Virtual Istagosthi: Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Points for New Vrindavan

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"Planet ISKCON" - 42 new articles
Australian News: GET READY: Sri Krishna Janmashtami 2011 – Sydney
H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Tuesday 26 July 2011--The Supreme Mellifluousness--and--Is Lord Krishna Partial?
Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Kesava Prabhu
Vraja Kishor, JP: Making Sense of the Last 6 Chapters of Bhagavad Gita
Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE?
Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW CAN YOU BENEFIT BY STRETCHING?
Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: On a mission
H.H. Sivarama Swami: Bucsu in Krishna Valley
Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Ongoing technical difficulties with the blog.
Book Distribution News: On a mission
Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Points for New Vrindavan
Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Sankirtan Connection - every donation counts
Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: The Maha Manatra
Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Kirtan - Vedasar - Greeting of the Deities
Kurma dasa, AU: Buckwheat Chapatis
Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TEST, TEST, TEST!
Akrura das, Gita Coaching: COMFORT ZONE
Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO ACT IN GOODNESS
ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday, July 24, 2011
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
H.H. Sivarama Swami: What is real development?
H.H. Sivarama Swami: Report on the weekend’s Bucsu (Fair) at Krsna Valley
ISKCON Desire Tree: Vaishnava Calender - Kamika Ekadasi
Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: These books will solve the problems of life and help reduce the miseries of life
H.H. Sivarama Swami: Kirtana at the end of Bucsu Sunday July 24th
H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, July 23rd, 2011
Japa Group: The 10 Offenses Pt.4
Gouranga TV: 12 hour kirtan Vasudha Priya ISKCON Melbourne
ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Interfaith Program
ISKCON Melbourne, AU: 12 Hour Kirtan
Bhakti Lounge, NZ: self-illumination & renewal through sound
ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakti Sara Dasa
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Australian News: GET READY: Sri Krishna Janmashtami 2011 – Sydney
Hare Krsna, Dear Devotees,
As you probably would know, this year, our grand celebration of KRSNA JANMASTAMI, known as FESTIVAL OF INDIA, is on 6th August, 2011, at University of Western Sydney (Parramatta Campus) from 10 -5pm. We are inviting the whole Sydney to join us in this celebration. Hence we are doing it in a bigger complex, easily accessible to everyone.
We celebrate this most auspicious occasion of KRSNA JANMASTAMI in the form of wide variety of spectacular cultural events like Drama, classical Indian Dances, soulful music and lot more. Of course, we all can grace ourselves with the divine darshan of our sweet Lord and by our offerings to Him. Lastly, a sumptuous and mouthwatering KRSNA prasadam as Lord Krsna’s blessings is also the major attraction for this festival. So, please come along with your families, friends and relatives to spend a blissful day in the association of Lord Krsna and His devotees.
As you can imagine, an event like this require a lot of co-operative work and effort. If you would like to do some voluntary service for the Lord, please drop us an email in volunteers@iskcon-sydney.com, stating your availability. Basically, we need help between 2nd August till 6th August, in prasadam preparation and distribution.
Looking forward to see you all there. Please find the attached the flyer or you can visit -www.festivalofindia.org.au
Thank you very much.
In the service of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath
Bharat Srestha Das
180 Falcon Street, North Sydney,
NSW-2060
Phone: (02) 9959 4558
180 Falcon Street, North Sydney NSW 2060. Australia. Phone: (02)9959 4558
Click here to check out the web site
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Tuesday 26 July 2011--The Supreme Mellifluousness--and--Is Lord Krishna Partial?
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Tuesday 26 July 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. Special Announcement: The Entire Spring 2011 Around-the-World Lectures Are Now Available At: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/Lectures/andromeda.php?q=fandf=%2F2011 Today's Thought: The Supreme Mellifluousness Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA If you want to really connect with your true identity as an eternal, all-blissful, all-knowing, all-loving spiritual being, you should rise early every morning before dawn and dive deeply into the sweet, ambrosial ocean of hearing and chanting the glories of the unlimitedly splendorous Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. Then you will experience the supreme mellifluousness, the topmost ambrosial sweetness, of reviving your original loving relationship with that supreme superstar, the ultimate magician, Krishna or Govinda. The atheists say that He is a myth, but the real fact is that their philosophy is a myth. In the vast span of the history of the universe there has never been such a thing as something coming out of nothing. Therefore we do not buy their farcical atheistic dogma. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Relishing the Mellifluousness of Krishna Kirtan 3 May 2011--Tallinn, Estonia http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Spring/Tallin_Kirtan.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Is Lord Krishna Partial? Dear Gurudeva I have one doubt in my mind. Is Lord Krishna partial to His devotees and neglectful of others? He enlightens a few selected people by bestowing bhakti upon them, thus allowing them to return back to His eternal abode. Since He can make anyone His pure devotee, why doesn't He do so? In other words, why does He help a few selected people, His devotees, and neglect everyone else? Regards Vivek Answer: Krishna is Equal to All Krishna is equal to all. He is impartially offering everyone the opportunity to become His pure devotees and return to His eternal abode. It is not that Krishna makes certain people into devotees and not others. Krishna does not make anyone into a devotee. He equally offers everyone to chance to become His devotee. Those who want to become His devotees can easily do so simply by following His instructions in the Bhagavad-gita. Those who do not wish to become His devotees will not be interested in reading the Bhagavad-gita nor in following the instructions that Krishna gives there. 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 Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:

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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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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

"By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master."
(Sri Sri Gurv-astaka by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura).
It is only by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada that we graced with the benediction of the Their Lordships' darsana everyday.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Kesava Prabhu
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.22-23 - By regular attendance in classes on the Bhagavatam and by rendering of service to the pure devotee, all that is troublesome to the heart is almost completely destroyed, and loving service unto the Personality of Godhead, who is praised with transcendental songs, is established as an irrevocable fact.
nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya
bhagavaty uttama-sloke bhaktir bhavati naisthiki
END OF THE TWELFTH CANTO

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Vraja Kishor, JP: Making Sense of the Last 6 Chapters of Bhagavad Gita

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I’ll give a synopsis of all the chapters in the final section of Gita… The final 6 chapters share a common theme: how knowledge supports devotion. The idea is that true knowledge causes one to understand ones relationship to the divine and therefore fall all the more deeply in love with the divine. These 6 chapters expand upon a single text from the 12th chapter – 12.12 (“Shreyo hi jnanam abhyasat) – which says, “If you can’t take to devotion directly, cultivate knowledge – and this will help you fall in love with the divine.”
After hearing this, naturally one wants to know more about “knowledge” which can bring one to the blissful platform of divine love. Thus Arjuna asks questions that inaugurate the 6-chapter long section on such knowledge.
Chapter 13 introduces the subject. Knowledge consists of (1) the object to be known, (2) the subject gaining knowledge, and (3) the process of gaining knowledge. Spirit and matter and cultivation of knowledge-enabling character traits fill these roles.
“Spirit enters matter and becomes intertwined in it due to the desire to enjoy it’s transformations. Matter becomes attractive and addictive due to the power of “guna” – the three modes - which facilitate all transformations and variety in the world.” That’s 13.22, the seed of Chapter 14.
Chapter 14 is dedicated to explaining what the “three modes” are, giving several key examples of how they operate.
Chapter 15 more fully explains the conclusion of Chapter 14 – which is that there is a supreme reality, a supreme person – the object of devotion – which is beyond the three modes. So Chapter 15 introduces the spiritual world and the nature of that which is transcendental to matter and it’s transformations.
This chapter states that spirit can transmigrate upwards towards transcendence or downwards, deeper into bondage to matter.
Chapter 16 elaborates on the upward and downward transmigration of the spirit through the three modes of matter. It particularly focuses on character traits and personality types which typify a downward spiral, a de-evolution deeper into the modes of material nature, tightening the souls numbing immersion into matter.
Chapter 17 turns the discussion towards characteristics and traits of things which facilitate upward evolution through the three modes towards transcendence.
Chapter 18 closes the entire book. So this chapter summarizes and clarifies the entire message of the Gita – in a cohesive, evolutionary order.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE?

If you look for something that is so inspiring that you're automatically shooting out of your comfort zone, this is one of the best solutions how to get out of the mushy comfort zone. You work to find your mission, to find your voice, to find your dharma, to find your long-term project and focus on it.

Thus you will be more inspired to take more risks, to stretch, to do anything to make it work. Because you want to make it work. Srila Prabhupada wrote in some letters to leaders that it is very advantageous that a devotee does something he likes to do. It is good that first several years in Krsna consciousness we are doing the needful, but later you need to specialize.

If you see any long-term successful devotee, they all specialize at something. With the help of your spiritual guide or spiritual coach or your spiritual master, you can discover what is your nature, what are your your inclinations, what is it that you would like to do, and start doing it. And see if it works for you.

Then become very good at what you do. Become an expert. And learn from the other devotee experts in that area or even outside experts. Perfect the art and the science of what you are doing. And in this way feel satisfied.

In one letter, Srila Prabhupada instructed a devotee who was serving under Jagadisa Maharaja as the temple president, that the president should find him an engagement that is inspiring for him, that he likes to do; and it will be easier to follow the rules and regulations because he is inspired.

If we lose our enthusiasm then everything is finished.

It is your responsibility to be inspired and motivated every single day. It is not something that will fall from the sky. Whether it is first class chanting of your rounds, or hearing the class on a tape or in a temple, having an inspiring coaching session or conversation with a devotee, whatever it takes, you have to be inspired, and then achieve wonderful things for Krsna throughout the day.

Often we become overly dependent on others for inspiration or encouragement. If you want encouragement, encourage yourself. If you want kindness, be kind to yourself. If you want love, love yourself. Be kind to yourself by becoming more Krsna conscious.

Therefore, a greater service for others is to help them help themselves. Not to make them dependent of you, not to take a role of a savior, but you help them become empowered, become strong, determined, and then they can deal with anything.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW CAN YOU BENEFIT BY STRETCHING?
I have learned that there are 3 zones: Comfort Zone, Stretch Zone and Panic Zone. I am not asking you to set your goals in the Panic Zone. This is too much at the moment. Stretch Zone is a bit scary but you can still make it. You can still try and you can still take a risk.

We are not being unreasonable here. We are asking people to stretch at least a little bit. And a little bit more. You will feel better about yourself and about how you deal with life and about who you are, if you stretch.

If you just try to avoid confronting what you need to change or taking on new goals or taking risks, you will never feel good. You will feel miserable. Peter Burwash calls the Comfort Zone - a coffin.

If we want to grow, we have to go out of our comfort zone. If there is no growth there is no life and spiritual life becomes mechanical. How can you feel peaceful and secure in a situation where you don't take risks or you don't stretch?

Because you know the philosophy. You know you are this body. You know that Krsna will challenge you. You know that you have to be equal in happiness and distress, and face the dualities of this world. How can you create a situation where everything is nice and think that you are ok?

Krsna asked Arjuna to kill. Krsna is not asking us to kill, but he is asking us to preach. So if we are not preaching, we cannot be alive. If we push ourselves, we will not be pushed, and ultimately destroyed, by maya.

It is better to push ourselves voluntarily than wait for the material energy to really get on our case. We are small. We always depend on either material or spiritual energy.

By pushing ourselves, we align ourselves with the spiritual energy, we align ourselves with Krsna, and we, basically, surrender.

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Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: On a mission
Hamilton, New Zealand
I knocked on the door of a house that looked as if someone was home. After I knocked, it became apparent there wasn't. Then a gentleman appeared around the side of the house, coming onto the property from the street, and asked if I was "on a mission." I said, "I'm a monk and I *am* on a mission, a mission to show everybody a Bhagavad Gita." And with that I put one in his hand.
He was happy and relieved I wasn't a thief or someone of ill repute, since the area he lived in had had its fair share of crime. He said that his place had been broken into a few times and that when he saw me walk onto his property he was just driving off in his van. So he stopped across the road and came back to check me out.
With the Gita in his hand, he also said that he'd been doing yoga for a long time but had recently stopped and wanted to get back into it. He said he didn't have any money on him at the moment and asked if I could come back the next day.
The next day I started my door-to-door visits at his house, taking some prasadam with me. We sat together and discussed Krsna's teachings in the Gita as we took prasadam. He explained that his job entailed helping people with psychological disorders.
We had such an enlivening time talking about Krsna-related topics! He gave $50 for the Gita, and he wants to come to our Tuesday night program. He loved the prasadam. His name is Geoff.
Your servant, Khela-tirtha das

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Bucsu in Krishna Valley

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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Ongoing technical difficulties with the blog.
We apologize for ongoing difficulties with the blog link.

The rest of the site www.RadhaShyamasundar.com seems to be operating fine, however the blog link is having intermittent errors including unavailability, error messages and non view ability of photos/graphics. We hope to have this resolved shortly.

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Book Distribution News: On a mission
Hamilton, New Zealand
I knocked on the door of a house that looked as if someone was home. After I knocked, it became apparent there wasn't. Then a gentleman appeared around the side of the house, coming onto the property from the street, and asked if I was "on a mission." I said, "I'm a monk and I *am* on a mission, a mission to show everybody a Bhagavad Gita." And with that I put one in his hand.
He was happy and relieved I wasn't a thief or someone of ill repute, since the area he lived in had had its fair share of crime. He said that his place had been broken into a few times and that when he saw me walk onto his property he was just driving off in his van. So he stopped across the road and came back to check me out.
With the Gita in his hand, he also said that he'd been doing yoga for a long time but had recently stopped and wanted to get back into it. He said he didn't have any money on him at the moment and asked if I could come back the next day.
The next day I started my door-to-door visits at his house, taking some prasadam with me. We sat together and discussed Krsna's teachings in the Gita as we took prasadam. He explained that his job entailed helping people with psychological disorders.
We had such an enlivening time talking about Krsna-related topics! He gave $50 for the Gita, and he wants to come to our Tuesday night program. He loved the prasadam. His name is Geoff.
Your servant, Khela-tirtha das

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Points for New Vrindavan
...my special request is that you should try to maintain as many cows as possible in your New Vrindaban. The first thing is that whether the girls and women who live there are agreeable to work as I have suggested; namely 1) to take care of the children, both from health and educational point of view, 2) to keep the whole temple, kitchen, etc. very clean, (At the present moment, things are not kept very clean. You are right that if some outsiders come, they will view our situation as not very hygienic.), 3) cooking, 4) churning butter. If they agree to all these four principles, that is to say, if they cooperate with the boys, then surely very quickly New Vrindaban will develop as nicely as possible.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Kirtanananda -- Los Angeles 24 June, 1969

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Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: Sankirtan Connection - every donation counts

I had a few minutes and I was debating whether I should even go out on Sankirtan but then I thought I should try so I went out. As I was walking on the street I saw a young couple walk towards me. I stopped them and showed them a small book. The girl said she knew the book as she had met us at a party. At first I thought she was cooking it up but then as she started to reveal the series of events, I was shocked.

She explained she had met us at the party where we had a stall and taken a book. At that time she had no money but just a multi-coloured plastic bracelet that she gave to my friend Shyama-mohini for the book. The part she didn't know was that when Shyama-mohini returned from the party we had discussed how she should use the bracelet in some way so that that girl gets a benefit. This was aligned with what Vaisesika Prabhu had taught us on his recent visit to use everything that someone offers in Sankirtan for some service. A few months had past since that incident but just yesterday Shyama-mohini had decided to use this bracelt and I had seen it so I recognized it. When this girl started to explain that she gave a bracelet - I immediately connected the two stories and described her bracelet to her (distinct pasta bracelet). She got all excited too and I showed her and her friend another book. I explained how these books take away all miseries of life and they should read it. She told me she didn't have another bracelet to give. Laughing I explained that we also take money. So her boy friend gave a donation for the book. They were both culinary students from Humber College in downtown Toronto and we talked for a while and they said they would come.

Returning back I was thinking of how Krishna is the Ultimate connection. How I met a man a few months ago on Sankirtan who invited us to this party to distribute books, how Shyama-mohini, Radha-mohan and Vrndavan Prabhu spent all night taking the austerity of being at the party and how they met this girl, how Shyama-mohini just decided to use her offering and I once again met her and she got another book. This is just the part of the story we know, we cannot even imagine what else Krishna does to make it all easy for us to connect with him.

BG 7.7: O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.

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Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: The Maha Manatra
Submitted by : Mahabhagvat Dasa

One lady approached our Sankirtan stall, without too much questioning, she took a Chant and Be Happy from a sankirtan devotee, but had questions, so she was looking around for someone to speak to. I greeted her. We spoke for some time. She told me how she was having difficulty keeping her children in school, the whole environment was so cruel and heartless and her kids were constantly getting in trouble, mainly for standing up for others, while the teacher looked away and pretended not to see what was going on "I didn't see anything!" was their refrain. The boys ran around and played hide-and-seek, leafed through books, were mesmerized by the nearby Harinama. Her comments made me think about Srila Prabhupada's dismissive "slaughterhouse education" comment, in relation to the modern education system. One of the boys, the older one was attracted to my "Distribute Books" and "7thgoswami.com" yellow bracelet. I took it off and gave it to him, he put it on immediately, beaming. The lady made sure the boy thanked me properly, though I myself had simply received that bracelet from Vaisesika Prabhu's hand a few weeks ago, so it wasn't really mine at all. She told me she was going to home-school her boys, and was nervous. She asked me some questions which I thought were somewhat on the intellectual level, and I was thinking how I could get her heart into it, then I thought, why not get her to chant the Hare Krishna Maha mantra. I asked her if she'd been introduced to the Hare Krishna Mahamantra, the great mantra before, and she said no. I explained a little bit, gave each one of them a card, and asked them to repeat after me 2 words at a time. They chanted dutifully. No sooner than the lady had finished chanting the Mahamantra, she burst out crying, tears rolled down her face. I asked her why she was crying. She said she didn't know but that she felt lighter. I begged her to chant and bade her and the two boys farewell. This is the magic of the Holy Name, Nama Prabhu. He dives right into the heart and makes Himself comfortable, kicking out all inhospitable things from the heart to make space for Himself

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Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Kirtan - Vedasar - Greeting of the Deities

Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Kirtan - Vedasar - Greeting of the Deities

Greeting of the Dieties kirtan led by Vedasar.
Dallas, TX
2011-01-30

2011-01-30 - Kirtan - Vedasar - Greeting of the Deities.mp3

2011-01-30 - Kirtan - Vedasar - Greeting of the Deities.mp3

Download: 2011-01-30 - Kirtan - Vedasar - Greeting of the Deities.mp3

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Kurma dasa, AU: Buckwheat Chapatis

Yesterday's blog on chapatis elicited a lot of response and specifically the conversations segued into making breads without wheat flour. One lady asked about making a bread suitable to eat on the grain-fasting day called ekadasi, which falls every eleven days after the full moon and new moon.
Though these details are in my archives, here's the recipe again for buckwheat chapatis. By the way, they are very hard to roll out, having no gluten. Patience and a deft hand is required.
And no, oil is not required in the dough. The secret is mashed potato. Here we go:
Buckwheat Chapatis
Buckwheat is not technically a grain, but it lends itself to breads and pancakes as it behaves like a grain. In India and elsewhere, on the grain-free Vaisnava fasting day of Ekadasi, buckwheat, as well as other pseudo-grains, like chestnut flour and tapioca flour, are used in a variety of versatile ways. If you like the taste of buckwheat, you'll love these tender versions of India's most popular flatbread, the chapati.
Buckwheat contains no gluten, so those of you who can't eat wheat will find this recipe appealing. As far as equipment is concerned, you'll need at least one non-stick frypan, (two or three are better), a rolling pin, a smooth surface for rolling, and some kitchen tongs. Makes 10 large chapatis.
2 cups buckwheat flour, about 250g, ½ teaspoon salt, 300g peeled potatoes, about 3 medium-sized potatoes, cut into large pieces, 3 tablespoons water, a good quantity of extra buckwheat flour for dusting and rolling, melted butter or ghee (optional, for spreading over the chapatis after they've been cooked).
Combine the buckwheat flour and salt in a large bowl.
Boil the potatoes in sufficient water until they are very soft. Remove, drain and mash them. Measure the quantity of mashed potatoes. You will need 1 cup. Place the measured quantity of mashed potatoes in a large metal sieve over a large kitchen bowl. Push and rub the potato through the sieve and collect it in the bowl.
Pre-heat the large non-stick frying pan, or pans over moderate heat. Combine the warm mashed potato with the buckwheat flour. Add the water a little at a time to form a soft, but not sticky dough. Turn the dough onto a clean, smooth working surface, sprinkled with buckwheat flour. Turn and knead the dough for one or two minutes.
Pinch off 10 even-sized lumps of dough and form them into smooth balls, pressing and kneading them gently into thick patties. Dredge a patty of dough in flour and place it on the flour-strewn surface. Carefully roll it with a dry, flour-sprinkled rolling pin to a fairly thin, even, smooth disc about 15 cm (6 inches) in diameter. If it sticks to the pin, re-roll it and apply more flour. A little care needs to be taken here since the dough contains no gluten and is very delicate.
Very carefully pick up the disc of dough and quickly transfer it to the frying pan. Slip it onto the hot pan, taking care to avoid wrinkling it. Cook it for about 1 minute on the first side. The top of the bread should start to show small bubbles, or it may even fully puff up in the pan - even better!
Turn it over, being careful not to tear it, and cook it on the reverse side. When a few dark spots appear on the underside, lift the chapati with kitchen tongs to about 5cm over a full flame, if you are using gas. If using an electric stove, you'll need to sit a cake cooling rack above, but not touching, the element. The chapati should swell into a puffy balloon.
Cook it until it shows a few more darker spots, then place it in a bowl or basket covered with a clean cloth, and continue cooking the rest of the chapatis. When they are cooked and stacked, you may like to butter them. Serve buckwheat chapatis hot, or keep them warm, well covered, in a pre-heated warm oven for up to half an hour.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TEST, TEST, TEST!
Marketing gurus say, "Test, test, test, and see how it works!" Srila Prabhupada also tested how many rounds devotees can chant every day, 64 or 32 or 16. He tested whether Gurukula will work.

Similarly, we can see what works for us. We can start small, and there is no limit to how much you can expand. The most important thing is to somehow work on developing that desire to do something.

We all want to achieve something. We are goal-achieving entities. We want to achieve something, we want to leave a legacy, we want to leave something behind us. We feel happy when we make or create something. We want to do something significant and that's not bad.

If we want to do something significant for Krsna, we should do it. Krsna has given us so much ability, and talents, and skills, and we are just not using them. We are running on 20 percent of our potential.

We should look into it and have a discussion with someone, like a friend or a coach, and see what it is that we are not using. Look around!

Krsna is offering challenges for us in different ways. We can become an expert in avoiding these challenges and justify why we are not taking on things. Taking risks is very much present in Srila Prabhupada's teachings.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: COMFORT ZONE
It's natural that people want to remain in their comfort zone, because they feel secure. But this is false security. And even if they know they have to stretch, they stretch a little bit and create another comfort zone.

My recommendation to people is - never remain where you are but always try to go forward, to grow, to develop, to advance. Because this life is meant for elevating our consciousness and for advancing and evolving to a higher level, so if you stay in one place, you will not be able to grow.

Constant and never-ending improvement - that's the principle that we have to follow. And it's in line with Srila Prabhupada's teachings. He would never stand still and he was never satisfied with what has been accomplished. He always wanted more and pushed his disciples to preach more, to expand the mission, to give an opportunity to many more people to take to Krsna consciousness.

He wanted us to shoot for rhinoceros. Although he also gave an example of an ant who was helping Lord Ramacandra to build a bridge to Lanka, with his small effort. And Lord Ramacandra would appreciate it as He would appreciate the work of the monkeys who were able to throw big boulders into the sea.

At the same time, I think we can do much more than we are doing. Krsna says in the Bhagavad-gita - paurusam nrsu, I am the ability in man. There is no limit how much we can achieve if we want to achieve more for Krsna and if we properly connect to Him, and if we have faith that He can help us.

But if we find some comfortable life and just try to save ourselves, and chant, and be like a "closet devotee", this will not help us. To me, it's actually hellish, to be like a pious person, and go to church or a temple occasionally and just try to save yourself. This is not the mood of Lord Caitanya. This is not the mood of our movement. It's actually a very uncomfortable life.

We always want to extend ourselves to help others and to save others.

Why we should set realistic goals? Set unrealistic goals. But setting realistic goals, you limit what you can achieve. It is in line with Srila Prabhupada's teachings to go for the impossible and see what God allows you to achieve.

Fear of failure is one of the greatest obstacles to success. Sometimes devotees try to cover fear of failure with false humility. "Oh, I am not a big devotee. I'm going to stay in the back and I will just do something little." This just an excuse to not take risks. But actually they are capable of doing much more.

The greatest risk in life is life without risks. The founder of IBM said - fail forward fast. You have to increase the rate of failure in order to get to your success quicker. Srila Prabhupada said that failure is a pillar of success.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO ACT IN GOODNESS
If we want to act in the mode of goodness, we first need to think in the mode of goodness.

And if we want to think in the mode of goodness, we need to ask ourselves better questions, questions that will help us think and act in the mode of goodness.

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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday, July 24, 2011

Pictures taken by Ritesh Agrawal

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1968 July 25: "How to do it, that I shall give you. You have simply to carry out my instructions. But you are not prepared to follow. You are simply visiting different places, for sight seeing recreation. This sort of service is not accepted by Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1968 July 25: "Unless you fix up your mind to serve the Spiritual Master Who is direct representative of Krishna, it is not possible to approach Krishna. Krishna is only approached through the transparent via media of bona fide Spiritual Master."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1970 July 25: "The activities of these elevated souls are not to be questioned by us. They have a higher purpose which we cannot determine; therefore do not try to imitate the actions of the very powerful, but one should simply follow their instructions."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1971 July 25 : "From India I went to Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Detroit and then Boston. Now I am in New York and from here I shall go to Gainesville University and then London. You may write to me in London."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 July 25 : "I suggest when you return to India that you take sannyasa in your ripe old age without any family responsibility and let us together do something tangible in India. I shall request you to think this over very seriously."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 July 25 : "As long as the classes are going on well, the rules and regulations are being observed sincerely, the sankirtana party is going out with enthusiastic mood - if these things are going on, then everything is first-class."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 July 25: "That is not a very good proposal. We are always thinking these kind of changes, why is that? I simply want things to be developed which we have got, not to make so many big big plans and changing all the time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1973 July 25 : "All respectable gentlemen will come. That quarter is aristocratic and our temple is unique. It is the only Krsna Balarama temple in Vrindaban and so attractive people will automatically come and see."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1975 July 25: "I am accepting the following as my initiated disciples and the others as twice-born initiated brahmanas. Please see they are chanting 16 rounds and following the four regulative principles - this is your responsibity."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: What is real development?
Talk by His Excellency Gauri Sankara Gupta (Ambassador for India)

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Report on the weekend’s Bucsu (Fair) at Krsna Valley

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ISKCON Desire Tree: Vaishnava Calender - Kamika Ekadasi
<div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:dnMXMwOfBR0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?d=dnMXMwOfBR0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:YwkR-u9nhCs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?d=YwkR-u9nhCs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:F7zBnMyn0Lo"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?i=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:F7zBnMyn0Lo" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:7Q72WNTAKBA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?d=7Q72WNTAKBA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?i=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:KwTdNBX3Jqk"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?i=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:KwTdNBX3Jqk" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:l6gmwiTKsz0"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?d=l6gmwiTKsz0" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?i=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?a=cYTkdaeR2SQ:4s73RM9GDlg:TzevzKxY174"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/Iskcondesiretree?d=TzevzKxY174" border="0"></img></a> </div>

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Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: These books will solve the problems of life and help reduce the miseries of life

I met an Indian girl at university campus - she was really young and from Delhi. I tried to show her Bhagavad Gita and nectar of instruction explaining their value in her coming years in Toronto. But like many she said she knew all about yoga as she was from India. I generally don't but this time I really tried to reason with her but she kept ignoring and avoiding the books saying she knew everything and doesn't need anything. So I gave her a card and told her to keep in touch and invited her to free lunch at temple. She became a little curious but by this time I was ready with tears in my eyes. Finally remembering a letter from Vijaya Prabhu to Book distribution nectar about how Srila Prabhupada encouraged us to preach directly, I decided to try being bold. I explained to her how I wish she understood how rare these books are and her money doesn’t matter but even if she gave a penny it is magnified millions of times in wiping her Karma when offered in the temple. Something then changed her heart and she said ok I will give you a donation. She dug out 2 dollars from her bag and was still refusing to take the books, but I insisted she take at least a Bhakti Yoga. Once she had taken the book, she started to tell me she was starting her masters in Engineering degree in UOfT. I told her how my friend was also from Delhi and was finishing her PhD in UofT. Turned out this little girl had also done her Engineering from IIT, the most prestigious engineering school in India. I was thinking about the hard work this little girl was putting in and how the system is designed to completely cheat us of any ability to see spiritual reality. It was so hard for her to even consider perhaps there is something more she can learn about. She did leave happy and gave her cell phone to stay in touch for future.

Quote from Srila Prabhupada
Deepak prabhu introduced me to Srila Prabhupada and said, "Oh, this is Gopinath Acharya das. He is one of our leading book distributors." So Srila Prabhupada was actually very interested; and he turned his head very regally, he looked at me and asked me what I said to sell the books. So I mumbled and fumbled something to the effect that, "Oh, Srila Prabhupada, I just tell them it's about yoga. They think it's about exercises and like that." Srila Prabhupada thought very pensively for 30 seconds or so and he said, "You should tell people that these books will solve the problems of life and help reduce the miseries of life."
From Following Srila Prabhupada, DVD #6

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Kirtana at the end of Bucsu Sunday July 24th

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, July 23rd, 2011
Down the Boulevard

Alachua, Florida

What do I see, hear and smell on the boulevard?

The narrow white sand road that I have been walking is actually called NW 112 Boulevard. Or at least it begins as a wide roadway promenade, but then shortly thereafter, it becomes a few metres/yards length. It becomes a quiet, narrow country lane. I'm glad it is like that. Who wants to invite thick traffic?

So, what is there to be seen along the Boulevard? Bulls, cows, homes and bails of hay, red birds and trees with clumps of Spanish moss. I hear crickets at night and at least two owls to add to the concert.

For smells, there are the local floral and fauna, most of which I'm not familiar with, being that it's tropical.

As daybreak occurs, I see humans. One of those early trekkers on the Boulevard, is Kripasindhu, an old friend. When I first became a monk, it was this very jovial and smiling person who encouraged me.

As a former American draft dodger, Kripasindhu made his way to Canada, back in the late sixties, and then met devotees of Krishna. He was always an upbeat type of person, and I remember how my being a rather new recruit, I hit a moment of doubt and questioning--not of the philosophy--but of my services. This very optimistic person said all the right things, and in the right way to give me a boost.

I owe this person so much. If it had not been for him coming in at the right moment, I'm not sure what providence would have had in store for me. Whenever I see him in my rare visit to this community, my heart pumps with feelings of gratitude for him.

Come to think of it, I cannot think of a more valuable role that a person can play in life than when encouragement is delivered by them. This realization tells me that I must step up on all such opportunities to provide encouragement for someone in need. I would like to suggest to not think narrow, but to think broad like the boulevard.

10 KM

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Japa Group: The 10 Offenses Pt.4

To blaspheme the Vedic literatures or literatures in pursuance of the Vedic version.

To disbelieve the Vedic statements.

A devotee should accept that his disbelief may be due to his own limited perception. Even if he doesn't understand, he should still have faith in the Vedas.

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Gouranga TV: 12 hour kirtan Vasudha Priya ISKCON Melbourne
12 hour kirtan Vasudha Priya ISKCON Melbourne

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Interfaith Program
The latest Vedic forum event organised by the Hindu Community Council of Victoria was entitled:"YOUTH TO YOUTH".

This event was held at the Siva Visnu Temple in Carrum Downs where the traditions of India were presented to a group of young men and women from a variety of religious traditions.

The hospitality of the management at the Siva Visnu temple was outstanding; they provided some very knowledgeable younger members of their Temple to act as group leaders and showed every one around their Temple. They also provided an amazing entertainment with a very beautiful Vedic instrumental presentation and they topped up the day's events with a delicious vegetarian lunch.

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: 12 Hour Kirtan

Most of you will still remember the 12 Hour Kirtan we held a few weeks ago to commemorate the disappearance day of Aindra Prabhu.
Here is a

Vasudha Priya Mataji leading Gaura Arati during her 7 to 7.30pm slot

of Vasudha Priya Mataji leading Gaura Arati during her 7 to 7.30pm slot. She is expertly accompanied by her brilliant son, Syamasundara, on the mrdanga.

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Bhakti Lounge, NZ: self-illumination & renewal through sound

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakti Sara Dasa
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.20-21 - By hearing Srimad Bhagavatam in association of devotees one develops firm faith, attraction for Krsna and devotion very quickly (...sraddha ratir bhaktir anukramisyati).

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