martes, 6 de septiembre de 2011

Krishna-kripa das, Mayapura: Travel Journal#7.15: Polish Woodstock, Berlin and Irish Harnamas








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"Planet ISKCON" - 38 new articles

  1. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 7 September 2011--Who Are You?--and--Objection: We Cannot Concentration on a Formless God
  2. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Darshan
  3. Jayadeva das, USA: Agnostic Halavah (A Follow Up Story)
  4. Sita-pati dasa, AU: Fish out of water
  5. Krishna-kripa das, Mayapura: Travel Journal#7.15: Polish Woodstock, Berlin and Irish Harnamas
  6. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Lord Balarama's Appearance Day
  7. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Radhastami 2011
  8. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sri Krishna Janmastami 2011
  9. Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.12
  10. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: KIRTAN THERAPY
  11. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: SPIRITUAL ROCK NEWS
  12. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Why Krsna's gopis' lila?
  13. Jaya Kesava das, Denton, Texas: Long Overdue
  14. Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Hridayananda Maharaja explains Prabhupada's Comments on Women
  15. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: FIVE QUESTIONS FOR A POSITIVE CHANGE
  16. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO NOT BE OVERWHELED BY OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS
  17. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Janmashtami in Ujjain
  18. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: MY COOL FRIENDS
  19. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: GITA COACHING BLOG STATISTICS
  20. Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: The Mindset List for the Class of 2015
  21. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Your chance to be part of the official e-book for the Sankarshan Das Adhikari Vyasa Puja
  22. New Vrndavan, USA: "Sacred Space" Retreat by Sacinandana Swami
  23. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  24. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  25. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  26. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  27. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  28. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  29. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  30. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  31. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Darshan
  32. Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 14) – From One Base to Another [Siemysl to Kostrzyn]
  33. H.H. Sivarama Swami: In recounting the story of Mother Yasoda turning Lord Siva away
  34. H.H. Sivarama Swami: School opening ceremony at Krsna Valley
  35. Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
  36. ISKCON News.com: Radhasthami at Varsana
  37. Gouranga TV: Dasaratha, kirtana
  38. Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: A Debate Arises On Job Creation And The Environment
  39. More Recent Articles
  40. Search Planet ISKCON
  41. Prior Mailing Archive

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 7 September 2011--Who Are You?--and--Objection: We Cannot Concentration on a Formless God

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Wednesday 7 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: Who Are You? Uploaded from Sofia, Bulgaria Do you know who you are? Do you consider yourself to belong to a certain gender, race, nationality, or age bracket? If you do, you are grossly mistaken. You have nothing to do with any of these identities because you are not your material body. You are instead an eternal spiritual being, who is constitutionally a servant of Krishna or God. If you want factual permanent happiness, you must solidly resituate yourself in your original, natural consciousness. This enlightened state is known as Krishna consciousness, and can also be designated as Christ consciousness, Jehovah consciousness, or Allah consciousness. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Revealing the Real Self--Sofia, Bulgaria 5 September 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Revealing_Real_Self.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Objection: We Cannot Concentration on a Formless God From what I understand from the scriptures, meditation is not concentration, but we call it de-concentration because scriptures say we meditate by saying neti neti (not this not that). God is not a thing whereupon we can concentrate. When we solve a problem, we can concentrate because our intellect has the ability to capture a problem. Intellect does not have capability to capture God. Therefore when we take our mind from other things we get a glimpse of God. In bhakti, the path of devotion, we try to remember Lord Krishna or pray to Lord Krishna to give us His glimpse. We don't concentrate here as well. Please correct my understanding. Narendra B. Answer: Don't Throw Away the Baby with the Bathwater The neti neti meditation, which literally means, not this, not that is for clearing away all the material obstacles so that one can concentrate his mind in a state of pure transcendental meditation on the form of God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna. Neti neti is not meant to negate God's form, which is the very object of our meditation. It is simply meant to clear away all the material obstacles. Just as the mother who bathes her baby does not throw the baby away with the bath water, we should be careful not to negate the transcendental form of God when we go through the cleansing process of negating our attachment to the material forms, which are the very cause of our bondage in the cycle of birth and death. According to the impersonal conception of God, meditation is de-concentration because if God is formless, meditation must mean to completely detach the mind from all forms. In other words, according to the impersonal conception there is nothing ultimately existing upon which to fix or concentrate the mind. Therefore, for the impersonalists meditation is a de-fixing or de-concentrating of the mind. Your idea of de-concentration makes perfect sense as long as we assume an impersonal, formless God. But this impersonal, formless conception of God is not scientifically valid, either from the viewpoint of logic, Vedic science, or modern day empirical science. When the Vedas describe the Supreme as formless this means that God has no material form. This does not mean that He has no spiritual form. It is confirmed in the Brahma-samhita that Krishna has eternal form composed of eternity, knowledge, and bliss: varah paramah krsnah sac-cid-nanda-vigrahah andir dir govindah sarva-krana-kranam Krishna who is known as Govinda is the Supreme Godhead. He has an eternal blissful spiritual form. He is the origin of all. He has no other origin and He is the prime cause of all causes. --Brahma-samhita 5.1 From the standpoint of empirical science there has never been a scientific experiment to prove that form can be generated from nothingness or formlessness. And from the standpoint of logic if everything is ultimately one impersonal formless lump, we do not even exist to be engaged in the act of meditation. It is directly instructed in the Bhagavad-gita that we should concentrate our minds on the person Krishna as stated here: man-man bhava mad-bhakto mad-yj mm namaskuru mm evaisyasi yuktvaivam tmnam mat-paryanah Engage your mind always in concentrating on Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me. --Bhagavad-gita 9.34 While it is true that we cannot capture Krishna or God with our intellect, we can capture Him with a loving heart. He is actually very eagerly waiting for us to capture Him by our love, just as Mother Yasoda captured Him by her love. If you truly love someone, you will always think of them 24 hours a day. The more you think of them, the more your love will grow. So please always concentrate your mind on Krishna in transcendental loving meditation 24 hours a day, and you will capture Him. In a mood of humble service to you, I was forced to point out your mistaken understanding on this point to clear away all the obstacles on your path way of spiritual realization. I hope you understand and can appreciate my humble attempt to correct and enlighten you. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Darshan

7/9/2011
"O puller of the calves' tails, the calves dragged You about by their tails. You delighted the cowherd men and women, making them forget all other business." Sri Krishna Lila Stava verse 92

O Lord, please help me forget my busy-ness of material desires and relish your pastimes.

Here is today's darshan.

 
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Jayadeva das, USA: Agnostic Halavah (A Follow Up Story)

Okay, so it seems my last post about developing agnostic attitudes towards Krishna Consciousness (and religion in general) has caused quite a ruckus. Personally I don't care about how I may be perceived from what I wrote. I really don't care if other devotees think I've "blooped" or I'm "in maya" or even if they think I'm smoking weed and drinking beer, but I think it's important to clarify a few things:

1. I'm not saying Krishna (God) is not real. As I said at the end of the other post, I believe and have faith that there is something higher, something more than just this material existence that we are currently perceiving with our physical senses. I've personally experienced higher states of consciousness and awareness (in a non-drug related way) that have proven this fact to me. My contention in the previous post was that, "What impact or difference does this Higher Being have on my daily reality?" In other words, if I take the time to chant and pray and study the sastras for hours and hours everyday, how does it practically change my reality? Sure, reality is nothing more than our consciousness, but staying in the lofty ideals of Krishna Consciousness seems at times to be quite an impossible feat. How can I be completely absorbed in Krishna's pastimes with the gopas and gopis while I'm dealing with the reality of my day-to-day responsibilities and duties? I've tried to do that and it just doesn't work.

2. I'm not against Krishna Consciousness or trying to convince others that it doesn't work. All I'm saying is: IT'S NOT WORKING FOR ME. At least at this particular time it isn't doing much for me. And my point in making the previous post was to open up this kind of discussion. I think a vast majority of devotees have felt these feelings of doubt or lack of faith or whatever, but no one wants to say anything publicly for fear of being ostricized or looked down upon. After all, if you say to your self, "I don't know if I really believe all of this stuff" then you're left exposed and confronting the possibility that "Hey, maybe I'm not really a devotee...or at least not as advanced as I'd like to think...or not as advanced as I'd like OTHERS to think." There are many examples of stalwart Vaishnavas throughout the ages that have attained the perfection of bhakti-yoga. I'm not discredting their accomplishments or trying to say it's all make believe. They've attained something very rare, lofty and priceless, but it's something that remains inaccesible and mysterious to me.

3. All I was trying to express in my previous post is that sometimes I have doubts. Like I said, I wish more devotees would open up and talk about these things in public. Why do we have to be ashamed to say, "Yeah, sometimes I find japa to be really boring" or "I really just like hanging out, eating and talking prajalpa at the Sunday Feast"? It's like no one wants to be frank because they don't want other devotees to see them in a bad light. It's like we need to keep up this facade that we don't have any problems or like we never struggle. I don't get that. It's like when we only post pictures of our self on Facebook that we think are flattering. Why don't we ever post the ugly pictures?

So anyway, I just felt like that previous post needed this follow up. I'm not blooping anytime soon. I already did that back in 2002. It was fun for what it was, but in the end it left me feeling depressed, empty and lost. I know there's no true, lasting joy in this temporary, material world, but at the same time I've yet to find true, lasting joy on the path of devotional service. So I'll continue on with my mixed-devotion, sometimes watching Project Runway and sometimes watching Srila Prabhupada lectures, all the while praying to Sri Nityananda Prabhu to somehow or other bring me to that perfection which seems so despairingly unattainable.

 
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Sita-pati dasa, AU: Fish out of water

View on youtube.

From The Loft, Auckland, New Zealand

 
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Krishna-kripa das, Mayapura: Travel Journal#7.15: Polish Woodstock, Berlin and Irish Harnamas

Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 7, No. 15
By Krishna-kripa das
(August 2011, part one)
Polish Woodstock, Berlin, and Irish Harinamas
(Sent from Berlin on September 7, 2011)


Where I Went and What I Did


The beginning of August I went on the Polish Woodstock for the eleventh time. It gets better each year, and this year I was happy that several friends from Alachua got to come and experience it themselves. So many thousands of people have positive experiences of the chanting of Hare Krishna, dancing, and eating spiritual food that we are happy just to be part of it. The day after the Woodstock several of us did harinama for the hundreds at the train station on their way home. Next I went on to Berlin, where I did harinama for three days, and then flew to Ireland where we did harinama, both in Belfast in Northern Ireland and Cavan in the Republic of Ireland, for almost a week. While in Belfast, on the weekend of Lord Balarama's appearance, we had a twenty-four hour kirtana, the second one there this year.


I have not so many class notes again this time, as there were either no classes or classes by me, which I do not take notes on. There are some valuable contributions by Prithu Prabhu and Caitanya Candrodaya Prabhu.


Thanks to Govinda, Gaura Hari, and Gopa Kumar Prabhus from the Woodstock, Varaha Murti, Nikunja, and Krishna Caitanya Prabhus from Berlin, and Gauranga Prabhu and the senior brahmacari who does the evening deity service on Wednesdays, both from Belfast, for their kind support of my travels.


Itinerary

 

Dresden: September 8
Ukraine Festival: September 9–15
London: September 16
Boston Ratha-yatra and Prabhupada festival: September 18
New York: September 19–23?
Philadelphia Ratha-yatra: September 24–25
Albany: September 26–30
Florida: October–December


Polish Woodstock 2011


Woodstock: The Day Before


After arriving by 15-hour bus ride with the Croatian and Slovenian devotees, I took some kitchri prasadam, and chanted and danced with devotees playing guitar and singing on the school lawn. Then we did two harinamas at the site, instead of the usual one, and passed out invitations to our Krishna camp, Pokojowa Wioska Kryszny (Krishna's Village of Peace). Because we did two harinamas instead of one, we got three times as many people for prasadam on the first day! By the time the festival was over, devotees would distribute 135,000 plates in the four and a half days, a new record for the Woodstock festival.


During one harinama Indradyumna Swami greeted Polish Woodstock organizer, Jurek Owsiak.


Woodstock Day 1


Taking advantage of the fact the bands are not playing on Woodstock main stage our the first day of our festival, Indradyumna Swami organized a second Ratha-yatra in the afternoon. A couple girls liked the morning Ratha-yatra so much they came back for the afternoon one and later joined our mantra yoga kirtana tent in the evening and chanted and danced there.


A small group of people sitting 30 feet outside our kirtana tent joking imitated my dancing. Then they called me over to dance in the center of them, and they also joined in singing along with me. Madhava Prabhu was singing a nice tune at that time, and they enjoyed the chanting and dancing.


I explained to one boy that Hare Krishna was both a philosophy and a practice, and he could practice the chanting and see if he felt it was beneficial. He said with a smile that he was already chanting in our tent, and he liked it a lot. He then excused himself to go back to chanting and dancing.


Woodstock Days 2 to 4


For me Woodstock is so engaging, there is only time write about it in reflection after the fact. I told Jayatam Jaya Sila Prabhu, who along with his wife, Mother Nandini, work tirelessly to organize the festival tour for Indradyumna Swami, that I thought it was the best Woodstock ever, and he agreed. Some of my translator friends from previous years said the same. I tried to identify people who seemed to have an attachment for the chanting and tell them about temples and local gatherings in their area. I felt more successful at this than in previous years.


I met a girl from Poznan who loved to dance in our Mantra Yoga tent, but I found my list of Krishna gatherings in Poland did not include one in that city. The next morning I missed our bus from the school to the field for the Ratha-yatra as I was busy proofreading my guru's web page. I caught a ride with some devotee in his vehicle. I asked him where he was from, and he said he was from Poznan, so I asked him for the contact information for the Poznan gathering, so I could pass it on to the Poznan girl and he supplied it, being the organizer of the program himself. Immediately after the Ratha-yatra I met another girl from Poznan, who was also interested in knowing about the local gatherings. Later in the afternoon as I walked across our village, one lady just in front of me was taking a photo of our food distribution, and I jokingly posed in front of her camera, smiling with my arms raised. After she took my picture, I asked what she thought of the Krishna village, and she said she liked it and has been coming for five years. I asked where she was from and she replied, "Poznan." I told her we had monthly programs there, and she took the contact information for them. I wonder how many other people at the Woodstock are so interested in more frequent Krishna experiences, but we do not know because we do not stop to talk to them.


I also hooked up a couple of people from Bydgoszcz with the local programs. One girl was so serious when I saw her on other occasions she reminded me twice about my promise to send her the contact information. In addition, I gave out four or five invitations to our Warsaw temple and at least a couple to our Wroclaw temple.


Many more people came from Germany than ever before, and from a greater distance. I gave two persons invitations to our temple in Munich, two or three persons invitations to our temple in Leipzig, and about five people invitations to our temple in Berlin. I told the Leipzig people about our Ratha-yatra there on September 3, and one of them said he hoped to meet me there. I also met a group of people who came from Frankfort, several hours away. Beyond Germany, I encountered a couple from Amsterdam and a guy from England.


I talked to boy and girl who both came to the Woodstock for the first time, getting to know each other there. They both liked our Krishna village very much. The girl was from Warsaw and the boy was from Leipzig, and I gave them invitations to our temples in their respective cities. They promised to visit the temples and encouraged each other to do so. Furthermore, I told the boy about the Ratha-yatra in Leipzig on September 3, and he was excited about going. Because of their interest I mentioned that we had books in Polish, English, and German at our book tent, and they enthusiastically went to see them.


Michal, one young Polish man who we met in a parking lot in Norway in July, came to the Woodstock the first time and to our Krishna's Village of Peace. He lives just 40 km away but never came before. He brought the girl he is marrying and another friend, and they had a good time.


I also met a young man who remembers first seeing me at the Woodstock in 2003 in Zary, and then many times since. During the Ratha-yatra he drove by wearing a T-shirt from that very year.


Also Izabela, who we met in Kolobrzeg years ago and who lives in Kostrzyn, brought her friends to Krishna's Village of Peace. She told me she has remodeled the attic in her home to facilitate all the people who come to visit her for the Woodstock, and she always brings them to our village.


I always miss some of the ecstatic events of the Ratha-yatra as I am distributing invitations. My friend Gaura Hari Prabhu told me one couple chanted Hare Krishna into our microphone during the Ratha-yatra for some time, reading it from our mantra cards, and he shared this picture.


Indradyumna Swami took this funny picture of me taking a break from the distribution of invitations to take video of the kirtana party. I smiled because my plan was to take a picture of others, but instead Indradyumna Swami was taking a picture of me! It reminds me of my two roles on the Ratha-yatras, filming and distributing invitations.


There are always humorous scenes at Woodstock that you do not see other places. Here one girl pulls the Ratha while holding a small dog in her other hand.


Lord Krishna and His avatars Kapila and Rsabhadeva talk about how attraction to the opposite sex is a cause of material bondage. Kapila talks about how the sensually controlled man is like a dancing dog in the hand of a woman. Thus when I saw this scene of a girl dragging a boy around by a chain, I could not help but smile and ask if I could take a picture of them.


Woodstock: The Day After


As I have for the last few years, I organized a small harinama at the train station the day after Woodstock. My friend, Govinda Prabhu from Scotland, who plays accordion and sings, is a great asset to my party, and he convinced his friend, Gopa Kumar Prabhu, to come to. Vishnu Prabhu, who is an organizer of harinamas on the tour came and played the drum. Two more devotees joined us so we had six altogether. Fortunately one devotee spoke Polish, and he spent a lot of time answering people's inquiries. This time we chanted for two and a half hours (from 13:10 to 15:40) to a much larger crowd than usual. We encountered five different groups of devotees in the course of our harinama, some out shopping, some leaving by train, and others accompanying their friends to the train station. Some of the Alachua bharat-natyam dancers chanted briefly with us as we walked around the crowded streets near the train station. At least half the time we sat down and chanted near the train station, where several hundred people could hear us.


At one point, three people played African djembe drums of a variety of sizes along with us, and five people from the crowd danced with us.


One young girl, dressed like a hippie, loved to sing and dance, and continued walking with our party as we walked around in front of the train station before we left. I recognized her from our Krishna's Village of Peace, where she also danced. She must have danced at least an hour on the harinama, and she was very happy to receive an invitation to the Sunday feast at our Warsaw temple, the nearest large city to her. Many people also took mantra cards in the course of the harinama, and one young lady who lived near Wroclaw took an invitation for our center there. Even though it sprinkled on and off much of the time, all the devotees who went out found it a joyful experience. On the way back to our base, one guy who was drinking beer and loitering near our party kept demanding mantra cards from me so he could also pass them out to the people. We returned to the school that was our base just in time for the post-Woodstock feast which included panir and spinach, a curd vegetable preparation, sweet rice, and laddus, as well as some savories. I left Kostrzyn that evening to do harinama in Berlin. As I approached the train station dressed in my dhoti, many people said "Hare Krishna," "Hare Rama," or "Hare Hare." I smiled and waved but could not stop as I had to catch my own train.


I took 111 video clips at Woodstock, totaling just over two hours altogether. I have not the determination to edit them although I have delayed posting ,this, hoping to include the video. I hope when I take a break from traveling, I can focus on it, and I will share it with you then. For now, here are some videos of kirtana from Arkadiusz from Krakow who has over five hundred videos on YouTube.



All glories to Indradyumna Swami and the five hundred devotees from all over the world who give hundreds of thousands of people the chance to eat spiritual food, hear spiritual sound, become free from bad karma, experience transcendental pleasure, and take another step toward attaining the perfection of pure devotion to the Supreme Lord, who is referred as Krishna, in the Sanskrit language, because He is all-attractive. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, who representing Lord Caitanya, has inspired people all over the world to engage in such transcendental missionary world.


Cavan Harinamas


There was a festival of Irish music in Cavan, Ireland, and what is normally a sleepy Irish town became a great venue for devotees to do harinama for several days. Bhagavata Dasi, who you can see playing the accordion in the video, loves to sing Hare Krishna in public in different Irish cities, and she led us in this endeavor.

The first day three devotees and three local kids danced in front our party.


The next day after our four-hour harinama, four girls asked if we were going to continue playing. We said not because there was too much competition with other musicians. We started packing up, and one of them again asked if we were going to continue playing, and I said no because of the competition. They then suggested we find another place. It did not seem practical to find another place as every 10 meters there was another street musician. We told them we would return there the next day, and they were very happy to hear it. It was nice to see Krishna has supporters in Ireland among the youth!


Insights from Devotees


Prithu Prabhu [from a conversation in Berlin]:


During Prabhupada's time the Frankfort temple lacked life and manpower. I proposed to Prabhupada that we close it. He protested, practically shouting at me, "Even if a child is born deaf and dumb, it does not mean that you kill it!"


ISKCON is like invalid football. Someone has no arms, someone has no legs. Rather than picking on each others' shortcomings we should capitalize on our strengths.


It is in the mode of ignorance to throw people out. Prabhupada said that only if one is violent toward devotees can he be kicked out, but not otherwise.


Krishna-kripa das:


In the course of talking about Lord Balarama on His appearance day this year, His role as a well-wishing peacemaker I found striking.


When the Kurus unlawfully arrested the youthful Yadu, Samba, a son of Lord Krishna, Lord Balarama discouraged the Yadus from fighting about it, but rather He personally went to Hastinapura to negotiate a peaceful settlement.


When Bhima and Duryodhana were involved in a duel, out of affection for both, he advised them to stop fighting. He argued that since Duryodhana was a better club fighter and Bhima was stronger, it was unlike that either would win a decisive victory and so that it was better to stop the combat. Unfortunately, they were too enraged with mutual animosity to hear the Lord's wise words.


Caitanya-candrodaya Prabhu:


During Soviet times there were some people whose job description was to persecute the devotees. Some became somewhat purified because they had to study Bhagavad-gita to do their service. Once Bhakti Vijnana Goswami was questioned by the authorities and asked if he would spy on his people. He declined, saying it was against his principles, and the man replied except for your four regulative principles, what principles do you have?


To ask for love of Krishna is our only real prayer.


You can study the Upanisads in the mode of passion like the scholars do, not desiring the brahma jnana (spiritual knowledge) they provide.


The only thing Krishna looks for is the love of His devotee.


Keeping the qualities of goodness in the temple is preaching because it shows people how they can keep their home in the mode of goodness and elevate themselves spiritually.


There is such a good result from chanting Hare Krishna in any circumstance, what to speak if one chants to please his guru or if one chants desiring to awaken one's love of God.


Comment by Nitai Sacinandana Prabhu: There is a story of a lady who was clinically dead but came back to life. During the time she was considered dead, her hearing was still functioning and she heard her relatives quarreling over her property. She became so disgusted she that disinherited all of them.


Syama-mayi dd [from a conversation]:


Once I stopped in a bowling alley to call my guru's servant and confirm that I would cook for my guru the next day. The building had a bar with really horrible music playing. It was hard for me to hear him on the phone because of the music, and he asked where I was and I explained. I was so disgusted with the place I was praying to Krishna, "Stop this nonsense." That night I was awakened by a large explosion that shook my residence. We read in the paper the next day that the "Real IRA", a splinter group that continued bombings after the cease fire, had blown-up up the bowling alley, where I had just been hours before.


Padmanetra Prabhu [from a conversation]:


ISKCON is such an international movement that in my class of 70 students at Radhadesh, 60 different nations were represented.


-----


krishna-mantra haite habe samsara-mocana

krishna-nama haite pabe krishnera carana


[While explaining His chanting of Hare Krishna to the Mayavadi sannyasis, Lord Caitanya quoted His spiritual master, who had instructed Him thus:] "Simply by chanting the holy name of Krishna one can obtain freedom from material existence. Indeed, simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra one will be able to see the lotus feet of the Lord." (Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Adi-lila 7.73)

 
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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Lord Balarama's Appearance Day



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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Radhastami 2011



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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sri Krishna Janmastami 2011





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Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.12


Rama

ramate bhajato cetah paramananda-varidhau
atreti kathito ramah syamasundara-vigrahah

The minds of the devotees are continuously drowned in an ocean of supreme joy by seeing the beautiful dark form of Krsna. Therefore He is known by the Name Rama.

Jiva Goswami
 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: KIRTAN THERAPY

Some amazing news about chanting:


Vermont Psychiatric Hospital Welcomes "Kirtan Therapy"



http://news.iskcon.com/node/3847/2011-08-20/vermont_psychiatric_hospital_welcomes_kirtan_therapy
 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: SPIRITUAL ROCK NEWS

New Scorsese TV Film About George Harrison



Titiksava Karunika: A Mantra Rockin' Good Time


My friend TK:

 
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Why Krsna's gopis' lila?

Bhaktya mam abhijanati yavan yas casmi tattvatah [Bg. 18.55]. If you want to know in truth, tattvatah... Krsna wants that one should understand Him tattvatah. Not that superficially to take Krsna, that "He was very fond of the gopis, and let us hear the lila of Krsna." Why Krsna's gopis' lila? Why not Krsna's lila killing the demons? That, the people are not interested, to hear about Krsna's killing the demons. Because the gopis' lila, it appears to be the transaction between young woman and man, it very quickly appeals. But Krsna's other business is there. Paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. That is also Krsna's lila.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.30 -- Vrndavana, August 11, 1974

 
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Jaya Kesava das, Denton, Texas: Long Overdue

Bilbo Baggins warned Frodo about stepping out his door; the road is windy and can take you everywhere. What started with a visit to a few places here and there to encourage a few people I knew in spiritual principles … Continue reading

 
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Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Hridayananda Maharaja explains Prabhupada's Comments on Women

Question: I’m a forward thinking, educated westerner and [comments on women being less intelligent, less trustworthy, etc.] just make me recoil.


Answer by Srila Hridayananda Das Goswami:

People do bring this up all the time. I generally explain that Prabhupada grew up in a different time and culture and this may be reflected in some of his statements on worldly matters. In other words, Prabhupada’s teaching on the nature of the soul, God etc are directly based on scripture. Prabhupada consistently taught us that his statements are infallible when he is citing the scriptures. This means that Prabhupada statements not based on scripture are not infallible.

Regarding intelligence, science now speaks of a variety of intelligences, such as artistic intelligence, emotional intelligence, mathematical intelligence, administrative intelligence etc. In this age, we cannot speak meaningful about a single ‘intelligence’ and say that men are more intelligent. It depends on the context.

Regarding the adultery, trustworthiness etc, we can now study and measure those things scientifically, and so many of these issues, in my view, should be dealt with through social and neurological science.

There is a growing awareness in ISKCON that we must distinguish between different categories of Srila Prabhupada’s statements. In fact, based on my own statements on this topic, the GBC formed a hermeneutic committee which is attempting to rationally categorize Srila Prabhupada’s different statements according to sound philosophical, spiritual, and scientific principles.

Prabhupada saved us, he loved us, and therefore he eminently deserves our devotion, despite a few remarks which we may struggle with.

Interestingly, despite some controversial statements about women, in his own life, Prabhupada treated women with great dignity and respect, as virtually all of his female disciples testify. In fact he braved terrible criticism from Hindus by giving women unprecedented opportunities in his movement.

I suggest that you, again, focus on the unlimited good that Prabhupada is doing, and put aside the few points that deeply trouble you. Even in the material world, children feel great love and gratitude toward their loving, devoted parents, and overlook a few areas in which generations may have different values.

 

With best wishes,

Hridayananda das Goswami

 


 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: FIVE QUESTIONS FOR A POSITIVE CHANGE


1) What is my mission?

2) Who are my customers?

3) What do my customers consider value?

4) What are my desired results?

5) What is my plan to achieve these results?

These five Peter Drucker questions can help anyone in almost any situation to focus on the most important elements to change.
 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO NOT BE OVERWHELED BY OTHER PEOPLE'S PROBLEMS

Q: When I speak to people about their problems, I get overwhelmed with or drained by their problems. What to do?

A: You need to change your perception of their problems and your role as a helper. The problems people face are not meant to crush them (or you). They are meant to help them learn, grow and become stronger. Your role is to help them see their problems as opportunities to make advancement and raise consciousness. Then their problems are not a burden even for them, what to speak of you. With that fresh spiritual perspective, their problems become an exciting challenge and opportunity.

The  best way to help people is to help them help themselves. In order to do that, they need to struggle in order to get stronger and wiser. You are not a problem solver but a facilitator of their growth and empowerment. In this way you do greater service for them then simply helping them.
 
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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Janmashtami in Ujjain

Drums playing in perfect rhythm, walkway filled with flowers, exquisite lighting all over the temple that the temple can be easily be marked from far far away just like a palace and if you are close by-you will be stunned without your 3D glasses. Everyone was so happy today from little children to adults that [...]

 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: MY COOL FRIENDS

 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: GITA COACHING BLOG STATISTICS


From 2009 May – 2011 September, almost 11,000 views from the United States.


Pageviews by Countries
United States
10,959
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5,514
United Kingdom
2,730
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2,467
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: The Mindset List for the Class of 2015

This year's entering college class of 2015 was born just as the Internet took everyone onto the information highway and as Amazon began its relentless flow of books and everything else into their lives.  Members of this year's freshman class, most of them born in 1993, are the first generation to grow up taking the word "online" for granted and for whom crossing the digital divide has redefined research, original sources and access to information, changing the central experiences and methods in their lives. They have come of age as women assumed command of U.S. Navy ships, altar girls served routinely at Catholic Mass, and when everything from parents analyzing childhood maladies to their breaking up with boyfriends and girlfriends, sometimes quite publicly, have been accomplished on the Internet.

Each August since 1998, Beloit College has released the Beloit College Mindset List, providing a look at the cultural touchstones that shape the lives of students entering college this fall. The creation of Beloit's former Public Affairs Director Ron Nief and Keefer Professor of the Humanities Tom McBride, it was originally created as a reminder to faculty to be aware of dated references, and quickly became a catalog of the rapidly changing worldview of each new generation. Mindset List websites at Beloit College and at mindsetmoment.com, the media site webcast and their Facebook page receive more than a million hits annually.

Nief and McBride recently applied their popular format to 10 generations of Americans over 150 years in their new book, The Mindset Lists of American History: From Typewriters to Text Messages, What Ten Generations of Americans Think Is Normal (Wiley and Sons.).

As for the class of 2015, without any memory whatever of George Herbert Walker Bush as president, they came into existence as Bill Clinton came into the presidency. Their parents, frequently older than one might expect because women have always been able to get pregnant almost regardless of age, have hovered over them with extra care and have agreed with those states that mandated the wearing of bike helmets. Ferris Bueller could be their overly cautious dad, and Jimmy Carter is an elderly smiling public man who appears occasionally on television doing good works. "Dial-up," Woolworths and the Sears "Big Book" are as antique to them as "talking machines" might have been to their grandparents. Meanwhile, as they've wondered why O.J. Simpson has always been suspected of something, they have all "been there, done that, gotten the Tshirt," shortened boring conversations with "yadda, yadda, yadda," and recognized LBJ as LeBron James.

For those who cannot comprehend that it has been 18 years since this year's class was born, they will quickly confirm that the next four years will go even faster and, like the rest of us, they will continue to grow older at increasing speed.


Click here for the full  Mindset List for the Class of 2015


Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever
 
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Your chance to be part of the official e-book for the Sankarshan Das Adhikari Vyasa Puja

Subject: Your chance to be part of the official e-book for the Sankarshan Das Adhikari Vyasa Puja Dear Friends, Well-wishers, God brothers, and God Sisters, Please accept my humble obeisances All Glories to his Srila Prabhupada All Glories to his Srila Gurudeva This year, Oct 22nd 2011 is the appearance day of none other than our beloved Srila Gurudeva, His Grace Sripad Sankarshan Das Adhikari. The Appearance Day of the Spiritual Master is celebrated as Vyasa Puja. Lord Vyasa deva, the literary incarnation of Krishna, compiled the vedic wisdom and the spiritual master purely represents Lord Vyasa so his appearance day (not a mundane birthday) is celebrated as Vaysa Puja day. For the disciples and all the followers of Srila Gurudeva celebrating Vaysa Puja is most important and brings immense spiritual benefit to the disciple. The well-wishers, students, and disciples celebrate Vyasa Puja by offering him Homages (words of heartfelt Appreciation) and Gifts to the spiritual Master. The bona fide Spiritual Master is constantly in the mood of serving his students and disciples, so we, his dear disciples/students should reciprocate with Love and devotion and take his blessings on this most special day. Please send in your Vyasa Puja Homages to Sripad Sankarshan Das Adhikjari's 2011 Vyasa Puja Please send in the homages as soon as possible, but latest by Sept 25 2011 for your homage to be included in the Vyasa Puja E-Book, to sda.vyasapuja.offerings@gmail.com Your offerings should preferably contain your name, city, and country. Your servant, Mahabhagavat P.S. For Guru Dakshina Offerings to assist Srila Gurudeva's mission go to: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/donate

 
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New Vrndavan, USA: "Sacred Space" Retreat by Sacinandana Swami

Dear Brijabasis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We have discussed at the last Istaghosti ways to increase the Community Spirit. The upcoming retreat “Sacred Space” is an opportunity for congregational hearing and chanting on the weekend of September 16th to 18th.

A special event for the community members to come together after the hectic festival season ended.

Hereafter the program:

Friday, September 16, 2011 6 – 8pm Introductory lecture

Saturday, September 17, 2011 8-915am Discovery Lecture 1
11-1pm Workshop 1
1-2pm Group Japa, Kirtan
6/8pm Katha & Kirtan

Sunday, September 18, 2011 7-915 Discovery Lecture 2
11-1pm Workshop 2
1pm – 2pm Final session
215pm Sunday Feast

The participation is free of charge.

Your servant,
Jaya Krsna das


 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 September 6: "As I am traveling all over the world, I see that people are not satisfied. From authoritative sources we understand the dissatisfaction of the human race can be mitigated only by the acceptance of Krishna consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 September 6: "GBC means that one must be ideal Vaishnava, strict observance of all the rules and regulations. This is your main responsibility, and then you see that all others are following strictly. Then everything will be all right."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 September 6: "Leader means spiritually not materially. One must have a solid foundation of chanting and following the regulative principles then one is fit to lead. If spiritual potency and strength is there, then intelligence automatically follows."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 September 6: "Nowadays there are so many so-called spiritual masters, it becomes bewildering to us as to who can actually give spiritual knowledge. Therefore I have written volumes of books. Thus you will be able to learn the science of God."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1965 September 6:
"Today I have taken khichri and kari. It was tasteful. and I took them with relish and this gave me a push forward to get renewed strength little by little."
Jaladuta Diary :: 1965

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 September 6: "These books are not very authorized. Why should you go to them when you have got Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Teachings of Lord Caitanya? Don't divert your attention in that way."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 September 6: "Your ideas are welcome. They are all very good. Like when male and female come together child comes out. So if mind and intelligence are good then a good product comes out."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 September 6: "The procedure is described very elaborately in Bhagavad-gita. Krishna leaves behind His instructions so that in future people could take His help and guidance. But, if you do not accept His instructions, then how can you be happy?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Darshan

6/9/2011
"As soon as I began to meditate upon the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead with my mind transformed in transcendental love, tears rolled down my eyes, and without delay the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna appeared on the lotus of my heart."

Here is today's darshan.

 
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Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 14) – From One Base to Another [Siemysl to Kostrzyn]

[The Won-Durr Boiz diary series is based on four ex-gurukuli brothers (surname: Durr) coming together for the first time to share Krsna consciousness with the outside world.  Madhavendra Puri (the author and middle elder) has been waiting in Radhadesh (Belgium) for his brothers to arrive.  Nitai Canda (the eldest) and Rupa Gosvami (the youngest) arrive first, and Bhisma Deva (the middle younger) is scheduled to come half way through.  Their adventure takes them through Belgium, Germany and Poland, for rathayatras, festival tours and kirtana events.  These diaries aim to bring inspiration and joy to the readers, and hopefully encourage others to entangle themselves in Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana movement – whether for the spiritual benefits or simply for the fun.]

 

 

 

Wednesday 27th, July 2011.

 

 

We soon arrived back from the site and made our way to bed.  We were woken by Jayatam entering our room.  We took this chance to prompt him about our services for Woodstock.  He quickly informed us that Nitai was going to be stage managing, I was going to be serving the VIPs again and Rupa would be serving prasadam in the Food For Life tent.

 

 

The day was spent on a long japa walk around the town of Siemysl and packing for Woodstock.

 

 

Thursday 28th, July 2011.

 

 

We woke up and continued our packing.  The room was like a mad house.  We loaded our things and then picked a spot on the bus.  Rupa and I quickly ran to the shop for snacks before the bus left.  The trip was smooth and we soon reached the midway point for the traditional restock on junk food.  It seemed like no time when we finally arrived in Kostrzyn.

 

 

We jumped out at the Red School (our main base for the Woodstock festival) and made our way to our usual room.  We settled nicely.  I took a look out the window and spotted Zak, a gurukuli and a Woodstock frequenter.  He was back again for another Woodstock festival and so was the rest of the team.

 

 

I made a walking trip to the train station, to plot out the distance and direction in my mind for the next day's trip.  We were going to head to Berlin to pick up Bhisma and Anukula, completing the Won-Durr Boiz crew and adding on a Won-Durr Gurl.

 

 

When I returned to the school, I was asked to help move some things via car to the Green School (the other Woodstock base where we stationed our VIP guests).  This was soon going to be my home but first I had to return to the Red School for one night so we could pick up Bhisma and Anukula.  Everything seemed to be going on like it did every other year and I was excited for the upcoming events.

 

 

Poland (13) . Poland (14)

 

Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com]

 

 

 

Subscribe: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/subscribe]

 

 

 


 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: In recounting the story of Mother Yasoda turning Lord Siva away

We remember the importance of properly receiving guests into our home.

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: School opening ceremony at Krsna Valley

 
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Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

 
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ISKCON News.com: Radhasthami at Varsana


The festival of Radhastami, the appearance of Radharani, is being celebrated at Varsana for almost a week. Crowds of people join to circumambulate the holy place and participate in the festival. A video by Syam Gopal and Vijay Radhika.


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.
 
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Gouranga TV: Dasaratha, kirtana

Dasaratha, kirtana

 
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Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: A Debate Arises On Job Creation And The Environment


Click here to read the full article from Motoko Rich and John Broder at the New York Times

Spencer Weitman, president of the National Cement Company of Alabama, said the environmental regulations were a moving target.

Republicans and business groups say yes, arguing that environmental protection is simply too expensive for a battered economy. They were quick to claim victory Friday after the Obama administration abandoned stricter ozone pollution standards.

Many economists agree that regulation comes with undeniable costs that can affect workers. Factories may close because of the high cost of cleanup, or owners may relocate to countries with weaker regulations.

But many experts say that the effects should be assessed through a nuanced tally of costs and benefits that takes into account both economic and societal factors. Some argue that the costs can be offset as companies develop cheaper ways to clean up pollutants, and others say that regulation is often blamed for job losses that occur for different reasons, like a stagnant economy. As companies develop new technologies to cope with regulatory requirements, some new jobs are created.

What's more, some economists say, previous regulations, like the various amendments to the Clean Air Act, have resulted in far lower costs and job losses than industrial executives initially feared.

For example, when the Environmental Protection Agency first proposed amendments to the Clean Air Act aimed at reducing acid rain caused by power plant emissions, the electric utility industry warned that they would cost $7.5 billion and tens of thousands of jobs. But the cost of the program has been closer to $1 billion, said Dallas Burtraw, an economist at Resources for the Future, a nonprofit research group on the environment. And the E.P.A., in a paper published this year, cited studies showing that the law had been a modest net creator of jobs through industry spending on technology to comply with it.

The question of just how much environmental regulation hurts jobs is a particularly delicate one as leaders in Washington debate the best ways to address the nation's stubbornly high unemployment rate. As President Obama prepares for an important speech on Thursday focusing on job creation, Republicans are pushing for a rollback in environmental regulations that they say saddle companies with onerous costs that curtail jobs without leading to significant improvement in environmental or public health.

Part of the problem in evaluating the costs of regulation is that there have been few systematic studies of such costs after regulations are imposed.

"Regulations are put on the books and largely stay there unexamined," said Michael Greenstone, an economist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "This is part of the reason that these debates about regulations have a Groundhog's Day quality to them."

Mr. Greenstone has conducted one of the few studies that actually measure job losses related to environmental rules. In researching the amendments to the Clean Air Act that affected polluting plants from 1972 and 1987, he found that those companies lost almost 600,000 jobs compared with what would have happened without the regulations.

But Mr. Greenstone has also conducted research showing that clean air regulations have reduced infant mortality and increased housing prices, and indeed many economists argue that job losses should not be considered in isolation. They say the costs of regulations are dwarfed by the gains in lengthened lives, reduced hospitalizations and other health benefits, and by economic gains like the improvement to the real estate market.

Business groups also tend to cite regulation even if other factors are involved, critics say. The cement industry is currently warning that as many as 18 of the 100 cement plants currently operating in the United States could close down because of proposed stricter standards for sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions, resulting in the direct loss of 13,000 jobs.

An E.P.A. analysis of the proposed rules projects a much smaller effect, ranging from as few as 600 jobs lost to 1,300 jobs actually added in companies that make cleaner equipment.

Some cement plants could be at risk simply because of the economy. With the housing market on its knees, demand for cement is down by about 40 percent from its prerecession peak. According to Andy O'Hare, vice president for regulatory affairs at the Portland Cement Association, a trade group, about a third of the cement plants in the country are being shut off every other month.
 
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