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"Planet ISKCON" - 38 new articles
- H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 16 June 2011--Always Prepared for the Unexpected--and--What is Spiritual Perfection?
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Jagattarini Mataji
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
- H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
- H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Monday, June 13th, 2011
- Japa Group: Metro Japa
- H.H. Devamrita Swami: From Clean, Green Kiwi-land to the Best Democracy Money Can Buy
- Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: The 29th Branch...Honoring the disappearance day of Sri Sridhara Pandita
- Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Honouring the disappearance day of Sri Mukunda Datta
- Kurma dasa, AU: In Search of Baharat
- Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Jaya Jagannatha! Today is Snana Yatra! More than the bathing ceremony at the local temple...
- Akrura das, Gita Coaching: WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT HELPING DEVOTEES SUCCEED?
- Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Imitation peacock and real peacock
- David Haslam, UK: learning from the example of Job (fixed in devotion to God)
- Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Angry Birds Yoga Making a Splash in Brazil
- Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Praises For The Lord
- New Vrndavan, USA: Serving Lord Jagannatha
- David Haslam, UK: Audio Update
- 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
- Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: 2011 tour – Sydney reunion videos
- Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Tipster : How I Label My Jars
- H.H. Sivarama Swami
- Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Superbug in cattle
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: Piano bhajana on June 14th.
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: Cintamani dhama dd asks
- Japa Group: Bhurijan dasa Japa Retreat P4
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
- Dandavats.com: Prabhupada’s Palace Rose Garden in Full Bloom
- Gouranga TV: Kirtan – 12.06.2011 – Wrocław
- Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: 2011 tour – Sydney Reunion – Day Three
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 16 June 2011--Always Prepared for the Unexpected--and--What is Spiritual Perfection?
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Thursday 16 June 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. Today's Thought: Always Prepared for the Unexpected Uploaded from the Hong Kong Airport If you are always prepared for the unexpected, always seeing the all-perfect, all-merciful arrangement of the Lord in all circumstances, you will never be disappointed. In fact, by such vision you will live an eternal, ecstatic, enlightened existence which surpasses even the happiness experienced by the denizens of the heavenly planets. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Deep in Meditation on Krishna http://www.backtohome.com/images/Prabhupada/sp_meditation.jpg Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: What is Spiritual Perfection? Gurudeva, What is the meaning of spiritual perfection? A.S. Answer: Stopping the Soul's Transmigration Spiritual perfection means to stop the transmigration of the soul from one body to another. That is real spiritual perfection. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Sankarshan Das Adhikari on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SDASITE Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:
•ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Jagattarini Mataji
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.10.8-13 - If the material nature seems to be so beautiful and enchanting, then how beautiful will be the controller of nature - Krsna (yad yad vibhutimat sattvam srimad urjitam eva va...).
•ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
"O Lord Krsna, son of Nanda, accompanied by the daughter of Vrsabhanu, please be merciful to me now", Narottama dasa prays, "O Lord, please do not push me away from Your reddish lotus feet, for who is my beloved except for You?"
(Ista-deve Vijnapti)
O son of Nanda, O daughter of Vrsabhanu, please never deprive us of Your daily darsana; O Sri Sri Radha Ballabha for who is our beloved except for You.
•H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, June 14th, 2011
In Material Life...
Toronto, Ontario
An excerpt:
In materialistic life we cannot control our senses and mind. The mind is dictating, "Enjoy your senses in this way", and we are enjoying our senses. Materialistic life means sense gratification and this sense gratification process is going on life after life. In the many varieties of life there are different standards of sense gratification. Krsna is so kind that He has given us full liberty to gratify our senses.
We living entities are part and parcel of Krsna, and therefore we have small particles of all His desires. Our existence being a small particle of God's, we have small particles of all His qualities in a minute degree, just as a small particle of gold has all the qualities of the original gold. Therefore, our enjoying spirit exists because it is there in Krsna, the supreme enjoyer.
The Vedanta-sutra says that everything originates in Krsna. Param brahma, or the Absolute Truth, means "that from which everything is generated." Therefore, our desire for sense gratification is coming from Krsna.
- From a lecture by our guru, Srila Prabhupada, 1971 Sept. in London, describing the origin of desire.
My desire for the day was to take to some walking, however, a lengthy bus rid and other responsibilities ate up all time but for 3 humble kilometres I managed to squeeze in.
3 Km
•H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Monday, June 13th, 2011
Farewell You Two
Montreal, Quebec
The torch is being passed on. Today Phillip and Tanya are leaving. Phillip who hails from Lebanon will be taking his soon-to-be-bride, Tanya, to her new frontier. The community here is feeling the sweet-sour sentiment of separation. They are two devotional people, artistic, mature, very personal and have been very much involved. They will be leaving but with the torch in hand to take whatever they have learned from this devotional home, here in Montreal, to their future home.
After a joyful kirtan chanting session on Ontario St. the day's culmination brought us to this, a going-away-party where devotees were expressing their sentiments and appreciations for these two selfless human beings. For a good two hours people came forward behind the microphone to engage in the practice of devotee care and to speak from the heart.
Perhaps ten years, or even five years ago such a scenario would not be a reality. You would have an assembly of people giving glory to the guru and that is rather appropriate. It was often times the status quo to do so and to leave the regular rank-and-file devotees to be somewhat ignored. So I was happy to see this arrangement of loving expression being directed to the deserving two persons, Phillip and Tanya.
May they prosper in a two-pronged way, spiritually and with facility to be empowered to spread a higher consciousness in a very intense part of the world, the Middle East.
11 Km
•Japa Group: Metro Japa
Today I had to rise early and travel to the big smoke - I managed to chant most of my rounds but had to leave quickly and catch a bus to the Metro. On the train I was contemplating finishing my rounds....the atmosphere is very disruptive and distracting but my mind was coming up with all the usual excuses "Better now when it's early in the morning, later you'll be tired and more under the modes".
•H.H. Devamrita Swami: From Clean, Green Kiwi-land to the Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Twelve hours flying from New Zealand staggered my walk up to the U.S. immigration counter. "American citizen?" the officer questioned, though he had my U.S. passport in his hand. The computer knows everything, yet I gently told him what he could easily see on the screen: "I'm both a New Zealand and U.S. citizen." Further testing my submissiveness, he prodded, "So what are you today?" I dutifully replied, "American," upon which he handed me back my passport with a solemn "Welcome Home."
After two days at the abode of H.H. Giriraja Swami, I travelled by car down the road to the Los Angeles temple, to formally began my official tour of what the American national anthem lauds as "land of the free and the home of the brave."
Big flags, the stars and stripes, fly everywhere—houses, lawns, restaurants, motels, churches, cars, trucks, teeshirts, and of course government buildings. Though Americans are conditioned to this flag fervor—either embracing it or ignoring it—visitors from overseas often find it exotic and peculiar.
This time of the year in Los Angeles is known as "June Gloom," because the weather is usually cloudy, with sporadic sunshine, and somewhat chilly at night and early day. Gloom, doom, or boom, Krishna's service must go on, so I plunged into a schedule of two programs daily, though my steady pace is usually one.
For outreach events, I brought some themes with me that I had been shaping at engagements in New Zealand: The Fire of Desire, subtitled "Are You Lonely for Me?" and The Conformity Game, subtitled "Yes, Make Me Over."
Though my bhakti temple life began in 1972 at the New York ISKCON center, I was always away traveling, distributing Prabhupada's books throughout the USA, until 1975, when my service switched to the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust in Los Angeles. So my main temple experience was there, until 1978, when I started traveling again, but this time internationally.
Memories of sacrificial devotional service are the sweets of life. Looking across the street from the temple to the BBT office where I, over three decades ago, both worked and lived, I remember the nonstop, almost round-the-clock book publication marathons, as we raced to keep up with Srila Prabhupada's out-of-this-world writing pace. Especially the now legendary Caitanya-caritamrta challenge still defies all material analysis.
Upon our meeting the inconceivable deadline—seventeen books in two months—Srila Prabhupada sent his complete benediction to the book publishing staff: "You have taken seriously this work and I know that my guru maharaj is pleased with you because he wanted this. So by this your endeavor you will all go back home back to Godhead."
Srila Prabhupada put the ticket in our hand—it's not his fault if we drop it. Amidst the storms of Kali-yuga, I'm begging him that I'll hold it tightly.
•Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: The 29th Branch...Honoring the disappearance day of Sri Sridhara Pandita
I have run out of time today and will clean up the post tomorrow. However I wanted to share from Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-lila, Chapter 10 verse 67 describing the 29th branch of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's tree...
CC Adi 10.67:
khola-veca sridhara prabhura priya-dasa
yanha-sane prabhu kare nitya parihasa
Translation:
The twenty-ninth branch was Sridhara, a trader in banana-tree bark. He was a very dear servant of the Lord. On many occasions, the Lord played jokes on him.
Purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada:
Sridhara was a poor brahmana who made a living by selling banana-tree bark to be made into cups. Most probably he had a banana-tree garden and collected the leaves, skin and pulp of the banana trees to sell daily in the market. He spent fifty percent of his income to worship the Ganges, and the balance he used for his subsistence. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started His civil disobedience movement in defiance of the Kazi, Sridhara danced in jubilation. The Lord used to drink water from his water jug. Sridhara presented a squash to Sacidevi to cook before Lord Caitanya took sannyasa. Every year he went to see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu at Jagannatha Puri. According to Kavi-karnapura, Sridhara was a cowherd boy of Vrndavana whose name was Kusumasava. In his Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (133) it is stated:
khola-vecataya khyatah panditah sridharo dvijah
asid vraje hasya-karo yo namna kusumasavah
"The cowherd boy known as Kusumasava in krsna-lila later became Kholaveca Sridhara during Caitanya Mahaprabhu's lila at Navadvipa."
•Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Honouring the disappearance day of Sri Mukunda Datta
Of course we are unqualified to fully appreciate or glorify these remarkable branches of the Caitanya tree and thus we turn to Sri Caitanya Caritamrta and the pure vani of our spirtual master, Srila Prabhupada. The first verse is from CC Adi-lila 10th chapter, verse 40.
śrī-mukunda-dattaśākhā — prabhurasamādhyāyī
yāńhārakīrtanenācecaitanya-gosāñi
Transaltion:
MukundaDatta, a class friend of Lord Caitanya's, was another branch of the Caitanya tree. Lord Caitanya danced while he sang.
1st pastime from an exceprts from Srila Prabhupada's purport.
"In Vraja there were two very nice singers named Madhukaṇṭha and Madhuvrata. They appeared in caitanya-līlā as Mukunda and VāsudevaDatta, who were singers in the society of Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu." When Lord Caitanya was a student, MukundaDatta was His class friend, and they frequently engaged in logical arguments. Sometimes Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu would fight with MukundaDatta, using tricks of logic. This is described in the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Ādi-khaṇḍa, Chapters Eleven and Twelve. When Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu returned from Gayā, MukundaDatta gave Him pleasure by reciting verses from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam about kṛṣṇa-līlā. It was by his endeavor that GadādharaPaṇḍita Gosvāmī became a disciple of PuṇḍarīkaVidyānidhi, as stated in ŚrīCaitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa, Chapter Seven. When MukundaDatta sang in the courtyard of ŚrīvāsaPrabhu, Mahāprabhu danced with His singing, and when Lord Caitanya for twenty-one hours exhibited an ecstatic manifestation known as sāta-prahariyā, MukundaDatta inaugurated the function by singing.
2nd pastime from excerpt of Srila Prabhupada's purport:
Before disclosing His desire to take the renounced order of life, Lord Caitanya first went to the house of MukundaDatta, but at that time MukundaDatta requested Lord CaitanyaMahāprabhu to continue His sańkīrtana movement for a few days more before taking sannyāsa. This is stated in the Caitanya-bhāgavata, Madhya-khaṇḍa, Chapter Twenty-six. The information of Lord Caitanya's accepting the renounced order was made known to GadādharaPaṇḍita, CandraśekharaĀcārya and MukundaDatta by NityānandaPrabhu, and therefore all of them went to Katwa and arranged for kīrtana and all the paraphernalia for Lord Caitanya's acceptance of sannyāsa.
Of course scripture is there to teach us at every step and on thus through pastimes with Sri Mukunda Datta, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us a lesson about the type of association we should keep and the dangers of associating with Mayavadis/impersonalists, which unfortunately happens all too often.
In CC Adi-lila 17th chapter verse 65, Srila Prabhupada describes it as follows:
MukundaDatta was once forbidden to enter the association of ŚrīCaitanyaMahāprabhu because of his mixing with the Māyāvādī impersonalists. When Lord Caitanya manifested His mahā-prakāśa, He called all the devotees one after another and blessed them, while MukundaDatta stood outside the door. The devotees informed the Lord that MukundaDatta was waiting outside, but the Lord replied, "I shall not soon be pleased with MukundaDatta, for though he explains devotional service among devotees, he then goes to Māyāvādīs to hear from them the Yoga-vāśiṣṭha-rāmāyaṇa, which is full of Māyāvāda philosophy. For this I am greatly displeased with him." Hearing the Lord speak in that way, MukundaDatta, standing outside, was exceedingly glad that the Lord would at some time be pleased with him, although He was not pleased at that moment. But when the Lord understood that MukundaDatta was going to give up the association of the Māyāvādīs for good, He was pleased, and He at once called to see Mukunda. Thus He delivered him from the association of the Māyāvādīs and gave him the association of pure devotees.
So in this way Sri Mukunda Datta was used as an instrument to teach us this same lesson over 500 years later, but not to misunderstand he was an elevated representative who represents a branch of the Caitanya tree and had intimate association and pastimes with the Golden Avatar, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself!
Jaya Sri Mukunda Datta!
Gauranga!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his purports!
•Kurma dasa, AU: In Search of Baharat
Francesca wrote: "Hello Kurma, I would like to make my own Moroccan seasoning. would you please give me the recipe so that I can make my own".
My reply: 'Baharat' is the Arabic word for 'spice' (based on the word 'bahar' meaning pepper). It is sort of an Arabic garam masala if you like, an all-round hot-sweet spice mix. Here's my favourite homemade baharat spice, plus a few others. I tend to make small amounts. Fresh is best.
Kurma's Baharat Spice Blend
2 level teaspoons whole black peppercorns, 2 level teaspoons whole cumin seeds, 2 level teaspoons whole coriander seeds, 1 piece cinnamon stick half the length of your top little finger joint, 3 whole cardamom pods, 4 whole cloves, ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg, 2 teaspoons sweet paprika.
Dry roast the first 6 spices over low heat in a heavy frying pan until they become slightly darker and aromatic. Grind them in a mortar or electric spice grinder. Combine with the nutmeg and paprika and store in a sealed jar. Makes about 3 tablespoons.
Syrian-style Baharat
2 teaspoon ground allspice, 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1½ teaspoon ground cloves.
Gulf States Baharat
4 teaspoons ground red pepper, 1½ teaspoons ground cumin, 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground cloves, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon ground noomi basra (dried lemon or lime).
Tunisian-style Baharat
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper.
Levant-style Baharat
1/4 cup ground black peppercorns, 1/4 cup ground allspice berries, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg.
•Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Jaya Jagannatha! Today is Snana Yatra! More than the bathing ceremony at the local temple...
Some consider today the appearance of Lord Jaganntha! According to the Skanda Purana, Raja Indradyumna (the king that had the benediction to arrange for the carving of Jagannatha) installed the deities and made arrangments for the abhishek.
Of course in Jagannatha Puri this festival is celebrated in a very grand way. The Ever Smiling Trio are led on procession to their Snana Vedi or special bathing altar in pomp and pageant which as you can imagine is all decorated and prepared for this special bathing. So for devotees this is the celebratory part but then comes the seperation and longing to see Jagannatha.
For a 2 week period defined as anabasara kala or a period where worship routine is adjusted and Their Lordships go on sick leave in the ratan vedi, something akin to an isolation ward or special care room. During this period Their Lordships get special care including special offerings of foodstuffs and care of Their precious forms.
Some have asked that how is it possible that the Lord gets sick? The same way that He cannot be tied my Mother Yasoda's rope and then He does get tied by her rope. The same way that he has performed innumerable pastimes for the pleasure of His devotees!
Thereafter their are other milestones including the opening of the eyes. In Jagannatha Puri and ISKCON centres around the world some fortunate devotees get to take darshan of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra before They are presented to the public on their grand chariots and this darshan is considered very fortunate indeed.
So this is the glories of Snana Yatra. Please forgive any errors or typos in trying to share this event. We should all be thankful day in and day our to Srila Prabhupada, without who's mercy we would have no knowledge of these pastimes nor the opppurtunity to celebrate the festivals!
jagannatha svami nayana-patha-gami bhavatu me
•Akrura das, Gita Coaching: WHAT IS EXCITING ABOUT HELPING DEVOTEES SUCCEED?
Your service strategy is a foundation upon which you can build your ideology, your culture, your approach, and your interaction with all devotees.
As a spiritual coach, establish yourself as the most trusted advisor - for life.
To be their best and most trusted advisor, you have a moral obligation to give devotees true advice, not just information. Advice that's in their best personal interest.
As their best, most trusted advisor, you can't allow them to do things that are in their worst interest. And that can mean not taking action, not taking advantage of all they have gotten in Krsna consciousness or before they came to it, not seeing their own potential and possibilities around them.
As their most trusted advisor the first thing you have to do is put into words the feelings, the desires, the fears, the hopes, that they have. Those they felt all the time but were never verbalized. And you show them in words that you understand what they are feeling. It's liberating to them, and they can immediately see you in an incredible connection with them as somebody who really understands them, who really care, and somebody who can be their benefactor.
Most people fall in love with their service or expertise or product, and that's ok but it's limiting.
The key, if you want to practice this service strategy is to fall in love with the devotees you serve. You live for the betterment, you live for the impact, you live for the improvement, you live for the liberation, you live for the transformation you really can and will make in their lives. You want to serve them, you want to help them succeed, you want them to be happy.
How do you do this?
You want to make sure that every time you interact with them, their life is better off because you were in it for that period of time, whether it's a conversation or a gift or something else. You want to make their lives better, you want to make them feel special.
You want them to know they are special to you, you feel what they feel and you give hope for a better tomorrow, by future-pacing. Taking them into the future and showing them what it will be like and letting them feel and experience the transformation that together you are going to be achieving.
•Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Imitation peacock and real peacock
Material nature is not at all beautiful, for it is an "imitation peacock." The real peacock is a different thing, and one must have the sense to understand this. Those who are mad after capturing and enjoying the imitation peacock, as well as those who have a pessimistic view of the imitation peacock but lack any positive information of the real peacock -- both are illusioned by the modes of material nature. Those who are after the imitation peacock are the fruitive workers, and those who simply condemn the imitation peacock but are ignorant of the real peacock are the empiric philosophers. Disgusted with the mirage of happiness in the material desert, they seek to merge into voidness.
But a pure devotee does not belong to either of these two bewildered classes. Neither aspiring to enjoy the imitation peacock nor condemning it out of disgust, he seeks the real peacock. Thus he is unlike either the deluded fruitive worker or the baffled empiricist. He is above these servants of material nature because he prefers to serve the Lord, the master of material nature. He seeks the substance and does not wish to give it up. The substance is the lotus feet of Mukunda, and King Kulasekhara, being a most intelligent devotee, prays to gain that substance and not the shadow.
>From Srila Prabhupada's commentary on Mukunda-mala, verse 3
•David Haslam, UK: learning from the example of Job (fixed in devotion to God)
I was recently writing an e-mail and thought that some of the contents was worth sharing as it reflects on how as devotees we are meant to be equipoised no matter what out circumstances are: Recently I’ve been pondering the example of Job and how we can learn much from how he dealt with adversity. [...]
•Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Angry Birds Yoga Making a Splash in Brazil
My Angry Birds Yoga essay, originally published in this blog (see here), is getting the attention of the media in Brazil.
In less than a week, it’s been mentioned in three separate articles:
1) First in a blog by a famous columnist (800 thousand page views/month), click here to see it.
2) Then in a large newspaper of the 3rd biggest State in Brazil, click here to see it.
3) And today in another large newspaper, in the Northeast of the country, click here to see it.
Peter Vesterbacka, the CEO of Rovio, the company that makes Angry Birds, wrote: ”I can see Angry Birds Yoga becoming a worldwide craze;-)”. I don’t know about it becoming a worldwide craze yet, but at least it’s catching the attention of the media here in Brazil!
•Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Praises For The Lord
“Sukadeva Gosvami said: Thus the Vrndavana forest was filled with transparent autumnal waters and cooled by breezes perfumed with the fragrance of lotus flowers growing in the clear lakes. The infallible Lord, accompanied by His cows and cowherd boyfriends, entered that Vrndavana forest.”
Srimad Bhagvatam 10.21.1
“Today, Father, this blue sky lauds you. The delicate green and orange flowers of the tulip poplar tree praise you. The distant blue hills praise you, together with the sweet-smelling air that is full of brilliant light. The bickering flycatchers praise you with the lowing cattle and the quails that whistle over there.
“I too, Father, praise you, with all these my brothers, and they give voice to my own heart and to my own silence. We are all one silence, and a diversity of voices.”
Merton, Thomas. Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander (New York: Image, 1968) 177
“Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them.”
Psalm 69: 34
Filed under: Cows and Environment, Thomas Merton
•New Vrndavan, USA: Serving Lord Jagannatha
Dear Devotees, and servants of Lord Jagannath, Lady Subadra and Lord Balarama.
It’s that time of the year again….New Vrindaban’s country style Rathayatra on July 9th, and Snana Yatra on June 26th. The new outfits haven’t yet arrived but we are expecting them soon. We would like to thank the following devotees for their contributions, and service in designing, ordering and paying for the outfits.
Sachi Kripa, the Lords’ dearmost pujari
Krishna Bhava who both donated Laksmi and ordered the outfit while in Vrindaban
Mother Gopa
Sachimata dd
We still need about $600 to finish paying for the outfits and shipping, so if that is what you would like your donation to go toward, please specify, and we will make a note of it.
The items that you may sponsor for the big days are unlimited, so don’t be shy, dig deep for the Lord of the Universe, and Jagannath Blessings will be showered upon you.
Snana Yatra
We need laksmi for fruits, juice, Honey, Ghee Milk, Nuts, Flowers, and the whole feast in general.
We need about $201, for each of the categories mentioned above and about $501 for the feast.
Rathayatra
You can sponsor the whole feast for about $751, the flowers run about $1501, the cart decorations ($751 – 1001), the more laksmi, the more beautiful the decorations will be. We want to have a really BIG cake, about $251 , Fireworks, Jagannath Swan Boat, Cold lemonade to be
distributed during the Parade ($51),
Also everyone is welcome to bring nuts, fruits, teas, honey, etc. to the Lord while He is recuperating after the Snana Yatra.
If you wish to receive a receipt for your donation, you can request that, and give your laksmi to Malati prabhu, or Sachi Kripa. And you may specify exactly what you want the donation to go toward.
Please let’s make this the best country-style Rathayatra possible, and really put New Vrindaban on the Rathayatra ISKCON World Map.
The more opulence that you offer to the Lord of the Universe, Lady Subadra and Lord Balaram, more blessings They will shower upon us.
Hare Krishna! Jai Jagannath!
•David Haslam, UK: Audio Update
Following a small review of how I share files, I’m keeping to the 4shared file sharing system as it allows for both file download or to listen to directly from the 4shared site. There are two small changes as I’ve put them into two files: Bhaktivadanta Manor Classes which currently holds some 24 individual classes [...]
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 June 15: "Always pray to Krishna to give you strength for accomplishing this mission by doing what I am doing. I act like a king because no one can defeat me so take your responsibilities very, very seriously."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 june 15: "Fix-up what devotees we have got. Make sure everyone is reading regularly my literatures and discussing seriously from different angles of sseeing. What good are many, many devotees if no one is knowledgeable?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 June 15: "Remain the beautiful maid servant of Krishna. That is your business so dress yourself always very nicely so that Krishna will be pleased. Don't be ugly before Krishna. Krishna doesn't like ugly gopis."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1969 June 15: "With this taste we become more and more attracted, and more and more Krishna gives encouragement, and more and more we increase in our desire to serve Krishna in pure Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1969 June 15: "I am so much encouraged that one very nice boy has come to live in your temple. You are all working sincerely to serve Krishna, and now one sincere soul has been so attracted by this, that he is also coming to join you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1970 June 15 : "Since you met with the motor accident, although I am getting your news time to time, still I was very much anxious to write you directly. Do not be worried, Krsna has saved you, and very soon you will regain strength."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1971 June 15 : "Whatever GBC members decide, I have nothing to disagree with. But economically the existing proposal is not very sound. If the printing takes two years, then what becomes the total cost of Bhagavad-gita As It Is?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 June 15 : "Are you again acting upon your old principles in the guise of a Sannyasi from our disciplic succession? This cannot be allowed. If you are sincere to our line of action, please come here and live with me for some time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1972 June 15 : "I have worked alone, now you are so many. Our scope is unlimited, our resources unlimited. Now we have got 100 branches, so when I finish Srimad Bhagavatam there must be at least 1000 branches."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
•Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: 2011 tour – Sydney reunion videos
Here’s a few video links from Ajamila prabhu for the Saturday Hari-nama on Circular Quay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpfbyNL2rtA
Sydney 2011 Reunion Spectacular Harinama near Sydney Harbour Bridge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN2xVaX6Bj4
Sydney 2011 Reunion Ecstatic Hari Nama near Sydney Opera House
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv0CivjV_EA
Sydney Reunion 2011 Hari-nama at Circular Quay
Guru Daksina prabhu in photographer’s heaven!
and the Sunday harbor cruise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcLR7umbf3c
Sydney Reunion 2011 Boat Cruise in North Sydney
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK_PK_IISa0
Sydney 2011 Reunion Kirtan on Cruise Boat
jolly sailors Ajita, Dhanesvara and Priyavrata
Nrsimhadeva prabhu had a good time on board but Ananta Vrndavana doesn’t look convinced
Under the ‘coathanger’
•Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Tipster : How I Label My Jars
This is my solution to the printer toner/label paper/gas-to-the-print-shop waste that plagues my existence. This is me not being embarrassed to show you that I stay home at night and arrange my jars to photograph. This is a white Sharpie paint marker on glass. This is very reminiscent of the ’80′s when paint markers were very important accessories. I am bringing it back, people.
The paint marker on glass is semi-permanant and that is a good thing because it makes washing the label off easier for jar re-use. I love how the white looks. It was inspired by a set of printed jars that Terrain carries.
Originally I tried making my own stencil. Big fail. Multiple times.
Then my bud Lynn-vanga @ Scissors & Spice was going to help me out with her master-crafter fine motor skills and pen knife. But you know what? I decided a paint marker would just be easier. And it is!
I highly recommend this method of labeling jam jars. Maybe I can work an endorsement deal out of it from Sharpie ;)
•H.H. Sivarama Swami
Every living being is anxious for full freedom because that is his transcendental nature. And this freedom is obtained only through the transcendental service of the Lord.
- Srila Prabhupada
•Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Superbug in cattle
A new strain of the MRSA "superbug" has been found in the milk of British cows and is believed to be infecting humans. Experts have ruled out any general threat to the safety of milk or dairy products. But they point to "circumstantial" evidence of the bacteria passing between cattle and humans. The discovery has fuelled controversy over intensive farming methods and the way antibiotics are used to protect livestock.
In the relentless drive for increased per animal productivity... dairy systems are becoming ever more antibiotic dependent - Soil Association director Helen Browning
The Soil Association called for a complete ban on routine use of the drugs, which is said to promote the development of drug-resistant bacteria. It also urged an end to the continuing economic pressure on farmers to cut costs and maintain low prices. Soil Association director Helen Browning said: "This new evidence confirms our long-held view of the importance of absolutely minimizing the use of antibiotics especially those closely related to antibiotics used by people.
This requires excellent husbandry, and much reduced stress on our animals. In the relentless drive for increased per animal productivity, and under acute price pressure, dairy systems are becoming ever more antibiotic dependent. We need to get farmers off this treadmill, even if that means that milk has to cost a few pennies more. That would be a very small price to pay for maintaining the efficacy of these life-saving drugs.
The Cambridge University veterinary scientist, who led the research, spoke of the tremendous financial pressure placed on farmers by the purchasing power of big supermarkets. Dr Mark Holmes and his team stumbled on the new MRSA bug while investigating mastitis, a serious and potentially lethal disease which affects dairy cows. The research has been published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a drug-resistant form of a usually harmless common bacterium, which can be deadly when it infects wounds.
The bug, often found in hospitals, was linked to 1,593 deaths in 2007 but since then the number of suspected fatal cases has fallen dramatically. There were 1,290 deaths in 2008 and 781 in 2009.
- Sky News
Hare Krishna
•H.H. Sivarama Swami: Piano bhajana on June 14th.
•H.H. Sivarama Swami: Cintamani dhama dd asks
How Brahma can be both transcendentally situated and the personification of passion, and how if, according to Srila Prabhupada, women cannot be elevated to goodness, can they according to Krsna, attain Him.
•Japa Group: Bhurijan dasa Japa Retreat P4
More nectar from the wonderful Japa seminar by Bhurijan dasa.
•ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura glorifies Lord Nityananda in his Sri-Nityanandastaka:
"He moves with Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu holding His very soft lotus-like palm. He always looks at the moon-like beautiful face of Sri Gauracandra and becomes ecstatic and blissful! And Sriman Gauranga Mahaprabhu also looks at the moon-like, beautiful face of Sri Nitai.
In this way, the two of Them are completely filled with blissfulness..."
In so doing, the two of Them also fill our eyes and hearts with blissfulness at the sight of Their wondrous darsana.
•Dandavats.com: Prabhupada’s Palace Rose Garden in Full Bloom
New Vrindaban Communications: Right now is the perfect time to visit the Palace Rose Garden, whether you are a home gardener or simply a lover of roses. The garden is in its first bloom until the end of June
