Indradyumna Swami singing Jaya Radha Madhava at the "Festival of the Holy Name" held here in Dallas on May 2011 with Indradyumna Swami and Giriraj Swami. Purchase the DVDs with full content of this event. Dallas, TX
2011-05-30
Download: 2011-05-30a - Indradyumna Swami - Jaya Radha Madhava.mp3
Everyone loves gifts. Handmade gifts are even special. On the ocassion of Odana Shasthi, Sri Jagannatha in Puri Dham is specially offered starched clothes, to mark the onset of Winter. Our Jagannatha received specially made woollen shawls hand knitted with love from Ajay Govinda Prabhu's mother.. Here are some pictures. Here is a description of the festival by Srila Prabhupada : (source ISKCON
People who go to religious services routinely are 56% more likely to view life positively and 27% less likely to have symptoms of depression, researchers from Yeshiva University reported in the Journal of Religion and Health. The authors added that those who attend services every week tend to be less cynical too. The researchers based their study on the “Women’s Health Initiative” observational study involving 92,539 postmenopausal females. These older women came from a wide range of society including several income levels, ethnic backgrounds and religions. The researchers deliberately did not verify the women’s religions. “We looked at a number of psychological factors; optimism, depression, cynical hostility, and a number of subcategories and subscales involving social support and social strain. The link between religious activity and health is most evident in women, specifically older women.” Schnall added that they concentrated on this group of people because females have longer lifespans than men, and seniors are a growing group. The authors wrote that previous studies had shown that being a regular participant in religious services helps enhance social interaction. Schnall and team also looked into potential social strains, or negative factors which might be linked to frequent religious service attendance. As with medications which help treat illnesses, there are sometimes undesirable side effects or adverse events, they explained. They set out to determine whether there might be some social strains associated with religious associations, networks or religious identification. Perhaps a support system might discourage links with others not of the same beliefs. Maybe some religious allegiances and obligations may be a source of marital problems or general disagreements with friends and relatives. Surprisingly, they found that frequent temple goers (church, synagogue, mosque, etc.) “were significantly more likely to report higher than media level of overall social support,” irrespective of how often they attended services. The women who went to religious services at least once a week had a 54% higher chance of scoring well in social support. Schnall wrote: “We looked at the religious practices of nearly 100,000 women and — like it or not — found a strong connection between going to church or synagogue or any other house of worship and a positive outlook on life.” The study was funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the NIH NIH (National Institutes of Health). Read the rest at
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To gratify or to not gratify, that is the question.
The following article delivering absurd news that the government wants to ban the Bhagavad Gita! An obivously misdirected attempt to suppress people natural attraction to Krishna Consciousness. Just another obstacle in kali yuga but Krishna is all attractive and this will certainly by just another bump on the road of Mahaprabhu's ever expanding sankirtan movement. 29 November 2011By Alexander Bratersky
The “Bhagavad Gita as It Is” is the central text for modern-day Krishnas.
The book may be accused of expressing religious hatred, suppressing human dignity and declaring one religion superior to all others. But “Bhagavad Gita as It Is” can hardly be called Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf.”
Still — if prosecutors in Tomsk have their way — the two may soon end up together on the Justice Ministry’s list of banned extremist literature.
Why the Hindu text central to the Hare Krishna faith has suddenly been targeted is unclear, but some suspect it is really an attack on the religious freedom of a group not well-regarded by the Russian Orthodox Church.
The case against the widely distributed book began in September when Tomsk prosecutors filed charges in the city’s Leninsky District Court saying the text attacks practitioners of other religions as “fools,” “demons” and “pigs.”
“‘Bhagavad Gita as It Is’ contains … calls for hostile activities against different social and religious groups, among them women and people who don’t follow Krishna,” the complaint reads.
Authorities in the Siberian city cited specific passages as evidence of extremist thinking.
“Those who, out of envy, disregard these teachings and do not practice them regularly are to be considered bereft of all knowledge, befooled and doomed to ignorance and bondage,” reads an excerpt of the book quoted in the complaint.
The prosecutor’s office even included a note from the local Federal Security Service office, listing the address of the Tomsk bookstore where the book could be purchased.
Yury Pleshakov, spokesman for the Russian branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, said the whole case is absurd.
“It would be dangerous that along with [the book], a billion citizens of the world would be considered extremists,” he said, referring to the population of India where the book is considered a national treasure.
A spokeswoman for the Tomsk regional prosecutor’s office declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
The case is currently on hold after Judge Galina Butenko ordered experts at Kemerovo State University in Tomsk to present further analysis, but it is expected to resume Thursday.
The actual “Bhagavad Gita” is vaguely dated between the fifth century BC and fifth century AD. The commentary included in the “as it is” edition, first published in 1968, was provided by guru Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
Curiously, the excerpt quoted by Tomsk prosecutors as extremist is from the original text and not Prabhupada’s commentary, which could pave the way for banning the ancient Hindu scripture.
Since its first publication, “Bhagavad Gita as It Is” has been translated into 60 languages — including Russian — and is widely considered the best-selling Indian text in the world. It is also at the core of the modern Krishna movement.
Versions of the text have been given as gifts to world leaders for decades — including British Prime Minister David Cameron, who said earlier this month that he keeps a copy of the book in his office.
Prosecutors built their case largely around expert testimony from Tomsk State University professors who said the book expresses religious hatred and discriminates on the basis of gender, race, nationality and language.
But even the university’s experts who prepared statements for the prosecutor’s office have presented mixed and contradictory opinions in court.
Sergei Avanesov, dean of the university’s philosophy department, told the court that all interpretations of the book “depend on perception.”
His statement was backed by assistant philosophy professor Valery Svistunov, who said the book is not “extremist” but could be viewed simply as “polemical.”
At the same time, Avanesov said he agreed with the testimony of another expert, philology professor Valery Naumov, who said the book contained “hostile, humiliating and insulting” information.
Noted Hindu studies expert, Boris Falikov, told The Moscow Times that the testimony was absurd.
“The translation and comments made by Swami Prabhupada was called extremist because the quotes were taken out of context,” Falikov said.
“Using such a nonscientific approach, you can even call the Quran or the Bible extremist literature,” he said.
Indeed, the holy books of both Islam and Christianity contain norms no longer embraced by Western society, such as slavery and polygamy.
Falikov pointed out that the original “Bhagavad Gita” is widely considered one of the most respected Hindu books and was admired by the likes of Leo Tolstoy and Albert Einstein.
“I don’t think that they would admire the book if it really spread religious hatred and humiliated human dignity,” he said.
Russian anti-extremism legislation is notoriously vague, and the political opposition, especially nationalists, often accuse the authorities of manipulating the legal definition for crackdowns on unwanted groups.
If declared extremist by the court, “Bhagavad Gita as It Is” will end up on the Justice Ministry ban list alongside Nazi propaganda and anti-government leaflets.
Such a decision would automatically allow police to detain Krishna practitioners, who often sell the book on the street, Krishna society spokesman Pleshakov said.
Tomsk ombudsman Nelli Krechetova has criticized prosecutors, saying a possible book ban will destroy citizens’ constitutional rights, religion freedom and freedom of speech.
Krechetova also worried that the legal proceedings would paint the city of Tomsk — generally regarded as a Siberian center of education and culture — in a negative light, the Rapsi legal news agency reported last month.
She also brought up an earlier conflict with the regional government over a proposed Krishna settlement that was halted under court order this spring.
Local Krishna followers had intended to build 59 houses at the settlement, but the local administration said the construction violated the law because the land was intended for agricultural use.
In that case, the regional government efforts were backed by local Orthodox Church archbishop Rostislav, who called the Krishnas a “sect” that wanted to “set its roots” in the region.
The relationship between the church and the Krishnas has long been tense, with local Orthodox officials complaining that the society seeks to lure Russians away from traditional beliefs.
In 2006, officials in the Tula Orthodox diocese filed a complaint after local Krishnas tried to involve residents in the celebration of a Krishna holiday.
That has led to much speculation in Tomsk media that the Orthodox Church was behind the attempt to ban the book.
But a spokesman for the Tomsk diocese, who only identified himself as Father Viktor, said church officials had nothing to do with the legal efforts.
He was also quick to point out that the case involved the newer “Bhagavad Gita as It Is,” and not the ancient “Bhagavad Gita,” but did not comment on the prosecution citing the original Hindu text, and not the 20th-century commentary, in their complaint.
He also said the earlier conflict over the settlement was an example of negative behavior by Krishna followers.
“We don’t have any relationship with them. But there are traditional religions, and there are sects,” he said by telephone.
Pleshakov, the Krishna spokesman, refrained from making any negative comments about the Orthodox Church, saying Krishna followers treat it “with respect.”
Instead, he blamed the judicial system.
“If we live a country based on the rule of law, the laws should work ideally, but often even an educated judge can end up in dead-end situation,” he said.
Read the article online [here] 
According to a popular self-help notion, all that we need to do to become happy is change our state of mind from negative to positive. Changing the state of mind may help us feel better, but it doesn’t change the reality that the entire material level of existence is temporary and unsatisfactory. The Bhagavad-gita offers us the ultimate self-help by taking us beyond the mind to the actual self, the soul that has the potential for eternal happiness by connecting lovingly with God. To realize our potential for everlasting happiness, we need to change our being – our values and purposes for living – from material to spiritual. Therefore, unlike the palliative self-help recommendation to see the positive hidden in the negative while continuing at the material level of being, the Gita offers the curative recommendation that we: - Leave the material level of being by becoming equipoised toward both the materially positive and the materially negative, and
- Transfer ourselves to the spiritual level of being by cultivating spiritual friends, lifestyles and desires.
Thank you Sriman George Harrison (or Hari's son). Srila Prabhupada touched George Harrison and George Harrison touched so many souls and introduced them to the maha mantra. So many devotees were introduced to Krishna Consciousness with a book on the street, harinam or a plate of prasadam but many were also brought by Sriman George Harrison.
George did many things at the request of Srila Prabhupada and his devotees. First and foremost he spread the holy names as requested through his music. When Srila Prabhupada asked him to write the forward to the Krishna book he gladly did so and is used as a preaching tool even today. In fact he donated for the first printing of the Krishna book. "Chant and be Happy", a book featuring conversations and insights from George Harrison remains a best seller for ISKCON. He donated Bhaktivedanta Manor which has become one of the most visited pilgramage sites in the world. And of course he helped record, produce and distribute the Apple records release of Hare Krishna Temple which shot up the pop charts and exposed millions to the Hare Krishna movement. So for this Prabhupada was always appreciative and grateful and thus Srila Prabhupada's devotees and movement remain grateful.
George Harrsion got it...just see an excerpt from the Krishna book below.
"Everybody is looking for KRISHNA. Some don't realize that they are, but they are. KRISHNA is GOD, the Source of all that exists, the Cause of all that is, was, or ever will be. As GOD is unlimited HE has many Names. Allah-Buddha-Jehova-Rama: All are KRISHNA, all are ONE."
George did not shave up, live in the ashram or maintain strict sadhana of a advanced Vaishnava, however by the grace of Guru and Gauranga in this age of Kali-yuga you can still achieve liberation.
“By the grace of the Lord, if a devotee, at the time of death, can simply chant His Holy Names -- Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare -- simply by chanting this maha mantra, he immediately surpasses the great ocean of the material sky and enters the spiritual sky. He never has to come back for repetition of birth and death. Simply by chanting the Holy Name of the Lord one can surpass the ocean of death “ (S.B. 4.10.30, Purport)
Unfortunately we have know many that shockingly did not avail themselves of this at the last moments, however Sriman George was with devotees and the holy name.
Srila Prabhupada blessed George Harrison by giving him so much service and by calling him son of Hari (a play on words of Harrison). So Sriman George Harrison was indeed blessed and 10 years after his departure his contributions to Srila Prabhupada's movement continue... We should always be grateful for the devotee association we continue to receive from souls that came through George Harrison and his music.
Question: The reincarnation theory claims that we are given multiple lives for cumulative learning. However, as we don’t remember our past lives, how do we learn anything from them? Answer: The cumulative learning over multiple lives is the assimilation of essential life-lessons about how to act and how to live, not the recollection of specific life-experiences about what we did and when. 
This focus on principles applies to all cumulative learning, as seen in the following examples of this-life learning: - Handling boiling water: All of us are cautious when handling boiling water. Do we remember the specific time, place and circumstance when we learn this caution, possibly the first time when we put our hand in boiling water and burnt it? Unlikely, but that learning did happen due to some experience in a remote forgotten past. Though we have forgotten the details of that experience, we have assimilated its essential lesson: caution in handling boiling water.
- Reading: Every time we read, we utilize hundreds of grammatical rules and thousands of word meanings that we have learnt over many years. Most of us have forgotten the details of when and how we learnt those rules and meanings, but our assimilation of the essence of those learning-experiences is evident in our present ability to read. This focus on principles during cumulative learning is a blessing of nature that ensures our smooth and swift daily functioning. Just imagine how our brain would be cluttered and overloaded if, whenever we started reading, we were swamped by the innumerable specific memories related to each rule and meaning that we were using while reading!
This same mechanism of cumulative learning – assimilation of principles, obliviousness to details – applies to the life-lessons that we have learnt from our past lives. Nature spares us the neural overload that would paralyze us if, whenever we had to do a thing, we had to process all the innumerable specifics of its related past-life experiences. Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita (15.8) states that, just as what the wind carries from one flower to the next is subtle: the fragrance, what the soul carries from one life to another is subtle: the conceptions of life. These conceptions of life are the innate tendencies and natural inclinations that we were born with and that shape our habits of thought, perception and behavior. Thus, the cumulative learning of our past lives has made us the persons that we see in the mirror. To summarize, just as the training in this life over many years leads to the subconscious learning of habits and abilities, the training over multiple lifetimes through numerous experiences leads to the subconscious learning of inclinations and tendencies.
 Proposed bill would give military authority to hold any suspect - including Americans - indefinitely and without formal arrest or trial.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, 2011) Lecture – C.c Adi 7.20-21
 There is absorption in chanting and hearing Srimad Bhagavatam. If we have not read the Srimad Bhagavatam (there are many devotees in our movement who have not read the Srimad Bhagavatam) then that means that you have given up the fight! It also means that you have not fulfilled your duty….that means that you are below the minimum. Sometimes they speak about being below the poverty level. You are below the poverty level….not even the minimum.Without the Bhagavatam, you cannot live; without the Bhagavatam you are dead; without the Bhagavatam you are a ghost. It’s like that, because the Bhagavatam is the very foundation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement! We see the evidence in the Caitanya-caritamrta, as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu presents the principle evidence which is also in the Bhagavatam….all in his preaching, and we see that the whole lifestyle that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was teaching is found in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Without Srimad Bhagavatam one cannot live! It is like that, what is there without it?  
Australia's former Governor-general Michael Jeffery has just launched Outcomes Australia's Soils for Life program: a natural farming crusade he believes can revolutionise Australia's land management.
Real-life examples of farms that use biological soil conditioners show that they '...reduce input costs with no loss in yields and a dramatic improvement in soil health and the surrounding environment.'
 Graham Lloyd, Environmental Editor for The Australian cites Mr Jeffrey as saying "...if we get our soil management right through getting our landscape right and a biodiverse vegetation - whether it is forest, shelter belts or crops - and put carbon back into the soil we will retain much more water in the soil where we want it.
It seems that 86% of Australia's water falls onto landscape areas. Only 12% falls on water catchments and 2% on the built environment.
If you read further it may occur to you (as it does to me) that the program of natural soil conditioning that Manigriva Prabhu is applying at Hare Krishna Valley may not only be exemplary, but may be demonstrated to be best actual practice.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Radhadesh, Belgium, 2011) Lecture – C.c Adi 7.20-21  Our security is our purity! That is our security. That is what we have. If the purity is there, then don’t worry since it will be taken care of….devotees will take care of anyone who has security. We don’t need to worry. Now is the era where people are afraid.
The other day, I spoke to a young grhastha who was getting ready for a professional career in the world. And I said: “It’s not the only way! Actually there is another way and it’s very simple. You just go to some city and, you rent a house and open a preaching centre! Just preach and you live from preaching……it’s very simple. You don’t have to work! Why do you want to work? Just preach! You just live simple in the temple and everything will be fine. Why do you want a professional career? It’s not necessary, just preach”. He said: “My faith is not strong enough, that Krishna will provide”. So it is a time when somehow or other we have lost faith collectively, because this spirit has died! And it works, I guarantee you. The only thing is purity. If one is a householder and goes out to preach, then one has to be renounced, since one cannot live it up at public expense. One has to make a sacrifice to live simple and to preach, but if we do, then everything will come, and then one can make an advancement so quickly! So it’s an option…I’m only offering it as an option for those who are interested. It’s not like: “Okay, all of us are giving up our jobs tomorrow, and that’s it……now only preaching centres”. I won’t be so demanding, but there is so much to do….so much to do all over the world! There is no lack of opportunities, and Krishna will provide, undoubtedly and purity is the force! 
What To Do With A Kali Yuga Man?
Toronto, Ontario
Yogendra, 24, is another one of our monks from Halifax spending some time here. He and I had taken to a wet walk north on Yonge when we met a soul who is really struggling, messed up I'd say. He came up to us smelling like a brewery and began his rambling. He said, "..." , well, I can't repeat. It's not very monk like what was coming out of his mouth. We tried to detour by crossing the street because he kept to our pace and anything we would say would not calm him. He was too far gone. He was big bodied and his demeanour was 'aggressive'. Successfully and eventually we got rid of him. We saw him harassing others as well.
I was reminded of a Zen sarcasm remark. "Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone."
Yogendra and I left our foul mouthed friend who stopped traffic to spout out more 'stuff'. He created a 'jam' and the honking began. This poor soul caught up to us later. He was carrying a half female mannequin (from waist down) in his arms trying to offer it. At least he was in the mode of giving. Merry Christmas!
When returning to the temple ashram I reflected for a moment on our (Kali Yuga) man feeling a pint of compassion. I was compelled, however, to look up a few more (possibly related to our encounter) sayings of Zen sarcasm. I already gave number 1.
2) Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone.
3) Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.
4) Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.
5) Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
6) Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.
7) Never miss a good chance to shut up.
To our friend, well, I hope I'll meet him again at a more sober moment when I can share a joke or two and then give him some 'sock it to me' wisdom from the Gita.
8 Km
Walk the Lines
Montreal, Quebec
On the previous night I had a group of about twenty people memorize this verse from the Gita:
"This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed." (Bhagavad-gita 9.2)
The technique for learning this verse was itself joyfully performed. I apply this simple method of going over each word, but in Sanskrit, then line by line, and have each participant recite them to a beat, meaning someone is thumping at the end of a mrgdunga drum. I will do a drill of this and the memorization of the verse would really be moving. I guess you could say we were putting into practice 'a drill thrill' going at the verse forward, backward, inside and out and incorporating the meaning of each word at the same time.
The next time I render some kind of acting workshop I'll use this method. Within 30 minutes our test crew here had the verse memorized through our method. Let's say 80%of those sitting there in front of me in the lotus position were becoming transcendentally immersed in the verse.
Here's the Sanskrit of the verse in Roman transliteration, and it's beautiful:
raja vidya raja guhyam
pavitram idam uttamam
pratyakshavagamam dharmyam
su-sukham kartum avyayam
I usually propose that participants chant this verse which expresses the depth of Vedic wisdom while they walk down the street. That always brings a smile.
8 Km
Srila Rupa Goswami writes: 
"May the Supreme Lord, whose form is eternal, who is supremely sweet and charming, who stays in the glorious forests and pavilions of Vrndavana forest, who is a limitless ocean of mercy, and whose heart delights in His Vraja pastimes, always be pleased with me..."
(Vidagdha Madhava) May the Supreme Lord whose incarnations are limitless, whose each individual form is supremely sweet and charming, always be pleased with us as and grant us His eternal darsana.
In my earlier posts where I talk about falling down of devotees, I once again copy another purport by Srila Prabhupada where he clearly describes the power of maya and the concept of falling down.
We may have a tendancy to find fault and an opportunity may present itself to find fault but we have to practice restraint for no one is exempt from commiting one mistake or the other. A conditioned soul makes mistakes and continues his conditioning, but if a liberated soul gets illusioned and commits mistake, then he or she is sure to fall down. Prabhupada is saying that even a liberated soul will fall down if not careful and if not under the protection of the Lord.
Therefore, it is no wonder that many devotees came to ISKCON, practiced bhakti elevated their consciousness and perhaps by the power of maya gone back to a material consciousness. As practicing devotees, we should not get disturbed and find fault or think the system is not working. Bottom line is anyone can fall victim to Maya and as a lone individual, I have to use my best judgement and care to be vigilant on all sides and pray for protection from the Lord.
Below is the purport by Srila Prabhupada
Not only does the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead act on the conditioned soul within this material world, but sometimes it also acts on the most advanced learned scholars, who factually know the constitutional position of this material world through realization. As soon as someone thinks, "I am this material body (ahaḿ mameti [SB 5.5.8]) and everything in relationship with this material body is mine," he is in illusion (moha). This illusion caused by the material energy acts especially on the conditioned souls, but it sometimes also acts on liberated souls as well. A liberated soul is a person who has sufficient knowledge of this material world and is therefore unattached to the bodily conception of life. But because of association with the modes of material nature for a very long time, even liberated souls sometimes become captivated by the illusory energy due to inattentiveness in the transcendental position. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14), mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāḿ taranti te: "Only those who surrender unto Me can overcome the influence of the material energy." Therefore no one should think of himself as a liberated person immune to the influence of māyā. Everyone should very cautiously execute devotional service by rigidly following regulative principles. Thus he will remain fixed at the lotus feet of the Lord. Otherwise, a little inattention will create havoc. We have already seen an example of this in the case of Mahārāja Bharata. Mahārāja Bharata was undoubtedly a great devotee, but because he turned his attention slightly toward a small deer, he had to suffer two more births, one as a deer and another as the brāhmaṇa Jaḍa Bharata. Afterward he was liberated and went back home, back to Godhead.
The Lord is always prepared to excuse His devotee, but if a devotee takes advantage of the Lord's leniency and purposefully commits mistakes again and again, the Lord will certainly punish him by letting him fall down into the clutches of the illusory energy. In other words, theoretical knowledge acquired by studying the Vedas is insufficient to protect one from the clutches of māyā. One must strongly adhere to the lotus feet of the Lord in devotional service. Then one's position is secure.
- SB 5.18.4
Hare Krishna
“You are chanting. I am very much pleased. That’s all. I came to your country to chant, that ‘You chant also along with me.’ So you are helping me by chanting. So I am pleased.”
Srila Prabhupada Lecture
July 16, 1971
1968 December 1: "I am always praying to Lord Krishna to bestow His Causeless Mercy upon you. So far the phenomenon you questioned me about, that it is a good sign. You needn't disclose it to everyone, you have disclosed to me and that is sufficient."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968
1970 December 1: "These engagements at schools and colleges is most important. These are completely new thoughts for the Western world. Once they take up Krishna Consciousness in the colleges, it will be the greatest success."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970
1973 December 1: "Just today we received a letter that construction has stopped. We must complete the Vrindaban Temple so remain for one year further and collect. Pray to Krsna that we may always please the Acaryas by our service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1973 December 1: "Construct a hotel for tourists to come and learn about factual spiritual life. Solicit a loan from the Government. We will repay in foreign exchange. This is the key to Governmental support."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
1974 December 1: "So it doesn't matter if we are selling more or less, so far the publications are there. We may sell or not, but the books must be there."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
1974 December 1: "There will be collapse as you have anticipated. Man-made laws cannot work any rupture in Krsna's plan. Let us remain now under Krsna's shelter fully dependent, and we shall remain unaffected by all these man-made difficulties."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974
1975 December 1: "Every student is expected to become Acarya. I have given you sannyasa with the great hope that in my absence you will preach throughout the world and become recognized by Krishna as the most sincere servant of the Lord."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
1975 December 1: "Keep trained up very rigidly and then you are bona fide Guru. I want to see my disciples become bona fide Spiritual Master and spread Krishna consciousness very widely, that will make me and Krishna very happy."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975
THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, CANTO 3, CHAPTER 25, THE GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, TEXT 25, WAS GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CARU SWAMI ON 29 SEPTEMBER 2006. Transcription : Her Grace Ranga Radhika Dasi Editing : Ramananda Raya Dasa Audio-reference : click here Reading from the third Canto, chapter twenty five, text twenty five: [...]
I have learned from one success teacher two things that can also be found in the scriptures:
1. Take full responsibility for your life
2. Befriend yourself
Gita Coaching helps you develop these two skills.
If we want to have a better health, we can learn to listen to our body.
Our body is always giving us messages. We feel certain way in certain parts of the body. Sometimes it is pleasure, sometimes it is pain.
For example, when we eat, body starts to tell us to stop, but the mind is greedy and it wants more, and we continue. The consequences are obesity and disease.
Listening to our body does not mean we should give in to the whims of the body. When we listen, we can discriminate and choose what is favorable for our health.
If you are working at the desk and the body tells you to move, you can take a few minutes and move. It is good for the blood circulation.
Our mind and intelligence are above the bodily senses and they can observe and direct the activities of the body in a way that helps our health.
How we feel largely depends on:
1. How we talk to ourself within our mind
2. What we focus on
3. How much we are connected to Krsna
1. How do you talk to yourself?
Do you have a positive or negative self-talk?
Do you speak to yourself as a well-wisher?
Do you ask yourself questions that will help you succeed?
2. What do you focus on?
Do you focus on past or present or future?
Do you focus on what you want or on what you don't want?
Do you focus on problems or on solutions?
Do you focus on what you can do or on what you cannot do?
3. How much you are connected to Krsna?
Do you feel Krsna's presence during the day?
Can you hear the Supersoul within your heart?
Do you experience spiritual pleasure?
Do you take advantage of the holy name and the scriptures to connect?
[The Won-Durr Boiz diary series is based on four ex-gurukuli brothers (surname: Durr) coming together for the first time to share Krsna consciousness with the outside world. Madhavendra Puri (the author and middle elder) has been waiting in Radhadesh (Belgium) for his brothers to arrive. Nitai Canda (the eldest) and Rupa Gosvami (the youngest) arrive first, and Bhisma Deva (the middle younger) is scheduled to come half way through. Their adventure takes them through Belgium, Germany and Poland, for rathayatras, festival tours and kirtana events. These diaries aim to bring inspiration and joy to the readers, and hopefully encourage others to entangle themselves in Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtana movement – whether for the spiritual benefits or simply for the fun.] 
[It was all over in Mielno. We had our last dance offs, our last kirtanas and our last prasadam outings with the tour devotees. The next day we were heading out to Kirtana Mela, just another journey.] Diary for the 26th – 28th Poland (29) . Poland (30) Read original post: [http://madhat.me] Subscribe: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/subscribe] 
By Laxmimoni dasi (ACBSP) If Srila Prabhupada visited you,
Maybe just for a day or two,
And came by unexpectedly,
I wonder what you’d do. Oh, I know you’d give your nicest room,
To such an honored guest,
And all the food you’d offer,
Would be the very best. And you would keep assuring him,
You’re glad to have him there,
That serving him within your home,
Is a joy beyond compare. But if you saw him coming,
Would you meet him at the door,
With arms outstretched to welcome,
This honored visitor? Or would you have to change your clothes,
Before you let him in?
Or hide some magazines,
And put the Gita where they’d been? Would you watch those mundane movies,
Upon your TV set?
Would you have to answer e-mail,
While he was taking rest? Would you run to turn your music off,
Before it reached his ears?
And put the tilak on your forehead,
Or bind or shave your hairs? Would you cover up your Playstation,
Take your posters off the wall?
Would you have to hide the DVDs,
You just bought at the mall? Would you gossip with your partner,
About devotees’ faults?
Would you have to re-cook dinner,
Without the garlic salt? Would you put Tulasi on your neck,
And have to find your japa beads?
And wake up in the morning before the
Sun peeks through the trees. Would you sing the songs you always sing,
And read the books you read?
And let him know the things on which
Your mind and spirit feed? Would Prabhupada be invited,
Everywhere you planned to go?
Or, would you, maybe, change your plans,
Just for a day or so? Would you be glad to have him meet,
Your very closest friends?
Or would you hope they’d stay away,
Until his visit ends? I wonder if Prabhupada spent,
A day or two with you,
Would you go right on doing,
The things you always do? Would you go right on saying
The things you always say?
Would life for you continue,
As it does from day to day? Would you be glad to have him stay,
Forever on and on?
Or would you sigh with great relief,
When finally he had gone?
Over five thousand years ago, Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna, discussing the fundamental principles of life. The Gita lucidly explains the nature of consciousness, the self and the universe. It contains both the essence of India's spiritual wisdom and the answers to questions that have been posed by philosophers for centuries.
Today, that same Bhagavad-gita has been translated to numerous languages and is read by millions of people around the world, revered in academic circles, and studied by spiritualists of all backgrounds.
Monday, December 5th marks Gita Jayanti, the day when Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna. We will be celebrating this occasion by reading the entire Gita in Sanskrit. The reading will begin at 6:00pm and will take approximately two hours. Stay tuned to the Toronto Hare Krishna Blog for more information!
Odana Sashti is a festival that marks the beginning of winter. During the Odana-sasthi festival the devotees dress Lord Jagannatha and Balarama with starched cloth. This ceremony indicates that from that day forward, a winter covering should be given to the Lord. That covering is directly purchased from a weaver, and freshly purchased cloth is usually starched to preserve it. read more
What qualification do we have to have to accept obeisances from and give shelter to others?
(Kadamba Kanana Swami) Lecture – Seminar ‘Getting inspiration from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta’ In the process of devotional service, it has been said: “anarthopasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje,” (SB 1.7.6), that devotional service can destroy the seeds in the heart of all these material anarthas(unwanted desires) and contaminations. They will be destroyed from the heart by this process of devotional service. But, it is explained that in the course of devotional service, there are two types of offenses: One is nama-aparadha and the other one is seva-aparadha. They are included in the sixty four aspects of devotional service, because these sixty four aspects of devotional service include both positive activities and prohibitions. Now, there are thirty two offenses that can be made in the cause of serving the deity, seva-aparadha. It’s said that if one commits seva-aparadha, as Srila Vishvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains, then one’s reactions will only cause suffering during the devotional service. It will not contaminate the heart with new anarthas. But nama-aparadha actually contaminates the heart and creates new anarthas within the heart. If we purposely, consciously commit seva-aparadha… Let’s say one thinks: ‘Bowing down again?? I just did it!’ You know, you’re in the temple, you go out for one minute, and you’re coming back thinking like that. So you just fold your hands… That’s seva-aparadha becoming nama-aparadha, because one is consciously ignoring the prescribed rule. But if one somehow or other forgets certain details in the course of service, and not purposely, but accidentally breaks these rules of prescribed behaviour towards the deity, then it is seva-aparadha and reactions come in the cause of one’s service, and they don’t contaminate the heart. Contamination of the heart, as we can see means planting seeds in our hearts, and these seeds are fructifying in big creepers. So these seeds are there and later on again other similar opportunities come, and we find that we become less serious and less careful. So this is very very dangerous! 
The self-effulgent Vaikuntha planets, by whose illumination alone all the illuminating planets within this material world give off reflected light, cannot be reached by those who are not merciful to other living entities. Only persons who constantly engage in welfare activities for other living entities can reach the Vaikuntha planets.
Srimad Bhagavatam
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When we strive for selflessness on the spiritual path and still find ourselves tempted by selfish material pleasures, the thought that we have not yet gone beyond temptations may dishearten us. If we feel thus disheartened, we can take refuge of the encouraging insight offered by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita (5.23). Therein, he explains that as long as we are situated in a material body, that material contact makes us naturally susceptible to material temptations. Therefore, spiritual advancement doesn’t necessarily require us to be temptation-free; it requires us to be transgression-free: temptation involves thinking selfishly, whereas transgression involves acting selfishly. The stopper that prevents temptation from growing into transgression is tolerance. That’s why this Gita verse calls upon us to tolerate our temptations determinedly. Our power of tolerance increases when we cultivate knowledge and devotion: knowledge that material pleasures are short-lived and counter-productive, and devotion that redirects our thoughts from temptations to Krishna.
An interesting development in Eastern Russia. An attempt to ban the Bhagavad-gita on the basis that it incites religious hatred, suppresses human dignity and declares one religion superior to another. This is also my first blog post for a long while. Hello everyone!
The book may be accused of expressing religious hatred, suppressing human dignity and declaring one religion superior to all others. But "Bhagavad Gita as It Is" can hardly be called Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf."
If we look at the sciptures, very often we have verses praising different features of the Lord. To give an example, we hear Satyavrata Muni praising the belly of Lord Krishna and also praising the ropes that bind the belly of the Lord. In the Sri Sampradaya,we have Sri Vedanta Desikan,who wrote an epic composition consisting of 1008 verses praising the footwear of Sri Ranganatha of Srirangam, in
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.32 - Glorifying Krsna by any of the nine limbs of bhakti bestows satisfaction and perfection.
110526 World Preacher – Bhaktivedanta Manor – London – Uk – HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj
Happy CampersJimmy Lens, Pistil Film, No Flash, Taken with Hipstamatic
 श्रीमान् रास-रसारम्भी वम्́शीवत्̣अ-तत्̣अ-स्थितह्̣ ।
कर्स्̣अन् वेन्̣उ-स्वनैर् गोपीर् गोपी-नाथह्̣ श्रिये स्तु नह्̣ ॥
śrīmān rāsa-rasārambhī vaḿśīvaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ |
karṣan veṇu-svanair gopīr gopī-nāthaḥ śriye stu naḥ || This wonderful Sanskrit poem was written by Krishhnadas Kaviraja for the introduction to his biography of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, entitled Caitanya-Caritāmrta. Let’s take the words apart and put them back together in an effort to more deeply appreciate the beauty in the poem and in the picture it paints. The first image presented is: “śrīmān rāsa-rasa-ārambhī.” The last word, ārambhī, means “one who initiates,” “one who inaugurates.” What is being begun? Rasa, which means “the essence of pleasure.” The essence of what pleasure? The essence of the pleasure of rāsa, divine artistic dances of joy, which are brimming with beauty and blessedness, śrīmān. So the first image presented in the poem is: He inaugurates enjoyment of the beautiful dance of divine pleasure… The next image is: vaḿśīvaṭa-taṭa-sthitaḥ. This paints the background scenery of where (sthitaḥ) this inauguration of bliss takes place. It takes place on the riverbank (taṭa), near a beautiful tree which became famous as the “flute-tree”(vaḿśīvaṭa). So, now the poem reads: He inaugurates enjoyment of the beautiful dance of divine pleasure…
Standing on the riverbank beneath the Flute-Tree… The final part of this image is: karṣan veṇu-svanair gopīr. This allows us to envision how this person standing on the riverbank inaugurated enjoyment of the beautiful dance of divine pleasure. He did it by veṇu-svanair - the sound of his flute! What did that flute-sound do? Karṣan – it acts like a gigantic electro-magnet, attracting the universe to him. But who specifically did this flute-sound attract on this particular occasion? Gopīr – The iron filings drawn to the enormous magnet of this flute-sound were the Gopis – the beautiful young villiage girls of his pastoral town. So now the poem reads: He inaugurates enjoyment of the beautiful dance of divine pleasure…
Standing on the riverbank beneath the Flute-Tree…
Attracting the Gopis to him by the sound of his flute… Next, the poem answer the question – who? Who is this charismatic, attractive personality being depicted? His name is gopī-nāthaḥ (He who is adored by the Gopis), who is more popularly known as Krishna. He inaugurates enjoyment of the beautiful dance of divine pleasure…
Standing on the riverbank beneath the Flute-Tree…
Attracting the Gopis to him by the sound of his flute…
The Gopis’ Beloved Krishna. The poem ends by involving you and I in it’s imagery as well: gopī-nāthaḥ śriye stu naḥ, “May his blessing (śriye) be (astu)upon us (naḥ).” He inaugurates enjoyment of the beautiful dance of divine pleasure…
Standing on the riverbank beneath the Flute-Tree…
Attracting the Gopis to him by the sound of his flute…
The Gopis’ Beloved Krishna… May his blessing be upon us. What would that blessing be? The blessing is that we may take the spiritual form of Gopis, and be called by the all-powerful attractor, the sound of Krishna’s flute, to be instrumental in some wondrous divine manner in the Rasa-Lila, the dance of divine love. ~~~ Here is another post related to this poem.
       
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Wednesday 30 November 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: Doing Our Little Bit to Save the World uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada gave us, his followers, the most awesome assignment. He gave us the mission of saving the entire world from illusion, suffering, and fear. We know that we, who are still struggling to control our senses, are totally unqualified for accomplishing such a herculean task. But what can we do? We cannot refuse the order of our spiritual master. Fully depending on his mercy and Krishna's mercy we must endeavor to the fullest extent of our capabilities to execute his order even though we know that are completely incompetent. What will be the result of our endeavor? That is up to Krishna. But we know one thing for sure. It has been predicted by Srila Krishnadas Kaviraja Goswami that one day the entire world will become fully Krishna consciousness. So at least we can fully dedicate our lives for doing whatever little bit we can for helping to make it happen. We know that if we sincerely endeavor in this way that our going back to home, back to Godhead is 100% guaranteed, and this gives us great joy. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Srila Prabhupada Gave Us an Inconceivable Mission: Deliver the Entire World http://www.backtohome.com/images/Prabhupada/sp_preaching.jpg Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Can God Be Proven Rationally? In this age, when science has progressed so much in shedding light on the darker areas of ignorance, everything can now be explained in rational terms. How about God? Is it possible to prove that He is a fact? Or should we take science as our God? Since we have grown up in the age of science, we need miracles that are of scientific nature. Do you think God is unaware of that? Would He not reveal things or send a message of scientific relevance? Otherwise, we who believe in God in this era, would be just like a three-year old child. Praneet Answer: Your Rationality is Irrational You have stated that everything can explained in rational terms, but that is not a rational statement. It is a statement of blind faith. How do you know that you exist? Because you experience your own existence. In a similar way you can know that God exists when you personally experience His existence. If you want to have this experience and are prepared to do whatever it takes to have this experience, we are ready to train you how to qualify yourself to personally experience God. Your science is based on the perceptions and theorizations of imperfect senses and is therefore imperfect. God is not obliged to reveal Himself according to your terms. If you want to meet a big man, you can only do so on his terms. 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? 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