Virtual Istagosthi: Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Some Radishes Don’t Float

PLANET ISKCON

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"Planet ISKCON" - 31 new articles
H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Saturday 30 July 2011--What is Science? Why the World is a Jungle?--and--Do You Ever Feel Despondent & Helpless?

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

Japa Group: The 10 Offenses Pt.8

Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Some Radishes Don’t Float

Kurma dasa, AU: Queen of Lasagna

Kurma dasa, AU: Strawberry Cream Shortcake

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: MARRIAGE QUIZ

ISKCON Brampton, Canada

ISKCON News.com: Is Anders Breivik a `Christian’ terrorist?

ISKCON News.com: Interviews on Rethinking Darwin

ISKCON News.com: Artificial Sweeteners May Be To Blame For Inflammatory Bowel Disease

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Isvara Krsna asks

H.H. Sivarama Swami: In skype conference with Russian disciples we talk of why Kamsa given as an example of ecstatic love

Japa Group: The 10 Offenses Pt.7

Dandavats.com: Jewish infiltration in the Hare Krishna movement??

ISKCON News.com: 300 Year Old Food Forest in Vietnam

ISKCON News.com: Three Questions That Will Reset Your Moral Compass

ISKCON News.com: ISKCON At the Annual Hong Kong Book Fair

ISKCON News.com: Patience

David Haslam, UK: Krishna, sponsored by (any one with money really)

Vraja Kishor, JP: The Three Modes of Material Nature

ISKCON News.com: Ambassador of Goodwill

Gouranga TV: Radhanath Swami New Dwarka Srimad Bhagavatam Class July 08 2011

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Saturday 30 July 2011--What is Science? Why the World is a Jungle?--and--Do You Ever Feel Despondent & Helpless?
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Saturday 30 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: What is Science? Why the World is a Jungle? Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA The real meaning of science is to know things as they are, to separate truth from untruth. The tendency to be scientific is the unique quality of the human being. This distinguishes him from the animals, who have no consciousness beyond eating, sleeping, mating, and defending. However, when, as at the present moment, non-verifiable, fanciful speculations are marketed as science, we've got a serious problem in the human society. As a result of this situation where nescience is being masqueraded as science we've ended up with an animalistic human civilization which bears more similarity to the jungle than it does to an actual human civilization. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Exposes Fallacy of Modern Science http://www.backtohome.com/images/Prabhupada/SP_w_Swarupa.Damodar.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Do You Ever Feel Despondent and Helpless? In your recent Thought for the Day I cannot help but reflect on the advice that Dhritarashtra had been given from souls like Vidura, Bhisma, Drona and ending with the good Lord Himself before the complete annihilation of his dynasty. It's really sad that a being like yourself who has devoted his lifetime to educating the society at large literally goes unheeded. I will continue in my little way to continue to follow your most intelligent advice. Do you ever feel despondent and helpless? Chris S. Answer: By Krishna's Grace We Always Feel Hope. Thank you very much for your compassionate appreciation of our mission to deliver the entire world. We are humbly begging you to please assist our mission in whatever way you can by helping us get this message out to the world. There is truly no greater welfare work than this. We have been ordered by our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, Become guru, and deliver the entire world. We cannot do this on our own. We require the dedicated help of good souls such as yourself. There are various way you can help: 1. You can give you entire life by becoming our initiated disciple. 2. You can give financial support at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate 3. You can spread the word to others by distributing Srila Prabhupada's books, by inviting people to your local ISKCON center, by telling people about our e-course, or simply by telling everybody that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kindly see if you can assist us in any or all of these above three ways. Regarding our feeling despondent and helpless, under the present circumstances it would be quite natural for us to feel this way. But by always remembering the unlimited mercy of the all-powerful Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, we always feel faith and hope that our efforts to deliver the world will not go in vain. Thank you once again for your wonderful appreciation. This is a great encouragement for us. 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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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

"Our spiritual master is the ocean of mercy, the friend of the poor, and the lord and master of the devotees. O master! Be merciful unto me. Give me the shade of your lotus feet. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds."
(Sri Guru-vandana from Prema-bhakti-candrika)
O master! We are eternally grateful to you for having brought down the spiritual world to us, residents of the material realm. Your fame is spread all over the three worlds for having blessed us with the darsana of the inhabitants of the Vaikuntha regions.

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Japa Group: The 10 Offenses Pt.8

To consider the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra to be one of the auspicious ritualistic mantras mentioned in the Vedas as fruitive activity.

Karma-kanda: performing religious ceremonies, following austere vows, practicing renunciation, penances and austerities, fire sacrifices in order to gain material benedictions from the demigods.

To equate chanting to other spiritual activities, such as meditation, austerity, penance or sacrifice.

One should not try to utilise the holy name for one's personal service.

Chanting the holy name is meant for attaining love of God.

How to counter-act the offence: Approach the devotees and attain sambandha-jnana from them.

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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Some Radishes Don’t Float
I had some old seed of radish so I broadcast them in the end of a row where winter squash was planted and haven’t been unrolling the woven ground cover until I harvest the radishes. I cut off the tops and leave them under the ground cover as I roll it out.
I rinse off root crops in some rainwater before I take them in the house, to preserve as much of the topsoil in the garden as possible. I have a couple of barrels set up to collect rain water off one side of the roof of our garage. I fill some 5 gal buckets (18 liter) out of that to increase storage capacity. I wash the root crops in the buckets so the dirt doesn’t accumulate in the rain barrels but gets dumped back into the garden with the irrigation.
I was swishing them off yesterday one by one, most done, when I dropped one and noticed it floated. So I came to the conclusion that radishes floated, which I saw as an amusing revelation coming so late after gardening for my entire life. I surmised that henceforth rinsing radishes would be much simpler.
So today I confidently went to the bucket and dumped all the radishes in. Update: not all radishes float. As I was clearing all the radishes in an area to unroll the ground cover, I was not only taking full sized ones but also really small ones. Some of the small ones sank to the bottom of the bucket.
So since I now know that not all radishes float, doubt has entered in and I have started to wonder if there would be varietal differences as well as stage of maturity in whether they float or not, or if climatic differences, like wet versus dry during the growth period, would also influence whether they will float or not.
While this is not that important in the scope of my life, and I won’t design any studies to pursue the answers, I do find it more interesting than whether or not the politicians raise the debt ceiling.

Filed under: Cows and Environment

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Kurma dasa, AU: Queen of Lasagna
I received a request today to publish my lasagna recipe. Of course I already have a couple of different lasagna recipes published in two of my cookbooks, but because I am feeling kind, here it is. It is a huge and delicious lasagna. Not for the faint-hearted. For serious cooks only.

Rich and Tasty Lasagna with Grilled Vegetables & Sun dried Tomatoes
I allowed my imagination to run wild when I mentally constructed this multi-layered, deep-dish lasagna before embarking on my test kitchen procedures. You may like to substitute different vegetables in some of the layers. Thin slices of butternut pumpkin can be successfully grilled and added, as can slices of zucchini. Select a casserole dish 25cm x 35cm x 8cm (10-inches x 14-inches x 3½-inches) deep for this 'Queen of Lasagna'.
Preparation & cooking time: approx 1 hour 45 minutes, Makes: 1 deep-dish lasagna.
The vegetables
1 large eggplant sliced into 0.5cm (¼-inch) rings and grilled, 3 large red capsicums (peppers) cut into quarters lengthwise, cored, de-veined and grilled, the leaves from ½ large bunch English spinach, stalks removed, ½ cup sun dried tomatoes sliced into strips.
The tomato sauce
¼ cup olive oil, ½ teaspoon yellow asafetida powder, 1 cup fresh basil, chopped, 2 teaspoons dried oregano, 6 cups tomato purée, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon raw or brown sugar, 2 tablespoons tomato paste.
The bechamel sauce
125g (4½ ounces) butter,
¼ teaspoon nutmeg powder,
¼ teaspoon black pepper,
½ cup plain flour,
4 cups warmed milk.
The cheeses
3½ cups grated cheddar cheese, 2 cups grated mozarella cheese, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, or something equally pungent, plus 3 tablespoons reserved.
The pasta
500g (a little over 1 pound) instant eggless lasagna sheets
Prepare the tomato sauce:
Pour the olive oil into a large, heavy-based saucepan and set it over moderate heat. When the oil is hot, sprinkle in the yellow asafetida powder, fry momentarily, then add the basil leaves and oregano, and fry for another 30 seconds. Pour in the puréed tomatoes, stir to mix and bring to the boil. Add the salt, black pepper, sugar and tomato paste, reduce the heat slightly and cook, uncovered, stirring often for 10-15 minutes, or until it reduces and thickens.
Prepare the bechamel sauce:
Melt the butter in a 2-litre/quart heavy saucepan over low heat. Stir in the nutmeg, black pepper and flour, and fry, stirring constantly, for about half a minute or until the mixture loosens. Remove the saucepan from the heat, and gradually pour in the warm milk, stirring with a whisk until it is all incorporated and the sauce is smooth. Return the sauce to moderate heat and bring to the boil, stirring. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce develops a thick custard-like consistency.
Assemble the lasagna:
Combine all three cheeses (except the reserved Parmesan). Divide the cheese into 2 portions, the tomato sauce into 3 portions, the bechamel sauce into 4 portions, and the pasta into 5.
Spread one portion of the tomato sauce on the bottom of the oven-proof casserole dish. Place a portion of the pasta on top. Layer the eggplant slices on top of the pasta sheets. Spread on a portion of the bechamel sauce, then another of the pasta. Sprinkle on half the grated cheese.
Continue layering as follows: a portion of the tomato sauce; the sun dried tomatoes; the capsicum; another portion of the pasta; another of the bechamel; another of the pasta, then the remaining cheese. Layer the spinach leaves on top of the cheese.
Spread on the remaining tomato sauce, top with the last pasta sheets and the remaining double portion of bechamel (this white sauce layer needs to be thicker than the others). Sprinkle the top with the reserved Parmesan cheese, place the lasagna in the top half of a pre-heated 200°C/390°F oven.
Bake for 45-60 minutes, or until the top is slightly golden and the pasta yields easily to a knife point. If the lasagna is darkened on top but does not yield fully to a knife point, cover the lasagna with brown paper or aluminium foil in the last 15 minutes of cooking. When the lasagna is done, leave it in the oven with the door ajar for at least 30 minutes more to allow the lasagna to "plump" up and set. Cut and serve as required.

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Kurma dasa, AU: Strawberry Cream Shortcake
Strawberries are back in the fruit shops here in Sydney, though they are coming all the way down from Queensland. I have tasted some very delicious and fragrant specimens. So here's a recipe to celebrate strawberries.

Strawberry Cream Shortcake
This cake is actually somewhere between a shortcake and a sponge. It’s enriched with ground walnuts or hazelnuts topped with strawberry jam, piled with rich vanilla-flavoured cream and studded with vine-ripened strawberries. Irresistible!
PREPARATION AND BAKING TIME: about 45 minutes CAKE COOKING TIME: at least 30 minutes YIELD: enough for 6–8 persons
The cake: 1 1/4 cups self-raising plain flour, pinch salt, 4 tablespoons butter, about 60g, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1⁄3 cup ground walnuts, or ground toasted hazelnuts, about 1⁄3 cup buttermilk.
The cream topping: 300ml double cream, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon milk powder, a little cold milk if required to thin the cream,
The remaining topping ingredients: 3–4 tablespoons homemade strawberry jam, 250g ripe, sweet strawberries, whole or cut in half lengthwise.
Pre-heat the oven to 200˚C/390˚F.
Mix together the flour and salt in a large bowl. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, then stir in the sugar and ground nuts.
Pour in three-quarters of the buttermilk and gather the mixture into a soft manageable dough. If too dry, add some more buttermilk.
Press the cake mixture into a buttered 20cm (8-inch) fluted cake tin with removable base, taking care to evenly work the mixture up the sides of the tin. Place the cake in the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until pale golden brown all over. Remove from the oven and allow it to cool. Carefully remove the cake from its tin.
Combine the cream, sugar, vanilla and powdered milk in a mixing bowl and beat it until the cream stands in soft peaks. If you plan to pipe the cream through a pastry bag, beat it until it stands in stiff peaks. If the cream is too thick to start with, add a little cold milk and then whip it.
Spread the strawberry jam over the surface of the cake, pipe or spread the cream, then top with the strawberries. Cut into wedges and serve.

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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: MARRIAGE QUIZ
Marriage Quiz - About You

Your answers to the following series of questions will give us the information to match you with people who are compatible with you. Please make sure your answers are honest and candid. To begin, please answer the following questions about yourself.

1. What is your ethnicity?
Arab
Asian/Pacific Islander
Black
Chinese
Hispanic or Latino
Indian
Japanese
Korean
Native American
Other
White, non-Hispanic

2. What language(s) do you speak?

3. What is your nationality?

4. Choose the category that best describes your highest level of education.
Associate’s
Bachelor’s
Doctorate
High School
Master’s
Did not complete High School
Some college

Marriage Quiz - Roles

These questions ask how you expect to define yours and your partner’s roles in marriage.

Marriage Role Expectations - Whom do you expect to:

Answer with: Mostly Husband, Mostly Wife, Both Equally

1. Start an argument?
2. Pay the bills?
3. Have a paying career that involves regular work outside the home?
4. Stay up with a sick child at night?
5. Decide how many children to have (or whether to have children)?
6. Clean the house or apartment?
7. Clean the toilet bowl?
8. Cook most of the meals?
9. Desire the most time and attention from partner?
10. Discipline the children?
11. Drive the car on joint outings?
12. Handle household finances?
13. Choose furniture for the house or apartment?
14. Decide where you will spend the holidays?
15. Remember important dates such as family members’ birthdays, anniversaries?
16. Initiate intimacy?
17. Invite guests over?
18. Have priority when it comes to one's job?
19. Make the bed?
20. Make most of the money?
21. Make up after an argument?
22. Have the most education?
23. Prepare the grocery list?
24. Do the grocery shopping?
25. Be the spiritual guide of the family?
26. Set the family's spiritual standards?
27. Send thank-you notes for joint gifts?
28. Maintain the care and upkeep of vehicles?
29. Wash the dishes?
30. Determine where you will live?
31. Cut the grass and take care of the yard?
32. Who should have ultimate decision-making authority?
The person most affected in each situation
Husband only
Everything by mutual agreement
Generally by mutual agreement, but husband when they can't agree
Generally by mutual agreement, but wife when they can't agree
Wife only

Marriage Quiz - Nature of Marriage

Please select whether you agree or disagree with each of the following questions.

If you are unsure about a particular question, ask yourself the opposite question. For example, you can change "A successful and happy marriage relationship must be given care and attention." to "A successful and happy marriage relationship does not need care and attention." If you agree with the opposite statement, you can then mark that you disagree with the original one.

Check items that most accurately reflect your feelings about the nature of marriage.

Answer with: Agree, Disagree, Uncertain

1. If, after marriage, people find someone they love more than their spouse, they should rightfully seek happiness with that person.
2. Before they decide to marry, every couple should see a good counselor or take a course in marriage preparation.
3. The major reason couples succeed in marriage is their determination to do so.
4. I strongly agree with the principles of feminism.
5. A successful and happy marriage relationship must be given care and attention.
6. The guru should be the ultimate authority in the family.
7. Family control should be centered around the husband.
8. The purpose of marriage is the partner's individual happiness.
9. A couple who "like each other very much" rather than "being in love" might make a happy and successful marriage.
10. If two people are really in love, they will be able to work out any marital difficulties.
11. In a certain sense, when two people marry they marry each other's families.
12. A childless marriage would be quite unsatisfactory.
13. The main factor in marriage dissatisfaction is usually sexual maladjustment.
14. Studying about marriage tends to take away the romance.
15. Attaining economic security is an unsatisfactory motive for marriage.
16. Parents should have a real voice in the decisions their children make regarding a mate.
17. The secret of successful marriage is having realistic expectations of what two people can do.
18. Marriages would be more successful if the roles of husband and wife were more sharply defined.
19. Marriage symbolizes a turning away from one's self to others.
20. Society itself has a significant input in stable marriages.
21. The most important aspect of compatibility is harmony of spiritual ideals.
22. If both partners are serious about their spiritual practices, they can work out any marital difficulties.
23. Young people today take marriage entirely too casually.

Marriage Quiz - Relations in Marriage

Please select whether you agree or disagree with each of the following questions.

Check items that most accurately reflect your feelings about marital relationships.

Answer with: Agree, Disagree, Uncertain

1. Marriage can supply all our relationship needs.
2. A strong relationship, once broken, becomes very difficult to restore, even if the participants feel they wish to restore it.
3. Relationships must improve over a period of time if they are to remain viable.
4. The qualities basic to a parent-child relationship are very different from those of a love-lover relationship.
5. Really significant relationships are those built on the basis of emotional understanding.
6. Really significant relationships are those built on the basis of intellectual understanding.
7. The idea that relationships "grow" is absurd.
8. A marriage can be good without being intimate emotionally or physically.
9. A person can feel he/she has a significant relationship even with a person that he/she has never met.
10. Practically all our relationship needs can be fulfilled in the nuclear family.
11. In terms of time and energy, there is a limited number of deeply intimate relationships one can support.
12. A good relationship can be developed rather quickly since the process is uncomplicated.
13. Relationships are very important way in achieving individual fulfilment.
14. Similarities in background make it easier to build relationships.
15. Really significant relationships are those built on the basis of spiritual understanding.
16. Termination of a dysfunctional relationship may facilitate personal growth.
17. With time and effort, you can build a meaningful relationship with practically anyone.

Marriage Quiz - Spiritual Standards

The following questions relate to your current spiritual situation and your feeling about spiritual commitment.

1. What is your initiation status?
First-Initiated by disciple of Prabhupada
Second-Initiated by disciple of Prabhupada
Aspiring for initiation by disciple of Prabhupada
Aspiring for initiation by ISKCON guru who is not Prabhupada’s disciple
Not interested in initiation
Not initiated and not aspiring at this time
Initiated by other Gaudiya Vaisnava Guru
Aspiring for initiation from other Gaudiya Vaisnava Guru
First-Initiated by Srila Prabhupada
Second-Initiated by Srila Prabhupada

How often do you do the following activities:

Answer with: Never, Rarely, Occasionally, Regularly

1. Drink alcohol?
2. Drink coffee, tea, or caffeine sodas?
3. Eat food cooked by devotees?
4. Observe Ekadasi?
5. Gamble (slots, casino, poker, etc.)?
6. Eat meat, fish, or eggs?
7. Offer your food to Krishna?
8. Eat vegetarian food containing onions or garlic?
9. Preach about Krishna to non-devotees?
10. Rise early, before sunrise?
11. Chant at least sixteen rounds?
12. Smoke tobacco?
13. Watch movies and television?
14. Observe Vaisnava holidays?
15. Play video games?
16. Visit a temple outside the home?

1. What do you feel should be the spiritual commitment of your partner, in comparison to your own:
My partner and I should be equal in our spiritual commitment and practices.
I'm satisfied to have a spouse who is less committed to spiritual practices than I am.
My partner should be more spiritually advanced than I.

Marriage Quiz - Things
For each of the following items, please choose how important you feel the item is or will be to you in your marriage.
For each of the items, please select: Essential, Preferred, Doesn't Matter

1. A second vehicle
2. Books other than those about krishna consciousness
3. Computer equipment
4. Contemporary furniture
5. Tickets to concerts
6. Cosmetics
7. A dental plan
8. Regular eating in devotee restaurants or take-outs
9. Buying or renting devotional videos/dvds
10. An expensive vehicle
11. Presents for family
12. Eating in fancy restaurants
13. A wardrobe of up-to-date clothing
14. Presents for friends
15. Membership in a health or fitness club
16. A nice holiday every year
17. Home improvement
18. Owning a house
19. House or apartment near iskcon center
20. Household insurance (fire, theft, earthquake, etc.)
21. Completing husband's education
22. Investments in stocks or bonds
23. Landscaping
24. Life insurance
25. A house/apartment in a materially desirable location
26. Personal care services such as manicures or hairstyling
27. Charity to humanitarian/ecological projects
28. Entertainment once a week such as movies
29. Night school courses for job upgrading
30. Buying or renting non-devotional videos/dvds
31. A pet
32. Regular spiritual pilgrimage
33. A retirement plan
34. A savings account
35. Snack food (soft drinks, chips, etc.)
36. Spiritual books
37. Season tickets to favorite sporting events
38. Sports equipment such as a bicycle, skis, skates, etc.
39. Charity to religious/spiritual projects
40. Spiritual magazine subscription
41. An expensive stereo system
42. Mundane newspaper or magazine subscriptions
43. Non-devotee take-out or fast food
44. An expensive video system
45. Computer/video games
46. Completing wife's education

Marriage Quiz - Money

Money is a common area of disagreement between married couples. Please provide your honest assessment for each of the following questions.

What are your feelings about money management and finances?

Answer with: Agree, Disagree, Uncertain

1. Married people should never have separate bank accounts--they should share their money.
2. It's all right to spend money you don't have--you can always borrow.
3. I often buy things on impulse.
4. Half of the family’s income should be spent for Krishna conscious purposes.
5. Having money is important to me.
6. I'm very organized with my money and keep track of how much I spend.
7. Having no debts is important to me. If I don't have the money, I won't buy.
8. A percentage of the family’s income should be spent for Krishna conscious purposes.
9. Saving money is easy for me.
10. It's important to save money for unforeseen emergencies.
11. Buying on credit helps you to get all the things you want.
12. It would be okay with me to live on unemployment or on welfare.

Marriage Quiz - Family and Children

Please answer the following questions about children, relatives, and your personal history.

Check items that most accurately reflect your feelings about the training of children.

Answer with: Agree, Disagree, Uncertain

1. Children should be educated by devotee teachers who teach Krishna consciousness along with academic subjects, either at home or in a school.
2. Young children should be free to do what they want.
3. Children should receive early training in Vaisnava behaviour.
4. Children should get to have much of what non-devotees have.
5. Children should not be exposed to materialistic media.
6. Children should not attend non-devotee schools.
7. Schools are not important as long as the family is strong.
8. Children should worship with the parents.

Check items that most accurately reflect your feelings about parents and in-laws.

Answer with: Agree, Disagree, Uncertain

9. It's important that both sets of parents agree with our lifestyle.
10. It's important that both sets of parents approve of the marriage.
11. Parents and in-laws should be involved with the family.
12. I would want to live with my parents or in-laws.
13. The couple should live near the husband’s parents, the wife’s parents, or both sets of parents.
14. Parents and in-laws should visit but not interfere.
15. What is your marital/relationship history?
I have children from a previous relationship.
I've had unmarried sexual relationships.
I've been divorced.
I've had no previous marriage or unmarried sexual relationships.
I'm currently separated and planning to divorce.
I've been widowed.

Marriage Quiz - Sex

For the following questions, please select the answer you most agree with.

1. What sexual standards do you expect to follow within marriage?
Sex only within the marriage.
Sex once a month for children, and not during pregnancy or six months after birth. Sex only for children; no contraception.

2. How do you expect to handle sexual disagreements with your spouse?
If we disagree about standards we will work out compromises.
I will give my spouse what he/she needs even if I wish a higher standard.
If my spouse cannot follow my level of renunciation we will get help.
If my spouse cannot follow my level of renunciation it is her/his problem.

3. How did your family treat the discussion of sex?
My family discussed sex in negative and critical ways.
Sexual matters were not discussed in my family.
My family discussed sexual questions openly.
Sex was discussed rarely and with discomfort.

Marriage Quiz - Interests

Please answer how important each of the following items are to you.

What interests are most important to share with your spouse?

Answer with: Essential, Preferred, Doesn't Matter

1. Art and culture
2. Astrology
3. Board games
4. Camping
5. Computers
6. Cooking
7. Having a cow, bull, or ox
8. Deity worship at home
9. Listening to devotional music
10. Gardening
11. Hobbies in general
12. Home maintenance and repair
13. Inviting guests to one's home
14. Music--playing instruments and singing
15. Painting and drawing
16. Pets
17. Politics and history
18. Reading
19. Sadhana, as in Deity worship and chanting
20. Science
21. Sewing
22. Social interactions with friends
23. Solitude
24. Reading transcendental literature
25. Sports and fitness activities
26. Teaching/Coaching
27. Theatre, organizing and acting
28. Travelling
29. Woodworking
30. Work and service
31. Writing

Marriage Quiz - About Your Partner

You've answered many questions about yourself and your feelings about marriage. Please take the time to choose which specific qualities you'd prefer in your partner.

How important is it that your partner has the following habits?

Answer with: Essential, Preferred, Doesn't Matter

1. Eat only food cooked by devotees
2. Observe Ekadasi
3. Offer your food to Krishna
4. Preach about Krishna to non-devotees
5. Rise early, before sunrise
6. Chant at least sixteen rounds
7. Observe Vaisnava holidays
8. Visit a temple outside the home

How important is it that your partner does not have the following habits?

Answer with: Essential, Preferred, Doesn't Matter

9. Drink coffee, tea, or caffeine sodas
10. Gamble (slots, casino, poker, etc.)
11. Eat meat, fish, or eggs
12. Eat vegetarian food containing onions or garlic
13. Smoke tobacco
14. Watch movies and television
15. Play video games
16. Please choose which categories of initiation status you are willing to accept in your partner.
No preference
First-initiated by disciple of Prabhupada
Second-initiated by disciple of Prabhupada
Aspiring for initiation by disciple of Prabhupada
Not interested in initiation
Not initiated and not aspiring at this time
Initiated by other Gaudiya Vaisnava Guru
Aspiring for initiation from other Gaudiya Vaisnava Guru
First-initiated by Srila Prabhupada
Second-initiated by Srila Prabhupada

17. What are your preferences for your partner's situation in regard to previous relationships?
I'm willing to marry someone with children.
I'm willing to marry someone who is divorced.
I'm only willing to marry someone with no previous relationships or children.
I'm willing to marry someone who had previous unmarried relationships.
I'm willing to marry someone who is widowed.

18. What level of education do you want your partner to have (as compared to your own)?
No preference.
Less than mine.
Greater then mine.
The same level as mine.
The same or less.
The same or greater.

19. Which ethnicities would you be willing to accept as matches? (Check all that apply.) No preference
Arab
Asian/Pacific Islander
Black
Chinese
Hispanic or Latino
Indian
Japanese
Korean
Native American
White, non-Hispanic
Other

End

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ISKCON Brampton, Canada
Sunday July 31st 2011 Sunday Love Feast @ 11:00am with HG Atmarama Dasa

HG Atmarama Dasa, devotional singer and composer of sacred music, has become known for his power to transmit bhakti – spiritual devotion and shakti – divine energy. For the past 25 years he has been residing in India, in the sacred place of Vrindavan, the holy dham of Lord Krishna. While living in Vrindavan absorbed in spiritual life, his devotion deepened and in turn, his musical ability blossomed. After spending several years there engaged in devotional service and Vedic studies; he developed a strong desire to share the nectar of Vrindavan with others. He realized that he could use his God given gift of music to bring light into the darkness of modern society.

The program consists of aarti, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.

Program Schedule:

11:00am - 11:30am Guru Puja
11:30am - 12:00pm Arati & Kirtan
12:00pm – 12:05pm Narasingadev Prayers
12:05pm - 1:00pm Vedic Discourse by HG Atmarama Prabhu
Sunday school Kids
1:00pm - 1:30pm Tulasi Arati
1:30pm Prasadam (Vegetarian feast)
2:30pm Harmonium Music Class (kids)

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ISKCON News.com: Is Anders Breivik a `Christian’ terrorist?
By David Gibson for Religious News Services on 29 Jul 2011

The mass murders in Oslo have raised a host of agonizing questions, but few have such an ancient lineage and contemporary resonance as whether Anders Behring Breivik, the right-wing extremist behind the attacks that killed 76 Norwegians last Friday (July 22), is a Christian.

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ISKCON News.com: Interviews on Rethinking Darwin

In january 2011, the BBT published Rethinking Darwin: A Vedic Study of Darwinism and Intelligent Design by Leif A. Jensen. In this video he explains the idea and history of the book.
For more information please visit www.rethinkingdarwin.com.

ISKCON News.com: Interviews on Rethinking Darwin

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

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ISKCON News.com: Artificial Sweeteners May Be To Blame For Inflammatory Bowel Disease
By Anthony Gucciardi for Natural News on 29 Jul 2011

The cause of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes both ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, has been toted as 'unknown' by mainstream medical establishments for years.

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Isvara Krsna asks
How to reply to people who ask about Krsna’s disappearance and seem to think it is like that of an ordinary person.

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: In skype conference with Russian disciples we talk of why Kamsa given as an example of ecstatic love
Why the Vraja-vasis were so attracted when Krsna became their sons and why we are called Vaisnavas not Krsnites. (Russian/English)

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Japa Group: The 10 Offenses Pt.7

To think that the Hare Krsna mantra can counteract all sinful reactions and one may therefore go on with his sinful activities and at the same time chant the Hare Krsna mantra to neutralize them is the greatest offense at the lotus feet of Hari-nama.

To commit sins with the expectation of neutralising the reactions by chanting.

Prabhupada often repeated that this is the greatest offense.

After taking shelter of the holy name, one should strictly restrain himself from committing sinful acts.

Accidental sins don't count

How to counter-act the offence: The only thing that can help is to sincerely repent.

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Dandavats.com: Jewish infiltration in the Hare Krishna movement??
Hari das: The Hare Krishna mantra chanted in a popular Jewish melody and the presence of an Iskcon sannyasi at the Wailing Wall of the Temple Mount raise suspicions for a Jewish plan to take over Iskcon :-)

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ISKCON News.com: 300 Year Old Food Forest in Vietnam

This is one of the little extras on the DVD title "Establishing a Food Forest" with Permaculture teacher Geoff Lawton. Whilst Geoff was in Vietnam he discovered a 300 year old Food Forest built on 2 acres of land and still functioning well in the same family 28 generations later. More info: http://www.ecofilms.com.au/

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

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ISKCON News.com: Three Questions That Will Reset Your Moral Compass
By Mike Bundrant for Natural News on 29 Jul 2011

From navigating the complexities of a complicated moral dilemma to knowing how to treat your spouse or partner, your moral compass dictates the course of action and prompts you to respond in kind.

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ISKCON News.com: ISKCON At the Annual Hong Kong Book Fair
By Sankirtan Das for ISKCON News on 29 Jul 2011

Hong Kong hosts yearly a book fair at the International Exhibition Hall. This year, from July 20th until 26th it again attracted over a million people. Visakha Priya Dasi and her team of twenty devotees arranged for two booths to sell English and Chinese Krishna conscious literature.

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ISKCON News.com: Patience

Mimi and Eunice by Nina Paley.

If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.

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David Haslam, UK: Krishna, sponsored by (any one with money really)
We interrupt this festival at Lord Krishna’s home to bring you a brief message from our sponsors “phone India from just 1p/min, please purchase a sim from the temple bakery; thank you very much” the question is do we or should we have corporate sponsorship of our festivals? And how does this lie with the [...]

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Vraja Kishor, JP: The Three Modes of Material Nature
Bhagavad-gītā 14.5

Image via Wikipedia
sattvaḿ rajas tama iti
guṇāḥ prakṛti-sambhavāḥ
nibadhnanti mahā-bāho
dehe dehinam avyayam
Material nature consists of three modes — goodness, passion and ignorance. When the eternal living entity comes in contact with nature, O mighty-armed Arjuna, he becomes conditioned by these modes.
The “Three Modes of Nature” are a huge topic of discussion for everyone from astrologers to yogis to pundits to jnanis to devotees. This text, text 5 of chapter 14 in Bhagavad-Gita introduces the concept of the “three modes” and the rest of the chapter (even the rest of the whole book to some extent) will elaborate on this theme.
In Chapter 13 of the Gita we heard Kṛṣṇa explaining that there is mater and spirit. And in the beginning of Chapter 14 we heard that Kṛṣṇa (as Vishnu) is the “father” who puts the spiritual seeds into the womb of matter, our “mother” – mother nature. All living things are born from this act of conception.
Thus the soul is bound into matter. This same act is repeated every time a child is conceived. It is only the scale which is different, smaller. When Vishnu and mother nature conceive, infinite souls are bound into infinite varieties of bodies – it is just like regular conception, but the scale is gigantic.
The question now is this, “What is the glue that binds matter and spirit together???”
The answer is in this text – guṇāḥ prakṛti-sambhavāḥ: The “three modes” – which arise from the power of mother nature… nibadhnanti: are the ropes, the glue, the welding that binds the soul almost inexorably into a material body (dehe dehinam).
Kṛṣṇa, with a mild smile then addresses Arjuna by the term, mahā-bāho – “Big Arms.” Kṛṣṇa is saying, “You are a big warrior. You can kill anyone. Your arms are huge, and you are fearless and powerful and unstoppable. But you too are just a plaything in these three modes. You are bound up in them, and your big arms can’t get you free.” By saying this – Kṛṣṇa means to show how terrifyingly powerful the three modes of nature are. Their glue is unbeakable.
What are these “modes”?
I would like to give some time to this question. The topic of the three modes is so huge and pervasive throughout all Vedic-based thought that it is really helpful and essential almost to have as clear as possible an understanding of what these modes really are.
I have an air conditioner over here. It has four modes. One more is to cool, another is to heat, a third is self-cleaning, and the fourth is “automatic.” My vaccum cleaner has 2 modes, or 3 really – off, on, and strong. My cell phone has three modes too: off, silent, and normal. These are “modes.” A mode is the manner in which a thing operates.
In some languages fashion is called “mode.” It is a manner of operating, a manner of dressing oneself. Once can dress in business mode, punk mode, Indian mode, etc. Are you starting to have a clear idea of what a “mode” is?
Material nature has three modes.
That means it has three settings, three fashions, three manners of operation. Kṛṣṇa names them here in this verse: sattvaḿ rajas tama iti. And Srila Prabhupāda, I think, pioneered a novel English translation of them. He calls sattva the “mode of goodness,” rajas the “mode of passion,” and tamas the “mode of ignorance.”
Sattva, Rajas, Tamas… Goodness, passion and ignorance.
What is in a name? A whole lot, let me tell you that. Names are the handles by which we understand what an object is in shorthand form. So let’s explore the names of the three modes more. By doing so we will very clearly (achem, that is a mode too) understand how the world around us is operating. By understanding how the modes operate we get some sort of a grip on slackening the weld, the bond, the glue that binds our consciousness to the limited, material state of awareness.
Sattva refers to the nature of existence itself. Sat means to exist. The soul, especially the energy and willpower of the soul, is referred to by the name sattva throughout Vedic writings. Now, why would a mode or setting of material nature be called by the same word that we call the soul???
It is because this is the mode which allows the inherent nature of the soul to shine through – uncovered. So I like to refer to the mode of sattva as the “clear mode.” When the material world functions in this manner, the mode of clarity, things become very clear, illuminated, bright, simple, and peaceful – because this mode essentially “gets out of the way” and allows the inherent clarity and effulgence of our souls shine directly into the world and make it illuminated and peaceful. Thus the sattva mode makes us “good” – just like the soul, so Prabhupāda called it the Mode of Goodness.
Then there is rajas – the second mode in which the world operates. This word means “dust” – because this mode puts a thin layer over the soul – like dust over a mirror. The sattva mode is like a clean window, and the rajas mode is like a dusty window. This mode allows the energy and nature of the soul to come through – but diverts it and alters it. The natural willpower and enthusiasm of the soul can shine through when the world operates in rajas mode, but it gets diverted from its natural selfless, loving objectives into mundane, selfish objectives. Thus the mode of rajas takes the soul’s energy and enthusiasm and directs it into selfish, material pursuits. It makes us passionate, and that’s why Prabhupāda calls this the Mode of Passion.
Finally there is tamas. Sattva was a clear window, rajas was a dusty window, tamas is a shuttered window. Almost no light comes through. The word literally means “dark.” When this mode is active there are blinds and shutters closed over the soul and very little of her natural quality can come into the world. Thus this mode makes us get tired and fall asleep (lack of vitality from the soul), and lose the ability to see (lack of light from the soul). So this mode is characterized by confusion, disorganization, lack of clarity, and the frustration that results. It is found in dark places that are disorderly. Because the mode of darkness blocks the souls ability to illuminate its world, Prabhupāda calls it the Mode of Ignorance… since ignorance is the lack of inherent knowledge.
To sum it up… the soul is bound into matter by three ropes which arise from material nature. One is the rope of clarity, then there is the rope of dusty consciousness directed towards selfishness, and then there is the rope of lethargy and confusion resulting from a darkness blocking the conscious soul.
I hope this will serve as a good primer for the details about the three modes that will now follow in Chapter 14.
Are there any questions or comments, discussions?

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ISKCON News.com: Ambassador of Goodwill
By Sutapa Das for Sutapamonk.blogspot.com on 29 Jul 2011

Life in this world is very calculative. Before we give something we calculate what we’ll get back. Before we take a risk we calculate what we could lose. Before we invest in a relationship we calculate what benefits it will bring us. Before we extend ourselves for someone else we calculate how worthy they are of our help.

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Gouranga TV: Radhanath Swami New Dwarka Srimad Bhagavatam Class July 08 2011
Radhanath Swami New Dwarka Srimad Bhagavatam Class July 08 2011

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1968 July 29: "We should not be satisfied remaining in the third grade platform but we should try to elevate ourselves in the second grade platform. So far the first grade platform, it is not attained by our endeavor but it completely depends on the causeless Mercy of Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1969 July 29: "The boys and girls of America are generally good souls, that is why they have taken birth in such a nice country, and now they should make perfect all of their opulences by engaging everything in Krishna Consciousness. This will be the finishing touch for all the nice qualities found in the American people."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 July 29: "I am also eager to come there and I will let you know when I can come. Everywhere wherever Krishna Katha is spoken, that is Vaikuntha. And wherever I go to my branches, you my good devotees turn it into Vaikuntha and I wish to be there where my disciples are."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 July 29: "Regarding dramas, the actors may speak little philosophy, without need for special costumes. Then kirtana. There must be always kirtana. Dialogue, kirtana; then again dialogue, again kirtana; again repeat; like that. No humor should be there, just philosophy and kirtana."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 July 29: "I am very glad to hear that your Sankirtana party is having such great success and I am very much pleased upon you. This is actually Lord Caitanya's movement, this Sankirtana party for preaching and chanting. So do it nicely, and I shall try to help you as much as possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1975 July 29: "I am very much disturbed to learn of the difficulties. Why have you taken this rash action without consulting me? Expert management means to engage all the devotees and prevent splitting into different parties. You must bring them all back."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1975July 29: "I do not think you have done wrongly. Rather you are wrongly depressed. But, for you this feeling of insufficiency is good for progress. Actually we are all unworthy. Krishna is so kind that He accepts our little service as if it were very big and great."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1975 July 29: "Regarding your wanting to leave your family and take sannyasa, we can consider later on. First we have to push on this movement. That is the most important thing. We should just be after becoming the pure servant of Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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