We hope you have enjoyed the past 10 days of Kartik so far. It has been so blissful with the morning Srimad Bhagavatam classes, daily Bhagavad Gita phone conferences, evening Damodarastakam prayers at the temple and much more! The next 20 days promise to be more exciting with a lot of fun festivals coming up!
Upcoming events are:
Sunday, October 23rd - Special Sunday Feast - Theme: Prasadam
Wednesday, October 26th - Diwali
Thursday, October 27th - Govardhana Puja
Saturday, October 29th - Srila Prabhupada's Disapperance Day (12pm_
Sunday, October 30th - Special Sunday Feast – Theme: Kirtan (Diwali)
Wednesday, November 2nd - Gopastami
Sunday, November 6th - Special Sunday Feast – Theme: Books
Thursday, November 10th - Last Day of Kartik
Today is the auspicious appearance day of Radha Kund. Above is a video transporting you to the banks of Radha Kund no matter where you may be.
The great "kata" of Radha Kund is that one demon named Aristasura, in the body of a bull, was killed by Krishna. The gopis told Krishna that for killing a bull, He had to purify Himself by visiting every single holy place in the three worlds. "If you take bath at all the holy places, You will be relieved of the offense of killing him.”
Krishna then said, “Why should I visit all these places, I will just bring the water from all these places here and then bathe in them.” Krishna then struck His heel on the ground and all the waters of all the holy places entered into Syama Kund. Krishna then bathed in Syama Kund.
After bathing, he said that the gopis had become impure because they had sided with a demon, even though he had been in the form of a bull. The gopis led by Radharani then dug another pond nearby with their bangles. There was no water in the hole, so the gopis formed a line to Manasa Ganga and began to fill the hole they dug by passing water from one gopi to another. Then a representative of all the sacred places told Radharani, “Our lives would be successful if we could enter Your pond.” The holy waters from Syama Kund then flowed into Radha Kund with the permission of Radha. So Radha Kunda is the holy waters from all the sacred places.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada who gave us this spirtual treasure!
The past times of Radha & Krishna ki Jaya!
The appearance of Radha Kund ki Jaya!
Today I was reflecting on something I read in regards to avoiding mechanical chanting - the quote reminded me of how deep we need to dive into the Holy names, and not just stay standing at the edge of ocean of nectar that the Holy names contain. Here is the quote from Maharaja.
I don't want to chant mechanically. I want to feel the meaning of the Hare Krishna mantras as I repeat them. Please engage me in your service. Please reveal the essence of Nama to me. This seeking and crying has to be there, beyond the accumumlation of numbers of rounds.
By Sutapa Das for sutapamonk.blogspot.com on 20 Oct 2011
As a traveling monk, I am often drawn into heated debates over the link between religion and war. To complicate matters further, the revered conversation of Bhagavad-gita is spoken at the onset of a fratricidal war, and Krishna is seemingly the one inciting Arjuna to fight!
Ginger has been used as a natural treatment for a host of illnesses -- especially gastrointestinal problems -- for thousands of years in ancient healing traditions including Ayurvedic medicine, ancient Chinese medicine and western folklore, too. Now there's research showing ginger may help prevent colon cancer.
It was we back in 1973, when followers of Krishna moved to Regina from Vancouver to set up a temple in the 13-block Retallack. What disturbed the leaders and congregation however, was the sense that the neighbourhood did not want them here. They weren't prepared for a succession of break-ins - five in just a few years.
Question: In our normal talks, we intuitively treat the mind as a reality, as an entity capable of making us irritated or bored or depressed. What exactly is the mind? Is it a factual reality or a convenient fiction? If it is real, then is it a living being or a non-living thing?
Answer: The mind is a real thing.
Some people think that it is scientifically necessary to treat the mind as a convenient fiction, but a mounting body of evidence suggests that it is scientifically tenable – even essential – to acknowledge the actuality of the mind. Many well-researched books like the classic compilation, Irreducible Mind, edited by Edward Kelly and Emily Kelly, give an extensive array of evidence that falls in two broad categories:
The real physiological effects of the mind on human health as studied in fields like mind-body medicine,
The real physical effects of the mind as scientifically documented in paranormal phenomena like psychokinesis.
These scientific evidences attest to the existence of the mind, but the scientific picture of the nature of the mind remains misty. For those wanting to clear this mist, the Vedic wisdom-tradition offers handy insights. Unlike the western tendency to lump everything beyond gross matter into one wholesale category called the "mind", the Vedic wisdom-tradition systematically categorizes reality into three distinct levels that can be understood using a computer analogy:
Gross matter: This comprises the interactions of objects and forces studied by mainstream science. This level is like the hardware of a computer.
Subtle matter: This comprises the mind and is like the computer software.
Spirit: This comprises the unit of consciousness, also known as the soul, which is like the computer user.
The computer software, though inanimate, seems to have a life of its own due to its stored programs that often operate by default, like the start-up programs. Similarly, the mind, though inanimate, seems to have a life of its own due to the stored scripts that often operate by default. These default scripts cause us to be overpowered by negative emotions.
But the Vedic wisdom-tradition offers the empowering insight that the scripts of the mind are editable and even replaceable; though we may sometimes seem to be the victims of those scripts, we are actually their authors. When we succumb to anger, we author the anger script. And when we repeatedly succumb to anger, that anger script becomes the default choice of the mind. Nevertheless, amidst provocative situations, if we consciously, even strenuously, choose the self-restraint option, then we initiate a new script that will gradually grow and supplant the anger script.
Thus, the mind is a real thing, and controlling it is the real art that paves the way to real self-fulfilment.
1972 October 20: "REMAIN BOMBAY. FINISH NAIR BUSINESS. IF SETTLED PEACEFULLY IMMEDIATELY BALANCE SOON. IF NO POSSIBILITY OF SETTLEMENT GO TO COURT. LETTER FOLLOWS. --BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI" Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
1972 October 20: "He is bluffing. Our position is very strong. He is simply planning tricks. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Why you should be afraid of him? We can satisfy any court of law." Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
1972 October 20: "He has dominated you and you are afraid of him and he has fooled you to think he is in superior legal position. But this is cheating. Do not pay him any more money. Bring a criminal case against him." Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
1973 October 20: "Regarding your opening another school, if you can do it, I have no objection. But, it is a great responsibility. To open for a few days, and then close it is not good." Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1973 October 20: "The more our books are distributed, the more people will become convinced about this movement. This is very important work and I wish that you continue. I start within the next few days for Delhi. We are having a big festival there. I look forward to seeing you at that time." Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1973 October 20: "Regarding my seeing the Pope, I shall let you know. Now I am India, then I shall go to Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, and America. It must be postponed." Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1973 October 20: "You should keep everything very clean. That is the first business. The prasadam room should be immediately cleaned after taking prasadam. Every room should be as clean as a mirror otherwise you are inviting rats." Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
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.
It doesn’t get bigger than this – looks like a prefect motto for the
Janmastami festival. Ever year hundreds of devotees descend to New Vrindavan
to celebrate Janmastami with their near and divine ones. Fasting, feasting,
bhajans, japa and bathing of the lord makes it the festival that has it all.
This year we had more than a couple of thousand visitors over the Janmastami
weekend. Not only that the celebrations spilled over to the Labor Day
weekend, where we celebrated both Janmastami and Radhastami together.
After the celebrations were over there was a lull and actually
speaking it took almost one week for us to recover. Once we got over the
“hangover” it was time to send gifts and sweets to the hundreds of devotees
and patrons who had sent financial contributions to the festival but could
not attend. We realized we had no sweets as all the sweets were “sold out”
on Janmastami. We made about 500 pounds of fresh sweets for shipping. It
took almost 3 days for a crew of 6 to pack the sweets in individual boxes.
The sweets are none other than Krishna and hence they need to
handled with care. We needed to ensure that the sweets do not break up along
the way. We needed to ensure that they were packed properly and sent quickly
so that the sweets are still fresh. Everyone was relishing packing sweets
just thinking how happy the patrons would be to receive the sweets.
Everything was done in a professional manner, everyone contributed their
might and we finished packing 600 boxes with 6 types of sweets in 3 days.
The sweets needed to be put in plastic pouches then carefully placed
into cardboard boxes, then wrapped nicely with tape. We needed to put the
address labels, also the return label and finally the stamp. Rasa Chaitanya
prabhu and myself went to Wheeling post office and carefully delivered it to
the post office so that they can deliver this mercy to our dear devotees and
patrons. Just by eating this sweet one gains the immense blessings as He is
the Supreme Absolute truth giving mercy in the form of the sweet.
“O saintly Uddhava, in order to restrict materialistic activities, I have established that which is proper and improper among all material things, including time, space and all physical objects.”
In this video, Harry Potter can appear to pass through Dobby the elf, but it’s not magic. The illusion, created by Arthur Shapiro and Gideon Caplovitz from the American University in Washington DC, is an example of the different ways our brain can link separate objects in a scene.
When watching the video above, focus on the spot where Harry and Dobby meet during the collision. What do you see? The two figures should appear to bounce off each other and return their separate ways. Now take a look at the scene again, this time while looking at something just above the video but keeping the characters in your peripheral vision. This time, Harry and Dobby should appear to pass through each other, even though they are actually bouncing.
We experience this phenomenon because our brain processes different features of a scene in parallel. Colour and motion, for example, are analysed separately, even though a moving coloured object would be perceived as a whole. In this case, it shows that features can bind to moving objects in different ways. Shapiro writes:
The apparent transfer of features contradicts what would be expected from theories that propose that perception is guided by intelligent inferences about how objects behave in the world
Business it about exploiting one man’s greed, with another man’s need to survive, thus interest in not in individuals but profit
Accumulating wealth so one can live comfortably but still the spirit soul remains uncontented,
It’s a simple thought that I’ve been pondering
Karthik Masa or Damodar month is beginning from 11 Oct, 2011. Please read the glories of this month and take time to offer lamp to Krishna in this auspicious month. We will be offering lamps to the lord every evening after 7 pm arti, everyday till 10 Nov 2011, which is the last day of the Damodar month.
Music is my life. Sacred music is the air that I breathe. There is a quiet revolution going on around the world, untelevised though not unnoticed… people are gathering together in congregations of every denomination and singing their hearts out to the Divine. The power of such singing knows no bounds – it uplifts the spirit, heals the heart, and unifies souls.
The Universe is born of perfect sound vibration, to watch and to witness human beings tuning in to their true spiritual nature and to the perfection of nature is nothing short of miraculous. I am honoured to be a part of this growing phenomenon."
Carmella is thrilled to share that her new CD "Rasa Mandala" is due for release in January 2012! It's quite unlike all of her previous albums and she can't wait to share it with you all at a special launch party in January. Stay in touch here for your exclusive invite!
There has been loads happening in the months between updates and much to look forward as 2011 winds down, including the following gigs and events:
Oct 27 – Diwali Festival of Lights with Sri Prahlada at Jois Yoga Bondi
Oct 27 – Australia premiere YOGAWOMAN at Dendy Cinema Fox Studios
Oct 28-30 - Awakening the Inner Voice Retreat at Mangrove Mountain
Nov 11 – 11:11:11 Earth Concert at Petersham Town Hall
Nov 26 – Divine Feminine conference at Sydney Olympic Park
Jan 2012 – Rasa Mandala CD launch!
Feb 17-19 2012 – Byron Spirit Fest
Feb 24-26 2012 – Bodhi Fest Sydney
See below for more details.
In other news…
SINGERS WANTED FOR 11:11:11 EARTH CONCERT at Petersham Town Hall
Join us for a very special Sacred Choir performance at this sacred event. Many voices and hearts needed! Please email voiceconnections@gmail.com to register your interest.
Sydney Sacred Choirs continue in Bewrowra and Tamarama
Tamarama recommences tonight at 7:30pm at 42 Tamarama St Tamarama.
Berowra's next gathering will be on Thursday Nov 3 at 7:30pm. Venue to be confirmed.
I look forward to singing with you soon! Carmella xxx
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:
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Thursday 20 October 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 Help Popularize Our Message By Liking Today's Thought on Facebook: Today's Thought: Real Knowledge at the Pedagogical University Uploaded from Kaunas, Lithuania On 18 October 2011 we were happy to bring the light of real knowledge into the heart of academia by our lecture at the Vilnius Pedagogical University. There are so many thousands of universities all over the world. But where is that university which teaches the difference between the body and the self? Without this basic knowledge there is no question of giving anyone a real education. After all, if you don't even know who you are, how can you understand anything else properly? It is not possible. For your entire life you will simply be groping in the dark. And the result of your so-called education will be that at the time of death you will glide down into the animal kingdom. Therefore real education means to bring the student to the human platform by teaching him to inquire about the nature of the Absolute Truth. This was our humble attempt at Vilnius Pedagogical University. We pray to Krishna that the seeds of bhakti we planted there will bear fruit. f Sankarshan Das Adhikari Vilnius Pedagogical University--Vilnius, Lithuania http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vilnius_Ped_Univ.jpg Teaching Real Knowledge at Vilnius Pedagogical University Vilnius, Lithuania--18 October 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vilnius2.JPG With Disciple-Translator: Sankirtan Das http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vilnius1.JPG Hearing the Topmost Knowledge http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vilnius3.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Radharani's Fate When Krishna Left? What happened to Srimati Radharani after Krishna left Vrindavan? Your fallen servant, Chandan Singh Answer: Intolerable Devastation and an Exponential Explosion of Transcendental Bliss Externally Srimati Radharani was plunged into an ocean of intolerable, devastating grief worse that death. But internally the sweetness and the ecstasy of her loving relationship with her most beloved Lord Sri Krishna was amplified exponentially. This means that the ecstasy of being separated from Krishna is infinitely sweeter than the ecstasy of meeting Him. This cannot be understood by a mundane mind, but is experienced by those who have fully awakened their Krishna consciousness. 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. 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Occupy Freedom Plaza closes D.C. Citibank to protest "record profits made at the expense of human needs."
“O saintly Uddhava, in order to restrict materialistic activities, I have established that which is proper and improper among all material things, including time, space and all physical objects.”
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