Virtual Istagosthi: Gaura Yoga, NZ: The Fire of Desire

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"Planet ISKCON" - 31 new articles

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Monday 18 April 2011--Defeating Maya--and--Healing Request

Ekendra das, Alachua, USA: Straight Into Darkness, Out Over the Line

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Candrasekhara Prabhu

Kurma dasa, AU: But Wait - There's More...

H.H. Sivarama Swami

Gaura Yoga, NZ: The Fire of Desire – Are You Lonely For Me?

Japa Group: Even The Shadow Of The Name

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: distribute our Back to Godhead magazine

Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Last ten cents

Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: A journey around the world

David Haslam, UK: Who’s serving who?

Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Lecture - Malati Mataji - SB 10.2.10 - Demigod Worship

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, April 17th, 2011

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, April 16th, 2011

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Friday, April 15th, 2011

H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 283—Poem for April 17

H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): OLD FRIENDS

Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: More festival nectar with some devotional trivia...

Dandavats.com: For Sale - Original Srila Prabhupada Painting by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

New Vrndavan, USA: New Leadership Brings Fresh Perspective to New Vrindaban

Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Today is full of festivals including Sri Balarama Rasayatra

Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Weekly Round-up!

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Conversation with Isvara Krsna on his PhD Thesis

H.H. Sivarama Swami: This is the Vedic Sciences Research Centre’s annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu. It’s great!

Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: The Humble Musings Of The Manhattan Monk 4/17/11

Subuddhi Krishna dasa, Chicago, USA: Pearls of Wisdom - 253

Dandavats.com: What is a valid query and what is a self-evident truth?

Dandavats.com: ISKCON Youth North American Festival Tour 2011

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

Gouranga TV: Lecture – Vishvambhar das – SB 10.2.7-8 – Getting to Krishna

Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group

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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Monday 18 April 2011--Defeating Maya--and--Healing Request

j A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course(tm) Monday 18 April 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: Defeating Maya Uploaded from Riga, Latvia To become Krishna conscious means that one has to completely conquer over the influence of the mighty material energy within one's heart. It is not possible to accomplish this by one's own strength because the material energy is simply too powerful. However, if one will take shelter of guru and Krishna, by their grace it becomes quite easy to win the war and defeat the maya or illusion that is so solidly entrenched within one's heart. For such a conquering hero the doorway back to home, back to Godhead is fully opened. He will easily attain an eternal life, full of knowledge, and full of bliss as an eternal associate of Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Teaching How to Defeat Maya Riga, Latvia 16 April 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Spring/Nama_Hatta.JPG Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Healing Request I would like to be cleansed from negative energies that are sent to me. D.B. Answer: Chant Hare Krishna The most powerful and effective means for cleansing ourselves of all negative energy is to constantly or as much as possible chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare 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 http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=714185709 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:

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Ekendra das, Alachua, USA: Straight Into Darkness, Out Over the Line

notes from a flatbed bicycle rickshaw ride, Jatipur/Govardhan, India, December 2010
“Heading into town” in India isn’t the easiest maneuver for one who a) doesn’t know the language b) doesn’t know where he’s going c) doesn’t know the going price for travel. We decided, after an hour of back and forth about whether we should hire a three wheeled motor rickshaw or hop a ride with a swami, to climb aboard a bus headed back to Vrindavan and tell the driver to stop near where we wanted to go, which was the town of Govardhan, in the middle of Govardhan hill, which Krishna lifted back in the day.

Every ride I’ve taken anywhere here feels like the last ride I’ll take anywhere, and this particular bus ride was no exception. We sat up front on a bench facing the driver, so the only thing between my left side and the windshield was a foot of empty space. Ganesh was on the dashboard, looking at my white knuckles.
Our driver took a back road from Jatipur to Govardhan, a narrow dirt lane filled with cows, villagers with huge bundles of sticks on their heads, bicycles, and potholes filled with water. The video game

Midtown Madness 2 Online

Midtown Madness came to mind, as our huge vehicle rumbled and bumped down this tree-lined farm alley, and water buffaloes, cows and pedestrians gave way for fear of being crushed in our path.
We had no clear idea where we were going. We had a general idea that we were supposed to turn right at some point, then we would be in Govardhan town proper, then we’d need to make a left and ask for the Gaudiya Math, where we would have to ask for “anna jana,” or Internet Café. The whole time I had fear of the unknown boiling in my nerves, which wanted to be anywhere but where I was—preferably in front of a TV watching football with my father, eating cheese and crackers.
“Keep your eyes peeled for a bunch of rickshaws,” my wife said. I saw a big row of them around one corner. “Gaudiya Math,” our driver indicated, stopping the bus so we could get out. I don’t remember making eye contact with any of our fellow passengers, people with whom we’d just shared six days of dawn-to-dusk kirtans, classes, and discussions about the sweetness of Krishna and His relationships with His devotees. I was too freaked out to even say goodbye, as I stepped off the bus in the middle of what might as well have been one of the moons of Mars.
The sun was going down as we began down the dusty road full of motor rickshaws and roadside shops leading to the Govardhan Gaudiya Math, where at that very moment, their acharya, Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaj, was perhaps actively leaving his body at that very moment.
“Let’s stop here and ask for directions,” I suggested. We stepped through the gate, crowded with visitors and men sitting in chairs staring at us. “Jaya, jaya, Hare Krishna,” I attempted. I followed signs to “guest house office” and found two men sorting through a pile of room keys down one dark hallway. “Anna jana?” I asked, not even really knowing what the hell I was saying. “Internet?” “Oh, cyber café?” ask at office. Down stairs outside.” And so we went.
The gentleman at the front desk helpfully walked us out through the front gate and showed us “Past Chaitanya Math, next door.” And so we went.
The cyber Café was a little closet filled with huge, hungry mosquitoes. It reminded me of an old TV commercial for Off Insect Repellant. The floor was bare concrete, broken in places, and the room was lit by the classic single fluorescent bulb. The punctuation marks on the keyboard I was using were not in the same places as the one I’m typing on right now, so many of my sentences contained multiple forward slashes in front of words that I meant to capitalize.
Then the power went out.
“You please finish!” said the boy at the front, when the lights went black. Apparently all the computers ran off battery power in the case of power outages (which I imagine happen at least seventeen times a day) and this was officially the last power outage of the day. “You please close now!” I paid twenty rupees for our half hour and we stepped out again onto the dusty street. It was now night, and I didn’t have a flashlight.
(note to self: always keep flashlight in waist bag, no matter the time of day)
Now we had to deal with a) language barrier b) pitch blackness c) fear of being cheated by expert local rickshaw businessmen d) fear of being mugged in the dark.
“Let’s ask for help again at the Gaudiya Math,” I suggested.
“Whatever you think is right.”
At the front desk were some locals who didn’t seem to be charmed at the sight of us useless, helpless Westerners. “Rickshaw to Jatipur?” I asked, hoping some English was there.
“Why you going to Jatipur?”
“That’s where we’re staying.”
“Motor rickshaw, Maruti?”
“Ummmmm,” what’s a Maruti?” I asked my wife.
“I think it’s a truck.”
“Rickshaw,” I decided. “How much?”
“Twenty minutes, hundred rupees.”
“Should we go for it?”
“You go now,” said our guesthouse office manager. He bellowed for someone who came running.
“Hundred rupees only.” He confirmed.
“Dhanyavad (thanks), Hare Krishna” and we were off, following our driver.
The official local rickshaw wagon of Govardhan is a large, shallow wooden box on the back of a tricycle, sometimes lined with burlap rice bags for cushioning.
“This is going to be interesting,” I said, suddenly feeling very small, exposed, helpless and chilly with nothing whatsoever between me and the other plentiful, madcap traffic. I gripped the sides of the box for dear life.
Right away our driver stopped the rickshaw. “Oh, great, I thought. This is the end of my life. He’s going to get his friends who will rob and kill us. At least we’ll die at Govardhan.” He then began offering prayers as we stopped in front of the giant Govardhan Temple, the center of Govardhan Town, the very place where they say Krishna stood while lifting Govardhan Hill.
“Mandir,” he explained. I couldn’t see much of what was inside from my twisted, cross-legged, cramped perspective on the rickshaw, but I was able to turn and see the lights of the temple illuminating a tree trunk within, and the sounds of banging gongs and kirtan coming from within. I offered my respects with folded hands. “Jaya Jaya. Giriraj Maharaj ki jaya!” then we were off again, clinging to the back of a box on the back of a bike whose driver pedaled us through all manner of traffic, with no headlight, and only a little thumb bell to alert any other living being on the road in the dark of our approach.
Soon we turned off onto a dark side street and headed north toward Jatipur. This street was empty of all other traffic, which was good, because the chances of us being hit by oncoming traffic would be much lower, but bad, because we had no light, and the chances of us hitting a sleeping dog, pig, cow, or water buffalo in the middle of the road would be much greater.
Our driver turned around and displayed reddish, pan-soaked teeth. “Radhe! Radhe!” he shouted. What could we do but respond in kind? “Radhe! Radhe!” Our lives were in his hands, and he wasn’t even watching where he was going (not that he could even see anything anyway.) I imagined that, if he was worth his salt as a rickshaw driver, he’d taken this road millions of times, and could at this point literally drive with his eyes closed. I have nothing but steadily increasing respect for any Indian driver of any kind of vehicle.
We were able to see, on either side of the country road, an occasional candle or small fire, illuminating the faces of families who sat around it. The insides of roadside shops serving double duty as residences glowed red from the Coca-cola posters often serving as walls, or rows of Limca bottles became visible out of the darkness enveloping everywhere else but the night sky, which was full of stars.
“Kirtan! Kirtan!” Our driver turned around and yelled. He began singing a tune I knew—one that usually started with “Radhe Radhe Govinda, Govinda Radhe Radhe, Radhe Radhe Govinda, Govinda Radhe.” I caught on right away, and began chanting with him.
“He wants kirtan, let’s give him some kirtan,” I told my wife, who appeared to be very pleased to be on this wild, cold, bumpy, blind bike ride in the dark country roads of Govardhan. “Why not?” she said. “It may be the last bike ride we ever take anyway. Might as well go out chanting.”
We chanted until our voices got tired. Our driver punctuated our kirtan with his bell, and I slapped the sides of the box in rhythm, happy to take any measure that would hopefully elevate our driver’s spirits (I didn’t want to disappoint him) and alert others to our presence.
Soon we were back in a village, which I recognized as Jatipur, where we had been staying for the past week and a half during the retreat. Our driver dismounted at the base of a hill in the brick road, and walked us up the incline in between fluorescently lit shops still open and selling little silver packets of pan and betel nut. As soon as we reached the top of the hill, he jumped back on the bike and charged downhill again, past increasingly familiar sights, until we reached the gates of Ganga Dham, the ashram we were staying at. We finished our kirtan with one last “Shri Vrindavana Bihari Lal ki jaya! Jaya Jaya Sri Radheeeeeeee Shyam!” I happily paid him and looked gratefully up at the star-filled Govardhan night sky.
One short bike ride for this rickshaw walla. One giant leap of faith for me.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Candrasekhara Prabhu

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Candrasekhara Prabhu - Srimad Bhagavatam 12.4.1-4
Daily Class - Candrasekhara Prabhu
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.4.1-4 - By hearing the name, qualities and pastimes of Krsna we can develop attachment for Him (mayy asakta-manah partha...)
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Posted by Bhakti Sara Dasa at 18/4/11; 10:21:42 AM to the Daily Class dept

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Candrasekhara Prabhu - Srimad Bhagavatam 12.4.1-4

Srimad Bhagavatam 12.4.1-4 - By hearing the name, qualities and pastimes of Krsna we can develop attachment for Him (mayy asakta-manah partha...)

SB 12.4.1: Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: My dear King, I have already described to you the measurements of time, beginning from the smallest fraction measured by the movement of a single atom up to the total life span of Lord Brahmā. I have also discussed the measurement of the different millennia of universal history. Now hear about the time of Brahmā's day and the process of annihilation.

SB 12.4.2: One thousand cycles of four ages constitute a single day of Brahmā, known as a kalpa. In that period, O King, fourteen Manus come and go.

SB 12.4.3: After one day of Brahmā, annihilation occurs during his night, which is of the same duration. At that time all the three planetary systems are subject to destruction.

SB 12.4.4: This is called the naimittika, or occasional, annihilation, during which the original creator, Lord Nārāyaṇa, lies down upon the bed of Ananta Śeṣa and absorbs the entire universe within Himself while Lord Brahmā sleeps.

SB 12.4.1: Śukadeva Gosvāmī dijo: Mi estimado Rey, le he descrito ya a usted las medidas del tiempo, comenzando por la fracción más pequeña, medida por el movimiento de un solo átomo hasta la vida total de Señor Brahmā. También le he descrito las medidas de los diversos milenios de la Historia Universal. Ahora por favor escúcheme hablar de las épocas desde el Día Brahmā hasta el proceso de la aniquilación.

SB 12.4.2: Mil ciclos de cuatro edades constituyen un solo día de Brahmā, conocido como kalpa. En ese período, ¡Oh Rey!, catorce Manus vienen y van.

SB 12.4.3: Después de un día de Brahmā, ocurre la aniquilación, durante su noche, que es de la misma duración. En dicho momento la totalidad los tres sistemas planetarios están sujeto a la destrucción.

SB 12.4.4: Esta destrucción se llama, la aniquilación naimittika, u ocasional, durante la cual el creador original, el Señor Nārāyaṇa, se acuesta sobre la cama de Ananta Śeṣa y absorbe el universo entero dentro de Sí, mientras que duerme el Señor Brahmā.

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Kurma dasa, AU: But Wait - There's More...

How about this?

Or this...

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H.H. Sivarama Swami

Things always change. It’s one of the laws of nature. Most people are afraid of change but if you look at it as something you can always count on, it can give comfort. There are not many things you can count on.

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Gaura Yoga, NZ: The Fire of Desire – Are You Lonely For Me?

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Japa Group: Even The Shadow Of The Name

Even the shadow of the name brings liberation, just as the first rays of the dawn chase away the ghosts and thieves of the night. “Yet still I live in the shadow of the name,” he thinks. “Should I even aspire to rise? Let me try first to stay awake, free of illicit desire, properly pronouncing Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Even I can be transformed.

From Japa Reform Notebook
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: distribute our Back to Godhead magazine

Actually that is our most important business--to distribute our Back to Godhead magazine and if you will go on in this way with enthusiasm and determination for distributing BTG to everyone you meet then Krishna will surely bless you more and more.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Madira, c/o ISKCON Buffalo

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Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Last ten cents

As I was walking up towards my home I saw this man who was completely drugged. He was worse than anyone I had ever seen, completely haunted I think. His skin was torn and patched and eyes were dark and I think he was still smoking something strange. He was standing with this very decently dressed lady and speaking and I could not quiet wrap my head around that. Anyways somehow i mustered up courage to speak to them and she looked at the Perfection of yoga and said she had already taken it from me before and read it. So i showed her the chant and be happy and she was really appreciating it but said she had no money. At this point, this drugged man started to use swear words to describe himself. I cannot repeat those words but swearing and screaming this man basically said he was messed up and his life was useless and then he said all he had to his name was 10 c and he gave me that laxmi and told me to give that girl that Chant and be happy. Who can describe the mercy of Lord Chaitanya who incarnates to specially deliver then most fallen people of the age of Kali. How merciful is the lord that even when the consciousness is so covered, that man was a walking corpse, yet the presence of these books inspired him to use his last 10 c to buy a book for someone else. Somehow or other he participated in Sankirtan. Hare Krishna.

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Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: A journey around the world

Once in touch with Srila Prabhupada's books, always in touch with them. It was freezing today and nobody would stop but then these two girls biking away, stopped at the red light. So I walked upto them and offered them a Bhagavad Gita and they said they had it. They explained they were just coming from India and before that they were in Germany where they met devotees who gave them Bhagavad gita. Next I showed them a Krishna book and they said they had 2 copies of it and were reading it. Then I showed them the Isopanishad and they had that too. Finally I gave them a Perfection of yoga and a Bhakti Yoga which they took so happily. Pulling out all the cash from their pockets they also eagerly accepted the Hare Krihsna cookies Rashmin had so lovingly prepared. It was like these girls were on a global Prabhupada book collection spree travelling around the world and finding these nectar books everywhere. They chanted the Maha mantra and said they would come to Urbanedgeyoga. Please pray that they do, everything is possible by mercy of Vaishnavas. So please pray to Lord Chaitanya.

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David Haslam, UK: Who’s serving who?

Do we always see ourselves as the one serving others than the one being served? I was sat pondering this and other related thoughts the other day, pondering how the boss of a company will remember the times they helped or changed things to help someone in there employment; whilst the employee always remember the [...]

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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Lecture - Malati Mataji - SB 10.2.10 - Demigod Worship

SB 10.2.10: By sacrifices of animals, ordinary human beings will worship you gorgeously, with various paraphernalia, because you are supreme in fulfilling the material desires of everyone.

SB 10.2.10: Debido a tu supremacía en satisfacer los deseos materiales de todos, los seres humanos comunes te ofrecerán una suntuosa adoración con sacrificios de animales y diversos artículos de culto.

SB 10.2.10: Étant donné ta suprématie en satisfaire les désirs matériels de de tous, les êtres humains communs t'offriront une adoration somptueuse avec des sacrifices d'animaux et divers articles de culte.

Lecture - Malati Mataji - SB 10.2.10 - Demigod Worship
rupagopi

Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapter 2, Text 10 titled "Demigod Worship" given by Malati Mataji.
This series of lectures was given during the 2011 TP/GBC Meetings held here in Dallas.
Dallas, TX
2011-01-26
TRANSLATION
By sacrifices of animals, ordinary human beings will worship you gorgeously, with various paraphernalia, because you are supreme in fulfilling the material desires of everyone.
PURPORT
As stated in Bhagavad-gita (7.20), kamais tais tair hrita jnanah prapadyante 'nya-devatah: "Those whose minds are distorted by material desires surrender unto demigods." Therefore the word manushya, meaning "human being," here refers to one who does not know the actual goal of life. Such a person wants to enjoy the material world by taking birth in a highly elevated family with the benefits of education, beauty and immense wealth, which in this material world are desirable. One who has forgotten the real aim of life may worship goddess Durga, maya-sakti, under various names, for different purposes, and in different places. As there are many holy places for the worship of Krishna, there are also many holy places in India for the worship of Durgadevi, or Mayadevi, who took birth as the daughter of Yasoda. After cheating Kamsa, Mayadevi dispersed herself to various places, especially in Vindhyacala, to accept regular worship from ordinary men. A human being should actually be interested in understanding atma-tattva, the truth of atma, the spirit soul, and Paramatma, the supreme soul. Those who are interested in atma-tattva worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead (yasmin vijnate sarvam evam vijnatam bhavati). However, as explained in the next verse of this chapter, those who cannot understand atma-tattva (apasyatam atma-tattvam) worship Yogamaya in her different features. Therefore Srimad-Bhagavatam (2.1.2) says:
srotavyadini rajendra
nrinam santi sahasrasah
apasyatam atma-tattvam
griheshu griha-medhinam
"Those persons who are materially engrossed, being blind to the knowledge of ultimate truth, have many subject matters for hearing in human society, O Emperor." Those who are interested in remaining in this material world and are not interested in spiritual salvation have many duties, but for one who is interested in spiritual salvation, the only duty is to surrender fully unto Krishna (sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]). Such a person is not interested in material enjoyment.

Download:

Lecture - Malati Mataji - SB 10.2.10 - Demigod Worship

Lecture - Malati Mataji - SB 10.2.10 - Demigod Worship · MP3

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, April 17th, 2011

Outside Our Accommodation

Goodlands, Mauritius

Outside our accommodation in all directions the roosters crow at 1 a.m. Their cry throws off the sleep Thierry and I needed for this last of days walking in Mauritius. Once up and out we counted thirty five pilgrims including young children. That’s pretty good for starting at 3: 30 a.m. once again.

Each morning the moon has been eyeing us. His waning eye lid and the sporadic hiding behind the clouds makes him appear shy form the town of Goodlands to Mon Choisy, a 21 kilometre stretch. You always feel his presence in rural districts up until his eye companion, the sun, becomes prominent. It looks like they do shift work.

As in a perfect pilgrimage you finish feeling cleansed. You can’t help having that sensation especially with the serious swim in the end. The beach invited us. It’s a fabulous swimming place. Water frivolity brings out the best in everyone. Sadly it is not a cultural norm anymore for many countries. Hey, we’ve got computers now.

I would say most emphatically that there is nothing that technology has to offer that creates a beautiful bonding like the trekking in the wee morning hours and the swim to follow. We tolerate the barking dogs, we may step accidentally on a fallen passion fruit or slide on a slug yet it’s all this “real stuff” and not the fantasies of the mind or the screen that provides adventure and fun sport from the spiritual component.

We feel we are kings of the road and at the same time are very much family, enjoying each others’ company.

Thierry who is a native French Mauritian is so much loved by all the community. With a colourful fire ceremony to highlight Thierry’s initiation or diksha his new name now is Kala das referring to his punctuality. Kala means eternal time.

21 KM

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, April 16th, 2011

Coincidence?

Triolet, Mauritius

Jet-lag still haunts me and so sleep was rather restless. I don’t know what engine I’m running on. The evening was hosted by a family from a town named Flacq. Our hosts Amar and Priya have relatives, acquaintances from Milton, Canada.

It is the third day on foot in Mauritius and it was a brief 10 kilometres. A windy road and a cane plant backdrop appear wonderfully usual each day. Leaves of the banana trees flap in the breeze sliding along each other looking like a man rubbing his hands. For the most part my companions and I move in the dark. There’s less distraction that way. Concentrating on sound comes easier, the sound of the name of Krishna which is uttered over and over again.

Thierry saw to it that I reach the Bon Accueil temple for the 8 o’clock class. The verse of the day was Krishna speaking of the effort made by sage Narada who had compassion on the two wealthy sons of Kuvera. Because a saint made the endeavour to help these intoxicated brothers Krishna expressed His obligation to further help them by awarding them liberation.

Great questions evolved from our discussion regarding compassion. A little more on this topic became my experience when a portion of the day was devoted to theatre workshop. It was day number two for some youth to come to me for lessons. I used the word compassion in this regard since I was compelled to conjure up some new ways for approaching improvisation.

Finally by late afternoon a hefty figure of 1500 devotees turned up for one of five Chariot Festivals held annually in Mauritius. Today’s was a procession on the main drag of Triolet culminating with a darshan (deity viewing) and kirtan chanting at the newly built temple of Rukmini Dwarkadish.

The day was nothing short of glorious. As I lay down to rest I marvelled at the coincidence, if you will, of the two large arjoon tree branches that fell in front of our pilgrim group yesterday. It reflects on the story of the two sons who became cursed as arjoon trees and then fell to land in Krishna’s own courtyard. Their punishment for indecent exposure was to be born as this species of trees. Their curse became a benediction.

15 KM

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Friday, April 15th, 2011

Jour Deu

Port-Louis,Mauritius

We actually set foot from the Krishna Balaram temple at Bon Accueil quite early. 3:15a.m. was not a discouraging time for Guru Carana Padma, a mom and her two sons, Govinda, 18 and Govardhan, 11. Thierry was the fifth person and we grew from there. Within the hour our number reached thirty-five as volunteers, many of whom had blistered feet from yesterday, latched on along the way. I tell you frankly though, I had never heard so many dogs raise such a fuss. Not one of them joined our battalion as on the previous day when one mutt took to our pilgrim group for kilometre after kilometre.

The public was aware of our walking as it was broadcasted last night on MBC TV. I’m sure it was no plot other than Mother Nature’s but a tree had fallen and blockaded the road to part ours. We managed around it in a shaded area of arjoon trees lined along the way. They protected us from rain more than from the sun.

It was as much ecstasy. We conducted a march to the beat of our drum and the sound of Guru-astakam (Prayers to the Guru) singing in unison like the British troop whistling in The Bridge Over the River Kurai. They generously insisted to be its captain or general.

Gradually nature and some fields went behind us as city madness engulfed me. Hustle bustle diesel realities changed the atmosphere. Pedestrians started peeking out and moving to their destination. Tell them “comment sa va?” (How are you? In French) said one helpful devotee as a greeting. In Mauritius it’s Creole that they understand. The island had been occupied by various forms of militant take-over. First there were the Portuguese, then the Dutch (we passed by an old Dutch fort yesterday), then came the French and then a sweeping attack of the British.

Our finish point was at the touristy ocean harbour of Port-Louis. After a non-stop 24KM trek we stopped to a spontaneous indulgence in a circle leg massage, one for men and one for women.

We were done but we had fun with a final kirtan until the evening spun in and over two hundred chanters walked a 3KM kirtan procession in the dark once again, this time in Camp de Masque Pave. The planned program culminated at a kali temple where the goddess saw an additional three hundred people clap and sing to “Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.”

27 KM

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 283—Poem for April 17

www.sdgonline.org.
5:03 A.M.
A Writer of Pieces
New format—I will begin with a poem written on the day of its printing. Then I will print random excerpts of books I have printed over the last 30 years. I hope this variety will be pleasing.
Poem for April 17

April showers like monsoon
floods overnight, how shall it
affect all the work digging they did
in the yard? Today’s the last
of the Swami’s lectures, I shall
attend. It’s a matinee, he’ll unroll
Gaudiya Vaisnava wisdom, and
I can sit in a chair.
Awaiting through the computer
three hundred pages of Prabhupada Smaranam
to proofread and get an idea
if it’s a good, important book
with photos of the Divine Master
and commentary on them.
We are snug in this house to
ourselves keep our solitude
three men plus guests,
workers in the yard.
Krishna is the center, read from the books
teachings to Rupa Goswami,
Pariksit going to war against
Kali and the Vedas personified
prayers against the Mayavada.
Hear from three books
and take in the nectar
to sustain yourself.
Dress in sannyasa clothes to
attend the lecture alert
and submissive adding
to your community participation,
be there on time, quiet
and all ears for his
philosophic droll erudite
speech.
It’s good to be an audience
to an advanced speaker and
take part in kirtana before
the lecture. It makes you
respectable, mainstream
making an appearance with
the group who have come to
honor and respect his
considerable knowledge and
add to your own understanding
of Gaudiya Vaisnava teachings.
It’s just for one day and then
you return to your
alone ways of writing
the personal story, hope
it will keep coming.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): OLD FRIENDS

www.sdgonline.org.
From Shack Notes: Moments While on a Writing Retreat
“This is a book about writing in devotional service. I like to think of it as a book for writers, helping them to see the process of writing and to recognize the challenges writers face. Those who are not writers can apply these principles to their own attempts in devotional service.
“When I began writing at seventeen, writing was a wonderful discovery—not just something I should do, but everyone. I proselytized on behalf of the writing craft, I told everyone they should write vignettes and stories and poems of their life experiences . . . Of course, not many people took me seriously, but those who did write would read to each other regularly and gently advise each other, responding to each other’s writings. Our main emphasis was to encourage each other to continue.
“Gradually I learned that just because I loved to write didn’t mean others had to. Perhaps I even began to prefer people not to write; I didn’t need too much competition. But that early sharing among friends was nice. We were not professional writers, but I especially looked forward to hearing a friend read his latest piece. We wrote from the heart about how we saw life, and it was very refreshing and personal. Then we talked and wrote more. Sometimes we even wrote in each other’s company.
“It would be nice to share like this in Krishna consciousness. When I was seventeen, I felt like a lone trailblazer, but I had the audacity of youth. Now we are uptight adults worrying about if someone doesn’t like our poems, or afraid to be honest when discussing another’s writing.
“In the spiritual world, genuine praises of Krishna are appreciated “by those who are thoroughly honest:
“’. . . That literature which is full of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc. of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed towards bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of the world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung, and accepted by those purified men who are thoroughly honest.’ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.11)
“Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to rise and write. I don’t feel much like doing it when I begin—felt indifference and distaste for existence (like the stuff we scrape off our toe when we get up in the morning). But You told me to get up anyway, and then You delivered me. I wrote about praise. Now I beg You to allow me to be a praise-maker, I know one has to earn it. One has to tell it as one’s own desire to praise; not as a professional blesser. The Salvation Army band and the street harinama party have to feel joyful when they play and sing, ‘Glories to the Lord! Join us in praise!’
“So I require You to mold me into a praise-maker that will include singing some blues and chaos–getting out of chaos, rising up, ‘I saw the light! I was in darkness and my spiritual master saved me.’ The world is suffering, and praise of You is the remedy.
“‘Please, therefore, describe the Almighty Lord’s activities which you have learned by your knowledge of the Vedas, for that will satisfy the hankering of great learned men, and, at the same time, mitigate the miseries of the masses of common people who are always suffering from material pangs. Indeed, there is no other way to get out of such miseries.’ (Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.40)
“As I said, this book is about my experience with writing. Please, if you are not a writer, translate this into meaningful action for you. As Srila Prabhupada states, ‘One should work only for Krishna. It does not matter in what kind of work one engages, but that work should be done only for Krishna.’ (Bhagavad-gita 12.6-7, purport)
“I struggle; I rip up efforts and start new ones. Is this the sign of an unhappy man? No, I am very fortunate, and I have a duty to share the fortune. The ‘ripping up’ doesn’t mean I am unfortunate.
“Recently I read a book, No More Secondhand Art, by Peter London. The author is an artist and a teacher, and some things he said can be applied to the arts of devotional service. London talks about ‘getting lost’ as one of the aspects of creative art. He says that sometimes an artist reaches a stage where he becomes competent in a certain form but then has nothing to look forward to in developing himself. Then he cuts himself off from creativity by not going forward more. He describes how, in his own art development, he decided to get to the very roots of his creativity, and again ask questions as if asking them for the first time: ‘What is art? What does it look like? How do you make it? What does it mean?’”
From Passing Places, Eternal Truths: Travel Writings, 1988-1996
“Me too in this van.
“‘Hello, hello.’
“‘Can we meet and talk?’
“‘Sure, why not?’
“How to prepare for each onslaught?
“Ecstatic time in temple lecturing on Prabhupada. Godbrothers were there, and that added to the joy of it.
“Some of my notes are like spoilsport complaining compared to the mood I felt when speaking just now. It seemed like the ecstasy increased more and more as I was able to explain the verses of Prabhupada’s poem.
“The questions afterwards were excellent. One of them pushed me to further describe how Prabhupada combined the qualities of humility and confidence. For an answer, I turned to the poem Prabhupada wrote at sea. He described himself as the via medium. Confidence surged through him. He knew his guru maharaja would be victorious and that he was the instrument to obtain that victory. Yet he felt unqualified. I quoted Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami, who said that when one has love of God, the first symptom is he feels he has no love.
“Then a young man with stumbling English asked a good question: What’s the difference between a neophyte devotee who has no love of God and who thinks he has no love of God, and the advanced devotee who thinks in the same way. I said that in the neophyte stage such spiritual poverty is a jewel, and a devotee can increase it. It’s better than having no love of God and thinking that you have it.
“When I finally finished, the audience burst into applause, which is something they probably do for all speakers, but it was nice. Then a translator announced that I would sign copies of the Prabhupada-lilamrta, and people came up respectfully to have me write their names and sign their books. This piety seems to come partly from their national situation and their material poverty. Being with them made me proud to be part of the Hare Krishna movement. It also made me think that my life of running and hiding, trying to spend time alone to develop attraction to Prabhupada’s books and writing to attain self-honesty, can be used profitably, so that when I speak about Prabhupada I can come out with solidity and freedom from pretense, integrity.
“After sitting in the temple signing books, I finally made it back to the van, but Madhu brought in more books, and I continued to sign them. Happiness: Underarms of kurta soaked from sweating while lecturing.”
From Radio Shows
“Today I did my free-writing, writing practice, writing session. I plowed ahead, not knowing what would come next. I questioned the writing process, and in the back of my mind I couldn’t resist judging what I was writing, thinking. ‘This isn’t very Krishna conscious. There’s no explicit krishna-katha here.’ But I was also aware that I was onto a vital subject, which was the questioning itself. When I looked at it later, it seemed like a Krishna conscious, valid bit of writing, which means to me that if I really try, then I am performing bhakti-yoga in my writing. If I try to offer something to Krishna, it doesn’t matter what it is (as long as it’s not forbidden), if it is offered with devotion. Otherwise, what is the basis on which Krishna would think something was well done or not? It’s not based on grammar or rhetoric, but on sincerity. Krishna can see sincerity in the heart of any effort. His devotee can see it too, although others may not have that ability.
For someone like me who is making an offering and is not sure of its acceptance, perhaps there will be no relief from that uncertainty. It’s probably not good to be too certain anyway. I’ve been listening to Prabhupada on the 1968 tapes. Tamala Krishna asks Prabhupada questions like, ‘I feel bad that my service isn’t good. What about if your service isn’t very good? How do you perfect your service?’ Whenever the expression is made that a devotee doesn’t think his service is very good, Prabhupada says, ‘That is your qualification. A pure devotee never thinks his service is nice.’ Then he gives the example of Lord Caitanya, who said of Himself that He doesn’t have a pinch of love for Krishna.
“ ‘Oh, but You are crying.’
“‘That crying is just a show so that people may think I am a devotee. But how could I be a devotee? I am living in the absence of Krishna. If I really loved Krishna, I would not be able to bear living while feeling separation from Him.’
“Such intense pure love of God was expressed as not having any love of God. Prabhupada gave that as an example, although it’s not one that we can follow.
“I may not be able to get relief from my own uncertainty, but I should never doubt that the process of trying to make an offering is acceptable to Krishna. I have no alternative but to keep trying. Whether I do it specifically by writing practice, well, that brings me back to the same question. I don’t know the answer. I don’t know if I’m doing the best thing, but I’m trying to perfect it. I take it for granted that if Krishna doesn’t want me to do this, He will take it away from me. Until then, I will write as well as I can and make the best use of the flawed offering.
“Because I lack purity, I feel something lacking. I would like to not feel it—I would prefer to feel the symptoms of sattvika-bhava. But even that I don’t know about. Those ecstasies are intense. They shake your body and mind.
“I say this with a touch of irony because I don’t have that problem. I am not disrupted by ecstasy. It’s a moot point. Therefore, I have no choice but to perform my service without ecstasy. Secretly, I’m aware that I’m in a good position to render service without ecstasy. That in itself is a kind of purity, although it’s only a lower level of unmotivated service. That is, I don’t get an ecstatic reward, but I continue to serve because it’s my duty and because I’m earnest about trying to please Krishna.
“What about the fact that I really like to be a writer and serve in this way? That’s not necessarily harmful. Writing in devotional service is like having a snake’s fangs removed. I could be poisoned by desire for fame, but I do what I can to be detached from fame by not demanding that what I write be printed, by writing a lot and working at it.
“If I happen to get a kind of satisfaction from it, that is something deep and private, a conviction that I have found my bhajana. I don’t see satisfaction as bad. Everything is bad if it’s misused, and anything is good if it’s used properly.
“Again, no relief from the uncertainty. That’s all right, as long as the uncertainty isn’t crippling. I have to push ahead and speak in ways that are bold for me. I have to disregard the inner critics and keep going, keep going, keep going.”

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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: More festival nectar with some devotional trivia...

To increase meditations of this festival day here are 3 more pictures with some devotional trivia.

1. Radha Shyamasundar (Vrindavan) in Yellow. Why Yellow?

2. Dhameswara. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's deity who was worshiped by Srimati Vishnupriya. How does this relate to Sri Vamsivadana Thakur?

Jaya Shyamasundar. Which great Vaishnva's pastimes are tied to Shyamasundar?
Answers:
1. It is Sri Krishna Vasant Rasa and as is customary, Krishna is dressed in yellow and sweet rice is offered.

2. Sri Vamsivadana Thakur was engaged in service to Srimati Vishnupriya and recieved her blessings. After her departure he moved Srimati Vishnupriya's diety of Sri Chaitanya Marahprabu and continued worship to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This worship continues today...

3. Sri Syamananda Prabhu! His appearance day is today and a presentation will be uploaded on the blog tomorrow with more nectar.

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Dandavats.com: For Sale - Original Srila Prabhupada Painting by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

Pancharatna dasa: We are moving and must sell many things. One is a framed original Srila Prabhupada painting by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami

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New Vrndavan, USA: New Leadership Brings Fresh Perspective to New Vrindaban

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 16 Apr 2011
With a new board of professional, dedicated devotees, and a new temple president, one of ISKCON’s biggest rural communities in New Vrindaban, West Virginia looks set for a new start and a full realization of its incredible potential.
New temple president Jaya Krishna Dasa officially took up his post on the auspicious day of Gaura Purnima, with New Vrindaban devotees opening their arms to him and throwing a special welcome party.
“It really touched my heart, the way they approached me,” he says.
Originally from Switzerland, Jaya Krishna brings a wealth of both ISKCON and life experience to the table.
Before becoming a devotee, he acquired an MBA, and worked in business for twenty years, serving in marketing, sales, IT, and legal departments, and finally becoming a director of a major international software company.
One day, a sankirtan party of ISKCON devotees distributing books stopped by his house while he was out and spoke to his wife. It was the first time she had ever met devotees, although she had traveled around the world many times with her husband. She took three books, and gave one of them to her husband when he returned, insisting he read it.
Soon after, in 2003, when Jaya Krishna was fifty years old, his wife and twenty-three-year-old son both died tragically.
Deciding to quit his job and pursue a spiritual path, Jaya Krishna joined ISKCON, was initiated by Sacinandana Swami, and went on a one-month pilgrimage to India.
“Upon returning, I began looking for a service, and found that I could best use all the skills and experience I had gained in the outside world by serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission as administrative director for Bhaktivedanta College in Radhadesh, Belgium,” he says.
Jaya Krishna served in that capacity for seven years, dealing with fundraising, promotion, legal matters, engaging new devotees, course facilities, and construction. During his time there, the College expanded its education options from a one-year course to a full Bachelor’s Degree, and moved from a facility rented from the Radhadesh community to its own building with a library, offices, and accommodation for teachers and staff.
“Before I left, we designed a new strategy to further expand,” says Jaya Krishna, who also currently serves as chairman of the GBC succession committee. “We will be adding degrees in business administration and education, and also opening a new branch in Mayapur, India next year.”
Although Jaya Krishna brings all this experience to New Vrindaban, he says humbly that he is only a small instrument helping to bring a new perspective to an already wonderful community.
“There are many senior devotees here who have given decades of their lives to create a national Tirtha, or holy place—to build the temple, the lodge, the Palace of Gold, the cabins by the water, and the cow protection facilities,” he says. “They’ve lived very simple lives, and have given everything to Srila Prabhupada.”
Jaya Krishna feels that his contribution to this will be filling the need for someone not connected to New Vrindaban’s history; someone who can serve as a mirror so that those immersed in the day-to-day of it all can step back and see things more clearly.
“I have three goals,” he says. “The first is to help heal and unify the community; the second is to build a good structure and processes, based on normal day-to-day management rather than crisis management; and the third is long-term planning.”
One of the main areas of focus for this long-term planning is agriculture. Srila Prabhupada’s original mandate for the community, it is well-documented, included self-sufficiency and cow protection.
“Organic gardening has already been going on here for 40 years, and from my perspective and that of other devotees here, the environmental approach is the best way to attract young Americans these days,” Jaya Krishna says. “In fact, all the most recent bhaktas who joined ISKCON here came through their interest in agriculture. We invite people to come and work in the gardens, and they eat prasadam, make friends with the devotees, and end up staying and becoming devotees themselves. So development of that area holds big potential for the future.”
Another major focus for Jaya Krishna is, of course, an area he already has had much experience in at Bhaktivedanta College: education.
He has plans for expanding the primary school which was established in New Vrindaban two years ago, and the kindergarten that just recently appeared. But he also hopes for a major focus in adult education.
“Part of Srila Prabhupada’s mission for New Vrindaban was that there should be higher education here,” he says. “He also called ISKCON an educational movement, and stated that every temple should be a center for education. It’s essential for the future of our movement. Successors need proper training, and it is especially important that we hand down the mood and mission of Srila Prabhupada to the future generations, who did not have direct contact with him.”
Jaya Krishna dreams of eventually building a new guesthouse and a seminar center at New Vrindaban, where both devotees and members of the general public from major cities on the East Coast could come, stay, and be spiritually educated. Perhaps, long-term, a University is even on the cards.
With a community vision and planning process just now underway in New Vrindaban, many other plans are also being worked on—including devotee care, housing, better advertising for tourism, and better care for pilgrims.
We can sense Jaya Krishna’s enthusiasm for his new service, and thank him for responding to ISKCON America’s request for help. As chairman of the GBC succession committee, he feels that this “international cross-pollination,” as he calls it, is an important way to keep leadership in ISKCON dynamic and moving forward.
“Every so often, it’s good for, say, a temple president in Europe to decide to transfer to the U.S., or Africa, or wherever,” says Jaya Krishna. “Because with his experience in a different country, he can bring in a completely new perspective, and at the same time help himself to develop personally by steeping himself in a different culture and environment.”

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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Today is full of festivals including Sri Balarama Rasayatra

Today is another splendid, festival filled day on the Vaishnava Calendar. It is Sri Balarama Rasayatra, Sri Krishna Vasanta Rasa and the appearance day of Sri Vamsivadana Thakura and Sri Syamananda Prabhu.

With Srila Prabhupada's mercy I will be giving the lecture today at ISKCON Toronto and we will discuss some of these special festivals, so please try your best to attend and get the mercy of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha. So to encourage your attendance I will not post the lecture contents and focus on Sri Balarama Rasayatra...
For Sri Balarama Rasayatra, as usual we find the perfect words and account from Srila Prabhupada.
In Chapter 65 of the Krsna book, Srila Prabhupada describes this pastime...

Lord Balarama could, of course, understand the ecstatic feelings of the gopis, and therefore He wanted to pacify them. He was expert in presenting an appeal, and thus, treating the gopis very respectfully, He began to narrate the stories of Krsna so tactfully that the gopis became satisfied. In order to keep the gopis in Vrndavana satisfied, Lord Balarama stayed there continually for two months, namely the months of Caitra (March-April) and Vaisakha (April-May). For those two months He kept Himself among the gopis, and He passed every night with them in the forest of Vrndavana in order to satisfy their desire for conjugal love. Thus Balarama also enjoyed the rasa dance with the gopis during those two months. Since the season was springtime, the breeze on the bank of the Yamuna was blowing very mildly, carrying the aroma of different flowers, especially of the flower known as kaumudi. Moonlight filled the sky and spread everywhere, and thus the banks of the Yamuna appeared to be very bright and pleasing, and Lord Balarama enjoyed the company of the gopis there.

Sri Balarama Rasayatra ki Jaya!
Sri Krishna Balaram ki Jaya!

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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Weekly Round-up!

It’s been a fun week of pretty and tasty! Click the pics to visit the websites discussed. Tell me your faves in the comment section. Did I miss anything monumental in the food & style news front this week? Feel free to post your own links below! OXOX
Bob Borson's blog Life of an Architect is one of my new favorite online stops. This week he featured this handsome door stop by Deltana, along with a few of his other favorite things. Love the paired down design of this door stop. And that it's shown mounted at the top of the door. Toddlers everywhere are in mourning.

Discover Magazine reports that a day of fasting may lead to a healthier heart. Or it may not. Or it may. Or it may not. Or...

Stan Williams is quite the dandy @ The Elegant Thrifter, rubbing our noses in this pristine vintage find. Its Hints from Heloise! In full color! From 1966! Stan does share some tips with us. January 5: "Keep dustpan waxed. Dirt will slide off it much more easily than an unwaxed one." I also like this one: July 8 "Don't keep your husband in hot water all the time because this will not make him tender." I know I don't even know Stan, but I am hoping he will pencil my birthday into this datebook and then gift it to me come January.

This week I did swoon repeatedly over Jonathan Adler's opaque relief lighting. The pendants are expensive but not prohibitively so. If, you know, you have funds allocated for this kind of luxury in your life. My children would surely swing a yo-yo at it and crack it open like a barren pinata. As my daughter likes to say, you break it you buy it. I'll just stick to online window shopping with this one.

I'm super getting into Vincent Scordo's Italian masterpiece blog named....Scordo.com. I am particularly enjoying his commentary on food-culture-elitism with his FOB twist. His blog writing is sharp, his cooking is dedicated (and very meaty--vegetarians be warned). He's just so straight up New Jersey Italian and I, being New Jersey Italian, love it! Mmmuh to Scordo! Check out his wine making posts and be amazed at his family's dedication to keeping it Old World!

This week news sites were abuzz with the revelation that VegNews had been frontin' for years, using stock photos of meat food to (mis)represent the vegetarian and vegan recipes promoted in the publication. Yuck.

Pretty pretty Peas! SippitySup shares a lovely fresh minted spring pea soup recipe--suitable for vegetarians! And vegans, I think you could tweak it for your diet, too.

And the biggest news of the week: Horton Brasses is giving remodelers a chance to win an entire kitchen's worth of knobs and pulls! If you are doing a kitchen, you know how exciting this actually is. And this isn't your average run of the mill hardware. Solid brass, available in 7 different finishes and expensive! (we are talking $20+ knobs here). Oooh la la. Check out the contest and poke around the HB blog and read about the panel of celebrity judges!

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Conversation with Isvara Krsna on his PhD Thesis

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Conversation with Isvara Krsna on his PhD Thesis

Conversation with Isvara Krsna on his PhD Thesis
April 17th, 2011
“How evolution got into the Hungarian educational system” and questions about “The New Atheists”.
[ 7:16 ]
2 Responses to “Conversation with Isvara Krsna on his PhD Thesis”

Varsana devi dasi says:
April 18, 2011 at 1:11 pm
When devotees are engaged and supported in service according to their nature see what wonderful results can come from their endeavours …. congratulations Isvara Krsna prabhu, wonderful report on your valuble service. Your servant Varsana dd
Murli Manohara says:
Amazing.. we could really do with the same here in England. All glories to Isvara Krsna Prabhu.
Your Servant
Murli Manohara das

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Conversation with Isvara Krsna on his PhD Thesis

“How evolution got into the Hungarian educational system” and questions about “The New Atheists”.

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: This is the Vedic Sciences Research Centre’s annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu. It’s great!

H.H. Sivarama Swami: This is the Vedic Sciences Research Centre’s annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu. It’s great!

This is the Vedic Sciences Research Centre’s annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu. It’s great!
April 17th, 2011

Vedic Sciences Research Centre
annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu

Vedic Sciences Research Centre
annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu

Vedic Sciences Research Centre
annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu

H.H. Sivarama Swami: This is the Vedic Sciences Research Centre’s annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu
http://bit.ly/g9kfyR

H.H. Sivarama Swami: This is the Vedic Sciences Research Centre’s annual report submitted to the BBT by Isvara Krsna Prabhu. It’s great!

http://bit.ly/g9kfyR

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Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: The Humble Musings Of The Manhattan Monk 4/17/11

I am not a great philosopher
I am not an inspiring preacher
I am not a trustworthy handyman
I am not a devoted seeker of knowledge
I am not a very interesting person, full of adventure and vigor
In fact, I have very little to offer at all, from this broken body and mind

What I do have, at least, is a sense of compassion for myself, to be pursuing this path, serving the servants of the Lord, and trying to melt my stone-heart. In this way, by the natural course of things, I will learn to express and give the gift of mercy that I have been given. Let me become Your instrument.

***
Actually, when we boil it down, our life becomes compelled towards its natural nature, its attraction for the pure, sweet, dynamic, ecstatic, fulfilling, invincible love of Shyamsundar. The moment we begin to turn towards this, we are swept up by a tidal wave which ruins our petty, lost thoughts and speculations, our mental gymnastics, our blows for our false pride, and our sense of the bitter and selfish.

Into the eye of the storm, the inescapable whirlpool of nectar
It is the culmination of all aspiration, a Love tasted in drops and then waves, our whole vision and our whole being finding its perfection in our embrace with Him. A fervent compulsion that pushes every inch of our being towards the only reality, the only framework that matters.

Real compassion is also a compulsion of our devotion. It's not just a side-note, a stepping-stone. Its the essential foundation for the responsible, progressive, dynamic, loving devotee.

***
It's no use getting teary-eyed for your old hipster coat. This is my imbalance. Can I develop the vision and the courage to go deeper than the person I'm used to being? The comfortable is often the contemptible. I should be learn not to be afraid to shake myself up for my ultimate good, and I begin by holding an even keel, a patient gaze, and a tough but soft heart when my own habitual pillow gets unstuffed.

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Subuddhi Krishna dasa, Chicago, USA: Pearls of Wisdom - 253

Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 3 Chapter 2 Verse 24
Uddhava to Vidura,

SB 3.2.24: "I consider the demons, who are inimical toward the Lord, to be more than the devotees because while fighting with the Lord, absorbed in thoughts of enmity, they are able to see the Lord carried on the shoulder of Garuḍa, the son of Tārkṣya [Kaśyapa], and carrying the wheel weapon in His hand."

SB 3.2.24: Yo considero que los demonios, que tienen una actitud hostil hacia el Señor, son mejores que los devotos, porque mientras luchan con el Señor, absortos en pensamientos hostiles, pueden ver al Señor transportado en el hombro por Garua, el hijo de Tārkṣya [Kaśyapa], y llevando el disco-arma en Su mano.

SB 3.2.24: Je tiens les asuras, qui se montrent si belliqueux envers le Seigneur, pour supérieurs aux bhaktas, car en se battant contre Lui, habités de sentiments hostiles, ils sont à même de Le contempler, Lui que portent les ailes de Garuda, fils de Tarksya [Kasyapa], et qui tient dans Sa main le disque, Son arme.

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Dandavats.com: What is a valid query and what is a self-evident truth?

By Saurav Sarmah
This article is in the form of a letter addressed to a male devotee, who has lost faith in the teachings of Srila Prabhupada, especially the effectiveness of chanting the Holy Names and has expressed his doubts about the validity of faith in the realization of truth

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Dandavats.com: ISKCON Youth North American Festival Tour 2011

Manu das: Travel on the North American festival tour, Ratha-yatras, national parks, adventure activities, camping, swimming, etc. The ultimate road trip across the continent with ISKCON youth from around the world. If you're a young person, or know someone who may want to go, spread the word

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

"...hrsikena hrsikesa-sevanam bhaktir ucyate..."
(Bhakti-rasamrta sindhu 1.1.2)

Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all senses.

So let us engage all of our senses, including the mind, in the most delightful service of relishing the darsana of Hrsikesa, the Master of our senses.

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Gouranga TV: Lecture – Vishvambhar das – SB 10.2.7-8 – Getting to Krishna

Lecture – Vishvambhar das – SB 10.2.7-8 – Getting to Krishna

SB 10.2.7: The Lord ordered Yogamāyā: O My potency, who are worshipable for the entire world and whose nature is to bestow good fortune upon all living entities, go to Vraja, where there live many cowherd men and their wives. In that very beautiful land, where many cows reside, Rohiṇī, the wife of Vasudeva, is living at the home of Nanda Mahārāja. Other wives of Vasudeva are also living there incognito because of fear of Kaḿsa. Please go there.

SB 10.2.8: Within the womb of Devakī is My partial plenary expansion known as Sańkarṣaṇa or Śeṣa. Without difficulty, transfer Him into the womb of Rohiṇī.

SB 10.2.7: El Señor ordenó a Yogamāyā: ¡Oh, potencia Mía!, tú eres digna de la adoración del mundo entero y tu naturaleza es llevar buena fortuna a todas las entidades vivientes. Ve a Vraja, donde viven muchos pastores de vacas con sus esposas, pues en esa hermosa tierra, poblada por muchísimas vacas, hallarás a Rohiṇī, la esposa de Vasudeva, que reside en el hogar de Nanda Mahārāja. Allí viven también, de incógnito por temor a Kaḿsa, otras esposas de Vasudeva. Ve allí, por favor.

SB 10.2.8: En el vientre de Devakī Se encuentra Sańkarṣaṇa, Śeṣa, Mi expansión parcial plenaria. Sin mayor dificultad, transfiérete al vientre de Rohiṇī.

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Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

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