viernes, 13 de agosto de 2010

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 13 August 2010--I Am My Own Worst Enemy--and--What Does Self Realization Mean?



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  1. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 13 August 2010--I Am My Own Worst Enemy--and--What Does Self Realization Mean?
  2. Doyal Gauranga dasa & Gadadhar Pandit dasa, NYC: From one body to the next....
  3. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Vaisesika das returns to Toronto!
  4. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gopa-vrndesh Prabhu
  5. Gauranga Kishore das,USA: Journey Home Book Trailer
  6. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: At Viraha Bhavan Asrama
  7. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: sannyasi's book business
  8. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 38
  9. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Consciousness of a Pure Devotee
  10. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Sastra and Poem from Old Prose Book (Take Six)
  11. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: The Patron and Protector
  12. Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Nothing Happens by Chance
  13. Book Distribution News: Nothing Happens by Chance
  14. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Jiten Bharadwaj asks
  15. Gaura Nitai das, Mayapura, IN: The Journey Home Trailer
  16. Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: 2010 Tour – only nine lives?
  17. Japa Group: I am A Struggling Sadhaka
  18. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  19. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  20. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  21. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  22. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  23. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  24. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  25. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  26. H.H. Sivarama Swami: This is really a beautiful video of this year’s LA Rathayatra
  27. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, August 8th, 2010
  28. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, August 7th, 2010
  29. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
  30. Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: At Look At Goura-Vrndavana Temple In Brazil
  31. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: CHOICE MAP
  32. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Evening bhajan on August 10th
  33. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  34. Gouranga TV: Iskcontirupati2
  35. More Recent Articles
  36. Search Planet ISKCON

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 13 August 2010--I Am My Own Worst Enemy--and--What Does Self Realization Mean?

Even though we are on the path of spiritual emancipation, because we are still coming out of material, conditioned consciousness we sometimes foolishly blame others for our spiritual deficiencies instead of taking responsibility for them ourselves. We may sometimes even go so far as to think that a particular person is my enemy and become fearful of...

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Doyal Gauranga dasa & Gadadhar Pandit dasa, NYC: From one body to the next....



Not many people are quite sure how to respond to the question "So, do you believe in reincarnation?" The idea of an eternal soul makes sense to some, but the idea of the cockroach under my sink being my great-grandmother doesn't. So how does it really work, and what is the scientific research being done on it today? Study is being done, and claimed cases of past life remembrances are being made, with some pretty tough-to-beat stories and evidence. So what to make of it? That was our discussion last week for the Bhakti Club.

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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Vaisesika das returns to Toronto!

As announced on Sunday, by the efforts of so many devotees, we have crossed the mark of distribution over 10,000 books around Toronto! This distribution of books, is always accompanied with some kirtan, prasadam and a warm smile! A huge part of this success is attributed to Vaisesika das, who in his previous visits inspired devotees to do the unthinkable!

And now, he returns to Toronto for the fourth time to continue to enliven the community as we march towards the grand goal of distributing 20,000 books! Vaisesika das, is a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada and has developed innovating models for book distribution in San Jose. He will be coming to Toronto this time with his wife, Nirakula devi dasi, who is also a disciple of Srila Prabhupada.

Vaisesika das and Nirakula devi dasi will be here in Toronto from Friday, August 13 to Monday, August 16. During their visit, there will be a variety of programs around the GTA and ofcourse, a fun book distribution (sankirtan) party!

Special Srimad Bhagavatam Class (Friday - Monday at 7:30am) by Vaisesika das and Nirakula devi dasi
Theme: Serving Srila Prabhupada's Mission Through the Grhasta Ashram (Married Life)

Friday - Setting it right - The search for a perfect match
Saturday - Getting it right - Serving Harmoniously together
Sunday - Striking the Balance on Your way to Krsna - Material/Spiritual
Monday - Seeking Shelter in Troubled Times

Sankirtan Ride in the streets of Toronto - Saturday at 11am
Program at ISKCON Brampton - Sunday at 11am
Sunday Feast at ISKCON Toronto - Sunday at 6pm featuring a rocking arati by Vaisesika das!

We hope to see you at these programs for an extended weekend of fun!


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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gopa-vrndesh Prabhu

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.22.58-59 - Either fight material dualities as a materialist does or tolerate them.

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Gauranga Kishore das,USA: Journey Home Book Trailer




makes me wonder if there is a movie in the making, how cool would that be?

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: At Viraha Bhavan Asrama

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: sannyasi's book business

This, our book distribution is the most important task in our society. Therefore I am giving so much stress and I am working so hard on this. Because this is my life and soul according to the order of my Guru Maharaja. And by his grace it is to some extent successful. And I took it seriously. I take it seriously still now. That is my life and soul. I never tried in India to construct big temples or even in your country we didn't. I never tried. But I was selling personally books. That is the history. Sometimes they are criticizing, "What kind of sannyasi? He is doing book business."

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation -- December 31, 1976, Bombay

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 38

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

3:46 A.M.

I woke to the alarm at 2:00 A.M., a little late by my calculation. I didn't get a speedy start to my rounds, and had only eight or less done by the time Narayana came up at 2:30 to wake the Deities. After that, seeing the clock was moving so fast, I rushed my rounds. I've gotten over 12 done now. It was not the best of sessions. My mind didn't wander much to other things, but I wasn't chanting with a fervor that's desirable for japa-yajna. I strive to improve, I strive to improve. I ask myself, "What will it take to make a quantum leap and chant much better? Will I have to see the fear of death before I call out to Krishna? Why can't I do it in the calmness of the early hour when I rise in peace? This is actually the best situation, when I am alone with Krishna and there is no disturbance. The other inmates in the house are also up early, chanting in their rooms, and I have a camaraderie with them. We don't have to chant in the same room to know that we're all doing it, all calling out to Radha and Krishna in the brahma-muhurta. It is the best time and situation, and so I am a little disappointed that I am not doing better. And always hope that I will do better tomorrow, and why not think that way? "Hope springs eternal within the human breast."

Rushing chanting isn't bad
as long as you don't
overdo it and become
a mindless race car.
Being aware that the clock
moves quickly, and the
numerical count moves slowly,
you step on the accelerator
and uttered the holy names
quickly. It is better
than lethargic drowse.
So I move with speed
from one 32-syllable
mantra to the next
but careful not to slur
them but to say them
clearly, rushing to
reach my Lord.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Consciousness of a Pure Devotee

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

Prabhupada Smaranam

Prabhupada looks beautiful as he sits relaxed in a car holding a bouquet of flowers delicately in his left hand. He is surrounded by his admirers, who are lucky to accompany him for this car ride. Where are they going? Is his driver going to take him to a place for a morning walk? Is he going out for a lecture engagement? Is he going to look at some property? Is he going to visit an honored host? These would be the typical adventures to explain this scene. Whatever the event, he is self-controlled and Krishna conscious, going somewhere to carry out the order of his spiritual master.  Prabhupada was 100% fixed on that order and never went anywhere or did anything contrary to his mission.

His driver is not present, and he is waiting for him. But he better not be detained for long, because Prabhupada is very regulated and wants to do everything right on schedule. For the time being he is peacefully waiting, looking relaxed and at ease.

The pure devotee never wastes a minute. He is never vacant. He is always thinking of Krishna and serving Him in the manifestations of the material nature or in His spiritual energy. He is immersed in the pastimes of the Lord, perhaps thinking of his presentation of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Or he is thinking of ways to maintain and expand the worldwide mission of the Hare Krishna movement. He may be in a simple reverie of Krishna's omnipresence. It is said that no one knows the mind of the Vaisnava, but at least we know that he is living in consciousness of Krishna, in love.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Sastra and Poem from Old Prose Book (Take Six)

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

1.
A favorite pastime of Krishna
is the lifting of Govardhana Hill.
Indra was angry that Krishna
had stopped his yajna, and he
sent the clouds of devastation
to flood Vrndavana. But
seven-year-old Krishna lifted
the Govardhana Hill on the tip of
His left hand and told
all the residents to come
under and take shelter.
Indra was terrified and
later apologized.

2.
One of the poems from an
old book comes from
Under Dark Stars and is
almost incomprehensible.
It goes like this:
"Slugging away, we went to lower altitude
to save the grunts,
but planes have to stay high due to so much
dust up there on the deck and the land.

"I can explain. Extra should be disloyal.
You just have two hours in his case
and I understand the American nuke,
how did you get so far away
from the bad places?

"He forgot Krishna. He was 26, bumbling, he was
turning to intimacy, chant young boy,
crop up enriching all the gents.
Who was playing with him? Christian.
You can travel. You can do what you want, grant
your life, ask
someone to rub your arm and your neck
and say it's not raining, it's okay, it makes me feel better.
Justin didn't think so
Because God had won
that to meet you rather than me.
Serve than me, try you
Ouch, I don't yet get the picture."

3.
What does it mean?
There are some key words
that make it clear, like, "He
forgot Krishna. He was 26, bumbling"
You can take these clear words and
eliminate the others?
No, let the others remain because they
come in experimentation and they
have some meaning.
"Because God had won."
I don't know what to say
about the plane coming down
to save the grunts; it's
a picture of war and action.
Life is incomprehensible.
I expressed that:
"Ouch, I don't yet get the picture."
I was striving to make
the inchoate make some sense.
These words were coming to me
as poesy and I had to
accept them.
"Chant young boy,
crop up endearing all the gents."
Those lines are so good that
if I had to write all the
incomprehensible words to get them,
it was worth it. They jump
out as valuable out of the
surrounding unclarity.
That's my defense.
I somehow like them.
They can take you for a ride.
This is an example of
an extreme unclear one.

4.
Maybe ten years ago I
was sitting in a rare meeting
with Mandalesvara Prabhu
and he said his favorite pastime
in the Krishna book was the
subduing of the Kaliya serpent.
This was during the time I was
studying the rasika sections and
I thought, "Oh, he should have
picked from the five chapters of
the rasa dance." I thought I
knew better, but now I
prefer Prabhupada saying all the
chapters are absolute, we
should not neglect a chapter.

Kaliya was poisoning the lake. Even
if a bird flew over, it would
die. Krishna dove in and challenged
the serpent. He got caught in
his coils and all the residents of
Vraja wanted to die (Ravindra
once said it is similar to the
crucifixion). Krishna danced upon
Kaliya's hoods, causing him to
almost die. (I just got
interrupted in this poem
by Baladeva from Trinidad asking me
if I want my letters
printed out. What a
botheration! He's like
the man from Porlock
who came to interrupt
Coleridge's Kubla Khan.)
Now I've lost my
train of thought. Something about Kaliya
and the prayers of his wives.
It is a very nice
pastime. The gopi chapters are considered
topmost, but you
shouldn't leave out
the others.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: The Patron and Protector

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

Healing House

Sacisuta Prabhu is the patron and protector of the Healing House neighborhood. He is married to Keli-lalita, and they have three children: the oldest girl, 13, the middle girl, 11, and the youngest son, 7. He is the owner of the "Equal Vision" record label, which has 90 employees. He was born Steve Reddy in Fort Plains, New York. He was the youngest child in a family of two older brothers and an older sister. When his sister learned that the latest baby was a boy, she smashed a lamp in anger. His older brother had already moved out of the house before he was born, so his childhood was "all right" but somewhat lonely. He liked to play sports, and they had a good front yard where local kids would gather. He was not a good teenager. He started drinking, fighting, and even wound up at the police station on occasion. But in his second year at college (at SUNY Albany) he got into the punk rock movement, and they don't drink. He was not a musician but liked the aggression and message of the music and helped put on music events. He traveled on the road with a rock band, "Youth of Today." He dropped out of college in his fourth year. He went on tour with "Youth of Today," and he and a singer in the group would stop in and visit Hare Krishna temples wherever there was one.

When he got back from the tour, he joined the Brooklyn ISKCON temple. There he met Balabhadra Prabhu, who interested him in the "Adopt-A-Cow" program. Steve said he had lived on farms, and Balabhadra told him about Gita Nagari. Against the advice of the temple commander at the Brooklyn temple, Steve moved to Gita Nagari. He stayed there for four years and worked with the oxen. But when there was a change in farm management, he started disagreeing and disliking the new manager. He  left the farm, and eventually got into the record business. He met his wife-to-be in the Brooklyn temple. He worked with a musician named Raghunatha and bought the record label "Equal Vision" from him. There were two bands working for the label, "Shelter" and "108." Steve got married in a hay-bale wedding at Gita Nagari, and his wife, Keli-lalita, took up playing heavy metal guitar for the group "108." They moved into a "halfway house"—a place for young people interested in but not fully committed to Krishna consciousness—in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. Life was fun there, but when his wife became pregnant, he felt it was incompatible. He purchased his present home in Stuyvesant Falls, New York, and raised a family and developed his business.

"Equal Vision" was small for a long time. His business operates by signing a band to a contract, agreeing to work for a while, paying them royalties and promoting their record. He was the only employee for five or six years. Then he hired some smart, dedicated people. The biggest aspect of their business is manufacturing T-shirts advertising the bands. He sells 40,000 different shirts. At present, he is gearing up for back-to-school sales. Every kid wants to wear a cool T-shirt of his favorite band on the first day of school.

Saci is a family man and fond of physical fitness and sports. Because he owns his own business, he can give his family's needs priority. All of his children are interested in sports. His wife teaches yoga. Saci is a generous and sweet person, and he helps his friends. He bought houses next to his own for Mother Kaulini and Satsvarupa Maharaja, who have health problems and need to live in one place. The recession has hit his business, but by working harder, hiring more bands and producing more T-shirts, he is not suffering badly economically. Krishna is protecting him.

Saci is going through growing pains with his 13-year-old daughter, also named Kaulini. He recently chauffeured her and five of her friends to a rock concert. She ordered him not to talk in the car, and when they arrived at the concert he had to stand apart from them. This is because Kaulini doesn't think her dad is "cool." With his tattoos, developed body and rock-band background, he is about the coolest dad you could imagine. But he said he is being made humble and Krishna conscious by his daughter's attitude. "I'm serving selflessly. With no gratification for myself." He said he'd like to dance at the concert, but he's not allowed.

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Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Nothing Happens by Chance

Here are a couple of interesting exchanges I had on book distribution in Australia . . .

In Perth I walked up to a house and saw a man sitting on a low brick fence by his driveway and holding a half-empty beer can. I walked straight up to him (wearing dhoti and kurta) and told him I was showing everyone some books on inner peace. As he spoke I could see a lot of anguish on his face. He asked if what I do made me happy. I said yes, especially the meditation we practice. He looked at the SSR I was showing him and said he liked this sort of book and would have a look at it. Then he opened up to me and told me he'd been a sniper in Afghanistan for ten years and had returned to Australia a year ago to see his family for Christmas, whom he hadn't seen all that time. Just before he was able to see them, his mother, father, brother, and sister -- all his immediate family -- were killed in a car accident. He said now he was trying to clean up his act and tolerate the emotional pain he felt due to both the death of his family and all the killing he'd done in Afghanistan (he felt especially guilty about accidently killing a five-year-old boy). He'd become a vegetarian and was growing veggies in his garden. He gave a donation and said he'd try reading the book.

At the next house I was greeted at the door by a young chirpy boy. I asked him if his parents were home, and he said they were and went and to get them. When they came to the door, I showed them the book and told them it was about peace. They said to me, "Sorry, we're not interested," and began to shut the door.

Just then the boy, who couldn't have been more than ten, grabbed the book from me and said to his parents, "I'd like the book." He was really serious about it. His parents, seeing his mood and wanting to please him, said OK and asked me how much it cost. I told them and started showing the boy what was in the book. He said he believed in karma and reincarnation, and the more I showed him the more enthusiastic he became. I told him he was continuing his interest in these things from a past life, and he and his mom agreed.

In fact, now his mom was also showing a lot of interest and was confirming to me how her son had always been very spiritually minded. I showed him the "Higher Taste" cookbook and he wanted that too. So Mom went and got some more money to give me. Then she told me that just a day earlier they'd returned from Italy, where she'd pointed out to her son some Hare Krishnas walking down the street. I said, "Nothing happens by chance, does it?" They were really in ecstasy now, and we parted with big smiles on our faces. I gave them the details of how to stay in touch if they wanted.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya ! Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ki jaya !

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Book Distribution News: Nothing Happens by Chance

Here are a couple of interesting exchanges I had on book distribution in Australia . . .

In Perth I walked up to a house and saw a man sitting on a low brick fence by his driveway and holding a half-empty beer can. I walked straight up to him (wearing dhoti and kurta) and told him I was showing everyone some books on inner peace. As he spoke I could see a lot of anguish on his face. He asked if what I do made me happy. I said yes, especially the meditation we practice. He looked at the SSR I was showing him and said he liked this sort of book and would have a look at it. Then he opened up to me and told me he'd been a sniper in Afghanistan for ten years and had returned to Australia a year ago to see his family for Christmas, whom he hadn't seen all that time. Just before he was able to see them, his mother, father, brother, and sister -- all his immediate family -- were killed in a car accident. He said now he was trying to clean up his act and tolerate the emotional pain he felt due to both the death of his family and all the killing he'd done in Afghanistan (he felt especially guilty about accidently killing a five-year-old boy). He'd become a vegetarian and was growing veggies in his garden. He gave a donation and said he'd try reading the book.

At the next house I was greeted at the door by a young chirpy boy. I asked him if his parents were home, and he said they were and went and to get them. When they came to the door, I showed them the book and told them it was about peace. They said to me, "Sorry, we're not interested," and began to shut the door.

Just then the boy, who couldn't have been more than ten, grabbed the book from me and said to his parents, "I'd like the book." He was really serious about it. His parents, seeing his mood and wanting to please him, said OK and asked me how much it cost. I told them and started showing the boy what was in the book. He said he believed in karma and reincarnation, and the more I showed him the more enthusiastic he became. I told him he was continuing his interest in these things from a past life, and he and his mom agreed.

In fact, now his mom was also showing a lot of interest and was confirming to me how her son had always been very spiritually minded. I showed him the "Higher Taste" cookbook and he wanted that too. So Mom went and got some more money to give me. Then she told me that just a day earlier they'd returned from Italy, where she'd pointed out to her son some Hare Krishnas walking down the street. I said, "Nothing happens by chance, does it?" They were really in ecstasy now, and we parted with big smiles on our faces. I gave them the details of how to stay in touch if they wanted.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya ! Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ki jaya !

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Jiten Bharadwaj asks

“I work for Microsoft India in sales. The challenge I face is that to maintain my salary I have to manifest positive aspirational thoughts towards attracting material energy however Krishna consciousness does subdue rajas bhava, and I find it very conflicting to aspire for material energy but also try to follow Krishna consciousness. What is your advice to achieve a balance?”

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Gaura Nitai das, Mayapura, IN: The Journey Home Trailer

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Hari Sauri das, Mayapura, IN: 2010 Tour – only nine lives?

We drove back up from Split to Zagreb on May 13, arriving in the late afternoon. The devotees were out on hari-nama so I was free for the evening.

Next morning I was flying to London and Bhakta Marko Jirasek volunteered to drive me to the airport.

Bhakta Marko making me feel at home in Zagreb

As we loaded my luggage into his car at the side of the temple we were joined by two kittens.

I saw them disappear under the car and just before we set off I asked Marko to check to make they weren’t still underneath. One of them popped up in front when the motor started and Marko assured me, “Don’t worry, they are clear.”

So we set off. We got half a kilometer down the hill when we heard a muffled sound coming from the back of the car. We both turned and looked at each other. “Did that sound like a cat?”

Marko stopped the car and went round the back, peering underneath. Sure enough, one of our little friends had somehow lodged itself up in the wheel arch and obviously got stuck when we drove off. Amazing how it found any space, and how it managed to not fall out under the wheel.  Marko reached under and extracted it, a bit frightened

but none the worse for its little excursion.

As he trudged up the hill to deposit it back in the temple car park I thought about the famous saying that cats have nine lives, for their almost miraculous ability to survive life threatening situations.

And then I thought, “Well, actually cats have millions of lives, just like everyone else. Everyone dies, even cats.

Nothing special in having many lives. What’s special is in ending them.”

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Japa Group: I am A Struggling Sadhaka


Haridas some times tells me that I under estimate my chanting and that I'm actually a better chanter than I say I am. But I think what you see is what you are. I am a struggling sad­haka who chants, at best, with attention to the holy names. Narottama dasa Thakura sings in his lamentation mood that he does not think of Radha and Krishna or Lord Caitanya.

From Bhajan Kutir #37

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1965 August 12:
"To start for U.S.A. by MV. Jaladuta from Calcutta port (King George's Dockyard)"
Prabhupada Journal :: 1965

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 August 12: "Just on Saturday, several devotees have arrived to practice together as our Sankirtana party, then they will all go to London and begin preparations for our center there. We are going to try to make London as successful a venture as Krishna desires."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 August 12: "In the midst of your heavy duties go on writing something glorifying the Lord and put our philosophy into words. Writing articles means to express oneself how he is understanding the whole philosophy. So this writing is necessary for everyone."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 August 12: "If Indira Gandhi is not available, then forget this program. If it is not possible, then there should be no ceremony. But she has not flatly denied us. She said if she is on the Bengal side she would come. So find out the date when she will be on that side."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 August 12: "So you all have been trained up under the expert guidance of Visnujana Swami. Stay fit in spiritual life by strictly following. If you will follow faithfully then your going back to home back to Godhead will be certain."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 August 12: "I don't think that the coupon program will be very successful. It is a long term business. You will need 1100 men to collect 1100 rupees but if you convince one life member then that 1100 Rs. is already there."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 August 12: "GBC does not mean to control a center. GBC means to see that the activities of a center go on nicely. I do not know why Tamala is exercising absolute authority. He should not do like that."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 August 12: "We are in the experimental stage. The GBC men cannot impose anything. A GBC member cannot go beyond the jurisdiction of his power. At the next meet the GBC members should form a constitution."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: This is really a beautiful video of this year’s LA Rathayatra


LA Ratha Yatra 2010 from Prananatha Das on Vimeo.

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, August 8th, 2010

Step Up!

Toronto, Ontario

A planned walk with members of Urban Edge Yoga Studio was cancelled because of rain. In its place organizers set up an ad for talk about trans-country walking. It was my call as no one else in the studio had actually walked Canada's length and breadth- at least, not yet.

What I was trying to convey the most out of the talk was the need to go inward and to put mundane endeavours as not the priority. To quote one cyclist, a 65 year old man from Winnipeg whom I met in 1996 "It's people like you and I who can manage to do this." He was referring to monks and retirees who can give their time to such projects as taking the simple life seriously.

I suspected that in the studio the audience of about twenty were almost all singles. It's the singles who also have a better eligibility to execute feats such as trekking a vast land. In reality few people eligible or not step forward when such an opportunity arises. At least the listeners had the chance to dream away and perhaps swallow a small does of reality in the form of taking time for the self.

If individuality is at all important to a person then walking is the function that permits someone to be or see who they really are. The solitude and the happy rhythm that comes with walking and above all the "humbling" it invokes brings out so much of yourself.

So, the message was increased on the mobility and step up the humility.

10 KM

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, August 7th, 2010

Kids and What They Are

Milton, Ontario

Children are innocent but they are not angels. I was asked to do a presentation for an hour to twenty-five camping kids. I moved them through a gallery of paintings depicting the life of Krishna. I was explaining the details of each picture. At one depiction three kids from the group had their attention diverted. One of them climbed on top of a table in the room while the other two leaned on. The table ended up collapsing during my presentation. The kids quickly cleared away from their.

I demanded to know who was responsible for the mishap. I didn't raise my voice. I was careful not to demonstrate anger. Still there was no response.

Everyone there was well aware that this was not a mystical experience. Someone or somebodies were guilty of the incident. No volunteer came forward.

Being a monk and a life-long celibate I cannot claim to know all about children but one thing that does surface when dealing with such adorable kids is that they are innocent, frivolous but not pure. They carry over "stuff" from their previous lives. We cannot hold this against them. We were all there before.

We never did find out who was the culprit but the point is made. We are all born with some vice and we all have a chance to make good in this life attempting to alleviate anything in our character as adults.

I spent the afternoon at Kelso Lake at the Niagara escarpment with members of our Brampton community. A picnic is what it became with a walk added on. A steep climb on a trail made a baby stroller a challenge. Yes indeed it was a day with young families and kids.

5 KM

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010

Forgive! Forget!

Toronto, Ontario

The sun and humidity continues to be brutal. It will be hard to forgive the actions of the sun which blazes and pulls moisture to be suspended in the air rather than leaving comfortable deposits on the ground. I was informed that at least 16 states in America have declared heat warnings.

I have learned to respect the relentless sun by dodging it like respecting the bear by staying out of it's way. Even with walking I chose early morning or later evening as times for those daily ventures. I have come to that conclusion-"respect from a distance."

If you have been "burnt" by the sun, as in sun burn then forgive and forget. To forgive is divine. What other option is there?

Two quotes from our guru, Srila Prabhupada on the subject of forgiveness are as follows:

"It is said that the beauty of tapasvi, or saintly person, is forgiveness." (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.6.48)

"Ksama, tolerance and forgiveness, should be practiced; one should be tolerant and excuse the minor offenses of others." (Bhagavad Gita)

Dealing with the sun is one thing but handling people is another. If we have committed a mistake and hurt someone don't we wish to be forgiven? The benefit behind forgiveness is that it increases the opportunities for open-ness and communication. It takes off a heavy weight.

Two more:

"To get freedom from anger, one should learn how to forgive." (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.27)

Whatever is done is done; the main thing is we must not carry grudges or continue to quarrel amongst one another." (A letter)

4 KM

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Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: At Look At Goura-Vrndavana Temple In Brazil

By Madhava Smullen on 31 Jul 2010
from ISKCON News
The new temple in Goura-Vrindavana

Name: Goura-Vrindavana Farm

Address: Rod. Rio-Santos BR 101, Km 558, Graúna - Paraty RJ CEP 23970-000

Phone: +55 24 9962 5262 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +55 24 9962 5262 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Websites: http://goura.com.br, http://www.dharmashala.com.br/

Presiding Deities: Small deities of Pancha Tattva, Gaura Nitai, and Radha Krishna, as well as salagrama silas and govardhana silas. Large deities of Radha Vrindavana Chandra and Gaura Nitai will be installed in 2011.

President: Achyutananda Dasa.

Established in: 1983.

Temple Style: Current temple is a room used for worship in the community's ashram. A new temple, stone-built with an oriental roof, will open in 2011.

Location: An 800-hectare farm in the middle of the Atlantic Rainforest, the largest forest reserve in Brazil. Since it extends all the way to the ocean, it is richer in plant life than the Amazon Rainforest. The ISKCON community is in Paraty, located between Brazil's two largest cities, Rio De Janeior and Sao Paulo, and three-and-a-half hours' drive from each.

Distinctive food offerings: Dried bananas grown on the farm and dried in the community's own factory. And local roots Mandioca (also known as Cassava root) and Imhame, a kind of yam, also grown on the farm.

Number of residents: Twenty.

Number of visitors: Around seventy people visit to attend retreats every month.

Best time of year to visit: April to September, for a drier, more comfortable climate.

Goura Vrindavana was born back in 1983, when two devotee brothers, Setukara Dasa and Arcana Marya Dasa, bought a piece of land in Paraty. Other devotees began to move to the location and buy neighboring plots, adding to the original one. The community grew. But it wasn't until 1998, when Purushatraya Swami joined the project, that it began to develop into a major ISKCON project.

Using his years of experience running other farms in Brazil and India, he divided the project into different departments and assigned each devotee a responsibility. His vision was for the farm to be financially sustainable on its own, rather than relying on donations or any outside source. Only once major progress had been made in that area did he plan to build a temple and worship Deities.

Today, his plan is perfectly on track.

Goura-Vrindavana has become financially self-sufficient through two ingenious initiatives: a guesthouse, and its very own dried banana factory.

"We have a banana plantation, and we grow, collect and dry the bananas ourselves," explains president Achyutananda Dasa. "We then sell them to many stores in Rio De Janeiro and other cities, and they distribute them.

"Our guest house, Dharmashala, also brings us income, as people interested in eco-villages come and rent a room for some time, while they learn about simple-living and explore the beautiful forest and waterfalls. We also have a yoga studio which different yoga instructors from all over the country rent for retreats. Many of the people attending these are very receptive to Krishna consciousness—they go to the temple, listen to the classes and kirtan, and eat sanctified vegetarian food."

The Goura-Vrindavana farm also produces nearly all of its own energy—the public area of the community is powered by a hydroelectric mill in a nearby river, with only families' private homes using local electrical services.

"We are not one hundred per cent self-sufficient food-wise, because there are some things we cannot plant here, but we're close," Achyutananda says. "The devotees, and a few employees, plant sweet potatoes, carrots, zucchini, many herbs, and local roots such as Mandioca—which is also known as Cassava root—and Imhame, a kind of yam. We also grow fruit like papayas, oranges, bananas, and avocados."

The community completely eschews use of machines—all farming is done by hand or with the assistance of bullock carts. Some fruit, such as lemon, jackfruit, peaches and berries grow naturally in the surrounding forest, and can simply be collected.

Until now, the community has been worshipping very small, uninstalled deities of Radha Krishna, Pancha-Tattva, and Gaura Nitai. But with this steady foundation of self-sufficiency in place, devotees began building a new temple in 2007. They plan to inaugurate it, with large installed deities of Radha Vrindavana-chandra and Gaura Nitai, in 2011.

"The temple will be 100 square metres, built all in stone, and feature an oriental-style roof," says Achyutananda. "It will have four rooms and a kitchen to be used by the priests, and there will be a large area around it where we will plant fruits for the deities."

The devotees at Goura-Vrindavana plan to keep increasing their sustainable income in the future by selling natural self-made products such as sugarcane molasses, and to improve tourism and access roads. They also plan to build a gurukula school for their children. But in the meantime, it's already one of the most unique temples in ISKCON and an exciting place to visit.

"Goura Vrindavan is a spiritual and ecological sanctuary—a place where you can experience peace and quiet, go deep into spiritual practice, and explore the raw nature and beautiful waterfalls," Achyutanda says. "And of course, it's the only ISKCON temple right in the middle of the rainforest!"


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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: CHOICE MAP



Click on the image to enlarge.








Here you can learn how to use the map:
www.scribd.com/doc/28337985/Change-Your-Questions-Change-Your-Life

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Evening bhajan on August 10th

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H.H. Sivarama Swami

Therefore there is no need to seek properly qualified candidates for discharging devotional service to the Lord. Let them be either well behaved or ill trained, let them be either learned or fools, let them be either grossly attached or in the renounced order of life, let them be liberated souls or desirous of salvation, let them be inexpert in the discharge of devotional service or expert in the same, all of them can be elevated to the supreme position by discharging devotional service under the proper guidance.

- Srila Prabhupada

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Gouranga TV: Iskcontirupati2

Iskcontirupati2

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