Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Back on-line and a lot to catch up on...

PLANET ISKCON

 

"Planet ISKCON" - 46 new articles H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Saturday 3 September 2011--Weathering the Storms--and--Why 8,400,000 Species? Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Temples or Schools? ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Yvonne the fugitive cow surrenders to farmer after 3 months on the moove Australian News: Sri Prahlada and the Bhakti Band – Minto Siva Temple – Australia Australian News: ISKCON Sydney – The Video H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Friday, September 2nd, 2011 H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, September 1st, 2011 ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakta Prabhu Japa Group: Giriraja Swami Japa Lecture PT.2 Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Lord Balarama's and Srila Prabhupada's Mercy Flow Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Imaginary lotus in the head Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Back on-line and a lot to catch up on... Book Distribution News: Lord Balarama's and Srila Prabhupada's Mercy Flow Krishna Lounge, LA, USA: Kirtan 2011-09-01 Krishna Lounge, LA, USA: The Polar Bear Wisdom ISKCON Brampton, Canada: Radhastami Celebrations ISKCON News.com: India Divided As Caste Census Begins ISKCON News.com: Dialogue Between Dr. West and Radhanath Swami - Part 1 Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Material satisfaction is necessary ISKCON News.com: Why is this "Unsafe" Food Banned When It's 35,000 Times Safer Than Others? Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: An encounter in Vancouver ISKCON News.com: Mayapur Academy Diploma in Arcana Course ISKCON News.com: Becoming Hindu and Finding the Essence of All Spiritual Paths Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: A New Page About Forgiveness On My Blog Mayapur Online: Srimati Sita Tahkurani's Appearance Day H.H. Sivarama Swami: I answer to Dharma-setu and Karana-karana dd’s question Mayapur Online: Mayapur Academy - Diploma in Arcana Course - 2011/2012 Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters H.H. Sivarama Swami: Hari-vallabha dd asks H.H. Sivarama Swami: Kokila-bihari and Gopa-liladhara ask about the conditions under which Krsna spoke the Gita to the sun god Dandavats.com: Vaishnava Compassion and Srila Prabhupada Japa Group: Giriraja Swami Japa Lecture PT.1 Dandavats.com: ISKCON Nairoby temple news Dandavats.com: Mayapur Academy Diploma Course 2011/2012 Dandavats.com: Announcement from Detroit temple about community meeting ISKCON Desire Tree: Vaishnava Calender - Lalita Sasti Gouranga TV: Harinama Sankirtan at the Big Green Gathering Festival, July 2011 Vraja Kishor, JP: Practical Renunciation (Yukta Vairagya) – The Basics The Loft, Auckland, NZ: Ocean of Bliss Talk More Recent Articles Search Planet ISKCON Prior Mailing Archive H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Saturday 3 September 2011--Weathering the Storms--and--Why 8,400,000 Species? A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Saturday 3 September 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. For Transcendental Association Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Today's Thought: Weathering the Storms Uploaded from Sofia, Bulgaria There are many storms that we must endure while crossing the ocean of material existence on our return to the spiritual sky. So if we want to successfully cross this dangerous ocean, we must be determined captains to keep our ships on course through all varieties of circumstances. To keep our ships on course we must always remember Krishna. The easiest way to do that is to always chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra as much as possible at least 1,728 times a day. 1,728 repetitions of the mahamantra is accomplished by chanting 16 rounds on japa mala beads. Why this number? This number gives a full charge of our spiritual batteries for one day of Krishna consciousness. In this connection it is interesting to note that the most pious age, the Satya Yuga, has a duration of 1,728,000 years. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why 8,400,000 Species? Why God has created 8,400,000 different species? Your servant Jagdish Answer: 8,400,000 Different Ways to Enjoy God has created the 8,400,000 different species to facilitate the conditioned soul's desire to enjoy this material world. The illusioned living being tries in one way to enjoy and is not satisfied. Then he tries to enjoy in another way and is still not satisfied. Because he so much desires to enjoy this material world, Krishna kindly facilitates him by giving him 8,400,000 different ways to try to enjoy this material world. But when he comes to his senses, he realizes that this material world is simply a place of misery, no matter what position he may take here, he inquires why he is suffering and desires to realize the Absolute Truth. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:   • Email to a friend • • Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Temples or Schools? Here’s an observation worth meditating on: "We have long observed that ISKCON in general has far more enthusiasm to build temples and perform rituals, than it does to create schools even for our own children, not to speak of higher education to fill the world with learned preachers.  It is not easy in this vaisya-sudra age to create a truly brahminical society." – Srila Hridayananda Das Goswami, August 31, 2011   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Yvonne the fugitive cow surrenders to farmer after 3 months on the moove I just thought I'd share...in this morning's Shrimad Bhagavatam class Bhakta Prabhu describes how Shri Krishna in His expansion as the Supersoul inspires the jiva soul: 'I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.' (Bg 15.15) Bhakta's point in this regard was that Krishna inspires mothers and fathers with loving and protective (vatsalya) feelings towards their newborn children; that He is the original loving father. In response a great acharya like Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura sings:  'Father, mother, lover, son, Lord, preceptor, husband—You are everything to me.' It's frivolous I know, but I'm just wondering what kind of inspiration the Supersoul has given Yvonne! (May she at least receive the blessings of you vaishnavas who read this.)  YVONNE, the heifer who hot-footed it to freedom 98 days ago as she was about to be sent to the slaughterhouse, has apparently decided to end her lonely life on the run and joined four other cows in a pasture. Since May, the cult cow made constant headlines as she briefly appeared and then vanished again in the German countryside...enjoying life on the lam Those trying to catch her brought in a cow whisperer...infrared cameras, a tracker...a bull named Ernst who was supposed to lure her out with his voice. Even Yvonne's son Friesi was roped in to help, but didn't have any luck. So it was with surprise and many exclamation points that German newspaper Bild reported that Yvonne showed up Tuesday night at a farm near the Austrian border, and joined four young cows in a pasture. The Gut Aiderbichl animal sanctuary, which bought Yvonne while she was a fugitive, reported she was positively identified through an ear tag...Bild said. Now it's on to a life of retirement at the sanctuary for Yvonne and a reunion with other cow relatives already residing there. See you at Radhashtami.   • Email to a friend • • Australian News: Sri Prahlada and the Bhakti Band – Minto Siva Temple – Australia Harinam Sankirtan is Krishna’s secret weapon for this age of Kali. Everyone can enjoy kirtan. Most people love it. Sri Prahlada and the Bhakti Band came to Minto’s Beautiful Siva Temple to share kirtann with all the assembled devotees. Everyone enjoyed chanting the Mahamantra in the call and response fashion. Great joy and dancing ensued. Sri Prahlada told us how chanting the Mahamantra was to purify our hearts. In the incedible atmosphere of the temple, surrounded by the murtis of divine beings from the spiritual world we were carried away like a magic caarpet on a cloud of Krishna’s names. And then there was prasadam. The kind and wonderful members of the Siva Temple community provided delicious prasadam for everyone who came along. click here to visit the web site of Sri Siva Mandir – Minto Sri Camera manifested these photographs: From Sri Prahlad Kirtan in Lord Shiva’s Minto temple 3 September 2011, posted by Antony Brennan on 9/02/2011 (40 items) Generated by Facebook Photo Fetcher Share this story your way:   • Email to a friend • • Australian News: ISKCON Sydney – The Video Ok there is no video here. But there is the fantastic ISKCON Sydney Temple Newsletter: Welcome to ISKCON Sydney’s e-newsletter. Below is a summary of events – please click here to read the whole newsletter. Welcome back after a bit of a break for me in the UK – sorry for the absence of the regular newsletter. On the 5th of September, Monday, we will celebrate Sri Radhastami at Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple, North Sydney. This is the appearance day of Srimati Radharani – Krishna’s eternal consort and the Divine Mother of creation who is the topmost servant and embodiment of Bhakti or pure loving devotion. The program is 5pm: Kirtan, 6pm: Class by Sri Prahlada Prabhu, 7pm: Arati & kirtan, 7:30pm: Abhishek (Deity bathing – with kirtan by Sri Prahlada Prabhu), 8:15pm: Feast. Please come and join us for this most auspicious occassion. Get your diary out and make sure you don’t miss out on the fun, the philosophy, the prasadam, the Kirtan the dancing and the fun. Click here to see the entire newletter – subscribe so you never miss an issue Share this story your way:   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Friday, September 2nd, 2011 At the Beach Again Toronto, Ontario "Can I join you?" said the voice from afar. Matt, Praveen and I were trudging along with sand through our toes before the sun's early peeking when a young Guyanese fellow affiliated with Krishna culture asked to walk with us. The location was the Beaches area where we were virtually the only ones out near the calming waters. "Of course," I said. We became a quartet of chanters as we strode. It really was a shanti, or, peaceful setting. In fact, our Guyanese friend comes to the lake daily and sits on a rock at the end of the inlet to meditate. There were many greetings with people once they emerged for running or walking along the boardwalk. Our quartet had trekked to the east and then the westerly direction. An elderly gentleman was walking his bike, and threw out a warm, "Good morning!" We reciprocated. He stopped and asked with a smile the size of one of the Great Lakes, "Do you see the splendour of God here?" "I very much attempt to." "Well, it's here!" he asserted. "I agree, it's the distractions that we all contend with that stands in the way." The laughter that followed was mutual. "Well, it's a beautiful distraction," was his final line. Much later on in the day, back at the temple ashram, a visitor came to have darshan (a viewing of the Krishna deity). I asked him how he was doing. "Life has its ups and downs. That's what gives it charm, otherwise, we'll be looking at a bland world," he said. "So, you see the challenges as charms?" "Yes," he said. "Would you say that distractions are challenges?" "Yes." "Distractions then are charms?" I queried. "Yes," he said with confidence. "Is it then the splendour of God that challenges as distractions exist?" "I really believe that." The temple phone rang. I got distracted. I nodded a good-bye. 9 Km   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, September 1st, 2011 I Was Found Toronto, Ontario I went on this crazy hunt for my lost keys. I traced back every step I took on the previous day as I lost the darn things while walking. I shouldn't say 'darn' because, of course, they are very precious and dear to the services I render to humanity. After my japa meditation beads which I carry with me wherever I go, my keys are just about everything to me. After an incredible effort in a serious search, I resigned to 'letting go' of what could not be found. At least I got some walking in. I tried and looked everywhere. I checked in a Starbucks where I sat down at its outdoor cafe at the last leg of the walk to chit chat and chant with my walking partner. I checked out the tree in the ravine where I eliminated some water, but to no avail... What to do? At least I don't feel lost. I believe I was found in the summer of '72 when I met those bald-headed freaky monks on Yonge St. Then again, I spoke with three cut from the same cloth when visiting Vancouver Island. Sudbury was the place where they really nailed me with warmth and personal touch. I invited them to stay over at my apartment. This all happened in the span of five months. I stand for a correction. In late March of '73 I packed in my bags and entered the Hare Krishna temple for a final goodby kiss to the world of maya, (illusion). That's when I was found. No, pardon me, I was finally locked in and secured when I received diskha (initiation) from my guru, Srila Prabhupada. Once that was done, my fate was sealed, forever. Now thirty eight years later I look back at a history and the previous twenty of an amazing search for the truth. It took a lot of pondering of the mind and pounding of footsteps. It was a virtual mile to and from school each day that it took to hammer out thoughts lingering about on life's purpose. So, here I am, found and happy, for the most part, despite loss of keys. Come to think of it, if I hadn't lost those keys I might not have gone down memory land and counted all those landmark blessings. If, per chance, I find those magical little metallic secrets to opening doors, I'll be a happy chappy. 12 Km   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakta Prabhu Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.11 - The essence of our existence as devotees is to connect all living beings to Krsna's love.   • Email to a friend • • Japa Group: Giriraja Swami Japa Lecture PT.2 Here is Part 2 of Giriraj Swami's very inspiring lecture about chanting.   • Email to a friend • • Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Lord Balarama's and Srila Prabhupada's Mercy Flow We were in Varna City, Bulgaria, on traveling sankirtan. It was Lord Balarama's appearance day. I decided to offer all the books I distributed that day to Lord Balarama for His pleasure. There wasn't so much time to distribute, though, because we had to do some cooking for the festival. I began to distribute around the camper that we travel in, and everything was very easy and blissful. For the past few years I've been trying to give people several books to start with, usually the three books comprising the 1st and 2nd cantos of Srimad-Bhagavatam. On this day I distributed a few Bhagavatams, and at one point an elderly fruit seller looked at the SB volumes and said, "This is what I've been searching for all my life!" He took the 1st and 2nd canto volumes, and I suddenly thought, "Why not offer him the other six Bhagavatam volumes I have?" So I told him about them. He was eager to see them, and after a few minutes all 9 Bhagavatam volumes were in his hands. He was so happy with them and gave a nice donation! Lord Balarama is so merciful!! On Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja day it happened again. This time a hatha yoga teacher received the mercy in the form of the 9 Bhagavatam volumes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Your servant, Sthanu das   • Email to a friend • • Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Imaginary lotus in the head Guest or devotee: This might be a stupid question, but like, uh... Prabhupada: Well we are all stupids. (laughter) So questions must be stupid. Guest/Devotee: In yoga I've heard a lot about... Prabhupada: Yes, because we are stupids we must have... Just like he says, "I have heard in the street." You see? We have to hear everything from Krsna, then it is perfect. Guest/Devotee: Well, uh, sometimes I feel, uh, what they call cakras. Like I feel very light over here, and I feel something swirling over here that I think they call the thousand-petalled lotus. Is this just my imagination, or are these things real? Prabhupada: Yes, it is imagination. If you just open your skull, you will find no lotus there. (laughter) So it is your imagination, that's all. These imaginations are prescribed for persons who are too much absorbed in this bodily concept of life. "Here is a lotus, here is a manah sarovara, and here is ocean of bliss, here is... Oh, you have to find out." Just to make him concentrate. Just like a naughty boy, to make him stop nonsense doing, "Please sit down here. Stop this all." Our proposition, "I am not this body. Even there is lotus, I don't care for it." Do you follow? I am not this body. Even there is lotus, what I have to do with this lotus? My first proposition is I am not this body. Guest/Devotee: But in, I think, in air, in the Bhagavad-gita somewhere it says that at death you're supposed to, uh, concentrate on the air at the top of the head, which... Prabhupada: That concentration, in the Bhagavad-gita I do not know where it is, but in the yoga system the concentration is to think of Him, Visnu. Not of the lotus in the head. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.46-62 -- Los Angeles, December 16, 1968   • Email to a friend • • Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Back on-line and a lot to catch up on... Hare Krishna! We are back on  line after being quiet for over a week. Thanks for the messages and queries. It is indieed heart warming to see vaishnavas concerned for each other and also to  know devotees are reading this blog... Actually we have been quiet due to being so busy with Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada has given us the good for une to have festival after festival complete with devotional service and thus blogging had to take a back seat. Of course we had Sri Krishna Janmastami and followed by Srila Prabhupada's vyasa-puja and if that was not enough we threw a grand festival at our home for Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar where we had the oppurtunity to serve hundreds upon hundreds of devotees as well as 3 ISKCON sanyasis for the pleasure of Their Lordships. So there is a lot to catch up on. in the next few posts... The presiding deities of Toronto are Sri Sri Radha Ksirachor Gopinatha and every year we humbly serve Them by offering Them a all flower dress for midnight. It is not only an annual tradition but service we love to do since we are focused on Gopinatha throughout the day...from leaving for the flower shop at 6am to picking up the crew and making the dress through the afternoon and finally dressing Radha Gopinatha in the late evening in time for His revealing to ecstatic devotees in the thousands at midnight chanting the Maha mantra in unison. Jaya Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha. Hope the entire family of worldwide devotees had a very happy Janmastami...   • Email to a friend • • Book Distribution News: Lord Balarama's and Srila Prabhupada's Mercy Flow We were in Varna City, Bulgaria, on traveling sankirtan. It was Lord Balarama's appearance day. I decided to offer all the books I distributed that day to Lord Balarama for His pleasure. There wasn't so much time to distribute, though, because we had to do some cooking for the festival. I began to distribute around the camper that we travel in, and everything was very easy and blissful. For the past few years I've been trying to give people several books to start with, usually the three books comprising the 1st and 2nd cantos of Srimad-Bhagavatam. On this day I distributed a few Bhagavatams, and at one point an elderly fruit seller looked at the SB volumes and said, "This is what I've been searching for all my life!" He took the 1st and 2nd canto volumes, and I suddenly thought, "Why not offer him the other six Bhagavatam volumes I have?" So I told him about them. He was eager to see them, and after a few minutes all 9 Bhagavatam volumes were in his hands. He was so happy with them and gave a nice donation! Lord Balarama is so merciful!! On Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja day it happened again. This time a hatha yoga teacher received the mercy in the form of the 9 Bhagavatam volumes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Your servant, Sthanu das   • Email to a friend • • Krishna Lounge, LA, USA: Kirtan 2011-09-01   • Email to a friend • • Krishna Lounge, LA, USA: The Polar Bear Wisdom When hunted, polar bear runs away from the hunter gradually and eventually forming a circle. Because the bear moves faster than the hunter, the bear eventually comes behind the hunter. Thus the hunter becomes hunted. There is a lesson to learn from this. Talk by Mahat:   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON Brampton, Canada: Radhastami Celebrations Radhastami - Sunday, Sept 4, 2011 ISKCON Brampton invites you and your family to join us on Sunday, September 4th for Radhastami - The appearance of Srimati Radharani! Festivities will begin at 11am with arti, wonderful kirtan, vedic discourse, Sunday School dance presentation and conclude with a delicious vegetarian feast - prasadam. Program Schedule: 11:00am - 11:30am Guru Puja 11:30am - 12:00pm Arati & Kirtan (Devotees are encouraged to have offerings for Radharani before the Aarti so that it can be positioned in front of the alter) 12:00pm – 12:05pm Narasingadev Prayers Sunday school Kids 12:05pm - 1:00pm Interactive Discourse by His Grace Rajasuya Prabhu 1:15 pm - 1:30pm Songs dedicated for Radharani 1:30 pm - 1:45pm Sunday School Presentation 1:45 pm - 2:00pm Tulasi Puja 2:00 pm Prasadam (Vegetarian feast) Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita Workshop at ISKCON Brampton Starting September 10, 2011 In honour or Prabhupad's Appearance Day, Iskcon Brampton will be conducting a Srila Prabhupad Lilamrita workshop series facilitated by HG Vaishnava Prabhu beginning Saturday September 10th from 4-6pm. This will continue every weekend until the series is concluded within the fiscal year. This is a great opportunity and we ask that you contact the board or Vaishnava Prabhu for sign up. ***ANNOUNCING A NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS FOR AGES 5 &6*** ISKCON Brampton will be registering students this Sunday and for all classes. Also, the sunday school has an email account: sundayschool108@gmail.com Fees: $10/month or $15 for 2 children (to help with printing books and supplies) New Classes will begin on September 11, 2011. ISKCON Brampton Youth Sukhavak Prabhu would be facilitating a Youth Group - youth get together. Their goal is to engage and encourage teens and young adults in their Krishna Consciousness. The meetings would be at the temple on a Friday evening 1 x month to discuss Vaishnava culture, songs, mantras and do some kirtan where they can practice and learn songs and instruments. The start date will be September 16th at 7pm and we also encourage anyone that wants participate.   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON News.com: India Divided As Caste Census Begins By Ben Doherty for smh.com.au on 2 Sep 2011 To most Indian Hindus, caste - a complex hereditary social hierarchy that involves four main orders (varnas) and thousands of subcastes (jatis) - is the foundation of religious and social identity. But independent India has never asked its citizens with which caste they identify.   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON News.com: Dialogue Between Dr. West and Radhanath Swami - Part 1 The event took place earlier this year at Princeton University. 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: Material satisfaction is necessary In the beginning I used to think that spiritual life means complete "no" to material life. Therefore I desperately tried to deny myself things that may entice me into material life. The reason I was doing this is because while I had a desire to come out of material life, I was in fact deeply entrenched in it. So my solution out was to deny my desires...but needless to say it ended in frustration materially and spiritually. The lesson I learnt is one has to have a balanced approached towards material life and simultaneously offer our best in our spiritual life ultimately enabling us to free ourselves from material desires. The balance can be achieved by controlling our lust and greed but at the same time fulfill our basic needs and necessities. Of course, what is basic for me may not be for someone else. Every individual is a judge of their needs and desires and what is considered "more than necessary". Bottom line, we have to regulate our material life and not imitate "renunciation". I learnt this the hard way but at least I am learning. Srila Prabhupada in his purport explains this nicely. I was reading this purport just today and reminded my own material needs and wants and how it is also necessary for spiritual progress. At the end, if we dovetail our material desires in the service of Krishna, we can be much more happier and fulfilled versus absolute denial. Please read the purport. For spiritual advancement, one should be materially satisfied, for if one is not materially satisfied, his greed for material development will result in the frustration of his spiritual advancement. There are two things that nullify all good qualities. One is poverty. Daridra-doṣo guṇa-rāśi-nāśī. If one is poverty-stricken, all his good qualities become null and void. Similarly, if one becomes too greedy, his good qualifications are lost. Therefore the adjustment is that one should not be poverty-stricken, but one must try to be fully satisfied with the bare necessities of life and not be greedy. For a devotee to be satisfied with the bare necessities is therefore the best advice for spiritual advancement. Purport by Srila Prabhupada SB - 7.15.21 In conclusion, to reiterate, one should dabble with material desires only to the degree to fulfill one's bare necessities, otherwise not. Hare Krishna   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON News.com: Why is this "Unsafe" Food Banned When It's 35,000 Times Safer Than Others? By Dr. Mercola for mercola.com on 2 Sep 2011 As you're probably aware of by now, there's a war being waged against raw milk. It's nothing less than an unconstitutional assault on one of your most basic rights, i.e. your right to choose what you want to eat and drink.   • Email to a friend • • Toronto Sankirtan Team, CA: An encounter in Vancouver Arriving here in the beautiful Radha Madan Mohan temple in Vancouver I was waiting for the deity doors to open. So I sat near Srila Prabhupada and started to chant. Japa was really nice but i could see a young indian girl walk in with her father and they both sat in the corner while i continued to chant. As I was chanting, something in my heart was nagging me to go and talk to this girl. So to my big surprise I stopped japa and went to talk with this girl. I was little nervous as I knew no one in temple,  but something pulled me in her direction. We started to talk and she explained how she wanted to know who she was and do some good to world but dudnt know where to look. I remembered how I had recently read in the introduction to bhagavad Gita Srila Prabhhupada explain that this inquiry is primary to human life and called it Brahma jigyasa. So I requested her to read that paragraph and as soon as she read that she was hooked. I asked her and she agreed instantly to buy the book. We continued to talk and went for a walk in the beautiful gardens of vancouver temple. She started to explain how she was 24 and just out of a 2 year relationship and had seen devotees chanting on street and one devotee had told her 'soul is eternal' and she was very attracted to this and it made her come to temple. She had been coming to temple for 3 weeks and appreciating surroundings but she had not spoken to anyone yet. Just her appreciative attitude had made her so favourable. We sat together and made her read aloud sections from bhagavad Gita and nectar of devotion that spoke about her problems of identity and love. She explored japa and promised to come back in 2 days.let's hope she does but it was nice to see how slightest appreciation for Krishna's devotees completely changes the direction of one's life.   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON News.com: Mayapur Academy Diploma in Arcana Course By Gauranga Simha Das for ISKCON News on 2 Sep 2011 Those who are interested can learn the art of Deity worship in Sri Dham Mayapur. The main teachers are Jananivasa Das Head Pujari in the Mayapur Deity Department and Nrsimha Kavaca Das ISKCON Deity Worship Minister.   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON News.com: Becoming Hindu and Finding the Essence of All Spiritual Paths By Radhanatha Swami for Huffington Post on 2 Sep 2011 Forty years ago, that kind Sikh gentleman opened a door to a spiritual quest by allowing me entrance into India. Recently I was reminded of this event, when I was granted the privilege of an audience with India's president, Pratibha Patil. I had to smile, recalling how dramatically things had changed in my life since my first entry to India.   • Email to a friend • • Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: A New Page About Forgiveness On My Blog As chronological readers will have noted, I have been on a forgiveness kick lately.  I have delved into the topic in the past as well so I have made a page with all the links to the various articles on forgiveness in one place.  Here is a link to it. It can also be found by going directly to my blog and clicking on Forgiveness in the header. There will be the recent postings plus some from the past, including one that gets a few referrals from search engines every day, Forgiveness Is Giving Up Hope For A better Past. Some may have surmised correctly that this slew of postings has to do with what seems to be the imminent departure from this mortal coil of Kirtanananda Swami, someone I had a familial type relationship with for 20 years and who delivered me to Srila Prabhupada, something I will be eternally grateful for, regardless of what his actions were after he suffered brain damage in a brutal attack in 1985. He has one collapsed lung and mucous in the other, with a tracheotomy so he can breath.At one point it was said he had only 48 hours to live, but here we are a week later, he has regained consciousness and can respond with nods to questions.  He was always extremely tough for a little guy suffering from post polio syndrome so maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. I am basically preaching to myself with all this forgiveness stuff. Not only for Kirtanananda but for every perceived offense or slight I still hold on to and can’t move past. Hopefully these posts  may serve others as well. Hopefully I will get some forgiveness myself. Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever   • Email to a friend • • Mayapur Online: Srimati Sita Tahkurani's Appearance Day Today is Appearance day of Sita Thakurani- Consort of Advaita Acarya. Sri Sita Thakurani is to be worshiped just as much as Sacidevi herself, as the mother of the universe. She is the eternal wife of Sri Advaita Acharya. She was the daughter of Sri Nrishinga Baduri. She was married to Sri Advaita Acharya in Phuliya Nagara. read more   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Sivarama Swami: I answer to Dharma-setu and Karana-karana dd’s question “All pure Vaisnavas keep Tulasi-devi in their home.”   • Email to a friend • • Mayapur Online: Mayapur Academy - Diploma in Arcana Course - 2011/2012 Take a trip to Sri Dham Mayapur so that you can learn the art of Deity worship in the holy Dham. Study under the guidance of the expert and most senior pujaris in our movement, HG Jananivasa Prabhu (Mayapur Deity Department Head Pujari), Nrsimha Kavaca Prabhu (ISKCON Deity Worship Minister), and others. Don't miss this opportunity of a lifetime! read more   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1949 September 2: "Mother nature does not tolerate the exploitive motive of Her asura children and takes at once Her grim trident and inflicts the weapon in the very heart of the asura. This is all done according to the plan of Godhead." Prabhupada Letters :: 1947-64   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1970 September 2: "I know where from this poison tree has sprung but it does not matter. Prahlada Maharaja was administered poison, but it did not act. Similarly the poison administered to our Society will not act if our students are as good as Prahlada Maharaja." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1970 September 2: "I believe in these words, it is not my concoction, the shelter of the Lotus Feet of Lord Nityananda is as cooling as the combined moonshine of millions of moons. So anyone taking shelter of Krsna Consciousness Movement will be happy." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1971 September 2: "You have got complete capacity to spread this Krishna Consciousness movement. That is a fact. Continue this door to door program. All of Lord Caitanya's close associates used to do that. So we must follow in their footprints." Prabhupada Letters :: 1971   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1975 September 2: "What you have done is good. Now you are getting very good training. Why has he suggested you remarry? You have got no children, you are free, so take sannyasa." Prabhupada Letters :: 1975   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1975 September 2: "There is a laddu which anyone who has tasted once, laments, and anyone who has never tasted, laments. So one who has tasted, and one who has not tasted, both are lamenting. Wife is like that." Prabhupada Letters :: 1975   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1975 September 2: "Do not try to taste again. Now you are experienced, so don't take sex life again. You should not take sannyasa out of sentiment nor artificially, but it is better to accept it anyway." Prabhupada Letters :: 1975   • Email to a friend • • Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1965 September 2: "Suez Canal & Port Said." Jaladuta Diary :: 1965   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Sivarama Swami: Hari-vallabha dd asks  How we can recognize Krsna’s will working in our lives. I answer and conclude with a request for devotees’ prayers for Kanjanalocana Prabhu who met with an accident.   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Sivarama Swami: Kokila-bihari and Gopa-liladhara ask about the conditions under which Krsna spoke the Gita to the sun god And the development of meditation in chanting entailed to reach ruci and asakti.   • Email to a friend • • Dandavats.com: Vaishnava Compassion and Srila Prabhupada By Giriraj Swami Hearing His Holiness Niranjana Swami's wonderful talk, I felt we were being elevated to the spiritual world. He quoted from Visnujana Maharaja. Visnujana had a program in which he went by boat along the Ganges River, in Bengal, and chanted the holy names all day, stopping at villages along the way and chanting and speaking and distributing books about Krsna