By Contributor for ISKCON News on 13 Jan 2012 | The Prabhupada Christmas Book Marathon is a special time of the year. Many ISKCON devotees make special endeavours to distribute Srila Prabhupada`s books, and many others made extra sacrifices to facilitate them. In the UK it was an especially wonderful team effort and exhibition of unity.
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By Alexander Winnig for The Moscow Times on 13 Jan 2012  | Moscow's Museum of Modern Art is currently hosting "Displacement," an exhibit by New York-based Italian photographer Giada Ripa that offers a glimpse of the diversity across the former Soviet Union and a narrative on travel and identity. A photo of a Kazakh Krishna-devotee is also included.
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By Dadan Upadhyay for Russia & India Report on 13 Jan 2012 | The ruling by the Tomsk city court in Siberia on December 28 to throw out the six-month-old case to ban the holy Hindu scripture Bhagawad Gita, is an unprecedented event of unique importance in the entire history of Indo-Russia relations.
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Picture edited with Perfect Photo Mucukunda das
The Bhagavad-gita (16.17) describes the godless to be self-complacent and impudent, throwing morality and spirituality to the winds while pursuing self-centered pleasures. They create a aggressive façade of being confident and dominant. Those of us who are striving to lead a godly life may sometimes get enamored by the seeming self-assuredness of such ungodly people. When such timidness threatens us, we can gain strength by knowing that the godless, despite their aggressive posturing, are doing nothing new. They are playing the oldest game that there is to play: playing god. And they will meet, sooner or later, the same old result that all such game-players have met: frustration, devastation and destruction. Even while maintaining their façade of self-assuredness, they are tormented by the innumerable desires that dominate them and are throttled by the insurmountable reversals that buffet them. When we see with the eyes of the Gita, then we will recognize that behind all their bluff, there is no stuff and we will naturally feel, “Isn’t that enough?” Rather than feeling trepidation, we will feel compassion. Gita wisdom will ensure that our determination to turn our back on the game of playing god will not be weakened, but strenghtened – as will be our prayers that they too quit the doomed game and return to reality.
Srila Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Site sdgonline.org:
| | 4:35 A.M. Poem for January 12 
This island of Modadruma is nondifferent
from the forest of Sri Bhadravana in Vraja. All the animals and birds are fully
spiritual entities having the nature of pure goodness.
In the branches of the trees sit cuckoos
who incessantly sing the glories
of Lord Gauranga, Sita and Rama.… Continue reading â | |
Srila Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami Site sdgonline.org:
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“September 26, Prabhupada’s Room
5:00 A.M.
“What you are, I am made of. You are a golden ingot, I am a chip. Still, I feel the uniqueness of my own being as spirit soul, so let me utilize that in your service.… Continue reading â | |
An Offer You Can’t Refuse Krishna’s Vegetarian Kitchen a unique VEGETERIAN food joint is open in the heart of Sydney (ISKCON Sydney Temple) providing you only vegetarian and vegan food. Come and taste our Italian menu on the luckiest days of 2012. Order in your best Sicilian accent and get your dessert for free Menu for Friday, 13th of January Italian risotto with fresh herbs Corleone’s roasted mix veggies Sicilian Caponata Giovanni’s Avocado salad Click here for the Krishna’s Vegetarian Facebook Page We serve a variety of dishes for lunch and dinner, such as Asian, Indian, Italian, Spanish, Mexican, etc. Lunch at 12.00pm and dinner from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Watch out in this space for details for daily menus and rates. Kitchen will also cater orders for Religious & Spiritual Functions Weddings & Receptions Birthdays & Anniversaries Family Reunions Company Parties Homecomings For details please contact Sudi on: 0425 760 909 or Email us: kv@iskcon.com.au Click here for the web page
 By Bhakti Raghava SwamiThe incident will always be fresh in my mind. I had been a practicing devotee for ten years, eight of which were in the sacred holy land of Sri Dham Mayapur in India. Little did I know that Krishna would be sending me the test of my life, the test of chanting His holy names
 By Lakshman dasOn 10th January at the conclusion of our 40-day marathon HH Indradyumna Swami and HH Veda Vyasa Priya Swami presented the devotees who were engaged in book distribution with gifts, garlands and mahaprasadam as a token of appreciation for their valuable service
 By Bhakti Vikasa SwamiSoon after I joined iskcon, in England in 1975, I got the association of Prabhavisnu Dasa, who was the unofficial leader of the brahmacaris and respected by all. Although he was soft-spoken, his devotional qualities and leadership abilities endeared him to others. He was special
 By GBC ECIt is with heavy hearts that we inform you that Prabhavisnu Prabhu recently resigned from his ISKCON services as initiating guru and GBC member and has given up his sannyasa vows
 By Prabhavisnu dasTo my dear disciples and any other devotees who may be interested, Hare Krsna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad! By now most of you will have gotten the news about my situation and perhaps read the general letter that I sent out to ISKCON devotees.
Dhriti Gauranga das: We are brahmin initiated family with two kids. And we are looking for rent 1BR or 2 BR apartment in New York City or 10-20 miles away ,from the 1st of February. Please let us know asap
Krsna rocks from the Himalayas
I know no one but Kṛṣṇa as my Lord, and He shall remain so even if He handles me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me. He is completely free to do anything and everything, for He is always my worshipful Lord unconditionally. (Sri Siksatakam) O my Lord, thank You for so kindly making Yourself present before us in the form of Your breath-taking darsana.
Srila Prabhupada was once asked by a TV interviewer, "How would I be able to tell a devotee of Krsna?" Prabhupada replied, "He would be a perfect gentleman."
"A devotee is perfect gentleman. Why? Now, because he has developed all good qualities. That is bhadra. A devotee cannot be abhadra. He must be bhadra. That is perfection. Therefore a devotee is never rude to anyone."
Interviewer: How would I recognize a true follower of the Krsna consciousness movement by his behavior? What would his traits be? What would his outward expressions be? Prabhupada: Yes. His behavior, he's a perfect gentleman. That's all. You cannot find any fault in him.
"Brahmana means perfect gentleman. A rogue, thief, cannot become brahmana. Brahmana is perfect gentleman. Who feels for others, that is gentleman."
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30th Dec 2011, Munich, Germany) Lecture: Caitanya-caritāmṛta Adi 9-48
 Recently in Prague the devotees moved into another temple. For so many years there was a temple in the same street and it was packed, even though it was two houses, it was still packed! When they finally moved, the neighbours must have had a celebration. They probably had a party when the devotees left that street, but all these neighbours (whether they liked it or not) their lives had been changed by the effect of this movement. They will never be able to forget, because it has made a permanent impression on their mind. Therefore, the depth of the soul is affected!
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Hare Krishna my dear devotees.
I hope your week has been blessed and you have been able to chant properly. Tomorrow is my brother's birthday - he is a devotee too...actually he was the first devotee of the family and after him came me and then my mother and sister became devotees. He loves preaching and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. He loves sankirtan and also he learned how chanting is as important as devotional service.
These days I was in his home and he said he had made a new bhakta and when he invited him to the namahatta at his place, the bhakta said he did not know any of the mantras they were chanting in the kirtan only the Hare Krishna maha mantra. So my brother told him that it's the main one and actually if you chant Hare Krishna and perform devotional service you have everything. So the bhakta became happy and now he is having a namahatta at his place and is very enthusiastic about spiritual life. He became eager to help my brother in book distribution and preaching.
Chanting of the Hare Krsna maha mantra is very powerful and is the way we have to connect ourselves to Krsna - when we chant we are asking for service so we can develop and improve our eternal relationship with the Lord.
Wishing you a great weekend with lots of service.
your servant,
Aruna devi
1968 January 12: "These books are not material knowledge. To a sincere student, all the contents of my books become revealed from within, even if he has not thoroughly studied them all."
1969 January 12: "Our program is for constructing one Rupanuga Vidyapitha - a school for educating brahmanas and Vaisnavas. We have enough technological institutions, but there is none where actual brahmanas and Vaisnavas are produced. So we must establish."
1971 January 12: "I am very anxious to see this movement having centers in all the important cities of all seven continents in order to unify the entire world under the banner of the Krishna Consciousness Movement within a very short time."
1974 January 12: "You are thinking of many plans but do not enact anything without consulting me. Your thinking is not always to the standard. Read my books. You are the president so you must be very conversant with our philosophy."
1974 January 12: "So you should set the example. Throughout the day the atmosphere of constant engagement will produce the truly happy result of transcendental life. Our buildings are not for sleeping and eating like hotels."
1975 January 12: "Our philosophy is simple living and high thinking - not sense gratification. One engaged in self-realization, his material necessities become almost nil. Temple presidents and leaders must show this by their example."
1975 January 12: "There are so many devotees in your zone. You must see that every one of them is chanting and observing our rules and regulations strictly. This is the duty of GBC, to see that all of our members are becoming fixed up in Krishna's service."
1975 January 12: "I am in due receipt of your letter and have noted the contents. If you like, you can come to India during Sri Caitanya's appearance day festival and live with me for sometime. Then everything will be alright."
It is not what you say but what people hear that counts.
Yasoda Mata’s 85-year-old foster father passed away two months ago. During his stay in the hospital, Yasoda Mata prepared a tape recorder and played the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra all day long in his ward. Her foster father was actually in semi-coma, but miraculously when he heard the Maha mantra, gradually he awoke and with closed eyes he appeared to enjoying the music and the sound vibration. He started to follow the tempo by tapping his hand on the edge of his bed. His finger ring made the sound like “don, don don” “don, don don ... ” He looked like he was totally meditating on the Maha mantra.
Suddenly he spoke, “Look! There is a huge 5 clawed man, and his head looks just like a lion’s, he is coming into my ward. Don’t you see him? He is coming ….” The foster father still with eyes closed said “Oh, yes, I forgot you all cannot see him, but he is really here. I do not know who He is?” At that moment Yasoda Mata and her daughters looked at each other in great surprise and answered. “Father, He is Lord Nrsimhadev”. “What dev ??? I don’t know Him. But He is nodding His head to tell me that He is.”
Yashoda mata felt great ecstasy in hearing this for in her house she keeps a model of the Nrsimha Deity from Mayapur and had been offering heart felt prayers to Him so that her father could leave the body without any attachment and that his soul can become Krishna’s devotee in his next birth. Continuously her father said, “Look, He is smiling to me and starting to speak again . Oh, He is telling me that I have to learn to chant what you are chanting now…. what exactly are you chanting ?”
He said. “It is a mantra to call the holy name of Lord” Yasoda Mata replied. ” I don’t know what mantra, but please teach Me.” he said. “All right father, please repeat after me and listen carefully — Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna………” Yasoda Mata taught her foster father word by word patiently. Without taking a long time, he learned and tried to chant…. and chanted so nicely. The next day he passed away with tranquility.
During that weekend, we devotees here congregated together to do the kirtan for Yasoda Mata’s father at the memorial service. Yasoda Mata prepared the prasadam garland, Ganga water, tulasi, and put tilak on her father, which have all been done nicely and properly according to her guru maharaj H. H. Giridhari Swami’s telephone instruction. Her foster father’s face looked so peaceful, his cheeks were a little pink, and his body was soft. After some customary ceremonies the body was sent to the incinerator.
A Few hours later the people who work in the memorial service came to us and exclaimed in amazement - “We have never seen anyone’s ashes look so white and beautiful like jade as your father’s! What happened to him? What were you chanting for him?”
“Could you write it down for us? We want to learn and we think we can also chant while doing our service here.” Why the Lord Himself personally appeared before someone who we consider is not a devotee proves the sastric statement - that if one is always engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, their family members will be benefited as well.
From Lin Tulip, Taiwan, 20th March 2006 
(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 29 December 2011, Munich, Germany)  Material association is somehow or the other, always following us in this material world. Once Srila Prabhupada was speaking about the topic of ‘anarthas‘. ‘Arthas‘ means what brings benefit. ‘An-artha‘ means what brings no benefit. Translated from a more transcendental perspective, the word ‘anartha‘ means that which brings no benefit on the spiritual path, or a stumbling block in the spiritual path. So then Srila Prabhupada said, “Yes, the body is an anartha.” So the entire body is such an anartha, because these bodies are somehow or another, now covering the spirit soul, and as a result, our natural propensities are limited. And therefore we are not satisfied. Our true nature is not satisfied. However, there is a path of pure devotional service in this world. This is known as the path of pure goodness. Although this body may be considered to be like a lump of ignorance, still, by engaging it in the service of the Lord, it becomes transcendental. The classical example is the example of a bar of iron that is placed in fire, and it is said that this iron, when it is heated enough in the fire, begins to act like fire. So in this way, even material things that are in itself products of ignorance and in itself limiting, can also become transcendental.
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In India, the Hindus worship many gods, gurus and spiritualpaths. Below is a small list that I can think of - Lord Siva,
- Ganesh,
- Durga (or Kali),
- Kartikeya (or murugan)
- Vishnu,
- Lakshmi,
- Saraswati,
- Navagraha
- Sai Baba,
- Shankar Baba,
- Kalki avatar,
- Sri Aurobindo,
- Aurobindo Mother,
- Amritanandamayi devi,
- Swami Nityananda,
- BKS Iyengar,
- J Krishnamurthy,
- Sivananda,
- Maharishi Mahesh Yogi,
- Ramana Maharishi,
- Ramakrishna paramhamsa,
- Vivekananda,
- sadhguru
- Brahmakumaris,
- Chinmaya mission,
- Theosophicalsociety,
- Shankara mutt,
- Swaminarayan,
- Isha yoga etc
This is just a small list. I have not included the yogis, babas and other myriad spiritual leaders. It is practically impossible to convince one of Krishna. The only reason people of this world seek religious/spiritual shelter is to fulfill material desires. They want to live happily in this world but not to get out of it. They want good health (or avert disease), stable job, nice house, beautiful spouse,long life, children, good education, children marriage etc etc.
This sort of mentality is the reason why we have so many so called gurus, swamis and gods incarnating in every corner of modern day India. The Hindus believe all of them are authentic as long as they can alleviate their material pangs. Even worse, to justify the different paths, Hindus believe that all gods come from the same source and that all lead to the same goal. Lord Krishna is the same as Siva same as Ganesh same as Durga etc So when a Krishna Conscious devotee uses Vedic scripture to prove the Supremacy of Krishna, he is ridiculed and labeled fanatic. It is practically impossible to convince a modern day Hindu to accept Krishna as the Supreme and that everybody else is subservient to Him.
There is nothing wrong in approaching other gods or gurus for material benefit, however, these gods and gurus cannot release one from the cycle of birth and death. In other words, it is only Krishna who has the power to absolve all of one's karma and liberate one from the cycle of birth and death. It is only Krishna who can transport one to the spiritual world. Every other god and guru will only guarantee our stay in this material world. We may gain some pious credits and also be materially well off, but at the time of death we will be forced to accept another body and continue our suffering. Nobody (including the powerful Lord Siva) can help us at the time of death.
Therefore Krishna declares that even if you have material desires, just come to Me (Krishna) and I will fulfill all of your desires.
akāmaḥ sarva-kāmo vā mokṣa-kāma udāra-dhīḥ tīvreṇa bhakti-yogena yajeta puruṣaḿ param
A person who has broader intelligence, whether he be fullof all material desire, without any material desire, or desiring liberation,must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead. – SB 2.3.10
The Supreme Personality of Godhead referred above is Lord Sri Krishna. Krishna also says
mattah parataram nanyat kincid asti dhananjaya mayi sarvam idam protam sutre mani-gana iva
O conqueror of wealth, there is no truth superior to Me.Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread. - BG 7.7
avajananti mam mudha manusim tanum asritam param bhavam ajananto mama bhuta-mahesvaram
Fools deride Me when I descend in the human form. They do not know My transcendental nature as the Supreme Lord of all that be. - BG 9.11
So to say that Krishna comes from a higher source cannot be true because Krishna declares His position to be Supreme and that everything is subservient to Him. He also cannot be human because He has a transcendental body devoid of material degradation. There is no scripture contradicting or proving otherwise. To further illustrate my point on Krishna, below is a prayer by Lord Siva.
namas ta asisam isa manave karanatmane namo dharmaya brhate krsnayakuntha-medhase purusaya puranaya sankhya-yogesvaraya ca
My dear Lord, You are the topmost of all bestowers of allbenediction, the oldest and supreme enjoyer amongst all enjoyers. You are themaster of all the worlds' metaphysical philosophy, for You are the supremecause of all causes, Lord Krsna. You are the greatest of all religiousprinciples, the supreme mind, and You have a brain which is never checked byany condition. Therefore I repeatedly offer my obeisances unto You. –SB 4.24.42
Siva and Krishna to be the same or for that matter any god to be same as Krishna cannot be true because Siva is glorifying Krishna to be the cause of all causes and that he has the Supreme mind of all. Unless Siva and Krishna are two different and separate beings, how can Siva glorify Krishna as the supreme? Therefore to say that all gods are same and come from the same source and lead to same goal is a material sentiment with no credible scriptural evidence.
Because people approach gods and gurus with a desire to enjoy this world, there are so many so called philosophies and truths in the name of religion or spirituality. And to satisfy one's own ego, one spiritual path or religion is as good as the other. This way no one is hurt and everyone is happy. Besides, as long as people approach gods and gurus for selfish material interests, there will also always be people exploiting (cheaters) in the name of religion or spirituality or yoga etc
If one is serious about one's own benefit, then one has to approach the scriptures and saintly people with only one question - that is - how to get out of this material world of birth and death? If we are serious to find an answer to this question, then the answer is unanimous - that is - surrender unto Krishna with love and devotion. This is the Supreme Truth and there is no truth superior to this.
In this age of Kali, the scriptures and saintly people recommend only one method of surrender and subsequent deliverance from birth and death - that is - chanting the Holy Names of God.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
By chanting the Holy Names of God, one can easily cross over the material ocean (samsara) of birth and death and eternally situate oneself at the Lotus Feet of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. There is no loss!
Chant Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna
THUR 12th JAN: Arrives London (LHR, 2.35pm, BA 0869) FRI 13th JAN: LEICESTER Evening programme: Time: 6pm start Venue: ISKCON Leicester 31 Granby Street Leicester LE1 1EP SAT 14th JAN: LONDON Soho Class, Soho St – 7.30am Bhajans, Soho St – 2 – 6pm SUN 15th JAN: LONDON BManor Class – 7.30am Bhajans – 5.30pm – late MON 16th JAN: Disciples (ONLY) Meeting 6.30 – 9pm (please call 07788453756 for venue details – LONDON near BManor) TUES 17th JAN: Class, BManor – 7.30am Leaving for Hungary (LHR – 6.15pm BA 0870) For any further enquires please call Varsana devi dasi: 07788453756.
(message to a friend)
You may have sex with hundreds of people But it will not fill your heart with joy
And when all is said and done Your heart will still be empty
And you will lit up another cigarette And time is passing And death is coming
And the GEMS of life are just Slipping through your fingers
To hear the answer, pl click here Answer summary: 1. Scriptures give measure of soul and also say that soul is immeasurable. eg. time in the spiritual world. 2. The soul is immeasurable in the sense that it can't be measured materially and it has a measure in the sense that it is not formless.
By His Holiness Danavir Goswami: Srila Prabhupada's formula for such classes began with deerskin and kusa grass sitting mats. This shocked the disciples present who had thought that such details mentioned in Bhagavad-gita were expendable. His Divine Grace next explained that the students would be taught how to sit down in yoga asana with back straight and eyes fixed on the tip of the nose. Then there should be a japa chanting session by the students. Then, over the period of two hours, the teacher would explain seven verses of Bhagavad-gita to the students stressing that only bhakti-yoga is feasible for this age and that other processes are cheating. 
To hear the answer, please click Answer Summary: 1. What we call as enjoyment is actually concealed suffering. 2. To understand Krishna's activities, we need to understand his position eg. Surgeon and tribal 3. Krishna doesn't want to stop our enjoyment, but to give us real enjoyment. eg movie vs reality, reflected mango vs real mango.
A Happy New Year to everyone! May your heart be filled with the glorious sound of kirtan in 2012!
We have had to make a change of plan this month, as there is a big kirtan event going on near London on 15th January and many of our chanters will be attending it. So, we have changed the date to the following week, Sunday 22nd January and hope this doesn't inconvenience you.
The kirtan leader for our January session will be Kishor Grant, who was with us in November,(see previous post) and is a very talented musician and chanter. We hope to see you then!
If you're interested in attending the 'Big Kirtan', this weekend the details are as follows:
Time: Sunday, January 15th, 10 am - 1 pm
Kirtaniya: Madhava das
Based in Switzerland. Madhava das travels extensively throughout the world with his band Gaura Prema, enlivening chanters with his skillful and devotional kirtan. He fuses his Mauritian roots with the influences of India to produce a unique and attractive style of kirtan
Corporate giving • optimizes customer and client growth • attracts and helps retain talented employees • enhances credibility and trust • makes the company socially responsible • benefits all stockholders
THE POWER OF GIVING - key points of chapter 5
It is better to give than not give. However, how and what you offer can give your gift a greater impact. You have enormous capacity to give. Give wholeheartedly. Give of yourself, not just your possessions. Give with respect, humility, and compassion. Give unconditionally. Give even in hardship. There are other things to give besides money. Consider tithing—money, time, ideas, or intrapersonally. Consider escalator giving. Be balanced in your approach to giving and to life.
THE POWER OF GIVING - key points for chapter 4
Charity begins at home. Start by loving yourself. It is not wrong to give to yourself. To look after others, you have to look after yourself first. Make a conscious effort to give daily to your family. It forms the foundation of your giving. Children hold the power to make our world better and our future bright and peaceful. The best gift we can give our children is to teach them to give. We build heart fiber in our children by giving them the values and virtues that build a strong character. Extend your giving to your community. Give to nonprofit social organizations. There is an incredible variety of options for giving. Give to the planet—it has been given to us in trust. We must take care of our environment to be able to pass on to our children what our ancestors gave us.
THE POWER OF GIVING - key points of chapter 3
Photos of our very special November kirtan, with Kishor Grant, his wife Dunya and friends. (Courtesy of Nimish Patel)
If one has the proper means and wealth, he should occasionally invite the devotees of Lord Caitanya who are engaged in preaching all over the world and hold a festival at home simply by distributing prasādam and talking about Kṛṣṇa during the day and holding congregational chanting for at least three hours in the evening. This procedure must be adopted in all centers of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Thus they will daily perform sańkīrtana-yajña. In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.5.32) the daily performance of sańkīrtana-yajña is recommended for this age (yajñaiḥ sańkīrtana-prāyair yajanti hi su-medhasaḥ). One should worship Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His four associates, the Pañca-tattva, by distributing prasādam and holding congregational chanting. Indeed, that, yajña or sacrifice, is most recommended in this Age of Kali. In this age, other yajñas are not possible to perform, but this yajña can be performed everywhere and anywhere without difficulty.
CC Madhya 3.203
This is interesting clip of Alan Watts’s take on the sociological purpose of the sports arena; not a new concept. Anyone who knows a little history will remember the panem et circenses, or the Bread and Circus of Rome. The phrase implies the erosion or ignorance of civic duty amongst the concerns of the common man. Lilies that Fester“We need only recall that our word “holiday” was originally “holy day,” a day of religious observance. In fact, the circuses and games of old Rome were religious in origin. The evil was not in bread and circuses, per se, but in the willingness of the people to sell their rights as free men for full bellies and the excitement of the games which would serve to distract them from the other human hungers which bread and circuses can never appease. The moral decay of the people was not caused by the doles and the games. These merely provided a measure of their degradation. Things that were originally good had become perverted and, as Shakespeare reminds us, “Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.” The proponents of an all-powerful centralized government have erected a bureaucratic colossus which imposes upon our people controls, regimentation, punitive taxation and subsidies to pressure groups, thus paralleling the “organized mendicancy, subvention, bureaucracy and centralization” which played so great a part in the downfall of Rome.” - from Of Bread and Circus by Admirel Ben Moreell written for The Freeman Wasting Valuable Human Existence“This is advancement of civilization? Instead of utilizing the valuable form of human life for spiritual understanding, in modern life there is always wasting of time. And at night they are sleeping, and at noon they are playing football. This is stated in the Srimad Bhagavatam, mugdhasya balye kaisore kridato yati vimsatih: [SB 7.6.7] “By so-called sporting life, twenty years passed, fifty years by sleeping, and twenty years by football.” Then seventy years passed. And jaraya grasta-dehasya yaty akalpasya vimsatih. And when he is old man: “Here is pain. Here is rheumatism. Here is diabetes and so on. ” So, twenty years sporting, twenty years diabetes and fifty years sleeping — then what is left? Where is the opportunity for Krishna consciousness? This is modern civilization, and we are trying to save people from it.” – Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: A Lecture in Vrndavana, India on December 8th, 1975
This is my ‘Pause for Thought’ broadcast on Tuesday morning on BBC Radio 2 I didn’t make any new year resolutions, but I have been called upon recently to make some difficult lifestyle changes. Bouts of sinusitis have obliged me, under strict dietary advisement, to give up a range of foods including dairy products, wheat and various other items which had previously formed an integral part of my daily fare. Thus it is that I must now forgo the delights of cheese on toast, and indeed even toast itself. I wonder how long I can last. Giving up things we like is not easy. There has to be a compelling reason, like not being able to breathe for example, which just about works for me. Or perhaps we will make some sacrifice now with the aim of achieving something superior in future. We operate on that principle quite often in life. We are prepared to undergo some immediate difficulty so that we can enjoy a later result. For example we might punish ourselves in the gym, driven on by a vision of that svelte and fit form we long for. As they say, no pain no gain. This is good intelligence, to be proactive, delay gratification, keep in mind the future and see what will produce our enduring happiness rather than our immediate pleasure, which may actually result in longer term suffering. This too is the principle of spiritual life, to be ultimately proactive and recognise what will secure our permanent happiness. Thankfully though, although spiritual practice leads to maximum gain, it does not require maximum pain. The Bhagavad-gita describes a path that is “fully joyful”, but like everything else there is a price to pay and some resolve is required. For example, instead of flopping down to read the paper or watch TV at the end of a hard day, which is a natural inclination, I take the time to hear and meditate upon divine instructions from scriptures like the Gita. It requires some determination, for sure. The mind would rather indulge in material gratification, but I know that won’t make me happy. For me human life is meant for achieving the highest state of absolute happiness, and for that I am prepared to sacrifice a little bit of enjoyment now. We can achieve something unimaginably greater than that. The Gita says, “One who experiences the joy of self realisation feels there is no greater attainment and desires nothing more.” I reckon that beats even cheese on toast. Krishna Dharma, Hare Krishna Priest and Author
By Kounteya Sinha for The Times of India on 12 Jan 2012  | Beware, your daily glass of good health could actually be doing you harm. As much as 70% of milk samples picked up from Delhi by a government agency failed to conform to standards.
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By Yasomati Dasi for Dandavats.com on 12 Jan 2012 | The 2012 Gaura Purnima Festival in Mayapur will be a little different than the previous ones. The first four days the focus will be on re-learning how to chant from the heart.
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Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture by Radhanath Swami at ISKCON Chowpatty
By Contributor for ISKCON News on 12 Jan 2012  | Many women in the Hare Krishna community, if not all, undoubtedly have incredible amounts of responsibilities and duties to manage in every day life. Whether it's being a wife, a mother, a university student, an employee or a even head of a company, being able to manage personal lives with spiritual endeavours can be a difficult task to manage.
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A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Thursday 12 January 2012 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: Is the World Going to End in 2012? uploaded from Santiago, Chile There are many doomsday would-be prophets who claim that according to the calendar of the Mayan Indians the world will end on 21 December 2012. The rumored 2012 Armageddon has become so popular that even a Hollywood movie has been made depicting the complete destruction of the world civilization in 2012. But what the naysayers fail to note is that even though the Mayan writings describe 21 December 2012 as the last day of their current time cycle, there are also dates mentioned in the Mayan writings of times far beyond 2012 such as a mention of the year 4772. In other words, 21 December 2012 is definitely not the calamitous end that so many are claiming that it is. The Vedic calendar authoritatively confirms that we have another 155 trillions years to go before this universe is destroyed by being inhaled into the body of Mahavishnu. If you chant Hare Krishna, you will be in Krishnaloka at that time. You won't have to worry about being sucked into Mahavishnu. Sankarshan Das Adhikari 2012 Prediction Seminar Rancagua, Chile--10 January 2012
http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Rancagua_Lecture2.JPG The World Will Not End in 2012. http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Rancagua_Lecture1.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: What is Nirakar Philosophy? I am very confused. One of my college friends goes to a satsang program of nirakarvadis, those who accept nirakar philosophy. He told me that they can show God in every human body and that we ISKCON devotees are just doing devotion, but cannot see God in our whole life. Ashwini Answer: A False Philosophy of a Formless God The Nirakarvadis have a false conception that God is the impersonal, formless oneness. They are also known as impersonalists or Mayavadis, those who hold to the principle that the form of God is maya or illusion. They deny God's form, personality, and potencies. Therefore in a round about tricky way they are simply presenting atheism. They say that they believe in God, but then they say that God cannot see or be seen, cannot hear or be heard, that cannot speak, cannot move, cannot eat etc. In short they completely deny Him the ability to do anything. Therefore their declaration that they can show God in every human body is false. They cannot show you God anywhere because they have not realized what is the actual nature and identity of God. If you want to see God, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you can do so easily. All you have to do is purify your consciousness by regularly chanting His holy names on a daily basis. In this way you will attract the attention of the Supreme Lord, who will personally reveal Himself to you when you heart becomes free from all material contamination. 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 2011-2012 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: {contact_address More Recent Articles |
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