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"Planet ISKCON" - 36 new articles
- H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Saturday 21 May 2011--Engaging Entire World in Krishna's Service--and--Dr. Stephen Hawking's Destination?
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: KCU 12HR Kirtan
- Dandavats.com: Sri Radharaman Lalji’s Appearance Day
- Vraja Kishor, JP: Astrologer Reveals Mahaprabhu’s Past Life!
- Vraja Kishor, JP: Un Astrólogo Revela a Mahaprabhu su Vida Pasada!
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
- Japa Group: I Wanted To Chant Like A Lover
- Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: hari-smrtih sarva-vipad-vimoksanam
- Mayapuris, USA: Our Official Mridanga Music Video
- ISKCON News.com: Bhakti Yoga: In Search of a Lost Love
- Mukunda Charan das, SA: Kirtan And Japa
- ISKCON News.com: Split Personality
- ISKCON News.com: Sad Goswami Ashtaka Choir Music
- Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Radhanath Swami and a grieving cow
- ISKCON News.com: Junk Food ‘Guidelines’ Won’t Help
- ISKCON News.com: Due to Flooding New Orleans Ratha Yatra Postponed
- ISKCON News.com: Chanting, Dancing & Feasting. London’s Ancient Festival of Chariots
- ISKCON News.com: The Mayapuris, Mridangum and Mother’s Day: A Divine Experience at ISKCON
- Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Wet Weather Woes
- H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 316—Poem for May 20
- H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): OLD FRIENDS
- Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Interview : Food Blogger Greg Henry of Sippity Sup!
- Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Punishment by Pickles
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: Sulalita dd asks to what extent should devotees watch the news on the internet, be aware of current affairs or even listen to speeches of politicians
- H.H. Sivarama Swami: 2012 and the impending nuclear war
- Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: It is all nectar
- Book Distribution News: It is all nectar
- H.H. Sivarama Swami
- H.H. Sivarama Swami
- Dandavats.com: Richard Dawkins Smashed
- Dandavats.com: ComputerDoctor of ALACHUA is seeking a GENERAL STORE MANAGER
- Japa Group: Causeless Mercy
- Madri dd, South Africa: More than 2000 Books Distributed on Maha Harinam - 7 May 2011
- David Haslam, UK: Reply to HH Mahavishnu Swami (Africa)
- Vraja Kishor, JP: God is Never Selfish? (Gita 11.36)
- Gouranga TV: Lecture – Vatsal Prabhu – SB 10.2.16 – Surrendering to Krishna
- ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Prabhavisnu Swami
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Saturday 21 May 2011--Engaging Entire World in Krishna's Service--and--Dr. Stephen Hawking's Destination?
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Saturday 21 May 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: Engaging Entire World in Krishna's Service Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA This world does not belong to us. It belongs to Krishna or God. We come into it naked, and we leave it naked? So how can we claim than anything here is our property? We clearly cannot, because everything here is God's property. This is why Krishna's pure devotee, the bona fide spiritual master, wants to teach the human population how to engage everything in Krishna's service. This simple act of reconnecting everything with the Supreme Person will transform the present day ever-increasingly hellish global situation into a heaven on earth. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Prabhupada Teaches His Disciples http://www.backtohome.com/images/Prabhupada/SP-w-disciples.jpg Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Dr. Stephen Hawking's Destination? Dear Srila Gurudeva, Kindly please accept my humble obeisances at your lotus feet. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! The scientist, Dr. Stephen Hawking, who is nowadays considered to be the world's greatest scientist, says, There is nothing like heaven or hell in this universe. Such stories are simply created by smart men, only to scare the people in general who are very much afraid of death. Is this not in contradiction of truth mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam How reliable is his statement? Is he not misguiding the entire human society in this world? What will be his destiny after his death, according to Vedic philosophy? Why does Krishna send such damn fools to this world? Always desirous to serve you , D.V.P., India Answer: Scientific Experience of What He Denies Stephen Hawking is one of the world's leading idiots because he presents patently ridiculous non-truth as science. For example he states that everything came out of absolutely nothing, even though there has never been even one scientific experiment in the entire history of science to demonstrate that anything can come out of nothing. The most amazing thing is that millions of people all over the world are so naïve and gullible that they applaud him as the world's greatest scientist. This reminds us of the saying: Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Lord Sri Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita that He provides the living beings both with remembrance and forgetfulness. Therefore because so many people desire to be misled, Krishna facilitates them with such rascals as Dr. Hawking. For those who wish to remember Him, Krishna sends the bona fide spiritual master. The Dr. Hawkings of this world refuse to take lessons from the bona fide spiritual master. They greatly mislead the human society by inducing people to become atheists. Such rascals go to the darkest region of the universe upon leaving their present body. It is not a matter of philosophy. It is a scientific fact, according to the stringent law of karma. Dr. Hawking denies the existence of hell, but very soon he will personally experience what is hell and become convinced that his speculation about its non-existence was a gross miscalculation. Out of compassion upon him we pray that he can come to his senses and realize his mistake before it is too late. 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. 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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: KCU 12HR Kirtan
This is the second last batch of pictures from the Kuli Catch Up bash:
the 12Hour Kirtan on Sunday 1st May.
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Dandavats.com: Sri Radharaman Lalji’s Appearance Day
By Deena Bandhu dasa
May 17th Vaisakha Purnima was the auspicious appearance day of the self-manifest Deity, Sri Radharaman Lalji, one of the most important and beloved Deities of Vrindavan who was served by Gopala Bhatta Goswami. It was celebrated with great pomp and ceremony with an incredible abhisheka with more than 2,000 liters of milk!
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Vraja Kishor, JP: Astrologer Reveals Mahaprabhu’s Past Life!
Image by ISKCON desire tree via Flickr
Kṛṣṇadās Kavirāj tells to following delightful story in the final chapter of the first part (Adi-līlā) of his biography of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu – the Caitanya Caritāmṛta.
One day an all-knowing astrologer came to Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s door. Prabhu showed him all honor and then put a question to him. “Who was I in my past life, according to astrology?”
The astrologer set to work. After calculating planetary conditions and contemplating them carefully, the all-knower astrologer perceived the image of a being composed of extremely brilliant light, in which rested all the spiritual worlds. Seeing this man to be the absolute truth, the supreme spirit, the ultimate controller, great confusion struck the astrologer. He was at a loss for words.
Prabhu once again asked, so the all-seeing astrologer finally spoke. “In your past life you were the perfectly complete shelter of the universes, the Supreme Personality of Godhead with infinitude in all six categories of opulence. In the present you are the same as you were in the past: the very form of inconceivable, eternal bliss.”
With a smile Prabhu mildly dismissed him., “You don’t know anything! In my past life I was a cowherd boy. I took birth in the home of a cowhearder and there I cared for the cows. Because of these good deeds, I have now become the son of a Brahmana.”
The all-knower said, “By contemplating the planetary positions I perceived so much majesty in you. Therefore I become confused. But I know for certain that the divine form I envisioned is in your past life is non-different from this body you now have. To see any difference between them would be the spell of your maya (illusory magic). Whatever you were in the past, and whatever you are now, I pay my respects to you!”
How did Prabhu pay the astrologer for his reading? He honored him with the highest treasure in the 14 worlds or beyond, the treasure of pure, ecstatic divine love of Godhead.
Vraja Kishor, JP: Un Astrólogo Revela a Mahaprabhu su Vida Pasada!
Un día un astrólogo muy sabio vino a la puerta de Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu. Prabhu le demostró todo el honor y después le preguntó. “Quién fuí Yo en mi última vida, según la astrología?”
El astrólogo se puso a calcular y trabajar. Después de calcular las condiciones planetarias y de comtemplarlas cuidadosamente, el sabio astrólogo percibió la imagen de un integrado por la luz extremadamente brillante, en la cual reclinó todos los mundos espirituales. Considerando a este hombre por ser la Verdad Absoluta, el Espíritu Supremo, el Último Regulador, una gran confusión se adueñó del astrólogo. Él había pérdido la palabra, se quedó enmudecido.
Prabhu le pidió de nuevo, así que el astrólogo vidente finalmente se lo dijo como pudo. “En su última vida usted fue el Abrigo perfectamente Completo de los Universos, la Personalidad Suprema de Dios con la totalidad en las seis categorías de opulencia. En el presente Usted es igual que fue en el pasado: la misma Forma de Dicha Inconcebible, Eterna.”
¡Con una sonrisa Prabhu lo despidió suavemente., “usted no sabe nada de mi! En mi última vida fui un muchacho vaquero. Tomé nacimiento en el hogar de un ganadero y allí cuidé de las vacas. Debido a estos buenos hechos, ahora he conseguido ser el hijo de un Brahmana.”
El Vidente le dijo, “comtemplando las posiciones planetarias percibí toda la Majestad en Usted. Por lo tanto estoy confuso. Pero sé de seguro que la forma divina que previ es en su última vida no es diferente de este cuerpo que usted tiene ahora. Para ver cualquier diferencia entre ellos sería el encanto de su maya (magia ilusoria). Lo que usted era en el pasado, y lo que usted ahora es, le presento mis respectos a usted!”
¿Cómo Prabhu pagó al astrólogo su lectura? Él lo honró con el tesoro más alto de los 14 mundos o más allá, el tesoro del amor puro divino, extático de Dios.
¡Jai Gaura Hari!
Jai Gaura Hari!
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
nitāiyer caraṇa satya, tāhāra sevaka nitya
nitāi-pada sadā koro āśa
"The lotus feet of Nityananda are not illusion; they are a fact. One who engages in the transcendental loving service of Nityananda is also transcendental. Always try to catch the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda..."
(Nitai Pada Kamala by Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura)
Here is a glimpse of Those celebrated feet of Nitai Candra.
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Japa Group: I Wanted To Chant Like A Lover
I wanted to chant with care in my moral and spiritual feelings toward Nama Prabhu. Seeing Radha-Govinda helped because They are tenderness personified. I wanted to chant like a lover. I chanted in a subdued way, because I had to because of my head. But it also lent itself towards feelings of warmth and sympathy, gentle and delicate. One should handle the holy name in that way. It was a nice feeling. I’d like to always chant in that way.
From Japa Transformations
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami• Email to a friend •
Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: hari-smrtih sarva-vipad-vimoksanam
...simply by remembrance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one becomes free from all dangers.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 8.10.55
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Mayapuris, USA: Our Official Mridanga Music Video
Mayapuris, USA: Our Official Mridanga Music Video
Mridanga Music video featuring The Temple Dancers. Spread the word!
The Mayapuris Official Music Video
Mridanga Music video featuring The Temple Dancers. Spread the word!• Email to a friend •
ISKCON News.com: Bhakti Yoga: In Search of a Lost Love
Mother Nature is always speaking. She speaks in a language understood within the peaceful mind of the sincere observer. Leopards, cobras, monkeys, rivers and trees; they all served as my teachers when I lived as a wanderer in the Himalayan foothills.
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Mukunda Charan das, SA: Kirtan And Japa
Today I gave a talk at the University of Johannesburg’s Bhakti Yoga Society at the Doornfontein Campus. There were about 40 students and one or two lecturers in the audience. After some introductory words by Ananga Manjari, I was asked to speak on Kirtan and Japa.
I began my talk by writing several Sanskrit words on the chalkboard: MRIDANGA, KARATALAS and SANKHA. Since I had a mridanga strapped around my shoulders, I introduced the instrument to the students. I asked them if they knew what a tabla was. Quite a few put their hands up. So I asked one of them to describe the instrument. I explained that the tabla was a relatively modern Islamic instrument. The mridanga is older. It is a bit like the big head and the small head of a table combined. I then explained what karatalas were.
Karatalas are small cymbals made of bell-metal or bronze. They are percussion instruments. In the Vedic culture there are personalities who preside over different aspects of material creation. Just like Anglo-American. Anglo-American may have a big building in town, with a staff and mines all over Africa. But there is a personality, a Chairman of the Board, who runs Anglo. Similarly, we may see a thunderstorm outside and simply see phenomena of nature. There is, however, according to Vedic thought, a personality behind that storm – Indra. There are many powerful personalities who preside over the material nature. These are the Demigods. We may not be able to see them, but they are there. And the power behind the Demigods is the Supreme Lord, Krishna. Nothing is produced in this world without a person behind it. Similarly, everything has an ultimate source God. There is a personality who presides over death, and he is called Yamaraja. It is said that when there is kirtan (chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna in the assembly of devotees) and the sound of karatalas and mridangas, then there can be no influence of Yamaraja or Death. When we chant together, we are in contact with the Holy Names of God and His Eternal nature. It is like a little bubble of eternity. I explained that sankha means ‘conch’. We sometimes blow the conch to add to the auspiciousness of the kirtan.
At this point in the presentation, I wrote down some more words: HARINAMA, KIRTAN, JAPA and JAPA MALA. I briefly explained what harinama was. Harinam is also a form of mantra meditation. Manas is ‘mind’ and tra means ‘to free’ – mantra means to ‘free the mind’. The mind is a bit like an internet server. It collects all the data from the senses and holds the impressions. By focussing the mind, which is the “server” of the senses, we can be liberated of all the impressions that the mind captures and the desires which stem from the senses contact with the external world. Hari is one of God’s names and nama (pronounced ‘naam’) means name ie. chanting the Holy Names of Hari/God. Kirtan is congregational chanting. One person ‘leads’ the chanting, by singing the mantra to a melody. Then everyone else follows, in unison. Those who can play mridanga and karatalas play them. This is a very powerful form of meditation in the modern age. We then performed a little kirtan.
I then explained japa meditation. Japa meditation is a more personal form of meditation. Instead of chanting to the accompaniment of musical instruments, we chant on japa mala or a ‘garland’ of wooden beads (similar to the prayer beads of the Catholics, Buddhists and Muslims). The word japa comes from the Sanskrit word jalpana which means ‘to speak’. This kind of speaking is soft speaking, not loud. A similar word is prajalpa which means mundane talk. Another Sanskrit word is gramya-katha or ‘village talk’. Like when we go on Google to see read about Rihanna’s new haircut or Wayne Rooney’s salary or the outcome of the South African elections. Most of us are very eager to speak about or hear about these things. How many of us are chanting japa? How many of us are giving time to talking about or researching spirituality and self-realization?
I cited the great Kirtan singer, Vaiyasaki prabhu. He was giving a talk to our Youth Group in Randburg and he asked the youth, ‘Do any of you watch movies?’ They all put up their hands (I got a similar response from the UJ students). How long is a movie? About two hours? We can spend two hours watching a movie, yet we say we have no time to “focus” on chanting. Some of us sleep 10 hours on the weekend. Yet we do not make time for our spiritual lives. We only need 6 hours sleep. I encouraged the students to make some time for chanting, for reading spiritual literature and for some kind of devotion in their lives. I mentioned that this would help them to cope with the stresses and problems of this world and also simply to get in touch with the divinity within their own selves. Someone asked what the names meant so I explained, briefly, that Hare was the female aspect of God, the Lord’s energy. We appeal to Hare to be engaged in the service of Krishna or the ‘all-attractive’ Lord. Rama means ‘the reservoir of all pleasure’ and, by contacting the Holy Names, we can experience spiritual pleasure.
I then explained to them how to chant on beads and we chanted about half a ’round’ of the maha mantra on japa mala. I asked the students to keep their eyes shut and quoted from the Brihad-aranyaka Purana – harer nama harer nama/harer nama eva kevalam/kalau nasty eva nasty/eva gatir anyatha – The method for self-realization in this Age of Kali is the chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna, the chanting of the Holy Names, the chanting of the Holy Names. There is no other way, there is no other way, there is no other way. I explained that in the Vedas that something that was repeated three times was very important.
I then wrote another word on the board: YAJNA (pronounced ya-gya). Yajna means ‘sacrifice’. We cannot make spiritual progress without making some sacrifice. We are giving so much time to our studies, to sleeping, to our friends and families. How much time are we giving to spirituality and to our own higher interests? Very little. As we can see, this requires some kind of sacrifice or yajna. I explained how we gave most of our waking time in sacrifice while living in the Temple. Why not sacrifice half an hour of our time to chanting japa? Or getting together with our friends and doing some kirtan? You will see the difference this will make in your lives. You all felt the spiritual effect of the chanting which we just did. These techniques of kirtan and japa are empowering tools to help us awaken our spirituality. In fact they are the Names of God Himself and just by contacting them, we are in contact with pure spirituality.
The students took prasada. One girl took a Chant and Be Happy. We chatted a little, then left.
Filed under: A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON, Mantra Meditation, Realizations, Yoga Tagged: chanting japa, japa mala, japa meditation, karatalas, kirtan, mantra meditation, mridanga, postaweek2011, self realization
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ISKCON News.com: Split Personality
Many of us on the spiritual path lead double lives. Carefully avoiding the image of a Bible-bashing religious nerd, we often end up hiding our spirituality and even compromising our principles just to fit into the crowd.
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ISKCON News.com: Sad Goswami Ashtaka Choir Music
Comentarios del usuario que ha subido el vídeo (bakaja)
Sri Sri Sad Goswami Astaka, Composed by ISKCON classical musician and composer Syamasundara Das, from Hungary.
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.• Email to a friend •
Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Radhanath Swami and a grieving cow
Wasn’t that strange?’ A cow racing alongside our speeding car at dangerously close proximity!
This happened as we traveled towards the Himalayan pilgrimage of Badrinath. Fifty-odd devotees had gone ahead by bus, and way behind were the four of us riding in a white Ambassador with Radhanath Swami.
Close to Agra, stretching out on either side of the road was a village with fields, little shops and thatched houses. Our vehicle was the lone occupant of that muddy highway as far as the eyes could strain, until a cow appeared from the nearby fields. Strangely, this humblest of animals seemed to hold a lofty ambition—of racing ahead our speeding automobile. Our chauffer panicked, for even a gentle sidewise brush of the car could prove a fatal blow on her gentle body. He raced faster until her four legs were no match to his four wheels. Relieved, all in the car sighed in unison—except for Radhanath Swami. For him, relief was still afar, and he wouldn’t find it until he knew why that cow behaved abnormally. Was she in distress? Could he be of any help to her?
Upon Radhanath Swami’s request, we stopped to inquire from the locals. One man related the cow’s sad tale: sometime back a white Ambassador had knocked down her little calf, and ever since the cow behaved in this strange way whenever a white Ambassador passed by.
Tears filled Radhanath Swami’s eyes, as he visibly fought a battle to hold them from an outpour. Words fail me—how he shared the distress of that cow! Kneeling down, pressing his cheek against her cheek, rubbing his hands against her soft neck. They shared their feelings through an unknown language, the language of love. And time stood still to watch them converse.
After a while, we all knew we had to leave. We boarded our car and sped ahead, as the cow looked on until we disappeared from her sight. Today, she had finally won the race. A white Ambassador had finally stopped to console her.
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ISKCON News.com: Junk Food ‘Guidelines’ Won’t Help
Imagine your child’s teacher was distributing twice daily snacks, before and after lunch. Now let’s pretend you complain to the principal, who tells the teacher, “Could you please stop doing that? You have until … five years from Tuesday.” Would you allow that?
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ISKCON News.com: Due to Flooding New Orleans Ratha Yatra Postponed
Due to the impending major flooding of the Mississippi River in and around New Orleans, the organizers been forced to cancel the Rathayatra Festival, scheduled for May 21 and 22.
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ISKCON News.com: Chanting, Dancing & Feasting. London’s Ancient Festival of Chariots
London’s 'Ratha-yatra’ Festival of Chariots returns to the streets of the capital on Sunday 12th June 2011. London will be illuminated by the wonderful colours and sounds of the annual Hare Krishna festival, a vibrant celebration of Indian culture and spirituality in the city.
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ISKCON News.com: The Mayapuris, Mridangum and Mother’s Day: A Divine Experience at ISKCON
The Mayapuris, a kirtan band, distinguished by their powerful mridangum beats in punk rock style, performed to a packed audience gathered at the temple’s Gauranga Hall in Houston, TX. Dedicating the program to mothers, the Mayapuris sang the kirtan ‘Jai Sri Krishna bolo Jai Radha’ to the delight of the entire audience that joined them in unison.
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Wet Weather Woes
It is difficult to be an atheist when you garden, as it is so abundantly clear we are dependent on a higher power.
April was rain every day except for 6, only once did we get two days in a row with no rain. That was so much fun April decided to stay and here we are the 20th of May on the calender but still having April temperatures and the same old same old rain rain rain.
This has been good for some plants like the Lilies of the Vally
but not so hot for the rest of the garden.
Remember my pea seedlings? I planted 3 varieties — a main season shelling pea, an early type, and a snapping type where you eat the whole pod. Caselode, the main season pea, germinated pretty well as did the fava beans seen behind the pea trellising.
In the foreground you can see the 5-10% germination I got from the snapping pea and Sugar Sprint the early pea, whose blossoms can be seen on the few that made it. At first I thought maybe the Caselode was treated, as there are chemical treatments to prevent seed rot and I thought maybe I was careless in my ordering and got the chemical but I checked and none of them were. It was a learning experience that Caselode is just better able to endure cold wet soil.
I reseeded the other peas but who knows it might get hot early next and they won’t get much of a season. Peas like cool weather, assuming it isn’t too wet, and poop out when it gets hot.
My sweet peas rotted and I had to reorder the seed and will be replanting them today. Sweet peas make a nice fragrant cutting flower.
Things I would have normally planted in April I didn’t get in until about the 10th of May because I couldn’t get any ground worked up.
I planted parsnips, carrots, beets and kohlrabi. Between the slow growing parsnips and carrots I inter-planted coriander, lettuce, spinach, red radishes and white radishes which are all up except for the coriander which either rotted or was dead seed, so I got fresh seed and replanted that.
The spinach that was overwintered in the cold frame is almost finished, mostly bolted as is the coriander that wintered over with it. Normally the spring planted crops would be coming in when that happens but there will probably be a gap due to the delay in planting. The lettuce is still holding so we might have some continuity there, and we will probably extend the asparagus harvest for an extra week or two to fill the gap.
My early tomatoes out grew their cloches (see them in the foreground, buds forming) so I have removed them and used them on basil and peppers which I put out yesterday. I also used hot caps made from milk jugs. The rest of the tomatoes were planted out in the open and not doing badly considering the cool temperatures.
I had worried about the strawberries not getting pollinated but that turned out to not be a problem.
Should have ripe berries by the 1st of June. With early, middle and late season varieties we should have them for a month or two, won’t that be heaven, real strawberries not those faux tasteless imitators found in the stores.
I have also planted some beans and edamame which might rot but worth the chance, gambling the cost of the seed against the hope it warms up. I always plant some beans early and about one out of three years actually get some early beans that way. Of course, this year the early risky planting came by about the normal planting time if I was simply going by the calendar instead of the actual conditions, which is basically we are still in April, hopefully May arrives soon.
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 316—Poem for May 20
4:25 A.M.
A Writer of Pieces
New format—I will begin with a poem written on the day of its printing. Then I will print random excerpts of books I have printed over the last 35 years. I hope this variety will be pleasing.
Poem for May 20
I woke at midnight to
thunder, lightning and rain.
Early start to japa, but
it was sluggish and mechanical.
Nevertheless I did them all
rapidly and awake. I lacked
the inspiration for a japa meditation.
Had them all counted by 3:00 A.M.The conditioned souls under the
spell of illusion suffer three
kinds of miseries: adhyatmic, caused
by the mind and body, adhibhautic,
caused by other living entities,
and adhidaivic, caused by
natural disasters under control
of the demigods. If by chance
one meets a pure devotee and
follows his orders, he can be
delivered from all these pangs.The room is quiet and warm,
too early for birdsong.
Today I’ll finish the drawing of
three sadhus looking out with
bead bags and renunciation.
The autobiog. is dormant and
may be finished. I’ll have
to think of another way
to write.Baladeva was busy
mowing the lawns.
A yoga class was being
held across the street.
Saci was running in a
race in Albany.
I was biding my time
in-between projects.
I have a morning
poem which shares
melody from my
musical soul.
It’s expressed out of
a need to sing and
a desire to entertain
poem readers with
divided lines.
The song is Krishna offered from a
servant’s life,
a little life,
a small accord,
placed at the lotus feet
with care and good intention.• Email to a friend •
H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): OLD FRIENDS
From In Praise of the Mahajanas and Other Poems
“Prahlada Maharaja
“A young boy, he didn’t practice
severe austerities in the jungle
yet more than any mystic or magician
he was impenetrable, uncanny.
When the world’s most destructive demon
sent him to be killed by his henchmen,
nothing would work.
They tried poisons, spears, throwing him
off the cliff, exposing him to the weather,
snakes, clubs swung by strongmen,
nothing worked,
and Hiranyakasipu correctly ascertained:
maybe this boy is immortal and
he shall kill me for my offenses.“How did Prahlada
protect himself?
He thought of Krishna,
accepting as mercy
what his Lord ordained.“When asked for his secret,
he freely revealed:
The best thing is to leave the world,
and practice nine ways of bhakti.“His father and teachers were outraged,
and they spoke of Vaisnava spies:
It was a brainwashing case,
Prahlada should be deprogrammed.
And they tried, but nothing could harm him.“He was a fearless preacher,
a first-class saint,
For the benefit of the hearer
he spoke his mind.“Prahlada became the full-grown emperor
yet I think of him as a boy
lying prostrate at the feet of Nsrimhadeva,
and I cling to his name, praying
for at least a grain of his
intense remembrance of God.“O small boy with hands together in prayer
tiny before the wild killer-demon,
small before the enraged Supreme Being
little boy, soul of great souls
allow me simply to remember you.
Please inspire me to apply myself
to the order of guru.“From With Srila Prabhupada in the Early Days: My Letters from Srila Prabhupada
“My dear Satsvarupa,
“Please accept my blessings. I am in receipt of your letter dated February 7, 1968 along with Srimad-Bhagavatam copies. Thank you very much for your unalloyed service. I am very much encouraged when I hear from New York and Boston that things are going nicely. Do not be worried about my material body. We are to serve through our spiritual body. The spiritual body has no connection with our material bodily afflictions. One who is not afflicted by the material body or mental diseases is ready to enter into the spiritual kingdom of God.
“You can arrange all my needs in Boston in May, as my program is to go to New York in April and go to Boston in May, and then in June to go to Montreal. Herewith find one tape of 2-21-68. Offer my blessings to Pradyumna, to Jadurani, and to the other boy who has joined you. Be always absorbed in Krishna consciousness, and He will give you all intelligence.
“Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
“Prabhupada begins this letter by thanking me for my ‘unalloyed service.’ I would like to further explain how important this statement was to me. If I am to comment honestly on my letters from Srila Prabhupada, I must not merely echo the philosophy of Krishna consciousness but recall the emotional and spiritual reciprocation when I received his letters.
“A letter from the spiritual master is, in one sense, above the scriptures. In no scripture does the Supreme Lord say, ‘Thank you for your unalloyed service.’ The sastras state that devotees who chant Krishna’s names are dear to Him, but an individual reader of the sastra may not know positively whether this statement applies to him, and even if he does know, the injunction applies generally to all devotees. But in this letter I am addressed. That very address, ‘My dear Satsvarupa,’ is the name Prabhupada gave me, the name by which I am known to Krishna. This unique gift of the spiritual master is even more valuable than the gift of the sastras. The Mahabharata explains:
‘tarko’pratisthah srutayo vibhinna
nasav rsir yasya matam na bhinnam
dharmasya tattvam nihitam guhayam
mahajano yena gatah sa panthah“‘Realization of the Absolute Truth cannot be attained by pursuing logic, since one’s logic may be defeated by a better logician; a philosopher does not become distinguished unless he defeats all the previous philosophers; learning about the Absolute from the sastras is very difficult because of their variety and grave meaning; but the Absolute Truth is hidden within the hearts of the unalloyed pure devotees; therefore one should follow the path of the mahajanas.’
“From this verse we can understand that receiving personal instruction from a mahajana such as Srila Prabhupada is more valuable than simply studying many sastras. But since I did not think my service was ‘unalloyed,’ how was I to understand the statement in this letter? I understood that Prabhupada was being kind, but he was not cheaply flattering me. Out of his liberal kindness, he thought my working full time for him was unalloyed. I wanted to be an unalloyed servant, and Srila Prabhupada’s blessings in this letter pulled me strongly in that direction.
“On a certain level, my service and that of my Godbrothers was ‘unalloyed’ and ‘pure’—and Srila Prabhupada, in recognizing a certain purity in us (even though we were neophytes), was raising us upwards. Ultimately, he had inconceivably made us unalloyed servants. Our connection with Prabhupada is inconceivable; therefore, it is also possible that one who works for him can, by his grace, become an unalloyed devotee. Prabhupada says so, and this is confirmed by Sanatana Gosvami:
“‘yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam’“‘As bell metal is turned to gold when mixed with mercury in an alchemical process, so one who is properly trained and initiated by a bona-fide spiritual master immediately becomes a brahmana. (Cc. Adi 7.47)
“In this letter Prabhupada also shows concern for his fledgling centers in Boston and New York. He warns me, however, not to misplace my concern for his health. Don’t be worried about my material body, he says.
“There are several points to consider here. Prabhupada is referring to a letter I sent him in which I express concern for his health and hope he had been freed of his disease. He sees a defect in the way I stated my concern. There are a number of ways to understand this statement:
“1. Prabhupada’s illness was not material because of infection of karma. His body was spiritual, and his illness was not ordinary.
“2. Even if he appeared afflicted, that did not stop his Krishna consciousness. Devotional service is uninterrupted and can be done even in one’s mind. Prabhupada’s Krishna consciousness, therefore, was unaffected—even in reverses such as illness.
“3. Therefore, even if a pure devotee is disturbed by apparent bodily distress, his mind remains pure in Krishna consciousness and he is eligible to go back to Godhead. Sastra states:
“‘tat te ‘nukampam susamikshamano
bhunjana evatma-kritam vipakam
hrid-vag-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te
jiveta yo mukti-pade sa daya-bhak’“‘My dear Lord, one who constantly waits for Your causeless mercy to be bestowed upon him and who goes on suffering the resultant reactions of his past misdeeds, offering You respectful obeisances from the core of his heart, is surely eligible to become liberated, for it has become his rightful claim.’
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 10.14.8)
“4. When Prabhupada referred here to ‘mental disease,’ he meant material desires. Prabhupada impressed upon me that if one is in pure Krishna consciousness, he should never be called diseased or sick. Apparently I had addressed Prabhupada in that way. ‘Disease’ is always material. Prabhupada therefore noticed some defect in my concern.
“Similarly, my Godbrother Madhusudana once wrote Prabhupada about Prabhupada’s ill health. Madhusudana also got a letter which began, ‘My dear boy,’ and informed him that his thinking that Prabhupada’s illness was like an ordinary victim’s was a misjudgment.
“5. Even though one is in good physical health, if he is afflicted by bodily attachment and a separate attitude from devotion to Krishna, he is diseased.
“6. Thus we have to always see the spiritual master in terms of his spiritual position.
“By saying ‘Don’t be worried about my material body,’ Prabhupada also distinguishes between a material and a spiritual body. Actually he had no material body, and his ‘affliction’ was either a transcendental symptom of ecstasy or a result of the sinful activities of his disciples—or it may have been a chance for his disciples to serve him. However, his disciples should not think that their spiritual master’s illness is his contamination.
“The letter also contains items of ongoing reciprocation. Prabhupada announces that he is going to come to Boston in May. Also Prabhupada encloses another tape.
“As I read the letter in preparation to write this commentary, I again feel the joy of receiving one of Prabhupada’s tapes in the mail. Think of the spontaneous joy of a child who may even jump up and down upon being released from school, or anticipating a summer at the beach, or receiving his desired Christmas present—that spontaneous joy, increased many times, was my satisfaction when I received these tapes. Receiving a tape meant I could again hear Prabhupada speaking Srimad-Bhagavatam and I could type it to my heart’s content.
“Prabhupada also writes in the end of this letter that I should ‘be always absorbed in Krishna consciousness, and Krishna will give you all intelligence.’ We often see statements like this in Prabhupada’s letters. This confirms the philosophical point that the Supersoul is the caitya-guru. Here the guru is confirming the caitya-guru. We should therefore desire to contact the Supersoul to get intelligence to carry out the order of our spiritual master.”
• Email to a friend •
Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Interview : Food Blogger Greg Henry of Sippity Sup!
Food blogger Greg Henry of Sippity Sup! cooks ups fresh and inspired meals in his West Coast kitchen. Part of the LA food blogging scene, his blog takes readers on a delicious holiday to a place where fat grams disappear in the sun and everyone eats their green vegetables! His blog is a world of slow-paced food and fast paced prose. Greg is one of the judges for the Horton Brasses Contest happening this month. Check out his encouraging words on home entertaining. Greg does not hold back. Although I’ve found his blog to be a source of great inspiration for vegetarian meals, he strongly positions himself on top of the food pyramid in this interview. It will be interesting to read the comments on this one!When filling out forms, what do you list as “profession?”Dreamer!
You’re an omnivore. Many of my readers are vegetarians. Why should they stop by your blog and check out the posts?I am not a vegetarian. I am not a vegan. I certainly respect people who make those choices, but I simply do not understand why they would choose to do so. I am not the kind of person who chooses to limit myself. I am not a “live by a strict and narrow set of rules or die” kinda guy. I am far too young (and always will be!) to say, “Oh, I no longer need those experiences. I am happy with just these experiences.”However, I am also smart enough to know that people who choose to be vegetarian or vegan probably have a whole set of reasons for choosing it. And interestingly, these reasons probably have nothing to do with what I see as the limitations of these choices. While I would not say this makes me stupid. I’ll admit it may make me uninformed.
That said, ironically, we eat vegetarian or vegan 2 or 3 nights a week. While I would never get on the “no-way, no-how” train, or jump through convoluted hoops to force some dish to be vegan, I do believe there are health benefits to limiting the amount of meat you eat. So there are many choices for the vegetarian or vegan to consider at Sippity Sup. Because to me, there are so many beautiful foods and recipes I want to experience that just happen to be vegetarian or vegan. Especially in Indian cuisine (which really interests me). These foods and recipes are perfect just the way they are. Why would I limit myself from eating them? I wouldn’t, nor would I jump through convoluted hoops just to add meat to them.
You live in L.A. where the food truck trend is in full force. Do you have a favorite?Don Chow: Mexican/Cinese FusionNom Nom Truck: VietnameseFlying Pig: The Pig and all its gooey parts
What is the biggest mess you’ve made in your kitchen?I regularly host blogger pot lucks at my house. Despite the fact that most of the dishes are created in the blogger’s own kitchen and brought in, they always manage to make a collassal mess. Not that I mind, because I am of the belief that a neat cook is not to be trusted. They must have their minds on things other than the food.
Recently you hosted a dinner party full of various L.A. food bloggers. I saw the pictures of your elegantly set table. I think every person at the table had a DSLR in hand, outfitted with a macro lens. What’s it like to host a dinner where all your guests are food bloggers? How does it differ from entertaining non-blogging guests?I have a rule in my “real life”. It’s simple. No Cameras At The Table! I don’t bring mine to restaurants and I don’t photograph my meals at home during dinner time. I see blogging as a part of my life (and only one aspect of it). To keep the boundaries I have a blog schedule and try to stick to it. I also have other rules that help keep my blog from becoming the center of my life. That said, I break ALL my rules for my blogging buddies. Because blogging is what we have in common and I would not want to stiffle anybody’s creativity.
How often do you entertain at home? What is the most important element of throwing a successful dinner party?We entertain easily once a week.But not always with a traditional sit down dinner party. Though I do love those too. I live in Hollywood. I work in the entertainment industy. Entertaining is an expected part of the program. Frankly I can’t afford to pick up restaurant tabs every time I am with colleagues. But I can throw a mean dinner party, pool party, popcorn, casual cocktail party… Parties in the desert or parties in town. People seem to really appreciate the change of pace. Trendy restaurants jammed with beautiful people has a certain allure. But a smartly planned party can be just plain special. Even the mist jaded fashionista can appreciate them. I guess I just answered the second part of your question, because the most imprtant thing about entertaining guests is to entertain them in a way that reflects who you are. That goes for entertaining at home or taking clients out to dinner. I can’t tell you how many times people have said to me “Oh, Greg I could never have you to my house! I could never compete with your cooking>’ I always so. “So don’t compete. Do something you love. Choose something you are great at. Be it a mountain hike, a surf lesson, or your Grandma’s meatloaf. Everyone has special things they can share with friends.”
I just read your 2009 post on iceberg lettuce. I shamelessly admit that I’ve been a fan of the lettuce since 2005, yet do remember it as the bane of my youth. Can you think of any other produce that’s gotten a bad rap from mis- or over-use that deserves a resurgence in popularity?I am constantly shocked by people dislike of beets. I mean I honestly have trouble not grabbing them by the shoulders and shaking some sense into them. Beets may be my favorite vegetable…
You cook on a Lacanche range. What were you cooking on previous to the Lacanche? Was there a learning curve? Do you speak French? TELL US!!!! What is it like to cook on a LACANCHE!?When we bought this house there was a commercial gas range. ^ burners and a ton of BTUs. I believe it was from a now defunct comapany called American Range. If the ovens had been more dependable I would have kept the range through my remodel. But it was more than 20 years old and some of the gas jets were clogged in the ovens heating unit and the heat was very uneven. Which may have been a good thing because I love my Lacanche. But there certainly was a learning curve. The ovens are tiny by American standards. They are designed to cook one thing at a time and to cook it perfectly. The walls are close to the food and this makes a very even radiate type of heat. Je parle un peu de français. Juste assez impressionner mes amis…
In a previous life, you worked as a photographer. Not a wedding photographer. Not a school photographer. But a bona fide Hollywood photographer. What are the similarities and what are the differences in shooting starlets and shooting food? Which is easier to work with?No Comment (that’s just sooo Hollywood, huh?).
If you only had access to one fresh herb for your next 10 meals, which would you choose and why?Mint. Especially spearmint. I use it to replace basil often. It grows like mad. I always have it around and it has an herbal quality that is very versatile. But remember I said spearmint. Not peppermint. Peppermint has too much menthol to work in just anything.
What cooking adventures are on your horizon for the upcoming summer?I am going to Norway to on a culinary tour in June. It is hosted by Travel Norway and designed to promote tourism in that country. I am going to cover the trip from my food centric POV. Get ready for lot’s of terrific sustainable seafood, and I hope some reindeer recipes too.
• Email to a friend •
Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Punishment by Pickles
Next time a friend says “there can never be too many pickles!” I will ignore her. Really I will. Because you know what? There can be too many pickles. There really, really can! Especially if you are making them yourself. Last week I broke the number one rule in home canning: taking on more than you can humanly handle. Excited about the price of cukes from Rogers Farm ($18/bushel) I went ahead and purchased 2 bushels of fresh picked kirbies. At one time. Plus a flat of strawberries. It took two days for us to can this
crapstuff and all I can really say is, f you hate your friends–I mean really hate them and want to punish them–invite them over for canning too many cucumbers.We tried to make the time go by quicker by speaking in vague Eastern European accents trying to convince ourselves that if we do not get the pickles made, our families will go hungry this winter. It was a very involved dialogue, complete with the voices of pleased little children eager to get their piece of a pickle–their only sustenance for the day. Actually, I hope you are reading this text with your own lugubrious European accent because it makes it more authentic. Seriously, can you imagine having to can all your food for the winter as if your life depended on it? No fresh vegetables, only rotting potatoes and cabbage and turnips and rutabagas in the cellar. We decided that eating local food is much easier to do in warmer climates like Florida and California where green vegetables grow in the winter. Minnesota, not so much.
- I bought a whole lot of kirbies. This is 1/4 of them.
Padi prepping a flat of strawberries for jam. It was well in the mid-90's. The house was hot. We were not as cheery as this woman looks in this picture.
Bread & butter pickles: a whole lot of sugar means a whole lot of weight watchers points
Stirring the pot, day 2 of the pickle punishment. We really needed to get these cucumbers canned before it was time to pick the kids up from school.
This represents 1/3 of the bounty--my share. There's bread and butter pickles, relish, dill spears and strawberry jam.
I kind of want to take a break from canning for a while.
• Email to a friend •H.H. Sivarama Swami: Sulalita dd asks to what extent should devotees watch the news on the internet, be aware of current affairs or even listen to speeches of politicians
H.H. Sivarama Swami: Sulalita dd asks to what extent should devotees watch the news on the internet, be aware of current affairs or even listen to speeches of politicians
Sulalita dd asks to what extent should devotees watch the news on the internet, be aware of current affairs or even listen to speeches of politicians May 19th, 2011 [ 10:44 ] H.H. Sivarama Swami: Sulalita dd asks to what extent should devotees watch the news on the internet, be aware of current affairs or even listen to speeches of politicians• Email to a friend •H.H. Sivarama Swami: 2012 and the impending nuclear war
H.H. Sivarama Swami: 2012 and the impending nuclear war
How should we get ready? (Skype conference with Russian disciples – English only.) May 20th, 2011 [ 13:57 ] H.H. Sivarama Swami: 2012 and the impending nuclear warHow should we get ready? (Skype conference with Russian disciples – English only.)
• Email to a friend •Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: It is all nectar
Yes, you are correct to say that "It is all nectar," everything having relation with Krishna or Lord Chaitanya is nectarine and our literatures in our line of Vaisnava acharyas is so nice that there is no comparison anywhere in the world for it, so I want that my disciples like you and others should take this task very seriously to give the world the access to this great treasure of Vaisnava literature by producing innumerable books and small booklets, and that force of literary influence will change everything and save the people from their miserable condition and corrupt status of life.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Hayagriva, 22 March, 1972
• Email to a friend •Book Distribution News: It is all nectar
Yes, you are correct to say that "It is all nectar," everything having relation with Krishna or Lord Chaitanya is nectarine and our literatures in our line of Vaisnava acharyas is so nice that there is no comparison anywhere in the world for it, so I want that my disciples like you and others should take this task very seriously to give the world the access to this great treasure of Vaisnava literature by producing innumerable books and small booklets, and that force of literary influence will change everything and save the people from their miserable condition and corrupt status of life.
>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Hayagriva, 22 March, 1972
• Email to a friend •H.H. Sivarama Swami
Krsna is so sublime and transcendental that He cannot be realized by mental speculation or by personal endeavor, education or material acquisition. He can only be approached and understood clearly by our service attitude, engaging all our senses in His service.
- Srila Prabhupada
• Email to a friend •H.H. Sivarama Swami
Regarding astrology, you should not listen to any of these so-called astrologers—strictly avoid. Don’t even see them. What is the use of seeing them? Astrology is meant for the materialist, but a spiritualist does not care for the future. Everything is dependent upon Krsna. So where is the necessity of astrology? The devotee’s principle is, let there happen anything as Krsna desires, let me remain sincere devotee, that’s all. Pure devotee is never interested in this astrology.
- Srila Prabhupada
• Email to a friend •Dandavats.com: Richard Dawkins Smashed
Parasuram das: Richard Dawkins/The Darwinist/Athiest gets philosophically smashed Irish style in this lastest groundbreaking video. Music recorded by Dwakadisa Prabhu. Video by Achintya Prabhu. Lyrics by Parasuram and Mahamantra. Dancers are Freddy, Benji, Charley, Coco, and Paddy
• Email to a friend •Dandavats.com: ComputerDoctor of ALACHUA is seeking a GENERAL STORE MANAGER
Lilananda dasa: ComputerDoctor Corp is seeking a GENERAL STORE MANAGER to lead our Alachua, Florida Store Team. ComputerDoctor is located on Main St in Alachua and is the oldest locally owned and operated Computer Store in the Alachua/Gainesville area. It is our goal to offer a retail experience second to none
• Email to a friend •Japa Group: Causeless Mercy
Hare Krsna dear devotees, I hope your week has been fine and your chanting with lots of love and devotion. I got a really beautiful prayer from Pralada Maharaj to Lord Nrsimhadeva. O my Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, original spiritual master of the entire world, what is the difficulty for You, who manage the affairs of the universe, in delivering the fallen souls engaged in Your devotional service? You are the friend of all suffering humanity, and for great personalities it is necessary to show mercy to the foolish. Therefore I think that You will show Your causeless mercy to persons like us, who engage in Your service - the service of Your devotees. SB 7.9.42 In this age of Kali we are all suffering and the Lord came and gave us the medicine, the chanting of the Holy Names, if we stick to this method we will be saved and cured not only the external body but the soul will be relieved from endless suffering. your servant, Aruna devi
• Email to a friend •Madri dd, South Africa: More than 2000 Books Distributed on Maha Harinam - 7 May 2011
More than 2000 of Srila Prabhupada's books in English, 5000 pamphlets, 4500 pkts of caramelized peanut prasadam was distributed during the harinam. Of the 100 devotees that attended, some distributed books, others chanted with intense enthusiasm, some held mantra cards and flags and some carried bags for the book distributors.
The weather was rainy and cloudy as we congregated in the car park and took our sankirtana bags. So the devotees gathered under shelter and chanted on the street below the parking. Some of us started book distribution. The sun came out for the two hours that the harinam lasted and as we returned to the parkade the heavy rain resumed.
The mini bus taxi's stopping off to drop and pick up passengers proved a good spot. Generally here in Johannesburg mini bus taxi drivers are known to be dangerous and short tempered. It is common knowledge that they generally carry guns and don't necessarily obey road rules. However the smiley faces and friendly approaches of the book distributors even earned their attention and many left with books. It was fun to stop a taxi and distribute books to everyone inside even the driver.
The area that we go on harinam is central Johannesburg. It is inundated with many shoppers. Actually there are so many people that we are only able to reach a few of them. If a person rejects a book there are so many more people to approach. This helps build a momentum of one's enthusiasm. 20 years ago I recall we would go to the same spot every Saturday. And when I was a full time book distributor we would do the spot on some weekdays too. One can meet people from all over Africa there. And they all speak fluent English so we distribute books in English and are able to have great conversations with them.
In the week that followed Nrsimhananda Prabhu received calls from people who received the pamphlets that had his mobile number and the addresses of the local temples. People wanted to know more about Krishna consciousness.
A week later one devotee who owns a business in Turfontein, which is far from the harinam spot encountered a gentleman who walked into his business. As the devotee attended to his request the man asked him if he was a Buddhist. The devotee pointed to a picture of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna that he had on his wall and asked the man if he knew Them and if he heard of the Hare Krishna Movement.
The man pulled out a copy of 'Raja Vidya The King of Knowledge' and asked the devotee if he read this book. The devotee asked him where he got that book from and the man said he got it the previous Saturday from a distributor in central Johannesburg. Since then he had been carrying the book everywhere he went and was reading its contents with great interest.
After the harinam and book distribution many devotees spoke of their realizations. One said that he realized being part of Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement meant that he simply had to do sankirtana. Many others remarked that it was the best day of their life because in participating in sharing the mercy with others they were able to feel so much happiness themselves. Nrsimhananda Prabhu told me that even though he served as temple president for many years in the past and organized many festivals and Ratha Yatra's and even had acquired land and established a temple for the installed Deities this service of organizing maha harinam with book distribution and simultaneous harinam and prasad distribution gave him unparalleled feelings of happiness. Maybe because it involves reaching out to new persons.
After the harinam book distributors were in agreement with Nrsimhananda Prabhu's idea that we should 'double it' for the next maha harinam in August this year. So the target is now 4000 books and 8000 pkts of caramelised peanut prasadam.
We pray that by the mercy of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and all his sincere followers that we may be able to be of continued service to his great mission. Even though our attempts are simply like a spider trying to help the great Hanuman build the bridge to Lanka, with sincerity we pray to continue to be part of the spreading of Srila Prabhupada's teachings.
200 sankirtan bags packed with books, prasad and pamphlets
Jubilant devotees from the Soweto Yatra
Recipient of the Mercy
Krsnalaya Mataji distributing books
Book distributors grabbed two bags each to distribute!
Young devotee children did not want to miss out on the mercy
Mother and daughter distribute books
Books were well received
Taxis in motion must be stopped for a book!
The kirtan was reaching such heights of ecstasy while the books were being distributed!
Cars in motion were stopped to get the mercy
Harinam organizer Nrsimhananda Prabhu calls for 2nd vehicle to deliver more books
Everyone must get some mercy
The holy name resounded
The devotees were blissed out
Together we made a difference
Books finished in less than 2hrs and the distributors chanted with greater ecstasy
HG Nrsimhananda Prabhu thanks the devotees in the car park and gets everyone's approval to double it next time. • Email to a friend •David Haslam, UK: Reply to HH Mahavishnu Swami (Africa)
very well said Mahaman Prabhu. A nice balanced perspective. I never knew about the restaurant and the predominant African involvement, its great news. In 1975 myself and Partha dasa acbsp started the African preaching programme inside the temple compound with prasadam, kirtan, and very basic philosophy. So its good to see Srila Prabhupada’s desire is [...]
• Email to a friend •Vraja Kishor, JP: God is Never Selfish? (Gita 11.36)
God is Never Selfish? (Gita 11.36)
Vande ‘ham sri guroh, sri yuta pada kamala, sri gurun vaishnavams ca Śrī Rūpam, sajrajatam, saha-gana-raghunāthan vitams tam sa Jīvan Sādvaitam, Sāvadhutam, parijana-sahitam, Kṛṣṇa-caitanya devam Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa pādān, saha-gana-lalitā, Śrī Viśākhān vitams ca
I pause to offer respects to lotus-feet of my guru: Sripad Dhanurdhara Swāmī , and to all my gurus: the Vaishnavas, The Six Goswamis, The associates of Mahāprabhu, The friends of Śrī Śrī Rādhā Kṛṣṇa, At the beautiful feet of the divine couple.
Here is the Sanskrit, word-for-word, translation, and commentary to Bhagavad Gita 11.36 by his divine grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swāmī Prabhupāda: http://vedabase.net/bg/11/36/
Arjuna has now witnessed Kṛṣṇa’s display of the amazing Universal Form which has bent the very nature of time and space within the materially manifested form of divinity. After this humbling experience, Arjuna says:
It is fitting! (sthāne)
Kṛṣṇa may inquire, “Why is it fitting??? I have shown you how time and destiny kills everyone under my command. Why is that ‘fitting,’ Arjuna? Is it not cruel?”
Arjuna answers:
You are the master of the senses. (hṛṣīkeśa)
The meaning is this: “Ordinary people are controlled by their sensual desires. Therefore they make alliances and enemies. They reward their allies and punish their enemies. But you are in full control of your senses. You have no desires to fulfill. Therefore you do not make any alliances or enemies. You treat everyone justly and befittingly.”
He continues:
The entire world feels joy by hearing about you (Sankīrtan) and falls in love with you. (tava prakīrtyā jagat prahṛ ṣyaty anurajyate ca)
In other words, because Kṛṣṇa is the master of his senses, never controlled by them – he is never selfish in the least. Thus he is the most wonderful being whom we could ever possibly give our hearts to! When people hear about this by Krsna-nama-guna-lila-Rūpa-sankirtana they naturally become attracted to this darling being.
The word prakīrtyā is, in my opinion, a synonym for sankīrtana.
Kṛṣṇa may reply to this by saying, “You say this because you are my dear friend, you love me no matter what I might do, but how impartial is your evaluation of my character? I don’t think it is very! You have just seen my universal form delighting the demigods, my allies, and destroying the demons, my enemies. How can you say I am fair!?”
Arjuna replies:
The wild beings flee from your awesome power in fear, but those who are in the company of the enlightened offer respect to that same awesome power. (rakṣāḿsi bhītāni diśo dravanti sarve namasyanti ca siddha-sańghāḥ).
The meaning is this, “Kṛṣṇa, different people experience your undeniable power in different ways – but that is not due to your treating either of them any differently! It is due to they themselves choosing to react to your power in different ways. The wild demons feel themselves to be your enemies, you do not think of them as such! You display your awesome power to one and all equally. But because the wild ones fear you, they flee from this power and thus bring about their own ruination. The enlightened ones consider themselves to be your allies, but you do not have any initial bias towards them in any way different from how you initially feel towards demons. Thus you show them the same awesome power that you show the demons. But because these beings are in association with those who are wise, they respect the authority of your power and do not fear it. Instead they respect it. Thus the same force which brings ruination to the wild soul brings peace to the sage. On your part there is no difference in how you act towards either. The difference is only in how your actions are received by different parties.
“Therefore my dear friend, I say that everything you have shown me in this Universal form is right and just, as are you!”
In conclusion:
This is all very wonderful, but the most wonderful part of all is that Kṛṣṇa is Hṛṣkeśa – the true proprietor of my own eyes, ears, nose, mouth, etc.
That may be wonderful, but really, what is more wondrous still is that by Kṛṣṇa-kirtana I can regain my direct relationship with this perfect lover: Śrī Kṛṣṇa. “The entire world feels joy by hearing about you (Sankīrtan) and falls in love with you!”
Another important conclusion is that Kṛṣṇa is initially impartial to the enlightened siddha-sanga. But because they favorably react to him, he is naturally indebted to return their favorable nature and become their friends. Thus Kṛṣṇa is most certainly the true blue friend of his devotee, but he remains impartial, because it is not he who selects the devotee, but the devotee who selects him. I believe that contemplation on this will make it clear, so for fear of writing a chapter of a novel, I will leave it at that.
Hari bol.
• Email to a friend •Gouranga TV: Lecture – Vatsal Prabhu – SB 10.2.16 – Surrendering to Krishna
Lecture – Vatsal Prabhu – SB 10.2.16 – Surrendering to Krishna
SB 10.2.16: Thus the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul of all living entities and who vanquishes all the fear of His devotees, entered the mind of Vasudeva in full opulence.
SB 10.2.16: Entonces, la Suprema Personalidad de Dios, que es la Superalma de todas las entidades vivientes y destruye todos los temores de Sus devotos, entró en la mente de Vasudeva con toda Su opulencia.
Lecture – Vatsal Prabhu – SB 10.2.16 – Surrendering to Krishna
• Email to a friend •ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Prabhavisnu Swami
Srimad Bhagavatam 12.6.71 - 12.7.10 - Srimad Bhagavatam completely rejects all the materially motivated religious activities (dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra...).
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Wow, very moving and nice! It is so lovely to hear this beautiful prayer by Srinivasa Acarya glorifying the six goswamis of Vrndavana, sung in this style.
@AkruranathaDasa Thanks
Thanks for everybody.
@bryanroig It was at University of Pécs. That time I was a lecturer there.
Now I'm working on an other place.
very meditative, where is this choir from? and how did they get the idea to do a vaisnava prayer in this format?
@maryla108 This is a university choir. I asked them :).