Everyone can give something. Even if you can’t give
money or material objects, you can give time, knowledge,
wisdom, skills, leadership, attention, touch, advice, hope,
laughter, or love.
Love is a universal need and spans all countries,
cultures, and faiths.
Those who are blessed with knowledge and wisdom
have a responsibility to share their knowledge and
wisdom.
Time and money are both valuable resources. Give as
much as you can of them both.
If you give people skills, you empower them.
When you give an attentive ear, you are giving utmost
respect.
Give what you need most in order to experience the real
power of giving.
Take a balanced approach to life and to giving.
There is much sadness in the world, but there are also unlimited ways to make a positive difference. You can gain tremendous benefits from giving. Among these benefits are new friends, a feeling of security, better health, happiness, and a sense of pride. You are at your best when you make a difference and contribute. Passion for a worthwhile cause helps you tap into your creativity. You need only so much as an individual to be happy. Therefore, to live to your potential and create abundance, you need to do something larger than yourself—thus the need to give. You are a conduit—the more you allow giving to flow through you, the more abundance flows back into your life. The more you give, the more you receive. Giving is a beautiful experience.
O son of Mahārāja Nanda [Kṛṣṇa], I am Your eternal servitor, yet somehow or other I have fallen into the ocean of birth and death. Please pick me up from this ocean of death and place me as one of the atoms at Your lotus feet.
(Sri Siksastakam)
O Nandanandana, kindly make the darsana of Your lotus feet always available to us.
For millions, the Bhagavad-gita remains a book that is respected but not comprehended. Due to their respect, they may memorize a few stand-alone verses from the Gita, which they are satisfied to quote as the official proof of their piety. Any connection with the Gita is laudable, but little do they know what they are missing by not raising their Gita connection to the level of comprehension. The Gita itself (18.70) prods its readers toward comprehension by proclaiming that studying its sacred message is an act of worship performed with the paraphernalia of the intelligence.
If we thus worship the Gita with our intelligence, we will discover that it is a book of intellectual adventure with an emotional climax. The Gita’s intellectual adventure is its systematic analysis of various yogas or ways of connecting with God. Comprehending this sharpens our intelligence to see beyond the thin veil of matter and perceive Krishna’s reassuring presence constantly. The Gita’s emotional climax is its devotional conclusion that proclaims Krishna’s unfailing love for all living beings. Comprehending this enables our heart to see beyond life's crests and troughs and relish Krishna’s empowering benevolence constantly.
When Gita comprehension thus bolsters us with the unfading awareness of Krishna’s presence and benevolence, then we become confident, like Arjuna (18.73), to convert any challenge that life sends our way into an opportunity for spiritual growth.
India’s ancient cultural history has long being questioned. There are those who want to believe that the historical Indians were incapable of developing the cultural, scriptural and archeological Vedic legacy that can be found on the subcontinent and around the world.
These videos assist in revealing another story, that a great nation was born and rose to incredible, unparalleled, scientific, philosophical and cultural heights in the land we call India.
watch and be amazed…
The Ancient Cultural History Of India - Part ONE
The Ancient Cultural History Of India - Part TWO
The Ancient Cultural History Of India - Part THREE
Question: Science says that consciousness comes from the brain. Doesn’t this disprove the Bhagavad-gita claim that consciousness comes from the soul?
Answer: No. In fact, the question itself is incorrect.
The claim that the brain produces consciousness is made not by science, but only by materialist scientists who believe that matter is the only reality in the universe. Within science itself, these materialist scientists are being increasingly countered by a significant number of non-materialist neuroscientists, whose ranks include three Nobel Laureates, Dr Wilder Penfield, Dr John Eccles and Dr Charles Sherrington.
So the conflict over the origin of consciousness is not between science and Bhagavad-gita, but between materialist science and non-materialist science. Let us seek a verdict for their conflict in the ultimate court of appeal for science: empirical evidence.
Let us focus on the evidence concerning memories, which is one of the most important aspects of consciousness. Materialist science claims that our memories are stored in our brains. As we have stable core memories throughout our lives, materialist neuroscience requires that our brain cells must stay stable throughout our life. What do empirical findings say about the stability of brain cells?
Multiple researches published in reputed journals including Nature Medicine and Science have confirmed that our brain cells keep changing: old cells die and are replaced by new cells. To better understand the implications of this finding, let’s imagine that we write a message on a piece of paper and then gradually replace the molecules that comprise the paper. Suppose we replace all the molecules of that paper and find that the resulting paper still has the same message written on it. How could that be explained?
This is precisely what is happening with our memories, as is pointed out by consciousness researcher Dean Radin in his bookConscious Universe: “Allof the material used to express that pattern [of information] has disappeared, and yet the pattern still exists. What holds the pattern, if not matter? This question is not easily answered by the assumptions of a mechanistic, purely materialistic science.”
Multiple evidences like the change of brain cells have confirmed what Nobel Laureate, Sir John Eccles wrote in his book The Brain and the Unity of Conscious Experience, "I believe that there is a fundamental mystery in my existence, transcending any biological account of the development of my body (including my brain).”
The Bhagavad-gita helps us solve this mystery by providing the account that transcends biology. Gita wisdom explains that our consciousness emerges from the soul, and our memories are stored not just in our brains but also in our minds from where they are made available to the newly formed brain cells when the old cells die out.
Thus, the evidence from science disproves not the Bhagavad-gita but materialism.
“Here at Jhanu-muni’s hermitage, Krishna’s devotee named Bhisma learned bhagavat dharma relating to Lord Trivikram. Jhanu himself took to worshiping the Lord in a manner free from duplicity and easily attained the lotus feet of Sri Krishna Caitanya.…Continue reading â
The autobiography is a work-in-progress. I have written of my pre-Kŗșņa conscious memories and my career in ISKCON, and I will continue to do so. Now I am writing a review of the books I have written over the thirty-five years.… Continue reading â
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 30th Dec 2011, Munich, Germany) Lecture: Caitanya-caritāmṛta Adi 9-48
Our modern culture is designed to impress – where one is trying to impress another, which is what’s it all about. Just like America who for a long time has been trying to impress the world. One of the things about America is their skyscrapers, and these incredible buildings are very very high. Well what is the reason for having these skyscrapers? Which is what I was thinking about. One might say that:
“Maybe there is not enough land”.
That is not the case since they have a lot of land…. actually a lot of vacant land. So they could possibly spread out the city a bit more. So why then is there such high skyscrapers? Just to show the power of America, that they can build buildings, which are so high that they cannot logically stand! They should logically fall over, but still they stand:
‘We can practically do things that are supernatural! Just see our greatness!’
So all of that is done to impress others: clothes are meant to impress others; everything is meant to impress others – education and all of the society is set up for that purpose. In other words:
‘To establish our greatness to others.’
Everything is part of that, but in a devotional culture, everything becomes an expression of bhakti, which is meant for satisfying the Supreme Lord. Of course, in the beginning stages, there may also be those who are practising bhakti and are trying to impress others, but gradually that becomes purified to a point where they say:
“No, who am I? I am not very significant. How important is my life on this planet? Am I going to make a huge difference on this land?”
Even famous personalities, did they make such a difference? Did Einstein really make such a big difference? At one point he was very important but then after some time, everyone forgets!
Most ppl consider the idea that a mortal being can be transformed into an immortal being to be completely ridiculous . They think there circumstance of existence is the all in all and there’s nothing beyond that.
It’s hard for them to imagine life with out an iPhone. It’s hard for our generation to imagine kids playing outside. It’s a very unusual event. Back in my parents day if some one came to your house even with their family even unexpected they you would feed them sumptuously with out being mental about budget. People had veggies in thier garden and home made bread.
Another thing is peoples movements are different. they walk fast and dart about rushing to get to the next place where they think they have important business for sense gratification. Very few will just talk. Ppl used to sit on a porch and talk. But now they only talk over dinner or while bungy jumping or while getting drunk or while at a movie. And they dont just talk to each other, cos they have to check face book and no one is satisfied. Few city dwellers will give undivided attention to one person. My friend said that “Internet destroyed the musicians.” it’s not about pop music it’s about pop.
If video killed the radio star then internet is a mass murderer.
In a sense it’s symptomatic of impersonalism caused by too much technology. Over communication is due to our loneliness or at least a dependence on socialising.
Face book is an epidemic. Ppl live through it. Anything we do we must tell our face book friends and if they don’t click the like button we doubt the mutuality of the friendship.
Catch your self next time you pick up your smart phone. Notice your inner need driving you to check if ppl are thinking of you or to let others know that you exist. Remind ppl of yourself. In hope for some glorification or even verification.
Candied words from a young man wooing his gal? No, actually Srila Prabhupada wrote them, to a female disciple who had jilted her husband and run off with another man.
Let's tune into the saga of Krishna-devi and Subala das, during 1967-68. The scene was the west coast of the USA, when only a handful of ISKCON storefronts existed, and less than 100 young, inexperienced practitioners.
A couple, new to bhakti and marriage, had gone to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to open a branch.
Prabhupada wrote a series of spiritual and managemental instructions to both Krishna-devi and Subala—not just to the man. For example, celebrating the opening of a humble storefront in Santa Fe, Prabhupada injected them with his pure bhaktienthusiasm:
"You have nicely done some service to the Lord by opening this grand branch and certainly Krishna will bestow upon you His blessings. Krishna Consciousness is a transcendental science which can be revealed to a sincere devotee who is prepared to render service to the Lord. Krishna Consciousness is not achieved by dry arguments or by academic qualifications. Our senses are all blunt in the matter of receiving transcendental subject matter, but they are purified in due course of time by constant engagement in the service of the Lord. So yours and Krishna Devi's sincere effort to open a branch in Santa Fe is crowned with success by the Grace of the Lord."
Investing his hopes in this new pioneering couple, Prabhupada continued inspiring them:
"Both you and Srimati Krishna devi are sincere workers for Krishna Consciousness and as such Krishna will never put you in difficulty, rest assured. Don't be discouraged. Sit down tightly husband and wife. If nobody comes to hear, please chant and hear yourself. Success or failure does not matter. On the Absolute world there is no such relativities as a success and failure. The one thing in the Absolute world is to serve Krishna. Don't care for the result. Krishna must know that we are working very seriously and that is our success of life."
Back in 1967, sannyasa was a mysterious, exotic concept, and some of the newly married ladies had speculated, through the female grapevine, that at any moment their husbands could abandon them for the forest, begging pot in hand.
Prabhupada himself sought to quell the young ladies' fears and insecurities:
"My Dear Krishna devi, Please accept my blessings. I was very glad to receive your letter dated Oct. 20. I can understand your anxiety about your husband & rest assured that I shall never advise your husband to leave you. Both of you are very good souls & constantly engaged in the service of the Lord. One who has got a helpful wife at home does not require to accept Sannyas. If required, both you and your husband can preach Krishna Consciousness combinedly. We are concerned more for Krishna Consciousness & if that work is executed more nicely by cooperation of husband & wife, there is no necessity of thinking wife as impediment to Krishna Consciousness. While I am living you should act according to my instructions & there is no question of impediment."
Let us rejoice in the personal care Prabhupada showered upon these fortunate souls. But we should also know that somehow, Krishna will take care of all His sincere devotees—you, me, and all of us, past, present, and future. Never feel forlorn inbhakti; watch to see how Krishna extends Himself to you, directly and especially through His devotees.
Despite Prabhupada's infusion of bhakti warmth and guidance, Krishna-devi, misusing her independence, a few months later grossly succombed to maya. The drama continues in my next update, as we witness Prabhupada's valient efforts to save her from drowning.
A couple of days after the Tomsk court dismissed the case against ISKCON in relation to Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Bhakti Vijnana Swami, GBC for ISKCON Russia was personally invited by the Russian Ambassador to India, Alexander M. Kadakin on occasion of unveiling a bust of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, at Nehru Science Center.
(Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, 29 December 2011, Munich, Germany)
We should know that Lord Caitanya’s movement is not to reclaim those who are in pure goodness. It is not the movement to reclaim those who are fully self-realized and never under the influence of the 3 modes of material nature, who are never ever attracted to enjoying the senses.
No, the movement of Lord Caitanya is particularly to reclaim those who are most fallen!
It just seems like yesterday when we set a target of 10,000 books for Prabhupada Marathon 2011 and a total target of 35,000 books. By the blessings from Sri Sri Radha Ksiracora Gopinatha, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada, we were able to distribute 11,401 books during the marathon and 36,954 books for the entire year of 2011!!!!
Thanks to everyone for helping out! We are looking forward to a great 2012!
Radhanath Swami advises us to ignore the mind while chanting Hare Krishna, lest it deludes us and distracts us from the path of spiritual progress:
“In life, some of the most dangerous enemies cannot be seen, we don’t even know they are there; we may even consider them as our friends. That is the way the mind works.” Radhanatha Swami
Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:
We have compiled the Bhagavad-gita Acronyms Summary into a small booklet. You can download the booklet by clicking here (left click, and then save the file). Copies are also available at Bhaktivedanta Manor. I hope you will find it of some use.
Introduction to the booklet
Eminent scholars, scientists and philosophers have recognised the profound wisdom that the Bhagavad-gita offers. Gandhi once commented, “When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-gita and find a verse to comfort me. I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day.”
What follows is a humble attempt to bring together some insights in the form of a short overview of the Bhagavad-gita. My aim is not to draw out every single philosophical point, but rather to highlight key concepts in each chapter. Hopefully this overview will assist readers in understanding the flow, context and practical application of these timeless spiritual teachings. It may also assist teachers of the Bhagavad-gita in their attempts to share this wisdom with others.
This small booklet is based on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, translated by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. His translation has revolutionised modern thinking, and each purport elucidates the incredibly profound life lessons that Lord Krishna imparts to Arjuna. I hope this humble attempt to share some of that wisdom will inspire the reader to study Srila Prabhupada’s full translation which can answer every question, remove every doubt, and ultimately bring one face-to-face with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Above all, I undertook this exercise for my own spiritual growth, praying that someday I will genuinely live by these teachings.
First of all, I’d like to draw the attention on some cosmogonical aspects, in order to facilitate the comprehension of Men context. The Modern Man does not know anymore where he comes from, where he is going, above all he does not know who he is, being fully identified with an external and transitory identity. His decontextualization is one of the most serious problems afflicting today’s society and cannot be simply solved through erudition. The search of oneself is the substrate of meditation and it is confirmed by the great Indovedic tradition works as Samhita, Upanishad, Itihasa and Purana, that can lead a very interesting dialogue with modern Western Tradition. Among numerous authors and Thought Masters which have drawn resources, cues and concepts from the very extensive Vedic culture for their doctrines and theories, we should mention Carl Gustav Jung and his “individuation process”. To individuate oneself means to get acquainted with one’s deepest nature, instead of restricting oneself just on the superficial and fallacious level of sensory perception. The signs and information reaching our consciousness from the external environment, through our sense organs and next elaboration at cortical level, are just a fraction of reality, even less than 10% as indicated by Prof. Genovesi during his speech. Knowledge of reality through the senses is a null result, as well as our capability to understand, since it is conditioned and subject to sensory perception. Hence, not only senses (indriya) are misleading, but also the perceptive information fields related to the mind (manas), being based on sensory perception.
The tendency (vasana) of the mind to depend on sensory information brings to a preconceived, rigid and generally structure perception of the world, that when not integrated and enriched is useless to define the individual identity.
The issue about the nature of personal identity is crucial for meditation. Indovedic psychology identifies human being in its entirety: as well as the universe involves three interacting worlds, being constituted from earth, in-between dimensions and heaven, the incarnated human being has a triple nature: physical, psychic and spiritual. The solid, earthy and physical constitution is the material body that includes a complex structure – the most complex structure known today – called nervous system, but also an apparatus that is more subtle, although of material nature, not definable neither graphically nor spatially, not even temporally: the psychic structure. In the end, there is the inmost nature of man, the first cause of life, his essence and real identity: the spiritual one. According to Vedic wisdom every human being is ontologically “atman”, a spiritual and eternal sparkle. To simplify even further, we can say that man’s identity is split into two different aspects: one is related to the psycho-physical conditions that the individual historically experienced during his different life’s cycles, that is called historical self or false ego, the sum of the psychic contents, defined in sanskrit as “ahamkara”. The other one is real, eternal and immutable, beyond time and space and is the spiritual nature. The basic faculty to reach the meditative dimension is attentiveness, that is not controlled by the nervous system, contrary to what is stated by the extreme positivism embraced by the modern western psychology, but in the first instance is promoted by “atman”, the unifying center that holds and gives an unique and unrepeatable characterization to the personality. The spiritual self makes use just of the physiological and biological part of the so called “human being” and feeds and moves his energies. All the Indian classic tradition schools (sampradaya), all the great Masters lines of disciplic succession, who practiced the Vedic teachings in their daily life, recognize that atman is the fundamental principle.
Rajarsayah. Formerly the king was responsible, responsible king. Responsible government means responsible king.
So what is the responsibility of the king?
The responsibility that all the citizens, all the inhabitants of the state, they should live very comfortably and develop Krsna consciousness. This is the responsibility of the king.
He has to see that everyone is free from anxiety, everyone is feeling secure, everyone has no disease, no mental anxiety, and in peaceful condition they are executing bhagavata-dharma.
It is the responsibility of the king to see that the citizens are happy in every respect.
Please find attached a newsletter reporting the preaching activities happening in Hammanskraal, a rural African township north of Johannesburg.
The Hammanskraal preaching project is primarily under the care of two devotees namely Prema Vikasa Dasa (KKS) and HG Ramaniya Mataji (ACBSP). These devotees actually live in the township and endure the austerities associated with that kind of lifestyle; all this sacrifice just to give Krsna Consciousness to the Africa people. They inspire the residents of the township to join in harinama and other small programs which are organized at their flat.
This is a wonderful mission therefore we are sharing this newsletter on the blog. We would like to appeal to anyone out there, who is inspired by such preaching work, to assist with a donation to keep it going. If you would like to pledge your support, please contact Ramaniya Mataji via email (ramaniya108@gmail.com). It would be greatly appreciated.
1968 January 11: "You state that I am your life. This means you are my body and so neither life nor body can be separated because on the Absolute platform there is no such distinction."
1969 January 11: "You say my visit will be the biggest event since the Roman Invasion. Actually this will be so. If England is prepared, they will receive something sublime which they cannot produce in their own country, neither in Manchester, Glasgow, nor Edinburgh."
1971 January 11: "Many persons are regularly attending our classes and following the regulative principles and chanting Hare Krsna. That is the success of our preaching work when there is this result of more persons joining, so I am confident that things are going on."
1972 January 11: "Since you are now leader, you must be the perfect example of Krishna conscious devotee. How is that? Follow the regulative principles very diligently, maintain the highest level of standard in routine work such as rising early, cleansing, chanting, temple worship, street sankirtana, etc. And always keep the devotees satisfied."
1972 January 11: "Organize printing of our foreign books. For so many years you have been there and nothing has been printed. This is not a very good sign. How there can be preaching without books?"
1972 January 11: "Now I want that our books and magazines be printed profusely and distributed all over, so do this very nicely, I think that will be your great credit. If these books are introduced among the student class they will have powerful effect."
1974 January 11: "Now Krsna is sending you new devotee to help. He is a good boy, now utilize him properly. He is sincere, learned, enthusiastic and qualified. Keep him nicely engaged."
1974 January 11: "The only fear I have is that you may fight. Please do not. That will ruin everything we have done. Now push on this glorious mission without letting it be hampered by any personal differences."
One of Krsna’s new cows, Gomata Anjali Soma, whom you may have read about in a recent article on the New Vrindaban website, gave birth to her first calf early Sunday morning, Jan. 8, 2012.
Both mata and calf are doing well and are resting at the Goshalla across from the temple.
Little Gandharvika is the first calf born in New Vrindaban in 2012. The last calf that was born in New Vrindaban was in 2009. When a cow comes fresh with a calf she has a good flow of milk for the first year but after that her production falls off. So the arrival of Gandharvika signals an increased milk production for Lord Krishna and His devotees. At present there are no other fresh cows in the barn.
Radha Vrindabanchandra will very soon be enjoying some wonderful milk sweets as a result of this new event. Srila Prabhupada has called milk “liquid religion”, so the birth of a new calf in Krsna’s own herd of cows is a particularly auspicious birth.
As their photos were being taken, Anjali Soma Mata was looking around protectively, just like the good mother that she has become. But she seemed to also be very trusting as she knows that both she and her baby will have some pleasant days ahead under the protection of Lord Krsna Himself. Krsna is known as the best cowherd boy in Vrindaban, and Vrindabanchandra is that same cowherd boy.
Many women in our 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.
Toronto's Hare Krishna Centre is excited to present theVaisnavi Sanga Retreat, scheduled to take place April 5-8, 2012 at the Lotus Heart Centre in Brighton, Ontario. The retreat will provide a special opportunity for ladies from all agesto get away for a relaxing and surcharging weekend and give attendees and chance to share theirexperiences and realizations of the Krishna conscious philosophy andpractice. It will provide an opportunity to leave behind all worries and sources ofstress and, for a few days, just focus on our relationship with Krishna. The retreat will provide a space to charge your batteries, both spiritual and material, so that you can go back to the world stronger and with more knowledge and realizations.
During the Vaisnavi Sanga Retreat, one of the goals will be that all barriers that prevent us from voicing out our opinionsand doubts will be completely removed. It will provide a safe environment to talk aboutall topics, especially those that affect women who practice the devotional form of bhakti-yoga. It will be a place toassociate and get to know other ladies in our community whom you may not normallyhave a chance to meet or talk to.
The Vaisnavi Sanga Retreat will have the great fortune of having thepresence and guidance of three amazing senior vaisnavis, all of whom are Srila Prabhupada disciples and have been in the movement for many years: Laxmimoni devi dasi, Akuti devi dasi and Praharna devi dasi.
Laxmimoni Prabhu, was one of the pioneers in the Toronto yatra during the 1960's and 70's and she has been involved in educating many vaisnavis around the world for many years. Akuti Prabhu, is also a well recognized teacher in our Hare Krishna movement. Praharna Prabhu is well know to us in Toronto and is a key part of our Torontotemple!
All interested women are welcome to attend. The three-day retreat will take place at the Lotus Heart Centre in Brighton, Ontario. The cost for attendance is $180 (early-bird fee) which covers accommodation, meals (prasadam), and more! For more information, check out www.vaisnavisanga.weebly.com or contact Sukhayanti devi dasi.
We were recently visiting ISKCON News and read an incredible article about a devotee-run project in Seattle. Check it out!
A Seattle eatery that’s celebrating its 10th anniversary this year serves sanctified pure vegetarian food with a difference.
It’s completely free.
My Sweet Lord, located ten minutes’ walk from the University of Washington in an area populated with student residences, vegan restaurants and arthouse theaters, is a haven for students, drifters, and the homeless youth of Seattle. (Click Here for the Full Story)
By His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Prabhupada’s mission; we must understand that ISKCON’s initiating gurus have no other mission than that established by Srila Prabhupada. Our preaching efforts should be on behalf of Srila Prabhupada for ISKCON, and we should feel happy if a new devotee feels attracted to any bona fide guru within ISKCON.
This year Gaur Purnima Festival will be a little different, for the first 4 days the focus is on re-learning to chant from our hearts, a four day Kirtan Mela with the world's best kirtaniyas headed by Sacinandana swami and Madhava prabhu. You can find more details on this particular aspect of the festival at KirtanMela.org
Lena Alikina hails from Russia as an 8-10 year experienced architect. Before coming to Mayapur she was traveling around India for two months. Then by chance a friend told her about the ToVP and that she should lend her expertise to such an auspicious project. So Lena literally showed up on our doorstep wanting to get involved and she will be staying with us until May. WELCOME TO THE TEAM LENA!
When Krsna describes Himself in Bhagavad-gita, He says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya: [Bg. 7.8] "I am the taste of liquids." So one can remember Krsna by tasting water.
Even if one is drinking liquor, if he thinks, "The taste of this drink is Krsna," he will one day turn out to be a great saintly person. So I can request even drunkards to become Krsna conscious, what to speak of others, because Krsna says, raso 'ham apsu kaunteya: "I am the taste of liquids."
Generally in this context "liquid" is taken to mean water. But liquor is also liquid; it is only sugar and molasses or some other combination fermented and distilled. Of course, it is bad because it creates intoxication. Although in one sense nothing is bad, liquor is bad because it creates bad effects.
In America there are many drunkards. There is no scarcity of them. But I may request even the drunkards, "When drinking wine, kindly remember that the taste of this drink is Krsna. Just begin in this way, and one day you will become a saintly, Krsna conscious person."
That what else but past karma could be the cause of Bharata Maharaja’s falldown is an example of why we need Srila Prabhupada’s purports to understand sastra.
On December 24th Radhanath Swami presided over the official opening of the Govardhan Eco-village and Farm Community (GEV) spread over a scenic landscape of 60 acres near the Sahyadri mountain range, a two hour drive from the city of Mumbai in Maharashtra, India. The inauguration ceremony was marked with the presence of Mr. Nana Saheb Patil, the Ex-secretary of the Agricultural Ministry for the Government of Maharashtra, and 150 senior members of the Radha Gopinath temple congregation.
Under the inspiration and guidance of Radhanath Swami a dedicated community began the development of the GEV in 2003 with the aim of demonstrating the principles of self-sufficiency and localized economy and highlighting the importance of living in harmony with nature by presenting a sustainable living model. Gradually they have developed fundamental aspects of the eco-village including organic farming, cow protection, education, rural development, alternative energy, eco-friendly constructions and sustainable living.
The inauguration marked the opening of the eco-village as a retreat center with green design cottages, auditorium, seminar and conference rooms, an Ayurvedic wellness center, and a yoga center. With these latest developments the GEV will serve as a place of education in the fields of the traditional sciences of Yoga and spirituality.
The opening ceremony began in the morning with a small parade of bullock carts and guests who were led by Radhanath Swami, accompanied by kirtan, from the main entrance of the village to its centrally located new auditorium. There, Radhanath Swami shared the vision and dream behind the creation of Govardhan Eco-village. He mentioned that it was the desire of his guru A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to develop such projects away from cities to serve as a place for people to find relief from stress using spiritual practices. ”Simple living, high thinking is the principle that is the basis of this rural community”. Radhanath Swami added “though we all have individual mothers, Mother Earth is the mother of all life on the planet. Thus Mother Earth is common to all of us and we are heavily dependent on her. Living in harmony with Mother Earth is a big responsibility. This is a most important sacred principle we must remember.”
While thanking those involved in the project he spoke of the mood in which they worked saying that the whole project is conceived in the spirit of devotion and keeping God as the center. “We can build structures but if we don’t cultivate non-envious, egoless camaraderie inside then the structure is as good as empty.”
The eco-village has been built for the modern lifestyle needs of both individuals and corporate groups. GEV hopes to serve as a model of how spirituality can integrate the needs of a modern society with traditional answers. All we need to remember is, as Radhanath Swami says, “In the quest for technology we keep taking from mother earth, but as we grow we should reciprocate.”
The structures of the eco-village are made of natural materials such as cob, rammed earth and Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks which are made by compressing a combination of earthen materials with added stabilizers without the use of furnaces to heat the bricks. The natural property of earth changes when it is heated. The use of raw mud for building houses has many advantages – its local availability and ease of processing makes it the most energy efficient building material. Houses made of earth give warmth in cold atmospheres and provide a cooling effect in hotter climates.
Some other ways the eco-village strives to live in harmony with Mother Earth:.
In consultation with organic farming experts, all inputs and outputs are natural
Only indigenous varieties of grain are grown
Instead of chemical fertilizers, cow dung and natural compost are employed
Cow urine and neem oil serve as organic pesticides
Bulls are favored over machinery for plowing
Solid waste management and waste water treatment center minimize its carbon footprint
For alternative energy a bio-gas plant has been established to generate electricity for uses such as water pumping and irrigation
Solar energy provides energy for street lights and water heaters
Cottage industry manufactures various cow-based products
20 different types of vegetables, 10 varies of fruit, 9 varieties of flowers and 4 kinds of grains are grown on the farm
Mahotsaha Prabhu first came to Mayapur in 1981. "It was amazing because we had the rooms along the boundary fence where we stayed and the long building where he stayed (Srila Prabhupada). We would look out the bars of the windows and it was just pasture as far as the eye could see. And there was this Muslim guy who plowed the field with his oxen every single day. It has been 25 years since Mahotsaha's last visit.
THE FOLLOWING LECTURE GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CHARU SWAMI IS THE THIRD OUT OF NINE IN A WONDERFUL SERIES ON THE HISTORY OF VAISHNAVA HERITAGE. Transcription : His Grace Krishnarchana Dasa Editing : Ramananda Raya Dasa Audio version only available on audio-tapes Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale Srimate bhaktivedanta swamin iti namine [...]
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Wednesday 11 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: Close the Slaughterhouses Immediately uploaded from Santiago, Chile The greatest cause of suffering on this planet at the present moment is the slaughterhouses, in which thousands and millions of cows and other animals are regularly slaughtered to gratify the blood-lusty tongues of animal-like humans who do not know how to control their senses. Because we are terrorizing the animals in these slaughterhouses, as a karmic reaction we are now being terrorized in so many ways. Increased security will not stop the terror. The only solution is that we must now stop terrorizing these innocent creatures. If we will do so, the entire world will become peaceful. Unfortunately the foolish materially motivated politicians do not understand these simple truths of nature, and thus they lead us regressively day by day into deeper and darker chaos. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How Long to Reach the Clearing Stage? When will I cross from the stage of offensive chanting to the second stage of chanting, the clearing stage? Renu Answer: That's Up to You There are three stage of chanting Hare Krishna: the offensive stage, the clearing stage, and the perfect offenseless stage. How soon you will progress from the offensive stage to the clearing stage is completely up to you. You can do it quickly, or it can take you millions of lifetimes, depending on how serious you are to follow the regulative principle of devotional service under the guidance of the bona fide spiritual master. 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
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That what else but past karma could be the cause of Bharata Maharaja’s falldown is an example of why we need Srila Prabhupada’s purports to understand sastra.
