On Saturday 23 October, 6pm – 9pm – Join Crystal Dolphin, the Bhajan Babas, and the Natyashakti Dance Troupe for an evening of story telling, singing, and dance at the Masonic Hall in Burleigh Heads (QLD). Dinner will be served throughout the evening, which celebrates the tale of Krishna lifting Govardhan Hill and saving the villagers of Vrindavan from a great inundation of rain. Remember that Queensland doesn’t follow daylight savings time if you’re coming over the border from NSW.
Namabhasa is called the clearing stage because it clears or purifies the heart of all sins. This is the intermediate stage where one hears the holy name attentively; carefully avoids offenses; and chants the holy name with determination and enthusiasm. Although not perfect, namabhasa is very beneficial because it leads to pure chanting and krsna-prema.
From The Art Of Chanting Hare Krsna by Mahanidhi Swami
Yet more recipes by my cooking guru, Yamuna Devi. Before attempting to cook any of her recipes, make sure you are aware of the difference between US measures and Australian/metric measures. See below*
Moong, North India’s most popular dal, was a great favourite of my spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. It is easy to digest and has a good flavor and high vitamin content. The spinach, preferably fresh, enhances the texture and marbled color of this power-packed dal soup, and the fried spices poured in at the end of the cooking add lashings of flavor. (note from Kurma: moong dal is also known as split yellow mung beans.)
Preparation time (after assembling ingredients): 10 minutes, Cooking time: 1¼ hours or 25 minutes in a pressure cooker, Serves: 5 or 6.
2/3 cup (145g) split moong dal, without skins, 8 ounces (230g) fresh spinach, washed, trimmed, patted dry an coarsely chopped, or ½ of a 10-ounce package of chopped frozen spinach, defrosted (140g), 6½ cups (1.5 liters) water (5½ cups/1.3 liters if pressure-cooked), 1 teaspoon turmeric, ½ tablespoon ground coriander, ½ tablespoon scraped, finely shredded or minced fresh ginger root, 2 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil, 1 ¼ teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, ¼ teaspoon cayenne or paprika, ¼ - ½ teaspoons yellow asafetida powder (hing), ½ tablespoon lemon juice.
Sort, wash and drain the split mung beans. If you are using frozen spinach, defrost it at room temperature, place it in a strainer and press out all excess water.
Place the mung beans, water, turmeric, coriander, ginger root and a dab of ghee or oil in a heavy 3-quart/liter nonstick saucepan. Stirring occasionally, bring to a full boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to moderately low, cover with a tight-fitting lid and gently boil for 1 hour or until the dal is soft and fully cooked. For pressure cooking, combine the ingredients in a 6-quart/liter pressure cooker, cover and cook for 25 minutes under pressure. Remove from the heat and let the pressure drop by itself.
Off the heat, uncover and add the salt. Beat with a wire whisk or rotary beater (or a bamix, says Kurma) until the dal soup is creamy smooth. Add the fresh spinach, cover and boil gently for 5-8 minutes more; or cook frozen spinach for 2-3 minutes.
Heat the ghee or oil in a small saucepan over moderate to moderately high heat. When it is hot, pour in the cumin seeds and fry until they are brown. Add the asafetida and cayenne or paprika and fry for just 1-2 seconds more. Then quickly pour the fried seasonings into the soup. Cover immediately. Let the seasonings soak into the hot dal for 1- 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice, stir and serve.
*Note that since Yamuna wrote her recipes using US measurements, the weights are in US with metric in brackets.
More importantly, her tablespoons are US (15ml) whereas Australian/metric tablespoons are 20ml. So if you follow these recipes using metric measures, your tablespoons should be scant.
Similarly, the US cup is 240ml as distinct from the Australian/metric 250ml cup. The same scant measuring should thus apply to Australian/metric cup users.
We had a nice experience distributing books on Janmastami -- in Varna, a city in Bulgaria. Just for two hours, before cooking for the festival, we went on sankirtana, door to door.
In one office a lady just looked at the Srimad-Bhagavatam and said, "Wow, it is the Srimad-Bhagavatam. I love to read the Bhagavad-gita."
I offered her three volumes and explained that we have six more.
"Please, please bring them also."
I ran to the caravan and brought them. She was so HAPPY. She gave a nice donation, and I explained that this was the very auspicious birth anniversary of Lord Krishna. I invited her to the festival, but she was very busy that day.
A few days later, Padmamalini Dasi met a man from a Muslim family who had the Bhagavad-gita. After reading it, he began using a mala to chant the maha-mantra. Every day he chants four or five rounds, and he has been doing this a few years. He also very happily took nine volumes of the Bhagavatam.
‘If one chants without trying to give up offenses, the real creeper of bhakti will be stunted by the unwanted creepers of sense gratification, etc.
“[Lord Caitanya to Rupa Gosvami] When a person receives the seed of devotional service he should take care of it by becoming a gardener and sowing the seed in his heart. if he waters the seed gradually by the process of sravana and kirtana (hearing and chanting), the seed will begin to sprout…The gardener must defend the creeper by fencing it all around so that the powerful elephant of offenses may not enter. Sometimes unwanted creepers such as the creeper of desires for material enjoyment and liberation from the material world, grow along with the creeper of devotional service. The varieties of such unwanted creepers are unlimited. Some unnecessary creepers growing along with the bhakti creeper are the creepers of behavior unacceptable for those trying to attain perfection, diplomatic behavior, animal killing, mundane profiteering, mundane adoration, and mundane importance. All these are unwanted creepers if one does not distinguish between the bhakti-lata creeper and the other creepers, the sprinkling of water is misused because the other creepers are nourished while the bhakti-lata creeper is curtailed.” (Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 19.152,157-60)
In gardening when one waters flowers or plants he also waters weeds and the weeds grow up with the desirable flowers. So a gardener has to scrupulously pull out the weeds. Similarly in chanting as one invest in chanting, if he does so with offenses, weeds will grow. There are byproducts or benefits that come with chanting which are actually materialistic or unwanted. Deviant behaviors spring up when one chants Hare Krishna if he does not do so strictly. These are mentioned in the verse of Caitanya Caritamrta. Basically what happens is that one becomes materially attached to sense gratification. He may become victimized by diplomatic or crooked behavior or may associate with women for illicit sex. One may consider a Vaisnava to belong to a mundane caste or creed and think, “This is a Hindu Vaisnava and this is a European Vaisnava. A European Vaisnava is not allowed to enter the temples.” In other words he thinks of a Vaisnava in terms of birth thinking one a brahmana-vaisnava and one a sudra-vaisnava or mleccha-vaisnava and so on. One may also try to become a cheap Vaisnava by chanting in a secluded place for material adoration. All these are just ways to cheat innocent people and make a show of advanced spiritual life to become known as a sadhu or religious person. All these are signs that weeds have grown up along with the process of chanting and the so-called devotee has become victimized and the real creeper of bhakti-lata-bhija has been stunted.
I had a difficult morning for headaches. I woke with a slight headache and took some medicine. But after a while the headache was still present and I took more medicine. The headache didn’t go down but moved into my right eye and became a migraine headache. I had to take migraine medicine and the headache remained for my whole chanting period. But like yesterday it did not affect the pace of my chanting. I was wide awake and chanted without being slowed down by drowsiness. My attention however was not the best. My mind wandered to different things which may have been due to the physical impairment. I could not concentrate fully on the meanings of Hare and Krishna. But I took solace in the fact that I was chanting alertly. I began chanting by 1:30 and finished sixteen rounds by 3:30.
The other day in class Dr. Liu, my philosophy of science teacher, got off on a tangent about quantum physics and said that he once gave a lecture entitled "What if Quantum Mechanics is True?" and one of the implications of quantum theory is that if it is true a person is as large as the universe. I put that up on my Facebook status and a friend commented sharing a link to a cool website www.closertotruth.com, I don't endorse everything there but there is some cool stuff to check out.
That little comment got me thinking about how silly our puny attempts to explain the world and our existence are so completely ridiculous.
I turned at random to Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 5, chapter 5, verse 5: “As long as one does not inquire about the spiritual values of life, one is defeated and subjected to miseries arising from ignorance. Be it sinful or pious, karma has its resultant actions. If a person is engaged in any kind of karma his mind is called karmatmaka, colored with fruitive activity. As long as the mind is impure, consciousness is unclear, and as long as one is absorbed in fruitive activity, he has to accept a material body.”
People think if they act piously, and are simply good to others and inoffensive, they will be free of miseries and go back to Godhead or to heaven. But this is not a fact. Even though one engages in pious activity and speculation he is still defeated. His only aim should be emancipation from the clutches of maya and all material activities. One should be inquisitive to know his spiritual position. Unless one utilizes the self and its activities, one has to be considered in material bondage. There is a verse in the Bhagavtam that states even if one approaches the Brahman effulgence and thinks he is liberated, he has to fall down into material life for lack of Krishna conscious engagement. As long as one is interested in karma and jnana, he continues enduring the miseries of material life. The point is to know Vasudeva is everything and to surrender unto Him.
The real bhakta is untouched by any tinge of karma and jnana. His only purpose is to serve the Lord. Unless one becomes a pure devotee, as long as one is “colored” with fruitive activity, he has to keep taking rebirth in the material world and experience birth, death, disease and old age. The pure devotee goes to live eternally with Krishna in the spiritual world.
RR read to me from CC about Lord Caitanya conferring ecstatic love on Raghunatha Bhatta. He had asked Raghunatha Bhatta to stay at home and serve his parents because they were Vaisnavas. There is no obligation to serve parents who are not devotees. After his parents died, Raghunatha Bhatta came to Lord Caitanya. He stayed with Him in Jagannatha Puri but then the Lord sent him to Vrndavana to live in the shelter of Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis. He told him to chant Hare Krishna and read Srimad-Bhagavatam. When Ragunatha Bhatta read Srimad-Bhagavatam he manifested bodily symptoms of ecstasy. He chanted each verse in three separate tunes. Meanwhile, Lord Caitanya manifested symptoms of ecstasy in separation from Krishna. These were recorded in brief by Svarupa Damodara and elaborately by Raghunatha das Gosvami. There were many other notebooks kept by devotees which are no longer extant.
Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Krishna book was written by Prabhupada by looking at the acarya’s commentaries and by his own straight translation and commentary. He could write about Krishna because 1) He worked tirelessly to spread the Lord’s mission 2) Krishna dictated to him to write 3) Krishna trusted him to speak it without motivation. Prabhupada wanted illustrations for his book. He wanted them painted fast.
So these thoughts of writing. Nitai Gaursundara said he liked the fresh poetry I’m writing now that I’ve finished writing poems from Under Dark Stars. It’s a challenge to write one every day, but I like to face the challenge and try for it.
Caitanya-candrodaya is publishing a collection of a hundred of my japa poems and that will be for devotees only. But that’s alright. I lived a life of a writer. My outward life is quiet and uneventful so I have to find subject matters from “within.” I usually write about something that has been read out loud to me from the sastra or maybe about my japa. I can write memories of the past. But they are censurable because I don’t want to write about mundane things. A Vaisnava isn’t concerned with his previous life. But I can write about it and say “This was before I was a devotee, in the absence of Krishna consciousness. I am not like this anymore.” I did that with my poem “Running” in which I told how I ran down the streets of the Lower East Side. I took it as symbolic of trying to run away from maya. You can try other approaches to writing about the past in that way.
You may also write about past scenes and times in ISKCON. After all, that’s over forty years of experience. There is plenty you could did up, memories of moments and situations. And you can write directly to Krishna or to yourself about your spiritual life and lackings. You can talk to your spiritual master and to devotees. You can speak (preach) to the world. Keep digging for topics to write about. Hare Krishna mantra is the life of spiritual practice and you can write about it. Decide what is suitable to share.
Don’t worry about the fact that your writing is aimed at a devotee audience. It’s what you do, and it’s your true life. I am not a college professor or a lover of women or a citizen of the world. I am a practicing bhakta, and I have to draw my material from the Krishna conscious life and choose from my practices in such a way that it carries Krishna consciousness in a nondogmatic but spiritual way. I have a long way to go to write better—like the classic Vaisnava writers and yet with a contemporary voice: “I took my headache medicine and then said my Gayatri mantras.” I am truthful.
Interesting discussion’s are the ones that make you think. The question was which is the hardest of the regulative principles to keep? Most would probably say sex life for sure it would be the most obvious pointing to someone or some incident that backs up our thought. The logic presented however was this: Intoxication, you [...]
(Click on the pictures to get the enlarged vision) By His Grace Mukunda Prabhu It is very difficult to share with you all the windfall of blissful joy we are experiencing over the last few days which has come about due to certain changes in the schedule of Guru Maharaj. Every day we have the [...]
In Kuala Lumpur, this programme is going on for the past 10 years. It is worth mentioning that we started off with only 24 homes as compared to more than 5000 home programs in the recent years. The growth is exponential with tremendous response from public as a whole. It is a feel good program that breaks the "social" barrier between the mass and ISKCON. It does change the face of ISKCON, especially for those who are very skeptical and inimical towards our movement. It is an easiest and surest way to enter almost every home. And the public reciprocation were encouragingly joyful. To top it, it is only a month efforts of preaching...
Kumari Mataji came around to the library, some time in the week, looking for volunteers. She was planning a series of adventures in Antwerp and beyond. I was hesitant - in College, a good weekend of rest doesn’t go astray, but the fallen conditioned souls were beckoning for the mercy of Lord Caitanya so I felt some obligation. “Sign us up” I finally said.
Ramacandra Kaviraja was heading off to India on the Friday. He was packing for India while I was packing for Antwerp (although I was packing a day early simply because I had forgotten the arrangements). It was the first night in my room alone since I had been in Radhadesh. I played a lecture out loud to help me lull off to sleep; packed and ready to leave in the coming morning.
HG Gopinathacarya Prabhu gave the morning Bhagavatam class. He seemed to be indirectly speaking to us College students, reminding us not to become dry, kings of mundane knowledge - it being more dangerous than material ignorance. I felt some relief, knowing that we were catalyzing our knowledge with the merciful mission of Lord Caitanya, which was to be epitomized by this weekend’s activities.
I jumped down the spiral staircase for breakfast. After smashing down some bakery bread and soup, I quickly ran back up the endless staircases to fetch my belongings, knowing I was late (due to the extensive class questions and answers; plus a casual chat at breakfast). We set off in the car; Kumari Mataji, Jai Nitai Gaura Prabhu, Bhaktin Susana, Bhaktin Hilary and Myself. I asked if there was any other car (hoping some of the other BOYS might have come) and finally I was informed that this was the only one; it was going to be a wild adventure.
Instantly we were in trouble - our Tomtom (GPS navigator) was being temperamental. It eventually led us to our destination, with only a slight sense of worry but it had us worried for a bit. We arrived in Antwerp, dropped off our belongings in the asrama and then hopped into the back of another car with HG Janmastami Prabhu. We were off again, to somewhere…?
In the car, I asked Kumari what the coming program was going to be like. She gave some information but it was all a little vague (partly because I wasn’t paying much attention). I looked outside the window as we parked; the program was outdoors and there were hordes of Indian skinned people in middle class dress. We stepped out and then I spotted what the fuss was - “is that a statue of Ghandi?” The PA speakers were set on the regulated Indian default volume - REALLY LOUD! The announcements were in Dutch, Hindi and English and the Bollywood interim music was attacking the subtle body at every step.
We quickly started our bhajana, and the scene finally felt sane. The crowds looked on in silent appreciation, while they chewed down on Prasadam. We played our quick session and then stopped for Prasadam. The Prasadam was fat, juicy and lacking in most fundamental nutrients. One had to balance sufficient intake, whilst employing sufficient sense control (otherwise there would be indigestion); it was very difficult balance, impossible even in the dictionary of the intelligent man.
While chewing down the deep fried preparations, made of heavy chickpea flour, someone pointed out to me that we were in Holland. We had only prior been told the town name (which is Dutch so no one in the three worlds is expected to remember how to say it) so I was completely oblivious that we had crossed the boarder. I mentally crossed off the milestone of entering a new country.
We chucked a few more stray mouthfuls of halava in our mouths, before we jumped back on the little stage. One man came with a video camera, making a humorous documentary for a Dutch TV station. I laughed, because the joke was on him - he was receiving unknown spiritual benefits, filming the bhajana, the many devotees and the multiple signs containing the Maha Mantra. Although he was making a whole mockery of the event (and who could blame him?) he was spreading the message of Lord Caitanya to the local viewers, extending the merciful hand that whole stretch further.
We finished up and headed back to Antwerp. I was a wreck but still had to practice patience while some devotees wrapped up a seminar in the room that we were sleeping in. We barged in on them, quickly closing the door in an apologetic manner. There was some bhajana and Prasadam downstairs and then we all headed off. Once I had my room back, I set up my nest (for those who have stayed with me, they can testify that I can really set up a bunker out of nothing).
I awoke and headed to the bathroom. It reminded me of Woodstock in 2009 - there was one bathroom for both genders. I knocked and made a call - trying to produce a masculine tone. There was some hesitation and then a Prabhu opened the door. If I could comment on one thing that has changed since I supposedly surrendered my life to Krsna, it is the lack of functional and clean bathrooms (sorry but we have to leg this department up in our society). To make matters worse, since surrendering hearth and home and heading over the Euro-land, I had also renounced working drainage (all the pipes are older than me and are only capable of carrying enough water for an English bathing - ie no water). Showering was an art, using enough water so that you weren’t swimming ankle deep in soapy, dirty water. (I apologise for the horror scene but it’s all part of the adventure.)
The Antwerp temple/preaching centre had a typical sankirtana schedule (ie a not so typical schedule) with Mangala Arati was at 5am. Most of us were up on time and jubilantly singing before Gaura Natharaja. I led the Tulasi prayers, stuck against the walls in the miniature temple room. We circumambulated Tulasi and then pinned ourselves to the wallpaper while the Matajis took their turn.
We received our action briefing over breakfast. We all left with some idea in mind of the day’s happenings. It was only moments before the plans totally shifted and we were back in confusion. Originally we were leaving at midday then, all of a sudden, I was hauling out a giant pumpkin into the back of the car right after breakfast (in Euro-land they have BIG pumpkins).
We drove into the heart of the city, to where our sankirtana mission was going to manifest. We arrived at some little International fair. There was every kind of deep fried meat (all eight million, four hundred thousand species worth) and amateur entertainment from every nation under the Belgian sun. The scene was loud and smelly. We were squashed somewhere between the Oriental egg salad, and the big mama from Africa and her fried chicken wings (at least I presumed they were from chickens). Nonetheless the devotees transcended so that they could make Prasadam easily available; veggie burgers, samosas, pakoras, sweets, lasis and fruit juices were going out like arrows in the battlefield of Kuruksetra.
We decided to free ourselves from the scene and do a little harinam (literally little, only four of us). We cruised around the block, stopping to take a look at the giraffes in the zoo, but otherwise totally focused on liberating the crazed masses of Antwerp. People opened their windows, waved in appreciation and otherwise were blatantly confused. The holy name penetrated the ether nonetheless and the mood was mildly jubilant. We passed our friends on the streets, distributing transcendental literature, and they joined in.
We returned to the festival. We waited for our spot on the stage, while there were constant delays. We waited, tolerating our surroundings, until the call was made. We rolled unto the stage with full spirits. I had to quickly scurry around and find Janmastami Prabhu so he could introduce us (we can’t speak the local language!). Kumari started the lead, with a kirtana and bhajana. She handed it over to Jai Nitai Gaura for the second session, bringing on Bhakta Tomas for the drum. Overall the performance was a bit of a flop, lacking dynamics and general musical integrity. The devotees left us with encouraging words but we decided to leave very quickly for status self preservation. We left a little distraught, mostly satisfied because the audience had received the Maha mantra and Prasadam.
We returned to the Antwerp yatra to lead the bhajana for the Sunday program. We ducked out while the Sunday class was on (being in Flemish), returning for the kirtana and then remained momentarily for takeaways from the feast. We were out the door again, heading back to the Castle. We passed Tomas on the way out, who had brought someone back from book distribution to the program.
Tomtom stopped working and Kumari began to nervously navigate home by memory. I was passed the device in the back seat. Kumari handed me the mobile phone, desperately trying to find someone who might know how to fix Tomtom. I spoke with some devotees, while I put on a fake French accent, but that was the most that came of it. While trying to draw out a digital map on the GPS, I noted that the device had started functioning again. I politely muted it and pretended that I was navigating myself. No one suspected me, even though I was making precise, hundred meter navigation notes. We made it back safely, revealing my secrets in the last few kilometres. We nearly laughed ourselves off the road but then finally rolled up the drive to Radhadesh, keen for bed.
Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/antwerp-adventures]
After many years of regular participation in Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON Hare Krishna movement, the devotees of middle Tennessee were able to celebrate the first ever Ratha Yatra in Nashville on October 2nd, 2010
Lakshman (das) Vrindavan (IN): On the holy occasion of Kartik festival (Damodar month) 2010 the nectarine Bhagvat Katha will be held in Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir (ISKCON Vrindavan). The festivity will be open to all and we invite all devotees to participate and accept the best honour from us
The four ISKCON temples in Mumbai celebrated the World Holy Name Week from 26 September to 10 October. ISKCON Juhu hosted the first and the biggest event of World Holy Name Week in Mumbai
Many devotees are convinced that by buying shop milk and then offering that milk to Krishna with love and devotion, this will benefit the abused cows whose milk has merged together. Yet other devotees would appreciate some scriptural evidence to support this claim
I am jubilant to offer the annual issue (Sridhar Mas) of THE EIGHT PETALS to you. We have covered a distance of one year together, only because of the mercy of Sri Guru
Nityananda das: We are so happy to announce the reprinting of the book, "Our Srila Prabhupada A Friend To All, Early Contemporaries Remember Him". Inside you will find a rare glimpse into the early years of the most important spiritual figure of modern times
Kishore Krsna Das: Gopal Raj Das is a desciple of H.H. Tamal Krsna Goswami and he was his personal cook for years. Gopal has been catering 1st class prasadam for years to worldwide devotees when they visit Vrindavan during kartik
Shyam Gopal das and Vijay Radhika dasi: The water level in the Yamuna river has rised very high this year. Mansoon rains and dams opening caused the flood in Vrindavan. This is the biggest flood in Vrindavan since the major one of 1978
Atmavidya das: Because of recent interest in past lives revealed by “Past Life Regressions” I thought it appropriate to post this text by Dr. Ian Stevenson a serious researcher in Reincarnation from the University of Virginia who has written several books on reincarnation
1966 October 10: "Since I have come to America I have not heard anything from you. How is your mother and your wife, and how is your father. I hope everything is alright with you by Grace of Sri Sri Radha Damodara Jeu." Prabhupada Letters :: 1966
1966 October 10: "At Gopinatha Bazar almost in front of Mahaprabhu's Temple, there is a Bengali gentleman's shop for selling Pan and pictures. I want one dozen each of Sri Radha Krsna and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu dancing." Prabhupada Letters :: 1966
1966 October 10: "My American disciples are eager to do something at Vrndavana according to my direction. Now here is the opportunity to reconstruct the temple compound of Sri Sri Radha Damodara Jeu." Prabhupada Letters :: 1966
1968 October 10: "Why you are silent? Please reply this letter immediately because I am very much anxious to hear from you. Are you doing French translation work of our books? What about Back To Godhead?" Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1968 October 10: "You write to say, 'I opened the temple on Thursday and am in the process of fixing it up.'It is so much pleasing to me and what can I give you?! I can simply pray for your long life and prosperous service to Krishna." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1968 October 10: "This is the secret of success in Krishna Consciousness - unflinching faith in Krishna and in the Spiritual Master enlightens a devotee. Keep this attitude, and Krishna will give you sufficient intelligence." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1968 October 10: "Regarding request to use our temple for performing some religious ceremony: you know we have refused even the Hindu people to hold demigod worship in our temple, there is no need." Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
We may ask ourselves these four questions every day to gain more clarity, motivation, action and results:
1. What do I want to do? 2. Why do I want to do it? 3. How will I do it? 4. When will I do it?
Or we may say - four words: what, why, how and when.
First question helps us gain clarity about our goals. Second questions is about our motivation or how strong is our desire. Third question is about making an inspiring plan of action. Fourth question asks us for a deadline or when we will start taking action.
These questions will help you discover new options, opportunities, possibilities and advantages in various areas your life: 1. What are the options for achieving this goal? 2. What else is possible? 3. Who else can help you? 4. What are the opportunities available? 5. How can this be made possible? 6. What will enable you to achieve this? 7. What are the hidden opportunities here? 8. What other resources are available? 9. What strengths and talents can you use? 10. How can impossible become possible?
Bold people ask themselves bold questions. They like to challenge themselves. If you consider yourself to be bold, you may ask yourself these bold questions: 1. What do I really want in life? 2. What is the price I need to pay to achieve it? 3. Am I ready to pay that price? 4. What do I need to stop doing? 5. What do I need to start doing? 6. What excuses I am making for not moving forward in my life? 7. What am I afraid of? 8. What is it in me that is holding me back? 9. What kind of person I need to become in order to achieve what I want? 10. What skills I need to have in order to achieve my goals?
In Vedic literature it is said that God, Krsna, simply accepts your bhāva or your situation, how much you have developed your attraction for God, or Krsna.
That is taken into account.
He does not take account that "Oh, you are very rich. You are very beautiful. You are very opulent," or "You are very poor. You are not beautiful."
You have got love within you. You want to love somebody. A young boy tries to love a young girl, young girl tries to love another young boy. This is natural, because the love is there. But we have created certain circumstances that love is being frustrated. Why? Everyone is frustrated. Husband, wife, boys, girls, man to man, states to states, everywhere, the love is not being utilized properly. Why? The missing point is that we have forgotten to love the Supreme Person. That is the disease.
So the purpose of religion is to train persons how to love God. That is the purpose of all religion. Either you take Christianism or Hinduism or any "ism," the purport is that you try to love God, because that is our natural inclination. Even in uncivilized society, when there is some thunderbolt, they immediately offer obeisances. That is natural. And in the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is said, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6].
Now this word dharma is translated or explained in the English dictionary, "religion," as "a kind of faith." But in Sanskrit dictionary, dharma means characteristic. Just like sugar. Sugar's characteristic is sweetness. If you are given some sugar, if you find it, it is not sweet, you at once reject it: "Oh, it is not sugar. It is something else." So that sweetness is the characteristic of sugar. Similarly, sour taste is the characteristic of salt, pungency is the
characteristic of chili.
Similarly, what is your characteristic, living entity? That you have to study. That is your religion. Not that Christian religion, Hindu religion, or this religion, that religion. Your eternal characteristic, what is that eternal characteristic? You want to love somebody, and therefore you want to serve. That is your characteristic. You want your society... You love your society, you love your family, you love your country, you love your community. Because you love, therefore you serve. That is your characteristic.
Either you are Christian or either you are Muhammadan, either you are Hindu, this characteristic will go on. Suppose today you are Christian, tomorrow you become Hindu. That service mood, that loving spirit, goes with you, either you become Hindu or Muslim or Christian. Therefore that service spirit and love, the tendency to love and service spirit, is your characteristic, and that is your religion.
That is the universal form of religion. You have to apply your natural characteristic in a certain place, where you will be satisfied. Your service spirit is (indistinct). You have to apply your natural characteristic in a certain place, where you will be satisfied. Your service spirit is there, your loving spirit is there, but because it is misplaced, you are not happy, you are frustrated, you are confused.
The Bhagavata gives you indication, sa vai pumsam paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhoksaje [SB 1.2.6]. That is the first-class system of religion, which trains you to love God. And if you have developed that tendency to the fullest extent, to love God, then you are perfect man. And then you will feel perfection within yourself. Yayatma suprasidati. You are hankering after satisfaction, full satisfaction. That full satisfaction can be obtained only when you love God. That is the natural function.
It is not that one has to accept sannyasa in ripe old age like me, seventy years or seventy-five years. Not that. Caitanya Mahaprabhu set up the example, that for Krsna's service one can take sannyasa at any time. So He did it by His personal example. ... That Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave up His opulent family life. When He was... He took sannyasa. At that time, His wife was only sixteen years old, and He had His affectionate mother, Sacidevi, very old. Nobody was to take care of him, her. But still, He took sannyasa for giving mercy to the poor human society in this age.
- Srila Prabhupada, The Nectar of Devotion, Vrndavana, October 21, 1972
Living beings who are entangled in the complicated meshes of birth and death can be freed immediately by even unconsciously chanting the holy name of Krsna, which is feared by fear personified.
PURPORT
Vasudeva, or Lord Krsna, the Absolute Personality of Godhead, is the supreme controller of everything. There is no one in creation who is not afraid of the rage of the Almighty. Great asuras like Ravana, Hiranyakasipu, Kamsa, and others who were very powerful living entities were all killed by the Personality of Godhead. And the almighty Vasudeva has empowered His name with the powers of His personal Self. Everything is related to Him, and everything has its identity in Him. It is stated herein that the name of Krsna is feared even by fear personified. This indicates that the name of Krsna is nondifferent from Krsna. Therefore, the name of Krsna is as powerful as Lord Krsna Himself. There is no difference at all. Anyone, therefore, can take advantage of the holy names of Lord Sri Krsna even in the midst of greatest dangers. The transcendental name of Krsna, even though uttered unconsciously or by force of circumstances, can help one obtain freedom from the hurdle of birth and death.
Unless the basic determination to become successful in Krsna consciousness is there, any type of occupation or any place where you are serving Krsna will similarly become a source of restlessness and troubling of your mind.
Therefore, my advice to you is simply this: that you search out in yourself whether that basic determination and faith in our Krsna consciousness program is strong in you, and whether if, by going here or going there or doing this or doing that, this determination and faith will be enhanced.
Sometimes Krsna may put us into some difficulty just to purify us and force us to advance in Krsna consciousness.
The devotee should always see his difficulty in this light, that Krsna is so kind upon me for creating this condition of struggling, thus He is relieving me of so many billions of lifetime of sinful reactions by this very insignificant and temporary condition of suffering something.
- Srila Prabhupada, Letter to: Vaikunthanatha -- Bombay 29 December, 1972
Faith means that you are meant for giving some service to Krsna. You should stick to that service, that path, in spite of all impediments. That is the passing of test. Generally, just like we are meant for preaching Krsna consciousness. So there may be severe test, but still we shall remain determined. That is wanted. There may be so many impediments, punishment, still you should do that. That is wanted. That is test. Not that as soon as there is some difficulty I give it up. There may be severe test, but still we shall not give it up. We must go on. That is determination.
- Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk -- August 11, 1976, Tehran
Sravanadi means this process. Just like you have come here; you are hearing about Krsna. This is the process. You may be illiterate, you may be rich, or you may be poor. Whatever you may be, it doesn't matter. Please come, sit down and hear. But in the hearing process, there is so many impediments, maya.
Just like people are coming here to hear, but there has been impediment: "Oh, sir, our lift is being to much used. The electric supply will cut off." Maya is always there. They will, I mean to say, spend electric energy in so many ways, that is not loss. But people were coming for half an hour and one hour, gentlemen, "No. Electricity will be spoiled." This is maya.
Maya is always after this checking process. So we have to fight against the maya, then we come to Krsna consciousness. That fighting determination must be there. Mam eva ye prapadyante mayam etam taranti te [Bg. 7.14]. One must be determined. So maya may check my progress in Krsna consciousness, but I must fight maya. This determination wanted.
Drdha-vratah. Bhajante mam drdha-vratah. That is wanted. "All right let me do. All right, not. That's all right. Let me do my business." No. One must be very serious. Drdha-vratah. Drdha-vratah and firmly convinced. These things are required to revive your Krsna consciousness.
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by the grace of the Lord. SB 3.31.18 P
By Krsna's supreme will, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Krsna Book 50
By the blessings of a Vaisnava, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. SB 5.1.10 P
For advanced devotee, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Lecture 1975
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by controlling the senses. SB 3.31.19 P
For a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE because the Lord is also known as Urukrama." Urukrama is a name for Lord Vamanadeva, who performed the wonderful act of occupying the three worlds with three footsteps. SB 5.1.35 P
For one who pleases the Supreme Lord, no achievement is wonderful. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE for him. SB 6.18.73 P
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by performing yajna. SB 9.14.47 P
if we accept the inconceivable energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we can understand that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. There is no need of mundane arguments in this connection because mundane arguments are meaningless in regard to inconceivable potency. CC Adi 17.1
by the grace of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, we understand that EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by the grace of Krsna. Madhya 4.79
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE for a pure devotee because he acts under the instructions of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Madhya 16.67
By Krsna's supreme will, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE, KB 50
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE if the Lord desires. N98:RTW 5.1
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE provided you agree, tapasya. Samo damas tapah. 730818BG.LON
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE simply by bhakti-yoga. 740531SB.GEN
Simply we have to go through the process; otherwise EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. That is the omnipotency of Krsna. 760911SB.VRN
If we are little inclined, that is called..., that is explained in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: tyaktva sva-dharmam caranambujam hareh. He gives up all other duties: "I am no more any followers of any dharma. I am followers of Krsna's lotus feet." If this determination is there, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 741229SB.BOM
So if we actually formulate peace formula, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Simply we have to accept the instruction of Krsna. Our Krsna consciousness movement is for this purpose. We are simply requesting to accept the Krsna philosophy. Then the whole world will be peaceful. 761108SB.VRN
But unfortunately, in this age everyone has become sudra, so it is little difficult to raise them again. But if everyone is engaged in chanting Hare Krsna mantra, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 750902SB.VRN
So in this age, although it is a very difficult task, at least if we teach our children to chant Hare Krsna maha-mantra, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. That is the facility of this age. He'll be gradually trained up to the highest perfection. 760625SB.NV
By love EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 670313SB.SF
Premanjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena santah sadaiva hrdayesu vilokayanti. So EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE provided we are serious. Then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 730125ND.CAL
So EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE, provided you people take our instruction. Otherwise, there is no other remedy. What can be done? The remedy's there. The medicine is also there. But if you don't take the medicine, how the disease will be cured? 740606LE.GE
We cannot do anything whatsoever but if our sincere service is accepted by the Vaisnavas EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE … 66-02-04.Tir
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by the Grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu 68-09-22.Kir
So EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE provided one is serious. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam it is stated that if somebody is not too much addicted, neither he is completely powerful to give up some bad habits, this via media stage is favorable. Immediately if he cannot give up the medicine as he is taking, that doesn't matter. Let him chant HARE KRISHNA very seriously and he will gradually be able to give up everything. 68-09-22.Kir
So gradually in your center also one day we may have our own buildings because EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE if Krsna desires. 70-04-02.Vam
By association, good association, EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. Therefore you have to make this association of Krsna consciousness so perfect that anyone who comes in contact with that association, he becomes purified automatically. 680325rc.sf
How can these boys, who have been trained to practice these four items from the beginning of their lives, give them all up? EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE, provided we make the choice. 720902iv.nv
That is possible. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 750512mw.per
"Even she is prostitute," striya. Te 'pi yanti param gatim: "They can also go back to home, back to Godhead." Mam hi partha... If he takes Krsna very seriously, then EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. No impediment. Ahaituky apratihata. Krsna devotional service is so strong that it cannot be checked by any material impediments. 760209mw.may
By Krsna's mercy EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. So we shall stick to Krsna's lotus feet and EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. 760709rc.ny
EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE by Krsna's inconceivable energy. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. That is inconceivable. It is called therefore "inconceivable." You, we cannot conceive how it is done. Our intelligence is very little. We cannot conceive. Therefore we say, "Oh, this is all mythology." Because we cannot conceive of it. Whatever we cannot conceive we take it as mythology. Nothing is mythology. EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE. That is inconceivable. But they cannot understand what is inconceivable. Unless it is conceivable by them, they do not accept. 760903gc.vrn
The real interest of the living entity is to get out of the nescience that causes him to endure repeated birth and death.
The only remedy is to surrender unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead through His representative.
Unless one renders devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vasudeva, one cannot possibly become completely detached from this material world, nor can he possibly manifest real knowledge.
The self-effulgent Vaikuntha planets, by whose illumination alone all the illuminating planets within this material world give off reflected light, cannot be reached by those who are not merciful to other living entities. Only persons who constantly engage in welfare activities for other living entities can reach the Vaikuntha planets. SB 4.12.36
What the devotee actually offers the Lord is not needed by the Lord, for He is self-sufficient.
If the devotee offers something to the Lord, it acts for his own interest because whatever a devotee offers the Lord comes back in a quantity a million times greater than what was offered.
One does not become a loser by giving to the Lord; one becomes a gainer by millions of times.
Krsna Book 81: The Brahmana Sudama Blessed by Lord Krsna
Today I feel so grateful. Some people really value my presence in their lives. I do not deserve this, and this value that they see is due to Krsna consciousness. If I can draw their attention to the holy name and the eternal principles of success given by God from time immemorial, then my contribution to their lives will have value.
The opportunity to serve sincere seekers of the truth is a blessing and a privilege for me. Krsna is sending more of them into my life and I see it as a benediction.
I was thinking today who would be my ideal client, or the ideal person I want to serve as a coach. It would be a spiritual warrior ready to improve and contribute day by day, week by week, month by month, year after year. Someone who does not blame anything or anyone and who is grateful for an opportunity given by God as a human form of life. Someone who is humble but bold.
I was also thinking, if I would die today, what would I regret. I would regret that I was not preaching about Krsna enough and chanting enough the Lord's holy name. But one thing certainly I would not regret. One thing I am so grateful for. That I have met so many amazing people, interested in God.
This is a simple four-step way to make a personal improvement plan: 1. Make a list of all the key areas in your life 2. For each area make a list of things you need to START doing, STOP doing and CONTINUE doing 3. Set a deadline for each item 4. Take action
ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Back in 2007, when the government here announced its plan for “the world’s first zero-carbon city” on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi, many Westerners dismissed it as a gimmick — a faddish follow-up to neighboring Dubai’s half-mile-high tower in the desert and archipelago of man-made islands in the shape of palm trees.
A modern interpretation of the Arabian wind tower is used to cool the plaza areas at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. More Photos »
Designed by Foster & Partners, a firm known for feats of technological wizardry, the city, called Masdar, would be a perfect square, nearly a mile on each side, raised on a 23-foot-high base to capture desert breezes. Beneath its labyrinth of pedestrian streets, a fleet of driverless electric cars would navigate silently through dimly lit tunnels. The project conjured both a walled medieval fortress and an upgraded version of the Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland.
Well, those early assessments turned out to be wrong. By this past week, as people began moving into the first section of the project to be completed — a 3 ½-acre zone surrounding a sustainability-oriented research institute — it was clear that Masdar is something more daring and more noxious.
Norman Foster, the firm’s principal partner, has blended high-tech design and ancient construction practices into an intriguing model for a sustainable community, in a country whose oil money allows it to build almost anything, even as pressure grows to prepare for the day the wells run dry. And he has worked in an alluring social vision, in which local tradition and the drive toward modernization are no longer in conflict — a vision that, at first glance, seems to brim with hope.
But his design also reflects the gated-community mentality that has been spreading like a cancer around the globe for decades. Its utopian purity, and its isolation from the life of the real city next door, are grounded in the belief — accepted by most people today, it seems — that the only way to create a truly harmonious community, green or otherwise, is to cut it off from the world at large.
By Braja-Raja-Suta Dasa 
By Parijata devi dasi
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