Here are the latest updates for you
"Planet ISKCON" - 38 new articles
- H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Tuesday 28 June 2011--The Platform of Genuine Love--Experience During Krishna Consciousness?
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Kesava Prabhu
- Kripamoya dasa, UK: A Creative Week
- Japa Group: Japa Room Launching July 1st
- New Vrindavan, USA: Gopal’s Garden’s End-of-year Celebration
- Kurma dasa, AU: Roasting, Stewing and Poaching
- Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Screaming fans worship their idols at IIFA in Toronto
- Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Tipster: Ice-Box Style Cabinet Latches Without The Upcharge For Inset!
- Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: What is not cow protection (from a text sent to me)
- Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Bhajan - Mukunda Datta das - Bhaja Hu Re Mana @ Singhania's House - 5/6
- Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: GiveAway : And The Winner Is…
- Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Substance, not sentiment
- Book Distribution News: Substance, not sentiment
- ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday, June 19, 2011
- Manoj, Melbourne, AU: 210. Srila Prabhupad Lecture 4 : Is Lakshmi your’s?
- Japa Group: Japa Room Launching July 1st
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Japa Group: Steadiness Patience & Attachment
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- Srila Prabhupada's Letters
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: Discussing the childhood pastimes of Krsna at Govinda’s in Istanbul (Part 2)
- Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Review : The Paris Market
- Dandavats.com: US President Mr. Barack Obama meets H.H Radhanath Swami
- Dandavats.com: Murari’s kirtan valley
- Dandavats.com: New Vrindaban’s Homeschool Co-op’s End-of-year Celebration
- Dandavats.com: The charitable contributions of Bhaktivedanta Manor
- Dandavats.com: Krishna’s Crosswords Number 8 “CHANT”
- Sita-pati dasa, AU: Ahimsa milk only <> veganism
- Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: In Memorium: Sriman Yasomatinandana Dasa
- Gouranga TV: BB Govinda Swami bhajan – Hare Krishna/Jay Govinda Jay Gopal – Vrindavan – Kartik 2009
- Kurma dasa, AU: Memorial Festival for Sriman Yasomatinandana
- Kurma dasa, AU: Ayurveda, Common Sense & Pasta Farfalle
- More Recent Articles
- Search Planet ISKCON
- Prior Mailing Archive
H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Tuesday 28 June 2011--The Platform of Genuine Love--Experience During Krishna Consciousness?
bb A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Tuesday 28 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: The Platform of Genuine Love Uploaded from Sydney, Australia In this world everyone talks of love, but yet they are too often tormented and brokenhearted because of love. Real love is never a cause of despondency. The love which causes disappointment is actually nothing but lust disguising itself as love. When we come to the platform of genuine love there is never any disappointment. On the platform of genuine love there is uninterrupted eternal happiness. That real love is experienced when we connect in love with that person who is the very source of love itself, Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Sharing Genuine Love 2 May 2011--Kaunas, Lithuania http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Spring/Farewell_2.JPG Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Experience During Krishna Consciousness Gurudeva, What are your experiences during Krishna consciousness? Aluru S. Answer: The Sweetest, Most Thrilling Happiness Krishna consciousness is the sweetest, most thrilling happiness, millions of times greater than anything that anyone can experience anywhere in this material world even if they go the topmost planet in the universe, Brahmaloka. 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: Today's Darsana
"I bow to You, O caster of crooked glances, enchanting in Your threefold-bending form. As Your flute bewildered the universe, the young gopis bodly sang Your glories."
(Sri Krsna Lila Stava by Srila Sanatana Goswami)
We bow down to Your darsana, O Sri Sri Radha Ballabha; Your sweet glances give us the inspiration to bodly sing Your glories on Swanston Street this afternoon.
Harinama Sankirtana ki, Jaya!
•ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Kesava Prabhu
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.11.24 - The spititual master is asraya-vigraha or the form of Lord which mercifully gives us shelter (acaryam mam vijaniyan navanmanyeta karhicit...).
•Kripamoya dasa, UK: A Creative Week
A busy period. This week had the word ‘studio’ firmly planted in it.
Early on in the week I was over at the Metropolis Studios in Chiswick listening to the final versions of the songs for the new album. Kiron J had been working with the soft-spoken and extremely talented Andy for many hours by the time I arrived. (Next day Andy was working with Dave Gilmour) The sound is something quite different and very rich, like the soundtrack for a film. We have used real strings by scoring music for a quartet who came in to record for us. (They were part of the orchestra for Harry Potter and sounded very good) Other singers have contributed, making it a vocally and musically varied album.
On Thursday I attended a conference on ‘Spirituality and Mental Health’ and gave a twenty minute talk on ‘Spirit Possession’ to fifty psychiatrists from around the country. The event took place in Notting Hill.
Friday was another interesting day as I was doing a short interview for the Channel 4 TV series ’4Thought’. This took place in the Waterloo Film Studio. The subject was Music and Belief and of course my focus was on the sacred sound of kirtan. I took with me several devotee musicians so that we could demonstrate a lively and colourful kirtan for the television audience. It will be broadcast on July 12, they told me. As I was being interviewed in one studio, my voice was being edited in the Metropolis Studio – some last-minute alterations.
I had been invited to a Jewish Friday evening Sabbath service in north London, so went there with my wife. The evening ended with me leading the open-minded Jewish group in the Sanskrit mantra Om namo bhagavate vasudevaya! Life is curious sometimes.
Saturday was a wedding that I had been asked to conduct at Pinewood Studios over in Iver, Buckinghamshire. Built in 1935 the studios have produced hundreds of films over the years including many I saw in my youth such as the James Bond series. The wedding took place before some 200 guests, the majority of them English with many from the police force. They enthusiastically joined in all the Sanskrit! We had lunch in the clubhouse where Carry on Up the Khyber was filmed.
Sunday had nothing to do with studios at all! I had been asked to conduct one religious ceremony for a family in East Ham near Ilford at 10.00 am then we had been invited to a picnic held by the sanga groups over in Ilford. Around 40 were there in the large Valentine Park and had set up a gazebo under an oak tree. The day was already hot.
Beginning with kirtan, my wife and I both gave a short talk followed by a picnic lunch brought by many of the members. So it was Gujarati and Tamil cooking with a bit of Italian! Some Krishna games followed and a bit of cricket. Then we all came back together for kirtan in a big circle to which other people in the park came over.
Today was Monday, and being the ‘maha-cleanup day’ at the Manor, I found myself in the car park sweeping with a broom. After lunch we had the istagoshti, a time when all the residents and staff of the Manor get together for presentations, announcements and discussion. Today the brahmacaris also put on part two of their hilarious play.
•Japa Group: Japa Room Launching July 1st
The Japa Room will finally be launching on July 1st.
Mayapur.tv has given the Japa Room a channel to broadcast to devotees from all around the world. Mayapur.tv is the hub of devotional livestreams, presenting many amazing and wonderful events from many countries.
Here is the information about the Japa Room channel including times and content.
The Japa Room is a friendly and constructive way to improve your Japa.Here's how you can join us - visit http://www.mayapur.tv/ - scroll down and you will see the channel "TheJapaRoom" (blue when it's offline) - when offline you can visit and chant along with a Srila Prabhupada Japa slideshow - when live (in red left hand column) you can join us for a live broadcast.
In the session we will cover a number of interesting and relevant topics including direct Japa quotes from Srila Prabhupada - real life experiences and personal realisations. Wwe will also include video footage and audio from various senior devotees.
You are most welcome to ask questions when the floor is opened up and we will endeavour to answer them all.
We will also be inviting special guest devotees to speak about their realisations on the Holy names
1st session = Every Fri. 11.30pm GMT / 6.00pm EST - Time in your city
2nd session = Every Sat. 1.30pm GMT / 8.30am EST - Time in your city
Don't miss out....please come along and join us for some nice association and enlivening discussion.
•New Vrindavan, USA: Gopal’s Garden’s End-of-year Celebration
On June 17, Gopal’s Garden Homeschool Co-op held its end-of-the-year celebration. “This year we had five full-time students in grades 1, 2 and 3,” said Ruci devi dasi, tutor at Gopal’s Garden. “Next year, we will be expanding. We will have at least nine students, and possibly more.”
Gopal’s Garden will also be expanding its teaching staff for the 2011 – 2012 school year. New Vrindaban will welcome back Lila Suka devi dasi as an additional full-time tutor.
“Lila Suka and I were teachers at New Vrindaban’s former Nandagram School, which had a K standing (a religious school) from the state of West Virginia. And during the last ten years of the school’s existence, we ran it together as co-principals. Nandagram School ceased to function in 1999,” said Ruci. “Although Lila Suka moved to the Pittsburgh area shortly after the school closed, she has always visited New Vrindaban frequently. The parents and children at Gopal’s Garden all know Lila Suka and everyone is excited to have her back.”
Gopal’s Garden is a safe place for children to receive a Krishna conscious education. This year, the students memorized 25 Bhagavad-Gita verses in Sanskrit as well as their English translations.
At the same time, the students receive a well-rounded education in secular subjects including math and geography. Moreover, this past year, the students spent at least one hour each day on reading and another hour on writing. At the end-of-the-year celebration, each student received a spiral-bound book with his or her writing inside. “The students are all now self-published authors,” said Ruci. “They went through all the steps of publication including revising, editing, and formatting their books. It was a vey productive year, and next year is set to be even better.”
An organizational meeting and registration for the 2011 — 2012 school year will take place at the end of July. For more information regarding Gopal’s Garden Homeschool Co-op, please contact story108@juno.com or call 304-845-6840.
•Kurma dasa, AU: Roasting, Stewing and Poaching
I brought home a good-sized tray of red peppers (capsicum) the other day, and ear-marked them for oven-roasting. Early in the morning as the sun rose (the best time for doing ANYTHING, I cut them in half, took out their innards, pressed them flat and roasted them on a tray in the oven, finishing them off under the grill, until they were blackened and blistered.
I quickly put them in a plastic bag and allowed them to steam, then removed and peeled them, revealed their soft, bright, smoky-flavoured red flesh. After patting them dry on paper towel, I packed them into a jar and covered them with a good quality olive oil. There they will stay until needed for salad, pasta or pizza.
My father is a bit of a fan of stewed apples and custard - good Anglo-Saxon fare. So while the peppers were roasting, I peeled, cored and sliced some Granny Smith apples and stewed them with water, and when they were soft, I added a little raw sugar. My father likes them plain, so 'plain they is'.
On the other hand, I like aromatics, so while all the above was going on, I also poached a batch of peeled and halved pears. The sugar syrup was made fragrant with the addition of saffron, star anise, cinnamon and vanilla, along with a large strip of orange zest. They look very elegant, and their taste and fragrance is quite spectacular.
•Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Screaming fans worship their idols at IIFA in Toronto
It is all the rage to have these specialty channels that beam these characters from India directly into your home so countless hours can be wasted in escaping into an illusion they have created. (Fortunatly we do not get this beamed into our home).
But what value do these characters truly have? Do they have knowledge of the true purpose of life? Are they exporting anything belonging to vedic India? The imagery often promotes intoxication, crime, lust, anger, greed and characteristics that are not part of our vaishnava culture and contrary to our regulative principals.
So in the thousands they lined up "chanting" the names of their idols. They were literally "worshipping" them! In the news they talked about a young lady fainting at the sight of her idol. And in the temple yesterday someone told me how one person threw himself at the feet of his idol....begging him to also make him a star. For the most part these people are born in the Land of Krishna but they have forgotten their true identity. They can line up for hours on the street for a glimpse of their idol but heaven forbid you suggest they go to the temple, read a book or even chant the maha mantra once a day....in that case they do not have time. After all they are busy with their "idol worship" but they look down and say we do "Idol worship" :-)
Actually trying to have consciousnness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna is keeping us very busy and that is a better use of time, energy and Lakshmi (money)...but thats just our opinion. Since we are of limited knowledge and are still trying to grasp at the treasure of this vedic knowledge, we would like to share a quote from a purport by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Food for thought...
"The invincibly powerful deluding energy of the Personality of God, or the third energy, representing nescience, can bewilder the entire world of animation, but still she is not strong enough to be able to stand in front of the Supreme Lord. Nescience is behind the Personality of Godhead, where she is powerful enough to mislead the living beings, and the primary symptom of bewildered persons is that they talk nonsense. Nonsensical talks are not supported by the principles of Vedic literatures, and first-grade nonsense talk is "It is I, it is mine." A godless civilization is exclusively conducted by such false ideas, and such persons, without any factual realization of God, accept a false God or falsely declare themselves to be God to mislead persons who are already bewildered by the deluding energy." Purport from 2nd canto, 5th chapter, verse 13
This is from the Srimad Bhagavatam one of the jewels of our vedic culture. Perhaps when these "idols" are representing Vedic India and taking the time to read and expound these texts, we will take the time to see and hear them...
•Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Tipster: Ice-Box Style Cabinet Latches Without The Upcharge For Inset!
Did that blog post title just read like a bunch of insider gibberish jargon? Well then, this post is probably not for you. But if you are staying up all night wondering how you can get cabinet latches in your kitchen without purchasing pricey custom inset cabinets, keep reading…
•Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: What is not cow protection (from a text sent to me)
"No, because we are giving protection to cow, you send money for the cows and the cow protectors, and earn money there and give us money. We shall eat nicely and sleep."
"Never mind we are to take payment from others. That is not cow protection."
Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.3 -- lecture at Melbourne on April 5, 1972
"Somebody will give money and we shall keep some third class cows and feed there and become cow protector."
The quotation is even more savory if read in full.
That is not cow protection. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.3 -- Melbourne, April 5, 1972
Prabhupada: "I am now amongst the members of Krsna conscious devotees. I am one of the devotees, and because I have taken this association, and because I am working under their direction, Krsna must be pleased, and He must give me protection. Therefore, I should not reserve anymore anything. Let me fully surrender." No reservation, fully surrendered. [break] Our business is we want to sell books, not to make money. Now, if you simply take it formally... Hayagriva has taken the formality. We have to keep some cows. Never mind we are to take payment from others. That is not cow protection. Cow protection means just like Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is tending the cows. He is going, taking the cows personally from His royal palace going to the forest whole day, working there. Is it not, cowherds boy? And taken some little fruit, mother, whatever mother has given. They are playing that. So this is cow protection, not that "Somebody will give money and we shall keep some third class cows and feed there and become cow protector." We must tend the cows very nicely so that they give us sufficient milk. And with that milk we shall live. "No, because we are giving protection to cow, you send money for the cows and the cow protectors, and earn money there and give us money. We shall eat nicely and sleep." As soon as this practice is going on, then next will be: "Give me some LSD, give me something else." This will go on. We don't want that.
We can paraphrase it like this:
"The role of the mercantile community is to farm, give protection to cows and trade what is excess in the course of the normal production of necessities. Keeping cows should be done in such a way that there is a commensurate prosperity that enables their protection. Gavyam dhanavan."
Succinctly put:
"We are giving protection to the cows with great profit." Letter to: Krishna Mahesavari -- New York 11 July, 1976
Again in the following it is clear that keeping cows and farming will, if done by the proper persons living the appropriate way bring wealth to those who do this:
"The Vaishyas or the mercantile communities are specially advised to protect the cows. Cow protection means increasing the milk productions namely curd and butter; agriculture and distribution of the food stuff are the primary duties of the mercantile community backed by education in the Vedic knowledge and trained up for giving up in charity of the acquired wealth." 1.9.26
Srila Prabhupad has in mind the point that unless keeping the cow is profitable either monetarily or in terms of subsistence, cows cannot be protected. This is discussed the in the following quotation:
"International Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in London, I shall try to see if there is any similar society here. But one thing I can suggest as you have asked me to give a thought to this problem, that Goseva, according to our Vedic injunction, is specially entrusted to the mercantile community. Of course, during the Hindu government in India, the kings were mostly Vaisnavas like Maharaja Pariksit, and he at once caught the Black man Kali who was attempting to kill a cow. But those days are no more. Neither there is a king like Maharaja Pariksit, nor the present government of India is inclined to give protection to the cows. But the mercantile community, specially the Gujaratis and the Marwaris are undoubtedly rich in India, and I do not know why such mercantile communities do not open large-scale dairy farms. That will certainly give actual protection to the cows. From Bhagavad-gita we understand that the Vaisya community is specially responsible for giving protection to the cows as much as the ksatriya kings are responsible for giving protection to the citizens of the state. As such, if you can organize-and I believe you can do so, because by Grace of Krishna, you are in good position amongst the mercantile community -- big dairy farms with large pasturing grounds, then the problem of milk supply and cow protection will automatically be done. I do not know how much you will appreciate my this suggestion, but if you can do such organization, it will be a great service to the country and to the animals, and to this cause of Krishna Consciousness. If you be serious on this point then I can help you with all of my possible energies." Letter to: Sumati Morarjee 1969
Here is another quote that shows that keeping the cow should be prosperous (not an act of charity or taking charity in the name of self maintenance as in the first quote)
"The whole world must learn from Krsna how to live happily without scarcity simply by producing food grains (annad bhavanti bhutani [Bg. 3.14]) and giving protection to the cows (go-raksya). Krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhavajam [Bg. 18.44]. Those who belong to the third level of human society, namely the mercantile people, must keep land for producing food grains and giving protection to cows. This is the injunction of Bhagavad-gita." SB 9.15.25
And yet another
"When we consider the past condition of the agriculturalist in the village, we can see how opulent he was, simply because of agricultural produce and protection of cows. At the present, however, agriculture having been neglected and cow protection given up, the agriculturalist is suffering pitiably and is dressed in a niggardly torn cloth. This is the distinction between the India of history and the India of the present day. By the atrocious activities of ugra-karma, how we are killing the opportunity of human civilization!" SB 10.5.8
"There are so many facilities afforded by cow protection, but people have forgotten these arts. The importance of protecting cows is therefore stressed by Krsna in Bhagavad-gita (krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhavajam [Bg. 18.44]). Even now in the Indian villages surrounding Vrndavana, the villagers live happily simply by giving protection to the cow. They keep cow dung very carefully and dry it to use as fuel. They keep a sufficient stock of grains, and because of giving protection to the cows, they have sufficient milk and milk products to solve all economic problems. Simply by giving protection to the cow, the villagers live so peacefully. Even the urine and stool of cows have medicinal value." SB 10.6.19
Further down this lecture is something else to note because certain devotees leave the association of one group of devotees who believe in working for Krishna to go to another group who like to discuss what is their position in the spiritual world, supposedly more savory.
"Our proposition, that we also think about Krsna's pastimes in order to enter into Krsna con..., but not to become Krsna, but to be allowed into the eternal pastimes of Krsna, nitya-lila-pravistha. Our thinking, we are thinking of Krsna's pastimes, sada tad-bhava-bhavitah [Bg. 8.6], not to become Krsna, even not to become the cowherd boy. Ours is always -- we want to become the servant of the cowherd boy. Those who are thinking of becoming gopi, the maidservant of another gopi. That is our proposition. If I think that "I shall become mother Yasoda," that is also Mayavada. That is also Mayavada, exactly like that, if one thinks that "I shall become Krsna." Our only proposition is how to be engaged in the service of Krsna. That is explained."
•Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Bhajan - Mukunda Datta das - Bhaja Hu Re Mana @ Singhania's House - 5/6
Mukunda Datta das singing the bhajan "Bhaja Hu Re Mana".
Dallas, TX
2011-01-08
Download: 2011-01-08 - 5 - Mukunda Datta das - Bhajan - Bhaja Hu Re Mana.mp3
•Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: GiveAway : And The Winner Is…
Thanks to Primal Spirit Foods for sponsoring last week’s giveaway. And thank you to all the hungry vegetarians who entered. It’s always fun seeing how desperate you are for the freebies! The winner of a whole lotta Primal Strips is…
Kelly Dooley of New Jersey! Love me some of that Jersey jerkyness. Kelly is a mom! To a church van of kids! So even though we wish we could have all been winners, we are happy that Kelly and her 7 kids (and husband!) won! All Kelly needs to do to claim her prize is email me her address.
Come back tomorrow as the Summer of Sabjimata GiveAway Love! (still trying to think of a less sucky name) continues. Who’s giving away something this time? Hint: NYPD scrambled. Think you know the answer? The first person who guesses correctly earns an extra entry in tomorrows giveaway.
XO
•Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Substance, not sentiment
Anything without substance will not last, so just demonstrate sincerely that we have got solid ground beneath us, not that we have only some sentiment, that's all. Many fanatic spiritual movements have come and gone, but without the flawless philosophy of Krishna, they cannot stand. Therefore I want especially that my books and literature should be distributed profusely. This is our substance, real philosophical information, not some weak sentiments. So try for this, to give all men this Krishna philosophy, and many real devotees will come with us back to Home, back to Godhead.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Lalita Kumar, Jambavati -- Vrindaban 27 November, 1971
•Book Distribution News: Substance, not sentiment
Anything without substance will not last, so just demonstrate sincerely that we have got solid ground beneath us, not that we have only some sentiment, that's all. Many fanatic spiritual movements have come and gone, but without the flawless philosophy of Krishna, they cannot stand. Therefore I want especially that my books and literature should be distributed profusely. This is our substance, real philosophical information, not some weak sentiments. So try for this, to give all men this Krishna philosophy, and many real devotees will come with us back to Home, back to Godhead.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Lalita Kumar, Jambavati -- Vrindaban 27 November, 1971
•ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday, June 19, 2011
•Manoj, Melbourne, AU: 210. Srila Prabhupad Lecture 4 : Is Lakshmi your’s?
Here is a summary of Prabhupad’s lecture I listened to :
SB 7.9.2
Feb 12, 1977 Mayapur
The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmījī, was requested to go before the Lord by all the demigods present, who because of fear could not do so. But even she had never seen such a wonderful and extraordinary form of the Lord, and thus she could not approach Him.
The demigods requested Lakshmi to pacify Lord Narasimha’s anger who was none another than Lord Narayan. But even she was fearful seeing the wonderful features of her husband. In fact, she never knew that her husband can assume such a form. This form was specifically formed to finish off the demon Hiranyakashipu. The Lord can assume any form He wants. Here we can also see the chastity of Lakshmiji here. When she saw the fearful form in front of her, she was unsure whether the personality was her husband or not. She had a doubt and hence she did not approach the Lord.
Where ever there is Narayan, there is Lakshmi. Narayan is bhagavan. His opulence are in full and no one can compete with Him. But in material world, there is competition. Hence, the concept of daridra-narayanan is a foolish concept. We know clearly that wherever there is Narayana, there is Lakshmi. In fact, millions of Lakshmi associates with Him constantly. A “daridra” cannot be a “Narayana” and Narayana cannot be a daridra ! No one can be equal to Narayana. He is the greatest. However, it is fashion now-a-days to call oneself a Narayana. Such thoughts has dismantled the Indian culture and such “pasandi” kind of imagination will kill your spiritual progress. Avoid Mayavadis at all costs.
In the material world, everyone is praying to Lakshmi for wealth. She is also called Chancala. She moves from one place to another. Today one might be a millionaire but tomorrow that same person can be on the street. In the material world, people are worried that Lakshmi will go away. But in the spiritual world, Lakshmi is worried that Krishna will go away.
You cannot separate Lakshmi from Vishnu. Ravana tried this and the moment he tried to separate Sita from Rama, he was completely ruined along with his associates. Never try to keep Lakshmi alone with you but keep her with Narayan. Those who have riches should worship Narayan with that money. If you are wealthy, don’t spoil it. Use it in Krishna’s service. Use the money for temples, installing deities etc. And in this way, you will never become poor but always wealthy.
•Japa Group: Japa Room Launching July 1st
The Japa Room will finally be launching on July 1st.
Mayapur.tv has given the Japa Room a channel to broadcast to devotees from all around the world. Mayapur.tv is the hub of devotional livestreams, presenting many amazing and wonderful events from many countries.
Here is the information about the Japa Room channel including times and content.
The Japa Room is a friendly and constructive way to improve your Japa.Here's how you can join us - visit http://www.mayapur.tv/ - scroll down and you will see the channel "TheJapaRoom" (blue when it's offline) - when offline you can visit and chant along with a Srila Prabhupada Japa slideshow - when live (in red left hand column) you can join us for a live broadcast.
In the session we will cover a number of interesting and relevant topics including direct Japa quotes from Srila Prabhupada - real life experiences and personal realisations. Wwe will also include video footage and audio from various senior devotees.
You are most welcome to ask questions when the floor is opened up and we will endeavour to answer them all.
We will also be inviting special guest devotees to speak about their realisations on the Holy names
1st session = Every Fri. 11.30pm GMT / 6.00pm EST - Time in your city
2nd session = Every Sat. 1.30pm GMT / 8.30am EST - Time in your city
Don't miss out....please come along and join us for some nice association and enlivening discussion.
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1967 June 27: "My missionary work is a great fight with maya, it is a great challenge to the Western way of life and maya has given me a heavy stroke between the heart and stomach, my health has been shattered."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1968 June 27: "If diet and medicine are properly followed the disease of maya will be cured. But the physician must be always healthy so that people may not say, physician heal thyself. Preachers must be of highly elevated character."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1969 June 27: "If you want to remain, it doesn't matter, but your full energy should be engaged in the Lord's service. The more we render service, the more we are able to advance. That is the secret of success in Krishna Consciousness and there is no other alternative to this."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1967 June 27 : "At present I am recouping my health, but I am thinking of going back to India and some of my American disciples they can come and take training from me at Vrindaban. So your cooperation is greatly needed."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967
•Japa Group: Steadiness Patience & Attachment
To be attentive purification of the heart is required. This means keeping silence and avoiding unfavourable talking. While chanting, one must affectionately remember the meaning of the mantra. Steadiness, patience, and attachment to chanting are all treasures of chanting.
Hari-bhakti-vilasa
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1970 June 27 : "I was expecting your arrival here every moment. If you come during the Rathayatra festival it will be a great pleasure for me. So we shall have to chalk out the future program of our activities."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1974 June 27: "The young Franciscan monks listened very respectfully. We never say our religious system is better but we speak on the principles of love of God. If they are at all sincere they are pleased to hear the Vedic conclusion."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1975 June 27: "The money is there in the bank. The bank will guarantee payment. Why you are not completing the negotiation? I have given two lakhs of Rupees but I have not heard anything. How has it been spent?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
•Srila Prabhupada's Letters
1975 June 27: "I have not received any report from you. I gave you 1 1/2 lakhs of Rupees, and I want to know what you have done with it. How have you spent it, and what is the progress."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
•H.H. Sivarama Swami: Discussing the childhood pastimes of Krsna at Govinda’s in Istanbul (Part 2)
•Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Review : The Paris Market
paris market : tag sale
I loved The Paris Market.
My husband loved The Paris Market.
My son loved The Paris Market.
My daughters slept in the Paris Market.
The Paris Market is a two story fantasia for the eyes! Fantasia is seriously the most suitable word because the store is well composed of an eclectic lot. It’s like what you would imagine an Anthropolgie Home Store to be. New mixed with old. Foreign fitted with familiar. The Paris Market is as much a museum store as it is a thrift shop. Not at all, yet, maybe yes.
My son loved the baskets of shells, shelves of bugs pressed into glass, dishes of bones, old cameras, letterpress blocks, and pretty things, too. He explored the downstairs with my husband for an unimaginable length of time. I was stranded on the main floor with my eldest daughter sleeping in the baby’s stroller, wondering what the hay happened to the men-folk. When they emerged from the downstairs, my 7.5 year old son’s eyes were wide. He grabbed my hand with a “You gotta see this!” in his voice and escorted me down the worn stairs, past the sepia stained pages of vintage books lining the staircase.
While the upstairs is scented soaps and linen baby clothes, vintage-styled children’s toys and cotton shower curtains, the downstairs is a much darker, manlier cavern. The majority of vintage items are downstairs. Large wooden antique pieces of furniture. Lovely paper table runners and place mats. A bed piled high with so many pillows in fabrics so colorful and cheery that it actually made the bed look happy. Chandeliers and mirrors. Relics and replicas. The Paris Market is a shop you can spend an afternoon in.
Do check out the website to read up on “the story.” I adore the fact that it’s an independently owned business. The website store doesn’t really represent the variety of items in the shop. Before we headed out to Savannah, I checked the website and was put off by all the expensive items. I actually physically crossed The Paris Market off my list of places to visit. Then we met a couple at the farmers market who gave it their recommendation. Inside the store there literally is some bit of loveliness for everyone. You can spend $8 or $8,000. Seriously. The Paris Market is the perfect place to visit if you are into “lipstick luxuries.” You know, those small little treats that make you feel great yet won’t reduce your food budget to one dry baguette a day.
We purchased a couple of vintage vegetable prints, some blocks of soap for prezzies, the kids got a variety of shells, and I bought a tiny dish for myself.
I was hoping to get something for you, too! Maybe one day we could convince The Paris Market to partner with this little old blog for a giveaway. I think you would love their cafe aprons!
The Paris Market & Brocante
26 West Broughton Street
Savannah, Georgia 31401
912.232.1500
•Dandavats.com: US President Mr. Barack Obama meets H.H Radhanath Swami
By Gauhari das
On June 13, 2011 Radhanath Swami was invited to meet with the President of the United States, Mr. Barack Obama at an event in Miami Florida. Radhanath Swami was grateful to accept the invitation on behalf of his beloved Guru, Srila Prabhupada and dedicated the meeting to his beloved Godbrother Bhakti Tirtha Swami
