viernes, 25 de febrero de 2011

Kirtan Australia.com: Sri Prahlada’s Kirtan Concerts: Jan-May 2011



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  1. Kirtan Australia.com: Sri Prahlada’s Kirtan Concerts: Jan-May 2011
  2. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class -Parividha Prabhu
  3. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 25 February 2011--Always Happy in Krishna Consciousness--and--Excessive Krishna Consciousness?
  4. Kirtan Australia.com: Sri Prahlada & Havan with Swami Shankardev
  5. Vraja Kishor, JP: Grow Up, World
  6. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Photos – Vrindavan March 2010
  7. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday, February 20, 2011
  8. Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Two Yoga Retreats with Laurent Dauzou in Pandavas Paradise
  9. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Apron Front Sinks From Across The Pond : The Belfast & The London
  10. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
  11. Japa Group: Very Quickly Purify Your Existence
  12. Australian News: Classic ISKCON Vinyl – Visnujana Swami and the Children of the Gurukula
  13. Sutapa das, BV Manor, UK: The ‘Real’ World
  14. Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: India’s Renewable Future: Challenges and Prospects
  15. New Vrndavan, USA: Signing Gas Leases to Help Protect Our Water Supply
  16. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  17. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  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. Dandavats.com: Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Radhanath Swami - Disapp HH Gour Govinda Swami
  25. Dandavats.com: Tapping into Sridhama Mayapur’s Potency
  26. Dandavats.com: There is a flower in my cosmos
  27. Dandavats.com: Christchurch Quake Destroys Deities and Temple Beyond Repair
  28. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Animal slaughter equals Social Unrest. The U.N. and U.S.Fed Chair, Bernanke back it up...
  29. Mayapur Online: HH Jayapataka Swami's invitation for Navadvip Mandala Parikrama
  30. Bhakta Eric, Seattle, USA: Classic ISKCON Vinyl – Visnujana Swami and the Children of the Gurukula 7″
  31. Mayapur Online: Srimad Bhagavatam Class- Live from Mayapur
  32. Dandavats.com: Some thoughts about the GBC agenda topic: The GBC is the ultimate managing authority”
  33. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: WHY CHANT HARE KRISHNA?
  34. H.H. Sivarama Swami: One topic on the GBC agenda is what Srila Prabhupada meant when he said “The GBC is the ultimate managing authority.”
  35. Mayapur Online: Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura- Appearance day lecture
  36. David Haslam, UK: HG Kripa Moya Dasa Class now in MP3 format
  37. Japa Group: Do You Have Love For It
  38. David Haslam, UK: Class By Kripa Moya Das
  39. Dandavats.com: Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami
  40. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2011
  41. Dandavats.com: Welcome to Mathura
  42. Dandavats.com: Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Influence On The Establishment And Development Of Iskcon
  43. Dandavats.com: Hare Krishnas and Chaitanya College at Croome Park Worcester published by the National Trust(c) 2010
  44. Dandavats.com: Please mark your calendar - March 20, 2011
  45. Gouranga TV: Aindra – Hare Krishna kirtan – ISKCON Mayapur 2007
  46. Dandavats.com: Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Bhakti Raghava Swami
  47. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 230
  48. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Poem, February 23
  49. Vraja Kishor, JP: Lyrics to Padabali Kirtan
  50. Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: For Devotees traveling by train to Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals
  51. Book Distribution News: For Devotees traveling by train to Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals
  52. More Recent Articles
  53. Search Planet ISKCON
  54. Prior Mailing Archive

Kirtan Australia.com: Sri Prahlada’s Kirtan Concerts: Jan-May 2011

Sri Prahlada’s calendar is already booking up for 2011 with many concerts scheduled in or around the Sydney area. More details of the following events will be provided nearer to the dates.

Date: Place: Artists:
22-23 of January, Saturday & Sunday 40hr Kirtan ISKCON Sydney www.iskcon.com.au Sri Prahalda, Gaura Vani, Carmella Baine and others
26-27 of January Wednesday & Thursday Big Day Out, Sydney, Lilyworld Stage www.lilyworld.com.au Sri Prahlada
19 February Saturday
6:30 PM
$10 cover charge, includes dinner
Govindas Lotus Room Sri Prahlada
5 of March Saturday
Time: 5.30pm – 8.00pm
Qi Yoga
Freshwater, 2 Moore Road (Cnr Albert Street) Freshwater, Sydney 2096
Investment: $25
Bookings: 9977 4725 info@manlyyoga.com.au
Sri Prahalda
26 of March Saturday Earth Hour ISKCON Sydney www.iskcon.com.au Sri Prahlada & Carmella Baynie
2 of April Saturday Manly Yoga www.manlyyoga.com.au Madhava & Sri Prahlada
27-29 of April Akhand kirtan
Satyananda Yoga at Mangrove Mountain
www.satyananda.net
Sri Prahlada & many other kirtan performers
7 of May Manly Yoga www.manlyyoga.com.au Sri Prahlada
21-22 of May ISKCON’s 40th anniversary ISKCON Sydney www.iskcon.com.au Sri Prahlada, Carmella Baynie & others
27-29 of May Akhand Kirtan Satyananda Yoga at Mangrove Mountain www.satyananda.net Sri Prahlada, Carmella Baynie & others

http://sriprahlada.com/events

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class -Parividha Prabhu

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.31.13-22 - We can develop attraction for Krsna just by hearing His glories like Rukmini who heard glories of Krsna from Narada Muni.

 
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 25 February 2011--Always Happy in Krishna Consciousness--and--Excessive Krishna Consciousness?

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course(tm) Friday 25 February 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. 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. Today's Thought: Always Happy in Krishna Consciousness Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA No matter what transpires in the devotee's daily life, he remains steady in rendering service to his spiritual master and Krishna. In this way, no matter what happens in this material world the devotee is always happy in Krishna consciousness and is the most powerful, successful, and wealthy person in this world. His opulence is his Krishna consciousness. He does not depend on material circumstances for his happiness. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Blissful Vishnupriya Mataji (wife of Sankarshan Das Adhikari) Teaching the Science of Krishna Consciousness http://www.backtohome.com/images/vishnupriya.JPG Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: Excessive Krishna Consciousness? Gurudeva, Please accept my obeisances. Please guide me. It is said that excess of everything is bad. Is it true in case of devotional service to Lord Krishna? Ravi Answer: There Is No Such Thing. The principle excess is bad applies only to material things. There is no such thing as having too much Krishna consciousness. No matter how much Krishna consciousness a devotee has, he always wants more. No matter how much he renders service to Krishna, the devotee is always greedy for more and more service. 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 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:

 
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Kirtan Australia.com: Sri Prahlada & Havan with Swami Shankardev

Kirtan with Sri Prahlada & Havan with Swami Shankardev
When: Saturday 5th March 2011
Time: 5.30pm – 8.00pm
Where: Qi Yoga Freshwater, 2 Moore Road (Cnr Albert Street) Freshwater, Sydney 2096
Cost: $20 prepaid by Tues 1st March, Full fee $25
Bookings: 9977 4725 info@manlyyoga.com.au

Join your yoga community for an uplifting and inspiring evening of mantra, chanting, spiritual stories and kirtan. We guarantee you will leave the kirtan evening feeling happy, light, openhearted connected with yourself and connected with others.

Sri Prahlada has been singing and playing kirtan all over the world for most of his life. He has performed kirtan in traditional, as well as rock and reggae styles before audiences of tens of thousands. Along with the likes of Krishna Das and Jai Uttal, he features in Steven Rosen’s book “The Yoga of Kirtan”. Sri Prahlada’s heart and soul permeates every moment of every kirtan he sings, transporting you to the realm of spiritual consciousness.

Dr Swami Shankardev is an eminent medical doctor, yoga Acharya (authority), yoga therapist, internationally acclaimed author and teacher and co- founder of online yoga learning “Big Shakti”
Shankardev is expert in leading and conducting havans in the ancient Vedic tradition. He has the ability to impart his knowledge and understanding of complex esoteric concepts like havan with simplicity, humour, compassion and ease.

Program
5.30pm Havan with Swami Shankardev 6.15pm Kirtan with Sri Prahlada and the Bhakti Band
www.sriprahlada.com
www.bigshakti.com.au
www.manlyyoga.com.au

 
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Vraja Kishor, JP: Grow Up, World

Gay Pride Amsterdam 2008

Image by FaceMePLS via Flickr

You would think that having grown a bit past the age of, say, 14 the fascination with the anatomy of our bodies would wear off. But for the vast majority of human society – perhaps for the vast majority within the individual consciousness of each and every one of us – this just doesn’t happen.

Men keep on being obsessed with the discovery that they are men, and showing it to the world by flexing their muscles. Women keep on being obsessed with the discovery that they are women, and showing it to the world by posing and primping and bearing their nipples.

I don’t know – shouldn’t this behavior have worn off on us a bit after we really discovered our genders? You know say, 13 years old? Maybe 14. OK maybe 16 or even 18? No?

There are far too many people sticking their tits in the public eye. Yeah, yeah – it’s not always naked tits. But it always boils down to tits. Tits and Ass. It’s as if that not only defines the womanliness of woman bearing them, but also defines the manliness of the man drooling over them. It’s just too much. Every time we see it, it pulls us backward. De-evolves us. Pulls us back to puberty.

Seriously, puberty was pretty fucked up. I’d rather move on.

We have a human society on Earth right now of 20, 30, 40, 50, even 60 year old teenagers. And the 70 years olds pass their short remaining time just lamenting that they are not 40 any more – those where the days when they could still pull off imitating the teenagers showing their beautiful new tits and lusting over them with their newly functional mainly muscle.

I’m not calling anyone evil or a devil. I am an evil devil. Hell, for a while I even earned a living helping people broadcast tits. I am not preaching, just speaking up. Having been on all sides of the spectrum from the monastery to the tits-industry and having seen it all my conclusion is that it is really not a good thing for humanity to keep teenage hormones going for 50 years.

Besides being “not good” it is really boring. Sex is awesome, I can agree with that. But we are not even exploring sex in a grown up way! What to speak of exploring anything beyond the realm of physical pleasures and gratifications. It is boring, it makes for a very boring society – for anyone who doesn’t have a pile of hormones kicked into turbo mode by viagra or whatever. We need more art, science, music, philosophy, dance, and culture that is not centered on newly discovering or rediscovering our basic gender anatomies.

ISKCON desire tree - Radha and Krishna Dance T...

Image by ISKCON desire tree via Flickr

In a way, our inability to grow past puberty speaks to the profound magnitude of the pull exerted on our psyche by what is originally the parakiya-ujjvala-rasa of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. The fascination with lawless unbounded new idyllic discovery of erotic romance is a thirst fundamental to the spiritual substance of who and what we really are at our highest height of purity! Yet the tree of reality reflected on the pond of illusion winds up being upside down – roots up  and branches down, or “legs up heads down” to put it in a vulgar way. That which is in reality the highest branch of the most enlightening and liberating thing – the parakiya-ujjvala-rasa of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna, the original cause of our facination with being men and women – when reflected on the pond of illusion, becomes the lowest part of the image.

By “low” I mean, retrogressive, de-evolved, un-special, base, and not-that-great.

The real medicine to this boring zombie-teenage culture we have is more art, science, dance, music, and culture that discovers and rediscovers the transcendental love affairs of the divine couple. Meanwhile, “enjoy” Lady Gaga and the countless permutations of the same that are sure to follow when her tits (and her style of flaunting them) get a little too old to keep in the game.


 
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H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Photos – Vrindavan March 2010

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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sunday, February 20, 2011


 
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Giridhari das, Brasilia, Brazil: Two Yoga Retreats with Laurent Dauzou in Pandavas Paradise

We had two yoga retreats with the famous French Iyengar trained yoga teacher, Laurent Dauzou. The first was from the 19-23 of January and the other from the 11-16 of February.

Laurent is a very skilled and knowledgeable teacher. His classes are intense and, quite literally, body altering – your body gets realigned, stretched and more balanced. The students had over 4 hours of yoga classes with him every day!

Both groups (of about 12 guests) were especially united and quickly took to each other, creating a loving and family like atmosphere.

In the first group we had a reporter, from a travel magazine. It was his first time in contact with the practice and philosophy of yoga and Krishna Consciousness.  He’ll be writing an article on Pandavas Paradise to be published in March. He was very well impressed and I expect his article will be very positive.

It’s summer here in Brazil (as all of you buried under massive snow storms will be pleased to know, I’m sure!).  In this time of the year we have beautiful sunny days, with the occasional massive thunderstorm. We were blessed with great weather for hiking our trails.

Even though we’re at 4000 ft altitude, when it’s sunny it gets quite hot – perfect weather for splashing about in our waterfalls!

Every day the guests practiced concentrated, sitting-down, japa, after the mangal aratik. In the evenings, after Gaura aratik, I lectured on different topics of our yoga philosophy and how to apply it to our lives. In the second retreat we also showed the “Ever Wellwisher” documentary on Srila Prabhupada. (Nice as it is, isn’t it time ISKCON had a new professional documentary on Srila Prabhupada?)

In both retreats, the guests bought Gitas, Yoga Sutras, other books and japas and neck beads in the hopes of continuing what they had started in Pandavas Paradise.

Here are some of the comments we got from our guests:

“Again, wonderful and intense moments, nurtured by the company of super special people, invigorating practices of yoga, and absolutely refreshing and delicious prasadam, which incidentally, is one of the highlights of Paradise. I thank you for all the moments of fun, introspection, life and yoga lessons, talks, walks and refreshing swimming in the waterfalls. To the folks of Pandavas Paradise, after my third visit, I can safely say, ‘until next time!’”- Helena, Brasilia-DF

“I needed some time for myself, to go back to my essence, to hear my inner self, and, within days, not only did I get all that, but I also got to know special people that made me feel at home, a “home” that I never thought existed, with everyone seeking the same things despite having such different personal backgrounds. The place – precious, the company – wonderful, the food – divine, the lessons – challenging and the peace – eternal. Thanks for everything and everyone for taking part in this special moment!”- Fernanda, Brasilia-DF

“My friends, I thank you for everything. Thanks for such a wonderful place and for the people who complete the magic of this paradise on earth. “- Adriana, São Paulo-SP

“Frieds, I am very grateful to you all for sharing such important and amazing moments with me! I can still feel the good energy that we cultivated in these days of meditation, kirtans, yoga classes, and in every moment. I hope that Pandavas Paradise will continue to be this wonderful place of giving and receiving of good energy. “- Gabriela (Gal), Aracaju-SE

“It was really a unique opportunity to have participated in the retreat in Pandavas Paradise! I was very happy to meet people who are so dear and attuned to subtle and valuable aspects of life! “- Mario, Brasilia-DF

“I really enjoyed those days we spent together and carry with me the positive mood, fond memories and lasting impressions of each one of you. I thank you all, and especially Giri and Laurant for facilitating these moments of peace, connection and understanding. “- Ju, Florianópolis-SC

Click here to see more pictures of the retreat of our January retreat and here to see pictures of the February retreat!


 
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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Apron Front Sinks From Across The Pond : The Belfast & The London

The other day we were working on updating the Horton Brasses catalog, getting ready for the rollout of some new kitchen hardware. I don’t want to reveal too much right now, but I will say it is very exciting bling. And oh so very English. In fact, if I didn’t know better, I would fancy a guess that Orion was a distant relative of Christopher Peacock because this new stuff totally struts!

Since then, I’ve been completely knackered–what with trying to channel an English vocabulary and all. Get it? “Channel.” “English.”  English Channel! I’ve been working on my puns, as well, because puns are oh so very British. I have a full on case of Anglophilia. All because of that forthcoming kitchen hardware. Tastier than scones with clotted cream!

And then this morning I had a revelatory experience. About sinks. That’s right, sinks. Sinks, sinks and…more sinks.

kitchen_2 Belfast-sink-cabinet-03 belfast fireclay apron sink Picture 001 images
 K (68) comeragh house, waterford ireland-scullery london apron front fireclay sink KITCHEN

While taking part in an online discussion on apron front farm sinks–and whether or not they are accurately Victorian–the origin of these sinks was further revealed. I knew they had European roots, but did you know that there is a completely different kind of apron front sink that is authentically British and pretty much unavailable  in the United States? No, you didn’t. And I didn’t either.

If you are like me and find this completely fascinating, keep reading. If you are like my husband, you’ve made your way to the kitchen and are fixing yourself a quesadilla in the microwave. Beep! Beep! Don’t burn the roof of your mouth on that cheese.

You with me? Read on…

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

25/02/11

Their Lordships look like immaculate white swans gracefully gliding on a lush lake of milk that is bordered with pastel pink and blue flora, don't They?

May we also cultivate a swan-like mind; a mind that can separate the rich milk of truth from the plain water of delusion.

Thus like the Paramahamsas, we shall seek pleasure only in the pure and crystalline waters of loving devotional service to Sri Sri Radha Krsna.

What a
darsana!

 
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Japa Group: Very Quickly Purify Your Existence


This chanting of sixteen rounds of japa-mala daily, chanting the full Hare Krsna mantra, Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, on each bead 108 times in each round, this process will very quickly purify your existence, and you will come to your rightful spiritual understanding in very short order.

Letter Suresh Candra
11 August, 1972

 
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Australian News: Classic ISKCON Vinyl – Visnujana Swami and the Children of the Gurukula

At www.sitproperly.com Eric Swanger maintains a down loadable archive of “Classic ISKCON Vinyl” from back in the day. Go check it out and you will find a review of each record (that’s what we used to listen to before the invention of the CD) pictures of the covers, streaming audio and a button to download it for your mp3 library.

Recently Eric says he received a package in the mail from his friend Alan. “Not knowing what to expect, I opened it and to my ridiculous delight were two Classic ISKCON 7 inch vinyl records.

One was from Radha Krishna Temple (Los Angeles). “The second one, however, nearly brought me to my knees.” Eric says. “I had heard of it before, but figured that I’d never get a chance to listen to it, let alone add it to my collection.”

“Sometime in the early 70s,” Eric says “Visnujana Swami recorded two songs with the Dallas gurukula and released a 7 inch. I remembered that Alan had told me about it,and how he received the record.”

Here is what Alan told Eric:

“One fine spring Saturday afternoon, almost 40 years ago, a Greyhound bus pulled into Riverside Park, a tidy, quiet park near two college campuses in the Bellhaven area of Jackson, Mississippi. It was a Greyhound bus, but no ordinary Greyhound bus–this was a bus from the Radha Damodar Traveling Sankirtan Party. For those too young to remember, the Hare Krishnas converted three Greyhound buses into mobile temples to bring the message of Krsna consciousness to every town and village in the United States and Canada.

I couldn’t believe my eyes, ears and nose as devotees poured out of the bus; a wondrously exotic sight of saffron and white flowing garments, shaved, tilaked heads, the ching-ching-ching sound of kirtals, and a smoky-trail of Spiritual Sky incense billowing out with each devotee as each stepped out of the doors of the bus. The first one out was carrying a sparkling fiberglass (mirdunga) drum, and wasted no time in producing an infectious, exotic, melodious rhythmic beat. Well, up until then, I had seen these other-worldly young men and women, chiefly in my travels to and around New York City. These were the cultish people who approached my dad and I at the Atlanta and New York airports, books and incense in hand for anybody that would stop and give a moment. Taking walks with my Hasidic grandfather in the Lower East Side of the city, we’d often spot a group of these young men wrapped in saffron-colored sheets, surrounding a golden, glowing little elderly Indian man whose feet seemed to glide above the sidewalk. The mass of shaved heads with little pony-tails would stop every so often as the little golden man appeared to be expressing a point, arms and hands waving about–little did I know then, that the little golden man was His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the Hare Krishna Movement.

As the Hare Krishnas left the bus, the mirdungas and kirtalas multiplied to produce a sound that seemed oddly familiar, not to my ears, but to my soul. Immediately, a group of people were drawn in, mostly college students, some hippies, and myself, a young, soon-to-be Bar Mitzvah boy. We joined in a circle of exuberant, uninhibited dancing and chanting lead by the devotees. This was my first kirtan.

A day or two later, the local FM radio station (which introduced the London Temple Album to Jackson), announced that the Hare Krishnas were giving a lecture and meditation discourse at an apartment near Millsaps College. My mom, very liberal and open-minded, took me, after all, she was a big fan of ISKCON’s Spritual Sky incense (she bought from some devotees in New Orleans earlier that year), and hoped to replenish her supply. I don’t remember much about the discourse, other than chanting the Mahamantra that was printed on little cards given out to everyone present. “Please chant: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Chant these words and your life will become sublime.” I didn’t realize it at the time, but the lecture was given by the mystical Vishnujana Swami Maharaja, as several years later confirmed to me by senior devotees at Mississippi’s New Talavana Farm Community.

Vishnujana was very kind to everyone, constantly smiling and patiently answering everyone’s questions. I remember tasting prasadam for the first time, thinking it was the most amazing food I have ever put in my mouth. Before leaving, Vishnujana made sure to thank everyone who attended personally, and gave my mom a KRSNA BOOK to which my mom gave a nice donation. Vishnujana Swami warmly thanked my mom, asked us to wait a moment, and briefly left the room. He returned with a 45 rpm record. My mom asked if it was a record of Indian music, to which Vishnujana laughed. I don’t remember his exact words but he explained it was a recording of a ‘bunch of ecstatic children screaming their love for God.’ We left that glorious evening, happily humming the mantra, KRSNA BOOK, Vishnujana record, and, oh yeah, Spritual Sky Patchouli Incense, in hand.

This record has given me and many friends years of listening pleasure. All thanks and praises to Eric, who painstakingly cleared out many scratches and clicks; now, this gem can be shared with so many others as it makes it debut into cyberspace.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Jaya Vishnujana Swami Maharaja Ki !!!!

Hare Krishna!

Aspiring to serve,
Alan”

Click here to see the record and download the audio at Sit Properly Have a look around whilst youare there and see what else is on show.

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Sutapa das, BV Manor, UK: The ‘Real’ World

The Vedic scriptures offer a variety of enchanting accounts describing the nature of the metaphysical world. In that realm, every step is a dance, every word is a song, every action is motivated by pure love, and the atmosphere is infused with ever-increasing transcendental happiness. Sounds good... maybe too good. Of course, skeptics may posit that such ideas are embraced by escapists desperately seeking solace from the immediate aches and pains of life. Could such descriptions be ethereal concepts formulated to distract us from the ‘real’ world? Are they simply fairytale accounts which constitute nothing more than childish, naïve, wishful thinking?

Once, when asked whether the guru knows everything, Srila Prabhupada replied to the affirmative. The reporter proceeded to quiz the swami on the number of windows in the Empire State Building. Srila Prabhupada gravely looked back at the reporter and countered – “how many drops of water in a mirage?” Amidst constant change, can we identify anything to be really real? Although not illusory, nobody can deny the temporality of this world. For this reason, Vedic scriptures describe this physical world as unreal - although it can be perceived by our human senses, it is constantly changing and has no endurance in the context of eternity.

The Bhagavad-gita offers a revolutionary worldview, stating that far from the spiritual world being a distraction, the actuality is that the material physical world is a distraction. To live in reality means to be fully conscious and aware of one’s identity, purpose and true home. As spiritual beings, we are not residents of London, Leicester or Leeds, but rather residents of the spiritual world. No doubt, one must attend to the immediate demands, pressures and responsibilities of life, lest we become dysfunctional non-entities in this world. However, one would do well to avoid becoming overly engrossed and captivated by the changing fashions, constant conflicts and temporal affairs of worldly life. As a wise spiritualist once quipped “don’t take the illusion too seriously!”

 
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: India’s Renewable Future: Challenges and Prospects

By Dr. Farooq Abdullah, India’s Minister of New and Renewable Energy   |   February 4, 2011   |

Dr. Farooq Abdullah, India’s Minister of New and Renewable Energy, wants his country to transform the promise of boundless and clean energy into reality

New Delhi, India — India is perceived as a developing country, but it is developing at a pace that is not matched by many others. We have experienced significant economic growth. Yet the fact remains that our growth is constrained by energy supply and availability. Although we have seen an impressive increase in installed capacity addition, from barely about 1,350 MW at the time of independence (1947) to about 160,000 MW today, over 90,000 MW of new generation capacity is required in the next seven years. A corresponding investment is required in transmission and distribution.

The increasing appetite for energy that has developed in the recent past has been further complicated by rapidly diminishing conventional sources, like oil and coal. To further add to the problems of increased demand and constrained supply, there are serious questions about pursuing a fossil fuel-led growth strategy, especially in the context of environmental concerns. The challenge facing a developing nation such as ours is to meet our increasing energy needs while minimizing the damage to the environment.

This is why, while striving to bridge our energy deficit, we want to increase the share of clean, sustainable, new and renewable energy sources. Whether or not renewable energy completely replaces fossil fuel, we are determined to develop renewable energy to its fullest potential.

Driving inclusive growth

India today stands among the top five countries in the world in terms of renewable energy capacity. We have an installed base of over 15 GW, which is around 9% of India’s total power generation capacity and contributes over 3% in the electricity mix. While the significance of renewable energy from the twin perspectives of energy security and environmental sustainability is usually well appreciated, what is often overlooked, or less appreciated, is the capacity to usher in energy access for all, including the most disadvantaged and the remotest of our habitations.

In its decentralized or stand alone avatar, renewable energy is the most appropriate, scalable, and optimal solution for providing power to thousands of remote and hilly villages and hamlets. Even today, millions of decentralized energy systems, solar lighting systems, irrigation pumps, aero-generators, biogas plants, solar cookers, biomass gasifiers, and improved cook stoves, are being used in the remotest, inaccessible corners of the country. Providing energy access to be most disadvantaged and remote communities can become one the biggest drivers of inclusive growth.

The National Solar Mission


(left) Selco solar panel installation | Photo: Selco Solar Light Ltd.

The Sun is the ultimate source of energy. The National Action Plan on Climate Change in June 2008 identified the development of solar energy technologies in the country as a priority item to be pursued as a National Mission. In November 2009, the Government of India approved the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.  This is a unique and ambitious transformational objective that aims to establish India as a global leader in solar energy by creating the policy conditions for its diffusion across the country, as quickly as possible…

Read complete article here


Filed under: Cows and Environment
 
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New Vrndavan, USA: Signing Gas Leases to Help Protect Our Water Supply

The nonprofit corporations managing land in what is known as New Vrindaban own 1135 acres of mineral rights. The overall acreage of McCreary’s Ridge where these 1135 acres are located is well over 4000 acres, meaning that New Vrindaban only has about 25% of the mineral rights on the ridge.

What is important to understand is that these 1135 acres are NOT contiguous, which is to say it isn’t all in one block. It is a patchwork of parcels mixed in with more than 3000 other acres.

At the time New Vrindaban managers were contemplating whether or not to sign gas leases, 55% (over 2,200 acres) of the ridge was already leased, and more private landowners were on the verge of signing. This meant all of New Vrindaban’s properties were going to have wells drilled next to them whether we signed leases or not. For example, the first well drilled on the ridge, the Snyder 1H, is on a neighboring property right next to Bahulaban.

The existing leases were split between two companies, Chesapeake Energy and AB Resources. Which ever company we signed with would become the dominant Lessee of gas rights and would in all likelihood trade leases (from different ridges) with the other company to get a solid block. FYI, the Snyder 1H well is an AB well, on a lease signed over 4 years ago.

At the time we were contemplating signing, the new leases being signed on the ridge were with Chesapeake.

The Palace is at about 1200′ elevation. It is a 400’ drop to Wheeling Creek where the water wells that supply the Temple and Palace complex are located. The water wells are 200 feet deep, which means the water source is 600’ below ridge level. The gas companies drill about 6000′ deep from the top of the ridge, not in the hollows.

Gas well bore holes are cased with metal pipe. To help seal it, the first part of the bore hole is also cased with concrete. Chesapeake’s leases say they will double case the drill bore with concrete to 300′. AB agreed to double case the bore hole to 1000′. Ergo Chesapeake would have ended the double casing 300’ ABOVE the water source and AB will go 400′ below the water source.

Being aware of the publicity about Marcellus gas drilling contaminating water wells, we felt that this possibility needed to be considered. It was deemed that signing with AB was a preemptive move to prevent Chesapeake from gaining enough leases to take over the ridge.

Drilling on the ridge was inevitable; there was nothing we could have done to stop it so we attempted to get the best possible situation with some leverage over drilling practices, i.e., getting 1000’ of concrete casing from AB instead of Chesapeake’s 300’. If we hadn’t signed with AB, Chesapeake would have taken the ridge. Signing with AB minimized the potential of damage to the water system.

Here was a case where inaction in the form of not signing gas leases would have had a potentially worse result than if we signed the lease with the more environmentally responsible company.

In our next report we will discuss the Rule of Capture, whereby gas companies can take the gas from underneath your property even if you haven’t signed a lease with them.

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1966 February 24: "The classes I am holding now may be called the initiation classes for developing The International Institution for God consciousness. The classes may be held thrice in a week and I shall be available for discussion between 6 to 8 P.M."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 February 24: "I am very glad to learn that the N.Y. center is doing really well. It is all Krishna's mercy. So if you think that my presence will be necessary then immediately book my seat in the air line when you want me to go there. I shall then cancel all programs here for three weeks."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 February 24: "Today I have sent you the first installment of Narada Bhakti Sutras. Please let me know how do you like it or if there is any difficulty to understand it. On hearing from you I shall take up the next installment."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 February 24: "I am very much anxious to get him a good wife so I have all my blessings for the girl being married to him. Perform the ceremony on my behalf. I am sure under your care they will be trained as good husband and wife and be happy in life in Krsna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 February 24: "Krishna is in your heart. The more you surrender to Him, the more He takes charge. And seeing your sincerity, He gives you all facility for increasing your service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 February 24: "We have contacted a nice Muslim friend from Dacca. If you at all seriously intend to go to East Pakistan, please contact this gentleman and if you think it is favorable you may go there with the blessings of Krsna. When you decide your departure, I will give you further instructions on this."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 February 24: "So I am very glad that you are working for opening a branch there and going on with your work in Krishna Consciousness despite so many obstacles which Maya has placed in your path just to try to deviate you from going back to Home, back to Godhead."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 February 24: "Follow this simple formula of chanting regularly with full attention, reading at least one hour, and balance time preaching. If you spend your whole time preaching, that will cure you of all misgivings and miserable conditions. "
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

 
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Dandavats.com: Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Radhanath Swami - Disapp HH Gour Govinda Swami

By Radhanath Swami

He took first, second and sannyasa initiation within eight months of joining Iskcon and meeting Srila Prabhupada. There were complaints. People complained to Prabhupada that, "This new man, he has so much responsibilities, he is a sannyasi."

 
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Dandavats.com: Tapping into Sridhama Mayapur’s Potency

By Padmanayana Dasa

In just a few days the Mayapur Institute's Gaura Purnima Courses and the Mayapur Festival will begin. Devotees from around the world will be entering Sridham Mayapur, as Srila Prabhupada desired, to access the mercy, spiritual strength and inspiration to continue and expand their services

 
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Dandavats.com: There is a flower in my cosmos

By Jeevanmukta Das

Having chanted a few rounds and feeling somewhat wise, sometimes we worry that the alien religion (Krishna Consciousness) and its sacred texts that we have adopted is not ‘secular’ enough for today’s twenty-first century sensibilities

 
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Dandavats.com: Christchurch Quake Destroys Deities and Temple Beyond Repair

By Madhava Smullen

An in-depth interview with the Christchurch pujari:" “At first, it seemed just like any other day,” says Sevananda Dasa, a priest at the Christchurch ISKCON temple. “I was up on the altar, offering the chamara whisk to the Deities....

 
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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Animal slaughter equals Social Unrest. The U.N. and U.S.Fed Chair, Bernanke back it up...

Picture
In recent weeks you have probably noticed more social unrest and rioting around the world. This is being directly caused by increased slaughter of animals. The most influential and recognized economist in the world, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke recognized this issue this month and so does the United Nation.

I watched the news clip live a few weeks ago as Ben Bernanke talked about the co-relation of eating beef and rising food prices and it drove me to find the quote from Reuters and write this article.

Some excerpts:

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organisation Food Price Index on Thursday touched its highest level since records began in 1990 as rising food prices showed no sign of relenting, prompting concerns of social unrest.

He (Bernanke) said higher food prices were stoked by increasing consumer demand in emerging economies for such things as meat.

"As people's diets are becoming more sophisticated and as they eat more beef and less grains and so on, the demand for food and energy rise and that's the primary long-term factor affecting the real price of commodity and food," Bernanke said.
---end---

Bernanke says their diets are becoming more "sophisticated" but in reality "barbarian" is more apt of a term. Now it does not take a genius economist to figure out how to resolve this social unrest and looming crisis for inflation and food prices. It will simply take a return to a natural human diet of vegetarian food.

To explain the crisis some simple stats comparing the production of beef to wheat. It takes 18 times more fossil fuel per calorie to produce beef compared to wheat. It takes 15 times the land to produce beef. It takes a whopping 200 times the water to produce a pound of beef compared to wheat. The ratios are similarly dispraportionate for all major categories of grains. This animals are bred by meat producers and fattened up by giving them about 16 pounds of grain for every pound of beef produced. 

All of the above stats do not take into account the inhumane conditions and countless suffering animals are put through just to feed a barbarian diet. Of course, the serious karmic reactions of animal killing is on top of all of these basic arguments.

As Srila Prabhupada said:
"We simply request, Don't kill. Don't maintain slaughterhouses. That is very sinful. It brings down very severe karmic reactions upon society. Stop these slaughterhouses".
 
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Mayapur Online: HH Jayapataka Swami's invitation for Navadvip Mandala Parikrama

Following the footsteps of previous acaryas and fulfilling the desire of Srila Prabhupada, HH Jayapataka Swami has been organsing Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama during annual Gaura Purnima Festival. It is a life time experience to cherish for devotees, to walk on the path traversed by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and hear the pastimes in the very same place,where these eternal pastimes have taken place in the holy land of Navadvipa.

read more

 
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Bhakta Eric, Seattle, USA: Classic ISKCON Vinyl – Visnujana Swami and the Children of the Gurukula 7″

It’s been well over a year since the last time I posted anything from my collection Classic ISKCON Vinyl. Since then, I’ve acquired a few items and I will eventually get around to adding the rest of what I have (no promises as to speed, of course).

Visnujana Swami and the Children of the Gurukula
Isavasya Records
RK-108

However, a couple of days ago, I received a package in the mail from my friend Alan. Not knowing what to expect, I opened it and to my ridiculous delight were two Classic ISKCON 7″s. One was from Radha Krishna Temple (Los Angeles), which I already had, though my copy is trashed and this new one was in very good condition, plus it had a picture sleeve! I was delighted, to say the least.

The second one, however, nearly brought me to my knees. I had heard of it before, but figured that I’d never get a chance to listen to it, let alone add it to my collection.

Sometime in the early 70s (I assume), Visnujana Swami recorded two songs with the Dallas gurukula and released a 7″. I remembered that Alan had told me about it, but after I basically wet myself on Facebook, unable to thank him enough, he told me how he received the record.

Side 1
Prayer to Tulasi Devi

Side 2
The Golden Avatar and the Hare Krsna Mantra

You can listen to both songs while you read his story…

One fine spring Saturday afternoon, almost 40 years ago, a Greyhound bus pulled into Riverside Park, a tidy, quiet park near two college campuses in the Bellhaven area of Jackson, Mississippi. It was a Greyhound bus, but no ordinary Greyhound bus–this was a bus from the Radha Damodar Traveling Sankirtan Party. For those too young to remember, the Hare Krishnas converted three Greyhound buses into mobile temples to bring the message of Krsna consciousness to every town and village in the United States and Canada.

I couldn’t believe my eyes, ears and nose as devotees poured out of the bus; a wondrously exotic sight of saffron and white flowing garments, shaved, tilaked heads, the ching-ching-ching sound of kirtals, and a smoky-trail of Spiritual Sky incense billowing out with each devotee as each stepped out of the doors of the bus. The first one out was carrying a sparkling fiberglass (mirdunga) drum, and wasted no time in producing an infectious, exotic, melodious rhythmic beat. Well, up until then, I had seen these other-worldly young men and women, chiefly in my travels to and around New York City. These were the cultish people who approached my dad and I at the Atlanta and New York airports, books and incense in hand for anybody that would stop and give a moment. Taking walks with my Hasidic grandfather in the Lower East Side of the city, we’d often spot a group of these young men wrapped in saffron-colored sheets, surrounding a golden, glowing little elderly Indian man whose feet seemed to glide above the sidewalk. The mass of shaved heads with little pony-tails would stop every so often as the little golden man appeared to be expressing a point, arms and hands waving about–little did I know then, that the little golden man was His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the Hare Krishna Movement.

As the Hare Krishnas left the bus, the mirdungas and kirtalas multiplied to produce a sound that seemed oddly familiar, not to my ears, but to my soul. Immediately, a group of people were drawn in, mostly college students, some hippies, and myself, a young, soon-to-be Bar Mitzvah boy. We joined in a circle of exuberant, uninhibited dancing and chanting lead by the devotees. This was my first kirtan.

A day or two later, the local FM radio station (which introduced the London Temple Album to Jackson), announced that the Hare Krishnas were giving a lecture and meditation discourse at an apartment near Millsaps College. My mom, very liberal and open-minded, took me, after all, she was a big fan of ISKCON’s Spritual Sky incense (she bought from some devotees in New Orleans earlier that year), and hoped to replenish her supply. I don’t remember much about the discourse, other than chanting the Mahamantra that was printed on little cards given out to everyone present. “Please chant: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Chant these words and your life will become sublime.” I didn’t realize it at the time, but the lecture was given by the mystical Vishnujana Swami Maharaja, as several years later confirmed to me by senior devotees at Mississippi’s New Talavana Farm Community.

Vishnujana was very kind to everyone, constantly smiling and patiently answering everyone’s questions. I remember tasting prasadam for the first time, thinking it was the most amazing food I have ever put in my mouth. Before leaving, Vishnujana made sure to thank everyone who attended personally, and gave my mom a KRSNA BOOK to which my mom gave a nice donation. Vishnujana Swami warmly thanked my mom, asked us to wait a moment, and briefly left the room. He returned with a 45 rpm record. My mom asked if it was a record of Indian music, to which Vishnujana laughed. I don’t remember his exact words but he explained it was a recording of a ‘bunch of ecstatic children screaming their love for God.’ We left that glorious evening, happily humming the mantra, KRSNA BOOK, Vishnujana record, and, oh yeah, Spritual Sky Patchouli Incense, in hand.

This record has given me and many friends years of listening pleasure. All thanks and praises to Eric, who painstakingly cleared out many scratches and clicks; now, this gem can be shared with so many others as it makes it debut into cyberspace.

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Jaya Vishnujana Swami Maharaja Ki !!!!

Hare Krishna!

Aspiring to serve,
Alan

And now, Visnujana Swami and the Children of Gurukula…

Just click on the button and it’ll start to download the zip file. Then open the zip file with WinZip (or whatever program you use to open zip files). Add to your MP3 library or burn it to a CD-R. Easy as pie!>




Technical Information:
Media Used:
Vinyl 7″ from my personal collection.

Hardware Used:
Turntable: Audio Technica PL-120A
Cartridge: Shure 97x
TCC TC-750LC Audiophile Phono Preamp
Soundcard: Roland Edirol UA-1EX USB external soundcard

Software Used:
Audacity 1.3.12 on Linux Mint 10
-Digital recording from soundcard
-Editing and splitting of tracks

Gnome Wave Cleaner 0.21-12
-Manual and automatic click/pop removal

SoundConverter 1.4.1
-Converted WAV to 320kbps MP3 and FLAC

Artwork Scanned from Original @ 300 dpi with XSane .996
Edited and Restored Using GIMP Image Editor 2.6.6

 
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Mayapur Online: Srimad Bhagavatam Class- Live from Mayapur

Date: February 16th, 2011
Topic: Dhruva Maharaj Goes Back To Godhead [SB 4.12.16]
Speaker: HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami

atma-stry-apatya-suhrdo balam rddha-kosam
antah-puram parivihara-bhuvas ca ramyah
bhu-mandalam jaladhi-mekhalam akalayya
kalopasrstam iti sa prayayau visalam

read more

 
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Dandavats.com: Some thoughts about the GBC agenda topic: The GBC is the ultimate managing authority”

By Sivarama Swami

An audio recording about one topic of the GBC agenda, what Srila Prabhupada meant when he said “The GBC is the ultimate managing authority.”

 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: WHY CHANT HARE KRISHNA?

by Jayadvaita Swami

from Back to Godhead, May-June 1994

Here’s a page full of reasons. I’ll spare you the footnotes, but each reason is fully upheld by evidence from Vedic writings likeBhagavad-gita, the Upanisads, and the Puranas.

1. Chanting Hare Krishna awakens love of God.
2. Chanting Hare Krishna brings liberation as a side benefit along the way.
3. When you chant Hare Krishna, you automatically develop knowledge and detachment.
4. Chanting Hare Krishna gets you out of the endless cycle of birth and death.
5. It is the most effective means of self-realization in the present Age of Quarrel. Nothing else works nearly as well.
6. Chanting Hare Krishna cleanses the heart of all illusions and misunderstandings.
7. By chanting Hare Krishna, you become free from all anxieties.
8. Chanting Hare Krishna brings you to self-realization—and shows you how to act as a self-realized soul.
9. It keeps you ever mindful of Krishna, the reservoir of pleasure.
10. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting. You can chant anywhere, any time, under any circumstances.
11. Krishna Himself is fully present in the transcendental sound of His name. And the more you chant, the more you realize it.
12. All other Vedic mantras are included in the chanting of Hare Krishna. So just by chanting this mantra, you get the benefit of all others.
13. Chanting Hare Krishna purifies not only you but every living entity around you. Whoever hears the chanting gets spiritual benefit.
14. A person who chants Hare Krishna develops all good qualities.
15. You can chant Hare Krishna softly for personal meditation or loudly with your family or friends. Both ways work.
16. Srila Prabhupada chanted Hare Krishna, and so did great souls in the past. So why not you?
17. It’s free. Chanting Hare Krishna never costs you money.
18. Chanting Hare Krishna brings the highest states of ecstasy.
19. There are no previous qualifications needed for chanting Hare Krishna. Young or old, anyone can chant—from any race, any religion, or any country of the world.
20. Even if you don’t understand the language of the mantra, it works anyway.
21. Chanting Hare Krishna brings relief from all miseries.
22. Chanting Hare Krishna is easy. When the best way is also the easiest, why make life hard for yourself?
23. Chanting Hare Krishna invokes spiritual peace—for you and for those around you.
24. When you chant Hare Krishna, Krishna Himself becomes pleased.
25. When you chant Hare Krishna, Krishna dances on your tongue.
26. By chanting Hare Krishna you can return to Krishna’s world, the eternal abode of full happiness and knowledge.
27. Chanting Hare Krishna frees you from the reactions of all past karma. Chanting Krishna’s name even once, purely and sincerely, can free you from the reactions of more karma than you could possibly incur.
28. Chanting Hare Krishna counteracts the sinful atmosphere of Kali-yuga, the present Age of Hypocrisy and Quarrel.
29. By chanting Hare Krishna you can relish at every step the full nectar that’s the real thirst of the soul.
30. The more you chant Hare Krishna, the better it gets.
31. If you look through all the Vedic scriptures, you’ll find nothing higher than the chanting of Hare Krishna. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: One topic on the GBC agenda is what Srila Prabhupada meant when he said “The GBC is the ultimate managing authority.”

 
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Mayapur Online: Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura- Appearance day lecture

Date: February 22nd, 2011
Topic: Appearance of HDG Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
Speaker: HH Bhakti Raghava swami

read more

 
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David Haslam, UK: HG Kripa Moya Dasa Class now in MP3 format

I found some free software that has converted it into mp3 format and is now available either to hear or download via my file sharing network. Just Click Here I’ve listened to it several times already and it is a truly amazing class

 
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Japa Group: Do You Have Love For It


Recently I read an article written by Satsvarupa Maharaja - he was asking himself the following questions.

Do you pay attention to Hare Krishna mantra when you chant? Do you have love for it?

This got me thinking about my own chanting and how much I have love for chanting - the answer was yes and no. Yes I like to chant, I wouldn't say I love to chant but I like it and I love it when I feel the Lord's spiritual energy.

It's an important point....we need to feel the spiritual energy of the Lord when we chant and then we will love chanting our Japa - and how do we get this reciprocation from the Lord? We need to give attention and give respect to Krsna (who is present in the Holy names) - then Krsna has something to reciprocate with.
 
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David Haslam, UK: Class By Kripa Moya Das

This is a wonderful class on the life and importance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja Sorry it’s in an .AMR file format that the HTC phone records in so I pray that you can play it, it’s two hours of pure nectar that won’t disappoint but expand your appreciation and help in understanding the [...]

 
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Dandavats.com: Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami

Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami

How can a sick person enjoy? One who is sick, you have a severe headache and if you see food it is very irritating. Isn't it? A sick person cannot enjoy. Therefore the conditioned soul is not an enjoyer. Enjoyment is for the greater souls. Enjoyment is for pure devotees

 
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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: USA Retreat 2011

The 2011 USA Retreat with His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami will be held as per details below: WHEN: June 24 (Friday) evening through July 1 (Fri) morning WHERE: Vraj, Pennsylvania HOW MUCH: Registration on or before April 17, 2011: 450 US dollars per adult; 250 dollars per child 5-12 years; Children under 5 are free [...]

 
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Dandavats.com: Welcome to Mathura

By Patita Pavana das

Memories of an Indian Holy Town by Hayagriva Swami about his 1972 Kartik pilgrimage. Hayagriva was known as Prof. Howard Wheeler when he joined Shrila Prabhupada in 1966 as one of the original devotees. He was Shrila Prabhupada’s first book editor, and the early issues of BTG carry many of insightful articles and poems of this talented writer

 
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Dandavats.com: Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Influence On The Establishment And Development Of Iskcon

By EuroGBC

This paper aims to present the contribution of Bhaktivinoda Thakur to the establishment and development of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It regards his personal life as the role model for the practitioners of Vaisnavism, and it considers his input in expanding preaching techniques, both innovative and traditional ones

 
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Dandavats.com: Hare Krishnas and Chaitanya College at Croome Park Worcester published by the National Trust(c) 2010

Radha Mohan Das: Hare Krishnas and Chaitanya College at Croome Park Worcester published by the National Trust©2010 Exciting summarised oral history research of the presence of the Hare Krishnas at Croome Park in the late 1970’s - early 80’s

 
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Dandavats.com: Please mark your calendar - March 20, 2011

Murari Sevaka: You are invited to celebrate Gaura Purnima at Murari Sevaka We will be celebrating on Sunday March 20, 2011

 
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Gouranga TV: Aindra – Hare Krishna kirtan – ISKCON Mayapur 2007

Aindra – Hare Krishna kirtan – ISKCON Mayapur 2007

 
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Dandavats.com: Live From Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! HH Bhakti Raghava Swami

By Bhakti Raghava Swami

Naturally such a personality as Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Thakura plays a very important role and a very important place within our Sampradaya, within our Iskcon Society in particular being the inspiration and spiritual master of the founder acarya of our society, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada

 
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): 230

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

8:09 A.M.

[EXPLANATION OF THIS CONTENT:
At present I am privately writing an autobiographical project. I cannot write it fast enough to print a section every day. Therefore, I am printing on this site a book called Every Day, Just Write. A book by the title Every Day, Just Write was already printed by me some ten years ago but it was a heavily-edited version. I am now printing the unedited version, which is fresh and new to the readers. I hope my readers will find it so. When I am finished with the autobiographical project, I will print that.]


Every Day, Just Write, Volume I: Welcome Home to the One Big Book of Your Life

November 23, 1996
4:20 P.M.

Almost full moon rising over Inis Rath. The sky is pale blue, not night, and so the light of the moon is like a lantern. As I look at it, one of the black Kerry cows walks in the foreground of the picture, grazing in the grass. I see pasture, then plume-headed weeds at the shore, then a “drink” of the lake strait, then the forest island, and above it the lantern moon.

The mail pack came, and the mail is strewn on my desk. I began reading and answering it but then got the first sign of a headache behind the eye. So I’ve stopped. Also canceled our evening gathering for singing Namamisvaram. Try to recover and answer letters at midnight and then go to temple tomorrow morning.

Lives of devotees as expressed in the letters—on my mind. Navadvipa dasa living outside ISKCON in Vrndavana, Sacinandana Swami encouraging from Germany, tells me to take “a complete pause” if I need it for health. And dozens of others.

That moon has a face, with an “O” shaped mouth and deeply sunken eyes. I don’t know whether he’s happy or sad. He looks cool. It’s the moon at end of November, and tomorrow night is complete full moon, ending Karttika.

November 24, 1996
Noon

Haven’t written at usual times today due to answering letters starting at midnight and then giving a morning lecture. Now I am back, and I have to find the touch again. What is it I am writing, a straight diary, something else? What are you looking for? And how much do you want it, what do you feel about it? Is it only for yourself as therapy? Is it art, religion? What is the service of this writing?

In a few hours Madhu will leave for almost two weeks. I am looking forward to being extra alone, although it may also be lonely, and look forward to his safe return. We decided I wasn’t going to Guyana next year, but Paramatma dasa wrote me that he’s built a little house for me to stay in. He invited me to come there and not go to the temples. So I think I will do it, and disciples can come and see me there. Hare Krishna.

Answered the letters. The theme in a few letters was that ISKCON has ruined their lives and health. Another said a search for the individual spiritual life is in conflict with the demands of institution. Hearing this is a burden on me. One who has left ISKCON even suggested I should speak out against the whole GBC. I should realize how powerful I am to know the spirit of Prabhupada even when others combined don’t know that spirit. Burden. I began to think or feel maybe they are right. Maybe the movement is hollow, superficial, and so on. Real spirit can’t develop there. But that’s not true either. I liked going to the temple this morning, and that’s part of ISKCON.

The snow fell seriously and stuck. The waves were rough and snow was lashing us in the face, soaking our coats and dhotis and my gloves. Arjuna dasa was rowing strong, but Abhaya dasi in her rowboat with her two kids wasn’t doing so well. Arjuna had to go back and help by towing her. She and her daughter and son wore life jackets. I would have liked to have a life jacket myself. But Arjuna got us there safely. I tensed as we made our way across the strait. Then in the temple room beholding Radha-Govinda. Reading the Cc. for Sunday morning class. Much was about arca-vigraha and nitya-siddha status of the two brahmanas in the Saksi-Gopala story. All glories to Prabhupada. I wish to find him actually in my own heart and life. There is no other way. The murti in the temple does not draw me to Him. But . . . I want to serve, want to do what I can.

2:30 P.M.

Rainbow against dark-gray sky.  Two swans at lake’s edge. Snow almost all melted. Fear of material attachments. I don’t want them. I want to be detached like a bow without a string, now and at time of death.

Madhu’s about to leave. Shows me how to use the phone. Some things you don’t say to protect others. Your disciples should think you are happy. Be quiet about your pains. Don’t complain, (too much). And don’t confess worse that may harm others. This is a lesson in Jagadisa Prabhu’s leaving. You don’t judge him but say, “For myself I cannot hurt others by my own act of self-expression, self-satisfaction.”

Calm water. So rough it was today.

And so this form, this diary can be improved. It can be the best writing. It is already the best. It is beyond best and worst—but am I willing to accept that? Or do I want to excel in something to be published?

Prove enemies and critics and crooks wrong.

He writes with pen, he rises in middle of night, headache starts near shoulder blade. He’s got half of his work done or less done so far. This is the psychic “saw.”

Did she see the calm lake? Does God speak in my own voice? Do you answer all the letters?

Sigh. Your hat may be too tight.

No, I couldn’t swim in rough waters with big Cullen boots, could I? So he tensed with hands on sides of boat, gloves soaking through the snow.

Show him how to use the heater. Feelings open. Protected. Say goodbye to buddy. Someone sent page of Washington Post with AIDS quilt on lawn of DC mall—350,000 people in the USA died of the disease, and it is interknit into the U.S. psyche like no other disease. “A disease of the homos,” she wrote. They went among the crowd selling Srila Prabhupada’s books.

That’s good. Write. People read GRN and are grateful, write you a letter. Translate Vandanam. And I decide I will go to Guyana and stay in house of Paramatma dasa. Yes, I will.

Is this a form of notes or to be read as final work? How to judge it? I wrote Svevo first time free, and Kowit said, “It’s great,” but he thought it was only notes, not the “finished” work. I’m finished as soon as I write it.

To the spiritual world, go. When I speak of quoting parampara, often quoting what Srila Prabhupada said, is that not also true? As true as this uncovering truth? Herein I say, “I don’t feel that all-innocent love for Srila Prabhupada. I have to fight for it. I don’t care for the Italian-made full-size murti of Srila Prabhupada. On vyasasana I wouldn’t talk like that. I uphold parampara and go light on confessions, on tear down. So they hear and benefit by that performance. Both are required.

Thank you for coming to the island, even in such bad weather.

I like to come.

And I like to go home to write, to open a door to “my” room (feel the warm air, glasses fogging, and bow down to Srila Prabhupada for preserving me on rough-strait crossing.

Oh, little people. Rwanda rape victims give birth to thousands. What karma! And you should not complain.

She was . . .  there. There, calm down and be quiet to preserve the quiet of friends. Not all horrors need be recited. I called it a “grocery list of horror” and said it didn’t have to be stated. You can cruise along.

How about reading?

One cannot be honest even at the end of one’s life, for no one is wholly alone. We are bound to those we love and to those who love us, and to those who need us to be brave or content, or even happy enough to allow them not to worry about us. So we must refrain from giving pain, as our last gift to our fellows. For love of humanity, consume as much of your travail as you can. Not all, never that terrible murkiness that drains away human warmth. But when we are almost free of life, we must retain guile that those still caught in life may not suffer more. The old must often try to be silent, if it is within their power, since silence may be like space, the intensely alive something that contains all. The clear echo of what we refrain from saying, everything from the first pause of understanding, to the quiet of comprehension.”—The Measure of My Days, Florida Scott-Maxwell

 
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Poem, February 23

www.sdgonline.org. SDGonline Daily updates

Don’t complain.  Be quiet about
the worst so others don’t get depressed.
Hitting your private notebook you
tell the truth. You rise above the
moaning and tell the truth of trying
to reach Krishna.

You tried in your writing to
tell what happened. You
reached for the moon.
The bass clarinet sobs of
its effort to reach the
moon. You sit in the full lotus asana and
chanted Hare Krishna with
open eyes. Your mind
wandered in its fatigue,
but you tried.

How will it end? I think he will pray
now and at the hour
of my death, please have
mercy on us, forgive
us our sins.

 
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Vraja Kishor, JP: Lyrics to Padabali Kirtan

Rajastani Style painting of Radharani

Image via Wikipedia

To blossoming “Brindabane”
Dancing flocks of peacocks play
The birds and bees buzz and sing on the breeze.
My dear friends accompany me
Singing we go, so playfully
To the lovely bower in the trees.

Hari! Hari! Dreams and wishes do come true, for me!
The two arrive majestically
Amazed to behold them and see
Goosebumps on my skin, set free.

Amidst her friends who surround
Radhika’s call to me sounds
I answer with my comb and smile
Abundantly long and curly
Brushing and decorating
Trying into most amazing styles.

Perfumes of musk and sandalwood
I apply to her lovely limbs
A necklace, enchanting, I clasp
Candana-Kunkum tilak
I apply
Beholding the beauty of her face.

Sapphire silken cloth
So carefully I adorn.
Strands of bejeweled bells for her feet.
Poured water becomes pink
By washing her lovely feet
My hair upon them, as a towel.

Fresh pedals from newest flowers
Prepare the softest bed
I recline the couple there, to rest.
I take up the camara whisk
Gently, gently fanning away
The fatigue from their two bodies.

A golden jewel-box carrying
Karpur-tambula bearing
I place some within their two mouths.
Their lips purest flavors
Refreshing that tambula
I then enjoy it, with extreme care.

Sri Guru, the mercy ocean
Protector and friend of the poor
To this poor soul, please take heed.
Radha-Krsna-Vrindavana
And all of their dearest friends…
This is the wealth I beg of you.


 
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Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: For Devotees traveling by train to Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals

Sri Sri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We attended the Vyasa Puja of His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami in Dwaraka. From Tamil Nadu in South India to Dwaraka it takes almost 50 hours by train. Usually such long journeys are quite exhausting and boring but this time it was different.

This time we took with us a full box of Srila Prabhupada's books for distribution. We experienced an incredible journey. We met many nice people who took books, so in Bombay we had to get another box of books. In the evening some Indian students joined us in kirtan in our compartment. We even had a Bhagavad-gita lecture for them. At the big stations we would go out to do Harinam. After the book distribution when we would walk through the different compartnents of the train many fortunate souls would already be reading Srila Prabhupada's books, some would wave at us smilingly saying Hare Krishna and we would happily reply Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna! We felt like all the passengers are our friends. It was a Vaikuntha atmosphere. At night we were so blissful that we didn't want to go to sleep. We wished that this journey would never end. In this way the journey itself was as enlivening as the Vyasa Puja Festival.

Why I'm sharing this experience?!

Soon many devotees will be traveling to the Mayapur and Vrndavan Festival by train, so take it as an opportunity to distribute Prabhupada's books. It's very simple. Just take one box of Srila Prabhupada's books at the wholesale price from any ISKCON Temple. Take some English books for the educated people and the rest in local languages. Book distribution in India is very sweet. People are very much attracted by Western devotees and if you learn a sentence or two in some local language, then you will immediately win their hearts. Another advantage is that you have the best answer to their "nitya" question, "What Country?" Just give them the book along with the answer. In this way usually meaningless conversation can turn into the most significant moment of their lives. By book distribution you can also cover for all your travel and prasadam expenses. Please keep some prasadam for the beggars and floor sweepers also. Don't chase them away without giving them some mercy. In India you don't have to hide anything. You can freely travel in Vaisnava dress and tilak. Even in the train you can have a full morning and evening program. Many people will join and clap and sing with you. Even if you travel alone or if you are very shy by nature, you can always keep a few small books in your shoulder bag. In India people sitting next to you will surely ask you some questions about you. Then you have a chance to show them the books. In this way a usually tiresome train travel can become a most blissful preaching experience. I apologize to all the senior devotees if some parts of this letter sound like instructions.

Indian train book distribution ki Jay!!

Praying for the mercy of devotees, Your servant, Vasudeva Datta dasa

 
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Book Distribution News: For Devotees traveling by train to Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals

Sri Sri Guru Gaurangau Jayatah

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We attended the Vyasa Puja of His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami in Dwaraka. From Tamil Nadu in South India to Dwaraka it takes almost 50 hours by train. Usually such long journeys are quite exhausting and boring but this time it was different.

This time we took with us a full box of Srila Prabhupada's books for distribution. We experienced an incredible journey. We met many nice people who took books, so in Bombay we had to get another box of books. In the evening some Indian students joined us in kirtan in our compartment. We even had a Bhagavad-gita lecture for them. At the big stations we would go out to do Harinam. After the book distribution when we would walk through the different compartnents of the train many fortunate souls would already be reading Srila Prabhupada's books, some would wave at us smilingly saying Hare Krishna and we would happily reply Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna! We felt like all the passengers are our friends. It was a Vaikuntha atmosphere. At night we were so blissful that we didn't want to go to sleep. We wished that this journey would never end. In this way the journey itself was as enlivening as the Vyasa Puja Festival.

Why I'm sharing this experience?!

Soon many devotees will be traveling to the Mayapur and Vrndavan Festival by train, so take it as an opportunity to distribute Prabhupada's books. It's very simple. Just take one box of Srila Prabhupada's books at the wholesale price from any ISKCON Temple. Take some English books for the educated people and the rest in local languages. Book distribution in India is very sweet. People are very much attracted by Western devotees and if you learn a sentence or two in some local language, then you will immediately win their hearts. Another advantage is that you have the best answer to their "nitya" question, "What Country?" Just give them the book along with the answer. In this way usually meaningless conversation can turn into the most significant moment of their lives. By book distribution you can also cover for all your travel and prasadam expenses. Please keep some prasadam for the beggars and floor sweepers also. Don't chase them away without giving them some mercy. In India you don't have to hide anything. You can freely travel in Vaisnava dress and tilak. Even in the train you can have a full morning and evening program. Many people will join and clap and sing with you. Even if you travel alone or if you are very shy by nature, you can always keep a few small books in your shoulder bag. In India people sitting next to you will surely ask you some questions about you. Then you have a chance to show them the books. In this way a usually tiresome train travel can become a most blissful preaching experience. I apologize to all the senior devotees if some parts of this letter sound like instructions.

Indian train book distribution ki Jay!!

Praying for the mercy of devotees, Your servant, Vasudeva Datta dasa

 
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