Devotees Vaishnavas: January 08, 2011 - Planet ISKCON

sábado, 29 de mayo de 2010

January 08, 2011 - Planet ISKCON - 34 new articles

----- Original Message -----
From: FeedBlitz
To:
Sent: Saturday, January 08, 2011 7:54 AM
Subject: Planet ISKCON - 34 new articles

Click here to read this mailing online.

Here are the latest updates for
"Planet ISKCON" - 34 new articles
Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: Kuli Fest!

Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: First Glimpse At Recorded Video Footage

Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Birthday Presents : { Handmade + Hand Picked }

Bhakta Chuck, CT, USA: Friday Night Oxen #38

Sita-pati dasa, AU: How to run a stage program to schedule

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakta Prabhu

Japa Group: Japa Workshop #4 of 6

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: The better of two articles

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: About CharDham- India

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: The better of two articles

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: About CharDham- India

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: The better of two articles

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: About CharDham- India

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: The better of two articles

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: About CharDham- India

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Skype discussion with disciples on the subject of gurukula and education for children

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Skype discussion with disciples on the subject of gurukula and education for children

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Lilasuka asks what is the difference between the fear and joy shown by conditioned souls for their children and that of Mother Yasoda for Krsna

Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Lecture - Radhanath Swami - The Essense of Religions

H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 183

David Haslam, UK: Always a chance of association

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: FIX THE MIND ON THE SELF

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO BE A SERVANT LEADER OF A GROUP

Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: "4 stories in a row" from MitraSena dasa (ACBSP) in Prabhupada Village, N.C.

Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: Gita Jayanti Weekend: (Part 1) Leading Up

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: FORCED TO CONCENTRATE

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: JEALOUS

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Wednesday, January 5th, 2011

Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: African Huts Far From The Grid Glow With Renewable Power

Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: 24 Hour Kirtan coming to Toronto!

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Woodford Folk Festival

Gouranga TV: ISKCON Coventry Christmas 2010

Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group

More Recent Articles

Search Planet ISKCON

Prior Mailing Archive

Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: Kuli Fest!

Kulimela Australia 2011
KULI FEST: Saturday, January 8th at the Murwillumbah Civic Center
CLICK HERE to view tonight’s evening performances webcast LIVE on Ustream.
Tentative Schedule: 5:00 to 10:00+ pm, Brisbane time.
Invocation (H.H. Mukunda Goswami + Gurukula kids)
Radha devi (NZ – Bharat Natyam)
Natya shakti (AU – Bharat Natyam)
Mayapuris (US – Drumming)
Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits (US)
Hari Bhakti (AU)
Madhurastakam (Kuli Mela Supergroup)
Intermission
Fashion Show
Chaitanya
Sudi + Lalita
Chay and Stuntmen
Dovetails (AU – Vedic Rap)
Uncle Crazy (AU)
Ghost Brothers (CA)
—————————————————————————
Times are local to Brisbane, Australia.
Some examples of the start time around the world:
Los Angeles: Friday, January 7, 2011 at 11:00 pm.
New York: Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 2:00 am.
London: Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 7:00 am.
Mumbai: Saturday, January 8, 2011 at 12:30 pm.
To convert the time difference to your location, CLICK HERE.
Schedule is subject to change.
Please send prayers to Krishna that He instruct the internet gods to provide a good internet connection.
Thanks to Sitapati and his crew for doing their best to make the live video feed happen.
—————————————————————————
In the ancient Sanskrit language, “Kuli” refers to a member of a “Community” and “Mela” means “Festive Gathering.” Combined, “Kuli Mela” transforms into “A Celebration of Community.”

• Email to a friend • •

Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: First Glimpse At Recorded Video Footage
Kulimela Australia 2011
CLICK HERE to view recorded video footage of Gaura Vani, As Kindred Spirits & the Mayapuris deeply engrossed in a “hip shaking” kirtan.
The video quality is a little grainy, but the sound is awesome.
Catch a 20 minute glimpse into one performance from the wonderful festival evening entertainment.
More to come!
Thanks to Sitapati prabhu for the recording.
—————————————————————————
In the ancient Sanskrit language, “Kuli” refers to a member of a “Community” and “Mela” means “Festive Gathering.” Combined, “Kuli Mela” transforms into “A Celebration of Community.”

• Email to a friend • •

Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Birthday Presents : { Handmade + Hand Picked }
Soon I will be back in the kitchen, but let’s face it–I just had a new baby and I need time to dote on her and to fawn over all the love (and stuff) that Baby Bindu has brought into our lives. A new food post should be coming soon, but in the meantime, let’s look at some of the homemade gifts Bindu and I received during the past 9 days. That’s right. Little Bindu is 9 days old! Where does the time go?

Double sided flannel receiving blankets wash up soft and fluffy. Sewn by Mohini Kruger.
Flannel receiving blankets + burp cloth (hearts) by Mohini. The drab green embroidered blanket is a cherished hand-me-down from her son's babyhood.
I love stitches in contrasting thread!
Bindu cozied up in the softie new-to-her flannel.
50 cents + love : embroidered Ikea tea towel by Mohini Krueger.
More by Mohini : baby pants
From left to right : pastel knit cap (w/matching blanket/not shown) by Barbara Brock. Multi-colored knit cap with ears by Padi Sutherland. Cashmere gnome hat by Mohini Krueger.

Yesterday was my birthday! Bindu and I are 8 days apart (and 36 years). Honestly, I felt like it was the best birthday ever. Three beautiful kids, one loving husband and all my meals eaten in bed! Doesn’t get much better than that. My husband and the kids bought me cute presents at Pier 1. The kids picked out their own gifts for me, thus increasing my eclectic collection of dishes. I love how their choices reflect their own tastes.
From Madhumati : tiny pink plate

From Venumadhava : autumn leaf dish

From Babu : antiqued bird platter

Tagged: baby clothes, birthday, crafting, gnome hat, knitting, natural parenting, pier 1, waldorf
• Email to a friend • •

Bhakta Chuck, CT, USA: Friday Night Oxen #38
Hello Everyone,
zebu, continued…
After last weeks presentation, I decided to follow through and learn a little more about Bos Indicus. So, I tried to chose one breed every day or two from the OSU website to see what makes these breeds both similar and different at the same time. A read through the Ongole gives a wealth of information including history of origin, characteristics, adaptability to climate and much more. They appear magnificent and powerful…spectacular!
Click to view slideshow.
I thought that a closer look at some of the oxen from past FNO posts might provide us with some insights. For instance, if we consider the pictures below and look at the shape of the head from the nose, to the base of the horns, we see a remarkable progression. Jolly on the left has the classic dished or concave forehead of a Jersey. His forehead is broad, the orbital bones around the eyes are prominent and the top of the muzzle is only slightly raised. Next, note how the concaved forehead lessens and the front of the muzzle is becoming more pronounced. In the middle picture, the forehead narrows and the nose and horn roots are almost on a straight line. With the brown ox, the concave forehead has all but disappeared, giving a convex shape to the profile. In the last of the series, we see most of the facial features give way to heavily developed bones under the eyes that extend up into the forehead and dramatically slope back to the horn roots. It occurs to me that we might be able to look at different parts of the oxes anatomy and draw conclusions as to why people choose certain breeds over others relative to different climates, tasks and so on.

little zebu in the Connecticut Hills
I would like to leave you with one more wonderful thread, this one on the Kankrej, ending with the nice devotees at Care For Cows reading about Krsna and Balarama.
Have a nice weekend, on service to the Oxen,
ys, Chuck
Chant
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

• Email to a friend • •

Sita-pati dasa, AU: How to run a stage program to schedule
Why bother? Because:
Respecting the schedule is respecting the audience and the performers.
If your program runs 2 hours over and you have 100 people there, that is 200 person hours that you are taking. There are flow-on effects as well, as other people (like families waiting at home) are impacted.
Programs that run on time are more enjoyable. The overall experience of the participants - whether audience, technical staff, or performers - is significantly enhanced.
Here is how you run a stage program to schedule:
1. Make a realistic schedule.
Don't make a schedule that allocates 15 minutes for a 15 minute performance. Does it ever take 15 minutes? No, never. Or it might, if the rest of your apparatus supports it (see later points).
Take note of how your previous events have run, and plan realistically around that. At the recent Kuli Mela night time events it's taken an average of 10-15 minutes for each group to get set up on the stage. In this case programming a 20 minute break between each group / performer allows for this, and allows you to recover schedule creep without having to cut people's sets short.
Last night to recover a creeping schedule I cut one performer's set down to 15 minutes and completely dropped another act. It's not nice to do that to those people, and they feel that it's unfair. However, not doing that is unfair to everyone. Last night ran on time as a result - the night before ran two hours behind, putting everyone out. Sacrifice the person to save the village.
Best, however, is to not get put into this situation. Make a schedule that you can reliably execute, and build recovery time into it.
2. Do the work ahead of time
There are three distinct phases, each with their own activities. Do the right activities at the right time.
Planning Phase
In this phase you plan the venue layout, performance schedule, and technical setup.
Preparation Phase
In this phase you set up the gear, do sound checks, rehearse, etc.
Execution Phase
Showtime! Anything that belongs to but didn't happen in the previous phases is now dropped, and everything that was in the previous phases is now executed solidly.
Don't do sound check during the performance. Don't set things up during the performance. Don't plug in some new piece of equipment during the performance. Do everything ahead of time.
Prepare. Prepare. Prepare.
The preparation phase is where you encapsulate everything that makes the execution phase magical and revolutionary. Execution begins at the moment the doors open, and no more preparation can be done.
For a program that started at 8pm, yesterday we were there at 3pm doing sound check, testing equipment, and calibrating settings. That's a five hour lead time - and this was for the one band that I was responsible for - Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits.
When someone brought a keyboard they wanted to use after the program had started we simply told them: "No".
Again, it's about respect. Remember: Respecting the schedule is respecting the audience and the performers.
Don't allow a single person to disrespect the time of everyone else. Put them in their place - either onsite in advance during the preparation phase; or else adapting to the situation in the execution phase.
For the program we did yesterday the planning phase was well over before 3pm. Planning and preparation had been going on for days before the event. We did another planning phase cycle in the morning, based on the lessons learned from the night before. Then we rocked up to the venue at 3pm and switched to the preparation phase. When showtime hit at 8pm all planning and preparation was over, and anything that belonged in those phases (like plugging in and sound-checking a keyboard) was ruthlessly cut.
3. Use the right team structure.
Here's what you need:
Stage Manager
This person makes sure that the program is running to schedule. They monitor the time and make decisions about to adjust the program to keep it on schedule. This person has to make the tough calls to protect and respect the time of everyone involved. They also have to communicate to each performer: "This is when you start. Be here on time and be ready to go. This is the time you finish - stop before then or we turn off the mike, k?"
Runner
The Runner works with the Stage Manager. The Stage Manager says: "Group X is on in 20 minutes. Have them assemble at the side of the stage now.".
The Runner then runs around and locates those people.
MC
The MC introduces the acts and informs the audience about what is happening. They communicate with the Stage Manager, who shields them from all the chaos at the backend and just gives them a single clear message that they then give to the audience.
Stage hands
Two or more is best. One acts as a runner to take requests from the stage ("can you get more vocal in the monitor") to the sound desk; the other monitors the situation on stage and fixes anything that needs it (a mike stand that falls over, for example).
Technical staff
You need a dedicated sound engineer, obviously; and a lighting guy if possible. You might also have other techs on hand.
The role of the technical staff is to inform the performers of the parameters of the situation, and then do anything and everything possible within those parameters to support the needs of the performers.
4. Get everyone on the same page.
Before the event meet with all the performers, either collectively or individually, and spell out who is who, and how the event will run. Set expectations on things like punctuality, locations (the logistics of venue load-in, stage entry, assembly points, and back stage areas), and equipment needs.
The last thing you need is a venue filled with performers milling around wondering what is going on. You don't need to be answering the same questions over and over again. Have very clear parameters that you are operating with, and communicate those to everyone. Then you achieve alignment, and your conversations during the night switch to execution.
• Email to a friend • •

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

Sri Sri Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra Devi are back on the altar!!! Jaya!!!

They were given a welcome party worthy of Their stature and clad in Their choicest paraphernalia.

The Melbourne Temple is now complete for it comprises of the 3 principal holy dhamas once again;
the spiritual world in its entirety.

Here's a slideshow of
Sri Mayapur-Navadwipa Dhama,
Sri Vrindavana Dhama and
Sri Jagannatha Puri Dhama;

one stop shop to Krishna Prema!

• Email to a friend • •

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakta Prabhu
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.28.39-40 - Mediate on and remember Krsna at every nanosecond.

• Email to a friend • •

Japa Group: Japa Workshop #4 of 6
In this session of the japa workshop, participants share their realizations and describe the progress that they have made.

• Email to a friend • •

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: The better of two articles
Sankirtan das: When Prabhupada arrived, there were actually two newspaper articles that came out about the devotees. One of them was very favorable, but it didn’t mention Hare Krishna too often; and the other article was highly unfavorable, it was very critical and sarcastic of the devotees. It was written actually by a Chicago columnist who won a Pulitzer Prize. His name was Mike Royko. Royko was known for his biting cynicism. He wrote this article, but practically every other sentence he was mentioning Hare Krishna. He had even parts of the Hare Krishna mantra within the article. Prabhupada said, “This man is chanting Hare Krishna,” and he was much more appreciative of the critical article, because it mentioned Hare Krishna more, than he was of the favorable article.
>From the DVD series, Following Srila Prabhupada, by Yadubar Prabhu and Visakha Mata -- see www.iskconcinema.com
• Email to a friend • •

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: About CharDham- India
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Letter PAMHO:20926752 (41 lines) {I4} From: Internet: "Harish Krishnan"
I found in this website some interesting information about devotees undertaking Char Dham yatra.
http://www.padayatra.com/history.php
your aspiring servant harish
On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 9:41 PM, Bhakti Vikasa Swami Bhakti.Vikasa.Swami@pamho.net> wrote:
> > Is there any significance to the CharDhams( Four holy Dhams) Puri, > > Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameshwaram in India to Gaudiya Vaisnava Samprdaya? > > No. > > > As devotees might know Sri Sankaracharya had established his school of > > philosophy at these four places which are predominantly worshiping the > > SriKrsna/Sri Narayana as the Supreme absolute truth. Is it because Sri > > Sankaracharya was a Vaisnavite inherently as an incarnation of Lord Siva > > and he was there to glorify the Lord? > > Sri Sankaracarya established mathas at three of these places: Badrinatha, > Dwarka, and Puri. In South India he established a matha at Sringeri, which > is a long way from Ramesvaram. I don't know why these four places are > called > "Char Dham." It could be researched, although it is not of particular > significance to Gaudiyas. > > hari-guru-vaisnava dasa, BVS > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send an email to: > BVKS.Sanga-Owner@pamho.net > (Text PAMHO:20926752) --------------------------------------
------- End of Forwarded Message ------
• Email to a friend • •

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: The better of two articles
Sankirtan das: When Prabhupada arrived, there were actually two newspaper articles that came out about the devotees. One of them was very favorable, but it didn’t mention Hare Krishna too often; and the other article was highly unfavorable, it was very critical and sarcastic of the devotees. It was written actually by a Chicago columnist who won a Pulitzer Prize. His name was Mike Royko. Royko was known for his biting cynicism. He wrote this article, but practically every other sentence he was mentioning Hare Krishna. He had even parts of the Hare Krishna mantra within the article. Prabhupada said, “This man is chanting Hare Krishna,” and he was much more appreciative of the critical article, because it mentioned Hare Krishna more, than he was of the favorable article.
>From the DVD series, Following Srila Prabhupada, by Yadubar Prabhu and Visakha Mata -- see www.iskconcinema.com
• Email to a friend • •

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: About CharDham- India
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Letter PAMHO:20926752 (41 lines) {I4} From: Internet: "Harish Krishnan"
I found in this website some interesting information about devotees undertaking Char Dham yatra.
http://www.padayatra.com/history.php
your aspiring servant harish
On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 9:41 PM, Bhakti Vikasa Swami Bhakti.Vikasa.Swami@pamho.net> wrote:
> > Is there any significance to the CharDhams( Four holy Dhams) Puri, > > Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameshwaram in India to Gaudiya Vaisnava Samprdaya? > > No. > > > As devotees might know Sri Sankaracharya had established his school of > > philosophy at these four places which are predominantly worshiping the > > SriKrsna/Sri Narayana as the Supreme absolute truth. Is it because Sri > > Sankaracharya was a Vaisnavite inherently as an incarnation of Lord Siva > > and he was there to glorify the Lord? > > Sri Sankaracarya established mathas at three of these places: Badrinatha, > Dwarka, and Puri. In South India he established a matha at Sringeri, which > is a long way from Ramesvaram. I don't know why these four places are > called > "Char Dham." It could be researched, although it is not of particular > significance to Gaudiyas. > > hari-guru-vaisnava dasa, BVS > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send an email to: > BVKS.Sanga-Owner@pamho.net > (Text PAMHO:20926752) --------------------------------------
------- End of Forwarded Message ------
• Email to a friend • •

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: The better of two articles
Sankirtan das: When Prabhupada arrived, there were actually two newspaper articles that came out about the devotees. One of them was very favorable, but it didn’t mention Hare Krishna too often; and the other article was highly unfavorable, it was very critical and sarcastic of the devotees. It was written actually by a Chicago columnist who won a Pulitzer Prize. His name was Mike Royko. Royko was known for his biting cynicism. He wrote this article, but practically every other sentence he was mentioning Hare Krishna. He had even parts of the Hare Krishna mantra within the article. Prabhupada said, “This man is chanting Hare Krishna,” and he was much more appreciative of the critical article, because it mentioned Hare Krishna more, than he was of the favorable article.
>From the DVD series, Following Srila Prabhupada, by Yadubar Prabhu and Visakha Mata -- see www.iskconcinema.com
• Email to a friend • •

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: About CharDham- India
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Letter PAMHO:20926752 (41 lines) {I4} From: Internet: "Harish Krishnan"
I found in this website some interesting information about devotees undertaking Char Dham yatra.
http://www.padayatra.com/history.php
your aspiring servant harish
On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 9:41 PM, Bhakti Vikasa Swami Bhakti.Vikasa.Swami@pamho.net> wrote:
> > Is there any significance to the CharDhams( Four holy Dhams) Puri, > > Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameshwaram in India to Gaudiya Vaisnava Samprdaya? > > No. > > > As devotees might know Sri Sankaracharya had established his school of > > philosophy at these four places which are predominantly worshiping the > > SriKrsna/Sri Narayana as the Supreme absolute truth. Is it because Sri > > Sankaracharya was a Vaisnavite inherently as an incarnation of Lord Siva > > and he was there to glorify the Lord? > > Sri Sankaracarya established mathas at three of these places: Badrinatha, > Dwarka, and Puri. In South India he established a matha at Sringeri, which > is a long way from Ramesvaram. I don't know why these four places are > called > "Char Dham." It could be researched, although it is not of particular > significance to Gaudiyas. > > hari-guru-vaisnava dasa, BVS > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send an email to: > BVKS.Sanga-Owner@pamho.net > (Text PAMHO:20926752) --------------------------------------
------- End of Forwarded Message ------
• Email to a friend • •

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: The better of two articles
Sankirtan das: When Prabhupada arrived, there were actually two newspaper articles that came out about the devotees. One of them was very favorable, but it didn’t mention Hare Krishna too often; and the other article was highly unfavorable, it was very critical and sarcastic of the devotees. It was written actually by a Chicago columnist who won a Pulitzer Prize. His name was Mike Royko. Royko was known for his biting cynicism. He wrote this article, but practically every other sentence he was mentioning Hare Krishna. He had even parts of the Hare Krishna mantra within the article. Prabhupada said, “This man is chanting Hare Krishna,” and he was much more appreciative of the critical article, because it mentioned Hare Krishna more, than he was of the favorable article.
>From the DVD series, Following Srila Prabhupada, by Yadubar Prabhu and Visakha Mata -- see www.iskconcinema.com
• Email to a friend • •

Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: About CharDham- India
---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Letter PAMHO:20926752 (41 lines) {I4} From: Internet: "Harish Krishnan"
I found in this website some interesting information about devotees undertaking Char Dham yatra.
http://www.padayatra.com/history.php
your aspiring servant harish
On Mon, Jan 3, 2011 at 9:41 PM, Bhakti Vikasa Swami Bhakti.Vikasa.Swami@pamho.net> wrote:
> > Is there any significance to the CharDhams( Four holy Dhams) Puri, > > Badrinath, Dwarka, Rameshwaram in India to Gaudiya Vaisnava Samprdaya? > > No. > > > As devotees might know Sri Sankaracharya had established his school of > > philosophy at these four places which are predominantly worshiping the > > SriKrsna/Sri Narayana as the Supreme absolute truth. Is it because Sri > > Sankaracharya was a Vaisnavite inherently as an incarnation of Lord Siva > > and he was there to glorify the Lord? > > Sri Sankaracarya established mathas at three of these places: Badrinatha, > Dwarka, and Puri. In South India he established a matha at Sringeri, which > is a long way from Ramesvaram. I don't know why these four places are > called > "Char Dham." It could be researched, although it is not of particular > significance to Gaudiyas. > > hari-guru-vaisnava dasa, BVS > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from this mailing list, send an email to: > BVKS.Sanga-Owner@pamho.net > (Text PAMHO:20926752) --------------------------------------
------- End of Forwarded Message ------
• Email to a friend • •

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Skype discussion with disciples on the subject of gurukula and education for children
(Russian/English)
• Email to a friend • •

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Skype discussion with disciples on the subject of gurukula and education for children
(English only)
• Email to a friend • •

H.H. Sivarama Swami: Lilasuka asks what is the difference between the fear and joy shown by conditioned souls for their children and that of Mother Yasoda for Krsna
• Email to a friend • •

Rupa Madhurya das, TX, USA: Lecture - Radhanath Swami - The Essense of Religions
Radhanath Swami speaking on the topic "The Essense of Religions" at a Unitarian Church.
Dallas, TX
2010-10-09

Download: 2010-10-09 - Radhanath Swami - Unitarian Church - The Essense of Religions.mp3

• Email to a friend • •

H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 183
www.sdgonline.org.
10:30 A,M.
I am officially “off the chart,” “off the grid.” I’m not able to chant sixteen rounds. I’m not able to write a substantial journal with different sections. I’m exhausted, and my option is to sleep or write and chant at a lower pace, a lower standard. I just don’t have it in me, not for now. So who is my audience? Is it the weak ones like me? Is it the temporary broken-downs? I think I’ll pull out of this, but not immediately.
The doctor said, “I heard you had a panic.” Where did he hear that? “Yes, I had a relapse,” I said. He said, “You should have faith and be true.” He said, “Que sera sera.” Later when we got home, Baladeva told me that was his mother’s favorite saying, and she said it in English: “Whatever will be, will be.” I was the one who dared to go through it a second time, que sera sera. After having done it once, now I had done it again . . . She was flirtatious with him. It’s a television show called “Sports World,” or something like that. The doctor said something to the effect that “You Hare Krishna people are so gung-ho.” I have to lie back. I have to take it easy, or I will totally collapse. That’s what Baladeva was saying. Resting in Mendocino, remember that book. He said, “What about all those books you wrote in California? We couldn’t publish them until after your death.” Que sera sera. They were whoppers.
Oh, it’s not as bad as all that.
• Email to a friend • •

David Haslam, UK: Always a chance of association
The interesting thing about association, and devotee association is that it’s not an add on, a thing we do or may/may not need it’s a necessity and is possibly something that we see sometimes as difficult or impossible. Ok direct association is always the best for sure, and there would be no disputing this small [...]
• Email to a friend • •

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: FIX THE MIND ON THE SELF
The mind should be fixed in self. We are self and Krsna is also self. So, just like if you fix up your eyes on the sun, then you can see the sun and yourself also.

Sometimes in dense darkness we cannot see ourself also. That you have experienced. So I cannot see my body in dense darkness. Although body is with me, I am the body or I am whatever I am, I cannot see myself.

So if you are in the sunshine, sunlight, then you see the sun as well as yourself. Therefore to see the self means first of all see the Supreme Self. The Supreme Self is Krsna.

In the Vedas it is said, Kathopanisad, nityo nityanam cetanas cetananam. The Supreme Self is the chief eternal of all eternals. He is the chief living being of all living beings.

So this Krsna consciousness movement means to fix up in self.

If you fix up your mind in Krsna, then you can fix up your mind in everything.

If you take care of your stomach, then you take care of all the bodily limbs. If your stomach is supplied nice nutritious food, the stomach is cleared of all disturbances then you keep good health.

If you pour water in the root of the tree, then you take care of all the branches, leaves, flowers, twigs, everything, automatically.

So if you take care of Krsna then you do the best service to all others. Automatically.

- Srila Prabhupada
• Email to a friend • •

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO BE A SERVANT LEADER OF A GROUP
Click on the title to access the text.
• Email to a friend • •

Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: "4 stories in a row" from MitraSena dasa (ACBSP) in Prabhupada Village, N.C.
MitraSena Prabhu sent us an email with the following stories.

He gathered the following stories recently from his neighbors in a lovely place called rabhupada Vilage in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina. His neighbors must have been on one of the streets, perhaps Prabhupada Road, Krishna Road, Radha's Way or Seeta Drive. (actual names of roads in Prabhupada's Village!)

He writes "I feel compelled to pass them on for your benefit." and
"Feel free to share these stories with your friends."

So here you go. Share in the nectar and thank you MitraSena Prabhu for sharing!

Mitrasena dasa(on left) a Godbrother, preacher, talented chanter/musician and sincere disciple of Srila Prabhupada
My neighbor Jaya Gaura is from the Boston area. When he was a bramachari living in the temple he got a phone call. His grandmother had been in a diabetic coma for three months and it looked very likely she wouldn't survive to the next day.

He felt badly that his grandmother had not had the opportunity to take the Lord's prasad and that he had never explained anything to her about Krishna. Jaya had read in the Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu that by wearing a flower garland offered to the Deity of Krishna, one would be relieved of all diseases, both material and spiritual. Taking a prasad flower garland of Radha Gopivallabha, the deities of the Boston ISKCON temple, he went to the hospital, praying that she would live long enough to get to take the Lord's prasad and hear a little about Him.

When he arrived at the hospital, his 5 brothers and sisters were taking turns speaking to her, saying goodbye, remembering all the nice things she had done for them.

Jaya Gaura put the garland around her and began to speak to his comatose grandmother."Grandma, I appreciate all that you have done for me. Now it is my turn to try to help you. It looks as though it is time for you to leave your body. Please understand that you are not your body, you are a spiritual being meant to serve God. When you leave this body behind, don't think of us but turn your attention and your affection to Jesus."

He spoke for some time in this way, though some of his family members were put off by his "sermon". He asked the nurses to insure that the flowers not be taken off throughout the night.

The next morning at the temple he again received a call from his mother. Grandma had woken up that morning asking where she was. She couldn't remember anything at all from those 3 months of coma except what she had heard from her grandson "John". Miraculously, she was no longer diabetic. The doctors were mystified.Jaya Gaura was able to visit her and bring her prasad sweets from the temple. Due to her diabetes she could never eat sweets before. She asked for clarification on the things he had mentioned the night before and Jaya was glad to get the chance to tell her about Krishna. After 2 weeks she died of other complications. "I got what I asked for. I should have prayed that she could come to the temple for darshan, but all I asked for was the chance for her to hear and take prasad"

Achyuta, from Russia responde, " I also had a mystical experience with my mother"
"I had become a devotee at home, cooking and offering my food. My mother didn't like my new lifestyle. I was sitting and eating, she said, " Why don't you eat my cooking? Instead you eat this %&#@!" Then she picked up the plate and threw it at me. I became so mad that I moved three thousand miles away to the temple in Latvia. For one year I didn't contact her at all. I had heard that on the Ekadasi day you can fast and chant extra, then give that credit to someone else. So I started fasting and chanting extra every Ekadasi. The next day I would pray to the deities to give that credit to my mother. When I visited home again, I found that she had become a devotee without my saying anything to her. She had been reading the books I had left behind and chanting the mantra.

From behind me Aruni took her turn. She had a friend from age 17.
After many years they met again by chance on a busy street corner. "Come to my home ", her friend said," I want to show you something"
Aruni was introduced to the Ouija board and other mystical practices. That encounter began her journey into another dimension.
7 years later, they happened to meet again on the same busy corner. By this time Aruni had become a devotee, although it was illegal at that time in Russia. She thought,"This is my friend, who knows, we may not meet again for another 7 years.
For two hours Aruni told her friend everything about Krishna and her new life as a devotee. Her friend was chanting when she left on a bus. "I felt like I'd done something"
Her friend's husband worked for the KGB. Naturally he didn't want to turn his wife in."Just don't talk on the phone about this. Don't talk with anyone about this" He advised.
A few years later Aruni got a phone call from her friend. She had a new baby, her husband was gone most of the time at work, could Aruni cook for her? Aruni was glad to take this up. The first day she brought prasad her friend's husband ate well. Aruni described he was, "Moaning, lying on the table,'What is this? It is so good!'"
She cooked for them regularly until they were able to extricate themselves from the KGB and move to Montreal. There they became active supporters of the ISKCON temple, getting lots of other Russians involved, visiting homes and holding kirtans.
"I'm glad I planted that seed" Aruni said smiling, holding her fingers as if pinching a seed.

The conversation moved to religious fanatics who say and do wild things when they meet us.
Achyuta said,"Fanatical Muslims are the worst, very dangerous."
He had been near Chechnya, delivering prasad to people on both sides of the war.
"We would make friends with them, we even got donations from the Mosques so we could keep cooking. They would say some nice things, have some good understandings, but they would want to kill people who didn't think the same way. One guy told me' I like what you say, so perhaps I should kill myself , or maybe I should kill you'. I would say, 'Why don't we eat first, then we'll discuss'. After eating prasad everything would work out OK. It would change the mood"

• Email to a friend • •

Maddy Jean-claude Durr, New Govardhana, AU: Gita Jayanti Weekend: (Part 1) Leading Up
Monday 13th, December 2010.
                The Gita Jayanti weekend was pending. We were practicing a drama for Sunday and it was starting to look possible that we would remember the five pages of lines that had been thrust upon us. In the middle of the session Partha Sarathi Prabhu called. He was coming Thursday, staying in my room, to inaugurate another Sankirtana Saturday. I confirmed that I would be ready for him Thursday, no sooner, no later.
Tuesday 14th, December 2010.
                Another call from Partha confirmed that he was coming tomorrow! Thursday was not a good day for travelling (according to our acaryas), he said, and Friday was Ekadasi (another day not recommended for travelling).
Wednesday 15th, December 2010.
                Partha Sarathi had arrived but I had not yet seen him. I had been in class all day; Bhakti Vaibhava class in the morning, Hinduism studies in the day and Bhakti Sastri in the evening. I found Partha in the reception. “What are we up to tonight?” he asked. There was a student sanga so I had no other option put to try and slip him in as a transcendental exchange student, all the way from Goloka Vrndavana.
                We crashed the College pizza party with ‘Parthy Sarathi’. It was a warming atmosphere and the sad reality for a lot of us was that, after tonight, we would not be coming together again. A lot of the Bhakti Sastri students were going back home in a week or so and this was our last official meeting. The teachers said some words and then asked the students to say something. Only a few students spoke up. I hesitated, which I soon regretted, realizing that it was the last chance to say something meaningful to everyone before they all departed.
Thursday 16th, December 2010.
                Partha Sarathi woke us up, helping us to get back on track in the sadhana section. We had fallen a little behind on that side of the game, having too much school work crammed in for the final week. We hung out with Partha and Giriraja (ie God) until the morning program. We waved goodbye to Partha as we were off for another full day of classes.
In the middle of the day, Partha and I met up again, along with the other present Vaisnavas, for a good ole fashion lunch discussion. When Partha lived in Radhadesh we had many such sangas, discussing every angle of Krsna consciousness, from the esoteric to the fiddly bits. Today we started with the first step of Krsna Consciousness, Sraddha, which led us all over and eventually to topics of Goloka Vrndavana. The whole experience was like eating Prasadam with the mouth and the ears at the same time.
Friday 17th, December 2010.
                We had our last official day of classes. We were all very loose due to the release of study pressure. We had a big Bhakti Sastri dinner in the restaurant before meeting Partha in the reception. Tonight was our sankirtana seminar. The temple was almost empty for a while; Partha was becoming a little worried. All of a sudden, within a minute or less, the whole room was packed with bright, enthusiastic faces.
Partha decided to start the whole seminar off with a drama, staring him and myself. We basically made the thing up on the spot, with no scripts and no rehearsals. It was a rendition of the Bhagavad Gita story line, played out on the book distribution. Bhakta Arjuna (Partha) was having a mental day on sankirtana so he turned to his dear friend Krsna Dasa (me) for instruction. Krsna Dasa took him through the process of book distribution and then allowed him to contemplate fully on the instructions and attempt to sell a book. Bhakta Arjuna was soon very confident after a good exchange with a passerby pedestrian (Narottama).
                We called a few devotees up for a few spontaneous book distribution skits. The goal of the players was to present the book based on the merit of the book. Gopal Hari and Lalita Mataji stepped up to the plate. Gopal Hari very nicely presented the Bhagavad Gita to Lalita, showing her different things in the book, from cover to cover. The exchange was short and sweet and Gopal Hari managed to sell the book. Next, Madhu Gopala Prabhu and Rupa Sanatana Prabhu stepped up. Madhu Gopal tried to sell the Bhagavad Gita to Rupa Sanatana, who was acting as a staunch atheist scholar. The dialogue was lengthy and philosophical; verses were quotes, sections were investigated and eventually it went overtime.
                The sankirtana seminar culminated in a free-for-all book distribution session. Partha handed half the devotees books and set them out on the remaining devotees. We hid in corners and crevices, as the fired up book distributors came in. Narottama and I were cornered by Hilary Mataji and Lalita Mataji. After a strange exchange I ended up selling Lalita’s book to Hillary for 2 cents, which flipped everything upside down. Partha called us all back and gave everyone involved in the Sankirtana Saturday experience a lovely pocket Bhagavad Gita, for reciting a chapter a day of Sanskrit to enthuse our sankirtana shakti. Everyone left with big smiles, warm feelings and excitement for the coming day, Sankirtana Saturday.

Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/gita-jayanti-weekend-part-1-leading-up]

Subscribe: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/subscribe]

• Email to a friend • •

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: FORCED TO CONCENTRATE
As stated before, we should not try to sit down and stare at the tip of our nose.

At the present moment, attempts to engage in that type of yoga are artificial.

Rather, the recommended method is chanting loudly and hearing Hare Krsna.

Then, even if the mind is diverted, it will be forced to concentrate on the sound vibration "Krsna".

It isn't necessary to withdraw the mind from everything; it will automatically be withdrawn, because it will be concentrated on the sound vibration.

If we hear an automobile pass, our attention is automatically diverted.

Similarly, if we constantly chant Hare Krsna, our mind will automatically be fixed on Krsna, although we are accustomed to think of so many other things.

- Srila Prabhupada
• Email to a friend • •

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: JEALOUS
This material world is a world of jealousy and envy. I am envious of you, and you are envious of me. The Krsna consciousness movement, however, is meant for one who is no longer jealous or envious. By becoming free from jealousy and envy, one becomes a perfect person.

Dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam (SB 1.1.2). Those who are jealous and envious are within this material world, and those who are not are in the spiritual world. Therefore, we can test ourselves. If we are jealous or envious of our friends or other associates, we are in the material world, and if we are not jealous we are in the spiritual world. There need be no doubt of whether we are spiritually advanced or not. We can test ourselves.

Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra ca (SB 11.2.42). When we eat, we can understand for ourselves whether our hunger is satisfied; we don't have to take a certificate from others. Similarly, we can test for ourselves whether we are in the material world or the spiritual world. If we are jealous or envious, we are in the material world, and if we are not we are in the spiritual world.

If one is not jealous, one can serve Krsna very well, because jealousy and envy begin with being jealous of Krsna. For example, some philosophers think, "Why should Krsna be God? I am also God." This is the beginning of material life -- to be envious of Krsna. "Why should Krsna be the enjoyer?" they think. "I shall also be the enjoyer. Why should Krsna enjoy the gopis? I shall become Krsna and make a society of gopis and enjoy." This is maya.

No one but Krsna can be the enjoyer. Krsna therefore says in Bhagavad-gita, bhoktaram yajna: [Bg. 5.29] "I am the only enjoyer." If we supply ingredients for Krsna's enjoyment, we attain the perfection of life. But if we want to imitate Krsna, thinking, "I shall become God and enjoy like Him," then we are in maya. Our natural position is to provide enjoyment for Krsna. In the spiritual world, for example, Krsna enjoys, and the gopis, the transcendental cowherd girls, supply the ingredients for Krsna's enjoyment. This is bhakti.

- Teachings of Queen Kunti 6: The Master of the Senses
• Email to a friend • •

H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Wednesday, January 5th, 2011
So Right

Toronto Ontario

As I dandered my way south on University Avenue it became apparent that despite winter overcoat robes were exposed. That cost some smiles and even nods, although most pedestrians just go about their business. The route took me by ROM (Royal Ontario Museum), then a half loop along Queen's Park, the provincial legislative building, then you pass several hospitals for cardio, cancer, and sick children up to the corner of May Pickford's bust(her birth spot) and into a medical clinic for a blood and urine testing.

My medical assistent was a woman from Guyana, and my guess was that she's Hindu. I'm sure I was her first robed patient. It showed in her surprise. "Just leave yourself bare chested, lie down and I'll be back."
"Fine,"I said.
"Is this Buddhist?" she asked.
"Hare Krishna."
"Oh yes, I was raised Catholic but I became a Hindu," she remarked.
She was pleasant as Guyanese folks usually are and our dialogue went on as time allowed. She got my invite to the temple. I was happy to have made that friend.

It was a bit daring doing the trek there and back walking on a hernia but it was painless. I looked down at my feet and reflected on what the monitor had said in the waiting room, "your feet have 25% of your body bone structure. Protect them."

Okay! I believe I've been doing that. Protect the body. Protect the soul. That sounds like a balanced equation. Keep body and soul together. I know I'm not just a body, a lump of chemicals. I'm a person, a divine spark. I'm convinced that there is this dimension otherwise devotional activities wouldn't feel right, so natural.
• Email to a friend • •

Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: African Huts Far From The Grid Glow With Renewable Power

Click here to read more from the "Beyond Fossil Fuels" series in the New York Times

As small-scale renewable energy becomes cheaper, more reliable and more efficient, it is providing the first drops of modern power to people who live far from slow-growing electricity grids and fuel pipelines in developing countries. Although dwarfed by the big renewable energy projects that many industrialized countries are embracing to rein in greenhouse gas emissions, these tiny systems are playing an epic, transformative role.
Since Ms. Ruto hooked up the system, her teenagers’ grades have improved because they have light for studying. The toddlers no longer risk burns from the smoky kerosene lamp. And each month, she saves $15 in kerosene and battery costs — and the $20 she used to spend on travel.
In fact, neighbors now pay her 20 cents to charge their phones, although that business may soon evaporate: 63 families in Kiptusuri have recently installed their own solar power systems.
“You leapfrog over the need for fixed lines,” said Adam Kendall, head of the sub-Saharan Africa power practice for McKinsey & Company, the global consulting firm. “Renewable energy becomes more and more important in less and less developed markets.”
The United Nations estimates that 1.5 billion people across the globe still live without electricity, including 85 percent of Kenyans, and that three billion still cook and heat with primitive fuels like wood or charcoal.
There is no reliable data on the spread of off-grid renewable energy on a small scale, in part because the projects are often installed by individuals or tiny nongovernmental organizations.
But Dana Younger, senior renewable energy adviser at the International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group’s private lending arm, said there was no question that the trend was accelerating. “It’s a phenomenon that’s sweeping the world; a huge number of these systems are being installed,” Mr. Younger said.
With the advent of cheap solar panels and high-efficiency LED lights, which can light a room with just 4 watts of power instead of 60, these small solar systems now deliver useful electricity at a price that even the poor can afford, he noted. “You’re seeing herders in Inner Mongolia with solar cells on top of their yurts,” Mr. Younger said.
• Email to a friend • •

Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: 24 Hour Kirtan coming to Toronto!
Ashtaprahar 2011. 1st annual 24 hour kirtan is coming to Toronto!
Just heard it will be over the Family day long weekend! February 19th to 20th, 2011...
Check out the excellent video with His Grace Aindra Prabhu's voice.

• Email to a friend • •

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Woodford Folk Festival

The Woodford Festival is creating waves in Queensland;
indeed Lord Caitanya and Lord Jagannatha are "flooding" that part of Australia with Their mercy before inundating Melbourne in February with the same impactful Ratha Yatra for the St Kilda Festival.

Blessings are pouring from there to shower us;
- a video here;
- many mentions of the Hare Krishna's 'unmissable' food in many blogs, like that one here and there;

- Kevin Rudd ecstatically dancing in front of Jagannatha's cart here...

Take your pick!

• Email to a friend • •

Gouranga TV: ISKCON Coventry Christmas 2010
ISKCON Coventry Christmas 2010

• Email to a friend • •

Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
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@gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa
• Email to a friend • •

More Recent Articles
Dandavats.com: WSN November 2010 - World Sankirtan Newsletter

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Vraja Krsna Prabhu

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Book Distribution Seminar - Vijay Prabhu

ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Darsana

H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – SB 6.2.26 Krishna Please Take My Blind Cow 12-30-2010

Click here to safely unsubscribe now from "Planet ISKCON" or change your subscription, view mailing archives or subscribe

Unsubscribe from all current and future newsletters powered by FeedBlitz

Your requested content delivery powered by FeedBlitz, LLC, 9 Thoreau Way, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA. +1.978.776.9498