We tend to think, “The whole point of having senses is that we should use these to enjoy the pleasures we can see, hear, taste, feel and smell. Otherwise why would these senses exist!?” I partially agree, but want to refer you to the initial part of the 15th chapter of Bhagavad Gita: this world is an inverted reflection of spiritual reality. The senses that we have right now are a reflection of senses we are capable of having. To explain this fully, I will go back to explain what a “soul” is, where it originates, and how it comes to exist with an ego, mind, intellect, and body of five senses. The soul in a “pure” (or “unawakened”) state is consciousness only. It manifests no identity, no will, and therefore of course has no mind, intellect or senses; but it has the inherent potential for such things because it is a ray of light emanated from the original sun. The emanation has qualities of what it emanates from, much like a child possesses traits of its parents. Since the original “sun” of the atoms of “light” is itself a distinct entity, the potential for individual distinction exists implicitly in each ray of light which emanates from it.
The unawakened soul is merely an unknown, unidentifiable wave of light vibrating homogeneously in the entire infinite expanse of spiritual light (“bhramajyoti”). By some catalyst (perhaps the freewill of the Supreme?) an individual particle/wave in that spiritual light is quickened to awaken and activate it’s potential. It is this quickening which will cause the seed-like kernel of the pure soul to spout appendages of identity, intellect, mind and senses. The quickened soul awakes to perceive that the spiritual light is a border between two huge, endless realms of manifest existence, wherein countless activities are taking place in fascinating sequences and to wondrous ends. On one side all activities are centered upon the source of all “light”, Godhead – like planets harmoniously orbiting the central Sun. On the other side, each individual atomic wave of light gets a chance to make itself the central locus of all activities, attentions, desires, and affections. There is a deep purpose why there are two realms and not one. It expresses the essential importance of freewill and the ability to make a choice in the grand scheme of what existence itself seeks for in the first place. Existence seeks the highest enjoyment, that is love. Love is freely given. Therefore there must be two realms, the soul must be given choices and freedoms, or else the purpose of Divine Existence would not have been able to unfold.
And so the awakened soul’s original free choice occurs in the act of choosing either the Godhead-centered realm or the self-centered realm as the field in which it wishes to grow and sprout it’s identity. When this awakened consciousness is thus drawn into the realm it chooses, it is immediately bathed in the divine energy of that realm – like a seed placed into soil and bathed in profuse sunlight and water. In the triplicate energy of the realm it enters – like a seed entering soil, light and water – the hitherto unmanifest uniqueness of the spark of light sprouts. We can wonder if what sprouts from the soul is new to it or if it is an expression of some potentiality that was always latent in it. It is possible that the soul possesses, even when submerged in the non-being of the spiritual-light, an indelible unique “stamp” as a result of being a ray of light emanated by a specific aspect of the spiritual-sun. I favor this perspective. In either case, new or inherent, what sprouts from the soul is undeniably what it is and what it becomes. A cascade of blossoms now sprout from the soul-seed. The first is an individual locus which we call “identity” or “ego” – which is astrologically the Sun. From this springs the well of things which the individual reflects upon, feels, and wants. This we call the “mind” – which is the astrological Moon. From the mind springs forth the ability to interface and exchange with the subjects and objects of our reflection, feeling and wanting. We call this “intellect” and in astrology it is Mercury. This interface-facilitator (intellect) finally generates the actual instruments that literally interact with the subjects and objects we feel for. We call these instruments “the senses” and they are Venus in astrology. This cascade of sprouting from the spiritual atomic spark occurs in both realms: Godhead-centered or self-centered. This is one of the important implications of the Bhagavad-Gita’s fifteenth chapter analogy of the Banyan tree inverted due to being reflected, as if on the edge of a pond: Like a reflection, the manifestations of reality are superficially identical in both the God-centered realm and the self-centered realm. The difference is essential, not superficial. It lies in what the entire manifestion is centered upon. Thus in both the “spiritual” and “material” worlds the living being has an identity, a mind, intellect and senses, i.e. a body. To say the senses are created to enjoy the sense objects of the world is true if we only consider the senses within the self-centered realm. If we broaden our awareness of Venus and senses – as we should, because the reflected tree is not the real tree after all – we can see that the better definition of senses is that they are the instruments with which we interact with sense objects. The motive of self-enjoyment in such interactions is present only when the soul is in the self-centered realm. When the soul instead inhabits the Godhead-centered realm, sensual interactions are without any selfish motive for enjoyment. Their motive is the enjoyment of Godhead. Thus in that realm, souls are extremely beautiful, attractive, talented, delicious, delighted and wonderful – because they are connected directly and explicitly to the ever expanding infinite enjoyments of the Supreme Life, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has the appropriate moniker “Sri Krsna” – the all-attractive enjoyer.
George Harrison was born on February 25, 1943, at ten minutes after twelve. This gives us a rising degree of 29* Virgo. Some astrologers suggest that George’s rising sign was just entering Libra, but the Libra chart would not have anywhere near the strength necessary to give the type of results which corresponded to George’s life. Under Libra, the ascendant lord Venus would occupy the sixth house, an evil house and a house of debts- not an appropriate placement for a famous, millionaire musician. Libra rising would put the lord of the house of properties in Aries, i.e., one of the most evil placements of the zodiac- yet George lived in a wonderful mansion with some of the nicest grounds in all of Britain. Finally, Libra rising would mean that the Beatle karma of the Jupiter years would have taken place under the aegis of the lord of the third and sixth houses, evil lordships for sure. Virgo rising would put the ascendant lord in the wonderful fifth house, with the exalted ninth lord Venus in the seventh, aspecting the ascendant. This is the type of planetary disposition which corresponds to a world-famous, millionaire musician. And George had no younger siblings. This is possible in the Virgo chart because the house of younger siblings receives the aspect of Saturn, a negative planet and a planet of denial. From the perspective of the Libra chart, Mars would sit in the very house of younger siblings in a positive sign. Additionally, the house of younger siblings would be quite fortified by an aspect from the lord of that house, Jupiter. It must be kept in mind that Jupiter is a positive, expansive planet. But there were no younger siblings. Therefore, the rising sign could not be Libra- it would have to be Virgo. And Virgo does seem to correspond well to George’s personality. The maternal, caring, and charitable instincts of Virgo have always been out front with George. The way he helped the Hare Krishna movement during the late sixties and early seventies, what to speak of the huge altruistic effort he made to orchestrate charity for the hungry in Bangladesh, certainly bears this out. Even on a smaller, everyday level, stories about his giving nature abound; he is known for giving $50 bills to beggars, big tips to cab drivers, and once, for example, he gave the ring off his finger to a waitress, just as an act of kindness. The artistic and musical skills of the Virgo-born found expression in his horoscope, too. But not every person with Virgo rising has George’s abilities- these are due, more than anything, to exalted Venus in the seventh, wherefrom Venus aspects the ascendant. It is mainly this placement which conferred a high level of musical skill and technical ability on George. This placement goes by the name of Malayva Yoga. In 300 Important Combinations, B.V. Raman comments: “Consistent with the nature of Venus, Malavya Yoga will make one resolute, immensely rich, give him happiness from wife and children, name and fame. Venus is the indicator of conveyances, sensual pleasures, music, dancing, fine arts, luxury and material comforts.” Also of note is the placement of Jupiter, a very benefic planet, in the house of actions and profession in a musical sign, Gemini, part of whose symbol is a stringed instrument. And what about the Moon in a Venusian sign, Libra? A bright Moon in Libra suggests some very natural enthusiasm for music- inspiration from the astral plane. It is this Moon, as well as the central placement of the emotional Venus, which has seen George follow his feelings into the world of music, as opposed to his musical career being the result of some logical or calculated conclusion. Another thing suggested by the Moon in a sign related to music is that some of his compositions may have been awarded to him from a subtle, astral level. George’s intense religious involvement is indicated in several ways, but mainly by exalted Venus in a quadrant. Venus is a pious planet in the first place, being the preceptor of the materialists, specifically of the Daitya race/clan. In this chart, Venus becomes the lord of the house of dharma, something which enhances the spiritual nature of Venus. The exaltation of Venus takes place in the brahminical and religious sign of Pisces, something that further enhances the religious significance of Venus. It is this Venus which aspects the ascendant directly. In addition, Jupiter, the karaka (indicator) of spiritual understanding and guru of the pious beings (devas), occupies the tenth house, the most expressive house of a horoscope for a planet, after the ascendant. From there, Jupiter aspects the Moon as well as the Sun, indicating a pious birth on an emotional as well as a soulful level. Events Let us now see how well the planetary periods corresponded to this Beatle’s life events. When George was 13 years old, his mother bought him his first guitar, a rather simple one, and George began to develop his musical skills. This corresponded to the major planetary period of Rahu, sub period of Venus. Venus being the planet of art and music, this makes sense. When George was 15, he joined the Quarrymen, a rock and roll group which was a forerunner of the Beatles. During the remainder of the major Rahu period, he played music with the Beatles in relative obscurity and without much success, results which might be expected of Rahu, an evil planet placed in an evil house. In the sub period of Rahu-Mars, George traveled to Germany to perform with the Beatles. Mars is a malefic, even in terms of the houses which he owns, and Mars occupies the fourth house, which rules ones homeland and residence. A malefic planet with evil lordship typically separates one from ones homeland when it occupies the fourth house, and this is how Mars acted during its planetary sub period. Mars is indicative of the police, obviously. George ran into trouble with the police during the Martian sub period because he was working as a minor and had no work visa. The police even deported him, something which really created an interruption because it stopped his music for a while. The major period of Jupiter began in December of 1960. Of course his karma improved because he left the major period of Rahu, an evil planet in an evil house. Jupiter is a benefic planet occupying a quadrant house, a house in which benefics give positive results. The sign which Jupiter occupied was Gemini, a musical sign. Little wonder then, that George’s guitar playing notably improved, the Beatles coalesced very much as a group, and their popularity increased so much that they became one of their regions most well-known groups. Not only had George’s karma improved, but the natural buoyancy of George’s chart had begun to manifest itself, now free of the effects of the major planetary period of Rahu, in whose grips George had been since his very birth. The Saturnian sub period of Jupiter operated from February of 1963 until August of 1965. During this time, the full-blown Beatle karma manifested. From the ascendant, Saturn is the lord of a good house; and occupies the house of fortune and luck, the ninth, the most benefic house in any horoscope; from the ninth he aspects his own sign in the sixth, helping George to overcome obstacles and opponents But from the Moon, Saturn enjoys a unique position. The planet is the unsullied owner of purely positive houses, the raj-yoga karaka, and occupies the tenth house, also a great house for Saturn. For these reasons, Saturn was strong enough to express raj yoga results. George was also exposed to marijuana and psychedelic drugs during this sub period, which is not a surprise from Saturn in Taurus. Taurus is a sensual sign belonging to Venus, the planet of intoxication. From August of 1965 until November of 1967, the sub period of Mercury was in vogue. Mercury is a benefic planet in a trinal house, so the strong Beatle karma continued. That Mercury’s results were decidedly musical are due in large part to the fact that Mercury occupies his own navamsha (zodiacal sub division) of Gemini, a musical sign. Otherwise, Mercury in the serious sign of Capricorn in a pious house involved George in meditation and exposed him to Vedic philosophical thought. Jupiter-Ketu ran from November of 1967 until October of 1968. This sub period was rather uneventful, not a surprise as Ketu occupies an evil house. Specifically, the sixth house is the house of obstacles and debts. The film Magical Mystery Tour, for example, released in December of 1967, was a financial flop. The Jupiter-Venus years, from October of 1968 until July of 1971, were extremely strong years for George in terms of musical karma. George became recognized as a top guitar player in the world of rock and roll during this Venus period. Some of the best Beatle material of all time was released during this period. As soon as it started, the White Album was released, which is often considered the best Beatle album of all time, and one of the best rock and roll efforts of all time. Abbey Road and Let It Be were two other huge successes of which he was a part, and George personally composed the song Something in 1969. Frank Sinatra called it the most beautiful love song ever written. In the latter part of 1970, George recorded the solo effort All Things Must Pass, which was a gigantic success and maybe the best material of the post Beatles period. During this same Venusian sub period, George became a convert to Gaudiya Vaishnavism, in other words, a devotee of Krishna. He recorded some material with chanting on it, and his album All Things Must Pass had a tremendous amount of philosophical content in it, along the lines of chanting and reincarnation. This was due to the influence of the sub lord Venus in a pious sign, which we mentioned earlier. In spite of all the positive gifts of Venus, the reader may note that Venus occupies a marakasthan, a death-inflicting house, and that Venus is the dispositor of the Moon, i.e., that Venus contains the maternal Moon in its sign. George’s mother passed away during July of 1970, in the middle of the Venusian sub period. And Paul Mc Cartney filed suit against the other Beatles in December of that year, thus bringing about the break up of the Beatles. During both of these unfortunate events, Saturn was transiting the seventh house from Harrison’s Moon in its debilitation sign of Aries. Saturn is by nature an evil planet, indicative of sorrows and frustrations. From the seventh house Saturn aspects the house of mothers, the fourth, and the seventh itself is the house of partnerships. Granted that Venus owns the evil eighth from the Moon, but the transit of Saturn goes a long way towards explaining how such unfortunate events could come to pass during such a positive sub period as the Venusian one. The Jupiter-Sun (July of 71 April of 72) period saw George organize the concert tour for the starving masses in Bangladesh. The Sun is the lord of the house of expenses, the twelfth, made altruistic and religious in nature thanks to Jupiter’s benefic and pious aspect on it. During the lunar sub period of Jupiter (April of ‘71 – August of ‘73 ), the album Living in the Material World was released. Its feature single, Give Me Love, (Give Me Peace), was a number one song. The Moon is strong in brightness in Harrison’s chart, occupies the musical sign Libra, and owns the eleventh house, a financial one. Needless to say the album was a financial success. The Beatle karma had been continuing unabated. Jupiter-Mars saw marital strife, culminating in estrangement by the end of the sub period, as George’s wife Patty left him permanently. Notice that Mars, as a natural malefic planet and a lord of evil houses, occupies the house of hearth and home, and aspects the house of marriage as well. This sub period lasted from August of 1973 until July of 1974. The last sub period of the Jupiter major belonged to Rahu, from July of 1974 until December of 1976. Rahu has already been seen to be a rather negative planet, none of the powerful results of the chart having manifest until the Rahu period was over. And the results given in Rahu’s sub period, even though the lord of the major period was still Jupiter, seems to confirm this. Starting in November of ‘74 and continuing on until Early ‘75, George went on a world tour called Harrison and Friends. It was a financial flop and not very well received by the critics. Even among the fans George lost popularity; one of the main problems seemed to be George’s involvement with Indian (Hindu) music. His refined tastes just weren’t popular with the masses, and it was perceived that he was forcing his tastes and even his philosophical outlook on the public. The albums Dark Horse, Extra Texture, and 33 1/3, all released during the Rahu sub period, were not successful at all. George was sued for plagiary during the sub period, and the legal hassles were a source of irritation for him. George also experienced serum hepatitis. Both of these results are directly indicated by Rahu’s aspect on the sixth house, the house of litigation and disease. Depression reared its ugly head during this sub period, which that is also a typical result of an evil Rahu. After sixteen years of superstar-millionaire karma, the major planetary period of Jupiter came to an end. True to Jupiter’s form, the period had been expansive. Although George’s Saturn isn’t as powerful as Jupiter-the-benefic in a quadrant, the natural strength of the horoscope basically continued to manifest through Saturn. In the sub period of Saturn itself (December of 1976 – December of 1979), George’s only son, Dhani, was born to him. This is easily explained as Saturn is the lord of the house of children from both the ascendant and the Moon. Saturn’s influence is overwhelming in this regard because Saturn also aspects the house from the Moon. Because Saturn is the planet of time and delay, the boy was born to George rather late in life. And as Saturn is a planet of limitation, George was blessed in life with one issue only. Saturn in the musical and artistic sign Taurus continued to see George involved along artistic lines. For example, an album was released, George Harrison, which was deemed to be well done. And George became involved in films- he founded a production company called Hand-Made Films. But in spite of many positive developments, Saturn is still a malefic planet; he owns an evil house and sits in the house of father. George’s father passed away under the influence of Saturn-Saturn. The Saturn-Mercury period extended from December of 1979 until September of 1982. During the first year of the sub period, George worked on an album called Somewhere in England. It had a very popular song on it called All Those Years Ago which rose to number two on the charts. Right as the sub period of Ketu began (September of 1982 till October of 1983), George released a disaster of an album called Gone Troppo. It was released in October of 1982. During the same sub period, a movie was released, Bullshot, which flopped. We have already mentioned that Ketu occupies the house of debts and obstacles, an evil one. George was said to be rather depressed during 1983. This makes sense as Ketu occupies the sign of Saturn and Saturn was the lord of the major period, too. Saturn is the planet of sadness and melancholy. The sub period of Saturn-Venus continued from October of 1983 until December of 1986. George continued his involvement in film-making, most notable working with Madonna in his movie Shanghai Surprise. In October of 1985 he appeared in a television special called Blue Suede Shoes, which was a tribute to and with his boyhood rock Idol Carl Perkins, who penned some classic rock tunes in the 1950s. These positive artistic results are par for the course for someone with exalted Venus in a quadrant. Once again, George was involved with charity concerts in June of 1987 because, once again, George came under the influence of a Solar sub period (December of 1986 – November of 1987). The reader will recall that the Sun is the lord of the house of charities and aspects it as well. The sub period of Saturn-Moon (November of 1987 – June of 1989) did not fail George musically. George came out with a hit CD, Cloud Nine, as soon as it started. The CD contained a re-make of an old standard called Got My Mind Set on You. It became a number one song for George. Shortly afterwards, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Then, in October of 1988, he had another hit CD as a member of the group The Traveling Wilburys. It contained the original hit song Handle with Care. It was a really big success. So the lunar sub period saw George successfully involved in music with one thing after the other. The major planetary period of Mercury dawned on December 19, 1995. Right at that time, George and the remaining Beatles had gotten together and released a lot of old material which had never been made public. Much of it was alternate versions of different songs which were already known. But an old John Lennon song which had been saved for a rainy day was recorded by the three, with a touch up on the lyrics by Paul. The effort was a huge, huge musical success. Mercury, as a benefic in a trine and the lord of the ascendant as well, saw George right on top of the music world once again. It was rumored that the effort also provided a much needed cash infusion for George. A cancerous lump was removed from George’s throat in August of 1997, still in the Mercury-Mercury period. Saturn is the planet connected with cancer and Saturn aspects the third house, the house of the throat. Astrologically, we want to see this mainly as a Saturnian indication which manifested in Mercury’s period because Mercury occupies a sign of Saturn. Thus, the cancerous lump in Mercury’s period is justified. Since we cannot have exact assurance as to the birth time, the sub period of Ketu might have started by the time the cancer was found and removed. Ketu also sits in a sign of Saturn, he does so in the house of illness, and aspects the second house, which rules the area of the mouth right above the throat. In the Mercury-Venus sub period George was stabbed by an intruder. His wife helped him to overcome the assailant. Even though Venus is a well-positioned, natural benefic, this should not surprise us. Venus acquires death-inflicting powers due to its ownership of the second, a maraka house, the maraka eighth from the Moon, and due to the fact that Venus sits in the seventh, another maraka house. In addition, Venus receives an aspect from Mars, a planet corresponding to sharp-pointed weapons. Mars sits in the fourth house, the house representing one’s home, where the attack took place. In the ultimate issue, though, the very beneficence of Venus indicated the final outcome, i.e., that George survived. Why? Well, Venus is a tremendous benefic in George’s chart; Venus sits in the house which stands for his wife and is the very karaka of wife, too. It was principally his wife’s role in his defense which turned the tide and beat off the assailant. George Harrison passed away on November 29, 2001, in the planetary period (vimshottari) of Mercury-Sun. The Sun owns the last house of the horoscope, representing the end of life, and sits in the house of disease with the evil Ketu. That his life was so short seems surprising, given the apparent strength of the ascendant, the house of longevity (eighth) and the indicator of duration of life, Saturn (Ayushkaraka). But the ascendant lord is hemmed in between malefics, these being Mars on one side, and the Sun and Ketu on the other. This malefic yoga goes by the name of papakartari yoga. And Mars as the lord of two death-inflicting, maraka places occupies a quadrant. Jupiter is blemished in terms of sign and ownership, so Jupiter’s ameliorating aspect could only go so far. The Beatles through Vedic Astrology! Click here to get your copy
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Helsinki, Finland, 2011) Lecture – Nama Tattva Part IV
 It is said that the three words namely ‘Hare, Krishna, Rama’, are the transcendental seeds of the maha mantra. Sometimes we see that people chant the names of Krishna, and they mix it all up: ‘Govinda, Gopal, Morari, Hari’. And we are hearing that all these names ‘Govinda, Gopal’ and so on are primary names that Krishna is having in his eternal spiritual activities and those names are equally powerful, than the name of Krishna! One may have secondary names, such as where Krishna is described as the one who is doing something in this world -‘Jagat-pati’, the father of the universe or ‘Srstikarta’ – the one who is the ultimate doer behind the creation. So these are the secondary names of Krishna, who is doing some temporary work. But the eternal names like ‘Gopal’ and ‘Govinda’, are the primary names and those one must chant! So if someone chants: ‘Gopal, Govinda, Krishna, Hare, Morari’. Isn’t that nice? It is nice, but it is not as nice as the maha mantra. Because in the maha mantra there is a relationship – ‘Hare’ or the pleasure potency of Krishna is engaging in the service of the attractive Supreme Lord. And the result: ‘ramante yogino ’nante satyānande cid-ātmani iti rāma-padenāsau paraṁ brahmābhidhīyate’ (Cc.Madhya 9.29) The result is that we are experiencing transcendental happiness. So like that, the maha mantra is revealing a relationship. It is revealing the entire process of devotional service……everything is there! Therefore it cannot be changed! Some are thinking: 
“Well, if we chant ‘Radhe Krishna, Radhe Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Radhe Radhe’, then that is even more intimate, than chanting Hare Krishna”. Actually everything is there, because ‘Hare’ is referring to devotional service, and how that devotional service can capture Krishna! Because ‘Hare’ means to steal or to capture, so that devotional service can attract even the all attractive Krishna or in particularly the personality who is the personification of devotional service – is Srimati Radharani and is able to steal away Krishna. So therefore, the highest rasa is all there in the maha mantra! So the maha mantra is including the whole relationship!
4:40 A.M. Poem for November 21 Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mind was absorbed in ecstatic love at Jagannatha Puri but when He passed on the road on the way to Vrndavana that love increased a thousand times. The Lord’s ecstatic love increased a thousand times more when He visited Mathura but it increased a hundred thousand [...] Poem for November 21 is a post from: EVERY DAY
From My Autobiography The autobiography is a work-in-progress. I have written of my pre-Krishna conscious life and my career in ISKCON, and I will continue to do so. NowI am writing on the books I have written. Because writing is so important to me it is a crucial part of my life story. NowI am [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY
4:27 A.M. Poem for November 20 When the Lord entered the city of Mathura He went to the birthplace of Keshavaji. When Lord Caitanya chanted and danced all the people were astounded to see His ecstatic love. One brahmana fell at His lotus feet and then began to dance in ecstatic love. After this Caitanya [...] Poem for November 20 is a post from: EVERY DAY
From Dear Sky, Letters from a Sannyasi “April 7th Marche, Italy “Dear dawn-chirping birds, “My boots are making so much noise on the gravel road that I can hardly hear you singing. Now I’ve stopped to listen. There are so many of you little fellows out there in the gray dawn that I [...] Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY
Every month, a bunch of local youth at the Hare Krishna Centre along with other budding spiritualists from Krishna Club, York University go out to the streets and share a hot meal of pasta with the homeless. This exciting endeavour is called Food for Life, Toronto.
With similar projects happening all over the world, participating members believe that it is not just about sharing a hot meal, it is about sharing love and showing those who are less fortunate that there is some one who cares about them. When they go out for Food for Life (usually at Sherbourne and Queen), it is always accompanied with hot pasta being served along with chanting of the Hare Krishna Mahamantra!
Last Sunday, Food for Life Toronto turned three years old. That means, that till today, over 3600 of plates of hot pasta have been distributed to the homeless in Toronto and we hope that this number continues to grow.
To celebrate this special occasion, we have some videos from different years of the project!
Here is a video of the second Food for Life from December 2008
And here we have a video from May 2009 when our friends from the Montreal Hare Krishna Centre were visiting us.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, Australia, 2011) Lecture – Become a champion chanter
We may not at all refer to Krishna, but just like Ajamila was referring to his son ‘Narayana’. We may call each other by names, but because we are by different names: This one is called ‘Govinda’ and that one is ‘Gopal’, and in that way we are automatically chanting!
Measuring Up
Buenos Aires, Argentina
I don’t think a day goes by when we do not measure things.
This evening I had decided to trek from the Ratha Yatra site, at Plaza Francia, to Templo Hare Krishna. Others wanted to join me and avoid bus or car transportation. We asked Maha Hari, the temple coordinator, about the distance between the two locations. “About 40 street blocks.”
I was expecting an answer in kilometers, which makes it then easy to calculate the time it would take to walk. When you walk through the streets of a passionate city like Buenos Aires, and go with the flow, the pace can be good, even when factoring in stopping at red lights.
We moved at a steady clip and naturally we thought of the day. At least I tend to measure the success of the festival in terms of numbers attended, the quality of food, the quality of entertainment, weather, and the overall spirit of the event. I would rate it as good with some areas needing improvement. The hard work for play rehearsal paid off. The inexperienced actors, young adults in our community, pulled it off well. My dear friend, Guna Grahi Maharaja, asked me to speak to the crowd of hundreds, winging it as usual. Mahajan and I danced on the stage spontaneously to the rousing kirtan (chanting), of Ajamil who hails from Bangladesh. This segment was really interesting. The crowd merely copycatted our every innovative move. The trick here is keeping everyone focused on dancing and singing simultaneously.
As usual, prior, during, or at the end of an event like this, I get approached by one or two young monks who ask, “Please bless me that I will stay a brahmachari.” They then ask for advice to which I respond by encouraging them in strong morning sadhana (the spiritual workout). That, in fact, is a good measuring device. Your spiritual strength hinges on the performance of sadhana, the study of sacred books, chanting, worshiping, and wholesome dealings with spiritual companions.
9 KM
The Thing About Hair
Buenos Aires, Argentina
I was asked to speak from Canto 2 of the Bhagavatam on a verse in Chapter 7, entitled, “Scheduled Avataras”. Naturally, when asked to do so, the speaker attempts to draw from the verse and companion purport some main points that may have relevance to the audience. Interestingly, the verse (text 26) highlighted the coming of Krishna, who is described as Sita Krishna Kesha, and refers to His possessing beautiful long black wavy hair. So here is the thing about hair.
When I joined to enroll as a monk in the movement, it was the regiment to discard every hair on your head. Shaving the head for male members was a standard activity every fortnight at least. Hair was frowned down upon for those of us living in the ashram. At the same time, in the 70’s when I joined, it was totally fashionable to sport hair and lots of it, covering your scalp with adjoining sideburns, moustache, and perhaps a full beard. In fact, a clean shiny shaven head was regarded as the mark of insanity. The only people who were bald and regarded as cool were Mr. Clean, the squeaky clean caricatured man of a household cleanser, and veteran actor, Yul Brenner, who skillfully played the King of Siam.
Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, encouraged his male members to have the look of a pure Brahmin Vaishnav, or the look of a classic priest from India. Traditionally, hair was reserved for particular social roles, in the warrior, farmer, merchant, and worker categories.
So the paradox persists. Female students were encouraged to have long beautiful braided hair. Donning hair was for just about everyone, including God, with his fabulously gorgeous strands of hair. To the exception of initiated male members who were to be hairless. It sounded odd to me when I first heard the term, “Hare Krishna”, when I had to ask myself, “who are these hairless people who call themselves the opposite?”
Frankly, I gave brief mention about hair in the class. The thrust of the topic was more on the appearance of Krishna, who in this troubled age, comes without hair, in the form of pure sound vibration.
7 Km
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.20-23 - Following Srila Prabhupada by giving Krishna consciousness to whole world.
Some more nectar flowing from the pen of Srila Rupa Goswami about Srimati Radharani: 
"Her bodily luster seems to place even gold in a painful situation. Thus the wonderful, unprecedented beauty of Srimati Radharani is awakening Vrindavana..." (Vidagdha-madhava 1.32) Oh Sri Radhika, may the golden sun of Your lustrous darsana awaken the land our heart.
Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:
rasa108 (at) gmail.com
ys
Rasa Rasika dasa
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Dear Brijabasis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! We are happy to invite you for the Thanksgiving Dinner: This Thursday, November 24, 2011 5:30 PM Prasadam Hall Radha Prabhu offered to be the head cook. A delicious meal will be served. Your servant, Jaya Krsna das
COMPILED BY JAI SITA RANI DEVI DASI  1. When Radhanath Swami joined Srila Prabhupada in the early days, He wrote one letter to his father and he signed off the letter by writing "Your servant". His father replied in the next letter, "I arranged so much of good education for you and after all this you have become a servant, it's not appropriate." Then Radhanath Swami again replied back to his father saying," Actually, I have not become a servant but I have become a servant of the servant"
2. Just listened to a funny lecture about how to look at things with a positive attitude...Towards the end of the lecture, Radhanath Swami asks Jananivas prabhu to speak something..but prabhuji declines his request because he has a toothache...Maharaj says "He has a toothache...he is seeing that toothache as an opportunity to not have to speak tonight..that means he is..transcenDENTAL." haha
Then later Radhanath Swami says that Jananivas prabhu was in a place where the quality of food was not so good..in his rice there would be stones every day..but he would still take the stones with his prasadam because he accepted it as Krishna's mercy...but after having to bite into these stones after a while his teeth have been affected. So HG Jananivas Prabhu responds "Yes that is why I have a stone heart, from ingesting these stones." and Maharaj replies "We agree that your heart is like a Govardhan Sila." 
3. Once in 2007, Radhanath Swami had just started wearing reading glasses; so before the class he found it difficult to read from Bhagavatam without his specs ..and said...."Symptoms of Kali yuga"........then he took out his glasses and put them, then before reading said....."Now it appears to be Satya yuga"........Crystal Clear
4. Radhanath Swami was making an important point when the sound system went "Kooooooooooooooooo" Radhanath Swami then said, "That is Lord's way of making an exclamation mark!"
5. Once in Washington D.C. devotees went on a walk with Radhanath Swami in a nature park. There were many beautiful trees and flowers growing all around. We passed one particular tree and Gauravani prabhu stopped us. He told us that this particular tree was very strong in nature and it grows on top of other things, like the wooden canopy we were walking under. The tree's branches keep growing and ensnaring whats underneath until they completely crush whatever its growing on. He continued to expain that it was very difficult to cut down that tree. As we were walking away, Radhanath Swami looked at the tree and wispered "Just like lust." and then walked away.
 6. Radhanath Swami once said " Marriage is like Govardhan lila, lot of thunder and lightening but if we take shelter of Krishna just like Brajvasis during Govardhan lila, we are protected!"
7. During Mayapur yatra 2009, in the evening Radhanath Swami, Pankajanghri prabhu and Jananivas prabhu were walking inside mayapur temple premises.... and all the devotees who were passing by were getting down from their bicycles and paying obeisances seeing all three of them. Radhanath Swami said to Pankajanghri prabhu they are paying obeisances to you, please give your blessings... Pankajanghri prabhu ..they are not giving to me .. its for you ..please give your blessings to them...Radhanath Swami said, "One who pays obeisances to Pankajanghri prabhu by getting down from the cycle will be freed from the cycle of birth and death."
COMPILED BY JAI SITA RANI DEVI DASI GRAPHIC EDITING BY SHEVAANNI PILLAI  
 
ORIGINAL ARTICLE  Radhanath Swami Maharaj was born in Chicago in 1950. In his teenage years, the longing for knowledge about God lead Radhanath Swami on a journey throughout Europe and the Middle East, during which he undertook a careful study of the scriptures of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. This journey ultimately led him to India, where he lived for several years, and met Srila Prabhupada. By choosing A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami (1896-1977), a spiritual activist, as his guru (after declining offers of initiation from several tyagis or renunciants in the Himalayas), Radhanath Swami cast his fate to the wind, cut his matted locks, and entered back into the society.
Radhanath Swami Social Initiatives
Mid Day Meal Project A Strategic program to address two of the most pressing problems of India : Hunger & Education. The Government of India has made education for children in the age group of 6 to 14 years compulsory, but poverty prevents the underprivileged from getting full value of their educational experience.
Hunger obstructs education as children are forced to leave schools and take up menial jobs. Lack of education curtails opportunities for development and leads to the vicious cycle of poverty and hunger. Education empowers a child to explore his potentials and earn a decent living and live a respectable life in our society.
Radhanath Swami under ISKCON FOOD RELIEF FOUNDATION, has resolved to liberate the underprivileged from this vicious cycle by feeding the poor with sanctified and nutritious food. Govardhan Eco Village Project
Govardhan Ecovillage is situated on 50 acres of pristine farmland in the Wada district of Maharashtra. Although its rustic charm and sylvan ambience belie the fact, it is only a two-and-a-half hour drive north of Mumbai, South Asia's economic powerhouse. The addition to the community of the Lady Northcote Hindu Orphanage in 2002 brought the total number of residents to 100 (130 including our bovine friends).
Govardhan Farm aims to demonstrate the principles of self-sufficiency and localized economy to the world. In consultation with organic farming experts, all inputs and outputs are natural, and only indigenous varieties of grain are grown. Instead of chemical fertilizers, we employ cow dung and natural compost. Cow urine and neem oil serve as organic pesticides and bulls are favoured over machinery for ploughing. Lady Northcote Hindu Orphanage Project
The original trustees had a provision that the children be taught spiritual values, but over the years the standards and the facilities deteriorated.
The orphanage saw a spiritual revival in 1987 when Radhanath Swami was requested by the trustees to inspire its vision in the modern times. Radhanath Swami helped expand the services to cater to underprivileged children from the entire state of Maharashtra.
To provide children with more natural and spacious surroundings, the orphanage was shifted from Mumbai to a fifty acre farm with roomy and airy dormitories, classrooms, a large playground and a garden.
Gopal Garden School Project
Gopal's Garden High School, guided by Radhanath Swami, aims to build that proper character. Located in suburban Mumbai, the school is affiliated with the University of Cambridge and has 178 students enrolled.
Gopal's Garden School aims to provide a loving environment suited for the best possible learning experience, where children are nourished with devotion and inspired with a will to work to become leaders of society, first class human beings and devotees of the Lord. Vrindavan Hospice Project
Although modern medicine is making tremendous advancement in disease management, there are many cases that reach a state of incurability. Death is inevitable but arrives slowly, accompanied by severe pain, discomfort and emotional crisis both to the patient and the family. Globally, hospice is a facility for such end stage patients who do not need active medical intervention for cure.
Vrindavana Institute of Palliative Care is hospice center that offers terminally ill patients comfort and highest possible quality of life in the serene environment of the Hindu holy town of Vrindavan. Pain and physical discomforts are managed by modern medicines, while the patient and the relatives are offered emotional support by counseling and prayers. There is special and personalized care at the time of dying. Barsana Eye Camp Project
Under the divine guidance of His Holiness Radhanath Swami, Bhaktivedanta Hospital runs the annual free cataract surgery camp, the Barsana Eye Camp, in Barsana, Mathura District. The camp aims to serve the people residing in Barsana and the surrounding 120 villages. Due to their extreme poverty and lack of medical facilities, the villagers often lead a life of blindness, caused by cataract. Bhaktivedanta Hospital Project
The Bhaktivedanta Hospital has opened a permanent Vision Centre at Barsana. Featuring an operation theatre and OPD, it aims to treat 3800 patients annually.
All the required equipment, medicine, lenses, and microscopes are transported from Mumbai to Barsana. Volunteers combine efforts to build a fully-equipped, sterile operation theatre for two weeks. Children and other patients requiring specialized care beyond the scope of the camp facilities are sent to Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai, operated on, then sent back to Barsana, free of charge. Venu Madhuri Project
Venu Madhuri is a rural development project that aims at sustainable development and self-sufficiency through traditional wisdom. In India the majority of the population is in the villages. But the difficulty is that the villages lack basic amenities. The Indian nation's father Mahatma Gandhi contemplated a program of village organization based on sound agricultural practices and village industry that would ensure the proper health and well-being of the villagers. Inspired by Gandhian ideals and the vision of Radhanath Swami, Venu Madhuri, adopted a village named Ramanwadi in Maharashtra as a model village to later replicate the project in other villages.
Venu Madhuri is a rural development project that aims at sustainable development and self-sufficiency through traditional wisdom. In India the majority of the population is in the villages. But the difficulty is that the villages lack basic amenities. The Indian nation's father Mahatma Gandhi contemplated a program of village organization based on sound agricultural practices and village industry that would ensure the proper health and well-being of the villagers. Inspired by Gandhian ideals and the vision of Radhanath Swami, Venu Madhuri, adopted a village named Ramanwadi in Maharashtra as a model village to later replicate the project in other villages. Radhanath Swami's Book - Journey Home (An Autobiography of an American Swami)
"Mystic yogis, and an epic quest through spiritual India" Within this extraordinary memoir, Radhanath Swami weaves a colorful tapestry of adventure, mysticism, and love. Readers follow Richard Slavin from the suburbs of Chicago to the caves of Himalayas as he transforms from young seeker to renowned spiritual guide. The Journey Home is an intimate account of the steps to self awareness and also the penetrating glimse into the hearts of mystic traditions and the challenges that all souls must face on the road to inner harmony and a union with the Divine. Through near death encounters, apprenticeships with advanced yogis, and years of travel along the pilgrim's path, radhanath swami eventally reaches the inner sanctum of india's mystic culture and finds the love he has been seeking. It the a tale told with rare candor, immersing the reader in a journey that is at once engaging, humorous and heartwarming.
Indradyumna Swami's lecture 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 2011-05-28
 Thank you for all the blog love over the past 4.5 years. I am moving on from Sabjimata. The content will stay up at this address but a new blogging identity awaits me at a new URL. Please visit! If you are reading this before December 1, 2011, do note that the new blog is still being built. But feel free to snoop around and see my blog in it’s not ready yet state. Yup, my blog’s in its underpants and the curtains are open! See you there!
1956 November 21: "When you will see the papers and programme, I am sure your excellency will be interested in co-operating with me. I am crying alone in the wilderness at the present moment. So please help me in this noble cause."
1967 November 21: "I am pleased to learn of your spirit of protest but killing proposal is not good. We have to kill with arguments and reasons not with sticks and weapons. Sometimes we have to tolerate."
1971 November 21: "This is a revolutionary thought. The old system of gurukula should be revived as the perfect example of a system designed to produce great men who know what is the real welfare of the citizens."
1972 November 21: "As there are in Vrindaban some residents like monkeys and hogs, similarly there are many rascals in the name of Vaisnavas, be careful of them. And do not dare to question impudently before your Spiritual Master."
1974 November 21: "They are nice pictures but this will deteriorate from the standard. These are not meant for the common man but for advanced devotees. If we distribute, they will misuse. I hope you can understand this."
1974 November 21: "They criticize how we can create brahmanas. They think brahmanas are born like horses and asses are born. The training of brahmanas should be so nice that by guna and karma people will be forced to accept them."
1975 November 21: "That you have been victorious in preaching to the big Mayavadis, that is the mercy of Krsna. The process is simply to read my books and learn the purports and then speak to them in your own words."
[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.]  [A couple spoken words about a couple days of.]
Diary for the 9th Diary for the 10th Poland (22) . Poland (23) Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com] Subscribe: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/subscribe] 
Prabhupada prana-dhana hey.
In ISKCON, during and after Srila Prabhupada earthly pastimes, many sanyasis and devotees went back to a material way of life. In other words, they fell down. Seeing devotees fall down can be discouraging to our spiritual life, especially advanced devotees such as sanyasis. In ISKCON’s history, many such sanyasis relinquished their vows. Using this as an excuse, many people (including devotees) find fault with ISKCON as an institution and organization. I think it is important for the leaders to do their best in terms of serving Srila Prabhupada and the mission but at the same time we must also recognize the power of material nature. We have to be careful before we find fault with fallen devotees or criticize the management. Of course, it is easy to criticize than to be the change agent.
Because material nature is as good as Krishna (very powerful), very easily, we can fall a victim to it. Devotees, I am sure with all best intentions start their spiritual careers but sometimes unable to withstand give into material desires and temptations. When we see such dubious devotees, to protect our own devotional creeper, we can stay away (aloof) from them. If we are spiritually strong, we can offer to help. But fault finding does not help anyone. In fact finding fault, we will go down in time. To illustrate my point on how material nature is so powerful and no one is exempt from Her clutches, below is a purport written by Srila Prabhupada on how two very powerful and greatest mystic yogis fell down to become birds. This narration, if anything, is an indication that if such great yogis can fall down into maya, we as neophytes can easily falter. So our only hope is to humble ourselves always in front of Krishna requesting His shelter. We should internally show compassion to souls who have fallen down and pray that one day they come back into Krishna’s service, we should be careful before we find fault with devotees who make or made mistakes.
Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha were always inimical. Formerly, Viśvāmitra was a kṣatriya, and by undergoing severe austerities he wanted to become a brāhmaṇa, but Vasiṣṭha would not agree to accept him. In this way there was always disagreement between the two. Later, however, Vasiṣṭha accepted him because of Viśvāmitra's quality of forgiveness. Once Hariścandra performed a yajña for which Viśvāmitra was the priest, but Viśvāmitra, being angry at Hariścandra, took away all his possessions, claiming them as a contribution of dakṣiṇā. Vasiṣṭha, however, did not like this, and therefore a fight arose between Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra. The fighting became so severe that each of them cursed the other. One of them said, "May you become a bird," and the other said, "May you become a duck." Thus both of them became birds and continued fighting for many years because of Hariścandra. We can see that such a great mystic yogī as Saubhari became a victim of sense gratification, and such great sages as Vasiṣṭha and Viśvāmitra became birds. This is the material world. -SB 9.7.7 – purport by Srila Prabhupada
Sage Vasistha and Vishwamitra muni were spiritual masters for Lord Ramachandra. If they both can fall down due to anger, then what is our chance? Therefore, there will be devotees falling down and we should not be disturbed by it but rather should convince ourselves to not be careless in our spiritual duties and if by Krishna’s mercy I fall down sometime, I simply have to get up and get back on the saddle of chanting and hearing. There is no other atonement in this age.
Hare Krishna
           
THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON SRIMAD-BHAGAVATAM, CANTO 3, CHAPTER 25, THE GLORIES OF DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, TEXT 17, WAS GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CARU SWAMI IN ISKCON UJJAIN, INDIA ON 11th OCTOBER 2010. Transcription : His Grace Krishna Dasa Editing : Ramananda Raya Dasa Audio Version : click here Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya Om Namo Bhagavate [...]
Goverdhan Puja Inish Rath
A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Monday 21 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: Solution for a Doomed European Union uploaded from Pune, India At the present moment due to economic woes the European Union is struggling to continue its existence. There is ever-increasing pressure for it to be at least partially, if not completely, dismantled. If we study its founding principles, we can easily understand why it is going through such a struggle. There is no mention of God anywhere in its founding principles. The fact is that any nation or institution which does not place God at the center will sooner or later completely collapse. The European Union is no exception to this principle. If the leaders of the European Union genuinely want to make it a grand success, all they have to do is consult us and we can enlighten them how to do it. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Teaching the Principles of Universal Unity and Peace Pune, India--19 November 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Pune_Lecture3.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Proper Gaura Nitai Worship In what mood should we worship Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Ram Prabhu? Jeevan Answer: Be an Instrument for World Unity and Peace The proper mood for worshiping Sri Sri Gaura Nitai is to become their instrument for bringing peace and unity to the world. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address: {contact_address
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