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"Planet ISKCON" - 42 new articles

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 31 March 2011--Defeating the Greatest Enemy--and--How Can I Retain What I Read?

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Canberra Ratha Yatra

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Initiations on 30/03/11

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

Kurma dasa, AU: "Gettin' Figgy Wit it"

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.60-64 Expansions & Incarnations Of Lord Krsna

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Qualification to teach Krsna consciousness

Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: Stumbling Upon the Sun

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.51 By Taking Shelter Of Sri Krsna One Can Surpass All Obstacles

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.23 Be Engaged In Krsna Consciousness Performing Your Prescribed Duties

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.15-17 Duality – The Cause Of Fear

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.49 The Glories Of Devotional Service

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.48 All Pervading Krsna

Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Uncontrolled mind

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.47 Krsna – The Cause Of All Causes

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.46 Preaching Fosters Humility

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.45 The Mind Rattle Of False Love

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.45 Sex Life – The Basic Principle Of Sense Gratification

Japa Group: Constant Chanting

Nityananda Chandra Das, Dallas TX: TEXAS FAITH 33: How do you view God?

H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 265—Poem for March 30

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

Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Jaya Gopinath! The disappearance day of Sri Govinda Ghosh

ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Gaura Purnima Celebrations - An Evening to Remember!

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Narada Muni tells Yudhisthira Maharaja that he should not lament for those under the control of divine fate

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Kirtana on 30th monring

Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: The highest welfare activity

Gouranga TV: Rathayatra in St. Augustine 3/26/2011

Japa Group: I Chant My Rounds

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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 31 March 2011--Defeating the Greatest Enemy--and--How Can I Retain What I Read?

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course(TM) Thursday 31 March 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.) e 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 the Greatest Enemy Uploaded from Sri Vrindavan Dhama Our greatest enemy is selfishness, our foolish tendency to serve only our own needs while neglecting the needs of others. Selfishness is mere foolishness because no man is an island. By our very nature we are meant to serve others. In fact, the more we make others happy, the more we become happy and satisfied. This is the law of nature. Therefore the very best service we can render is to give all others the ultimate happiness of delivering them from the cycle of birth and death. This is accomplished by reviving their original, dormant Krishna consciousness. Consequently, a life dedicated to inundating the entire world with Krishna consciousness is the most powerful and effective way for one to defeat selfishness, his greatest enemy. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: How Can I Retain What I Read? I can't remember what I read in the Bhagavad-gita clearly . Is there a reason for this? How can I sharpen my memory so that I can explain Krishna to others without giving them the wrong information? I'm too afraid to say anything when they bring God up. Shivash Answer: Follow this Technique In this Kali yuga, age of quarrel and hypocrisy we all have shortness of memory. Therefore if you want to memorize what you have read in the Bhagavad-gita, you will have to work very hard. To begin your Bhagavad-gita memorization program you should solidly learn this verse, which is the key verse of the Bhagavad-gita, both in Sanskrit and English: sarva-dharmn parityajya mm ekam aranam vraja aham tvm sarva-ppebhyo moksayisymi m ucah Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear. Bhagavad-gita 18.66 Read this verse aloud many times. Then without looking try to repeat it. Check to see how well you did. Then read it aloud again many times. Again try to say it without looking. Repeat this pattern again and again until you can say the entire verse correctly without looking. Do this both for the English and the Sanskrit. And then every day in the early morning test yourself on the verse. Try to say it without looking and see if you got it right. Every morning you must recite it in both Sanskrit and English without looking. You should only look at it to double check that you are getting it right. You should also memorize the chapter number and verse number. In this way if you will drill this verse until you memorize it and continue drilling to retain it, this verse will become as familiar to you as your own name, and you will be able to call upon it at will in all times and places to strengthen your own Krishna consciousness and to authoritatively enlighten others in the science of bhakti. Once this verse is very solid, you should add more and more verses to your repertoire in the same manner as you learned this one. The principle here is throwing the mud against the wall again and again and again until finally some of it sticks. In other words, if you drill your brain enough it will become trained to be able nicely retain the scriptures. The more you learn verses, the easier it will get. You should have a lifetime goal of mastering at least 108 verses. So now get to work and enter into an exciting new chapter of your life. 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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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Canberra Ratha Yatra

This is an invitation from ISKCON Canberra:

"Hare Krishna Canberra is celebrating the Festival of the Chariot of Lord Jagannatha - Lord of the Universe, who enjoys being pulled on a chariot along with transcendental brother Baladeva and sister Subhadra. In Canberra we take the Lordships on the Palanquin which is carried on shoulders by 4 persons on rotating basis. Everybody gets the opportunity to carry the Lordships which signifies pulling Krishna back into our lives, just as the Gopi's pulled Krishna back to Vrindavana 5000 years ago out of separation from Lord Krishna.

So we invite everyone to participate in this great Auspicious Event because such activities play vital role in our lives which helps us to advance in devotional life and guarantee our liberation from this miserable material world.
Please bring along your families and friends as Everyone is Welcome."

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1966 March 31:
"Ekadasi. Landlord repaired the window according to his liking. It is not approved by me. The door is still insecure. Thirty days notice served to landlord. Two persons came today to meet me. Registered letter sent, expenditure registration .80."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 March 31: "My Dear Dayalaji Birla, my attempt to exhibit the Krishna Consciousness Movement to the Bombay public is still going on at the Cross Maidan, and it has become very successful. Similar attempts will be made in Calcutta and Delhi. I am therefore opening a fund and I hope you will kindly contribute so that your example may be followed by other rich men in India."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 March 31: "You have begged for my blessings and I give them to you because you are my spiritual son but you have committed a very grave error. I am depending on you leaders for the future of our Society. This is causing me heartache and worry how things will go on. What can I do? I have given you all instructions."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 March 31: "Now you are supposed to be a responsible devotee, and this situation must be rectified, it is bad example for others. From now on follow the regulated restrictions strictly and refrain from any sex life at all, that can be your austerity. Now take up your activities with determination and seriousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 March 31: "There is no need of adding further Deities. Once installed it cannot be changed. Do not make it childish, too much addition of Deities will encumber us. There is no need to consult with me for these installations, the local president can decide whether the circumstances are opportune."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1966 March 30:
"Dashami. Today one letter received from Rockefeller Foundation denying any help for starting the International Institution for God Consciousness. Evening meeting was held and seven ladies and gentlemen attended. It is settled that Susman and Paul will come on Friday 1st April to take me to Paul's loft."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 March 30: "You are feeling my absence just as I am feeling the absence from you. But in the meantime this must be so and Krishna will provide. If you chant always Hare Krishna, read my books, and preach this philosophy sincerely, then Krishna will provide you with all facility, and you will not fall down into material entanglement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 March 30: "I was just thinking about you since you departed and was anxious to get your letter. By Krishna's Grace you are finding everything favorable. Please don't feel lonely. Krishna is always with you and I shall pray for you and to Krishna also that you may make progress more and more in this faithful discharge of duties in Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 March 30: "We should everyone of us try to work as hard as possible for Krishna's satisfaction. This material body can be adjusted with practice. If we adjust these bodily activities towards Krishna's side, then the labor is fruitful, but if we adjust towards maya's side, then the labor is useless. A little labor done for Krishna is never lost. But the greatest labor done for Maya is simply a waste of time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 March 30: "I have initiated her as you have advised. So train her up nicely in Krishna Consciousness and when you find a nice brahmacari she may be married. Then after some time she may go with her husband for starting a new center. My idea is to train up many devotees and as soon as they are ready send them out for starting new branches."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 March 30: "By the grace of the Spiritual Master and under the direction of the Spiritual Master one makes progress and revives his original Krishna Consciousness in full. So you know very well all these facts, and while preaching you have to explain all these things nicely. Then you become a good preacher."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 March 30: "The mercy of the bona fide Spiritual Master is there equally for everyone just like the sun. Yet there are those who refuse to come into the light. Simply you rigidly follow the regulative principles without fail and your rapid advancement in Krishna Consciousness will be certain."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 March 30: "I saw both the lands in Vrindaban and if they are available arrange immediately for their purchase. My money will be ready the second of May. In Bombay we are meeting the opposition peacefully and I hope things will come out successfully."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Initiations on 30/03/11

Devamrita Swami gave first initiation yesterday to four of his disciples and second initiation to Lila Katha and Yasomati Matajis. Arjuna Sakha Prabhu, disciple of Gopala Krishna Goswami, also participated in the yajna for his second initiation.

We now know:
- Praveen Prabhu as Kirtiman Krsna Dasa
- Manoj Prabhu as Ekatma Gaura Dasa
- Prasad Babu Prabhu as Bimal Prasad Dasa
- Anita Mataji as Lalita Prasad Devi Dasi

We congratulate them for taking a step further in their respective devotional lives and pray to Sri Sri Radha Ballabha to continuously shower Their blessings upon them.

Here's a slideshow of the yajna.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

Lord Nityananda's glance is loaded with meaning as He stands besides The Lord of His heart; there is a solemn request that weighs in His yet-sweet look.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura reveals Padmavati-Nandana's mind in his 'Sri Nagar Kirtana'- The Market Place of the Holy Name:
"...Sri Nityananda Prabhu says, 'This is the order of My Lord! My Prabhu!My Master! Therefore I have come to your doorstep, O brother! I am a beggar! I beg these alms:

Utter the name of Krsna! Do Krsna-bhajana! Accept what Krsna has taught us!'

These are the alms I am begging from you..."

May today's darsana enthuse us to accede to Nitai Gosai's appeal and accord Him the alms He longs for.

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Kurma dasa, AU: "Gettin' Figgy Wit it"

It's fig season in Australia, and I've noticed some succulent and expensive specimens in the shops. Five years ago I was living on Australia's far West Coast in Perth, and had the luxury of growing my own. Here's a walk down memory lane:
"The fig tree in my garden has stopped fruiting. All its proud, handsome leaves, once erect and filled with prana, life force, are now curling, loosening their grip on the branches, yellowing and falling to the ground, all perfectly aligned to mother earth's natural rhythms.
But, as is the selfless quality of a fig tree, while in season it gave bountifully of its fruits, without asking anything in return.

My tree had been fruiting steadily for the last few months. I would study it daily, and before the birds and ants took their fill, I would pluck just a few of the best, most plump succulent fruits; the ones so ripe that thick red syrup would ooze from them in the heat of the day. I ate a few, but soon made an executive decision to freeze the fruits when perfectly ripe, rather than eat them, and make jam when my stash was large enough.
Yesterday I spent a joyful few hours making fig jam. I removed the figs from the freezer, laid them out to thaw, and cut them in half.
I opened my trusty edition of Cooking with Kurma ( yes, I follow my own recipes), and measured all the ingredients carefully. Jam-making is an art not to be taken lightly. It is a favourite pastime of mine, and I already knew that this recipe worked well. I quadrupled the recipe.

Fresh Fig Conserve
Soft, sweet and pulpy, figs occupy a high position amongst fruits. The ripe fresh fruit is juicy, wholesome and delicious. Figs are also a restorative food that help in quick recovery after prolonged illness. For best results, select figs for this delectable conserve that are all fully mature but not overripe and without rupture or blemish.
1kg fresh ripe figs, 4 scant cups sugar, 1/3 cup lemon juice, about 2 large lemons, 2 teaspoons packed lemon zest, 2 tablespoons water, if required.

Wash the figs and cut off their tips. If the figs are small, cut them in half; if they are large, cut them in quarters.
Spread the sugar on a tray and heat it in a pre-heated hot oven, taking care not to burn it.
Place the figs in a 5-litre/quart saucepan along with the lemon zest and lemon juice over moderate heat. Bring them to the boil and cook them for about 10 minutes, or until they soften and the syrup darkens to a rich red colour. Do not stir them, and do not allow the figs to break up. You may need to add a little water.
Remove the sugar from the oven, and gently stir it into the figs, being careful not to rupture them. When the sugar has dissolved, bring the mixture to a rapid boil and, without stirring, cook for another 10 minutes, or until the setting point is reached. Carefully ladle the conserve into sterilised jars.

Note: Because my figs had been frozen then thawed, they gave off a lot of syrup, so I added 50 grams of pectin, a natural jam setting agent, at the time I added the sugar. The result was spectacular. Four kilograms of figs made 16 jars of jam. I'll be handing out quite a few to my friends." (Kurma April 2006)

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.60-64 Expansions & Incarnations Of Lord Krsna

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.60-64 Expansions & Incarnations Of Lord Krsna

Lecture – SB 7.10.60-64 Expansions & Incarnations Of Lord Krsna

SB 07.10.60-64 Expansions & Incarnations Of Lord Krsna 1994-05-30 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.60-64 Expansions & Incarnations Of Lord Krsna 1994-05-30 Radhadesh

7.10.60

Al entrar en contacto con el néctar, los cuerpos muertos de los demonios se volvieron invulnerables a los rayos. Dotados de gran fuerza, se levantaron como relámpagos penetrando las nubes.

7.10.61

Al ver al Señor Śiva muy afligido y desanimado, la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, el Señor Viṣṇu, pensó en la manera de poner fin a las molestias que Maya Dānava estaba causando.

7.10.62

Entonces, el Señor Brahmā se transformó en ternero y el Señor Viṣṇu en vaca, y al mediodía entraron en las residencias aéreas y se bebieron todo el néctar del pozo.

7.10.63

Los demonios podían ver el ternero y la vaca, pero, debido a la ilusión creada por la energía de la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, no acertaban a detenerles. El gran místico Maya Dānava era consciente de que el ternero y la vaca se estaban bebiendo el néctar, y comprendió que ése era el invisible poder de la providencia. Entonces habló a los demonios, que se lamentaban llenos de pesar.

7.10.64

Maya Dānava dijo: Lo que el Señor Supremo nos ha destinado, a nosotros mismos, a los demás, y a todos conjuntamente, no hay ninguna persona en ningún lugar que pueda impedirlo, ni entre los semidioses, ni entre los demonios, ni entre los seres humanos ni en cualquier otra especie.

SB 7.10.60: When the dead bodies of the demons came in touch with the nectar, their bodies became invincible to thunderbolts. Endowed with great strength, they got up like lightning penetrating clouds.
SB 7.10.61: Seeing Lord Śiva very much aggrieved and disappointed, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, considered how to stop this nuisance created by Maya Dānava.
SB 7.10.62: Then Lord Brahmā became a calf and Lord Viṣṇu a cow, and at noon they entered the residences and drank all the nectar in the well.
SB 7.10.63: The demons could see the calf and cow, but because of the illusion created by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demons could not forbid them. The great mystic Maya Dānava became aware that the calf and cow were drinking the nectar, and he could understand this to be the unseen power of providence. Thus he spoke to the demons, who were grievously lamenting.
SB 7.10.64: Maya Dānava said: What has been destined by the Supreme Lord for oneself, for others, or for both oneself and others cannot be undone anywhere or by anyone, whether one be a demigod, a demon, a human being or anyone else.

7.10.60

Lorsque les corps des asuras morts entrèrent en contact avec le nectar, ils devinrent invincibles, résistant même à la foudre. Dotés d'une grande force, les asuras se levèrent comme des éclairs traversant les nuages.

7.10.61

Voyant Siva profondément affligé et contrarié, le Seigneur Souverain, Sri Visnu, chercha un moyen pour mettre un terme à cette calamité créée par Maya Danava.

7.10.62

Alors, Brahma devint un veau, et Sri Visnu une vache; à midi, ils pénétrèrent à l'intérieur des résidences célestes et burent tout le nectar que contenait le puits..

7.10.63

Les asuras virent le veau et la vache, mais sous le coup de l'illusion créée par l'énergie du Seigneur Souverain, ils ne les empêchèrent pas de boire. Le grand yogi Maya Danava se rendit compte que le veau et la vache buvaient le nectar, et il comprit que c'était là l'effet du pouvoir invisible de la Providence. Il s'adressa alors aux asuras, qui s'affligeaient profondément..

7.10.64

(Maya Danava dit:) Ce qui nous a été destiné par le Seigneur Suprême -à nous-mêmes, aux autres on à tous à la fois- ne saurait être défait en aucun lieu et par qui que ce soit, qu'il s'agisse d'un deva, d'un asura, d'un être humain ou de n'importe qui d'autre..

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Qualification to teach Krsna consciousness

...we cannot teach the science of Bhagavad-gita, Krsna Consciousness unless we fully understand it, and practice it without any compromise toward any other philosophy.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Mike Gabbard, 18 February, 1977

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Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: Stumbling Upon the Sun

"If you think that this Krishna name is not very suitable, you can accept any name. That doesn't matter. Our proposition is you chant God's name. That is our proposal. Therefore it is universal. If you like, you can chant Jehovah or you can chant Allah, but we request you that you chant God's name." - Srila Prabhupada, 1968

***

Last week, my friend Shalagram and I decided to explore and admire the campus of the University of Florida under the stars in the lamplight. Then Shalagram pointed to the magnificent building that I pass every day.

"Have you ever been inside?" she asked.

"Actually, I have not," I said, taken aback. "That's the music building."

"You want to explore?"

"Why not?" I said.

So we crossed the street and entered through tall glass doors. Other people were also coming in, walking upstairs with a purpose. I felt a little intimidated. "What if someone demands to know why we're in here?" I muttered to my friend. "We're total sneaks!"

"Just act like we own the place," Shalagram replied. We grinned to each other and straightened our backs. We followed the stream of people up the stairs. We could hear the tuning of a guitar and the rustle of a huge crowd.

Timidly, Shalagram and I walked up to the door that had to lead to an auditorium. A young man walked past us on his way in and I flagged him down. "Excuse me, um, what's going on here?"

"Oh, one of our bands is playing tonight," he replied.

"Our bands?"

"Yeah, one of our bands here at UF... this is Crusade for Christ,"

"Aha, I see... so this is a... Christian thing?"

"Yes," he smiled and went on inside.

Shalagram and I looked to each other. I knew it flashed across both of our minds at the same time: destiny must have brought us here. "Let's do it!" we agreed, and we plunged into the dark auditorium. Everyone was standing up in the pews to face a band on stage. We walked up as far as we could and slipped in near the stage.

Wide-eyed, Shalagram and I looked around at the vaulted ceilings, the majestic architecture, and the hundreds of college students standing in the pews and in the balconies. Most had their arms raised, their eyes closed, and were singing along with the band.

We joined in on the tumultuous song, for the words were projected on a screen near the stage. Looking around, I was astounded to see such enraptured faces. Those were the same faces that I see in a heart-touching kirtan.

Then the song ended, and everyone took their seat. "Should we stay?" I whispered to my friend.

"Why not?" she whispered back. So we sat.

A young man got up on stage to give a sermon. And what an eloquent, incredible sermon it was. He was practical yet poetic - he wove in the scriptural analogy of running a race to our lives as dedicated disciples in the race to the Lord. I kept glancing over at Shalagram and we kept nodding to each other; nearly every point that he touched upon there was an equivalent in Vaishnava philosophy. Through his words, I felt inspired in a way that I have never felt before to chant intense and dedicated japa the very next morning.

The young man drew his sermon to a close, and then the band sang a closing song. Everyone rose to their feet and raised their arms. I raised my arms, too. And when everyone sang out "Whoah oh oh oh...." I murmured softly to myself, "Hare Krishna..."

My spiritual master often says that the sun goes by many names in all the different languages of the world, but it is still the same sun.

It's the same way with God - He goes by many names, but He is still God. And in that dark auditorium last week, I felt that I had stumbled upon the sun.

[e-mail subscribers please follow this link to view the above video:

Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: Stumbling Upon the Sun

]

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.51 By Taking Shelter Of Sri Krsna One Can Surpass All Obstacles

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.51 By Taking Shelter Of Sri Krsna One Can Surpass All Obstacles

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.51 By Taking Shelter Of Sri Krsna One Can Surpass All Obstacles

SB 07.10.51 By Taking Shelter Of Sri Krsna One Can Surpass All Obstacles 1994-05-28 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.51 By Taking Shelter Of Sri Krsna One Can Surpass All Obstacles 1994-05-28 Radhadesh

SB 7.10.51

My dear King Yudhiṣṭhira, long, long ago in history, a demon known as Maya Dānava, who was very expert in technical knowledge, reduced the reputation of Lord Śiva. In that situation, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, saved Lord Śiva.

SB 7.10.51

Mi querido rey Yudhiṣṭhira, la historia cuenta que, en tiempos muy remotos, un demonio llamado Maya Dānava, que era muy experto en el conocimiento técnico, rebajó la fama del Señor Śiva. En aquella situación, el Señor Śiva fue salvado por Kṛṣṇa, la Suprema Personalidad de Dios.

SB 7.10.51

O roi Yudhisthira, il y a de cela bien longtemps, un asura dénommé Maya Danava, fort versé dans les connaissances techniques, parvint à amoindrir la réputation de Siva; et c'est Krsna, le Seigneur Souverain, qui, dans cette situation, sauva le deva.

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.23 Be Engaged In Krsna Consciousness Performing Your Prescribed Duties

SB 07.10.23 Be Engaged In KC Performing Your Prescribed Duties 1994-05-14 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.23 Be Engaged In Krsna Consciousness Performing Your Prescribed Duties 1994-05-14 Radhadesh

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.23 Be Engaged In Krsna Consciousness Performing Your Prescribed Duties

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.23 Be Engaged In Krsna Consciousness Performing Your Prescribed Duties

SB 7.10.23

After performing the ritualistic ceremonies, take charge of your father's kingdom. Sit upon the throne and do not be disturbed by materialistic activities. Please keep your mind fixed upon Me. Without transgressing the injunctions of the Vedas, as a matter of formality you may perform your particular duties.

SB 7.10.23

Después de celebrar esas ceremonias rituales, hazte cargo del reino de tu padre. Siéntante en el trono y no permitas que las actividades materialistas te distraigan. Por favor, mantén tu mente siempre fija en Mí. Sin pasar por alto los mandamientos de los Vedas, debes aceptar como cuestión formal el cumplimiento de los deberes que te corresponden.

SB 7.10.23

Après avoir observé les rites funéraires, veille sur le royaume de ton père. Prends place sur le trône et ne te laisse pas distraire par les activités matérielles. Garde ton mental fixé sur Moi. Sans enfreindre les prescriptions des Vedas, à titre de simple formalité, remplis tous tes devoirs.

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.15-17 Duality – The Cause Of Fear

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.15-17 Duality – The Cause Of Fear

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.10.15-17 Duality – The Cause Of Fear

SB 07.10.15-17 Duality - The Cause Of Fear 1994-05-10 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.10.15-17 Duality - The Cause Of Fear 1994-05-10 Radhadesh

SB 7.10.15-17: Prahlāda Mahārāja said: O Supreme Lord, because You are so merciful to the fallen souls, I ask You for only one benediction. I know that my father, at the time of his death, had already been purified by Your glance upon him, but because of his ignorance of Your beautiful power and supremacy, he was unnecessarily angry at You, falsely thinking that You were the killer of his brother. Thus he directly blasphemed Your Lordship, the spiritual master of all living beings, and committed heavily sinful activities directed against me, Your devotee. I wish that he be excused for these sinful activities.

SB 7.10.15-17

Prahlāda Mahārāja dijo: ¡Oh, Señor Supremo!, como Tú eres muy misericordioso con las almas caídas, Te pediré una sola bendición. Sé que mi padre, en el momento de morir, ya había sido purificado por Tu mirada; él, sin embargo, ignoraba la belleza de Tu poder y supremacía, de modo que estaba innecesariamente irritado contigo, pensando que habías asesinado a su hermano. De ese modo, blasfemó directamente contra Tu Señoría, el maestro espiritual de todos los seres vivos, y cometió gravísimas actividades pecaminosas contra mí, que soy Tu devoto. Deseo que se le perdonen esas actividades pecaminosas.

SB 7.10.15-17

Prahlada Maharaja dit: O Seigneur Suprême, puisque Tu es si miséricordieux envers les âmes déchues, je ne Te demande qu'une grâce. Je sais que mon père, au moment de mourir, avait déjà été purifié par Ton regard, mais parce qu'il ignorait Ton magnifique pouvoir et Ta suprématie, il s'est inutilement emporté contre Toi, croyant bien à tort que Tu étais l'assassin de son frère. C'est ainsi qu'il blasphéma directement Ta Grâce, Toi le maître spirituel de tous les êtres vivants, et qu'il commit de graves péchés à mon égard, moi Ton dévot. Je voudrais que ses fautes lui soient pardonnées.

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.49 The Glories Of Devotional Service

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.49 The Glories Of Devotional Service

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.49 The Glories Of Devotional Service

SB 07.09.49 The Glories Of Devotional Service 1994-04-14 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.49 The Glories Of Devotional Service 1994-04-14 Radhadesh

7.9.49

Ni las tres modalidades de la naturaleza material [sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa y tamo-guṇa], ni sus respectivas deidades regentes, ni los cinco elementos densos, ni la mente, ni los semidioses ni los seres humanos pueden entender a Tu Señoría, pues todos ellos están sujetos al nacimiento y a la aniquilación. Teniendo esto en cuenta, las personas espiritualmente avanzadas se dedican al servicio devocional. Esos sabios casi ni se molestan en estudiar los Vedas. En cambio, se ocupan en servicio devocional práctico.

7.9.49

SB 7.9.49: Neither the three modes of material nature [sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa], nor the predominating deities controlling these three modes, nor the five gross elements, nor the mind, nor the demigods nor the human beings can understand Your Lordship, for they are all subjected to birth and annihilation. Considering this, the spiritually advanced have taken to devotional service. Such wise men hardly bother with Vedic study. Instead, they engage themselves in practical devotional service.

7.9.49

Ni les trois attributs de la nature matérielle (le sattva-guṇa, le rajo-guṇa et le tamo-guṇa), ni les divinités qui les gouvernent, pas plus que les cinq éléments grossiers, le mental, les devas ou les êtres humains, ne peuvent comprendre Ta Grâce, car ils sont tous sujets à la naissance et à l'anéantissement. Considérant ce fait, les êtres spirituellement avancés ont adopté le service de dévotion. Ces hommes sages se soucient fort peu de l'étude des Vedas; ils préfèrent se livrer de manière concrète à la pratique du service de dévotion.

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.48 All Pervading Krsna

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.48 All Pervading Krsna

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.48 All Pervading Krsna

7.9.48

O Supreme Lord, You are actually the air, the earth, fire, sky and water. You are the objects of sense perception, the life airs, the five senses, the mind, consciousness and false ego. Indeed, You are everything, subtle and gross. The material elements and anything expressed, either by the words or by the mind, are nothing but You.

7.9.48

¡Oh, Señor Supremo!, Tú eres en verdad el aire, la tierra, el fuego, el cielo y el agua. Tú eres los objetos de la percepción de los sentidos, los aires vitales, los cinco sentidos, la mente, la conciencia y el ego falso. En verdad, Tú lo eres todo, lo denso y lo sutil. Los elementos materiales y todo lo que pueda expresarse, sea con palabras o con la mente, no son otra cosa que Tú.

7.9.48

O Seigneur Suprême, Tu es en fait l'air, la terre, le feu, l'éther et l'eau. Tu es également les objets perçus par les sens, les airs vitaux, les cinq sens, le mental, la conscience et le faux ego. A vrai dire, Tu es tout ce qui existe, le grossier comme le subtil. Les éléments matériels et tout ce qui est exprimé, que ce soit par la parole ou par la pensée, sont toujours Toi, et Toi seul.

SB 07.09.48 All Pervading Krsna 1994-04-13 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.48 All Pervading Krsna 1994-04-13 Radhadesh

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Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Uncontrolled mind

I met a young man who was walking home and stopped to talk with me when I asked him if he had heard about yoga. He really appreciated the perfection of yoga and was asking several nice questions about monks and yoga. Then he asked me to guess his age and I guessed it pretty close to his real age of 19. He started to explain to me that he was suffering from ulcers and was taking several medicines for that. I was quiet surprised and I asked him to try the Bhagavad Gita to help with ulcers. Explaining to him the picture of the wild horses and uncontrolled mind I explained ulcers would go away if the mind was controlled. He asks the method for mind control and I explained the Hare Krishna mantra. He told me he was an atheist and I said that was perfect because if you are an atheist you must read the Gita. He was doing his engineering and I explained how I too had done that years ago and how people like us should read the Gita and told him by the time he is my age he will be an expert at yoga. He gave a generous donation and said that he would try to come to urbanedgeyoga.

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.47 Krsna – The Cause Of All Causes

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.47 Krsna – The Cause Of All Causes

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.47 Krsna – The Cause Of All Causes

SB 07.09.47 Krsna - The Cause Of All Causes 1994-04-12 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.47 Krsna - The Cause Of All Causes 1994-04-12 Radhadesh

7.9.47

By authorized Vedic knowledge one can see that the forms of cause and effect in the cosmic manifestation belong to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, for the cosmic manifestation is His energy. Both cause and effect are nothing but energies of the Lord. Therefore, O my Lord, just as a wise man, by considering cause and effect, can see how fire pervades wood, those engaged in devotional service understand how You are both the cause and effect. (vedabase.net)

7.9.47

Mediante el conocimiento védico autorizado se puede ver que las formas de causa y efecto presentes en la manifestación cósmica pertenecen a la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, pues la manifestación cósmica es Su energía. Tanto la causa como el efecto son simplemente energías del Señor. Por lo tanto, ¡oh, mi Señor!, del mismo modo que un sabio considera la causa y el efecto y puede detectar la presencia del fuego en la madera, aquellos que se ocupan en el servicio devocional entienden que Tú eres a la vez la causa y el efecto.

7.9.47

Celui qui détient le savoir védique authentique peut voir que les différentes formes que prennent la cause et l'effet au sein de la manifestation cosmique appartiennent toutes à Dieu, la Personne Suprême, car la manifestation cosmique est Son énergie. La cause et l'effet ne sont donc que des énergies du Seigneur. Par suite, ô Seigneur, de même que l'homme sage, en considérant la cause et l'effet, comprend que le feu est présent dans le bois, ceux qui pratiquent le service de dévotion comprennent que Tu es à la fois la cause et l'effet en toute chose.(www.vedaveda.com)

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.46 Preaching Fosters Humility

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.46 Preaching Fosters Humility

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.46 Preaching Fosters Humility

SB 07.09.46 Preaching Fosters Humility 2006-08-09 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.46 Preaching Fosters Humility 2006-08-09 Portland

SB 7.9.46

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, there are ten prescribed methods on the path to liberation — to remain silent, not to speak to anyone, to observe vows, to amass all kinds of Vedic knowledge, to undergo austerities, to study the Vedas and other Vedic literatures, to execute the duties of varṇāśrama-dharma, to explain the śāstras, to stay in a solitary place, to chant mantras silently, and to be absorbed in trance. These different methods for liberation are generally only a professional practice and means of livelihood for those who have not conquered their senses. Because such persons are falsely proud, these procedures may not be successful.

SB 7.9.46

¡Oh, Suprema Personalidad de Dios!, en la senda de la liberación hay diez métodos prescritos: permanecer en silencio, sin hablar con nadie, observar votos, acumular toda clase de conocimientos védicos, someterse a austeridades, estudiar los Vedas y otros textos védicos, cumplir los deberes del varṇāśrama-dharma, explicar los śāstras, permanecer en un lugar solitario, cantar mantras en silencio, y absorberse en trance. Para aquellos que no han dominado sus sentidos, estos métodos de liberación generalmente no pasan de ser una práctica profesional y una forma de ganarse el sustento. A esas personas, debido a su orgullo falso, puede que esos procedimientos no las conduzcan al éxito.

SB 7.9.46

O Seigneur Souverain, dix méthodes sont prescrites pour atteindre la libération: garder le silence, sans parler à qui que ce soit, observer fidèlement des voeux, recueillir toutes sortes de connaissances védiques, se soumettre à des austérités, étudier les Vedas et d'autres Textes védiques, s'acquitter de ses devoirs au sein du varṇāśrama-dharma, expliquer les śāstras à autrui, rester en un lieu solitaire, chanter les mantras silencieusement, et s'absorber dans une méditation profonde. Cependant, ces différentes voies de libération ne sont généralement adoptées que comme profession et moyen de subsistance par ceux qui ne sont pas maîtres de leurs sens. Ces personnes étant orgueilleuses, de telles pratiques risquent de ne pas porter leurs fruits.

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.45 The Mind Rattle Of False Love

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.45 The Mind Rattle Of False Love

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.45 The Mind Rattle Of False Love

SB 07.09.45 The Mind Rattle Of False Love 2006-08-07 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.45 The Mind Rattle Of False Love 2006-08-07 Portland

7.9.45

Sex life is compared to the rubbing of two hands to relieve an itch. Gṛhamedhis, so-called gṛhasthas who have no spiritual knowledge, think that this itching is the greatest platform of happiness, although actually it is a source of distress. The kṛpaṇas, the fools who are just the opposite of brāhmaṇas, are not satisfied by repeated sensuous enjoyment. Those who are dhīra, however, who are sober and who tolerate this itching, are not subjected to the sufferings of fools and rascals.

7.9.45

Les rapports charnels sont comparés au frottement de deux mains en vue de soulager une démangeaison. Les Gṛhamedhis, ceux qui se disent gṛhasthas et qui sont dépourvus de toute connaissance spirituelle, croient que cette démangeaison correspond à la plus haute forme de plaisir, alors qu'en fait elle est source de souffrance. Les kṛpaṇas, les insensés qui sont tout le contraire des brāhmaṇas, n'arrivent pas à trouver la satisfaction dans les plaisirs des sens répétés. Cependant, les dhīra, ces êtres sobres qui savent tolérer cette démangeaison, ne sont pas exposés aux souffrances qui affligent les êtres corrompus et dénués d'intelligence.

7.9.45

La vida sexual se compara al acto de frotarse las manos para aliviar un picor. Los Gṛhamedhis, los falsos gṛhasthas carentes de conocimiento espiritual, creen que ese picor es el grado más alto de felicidad posible, aunque en realidad no es más que una fuente de aflicción. Los kṛpaṇas, los necios que son lo opuesto de los brāhmaṇas, se entregan una y otra vez al disfrute de los sentidos sin alcanzar la satisfacción. Sin embargo, los que son dhīra, los que son sobrios y pueden tolerar ese picor, no están sujetos a los sufrimientos de los necios y sinvergüenzas.

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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.45 Sex Life – The Basic Principle Of Sense Gratification

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.45 Sex Life – The Basic Principle Of Sense Gratification

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 7.9.45 Sex Life – The Basic Principle Of Sense Gratification

SB 07.09.45 Sex Life - The Basic Principle Of Sense Gratification 1994-04-09 Lecture - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.9.45 Sex Life - The Basic Principle Of Sense Gratification 1994-04-09 Radhadesh

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Japa Group: Constant Chanting

Sometimes we get caught up in our day-to-day lives and our minds become contaminated by the entangling modes of material nature. We forget the big picture of why we are here and what we should give our prime importance to. Māyā can creep in and leave us feeling dizzy.

Kṛṣṇa is so merciful though. He gives us a daily practice that we can all perform to take a step back from our other activities and fully concentrate on Him, giving us protection from the influences of Māyā. And we can do it as much as we like.

The Lord is like the sun; the sun's appearance means immediate dissipation of darkness, or ignorance, and the Lord's appearance within the mind of the devotee can at once drive away the miserable material effects. Lord Caitanya has therefore recommended constant chanting of the name of the Lord for protection from all contamination of the material world. Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.28 purport
We must chant, chant, chant—even when we don’t feel like it. This will make sure we stay on the path upwards until we are attached to the Holy Name and automatically feel like chanting constantly. That’s when the real nectar comes.

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Nityananda Chandra Das, Dallas TX: TEXAS FAITH 33: How do you view God?

Dallas Morning News,
Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.
In their new book, America's Four Gods, Baylor professors Paul Froese and Christopher Bader claim that America's cultural diversity goes back to our competing views of God. There is the engaged, judging Authoritative God; the loving, supportive Benevolent God; the observant but not punishing Critical God; and the stand-apart Distant God.
In essence, we are at war over who God is, which leads to this week's question:.
How do you view God?
Do you fit into one of those four categories? A blend of them? Something quite different than these categories? Or do you not see God at all?

NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas

Vedas teach, "If I have a personality, a form, personal relationships, personal characteristics, and personal activities then positively Krishna, my source, has these attributes in fullness and perfection." God is not to be relegated to be simply an impersonal energy.

From the Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita, and other sacred Vedic texts it understood that God is realized in three stages. These three stages are known technically as Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. Brahman is the impersonal feature of the Lord, the energy of the Lord. Paramatma is the localized form of the Lord that accompanies the soul within the heart to give the soul guidance. The final and full form of the Lord is known as Bhagavan meaning the personal form of God. Bhagavan, the personal full form of God, is also realized also in two stages. The first stage is His aisvarya, His opulence, and the second His madhurya, His sweetness.

Our tradition emphasizes the sweet aspect of the Lord as the most attractive. This is to the extent that the intimate associates of God in the spiritual world do not care about His lordship over the various planets and galaxies, His power, or His support for a beings. Rather they are attracted to the sweet character of the Lord, the soul-mate of every being. What someone is looking for in a husband, wife, friend, brother, sister, son, daughter, and so on, all those desires to find a perfect beloved is fulfilled in the loving relationship that one has with Krishna.

Individual karma from previous lives is the cause of the various sufferings in this world, it is not due the mismanagement of a passive observant god or due to the lack of empathy from a cruel powerful being. Rather God is all sweet.

"His lips are sweet, His face is sweet His eyes are sweet, His smile is sweet His heart is sweet, His gait is sweet-Everything is sweet about the Emperor of Sweetness!" Madhurastaka 1
To see all the responses from the Texas Faith Panel click here

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 265—Poem for March 30

www.sdgonline.org.
5:15 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 March 30
Last night we saw the
1930s movie, King Kong.
The gigantic beast was scary.
He chased tiny men and threw them
like toys. Aside from the Hollywood
studio monster, there have been
real-life monsters like Balvala,
Dvivida and Jambavan, gorillas
who terrorized sages and gopis.
Krishna or Balarama, although middle-
sized, cut down these monsters
with club blows, plows, and fists.
We needn’t be afraid when They
are present.
The tsunami in Japan was
a different thing. It killed
thousands of persons and
threw trucks and bridges like
playthings. Krishna didn’t appear
to stop it. Sometimes He allows
the material nature to wreak
havoc as karmic reaction,
and the only recourse is to
turn to Him and pray for
relief. The material
energy is a relentless
force, and all of us
born into this world
are subject to its
destruction. The ultimate
escape is to quit attachment
to material life and render
devotional service to Krishna.
That way we can be transferred
from this place where there
is danger at every step.
In the face of disasters
we pray to Krishna to deliver
us. The soul is free
from destruction even
if the body is annihilated.
It is a great predicament
we live in, and the pure
devotee is given special
handling and safety
even at the hour of death.
He faces material reactions
bravely and turns to Krishna’s
lotus feet for protection of his atma. He prays,
“Krishna, I was wrong to come
here. Please rectify me
and let me serve You in
Goloka, where there
is no tsunami or dangerous beast.”

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

www.sdgonline.org.
From The Qualities of Sri Krishna
“37. Protector of Surrendered Souls

“Krishna is also the protector of surrendered souls. Krishna even gives shelter to the demons if they surrender to him. ‘Some enemy of Krishna’s was enlivened with thee thought that he needn’t fear Krishna because if he simply surrendered unto Him, Krishna would give him all protection.’ Vibhisana took shelter of Lord Rama and was welcomed into the camp. When Kaliya surrendered to Krishna, he was given protection by the marks of Krishna’s feet on his hoods so that Garuda would not disturb him.
“One of the six symptoms of surrender is to see Krishna as our protector. The Vrajavasis usually see Krishna as their child, friend or lover. But in difficulty, they always seek His protection. When Indra sent torrents of rain to Vrndavana, the residents ran to Krishna, and He protected them by lifting Govardhana Hill over them like an umbrella.
“Another instance of their dependence on Krishna was when Nanda Maharaja was being swallowed by a serpent. He called out to his son Krishna, ‘My dear son, Krishna, please come and save me from this danger! This serpent is swallowing me!’ (Krishna, Chapter 33, page 283)
“Another time, a forest fire raged through Vrndavana forest and the lives of the boys and cows were in danger. The boys cried out to Krishna, ‘We know You can protect us from this great danger . . . we are all completely dependent on You . . .’ (Krishna, Chapter 19, p. 174)
“The Supreme Lord offers His protection to all souls: ‘Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.’” (Bhagavad-gita 18.66)
From Obstacles on the Path of Devotional Service
“The Fighting Spirit
“As long as we are in the material world, there will always be one kind of obstacle or another. When we fully surrender to Krishna, however, then all the obstacles will become sources of happiness. As Bhaktivinode Thakura says, ‘I consider the troubles which I encounter while engaged in Your service to be a source of happiness.’
“Lord Gopal’s pure devotee Madhavendra Puri undertook great difficulty in order to collect sandalwood at the request of his Deity. Madhavendra Puri risked his life at the hands of thieves on the road, and he had to face innumerable watchmen and toll collectors. He walked for thousands of miles. But he undertook all these hardships with a feeling of love because he was doing it as service to Krishna. Although we cannot imitate Madhavendra Puri, we should look for a spirit of personal enjoyment while engaged in the struggle to serve Krishna. We all seek pleasure, and since we have to face problems, we might as well enjoy the struggle for Krishna.
“The opposite mentality of this is to always seek the complacent way, to be ease-loving. But easy-going life and Krishna consciousness do not go well together.”
Ksatriyas in spirit
“The best example of those who enjoy a good fight are the ksatriyas. When Maharaja Parkisit learned that the symptoms of the Age of Quarrel had begun to infiltrate within his state, ‘he did not think the matter very palatable. This did, however, give him a chance to fight.’ (Bhagavatam 1.16.10) Srila Prabhupada writes, ‘A perfect ksatriya king is always jubilant as soon as he gets a chance to fight, just as a sportsman is eager when there is a chance for a sporting match.’ (Bhagavatam 1.16.10, purport) Similarly Dhrtarastra, on the advice of Vidura, left his comfortable home and went to practice austerities, he looked forward to the risks that awaited him.
“We may not be physically fit or bold enough to fight like a ksatriya, but we can become ksatriya-like in spirit. This will be required if we are going to do battle with staunch opponents like our own mind.
“A healthy organism thrives on a certain amount of stress by which he exercises his will to live. Although psychologists often tell us how to reduce stress in the modern age, we also have to learn how to live with stress. The body is made strong by stress and tension. When properly applied, tension creates art, music and athletic prowess. When a healthy human being exerts himself or herself in the cause of Krishna, that is called tapasya, stress for a good purpose.”
From A Series of Problems
“Recently while I was traveling in Eastern Europe, I encountered many problems on the road. First we had engine trouble, then the petrol stations went on strike, then we had to obtain the required visas. When we reached Prague, we could not find a telephone, and after we found one, we discovered that there was no one at home at the Hare Krishna center. We waited all day in the street to see if devotees would show up at their address. When they finally arrived, I felt great relief. It seemed like all our obstacles were now removed. The devotees invited us to come with them to their farm—but then another problem arose: would our van be able to make it over the rough country roads? At this point I realized I should stop looking for the cessation to problems but be prepared to meet them one after another. And so I wrote in my diary:
“‘Life is a series of problems executed on behalf of Lord Krishna and Prabhupada, with nectar rest periods in between. Our objective is to please Krishna. We will show our sincerity by our willingness to work to overcome the problems.”

From Memories (1997)
When to Fight
We used to go on harinama on the Boston Commons, especially on weekends, when there were hundreds of young people lounging on the lawns there. Some of them were homeless and slept on the lawns. This is 1968-69, before we had our more-established spot just outside the Boston Commons by the subway stop. We used to chant right up on the grass. The crowds used to close in on us and listen, but it was always tense because there were always some rowdies and hecklers. Our harinamas became almost like lion-taming acts as we tried to give off enough energy to the chanting to hold the rowdies off for a while. We were usually successful; the kirtana generated such energy we could not hear the heckling much, and the rowdies somehow didn’t dare break through the invisible ring of the holy name to attack us. The most they would do would be to mock-dance or hurl insults. It would get even tenser, however, when we stopped the kirtana for a few minutes to make a speech. We even wrote to Prabhupada about it. He told us not to bother making a speech, but to go on chanting, if that was the situation.
One time a group of Hell’s Angels came by and broke up our chanting. They were much more inimical than the usual group of rowdies and hecklers. There was a much smaller group of devotees on the Common that day: Pradyumna and I, and maybe a couple of other young men, such as Devananda and a boy named Patita-pavana. Jadurani was also there with two other women.
At first, the Hell’s Angels were loitering in another part of the park, but I was aware of them. The Boston Commons is not such a large park that we wouldn’t be aware of people coming and going. As soon as I saw them, I became afraid that they were going to come down and do something to us. I knew that they had the power to break through the invisible circle that we had drawn around ourselves. Sure enough, they did just that after we had been chanting for a while. I don’t remember how many of them were there.
Just as we wear our uniform dhotis and saris, so the Hell’s Angels have their uniforms—unshaven faces, heavy bodies and sleeveless denim or leather jackets with Hell’s Angels emblems on their backs. They came and watched what we were doing, then they interfered. Some forcibly took the karatalas out of my hand and wrapped them around my neck. Once the music stopped, we were powerless. They took the drum from someone else and yelled, ‘Stop! Stop this!’
“Of course, the people didn’t support us; they just watched. I was the leader of the devotees, and I had several choices: We could fight, resist them in some other way, go on chanting somehow or other, or acquiesce. I decided to acquiesce; I accepted that our public kirtana was over. Rather than open ourselves to the possibility of violence, we decided to leave. That’s all we wanted to do. I do remember one painful moment: as we were leaving a few people came up to us and said sympathetically, ‘It’s just terrible that they did this to you,’ but then I looked back quickly and saw Pradyumna talking to one of the gang members. He had a friendly expression on his face, trying to win them over and to prove to them that we were not weird and that we didn’t need to be enemies. As he was talking, another Hell’s Angels gang member got on his hands and knees behind Pradyumna. Then the first man pushed Pradyumna backwards, and he fell over the second man’s back. I was pained to see them mock his attempt at human empathy. It made him look like a fool.
We were sobered by the experience, and as we drove back to the temple we discussed whether it was right to do what we did. Later I wrote a letter unburdening myself to Brahmananda, who was at that time still the temple president of New York. Brahmananda was built like a football player. I had no doubt that he would have acted differently in such a situation. I also described in my letter that chanting with us that day had been a follower of an impersonalist yogi, a western man, but he had taken the attitude that everything was one and that we should be nonviolent and accepting, regardless of what happened to us.
Brahmananda replied, ‘How were you different from that guy? You didn’t fight either.’ Then he described a fight that had broken out recently outside the New York temple storefront with some local rowdies. When the rowdies saw how enthusiastic the devotees were to fight, one of them called out, ‘Hey, leave them alone, they’re religious,’ meaning that we were probably so fanatical we would fight to the death for our principles. His letter was a reprimand.
I felt as if I had been a coward. Then Jadurani wrote to Prabhupada and asked if we should try to kill the demons. She also thought we should have fought. In the meantime, I began to build my resolve to face off with these hoodlums the next weekend when we took our chanting party out.
The next Sunday we went to the Commons, and I brought something that would serve both as a musical instrument and as a weapon. Actually, it wasn’t much of a musical instrument—it was two large pieces of metal that I would slap together. It didn’t make much of a sound. I psyched myself up that I would hit the hoodlums with these pieces of metal if they approached us again. I began to allow anger to build in me and think of the confrontation to come as a matter of life and death.
“From our chanting spot, I could see the Hell’s Angels in the park. I felt like I was walking through town in a ‘High Noon’ movie, waiting for the shoot-out. As the crowd pressed around us, a rowdy, not a gang member, lobbed an empty bottle in at us, and it hit me on the head. It didn’t break, but it hurt and stunned me. A few nearby people expressed sympathy, but no one did anything. I continued to slam those pieces of metal together, waiting for the moment of truth. It never came. Of course, our determination to chant in public was always being tested in this way. And Prabhupada did respond to Jadurani’s letter:
“‘Killing proposal is not good. We have to kill them with arguments and reason—not with sticks and weapons. Jadurani—I am very glad that you want to kill the nondevotees. You should, however, leave the matter to your good Godbrothers, who will take care of it. I am pleased to learn of your spirit of protest, but sometimes we have to tolerate.’”

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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Jaya Gopinath! The disappearance day of Sri Govinda Ghosh

In recent posts we are taken the name of merciful Gauranga and images of Him dancing in front ot Lord Jaganatha's Rath. Just this weekend we talked about how Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates did Harinam sankirtan to the Kazi's house to lift the ban on kirtan and melt the Kazi's heart to become part of the Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's sankirtan movement. And of course in many posts we have discussed how merciful Gopinath is! The fact that the presciding deities of Toronto are Sri Sri Radha Gopinath only increases this nectar.

So today is the disappearnce day of Sri Govinda Ghosh and all of this nectar is combined on this special day.

In Sri Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila 10.115 the importance of Sri Govinda Ghosh is clearly stated. "The three brothers Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva were the eighty-second, eighty-third and eighty-fourth branches of the tree. Lord Caitanya and Nityānanda used to dance in their kīrtana performances.

In Srila Prabhupada's purport it states, "The three brothers were among one of the seven parties that performed kirtana when Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu attended the Ratha-yatra festival at JagannathaPuri."

In Madha-lila it 13.42 is states, "The Lord formed another group, appointing Govinda Ghosa as leader. In this group the younger Haridasa, Visnudasa and Raghava were the responding singers."

So as we get closer to Rathayatra and meditate on Gauranga dancing before Lord Jagantha's Rath, we can also meditate on the the kirtan by Sri Govinda Ghosh that made Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda dance in ecstasy.

In a similar way Sri Govinda Ghosh participated in the harinam procession to Muslim Kazi's house.

Sri Govinda Ghosh's disappearnce day brings sweet nectar from Gopinath. In the same puport (CC Adi 10.115), Srila Prabhupada talks about how "Govinda established the Gopīnātha temple in Agradvīpa". The following is the story of Merciful Gopinath and His interaction with Sri Govinda Ghosh...

When Sri Govinda Ghosh was taking a bath in the Ganges an object touched his back. That night he received directions in a dream to preserve that piece of wood with care and to hand it over to Lord Caitanya when he arrived there. During the night when Govinda went to fetch the wood, he realized that it was a Krsnasila. The next morning Lord Caitanya turned up in Govinda's house and said, "Look here Govinda! You have nothing to worry about anymore. Tomorrow one sculptor will come here to chisel a deity from this sila and you should install that deity. The deity of Sri Gopinatha was thus installed.

Later, at the command of the Lord, Govinda married and continued to serve the deity jointly with his wife. Govinda was blessed with a son, however, both his wife and son passed away one after another. Govinda was so deeply grieved by the loss of his family that he stopped serving Gopinatha. Lord Krsna appeared to Govinda in a dream and asked him, "Govinda! Do you think it proper that when a person loses one son he should starve his other son to death also?"

To this Govinda replied, "It was my hope that had my son survived he would have performed the necessary rituals in remembrance of my deceased soul and those of my forefathers. Tell me, what do I gain by serving you?"

Lord Krishna explained, "I hereby promise to celebrate your death anniversary in a fitting manner forever. Now please can I have some food to eat?" Govinda was delighted to hear this and immediately returned to serving Gopinatha.

In course of time, when Govinda disappeared, Gopinatha held kusagrass in His fingers to perform the sraddha ceremony, which will take place even today to mark the disappearance day of Sri Govinda Ghosh.

(This is Sri Govinda Ghosh's dear Gopinath) Jaya Sri Radha Gopinath! Jaya Sri Govinda Ghosh!

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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Gaura Purnima Celebrations - An Evening to Remember!

On the evening of Saturday, March 19th, spiritualists gathered to celebrate Gaura Purnima which marks the appearance anniversary of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who appeared in Mayapura, India in the year 1486. Celebrations began with a two-hour kirtan before the program officially began and, as the temple filled with celebrants, a special evening unfolded. Featuring a non-stop program that had talks, monologues, videos and bhajans, the evening also featured small dramatic vignettes that depicted different stories about Caitanya Mahaprabhu. An amazing abhiseka (bathing ceremony for deities) then took place amidst a wild kirtan. Gaura Purnima is always one of the biggest festivals of the year and this festival certainly didn't dissapoint! We hope to post some videos from the festival in the next little while, so stay tuned!

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Narada Muni tells Yudhisthira Maharaja that he should not lament for those under the control of divine fate

SB 1.13.45

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Kirtana on 30th monring

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Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: The highest welfare activity

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.68-69), ya idaḿ paramaḿ guhyaḿ mad-bhakteṣv abhidhāsyati. .. na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttamaḥ: "One who preaches the message of Bhagavad-gītā to My devotees is most dear to Me. No one can excel him in satisfying Me by worship." There are different kinds of welfare activities in this material world, but the supreme welfare activity is the spreading of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Other welfare activities cannot be effective, for the laws of nature and the results of karma cannot be checked. It is by destiny, or the laws of karma, that one must suffer or enjoy. For instance, if one is given a court order, he must accept it, whether it brings suffering or profit. Similarly, everyone is under obligations to karma and it reactions. No one can change this. Therefore the śāstra says: tasyaiva hetoḥ prayateta kovido na labhyate yad bhramatām upary adhaḥ (Bhāg. 1.5.18) One should endeavor for that which is never obtained by wandering up and down the universe as a result of the reactions of karma. What is that? One should endeavor to become Kṛṣṇa conscious. If one tries to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness all over the world, he should be understood to be performing the best welfare activity. The Lord is automatically very pleased with him. If the Lord is pleased with him, what is left for him to achieve? If one has been recognized by the Lord, even if he does not ask the Lord for anything, the Lord, who is within everyone, supplies him whatever he wants. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (teṣāḿ nityābhiyuktānāḿ yoga-kṣemaḿ vahāmy aham [Bg. 9.22]). Again, as stated here, tapyante loka-tāpena sādhavaḥ prāyaśo janāḥ. The best welfare activity is raising people to the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, since the conditioned souls are suffering only for want of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Srimad Bhagvatam, 8.7.44

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Gouranga TV: Rathayatra in St. Augustine 3/26/2011

Rathayatra in St. Augustine 3/26/2011

Gouranga TV: Rathayatra in St. Augustine 3/26/2011

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Japa Group: I Chant My Rounds

I chant my rounds
as daily vow
it’s not so hard to
find two hours
when you have decided
it’s a must.

Two hours out of twenty-four
as a promise made
long ago to the spiritual master
”I can do it, I will do it,” is
the required resolution
to complete a task
of sustaining holy utterance.

From Japa Transformations
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 30 March 2011--Total Awakening--and--Form or Formlessness in Goloka?

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ISKCON Education: Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture Journal for 2010.

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