sábado, 18 de junio de 2011

Japa Group: Bhurijana dasa Japa Retreat P5








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  1. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Saturday 18 June 2011--Our World Leaders are an Utter Failure--and--Humans in the Dinosaur Age?
  2. Japa Group: The Importance Of Good Association
  3. Kirtan Australia.com: Canberra Annual 24 hour kirtan: June 18 – 19
  4. Kurma dasa, AU: Kurma Blog RSS Feed to Facebook
  5. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – CC Adi 5.88-92 Selective Evidence
  6. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Leaders to attend temple programs
  7. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  8. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  9. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  10. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  11. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  12. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  13. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  14. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  15. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  16. ISKCON News.com: Thunderstorm in Vrindavan
  17. ISKCON News.com: Life's Twisted Tale Has A Bright Side
  18. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Let’s see what’s in the News today
  19. ISKCON News.com: Work In Progress
  20. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Reflections on the importance of the counsellor system, especially in helping me care for devotees in my charge
  21. ISKCON News.com: Production of UK's Most Expensive Milk, At Bhaktivedanta Manor To Be Expanded
  22. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: In the news: Production of UK's most expensive milk, at Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, in Aldenham, to be expanded
  23. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Honouring the Disappearance day of Sri Syamananda Prabhu
  24. ISKCON News.com: Mimi & Eunice: All God`s Creatures
  25. H.H. Sivarama Swami: The Art of Krishna Conscious Homeschooling
  26. Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Book Distribution in Sri Lanka
  27. Book Distribution News: Book Distribution in Sri Lanka
  28. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Savannah Slamma!
  29. Japa Group: Bhurijana dasa Japa Retreat P5
  30. Matsyavatara das (ACBSP), Italy: The role of will power for the harmonization and development of Personality, determination and perseverance (1/2). By Matsyavatara das (Marco Ferrini)
  31. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  32. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  33. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Pictures From The Queen's Birthday Weekend Retreat
  34. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  35. Mayapur Online: Snan Yatra Photo's
  36. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  37. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  38. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  39. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  40. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  41. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  42. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  43. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  44. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  45. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  46. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  47. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  48. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  49. Kurma dasa, AU: Pizza Sleepover
  50. Gouranga TV: Iskcon coventry Bhaktivedanta Manor kirtans
  51. More Recent Articles
  52. Search Planet ISKCON
  53. Prior Mailing Archive

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Saturday 18 June 2011--Our World Leaders are an Utter Failure--and--Humans in the Dinosaur Age?

bb A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Saturday 18 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: Our World Leaders are an Utter Failure Uploaded from Kuala, Lumpur As long as our world leaders strive through material means to solve the world's problems, they will utterly fail because the underlying, foundation of all problems is that we are identifying ourselves as matter instead of spirit. Our present human population is living in the illusion that the self is the body and is trying to be happy on this false platform. This will never bring true, lasting happiness, in spite of all the promises and attempts of our leaders. Unless the people can come to the spiritual platform, they must necessarily remain discontented and agitated because they are living in unreality. Sankarshan Das Adhikari The Krishna Consciousness Movement Provides Proper Leadership for the World. http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Spring/Klang_Lecture.JPG Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Humans in the Dinosaur Age? Dear Srila Gurudeva, I recently took my daughter to the Museum of Natural History and we saw a dinosaur exhibit. According to the exhibit, in the dinosaur age man was not present on earth as per the fossil records. Did dinosaurs have the same atma as we do today? Was earth one of the 'other' planets at the time? Did the humans exist on some other planet? Please help me explain this to my daughter. Sanjay Answer: Be a Real Scientist, not a Dogmatist You can tell your daughter that the people who run the museum are ignorant of the fact that human beings have been around from the very beginning of the universe, existing concurrently with all the different species of living beings. The fossil records repeatedly substantiate that human beings were present during the so-called dinosaur age. But because the scientists are blindly and fanatically putting their faith in Darwin's patently fallacious theory of evolution, they ignore the profusion of clear evidence from the fossil records. Anyone who clings blindly to a theory which is not supported by the evidence is not a true scientist. Rather he is a dogmatist. We train our students to be real scientists, not dogmatists. Krishna confirms in the Bhagavad-gita that the atma is the same within every species. This is reconfirmed by the fact that each of us has transmigrated through all the species before coming the human form. From the Vedic scriptures we learn that there are human beings on innumerable planets throughout the universe of which the earth is one. 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:

 
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Japa Group: The Importance Of Good Association


After hearing the recent seminar from Bhurijan dasa, it got me thinking about the importance of good association. When we want to get serious about our Japa, we need to get serious about our association and try to chant with those who are serious or who want to be serious.


Sometimes chanting in the temple room can be distracting, or maybe we get distracted when we chant with others - whatever the situation we are in, we need the right association and we should seek that. I found a very nice quote today from Srila Prabhupada that illustrates this point:
The remedy is the association of the Bhagavatas. There are two types of Bhagavatas, namely the book Bhagavata and the devotee Bhagavata. Both the Bhagavatas are competent remedies, and both of them or either of them can be good enough to eliminate the obstacles.
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.18 purport
 
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Kirtan Australia.com: Canberra Annual 24 hour kirtan: June 18 – 19

1pm Saturday 18th June – 1pm Sunday 19th June, 2011At Canberra ISKCON Temple

Saturday 18 June
1pm – 1:30am Krsnapada Das (bris)
1:30pm -2pm Bhakta Akash (melb)
2pm-2:30pm Bhakta Kartik (syd)
2:30 -3pm Atulya Amrta Krsna Das (cnb)
3pm-3:15pm Bhaktins Yavi and Kushi (cnb)
3:15 -3:45pm Param satya devi dasi (bris)
3:45pm-4pm Bhakta Atharva (cnb)
4pm-4:30pm Druvananda das (syd)
4:30pm-5pm Naikatma das (cnb)
5pm – 5:30pm Bhakta girish (melb)
5:30pm -6pm Jadbharat das (melb)
6pm-6:45pm Bhakta Janardhan (bris)
6:45 – 7:30pm Bhakta Atul kumar (cnb)
7:30 – 8:15pm Sitapati Das (bris)
8:15pm-9pm Krsnapada Das (bris)
9pm-9:45pm Bhakta Kartik (syd)
9:45 -10:30pm Bhakta akash (melb)
10:30 -11pm Jadbharat das (melb)
11pm-12am Bhakta janardhan (bris)

Sunday 19th June
12am-1230am Bhakta Girish (melb)
12:30am-1am Ayodhya dev das(cnb)
1am-1:30am Bhakta shantanu (syd)
1:30am-2am Bhakta vikku (cnb)
2am-2:30am Naikatma das (cnb)
2:30am-3am Bhaktin sashi (cnb)
3am-3:30am Atulya Amrta Krsna Das (cnb)
3:30am-4am Vrndavana chandra das (cnb)
4am-5am Sitapati das (bris)
5am-5:30am Druvananda das (syd)
5:30 – 5:45am Bhakta vikku (cnb)
5:45 -6:15am Pandit shailesh (cnb)
6:15 -6:30am Bhakta vishwajit (cnb)
6:30 -6:45am Bhakta kwaku (cnb)
6:45am-7am Vrndavan chandra Das (cnb)
7am-7:15am Bhakta sunil (cnb)
7:15-7:30am Bhakta girish (melb)
7:30am-8am Bhakta kartik (syd)
8am-8:30am Vishnucharan das (cnb)
8:45am-9am Bhakta prahlad (bris)
9am-9:30am Ananda Devi Dasi (cnb)
9:30am-10am Druvananda das (syd)
10am-10:30am Bhakta Akash (melb)
10:30am-11am Vamsidhari das (syd)
11-11:30am Bhakta janardhan (bris)
11:30-12:15am Krsnapada Das (bris)
12:15 – 1pm Sitapati Das (bris)

24 hour kirtan Canberra

 
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Kurma dasa, AU: Kurma Blog RSS Feed to Facebook

faceboook:

For the last 4 weeks, the RSS feed from my blog to my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/kurma.dasa) has been down. That problem has now been rectified.

For those of you that usually read my blogs on my actual blog page, this may not be an issue, though you might like to read them on my Facebook page as they feed through. If you are reading this on my blog page and would like to become my Facebook friend, just send me a friend request and you're in.

Please note that I just topped the 4000 friends mark, and in a few months time it will hit 5000, and that will be it. Apparently 5000 is the maximum number of friends you can have on Facebook unless your are the US president, who has 21 million friends.

For those of you that usually read my blogs on my Facebook page, a whole lot of backed-up material just came through. But you know that, because you're reading it right here, right now. Duh!

And for those that would like to have access to the last 500 blogs of mine on Facebook, you need to open my Facebook page and go to Notes. But maybe you knew that also.

Oh, before I go, there is another Kurma Facebook page, but it's not mine. It's a fan page. The 5,691 fans there might like to upgrade their fan-membership to a fully fledged friendship. Be quick!!

Happy reading!

 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – CC Adi 5.88-92 Selective Evidence

CC Adi 05.088-92 Selective Evidence 2010-12-12

Lecture – Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 5.88-92 Selective Evidence 2010-12-12 Dallas (evolution)

CC Adi 05.088-92 Selective Evidence 2010-12-12 Lecture - Caitanya Caritamrta Adi 5.88-92 Selective Evidence 2010-12-12 Dallas (evolution)
 
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Leaders to attend temple programs

Banabatta dasa was temple commander in Mayapur during the 1976 GBC meetings. One day he went to Srila Prabhupada's room and complained to him that hardly any of the GBC members attended any part of the morning or evening temple programs except when Srila Prabhupada was present, namely at deity greeting, guru-puja, and Srimad-Bhagavatam class. Srila Prabhupada thanked Banabatta Prabhu. Next morning all the GBC men were in mangala-arati. Srila Prabhupada had ordered that the GBC meetings finish at a fixed time and that all GBC members attend the whole morning and evening program.

Told by Banabatta dasa to Bhakti Vikasa Swami

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 June 18: "You should know that you are always with me. Because you are sincere servitor of Krishna and following my direction sincerely, so you are always with me. In future I shall try to keep you in my association."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 June 18: "Rest assured this Sankirtana Movement is specifically benedicted by Lord Caitanya for achieving all kinds of success. Stick to the principles seriously and faithfully, and there will be no difficulty."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 June 18: "Rathayatra day feast should consist of bhuni kitchari which you make by first frying the dahl and rice in ghee. Other preparations may be a fruit salad, sweet rice, puris, a chutney, and a vegetable which is neither wet nor dry."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 June 18: "Preaching means to increase our family members. Initiation means "to begin" not that when one is initiated a disciple becomes slack; rather upon initiation one begins spiritual life in earnest."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 June 18: "You are traveling widely and managing many projects. Krsna will give you stamina and intelligence provided you are sincere and remain strong spiritually by following the regulative principles."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 June 18: "I am always eager to hear that Gurukula is going well so be very vigilant that this program is just to the standard as I introduced it. There is no more important school in the world."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 June 18: "You have very carefully considered the candidates and had several interviews. I am especially concerned that second initiation not be taken cheaply and devotees who do not even rise early be recommended for brahmana."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 June 18: "Biological evolution is taking place on account of the soul's desire. It takes place because of infection. Krishna Consciousness is the vaccine for all the diseases (different forms of material bodies)."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami

The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.

- Benjamin Disraeli

 
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ISKCON News.com: Thunderstorm in Vrindavan


It’s the hot season in Vrindavan and almost every day a dust storm comes. Sometimes it turns into a thunderstorm with spectacular lightnings. Short rain brings the heat down some and provides long-awaited relief. A stunning video by Syam Gopal and Vijaya Radhika.


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: Life's Twisted Tale Has A Bright Side

By Mukunda Goswami for The Hindustan Times on 17 Jun 2011

George Lucas says in reference to his creation Star Wars: 'I was trying to say in a simple way that there is a God and there is both a good side and a bad side. You have a choice between them, but the world works better if you're on the good side.'


 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Let’s see what’s in the News today

 
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ISKCON News.com: Work In Progress

By Sutapa Das for sutapamonk.blogspot.com on 17 Jun 2011

Winston Churchill once made an interesting statement. “Success” he said, “is the ability to go from failure to failure without any loss of enthusiasm.” Success may not lie in being perfect, but in determinedly endeavoring to move closer towards perfection.


 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Reflections on the importance of the counsellor system, especially in helping me care for devotees in my charge

 
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ISKCON News.com: Production of UK's Most Expensive Milk, At Bhaktivedanta Manor To Be Expanded

By Paul Lee and Chris Hewett for www.watfordobserver.co.uk on 17 Jun 2011

Production of the most expensive pint of milk in the UK will be expanded after Hare Krishna farmers in Aldenham agreed a deal with a Kent dairy.


 
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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: In the news: Production of UK's most expensive milk, at Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple, in Aldenham, to be expanded

Picture
Picture
The animals, considered holy by the Hare Krishna faith, are massaged during milking and scented candles and soothing music add to the calming atmosphere
Thursday 16th June 2011
By Paul Lee and Chris Hewett
Production of the most expensive pint of milk in the UK will be expanded after Hare Krishna farmers in Aldenham agreed a deal with a Kent dairy.

Ahimsa milk, costing £2.40 per litre, or £1.70 a pint, is currently produced at Bhaktivedanta Manor, in Hilfield Lane, Aldenham, but officials at the temple have penned a deal to increase production.

The Lotus Trust, which manages sales of the produce through its Ahimsa Milk Foundation, has agreed a deal with Commonwork Organic Dairy, in Kent, to produce more of the luxury white stuff.

Customers in Watford will be able to order the dear dairy straight to their door, via a subscription, when production begins in July.

The extraordinary produce costs more than double the price of organic milk due to the special treatment the pampered cows receive before and during milking.

The animals, considered holy by the Hare Krishna faith, are massaged during the process and scented candles and soothing music add to the calming atmosphere.

No animals are ever slaughtered, and elderly cows are given retirement to a sanctuary at approximately 13 years old, safe in the knowledge a pension scheme, derived from milk sales, will support them into their later years.

Approximately 65p from every litre sold goes towards the animal's retirement fund, which covers hospice and vet costs.

Sita Rama das, director of the Lotus Trust, said: "It has been a lot of effort to get here and we're happy to provide this service to the public. We are very excited about how this project will develop in the future.

"The Lotus Trust has been campaigning for better treatment of cows, and all money gained from this venture will be invested to promote care and better welfare for the animals."

For more information visit www.ahimsamilk.org

 
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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Honouring the Disappearance day of Sri Syamananda Prabhu

Yesterday was the disappearance day of Sri Syamananda Prabhu and with a busy Thursday and we failed to ackknowledge or do a post. Another post may be added later on today or over the weekend with some pastimes of this important vaishnava personality but in the meantime we want to share a video we posted on YouTube. It was prepared for lecture by Subhavilasa das honouring Sri Syamananda Prabhu on his appearance day and the presiding deities of Sri Radha Shyamasundar which were installed by Sri Syamananda Prabhu. Please enjoy these pictures Radha Shyamasundar and images of Sri Syamananda's pastimes which were gathered from dioramas in Vrindavan.
 
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ISKCON News.com: Mimi & Eunice: All God`s Creatures


A cartoon 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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H.H. Sivarama Swami: The Art of Krishna Conscious Homeschooling

A two day seminar by mother and son Aruddha dasi & Radhika Ramana dasa

 
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Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Book Distribution in Sri Lanka

Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayatah

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We were on traveling sankirtan in Vavuniya, the northern province of Sri Lanka, where until three years ago the civil war was raging. Although now the situation has calmed down, the police are still patrolling every corner. This place is famous because it's where most of the Tamil Tigers are imprisoned.

This part of Sri Lanka was cut off for many years from the rest of the island; therefore the Hare Krishna devotees are not very well known. Still, people in Sri Lanka naturally respect sadhus. On the buses and trains a special seat is reserved for sadhus: "Reserved for Clergy," reads the sign. That usually means Buddhist monks, but we also qualify. Therefore in book distribution the first thing they do is offer you a seat, and then after some time they say they have no money . . . :) For us coming from the West, where book distributors regularly get doors slammed in their face, the polite reception is a pleasant surprise.

This time we were going shop to shop in downtown Vavuniya, distributing in groups of three. We were attracting a lot of attention on the street. People would point and say, "Paringe! Vellai-karan Sami!" ("Look! There's a white swami!") When we entered the jewelry shops everyone fell silent. I would address the shop owner in Tamil, and then the customers would be even more surprised. They would offer us a seat, and we would explain that we were distributing genuine spiritual knowledge for the highest welfare of human society. Usually they would take a Bhagavad-gita, sometimes a Krsna book and a Ramayana also. And if they would give some silly excuse why they couldn't take a book, Bala Gaura Krishna Prabhu (a huge-bodied devotee from Chennai) would lean a little forward and, in a voice like a thunderbolt, say, "Sir, it is your duty to help!" Then they would immediately reply, "Oh, yes, yes, Swamiji, of course!" And we would all laugh together.

After some time we came across a small path leading behind a building. We followed the path and came to a courtyard of a big school. The kids were all exited to see us. We entered the vice principal's office, where a meeting was just breaking up. We apologized for the disturbance, but they said there was no problem and that they would like to see what we had. The vice principal decided to take the books for the school library. Because not all the teachers were there, he invited us to return the following morning and address the students for forty-five minutes and also show the books to the other teachers. We returned the next day, and a few hundred kids were waiting for us in the morning assembly. We gave a short class and got the kids to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. They were very enthusiastic, but to get them even more fired up we said, "What's the matter? Didn't you eat enough today? Your voices are so weak." Then in their childish innocence they would chant at the top of their lungs. You can just imagine our bliss when we heard a hall full of kids chanting the maha-mantra for the first time in their lives as loudly as they could. At the end of the program Sri Damodar Prabhu held a transcendental quiz, and when a child answered correctly he would give him or her a Tamil BTG as a gift.

Then the vice principal announced that all the teachers could come to his office to see our books. Many teachers came and took books. We also had a small debate on saiva-siddhanta, a controversial topic in Sri Lanka. Some of the teachers were on leave or didn't have money with them, so the principal suggested we keep a stock of books in his office and he would distribute them and collect the lakshmi for us. So the next day we visited the school again, for the third time. We prepared a pudding cake, put it on a big banana leaf, and cut pieces for all the teachers. They were happily surprised, for this was the first time anyone had brought krishna-prasadam to the school. They took twenty-two books, mostly Bhagavad-gitas, and said that whenever we were in town we had to visit their school.

This time we left through the main gate, not by the narrow path as on the first two days, and we saw a huge sign announcing the name of their school: "Christian Church Tamil Vidyalayam." We thought that if we had come to the main gate on the first day, we might have skipped this school, thinking it was full of Christians. Fortunately, the mercy of Guru and Gauranga guided us through the side entrance.

Here in Sri Lanka there is great scope for book distribution. People are simple-hearted and very religious. Especially after the war and the tsunami, many are inquisitive about the meaning of life.

We are requesting devotees all over the world to please bless us that we can distribute many of Srila Prabhupada's books in Sri Lanka. Thank you.

Your servant,

Vasudeva Datta dasa (Text D:4996841) -------------------------------------------

------- End of Forwarded Message ------

 
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Book Distribution News: Book Distribution in Sri Lanka

Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayatah

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We were on traveling sankirtan in Vavuniya, the northern province of Sri Lanka, where until three years ago the civil war was raging. Although now the situation has calmed down, the police are still patrolling every corner. This place is famous because it's where most of the Tamil Tigers are imprisoned.

This part of Sri Lanka was cut off for many years from the rest of the island; therefore the Hare Krishna devotees are not very well known. Still, people in Sri Lanka naturally respect sadhus. On the buses and trains a special seat is reserved for sadhus: "Reserved for Clergy," reads the sign. That usually means Buddhist monks, but we also qualify. Therefore in book distribution the first thing they do is offer you a seat, and then after some time they say they have no money . . . :) For us coming from the West, where book distributors regularly get doors slammed in their face, the polite reception is a pleasant surprise.

This time we were going shop to shop in downtown Vavuniya, distributing in groups of three. We were attracting a lot of attention on the street. People would point and say, "Paringe! Vellai-karan Sami!" ("Look! There's a white swami!") When we entered the jewelry shops everyone fell silent. I would address the shop owner in Tamil, and then the customers would be even more surprised. They would offer us a seat, and we would explain that we were distributing genuine spiritual knowledge for the highest welfare of human society. Usually they would take a Bhagavad-gita, sometimes a Krsna book and a Ramayana also. And if they would give some silly excuse why they couldn't take a book, Bala Gaura Krishna Prabhu (a huge-bodied devotee from Chennai) would lean a little forward and, in a voice like a thunderbolt, say, "Sir, it is your duty to help!" Then they would immediately reply, "Oh, yes, yes, Swamiji, of course!" And we would all laugh together.

After some time we came across a small path leading behind a building. We followed the path and came to a courtyard of a big school. The kids were all exited to see us. We entered the vice principal's office, where a meeting was just breaking up. We apologized for the disturbance, but they said there was no problem and that they would like to see what we had. The vice principal decided to take the books for the school library. Because not all the teachers were there, he invited us to return the following morning and address the students for forty-five minutes and also show the books to the other teachers. We returned the next day, and a few hundred kids were waiting for us in the morning assembly. We gave a short class and got the kids to chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. They were very enthusiastic, but to get them even more fired up we said, "What's the matter? Didn't you eat enough today? Your voices are so weak." Then in their childish innocence they would chant at the top of their lungs. You can just imagine our bliss when we heard a hall full of kids chanting the maha-mantra for the first time in their lives as loudly as they could. At the end of the program Sri Damodar Prabhu held a transcendental quiz, and when a child answered correctly he would give him or her a Tamil BTG as a gift.

Then the vice principal announced that all the teachers could come to his office to see our books. Many teachers came and took books. We also had a small debate on saiva-siddhanta, a controversial topic in Sri Lanka. Some of the teachers were on leave or didn't have money with them, so the principal suggested we keep a stock of books in his office and he would distribute them and collect the lakshmi for us. So the next day we visited the school again, for the third time. We prepared a pudding cake, put it on a big banana leaf, and cut pieces for all the teachers. They were happily surprised, for this was the first time anyone had brought krishna-prasadam to the school. They took twenty-two books, mostly Bhagavad-gitas, and said that whenever we were in town we had to visit their school.

This time we left through the main gate, not by the narrow path as on the first two days, and we saw a huge sign announcing the name of their school: "Christian Church Tamil Vidyalayam." We thought that if we had come to the main gate on the first day, we might have skipped this school, thinking it was full of Christians. Fortunately, the mercy of Guru and Gauranga guided us through the side entrance.

Here in Sri Lanka there is great scope for book distribution. People are simple-hearted and very religious. Especially after the war and the tsunami, many are inquisitive about the meaning of life.

We are requesting devotees all over the world to please bless us that we can distribute many of Srila Prabhupada's books in Sri Lanka. Thank you.

Your servant,

Vasudeva Datta dasa (Text D:4996841) -------------------------------------------

------- End of Forwarded Message ------

 
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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Savannah Slamma!

Savannah.

Just the name sounds so light and summery.

I’ve wanted to visit Savannah since I was in 7th grade and Thrasher Magazine advertised the Savannah Slamma  jam. I’m telling you, the idea of this contest in this city held such appeal to my little skate betty mind that I went so far as to order the t-shirt. It was baby blue with red and black ink. I wore it that year to Thanksgiving with the extended family. Fancy.

My other run-in with Savannah came the summer when I was 19, working at Giovanni’s Room Bookstore in Philly. That’s when John Berendt’s book–Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil–came out and every single gay man in Philly was buying that book. Porn went in the unmarked brown paper bag, Midnight was carried out unwrapped.

Last summer I wanted to check out Savannah on our way down from our Northern Adventure but by some twist of events we ended up in Hilton Head, of I HATE THIS F’ING PLACE! fame.

But last weekend…

My dream came true! Savannah! Savannah! You were everything I had hoped you would be. And more.

Check out our pics and then keep reading about why I think Savannah is the most perfect place. In the world.

river walk talmadge suspension cable-stayed bridge savannah forsyth park southern belle scad paris market wig shop city market original woolworths tybee island north beach savannah river walk on back fountain in savannah

Let me just share with you all the things that makes Savannah My Favorite F’ing Place!

  1. Totally walkable! It is not a big place. City? Town? I don’t know how exactly you would classify it but it has approximate the same amount of people as Gainesville, give or take 15 thou. But unlike Gainesville, you can get many a place without a car. That’s what I’m talking about.
  2. Cuteness Overload! Savannah is like one big ol’ historic district. The city was founded in 1733 and a lot of the houses are late 16th century. Adore!
  3. Lots of green space! With 22 squares and Forsyth Park taking up a whopping 30 acres, there is ample nature for your dog to pee on! And yes, live oaks and Spanish moss rule.
  4. Fountains! We came across 2 fountains with splashy sprayers for kids. I just love that.
  5. The Sentient Bean! I don’t need much in terms of veg restaurants to make me happy. Savannah has one, in the form of a coffee shop. Now, Gainesville has 1, in the form of Book Lover’s Filthy Cafe. We eat there about 2 times a year, despite the fact that I am desperate to eat out. DESPERATE. But I hate crap food. I like simple.  I like diner. I like that whatever you do, do it well. The Sentient Bean does just that. The menu is limited but they get it right with what they’ve got. And it is right across from Forsyth Park.
  6. Good Weather! It’s not much different from where I’m at, which is perfect. Love hot.
  7. Close to the beach! Tybee Island is just a short 20 minute drive from downtown Savannah. Perfect.
  8. Not too expensive houses! Okay. The house prices are, for what I need in terms of square footage, out of my league. I am not a small house kind of person. I tend to spread my stuff out. Even though I couldn’t afford a house in Savannah, the prices are not ridiculous like Santa Cruz so I am giving it a thumbs up for real estate.
  9. Farmers Market! It’s meh, but people like farmers markets and they do have one. So there.
  10. Southern Hospitality! The south has totally grown on me. Kind of like a hair shirt. I had a good experience with it when we lived in North Carolina, but being from New Jersey, I admit I was kind of a snob about it. But honestly, people are pretty dang nice in the South. Even the homeless people in Savannah seemed chill, unlike the grumpy homeless people of colder climes (only sorta joking here). The hipsters are nice hipsters. Not snot head hipsters from some similarly sized city I live near who have absolutely no right on earth to be snotty about anything because they live in a nowheresville college town.  And we met friendly and interesting parents (shout out to Todd & Rachel) and I just liked that.
  11. Education! There’s 4 colleges in Savannah. And one is an art school. Nice.

Here are the negatives:

  • Tourists. Yes, I was there as a tourist, but I wasn’t waving my tourist flag like those folks walking the river with their open containers.
  • Mediocre public schools. From what I heard, Savannah is pretty much riding the same broken down school bus as  much of the South.
  • The Southern Legacy. Sorry, but if you are super duper old and white, I think about it. Just like I think things about Germans who moved to Brazil after WWII.

If you love Savannah as much as I do, check back here over the next few weeks for more Savannah posts.

Where is your favorite place? What spots do you just hate? Have any favorite Southern cities to recommend? I am totally embracing my longitude and latitude and looking forward to check out other spots not too far from home. Five hour radius will travel!

 

 

 

 

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Japa Group: Bhurijana dasa Japa Retreat P5

On the last day of the Japa seminar, Bhurjan dasa addresses the mind and how it interacts with our Japa.


 
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Matsyavatara das (ACBSP), Italy: The role of will power for the harmonization and development of Personality, determination and perseverance (1/2). By Matsyavatara das (Marco Ferrini)


By analyzing, the relation between the inner self and will power and, on the other hand, the various psychological functions of the mind, we can very well notice how strong the link between will power and the inner self is: it is almost an identification of one another. Furthermore, by using will power, the self works on the other functions of the mind, governing and directing them. We are open to consider the existence of other two relations: firstly between the spiritual self and its reflex as a distorted self, the ego: the total of psychological contents in which the subject identifies himself. Secondly, between the individual (spiritual) self and the cosmic Self, the Supreme Soul or God for religious believers and theologists. Whereas the first relation is often contradictory, because the soul interacts with a distorted image (with the ego, the historic and transitory personality), the second version instead, related to the cosmic Self, is blessed, it is the source of complete harmony, of ecstasy. The problem of which will power to privilege depends on the relation we choose, either the first or the second one.
The unconscious process does not have a will power of its own, it is rather a self automatism, we cannot see its movement with our visual power, nor examine it with a rational thinking. However we can experience the existence of a dynamic process for which it functions spontaneously by responding to inputs that we provide for it with our conscious thinking, with or without a voluntary deliberated action. Our conscious thinking chooses the targets, selects the material, makes calculations, values and comes to a conclusion and, generally without knowing it, activates an unconscious process. Through the power of will – that represents the most immediate and direct function of the ego personality - we can produce a mental image of the target we aim at. It works straight forward in the subconscious in order to achieve its purpose, even though we do not know the way it works.
The conscious thought is not the doer of the material result, but it makes the mechanism work. Therefore, by acting here and now in the most ethical and correct way as possible (dharmya) the unconscious process is able to reach spontaneously the best results, without making any efforts. This is the reason why by acting properly and trustfully here and now, there is no need to worry about the future, because the targets will be achieved by the unconscious process that has been activated. The will power works at its best when we provide for the initial start- up and we let the unconscious elaboration to carry on naturally and spontaneously.
In order to fulfill a satisfactory and lasting success by using will power, we have to act accordingly, with no concern for the final result, rather by dealing with the psychological functions. As a matter of fact, the best way to use will power occurs when we activate and direct all the powers of the mind.
Before acting, likewise the physical world, the complex system of the ruling laws is taken into account, similarly before an action of will we need to consider the psychological dynamics and the ruling laws that such action implies.
Faith, discipline, courage, interest, optimism, to favor either an evolutionary or destructive purpose, will strengthen the power of will and vitality. Futility, pessimism, frustration, resentment, remorse, envy, jealousy, fears, nostalgia: they activate destructive dynamics that reduce the power of will, vitality and, as a consequence, the perspective of life. In turn such kind of attitude will accelerate the aging process. Every person in life feels the urge to satisfy fundamental needs, by following and realizing them in a healthy and ethical method (dharmya) they favor the development of will and strengthen it.
These major needs are:
- giving and receiving love
- finding and giving security
- being able to express one’s own creativeness and encourage others to do so
- feeling one’s own value and appreciating the value of others
- living new experiences and encourage others to make new changes
- developing self esteem and trusting mankind and divine providence
- living with a wholesome and fulfilling sense of satisfaction, inspiring others to do likewise
 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 June 17: "They have not yet understood the importance of this movement. Begin contacting the U.N., we want to get facilities for presenting our formulas to the different nations of the world. If we try then our purpose may be fulfilled."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 June 17: "It is not on account of my intelligence or endeavor. I am simply an instrument in the hands of my Spiritual Master. I do not know how far I have got the capacity to carry His order, but I have a sincere desire to do it. This is Parampara system."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Pictures From The Queen's Birthday Weekend Retreat

Tulasi Devi Dasi sent us some of her pictures from Bhurijan Prabhu's and Jagattarini Mataji's Queen's Birthday Weekend Retreat. Take a look!

BhurijanJuneRetreat.jpg

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 June 17: "I especially want you leaders to become very much absorbed in the philosophy of Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and become yourselves completely convinced and free from all doubt. Then you shall be able to carry on the work satisfactorily otherwise everything will be spoiled in time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Mayapur Online: Snan Yatra Photo's

We had a wonderful festival in Rajpur this year with thousands of devotees coming to bath their Lordships on that very auspicious day. They were bathed in many wonderful substances like milk, ghee, yogurt, mango, and chandan. Devotees waited in a very long line just for that moment to bath Jagannath, Baladev, and Subhadra.

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 June 17: "Any position we remain in, we must have full dependence on our spiritual life. This will maintain our spiritual strength. And if we maintain our spiritual strength, then anywhere we live, we live under the protection of Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 June 17: "Preaching means to increase our family members, so I am encouraged you have recommended ten new devotees for initiation. Initiation means to begin not that when initiated a disciple becomes slack; rather upon initiation one begins spiritual life in earnest."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 June 17: "We should be determined to carry out our mission against all opposition. There is nothing that can stop the Sankirtana Movement because it is the will of Lord Caitanya."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 June 17: "It should come automatically. Not that you are remembering artificially. Parching the body means parching the Supersoul. The process to simply to chant and hear and if Krishna's lila comes into remembrance, that is very good."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1966 June 17:
"Chaturdasi. Mr. Goldsmith will hang the incorporation notice on the door for 15 day in terms of the Law. It is expected that the incorporation will take place sometime after the 6th July 1966. In the evening there was meeting, the collection was $7.00, book collection $16.00"
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 June 16: "Whatever is offered goes through the Spiritual Master. The Spiritual Master offers it to Krishna then Radha Krishna eats, then Caitanya Mahaprabhu eats, then the Spiritual Master eats, and it becomes Mahaprasadam."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 June 16: "What is the difficulty of enforcing these rules? They are rules, and they are simple rules, and must be followed. One must be prepared to follow the rules for Krishna. Otherwise where is the proof that he loves Krishna?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 June 16: "Visala Das will be your name eternally. Eternally you are the servant. It is not very important. It is sufficient for you to know that you are always the servant of Visala, or Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 June 16: "One who goes against the rules and regulations of scriptures is causing pain to the supersoul. Parching the body means parching the supersoul. Remembrance of Krishna's lila should come automatically, not that you are remembering artificially."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 June 16: "All my senior disciples and leaders now you must become very, very much aware of your grave responsibility to the human society and utilize every moment in the best manner possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 June 16: "As GBC man you shall be my personal secretary for maintaining the highest level of Krishna Consciousness amongst the devotees in your zone."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 June 16: "I am very much concerned that the devotees should be given all good instruction. That is the duty of the GBC man. If the devotees, especially the responsible officers, do not have any knowledge, how can they preach?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 June 16: "Regarding these sannyasis, I have never approved of this action. You can tell them. Everyone is concocting something of their own. It must be checked."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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Kurma dasa, AU: Pizza Sleepover

In my freezer I have a store of ready-to-wake pizza dough. That's not ready-to-bake, by the way. Let me explain the difference.

Ready-to-bake could mean a precooked pizza base that needs to be taken out the freezer, topped, and baked. You may have made it yourself (hopefully) but you may have stooped to purchase a ready-made pizza base. Yuk! Not in my house.

Ready-to-wake means that I made some pizza dough, used some, and put the rest to sleep. Here's how: Some weeks ago I opened up a 1kg bag of strong plain flour that is especially for breadmaking. I added olive oil, water, a little yeast and a smidge of salt, plus also some home-dried oregano, and made a big batch of pizza dough. After the usual big knead and rest, the dough spent most of the day rising.

I then punched down the dough, kneaded it a bit more, then divided it into 7 equally sized lumps. I did that by using a one cup measure and squeezing in enough dough to fill it. I used 2 portions that day to make pizza.

The remaining 5 dough portions were punched down and quickly slipped into airtight ziplock bags. I pushed out all the air from the bags and sealed them, then popped them to sleep in the freezer.

Freezing the dough stops the yeast developing. Two days ago I took out a ziplock bag of dough and just placed it on the kitchen counter top. 24 hours later (it's winter and very cold at the moment) the dough had fully woken and had doubled in size inside it's little sleeping bag. Time to make pizza!

pizza production 1:

I always make my own tomato sauce from scratch. Fresh vine-ripened tomatoes peeled and chopped and cooked down slowly for hours unattended with a little asafetida, cracked black peppercorns, olive oil, fresh basil leaves, fresh oregano leaves, fresh marjoram leaves, little salt and raw sugar. After the dough is fully awake I knead it and dredge it in a little flour and roll it to fit the pizza tray, which is slightly oiled.

pizza production 2:

Today's pizza topping is a simple one: after the sauce comes baby silverbeet leaves (swiss chard) and basil leaves from the garden, fresh mozzarella (I sliced three-quarters of a large ball that comes floating in whey) a sprinkle of cayenne and a splash of olive oil.

pizza production 3:

Good enough to eat raw - almost. I decided not to add any other cheese for this pizza.

pizza production 4:

Fresh mozzarella melts beautifully and makes a very mild, mellow topping. Thin and crispy - buon appetito!

 
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Gouranga TV: Iskcon coventry Bhaktivedanta Manor kirtans

Iskcon coventry Bhaktivedanta Manor kirtans

 
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