jueves, 11 de agosto de 2011

Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: Transcending The Quarter-Life Crisis










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"Planet ISKCON" - 30 new articles

  1. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 11 August 2011--How to See God Everywhere--and--Who are the Seven Mothers?
  2. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Honouring the disappearance day of Sri Rupa Goswami.
  3. Australian News: India’s Got Talent – Madhavas’ Krishna connection – the video (its incredible)
  4. Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.3
  5. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Jhulana-Yatra continues...and the glories continue as well....
  6. Australian News: Lord Balarama appears on Saturday at Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha Mandir
  7. Kurma dasa, AU: Homemade Corn Flat-Bread (Tortilla)
  8. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Abortion
  9. Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Soul generated by Love
  10. Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: Transcending The Quarter-Life Crisis
  11. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  12. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  13. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  14. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  15. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  16. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  17. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  18. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  19. Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Krishna’s Cricket Chorus
  20. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Monthly Clean-Up this Friday Evening!
  21. H.H. Sivarama Swami: The riots in London and elsewhere in the UK
  22. Mayapur Online: Juhlan Yatra has Begun - 4 days left!
  23. Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.2
  24. Gouranga TV: Indradyumna Swami – Jaya Radha-Madhava, Kirtan in Ekaterinburg
  25. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Swing Festival
  26. Australian News: Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha 40th Anniversary: THE VIDEO
  27. Australian News: It’s Kirtan folks – but not as you know it ON VIDEO
  28. Australian News: Harinam with Harinamananda Das – Live On Video here
  29. Australian News: Hey! Meet me at Govindas – The video is here
  30. Australian News: Janmashtami Cooking – with video
  31. More Recent Articles
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 11 August 2011--How to See God Everywhere--and--Who are the Seven Mothers?

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Thursday 11 August 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. Special Announcement: Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Today's Thought: How to See God Everywhere Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA Devotional service is so wonderfully attractive that it even attracts Krishna. Krishna is so pleased by it that he reveals Himself to His devotee from within that devotee's devotional service proportionately according to the degree of that devotee's intensity of absorption in that service. So if you want to see God, all you have to do is fully engage yourself in His service. And then according to the degree of your surrender you will see God in your service and everywhere. Sankarshan Das Adhikari The Most Amazingly Beautiful, All-Merciful, Astonishingly Sublime, Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna http://www.backtohome.com/images/Krishna/Gopal_Krishna2.jpg Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Who are the Seven Mothers? Hare Krishna, Gurudeva, According to the Vedic version we have got seven mothers. So can you explain about the seven mothers? Rubini Answer: Here's the List of the Seven Mothers The seven mother are listed in this verse by Canakya Pandita, which was quoted by Srila Prabhupada. tma-mt guroh patn brhman rja-patnik dhenur dhtr tath prthv saptait mtarah smrth SYNONYMS tma-mt--one's own mother; guroh-patn--the wife of the guru; brhmani--the wife of a brhmana; rja-patnik--the wife of a king; dhenuh--the cow; dhtr--the nurse; tath--thus; prthv--the earth; sapta et--these seven; mtarah--mothers; smrth--should be remembered as. TRANSLATION One's own mother, the wife of the guru, the wife of a brhmana, the wife of a king, the cow, the nurse, and the earth are known as the seven mothers of a man. (Cnakya Pandita) Sometimes the argument is made that a man who has a wife cannot be a spiritual master. This foolish argument is defeated by this verse, which directly states the wife of the spiritual master is one of seven mothers. The guru's wife is the second mother in the list mentioned just after the mother from whom one has taken birth. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:

 
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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Honouring the disappearance day of Sri Rupa Goswami.

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Mahaprabu taught about Krishna and His Vrindavan pastimes through Srila Rupa Goswami. 

In Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya-lila Chapter 19, verse 1 it states "Before the creation of this cosmic manifestation, the Lord enlightened the heart of Lord Brahmā with the details of the creation and manifested the Vedic knowledge. In exactly the same way, the Lord, being anxious to revive the Vrndāvana pastimes of Lord Krsna, impregnated the heart of Rūpa Gosvāmī with spiritual potency. By this potency, Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī could revive the activities of Krsna in Vrndāvana, activities almost lost to memory. In this way, He spread Krsna consciousness throughout the world.

In the purport Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-lila 5,203 it states "Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī is described as the bhakti-rasācārya, or one who knows the essence of devotional service. His famous book Bhakti-rasāmrta-sindhu is the science of devotional service, and by reading this book one can understand the meaning of devotional service."

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu had given four instructions to Rupa Goswami. To find the lost holy places in the dham; establish daity service; to publish scriptures on pure devotional service, and to preach the love of the holy name. Rupa Goswami carried out every one of these instructions Lord Chaitanya to perfection. For those that have seen or heard my presentation series on Braj/Vrindavan dham, you will recall the nectar of how Srila Rupa Goswami found Govindaji and established His worship which continues to this day.

From these 4 instructions Srila Rupa Goswami also conclusively gave us the 64 qualities of Krishna! So in this way we can see the extraordinary glories of Srila Rupa Goswami. 

Our grand-guru (or great-grand guru for many), Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur writes, "With bunches of straw between my teeth, I pray repeatedly that I may take birth again and again as a particle of dust at the lotus feet of Srila Rupa Goswami."

Sri Narottama Das Thakur has written the following song describing Sri Rupa Goswami which is translated as follows. 

Sri Rupa Manjari’s feet are my only possession. They are my religious practice, my worship. They are my wealth, they are my ornament, the life of my life.

They are my treasure house of sacred rapture, they are the fulfilment of my deepest wishes, they are my prescribed duty. They are my religious vow; they are my austerities, my meditation and my mantra. They are my religious obligation.

One day, fate will smile upon me and I will be perfected in a position of service to her. I will see that form which is an ocean of sweetness, which will cause the moon lotus of my heart to bloom night and day.

The snake of separation from you spits a venom which burns my body. I have long suffered in this life. O my lord! Please be merciful and give me the shade of your lotus feet. Narottama has taken shelter of you.

With such exalted Vaishnavas writing these glories of Srila Rupa Goswami, what more can an unqualified neophyte like myself write to glorify Srila Rupa Goswami.

Jaya Srila Rupa Goswami! 

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Australian News: India’s Got Talent – Madhavas’ Krishna connection – the video (its incredible)

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Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.3


Hare

sruyate niyate rase harina harineksana
ekakini rahah-kunje hareyam tena kathyate

It has been heard that during the rasa-lila, doe-eyed Radha was stolen away by Krsna to be alone with Him in a secret forest bower. She is therefore known as Hara.

Jiva Goswami
 
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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Jhulana-Yatra continues...and the glories continue as well....

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In yesterday's post we promised more glories of Julhana-yatra which continues today and ends on Lord Balarama's appearance day on Saturday. In Vrindavan and other dhams there are various methods and periods for which julhana-yatra is celebrated, however as presented in yesterday post, Srila Prabhupada gave us clear direction on both the period and method to celebrate this festival. Also as indicated in yesterday's post, during a Ratha Yatra address he told us to celebrate this and all festivals in a grand way. 

Now we promised to share some nectar to put us in a brijbasi  spirit. Of course for such an occasion there is so much nectar, so we have chosen a selection from Ananda Vrndavan Campu which describes the pastimes of Lord Krishna in Vrindavana. This masterpiece has been graciously translated and dedicated to Srila Prabhupada by HH Mahanidhi Swami (a direct disciple of Srila Prabhupada)  Here is an meditative excerpt which will transport you to Vrindavan...
"Krishna entered the swing arena with His left arm resting on Radha's  shoulder holding His flute. In His right hand Krishna twirled a lotus flower  while His bangles chimed happily. A pleasing peacock feather topped His  reddish turban that tilted attractively to one side. Krishna's elegant  ear­rings and ear lotuses swung in the breeze created by the bees circling  His head. Fine cloth kissed His limbs, lit by the jewels of His crown and  brace­lets. Krishna shone attractively with His pearl necklaces tinged red  from the rays of His kaustubha jewel. Light delicate footsteps accented  His graceful yet playful gait. Jeweled anklets and bells adorned His lotus  feet. Krishna, His splendid lips shining, appeared somewhat drowsy from chew­ing  betel nut. Yet His effulgence easily defeated the combined radiance of all  the jewels adorning the ladies in heaven. Krishna's effulgence took the  shape of a jeweled mace to announce His entrance into the bower of jeweled  trees. As Krishna and His servants ascended the dais surrounding the swing,  the birds screeched, "Victory! Victory!"

The trees and creepers felt such rapture that their limbs erupted with  tiny bumps and honey streamed down like a torrent of tears. When the  peacocks stared at Radha and Krishna they thought they were seeing dark rain  clouds flashing lightning. Though knowing Radha and Krishna from before, due  to their unprecedented love, the peacocks madly cried out, "Keo? Keo?" (Who are these two persons?)

Different celestial denizens joined Krishna and the gopis to celebrate their  jhulana lila. In attendance there were charming Caranas, male and female  Kimpurusas, and the wives of the Siddhas beating expertly on madala and  panava drums with their delicate hands. The spotless heav­enly damsels  from Svarga and the Apsaras directed by Urvasi held camaras as radiant as  waves in the Mandakini River. They showered fragrant flow­ers from the  Nanda-kanana gardens, which glittered like stars as they fell through the  sky. In this atmosphere, Krishna mounted the attractive, comfortable seat of the  swing. Krishna looked like a regal crest jewel sitting on the cotton seat.  The cloth covering the seat was whiter than the foam that appeared dur­ing  the churning of the milk ocean. Shining pillows also adorned the  beau­tiful seat. Seeing that amazingly wonderful swing purified the  vision, and empowered the eyes to see other objects in a fresher way.  While the devatas played sweet music, Mukunda and Radha marveled at the  intricate work­manship of the jeweled lamps illuminating the swing.

Trembling out of ecstatic love, Radhika and Her friends sat beside Krishna,  who rested His left arm on Radhika's shoulder. When the Lord ascended the  exquisite swing and displayed His sweet beauty, which defeated the fickle  currents of a river of nectarean beauty, the devatas and their wives lost  all composure. As the ardent desire of the devatas' hearts to get a closer view of the Divine Couple moved out of their hearts to express itself, it  choked their throats. With that hope they left the middle sky and  descended to the more favorable lower borders of the sky."

Radha-Govinda Jhulana Yatra ki Jaya! 

 
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Australian News: Lord Balarama appears on Saturday at Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha Mandir

Who is Lord Balarama?
*****************
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna’s transcendental pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master.

He assumes five other forms to serve Lord Krishna. He Himself helps in the pastimes of Lord Krishna, and He does the work of creation in four other forms called the catur-vyuha (four armed) forms known as Vasudeva, Sankarshana, Pradyumna and Anirudha. He executes the orders of Lord Krishna in the work of creation, and in the form of Lord Sesa He serves Sri Krishna in various ways. In all the forms He tastes the transcendental bliss of serving Krishna. No one can approach Krishna without first getting the mercy of Baladeva.

Descent of Balarama
****************
Whenever Krishna appears in the material world, He is accompanied by His associates and paraphernalia. Five thousand years ago when Krishna descended into the material world, He was first preceded by Baladeva. Only after Baladeva give His mercy did Krishna descend, such is the intimate relationship between Krishna and Baladeva.

When Baladeva appeared as the seventh child in the womb of Devaki, she could understand that this was a divine child and this made her all the more concerned about His safety. Even Kamsa could sense His potency and he became fearful, thinking he may have been tricked by the prophecy that he will be slain only by the eight child of Devaki. At this time Krishna instructed Yogamaya, His internal potency, to transfer the unborn child from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohini, one of the other wives of Vasudeva, who was hiding from Kamsa in the house of Nanda Maharaja in Gokul.

In this way Balarama was born in Gokul under the protection of Nanda Maharaja. Garga Muni the venerable kulguru (family priest) of the Yadu dynasty revealed to Rohini that the child she was carrying was indeed that of her husband Vasudeva. At the time of the name-giving ceremony he named the child Rama, one who gives all pleasures. Referring to the immense strength of the child, Garga Muni predicted that He will also be known as Balarama (bala meaning strength). Since He was forcibly attracted from the womb of Devaki to that of Rohini, He was also be called Sankarshana. As the son of Rohini He was known as Rohini-nandan and as the elder brother of Krishna He was also called Douji.

The form of Lord Balarama
********************
Powerful Lord Balarama is sixteen years old, full of the luster of youth and has a fair complexion the color of crystal. He wears blue garments and a garland of forest flowers. His handsome hair is tied in a graceful topknot. Splendid earrings adorn His ears and His neck is splendidly decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of jewels. Splendid armlets and bracelets ornament Douji’s graceful and very strong arms and His feet are decorated with splendid jeweled anklets.

Lord Balarama’s beauty is enhanced by the earrings touching His cheeks. His face is decorated with tilaka made from musk, and His broad chest is ornamented with a garland of gunja. Balarama’s voice is very grave and His arms are very long, touching His thighs

The splendor of Lord Balarama’s transcendental form eclipses many millions of glistening rising moons, and the slightest scent of His boundless strength is sufficient to destroy many armies of demons. Although He knows the supernatural power of His younger brother, Krishna, still, out of love for Him, He never leaves Krishna alone in the forest even for a moment. Balarama is Sri Krishna’s dearest friend and is a great reservoir of the nectar mellows of many kinds of transcendental pastimes.

Specific Pastimes of Lord Balarama
Balarama slays Dhenukasura
*********************
Dhenukasura was a powerful demon who had assumed the form of an ass. With his demon friends he was occupying Talavana, one of the twelve forests of Vrindavana. Out of fear of these demons no one could approach Talavana and enjoy the numerous flowers and fruits in the forest. Balarama, induced by His cowherd friends, entered the forest desiring to kill the demons. He began shaking the fruit trees, making a big noise. Dhenuka, furious at the intrusion, attacked Balarama with his rear legs, but Balarama easily picked him up by his legs and whirled him around until he died. As the other demon friends of Dhenuka rushed to attack, Krishna and Balarama picked them up and threw them on trees, killing them. Soon the forest was free of all demons, and it appeared that the bent trees were being directed by Balarama to pay obeisances to Krishna.

Balarama kills Pralambasura
********************
Once when Krishna and Balarama were playing with the cowherd boys, a demon named Pralamba entered their midst, disguised as a cowherd boy. Understanding the invincible potency of Krishna, he instead decided to abduct Balarama. At the end of the game, as the losing party he was supposed to carry Balarama on his shoulders. Carrying the Lord on his shoulders he ran swiftly, but Balarama realizing the true identity of demon began to make himself heavier and heavier. Unable to bear the weight, the demon assumed his original form which was like a huge dark effulgent cloud, decorated with golden ornaments. Balarama then bought His fist down the head of the demon splitting it into two and causing him to give up his life.

Balarama glorified by Krishna
**********************
As the elder brother of Krishna, Balarama was the object of His love and respect. Once when walking in the forest of Vrindavana, Krishna observed the trees bending down as if paying obeisances. He glorified the lotus feet of Balarama as being the object of devotion even for the demigods. He said that the trees, which were impersonalists in previous life times, witnessing the personal form of Balarama were now praying for His devotion. At other times when Balarama would get tired by playing, He would lie down the lap of one of the cowherd boys and Krishna would personally massage His feet, fan Him and give Him service. Such was the sweet reciprocation of love between Krishna and Balarama.

Yamuna devi chastised
******************
Once Lord Balarama, Who was at the time living in Dwarka, came back to stay in Vrindavana for two months. At this time He enjoyed pastimes with His gopi friends (who were different from the gopis of Krishna). Enjoying such pastimes on the bank of Yamuna at Rama-ghata, the Lord summoned Yamuna so that He could sport in the waters. When Yamuna devi did not respond. Lord Balarama took up His favorite weapon, His plow, and began to drag Yamuna in a hundred streams. Understanding the position of Balarama, Yamuna devi personally appeared and offered her obeisances to the Lord with many prayers in His glorification. Thus appeased the Lord entered and bathed in the waters of the river.

Kauravas chastised
***************
Samba, the darling son of Jambavati and Krishna, kidnapped Laksmana the daughter of Duryodhana from the assembly were she was supposed to choose her husband. The furious Kauravas after a prolonged fight, finally arrested Samba by sending in six of their greatest warriors. When the Yadavas heard of this they prepared for battle but Lord Balarama pacified them, preferring to find a peaceful solution. However when He requested the Kauravas to return Samba and Laksmana, the Kauravas responded by insulting Him and the Yadava dynasty. Understanding them to be ignorant in their false prestige, Balarama took His plow and began to drag Hastinapura into the Ganges. The terrified Kauravas now surrendered to the lotus feet of Balarama, begging for His mercy. They immediately returned Samba and Laksmana and had them married ceremoniously with many opulent gifts.

Balarama marries Revati
******************
In Satya yuga there was a King named Raivata whose daughter Revati was excellent in all respects. Unable to find a match suitable for her, the king took her to the court of Brahma for his advise. After waiting for some time when the king met with Brahma, he was shocked to learn that in the short time he spent in the Brahmaloka, millions of years had already passed on Earth and at the time Dvapara yuga was concluding. However Lord Brahma informed King Raivata that present at this time was Lord Balarama Who was more than qualified to be the husband of Revati.

King Raivata returned and approached Balarama to accept Revati as His wife. However Revati belonged to an earlier yuga when people were much larger physically. So Lord Balarama placed His plow on her head until she shrunk to an appropriate size and accepted her as His wife.

Balarama and Mahabharata
*********************
In general Balarama was equally affectionate to both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. He accepted both Duryodhana and Bhima as His disciples in the art of mace-war. As a teacher He appreciated the superior technique of Duryodhana as opposed to the raw strength of Bhima. At the time of Mahabharata, He refused to take sides and instead went on an extended pilgrimage to the holy places. In the battle between Bhima and Duryodhana, He became angry at Bhima for killing Duryodhana by trickery, but was appeased by Sri Krishna.

Killing of Romaharshana
******************
Towards the end of Dvapara yuga thousands of sages assembled on the banks of Naimyasharana to perform a thousand year yajna in an effort to reverse the onset of Kali yuga. They appointed as their leader Romaharshana, one of the main disciple of Vyasadeva, who was also present when Sukadeva Goswami narrated Srimad Bhagavatam to King Parikshit.

When Lord Balarama entered the assembly, understanding Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead, all present rose to offer Him respect. However Romaharshana, proud at occupying the position of the leader did not get up. Lord Balarama could understand that even though Romaharshana was a an expert Vedantist, he had not yet realized these teachings. Considering him unqualified to lead the ceremony, Balarama touched him with a blade of grass causing him to die. He then instituted Suta, the son of Romaharshana as the leader of the assembly and continued with His pilgrimage.

Mercy of Lord Balarama
******************
Lord Balarama exemplifies the service attitude to Krishna. His only mission is to please Krishna by rendering service to Him, whether it is in the creation of the material worlds, maintaining the spiritual world or as His personal paraphernalia.

Lord Balarama is the eternal companion of Sri Krishna. He came as Lakshmana with Rama and later as Nityananda Prabhu with Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is the original spiritual master, and any one desiring to make spiritual progress must first get the mercy of Lord Balarama.

All glories to Lord Balarama !!
Reference : Srimad Bhagavatam, Tenth Canto.

Source Salagram.net. Click here to see some more

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Kurma dasa, AU: Homemade Corn Flat-Bread (Tortilla)

S R from London writes: "I recently went through your website and tried Kurminos Pizza and it turned out well. Thanks for the recipe. I want to make home made 'el paso tortilla' wraps. wraps. Can you please help me with a recipe?"

Here's an old recipe of mine from my very first cookbook. Give it a try.

tortilla:

Corn Flat-Bread (Tortilla)

Tortillas are the national bread of Mexico. They are thin and round and made from a white cornmeal called masa. Tortillas are cooked on a griddle without browning, so they are quite soft and may be eaten as they are or fried briefly in oil to crisp them. Masa harina is available from specialty shops, or you can try fine white polenta as a substitute. Tortillas may be toasted and used for Tacos, or rolled and stuffed, as in Enchiladas.

PREPARATION AND COOKING TIME: 30 minutes,

YIELD: 8 tortillas.

1/4 cup masa harina or fine white polenta, 1/4 cup cold water, 1/2 cup boiling water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon oil, 1 cup (250 ml) fine wholemeal flour.

Combine the masa or fine polenta and cold water in a bowl.

Stir this mixture into the boiling salted water in a saucepan over full heat. Stir until the mixture is thick, drawing away from the sides of the pan. Remove the thickened mixture from the heat and place it in a bowl.

Add the oil and mix thoroughly.

Stir in the wholemeal flour to make a soft dough and knead on a lightly floured board until smooth (about 10 minutes), adding more flour if necessary.

Divide the dough into 8 equal portions and shape them into balls. Flatten the balls and roll them out to 0.125 cm (1/16-inch) thickness.

Heat an un-oiled, heavy cast iron pan over moderate heat and, one at a time, bake the tortillas, flipping them over several times until they are lightly golden on both sides. Cool. Serve as suggested above.

 
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Abortion

...they are now killing their own child within the womb and becoming implicated in sinful activities and prolong the life in this material world very miserably. Just see the miserable condition of the child, baby within the womb. She is... It is in the mother's womb, and the mother, at the advice of the doctor, is killing. Why? Because that child -- now it is child -- he did it. He killed so many other children in his previous life; now he is being killed. Not only in one womb, but he will enter another womb -- he will be killed. As many children he has killed, he will be killed in this way. But they do not know. They do not know this, blind, mudha, that how nature's law is going on, how tit for tat is going on. They do not know it. Therefore this Krsna consciousness movement is to give them right knowledge and become free from all sinful life.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Arrival Lecture -- Dallas, March 3, 1975

 
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Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Soul generated by Love

Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love

— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

Although as aspiring Vaishnava, we do not aspire for greatness but to remain meek and humble in service! But I thought the quote struck a chord for me!

Hare Krishna

 
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Bhakta Chris, New York, USA: Transcending The Quarter-Life Crisis


From my good friend and fellow monk Gadadhara Pandit Dasa at the Huffington Post

I had never even heard of the term "quarter-life crisis" until my fifth year as the Hindu Chaplain at Columbia University. During a conversation over lunch, a student told me about it, and then towards the end of the school year another student gave me a book called "Quarter Life Crisis: The Unique Challenges of Life in Your Twenties" by Alexandra Robbins and Abby Wilner.

The term is similar to a mid-life crisis, but it refers to the plight of students in school or right out of college trying to figure out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. When I ask senior students if they know about their plans after they graduate, they give me a consistently similar response: "I have no idea."

It's not just one thing that leads to uncertainty and even panic which is labeled as the quarter-life crisis. It can be a combination of factors. All the facilities and conveniences a college campus provides will no longer be available: on-campus residential housing, eating facilities, medical & counseling facilities, security, and clubs and organizations for students to meet other students.

It can be even more intense if you can't find a job after graduating, or if you find something in your field and realize that you don't want to do this for the rest of your life, and you regret all that time and money spent on something you no longer want to pursue.

Moving back home with one's parents isn't the most attractive option, as it can feel a bit restrictive, and it can make graduates feel like they're regressing. Not everyone is affected by all of these concerns, but even one or two of these concerns can push students to act in extreme ways to resolve their situation. One such example, which I found quite shocking, was in a HuffPost article that describes college women engaging in sexual acts with wealthy older men in exchange for money to pay off their student loans.

The root of the problem is that right from our childhood we've been driven and pushed to achieve material success and social status. The equation we've been memorizing all our life is that material possessions, position, and success equals happiness, but there are so many people who get all of this and still feel empty inside.

We've been running full speed ahead, pedal to the medal, and we never stop to consider what's really going to make me happy. We've almost completely ignored our spiritual needs.

Material things can only give us so much. They can only provide temporary satisfaction for the senses, for the physical body and mind, but they do little for the heart and soul. It's quite amazing that we've hardly ever been seriously encouraged to pursue the needs of the soul, and we may even have been been discouraged to pursue our spiritual needs.

It's no wonder that so many people hit a brick wall at different stages of their life, whether it's in their 40s and 50s or even in their twenties, during the "quarter-life' crisis.

The fifth chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita explains:

One whose happiness is within, who is active and rejoices within, and whose aim is inward is actually the perfect mystic. He is liberated in the Supreme, and ultimately he attains the Supreme.

Just taking care of the needs of the body and ignoring the needs of the soul is like watering the leaves, fruits, and flowers of the tree and forgetting to water the actual root. It's just a matter of time before we come face to face with a quarter or mid-life crisis.

The sooner in life we're able to implement into our lives, on a consistent basis, spiritual practices of meditation and yoga, with the intention of understanding the true nature and needs of our soul, the better chance we have of preventing such a crisis from hitting us in the face. The crisis happens because we lose sight of who we really are, and we can't figure out what we're supposed to do.

The Bhagavad-Gita helped me get through a very difficult time in my own life; which I would call a quarter-life crisis. My family's multi-million dollar business had collapsed causing us to lose our house, cars, and savings. We were left with nothing. I was 21 years old and felt like my life had turned upside down. I had lost all sense of direction and had no idea what my next step would be. This is the first time in my life I started to explore spirituality and considered building a spiritual foundation.

The wisdom of the Gita taught me that material things are temporary, that they come and go like the winter and summer seasons and that I shouldn't be disturbed by their disappearance. I learned that becoming overly attached to material possessions and positions will only lead to frustration, as at some point, they will be taken away by the power of time.

The wisdom of the Gita encouraged me to focus on the more permanent things in life, such as understanding the eternal nature of the soul, and how the purpose of life is to re-establish our lost relationship with God. Once we're en-route to re-establishing that relationship, many other aspects of our life become clearer.

The problem is that we get so caught up with all of our material affairs and we wait for something to go wrong before we take action. The recommendation of the Gita is to make sure each day we incorporate some meditation and reflection into our lives. This may very well prevent the "quarter-life" crisis from happening, and at the very least, if it does happen, it can provide us with the coping mechanisms we will need to get through it.

Follow Gadadhara Pandit Dasa on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nycpandit

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 August 11: "The Deities are not as opulent as when They were being taken care of by you so if you want to come back here and take care of Them I have no objection. Does the democratic management not allow you to go to the Deity room? What is the difficulty?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 August 11: "If they are interested in us being there, then the clear idea should be that they should construct a temple according to our design and we shall have a half dozen men for keeping the Deity nicely and eventually organize an ashram. They should give us proper facility. How else we will work?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 August 11: "As I have been traveling all over the world for the past few months, I don't know if I will be able to visit. I am thinking to sit down for a while for translating work, but if I get opportunity I shall certainly come there. I am very glad to hear that everything is expanding there in Krsna consciousness spirit."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 August 11: "Since you have asked me, this is my advice. You and your family, sit down and chant daily some japa and have kirtana. Then you may order my books, hold class all together daily at least one hour. After you have practiced these things for a few months' time, then we can see to your formal initiation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 August 11: "Stop this fighting. Now do something tangible for Krishna and always cooperate with each other. Have a European preaching center and try to engage all the hippies and tourists who come to Vrndavana. Give them nice prasadam, engage them in chanting, cleansing the temple, reading our books, and give them all facilities for becoming devotees."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 August 11: "We are never alone in Krishna consciousness; the Spiritual Master is always there in his instructions, and Krishna is there within your heart. This spot life is merely a platform to make progress toward going back to home, back to Godhead. So never mind there may be some inconvenience in family life. Make Krishna your husband and always think of Him."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 Augsut 11: "My Dear Sripada Bon Maharaja: It is a great pleasure for me to know that you saw our Toronto and Montreal temples. Next time you come to Europe or America please kindly visit all our temples, especially Los Angeles, Detroit, London, and Paris."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 August 11: "That you are expecting 30,000 people for Jhulana Yatra is wonderful. You should distribute liberally prasadam. Let each man be given prasadam. That is our special program."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Krishna’s Cricket Chorus

Prabhupada: I have seen. I have studied this cricket (cricket sounds in room), that come for… Two of, the male and female.

Room Conversation — February 25, 1977, Mayapura

This time of year we get to enjoy the symphony of crickets, cicadas and katydids.  There must be different species because there is a great variety of sounds.

There is a wall of ambient sounds and then multiple individuals who can be discerned close by.  Some are almost painfully beautiful to hear. There is another  that sounds like my telephone ringing that I can hear sometimes during the day.

The speed of their songs are reflective of the ambient temperature in some crickets.

For those trapped in urban environments and bereft of crickets, here is a video  where they overlay regular cricket songs with cricket songs that have been slowed down. This is true undoctored sound other than the speed reduction.


Filed under: Cows and Environment
 
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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Monthly Clean-Up this Friday Evening!

CDM (Ceto Darpana Marjanam) is a project which entails the organized cleaning of the temple as a group that will start at 6:30pm this Friday!!! :)

It is Lord Balarama's birthday on Saturday, August 13, 2011! Lord Balarama is the older brother of Krishna. Everything in the temple that serves Krishna is revered as Lord Balarama! Let's make Lord Balaram happy by cleaning our temple!

The schedule will be as follows:
6:30pm to 8.30pm - Maha clean-up
8:30pm to 9:00pm - Special pizza party and nectar-filled conversations.

An inspirational quote by Srila Prabhupada:
"Everything within the temple should be kept very, very neat and clean. And the more you keep the temple neat and clean, you will be neat and clean within your heart. And then your understanding will be very easy. We cannot understand Krsna because our heart is piled up with many garbages. That we have to cleanse."
-- Srila Prabhupada Melbourne, May 22, 1975

Please come out and bring your family and friends for this unforgettable experience!

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: The riots in London and elsewhere in the UK

Where has respect for others gone?

 
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Mayapur Online: Juhlan Yatra has Begun - 4 days left!

Despite the continuing rains yesterday we had a wonderful first day of our annual Juhlan Yatra festival. This year the festivities, and arrangements have gone beyond all previous years, including a beautiful permanent lotus structure that was built for their Lordship's swinging pleasure.

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Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.2


Krsna

karsati sviyalavanya-murali-kala-nihsvanaih
sri radham mohana-gunalankrtah krsna iryate

He forcibly attracts Sri Radha with the sweet sound of His flute, therefore that Lord of all enchanting qualities is known as Krsna.

Jiva Goswami
 
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Gouranga TV: Indradyumna Swami – Jaya Radha-Madhava, Kirtan in Ekaterinburg

Indradyumna Swami – Jaya Radha-Madhava, Kirtan in Ekaterinburg

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Swing Festival

JhulanD1

 

Here are some photos of the well-attended first day of Sri Sri Radha Krsna's Jhulan Yatra.

 
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Australian News: Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha 40th Anniversary: THE VIDEO

The video below includes a few shots from the 40th anniversary celebration in Sydney. This is a short prelude to the film covering different aspects of the festival including interviews, classes and kirtans that happened over the weekend.

So please keep an eye on this You Tube Channel as we will be including more footage and clips from this most ecstatic festival.

On the weekend of May 21st and 22nd 2011 was celebrated the most auspicious occasion of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha’s 40th Anniversary. There were many special guests who were around at the time Srila Prabhupada personally spread Krishna consciousness and taught how to serve Their beautiful Lordships. Joined by over 100 initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada, we churned the nectarine glories of Radha Gopinatha, Srila Prabhupada and the pioneering days of Krishna Consciousness in Australia.

On Saturday 21 May the program included a Srila Prabhupada Maha Guru-puja, a special darshan of Radha Gopinatha and a Maha Harinama Sankirtana that made history as being the biggest Harinam in Australia ever!

On Sunday 22 May the program consisted of ‘The Boat That Rocked part 2′ — a Sydney Harbour Picnic Cruise and a special 40th Anniversary Sunday Feast, including sweet bhajans & kirtans, recollections, a presentation by Caru dasa, feast and Maha-abhisekha of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha.

Also a special souvenir magazine was printed for the event with many never seen before photos and rare stories of Radha Gopinatha’s arrival and pastimes in Sydney.

Project and post-production by Vraja Dhama das
Filming by Prema Yogi das and Vraja Dhama
Music from Carmella”Gitanjali” Baynie’s album -”Ashraya”



Click here for the YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/radhagopinaths40th

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Australian News: It’s Kirtan folks – but not as you know it ON VIDEO

It is the prediction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu that there will be kirtan in every town and village, and here it is.

http://www.fox6now.com/news/witi-20110525-krazy-kirtan,0,6904200.story

 

Find yourself at a kirtan soon and take home the bliss.

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Australian News: Harinam with Harinamananda Das – Live On Video here

“Harinam with Harinamananda Das, (Hari-nama-ananda), Saturday July 9, 2011. Swanston St. Melbourne Australia. HG Aindra Prabhu disappearance day festival.

We celebrate the glorious life of HG Aindra Prabhu, on Saturday 9th July and Sunday 10th July at the Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir, through performance of the Yuga Dharma – Nama Sankirtan, immersing ourselves in the nectarine mellows.

HG Aindra Prabhu revolutionised Nama Sankirtan within our movement. He continues to inspire the Kirtaniyas of the world to this day. Aindra Prabhu’s dissapearance day according to our Vaisnava calendar actually falls on Wednesday 6th of July this year, but to make it practical for more devotees to attend, this most auspicious disappearance day festival is on the Saturday & Sunday.”

Uploaded to YouTube by Russell Prabhu

“Here’s a video of Saturday’s Harinama in honour of Aindra Prabhu.
It was a slow start that quickly lead to a rocking Sankirtan outing.
There are 4 parts to that video: a Harinama that felt like endless bliss!”

Recorded with Sony HDR-CX110E and Flycam Nano. Edited on iMac with Final Cut Express.

Click here to find out more out the activities of Krishna’s devotees in Victoria, centered on Mahaprabhu Mandir in Melbourne. Find yourself there as quickly as you can.

Click here to see more video from Russell Prabhu on YouTube

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Australian News: Hey! Meet me at Govindas – The video is here

Meet me at Govindas and we’ll go out on the Harinam with Parasuram and Co. Click on the video below to get started.

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Australian News: Janmashtami Cooking – with video

We have two pages available for you on our Food Channel.

Cooking Page 1
Cooking Page 2

Krishna.com Cooking Videos

Recorded right in our own kitchen, these new videos— hosted by world-famous chef (and chief purchasing agent for the Krishna.com Store) Lokasaksini devi dasi—show you . . .

How to make sandesh
How to make burfi

. . . in your own home, easily, with the most basic ingredients and cooking implements, with hardly any fuss or muss.

As Lokasaksini carefully guides you through each process, explaining as she goes all her tips and tricks, she shares her love of cooking and her expertise learned in many years of cooking for Krishna.

Click here to get the videos at Krishna.com

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