring it back to me, who ever finds it."
When the gopis came to search for the bracelet, Visakha devi noticed Krsna das sweeping the grove. She asked him, "Have you found an ankle bracelet here?" Duhkhi Krsna dasa was so mesmerized by her sweet words and radiant form, which was like that of a demigoddess descended from heaven, that he simply stared at her dumbfounded.
Again she asked him, "Have you found an ankle bracelet here?"
Duhkhi Krsna made obeisances and humbly replied, "Yes, I found it. Who are you?"
- "I am a cowherd girl."
"Where do you stay?"
- "In this village."
"Is it your ankle bracelet?"
- "No it isn’t mine. It belongs to a new bride in our house."
"How did it get here?"
- "She came here yesterday to pick flowers and it must have fallen off then."
"All right, then please tell her she can come and collect it from me."
- "No, you can just give it to me."
"No, I want to give it to her personally."
After a few moments, Visakha devi returned with Srimati Radha Thakurani who stood in the shade at the foot of a large tree. Visakha called out to Krsna dasa, "Bhakta, the person who lost her ankle bracelet has come to receive it."
Duhkhi Krsna das completely forgot himself while gazing, even though it was from some distance, at the unparalleled, brilliant splendor of Sri Vrsabhanunandini. In great joy he handed the ankle bracelet to Visakha. At this point, Duhkhi Krsna dasa could sense hat something very profound was about to take place. His eyes filled with tears and he fell down on the ground to offer his obeisances. In great ecstasy he rolled in the dust.
Visakha then told him, "O best of the devotees! Our Sakhi wants to give you a benediction to express her gratitude."
Duhkhi Krsna dasa saw the holy waters of Radha kunda before him. After offering his obeisances, he immersed himself in her waters. Thus he attained a transcendentally beautiful feminine form. Coming out of the sacred kunda, he stood before Visakha devi and offered prayers. Taking this ‘forest sakhi’ by the hand, Visakha approached Srimati Radha Thakurani, and the new sakhi fell down at Her lotus feet. Then Srimati Radharani decorated her forehead with tilaka using the ankle bracelet and the kumkum of her lotus feet.
"This tilak will remain on your forehead. From today you will be known as Syamananda. Now you can go." After She said this, Srimati Radha Thakurani and Her sakhis were no longer to be seen. Dukhi Krsna dasa’s trance broke and he found himself as before, alone and in his male body: yet with the tilaka applied by Srimati Radharani still on his forehead. Being overwhelmed with emotion, he repeated over and over, "What have I seen?"
"What have I seen?", while tears of ecstasy rolled down his cheeks.
After reciting prayers hundreds and hundreds of times to Sri Radhika, he finally returned to Srila Jiva Gosvami. Sri Jiva Prabhu was struck with wonder when he saw the brilliant new design of tilaka on his young student’s forehead. After offering his prostrated obeisances, Dukhi Krsna dasa, his eyes brimming with tears, recounted at Jiva Goswami’s request his experience in Sevakunja. Hearing of his great fortune, Sri Jiva was elated, but cautioned Dukhi, "Don’t reveal this blessed event to anyone. From today, just carry on with the name Syamananda."
Noticing that Dukhi Krsna dasa’s name and style of tilaka had for reasons unknown been changed, the Vaishnavas naturally began to discuss this strange development amongst themselves. The news finally reached Ambika Kalna. When he heard of the seemingly unauthorized behavior of his disciple, Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu was unsettled and angered. He immediately set out for Vrindavana.
Arriving there some months later, he let it be known he wished to see the rest while Dukhi Krsna dasa, Syamananda came and offered his prostrated obeisances at his gurudeva’s lotus feet. Seeing his disciple’s tilaka, Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu was enraged and exclaimed, "Your conduct towards me is completely abominable."
He continued to chastise him and eventually even began beating him. The Vaishnavas finally managed to restrain and pacify him by offering various explanations on Syamananda’s behalf. Shyamananda simply tolerated it all with an unfaded countenance and continued to serve his gurudeva faithfully.
That night, Sri Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu had a dream in which Sri Radha Thakurani appeared in a very severe mood. She rebuked him by saying, "I am the one who, being very satisfied by Dukhi Krsna dasa’s service, changed his tilaka and his name. What do you or anyone else have to say about it?" Hrdaya Caitanya Prabhu prayed for forgiveness at the lotus feet of Sri Vrajesvari and considered what an offender he had become.
The next morning he called for Syamananda. Taking him in his lap, he embraced him again and again in great affection. With his eyes brimming with tears he repeated, "You are so fortunate."
And we are so dortunate to be able to read this nectar and glorify Sri Syamananda Prabhu!
•Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: The Morning After
Yesterday I told how I was dancing like I was thirty again. What wasn’t like being thirty was waking up the next morning with one foot cramped up and walking being very difficult. Vidya took pity on me and massaged it and I was stretching it every which way I could think of.
It took walking around about 10 yard sales, a Farmer’s Market and going through Gabriel Brother’s discount clothing store to work it out to the point where I could walk without visibly limping.
At Gabe’s I ended up buying two T shirts. Normally the most I ever pay for a T shirt is 50 cents at a yard sale but I splurged big time on these buying them off the $2 rack. Vidya got one that said “Eat Sleep Farm” which was great. I got this one which I wore to the 24 Hour Kirtan:
I got another one but a poll of about 30 devotees at the kirtan ran over 90% who thought it would be inappropriate to wear to the temple:
I tend to agree.
FYI, for those who noted the FFA reference, that is Future Farmers of America, and was probably sold originally as a fundraiser for their organization. I am a former member.
One nice thing about the 24 Hour Kirtan is that anyone you talk to is an interesting person and that is mostly what I do, hang around outside and visit with devotees.
I will share what was probably the most interesting bit of conversation. I was talking to a bunch of gurukulis, including one who grew up in the Mayapur gurukula. I am bad at names and if I ever even heard his I have forgotten it but he is serving in Atlanta now.
The point that was interesting is that I mentioned to him that my gurukuli son had been a cop in Atlanta and was now a cop in John’s Creek, a suburb of Atlanta on the north side.
He got an almost stunned look on his face and repeated, “John’s Creek?” I said yes and he said that he had been given a traffic ticket by Madhu about a year, year and a half ago!
He remembered because when he looked at the 6 foot blond white guy who gave him the ticket and then saw the officer’s name on it was Madhu, he had thought to himself “That isn’t an Amercian name,” and had almost asked if he was a gurukuli but hadn’t.
He said that there were now 3 or 4 gurukulis who are police officers in Atlanta and asked for Madhu’s contact information. I didn’t know it off the top of my head so gave him my card and said he should contact me and I would give it to him. So Madhu, if someone contacts you there is an opportunity to met some of your peers in the Atlanta area, peers in the sense of being gurukulis who are cops.
As the evening came about, my foot was feeling fine so I headed to the temple room and danced for well over a half hour until I was exhausted. I sat and rested for a while and amazingly enough got some more energy and then danced some more. The second time I was missing some marks and not feeling sharp and smooth, but I still enjoyed it.
So guess what happened? This morning I woke up and again can hardly walk. I mentioned this to Vidya, hoping you would again be sympathetic and give it a massage but this time she more or less rolled her eyes and give me the look like (and this is purely my interpretation) if I was so dumb as to do the exact thing again and hadn’t learned my lesson from the day before, then I probably needed to suffer. :-)
BTW, any of her friends who read this there is no need to tell her I said this. :-)
Well, I better get rolling if I want to catch the end of the kirtan. Dancing might not be on the menu, but maybe…
Filed under: Jokes
•Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: 2011 tour – Sydney Reunion – final post
May 22 2011 - Here’s my last batch of photos from Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha’s 40th Anniversary and Reunion. These were all taken by my old friend Ken Davis whose beautiful relaxation music you can hear at his website www.kendavismusic.com
Ken with New Govardhan cowherd man Venugopal prabhu
Mandukini, Jaleyu, Gandharvika, Acyinta Rupa; Pratapana, Ratnabahu, Ramai Swami
Hrsihikesha, Abhilasa, Pratapana; Nikunjaseva and Jayasri
Durlabha Guru Daksina (who just had a heart attack and is recovering in hospital)
Jagattarini and friend. Dusta Mohana and Sajjanasraya
Dusta Mohan and Ralph Damodar Pandit, Guru Dakshina, Dhanesvara
Sri Hari Bhakti, Krsna Rupa, Nikunjaseva Organizers Vara Nayaka and Kurma
Hari-sauri, Venu Gopal and Narataki; Sakhi Rai in back; Sri Prahlada and band
Madhudvisa leads the remembrances Sabhapati narrates his story
Brave Yaso interupted his chemo therapy to attend; the band kept everyone entertained
Yaso and Sanatana; Yaso played guitar to accompany Gandharvika
Kurma finally had a few moments to relax; Dvarakanayaka, Yamal Arjuna, Ken, Venugopal
Dvarakanayaka, Svayambhur (arms raised) Vidyapati, Venu Gopal, Ramai Sw, Ugrasrava, Prabha Visnu Sw, Pratapana, Radha Madhava, Kalasamvara, – standing: Gaura Kesava, Ray, Ajamila, Kunti Bhoja, Hari Sauri, Vraja Ballabha, Bhutanatha, Sri Lekha, Sabhapati – kneeling: Sanatana, Jayashila, Vidyaranya, Ratnabahu, Madhudvisa, Sajjanasraya, Sukhla
Ramai, Ugrasrava, Prabhavisnu, Prahlada Bhakta, Pratapana, Radha Madhava, Adi Purusa, Kalasamvara, Gaura Kesava, Ray, Narahari, Ajamila, Kunti Bhoja, Hari-sauri, Vraja Vallabha, Bhutanatha, Bhakta, Sri Lekha, Sabhapati, Gauramandalabhumi, Elayne, Aravinda, Abhilasa, Alalanatha, Ramasarana, Subhalaxmi, Rasarani, Chamari, Yaso, Govinda Mohini, Rukmavati, Sahadeva
kneeling: Sanatana, Jayashila, Vidyaranya, Ratnabahu, George the snakeman, Madhudvisa, Sajjanasraya, Sukhla, Mandukini, Jalayu, Jagat Priya, Krsna Rupa, Ragatmika, Jagattarini, Vimala
kneeling: Vidyaranya, Ratnabahu, George, Madhudvisa, Sajjanasraya, Sukhla, Mandukini, Jaleyu, Jagat Priya, Krsna Rupa, Ragatmika, Jagattarini, Vimala, Surabhi
standing: Hari-sauri, Vraja Vallabha, Bhutanatha, Bhakta, Sri Lekha, Sabhapati, Gauramandalabhumi, Elayne, Aravinda, Abhilasa, ?, Alalanath, Ramasarana, Subhalaxmi, Rasarani, Chamari, Yaso, Govinda Mohini, Rukmavati, Jnanamurti, Chitralekha, Adrian, Vilasini, Lalita Madhava, Nrsimhadeva, Kurma, Kosarupa, Charu (back to camera)
standing: Kalasamvara, Gaura Kesava, Harsha, Ray, Narahari, Ajamila, Gary (Gaura dasa), Balarama, Kunti Bhoja, Vraja Vallabha, Bhutanatha, Sabhapati, Elayne, Aravinda, Alalanatha, Dusta Mohan (half hidden), Ramasarana, Subhalaxmi
kneeling: Adi Purusa, Sanatana, Jayashila, Vidyaranya, Ratnabahu, George, Madhudvisa, Sajjan Asraya, Sukhla, Mandukini, Jaleyu, Jagat Priya Krsna Rupa.
You can see one complete shot of the whole group here – http://www.flickr.com/photos/mahamantra1/5745749604/sizes/l/in/photostream/
The only thing I haven’t included was the grand finale abhishek ceremony of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha and the wonderful dancing and kirtana afterwards. That’s because I didn’t take any shots. But you can see the excellent kirtan here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBrteEqSUnI
That’s it from Sydney prabhus! Next posting will be on my visit to the boom town of ISKCON Australia.
•H.H. Sivarama Swami: Answering questions from Purusottama Hirani, Gopala and Kancana-vali dd
On worshipping Gaura Nitai, being a devotee, initiation and when to ask me questions. (Video podcast)
•Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Reggie gets the mercy
On the first day of the 2010 Prabhupada Marathon we (myself and Bhakta Alexey, on his first marathon) were on Oxford Street in London, waiting for a bus to take us to our destination, further up the street. We started to distribute books at the bus stop.
When the bus arrived, the driver held my books as I got on. He was from Indonesia. I asked him to take a Bhagavad-gita and he did, giving me a small donation. It wasn't enough for the Gita, but I thought a Muslim from Indonesia buying a Gita would make a good story to tell the devotees back at the temple, so I let him keep it. As we reached our destination, I asked him his name? He said, "My name is Reggie."
So I said, "Thank you, Reggie. Bye."
Second week of the marathon. We are going to the same destination. This time I was distributing Bhagavatam 1.1 at the bus stop. When the bus arrived . . . guess who was driving. You got it. Reggie. So he held my books again as I got on the bus, and I asked, "How's it going? Have you started reading the book?" He said he'd given it to his wife and she was reading it now.
I said, "Wow! That's great! Take a look at this; this is part two." So he gave me a donation and Alexey and I got off the bus, saying "Bye, Reggie!"
It doesn't end there. It just gets better.
Three days left in the marathon. We didn't waste time riding the bus, since the competition was on.
I was distributing books and it was going OK when all off a sudden I saw a little oriental lady walking toward me. I swear there appeared to be a light surrounding her! So I stopped her and asked her to take a book. To my surprise, she already had the Gita. Her husband had gotten it for her, she said, and she was reading it.
I said, "Wait a minute. Does your husband drive a bus?"
"Yes."
"Is his name Reggie?"
"Yes."
"Wow! That's amazing! What are the chances? I know your husband. He got the /Bhagavad-gita /you're reading from me." By this time all the book distributors were watching, since they were honoring lunch prasadam nearby. I said, "Hey, guys, its Reggie's wife!"
"Wow! Reggie's wife!"
They were all amazed. Of course, Reggie's wife was totally charmed by all the fame and attention, so I offered her a Bhagavatam 1.1. She took it and gave five pounds.
Now Reggie's family has two Bhagavatam 1.1s and a /Bhagavad-gita/ As It Is in their home.
What great fortune to be instruments of the Lord's mercy on the fallen souls!
Transcendental book distribution ki! jaaaaaiiiiiiii!
Your obedient servant,
Sundara Nitai Das
PS Good news on the Nigerean sankirtan van, an anonymous donor just gave $1,000 and another gave $25. So we now have $2,575. We're gradually getting there.
your servant, Vijaya das
•Mayapur Online: Tamal Krishna Goswami's Appearance Day
Today we had a heartfelt gathering of disciple's, God-brothers and God-sisters, and well-wishers to honor His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami's appearance day. As we all know, Tamal Krishna Gowsami Maharaj is loved by many, and is an ongoing inspiration to countless devotees throughout the world.
•Book Distribution News: Reggie gets the mercy
On the first day of the 2010 Prabhupada Marathon we (myself and Bhakta Alexey, on his first marathon) were on Oxford Street in London, waiting for a bus to take us to our destination, further up the street. We started to distribute books at the bus stop.
When the bus arrived, the driver held my books as I got on. He was from Indonesia. I asked him to take a Bhagavad-gita and he did, giving me a small donation. It wasn't enough for the Gita, but I thought a Muslim from Indonesia buying a Gita would make a good story to tell the devotees back at the temple, so I let him keep it. As we reached our destination, I asked him his name? He said, "My name is Reggie."
So I said, "Thank you, Reggie. Bye."
Second week of the marathon. We are going to the same destination. This time I was distributing Bhagavatam 1.1 at the bus stop. When the bus arrived . . . guess who was driving. You got it. Reggie. So he held my books again as I got on the bus, and I asked, "How's it going? Have you started reading the book?" He said he'd given it to his wife and she was reading it now.
I said, "Wow! That's great! Take a look at this; this is part two." So he gave me a donation and Alexey and I got off the bus, saying "Bye, Reggie!"
It doesn't end there. It just gets better.
Three days left in the marathon. We didn't waste time riding the bus, since the competition was on.
I was distributing books and it was going OK when all off a sudden I saw a little oriental lady walking toward me. I swear there appeared to be a light surrounding her! So I stopped her and asked her to take a book. To my surprise, she already had the Gita. Her husband had gotten it for her, she said, and she was reading it.
I said, "Wait a minute. Does your husband drive a bus?"
"Yes."
"Is his name Reggie?"
"Yes."
"Wow! That's amazing! What are the chances? I know your husband. He got the /Bhagavad-gita /you're reading from me." By this time all the book distributors were watching, since they were honoring lunch prasadam nearby. I said, "Hey, guys, its Reggie's wife!"
"Wow! Reggie's wife!"
They were all amazed. Of course, Reggie's wife was totally charmed by all the fame and attention, so I offered her a Bhagavatam 1.1. She took it and gave five pounds.
Now Reggie's family has two Bhagavatam 1.1s and a /Bhagavad-gita/ As It Is in their home.
What great fortune to be instruments of the Lord's mercy on the fallen souls!
Transcendental book distribution ki! jaaaaaiiiiiiii!
Your obedient servant,
Sundara Nitai Das
PS Good news on the Nigerean sankirtan van, an anonymous donor just gave $1,000 and another gave $25. So we now have $2,575. We're gradually getting there.
your servant, Vijaya das
•Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: The Humble Musings Of The Manhattan Monk 6/19/11
I have a confession.I am a unrecognizable fallen soulI am lost, bereft of the embrace and the company of my Beloved. My whole being is saturated with this forgetfulness, yet by the mercy of a few powerfully kind soul, I am a getting a glimmer of what I should know, of who I should be. Rays of truth pour into my heart-space challenging me to come home.Part of my great work is learning to call out to You from the depths of my heart, in every Name I chant. My distant voice aches. I long to see You again, but I am so broken, so disconnected. Even writing these words has no juice.I have to build the house of my heart again to live with You there.***"The Prison Of My Own Isolation"I rot and dwell in the prison of my own isolation, but I find myself kicking at the iron bars, demanding my liberation. No longer do I want my heart to be locked up in this cold cell, where it cannot taste a warm embrace.No longer do I want to sit alone in my castle. What good are the gifts I keep there, if you can't taste their splendor as well? Why am I so selfish? To solve that riddle means confronting the pain of the lie of my whole existence. I hate that pain. I hate its searing obviousness, and in my castle I keep all this at bay. I live in a fairy-tale that no one wants to read.I am so high up in the tower of this castle that your suffering heart is inconceivable to me. Para-dukha-dukhi is a foreign language to me, as abstract as string theory. My compassion s distant and amorphous, entirely theoretical, without the force of action, touching nobody and no one. I cannot walk the walk. I can barely even talk the talk. Cut off, floating up near the clouds of my mind, in the turbulent airs without meaning and substance.Rays of truth poke into my heart, challenging me to come home.Where do I find this truth? In the simplest gesture of care. In giving up my time, my selfish pursuits, to open my voice in the gestures of honest-to-God communication, my eyes in the expressions of affection. I can find my heart in your heart. I earn the affection of your heart by giving what little of the simplicity of love that I have.Get out of my head. Get into the ground of my being. Get into the heart.You are knocking at the door of the prison of my isolation. For once, I am willing to answer, to bring you in and offer you a cup of tea. You want my pain, to know it and to help me transcend it. I pray simply for the courage to peel away these layers of pain around my heart-space, to free me. I need your help.
•ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - HG Bhurijana Prabhu
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.10.31-34 - Even if one lives for seven days or seven kalpas, goal of life is to absorb ones consciousness in Krishna.
•Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
•Gouranga TV: Lecture – Tamal Krishna Goswami – Prema Bhakti Candrika Verse 4
Lecture – Tamal Krishna Goswami – Prema Bhakti Candrika Verse 4
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Planet ISKCON - 2010 · Planet ISKCON - 2011
Conceptos Hinduistas (1428)SC
Aa-Anc · Aga - Ahy · Ai - Akshay · Akshe - Amshum · Ana - Ancie · Ang - Asvayu · Ata - Az · Baa-Baz · Be-Bhak · Bhal-Bu · C · Daa-Daz · De · Dha-Dry · Du-Dy · E · F · Gaa-Gayu · Ge-Gy · Ha-He · Hi-Hy · I · J · K · Ka - Kam · Kan - Khatu · Ki - Ko · Kr - Ku · L · M · N · O · P · R · S · Saa-San · Sap-Shy · Si-Sy · Ta - Te · U · V · Ve-Vy · Y · Z
Conceptos Hinduistas (2919)SK
Aa-Ag · Ah-Am · Ana-Anc · And-Anu · Ap-Ar · As-Ax · Ay-Az · Baa-Baq · Bar-Baz · Be-Bhak · Bhal-Bhy · Bo-Bu · Bra · Brh-Bry · Bu-Bz · Caa-Caq · Car-Cay · Ce-Cha · Che-Chi · Cho-Chu · Ci-Cn · Co-Cy · Daa-Dan · Dar-Day · De · Dha-Dny · Do-Dy · Ea-Eo · Ep-Ez · Faa-Fy · Gaa-Gaq · Gar-Gaz · Ge-Gn · Go · Gra-Gy · Haa-Haq · Har-Haz · He-Hindk · Hindu-Histo · Ho-Hy · Ia-Iq · Ir-Is · It-Iy · Jaa-Jaq · Jar-Jay · Je-Jn · Jo-Jy · Kaa-Kaq · Kar-Kaz · Ke-Kh · Ko · Kr · Ku - Kz · Laa-Laq · Lar-Lay · Le-Ln · Lo-Ly · Maa-Mag · Mah · Mai-Maj · Mak-Maq · Mar-Maz · Mb-Mn · Mo-Mz · Naa-Naq · Nar-Naz · Nb-Nn · No-Nz · Oa-Oz · Paa-Paq · Par-Paz · Pe-Ph · Po-Py · Raa-Raq · Rar-Raz · Re-Rn · Ro-Ry · Saa-Sam · San-Sar · Sas-Sg · Sha-Shy · Sia-Sil · Sim-Sn · So - Sq · Sr - St · Su-Sz · Taa-Taq · Tar-Tay · Te-Tn · To-Ty · Ua-Uq · Ur-Us · Vaa-Vaq · Var-Vaz · Ve · Vi-Vn · Vo-Vy · Waa-Wi · Wo-Wy · Yaa-Yav · Ye-Yiy · Yo-Yu · Zaa-Zy
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