Awakened--and--How to Get Free from Birth and Death?

PLANET ISKCON

 

----- Original Message -----

From: FeedBlitz

To: 

Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 8:59 AM

Subject: Planet ISKCON - 42 new articles

Here are the latest updates for   "Planet ISKCON" - 42 new articles H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 23 February 2011--The Whole World is Waiting to be Awakened--and--How to Get Free from Birth and Death? Kurma dasa, AU: Avocado Smoothie ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Sinks Sinks and…. H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – BG 13.26 Parrot Incarnation 2010-12-13 – Video ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakti Visramba Madhava Swami ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Tonight's Outing with HG Parividha Prabhu Japa Group: When He Chants Properly Japa Group: Japa - Kirtan Retreat Part 9 H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, February 20th, 2011 Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Srila Prabhupada's Letters Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Australian News: NEWS UPDATE: Photo’s of ISKCON Christchurch post quake H.H. Sivarama Swami: Nandakisora Pareek asks, Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: And The Wind Cries “Hare” H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Appearance Day Lord Nityananda 2011, New Orleans, US. H.H. Sivarama Swami Akrura das, Gita Coaching: GITA COACHING AT GOLOKA DHAMA, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 2010 Mayapur Online: Forest of Vrindavan in Mayapur Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Sweet Nectar to celebrate ISKCON Spirtual Grandfather's Appearance Day. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Recipe : Easy Vegan Gravy Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Pranati to honour his appearance day ISKCON News.com: Quake In New Zealand Kills At Least 65, Traps More Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Prayers for devotees of ISKCON family in Christchurch Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Sri Advaita Acarya's Appearance Day Magic Book Distribution News: Sri Advaita Acarya's Appearance Day Magic Dandavats.com: Invitation to Tirobhava Mahotsava Dandavats.com: Bhaktivedanta College Summercamp 2011 - Interview with the organizers Dandavats.com: Mayapur Currency Exchange Information Dandavats.com: New Zealand earthquake: 65 dead in Christchurch Dandavats.com: My Spiritual Grandfather, Our Devotional Line Gouranga TV: Bhajan – Bir Krishna Goswami – Jaya Radha Madhava Mayapur Online: Srimad Bhagavatam Class- Live from Mayapur H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Quote Of Guru Maharaja More Recent Articles Search Planet ISKCON Prior Mailing Archive H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 23 February 2011--The Whole World is Waiting to be Awakened--and--How to Get Free from Birth and Death? A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course(tm) Wednesday 23 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: The Whole World is Waiting to be Awakened Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram--Austin, Texas USA The whole world is waiting to be awakened by Krishna's devotees. Even though it has advanced materially in so many ways, people are still not satisfied. The illusioned souls of this age are simply awaiting that opportune moment when their hearts will be touched by a devotee of Krishna and they can revive their dormant Krishna consciousness. Therefore there is no greater welfare work than sharing the teachings of Lord Krishna with everyone that you meet. So don't remain stone-hearted and selfish by keeping Krishna to yourself. Tell everyone about Krishna as much as possible whenever and wherever you get the opportunity. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Upendra Das Tells Interested Lady About Krishna http://www.backtohome.com/images/Upendra_preaches.jpg Answers According to the Vedic Version: Question: How to Get Free from Birth and Death? Please explain how to get free from the cycle of birth and death. Amit Gupta Answer: Implement the Many Instructions All you have to do is fully surrender to Krishna according to the instructions He has given us in the Bhagavad-gita. But my concern is this: You have inquired from me for many years, but I don't see you doing anything to implement the many instructions of the Bhagavad-gita. Without implementation instructions have little or no meaning. So if you want actual deliverance from birth and death, you must now implement the many instructions you have received. Otherwise your inquiries are more or less a useless waste of time. 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. If you have extra frequent flier miles that you can donate to support our mission, please send an email for more information to: givemiles@backtohome.com 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:   • Email to a friend • • Kurma dasa, AU: Avocado Smoothie Geraldine from Manly writes: "Hi there Kurma. I tasted an avocado smoothie recently in a Vietnamese eatery. Wondered if you have a recipe? Cheers." My reply: Yes I do! Vietnamese Avocado Smoothie If you’ve only ever tasted avocados in a savoury context, this drink will be a pleasant surprise. My first encounter with an avocado drink was in the highlands outside of Jakarta; I found it both comforting and filling. This is a popular version from Vietnam where it is known as sinh to bo. It is traditionally served very thick — you may prefer to add a little extra iced water. PREPARATION AND COOKING TIME: 15–20 minutes, YIELD: enough for 4–6 persons 1⁄2 cup sugar, 1⁄2 cup water, 5 small or 2 large ripe avocados, about 800g, 2–3 cups iced water, 2⁄3 cup sweetened condensed milk, 1 cup crushed ice, extra crushed ice, extra iced water (optional), Combine the sugar and 1⁄2 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring the syrup to the boil over moderate heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the syrup from the heat and allow it to cool. Cut the avocados in half and remove the stones with a sharp knife. Spoon the flesh into a blender or food processor, add the sugar syrup and 2 cups (500ml) iced water and blend to a smooth purée. Add the condensed milk and ice and process again. If you find the consistency a little too thick for your taste, add a little more iced water and blend again. Serve in tall, chilled glasses with the extra crushed ice.   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana We know that we are not the body... ...but it was an all-ladies dressing team preparing Their Lordships for Their pearl-rich darsana today: Bhakti Mataji and Swarupa Sakti attended to big and chota Sri Sri Gaura Nitai respectively; Gokula Rani Mataji looked after Sri Sri Radha Ballabha while Rasanandini Mataji served Sri Sri Radha Krishna; and Bhakti Latta was at the task with Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Mayi. Like our pujaris, let us all aspire to be the servants of the servants of the servants of the gopis, those dedicated damsels of Vraja who relentlessly and expertly see to every need of the Divine Couple, for as Ramananda Raya declares: "without the mercy of the gopis one cannot understand the confidential pastimes of Radha and Krsna". (Teachings of Lord Caitanya, chp. 31)   • Email to a friend • • Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Sinks Sinks and….   An oversized sink of durable material will prove to be the workhorse of your kitchen. More Sinks! Oh. My. Gad! My kitchen sink is on the Horton Brasses Blog! Can you believe it? Can you? I almost can’t! But then, since I wrote the post, I can! My sink. Maybe your sink. Who knows! Many a famous sink is featured in this post, all of them soapstone. Want to know what makes soapstone such a great material for sinks? Read more… Tagged: apron front sink, horton brasses, kitchen design, kitchen remodel, period kitchen, soapstone sinks, traditional kitchen   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Prahladananda Swami: Lecture – BG 13.26 Parrot Incarnation 2010-12-13 – Video Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam, Chapter 13, Text 26 titled “Parrot Incarnation”.  This is at a home program at Lavangalatika’s house. Dallas, TX 2010-12-13 Bhagavad-gita As It Is 13.26 anye tv evam ajanantah srutvanyebhya upasate te ‘pi catitaranty eva mrityum sruti-parayanah TRANSLATION Again there are those who, although not conversant in spiritual knowledge, begin to worship the Supreme Person upon hearing about Him from others. Because of their tendency to hear from authorities, they also transcend the path of birth and death. PURPORT This verse is particularly applicable to modern society because in modern society there is practically no education in spiritual matters. Some of the people may appear to be atheistic or agnostic or philosophical, but actually there is no knowledge of philosophy. As for the common man, if he is a good soul, then there is a chance for advancement by hearing. This hearing process is very important. Lord Caitanya, who preached Krishna consciousness in the modern world, gave great stress to hearing because if the common man simply hears from authoritative sources he can progress, especially, according to Lord Caitanya, if he hears the transcendental vibration Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. It is stated, therefore, that all men should take advantage of hearing from realized souls and gradually become able to understand everything. The worship of the Supreme Lord will then undoubtedly take place. Lord Caitanya has said that in this age no one needs to change his position, but one should give up the endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth by speculative reasoning. One should learn to become the servant of those who are in knowledge of the Supreme Lord. If one is fortunate enough to take shelter of a pure devotee, hear from him about self-realization and follow in his footsteps, one will be gradually elevated to the position of a pure devotee. In this verse particularly, the process of hearing is strongly recommended, and this is very appropriate. Although the common man is often not as capable as so-called philosophers, faithful hearing from an authoritative person will help one transcend this material existence and go back to Godhead, back to home. BG 13.26 Parrot Incarnation 2010-12-13   • Email to a friend • •   ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Bhakti Visramba Madhava Swami Srimad Bhagavatam 11.31.11 - The ornaments used to decorate Krsna's body are beautified by Krsna's supreme beauty.   • Email to a friend • •   ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Tonight's Outing with HG Parividha Prabhu Get ready to have Parividha Prabhu rock your world tonight if you are in for it. He leads probably the most engaging and inter-active harinamas we have seen so far; Parividha Prabhu gets all the onlookers to join the Sankirtan Party and makes them chant the Holy names in a most caring and 'fun' way. Yesterday, we brought back 3 fallen yet eager souls with us for prasadam and further cultivation after an explosive harinama. So join us on another "Enchant the whole world with the Maha-Mantra" mission, today at 5pm in front of Crossways followed by Krishna Fest at 6pm where Parividha Prabhu will be leading kirtan and conduct the evening discourse. Be there or be square!   • Email to a friend • • Japa Group: When He Chants Properly This is a devotional exchange between the Lord, the supersoul and the jiva. And the guru is the via-medium between the supersoul and the jiva, atma and paramatma. So the guru teaches the devotee how to chant. And then the devotee chants, and when he chants properly, then he gets 2 things – enthusiasm and eagerness to serve and ideas for service. From the Process Of Improving Habits   • Email to a friend • • Japa Group: Japa - Kirtan Retreat Part 9 In the final part of the retreat, Sacinandana Swami discuss's the elements of successful kirtan.   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, February 20th, 2011 Moods in Mayapura Mayapura, India Before coming to Mayapura every year I prepare myself psychologically for the variety of moods I go through. There is the mood of anticipation. What surprises will come my way? This year the stunning reality came when seeing the superstructure of the local project manifest. The temple being built will be the size of St. Paul's Cathedral. It appeared to have shot up out of the ground since last year's visit at this time. It certainly wasn't shocking to hear that three young teens were found climbing the 300 foot crane the night before. They were not applauded for their foolish stunt. Also the spirit of joy fills the atmosphere, especially in the morning. Devotees get particularly excited about the morning sadhana and the sacred worship of the best of plants, tulasi. Chanting, drumming and dancing is at its best. You are a true wallflower if you don't move to the sound of the drum beat. There is also the mood of fatigue. By the tail-end of a six-hour long meeting (with a break of course) I guess I looked quite tired and perhaps a trace of bitterness. Two of my peers during the session smiled at me with some pity knowing my impassioned love for meetings. Naturally, there is some love and that is love for the guru and the mission and that's why I exercise some loyalty. I guess I looked so off that I could be used as an instant souring agent that turns milk into yogurt. The great rehearsals with the youth from 7-9AM and 7-9PM are exhilarating. It's a positive mood. Then there's the mood of disgust. From our room #506 in the Gada Building you hear the sound of hocking when the locals grab all of the phlegm of the universe and spit it out. It just sounds like rakshasas (monsters) having a hay day and competition. Who can be the longest, loudest and then throw it the farthest? These incredible sound effects tend to make their way through the plumbing system. It's all so colorful. It's all so fun! The moods end in peace by night. The mind is tranquil. 5 KM   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1969 February 22: "Back to Godhead shall publish articles from Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Brahma Samhita, Nectar of Devotion, Vedanta Philosophy, Upanisads, etc. And if some of our students write as they have assimilated the philosophy, that also should be welcome." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1969 February 22: "This was written by my godbrother but it is not very practical. It contains some ideal discussions only and I know he is personally deviated from all of such ideas so I don't think it is very much valuable." Prabhupada Letters :: 1969   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1970 February 22: "I marked the minor mistake you committed on the first verse but I ignore it as very insignificant. But I am very glad that you are so much repentant even for this insignificant mistake as that will push you forward further in Krsna Consciousness." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1970 February 22: "I have read the transliteration of Bhagavad-gita verses, but I think you have to do it very carefully because there are some mistakes. Regarding first chapter, eighth verse: I have compared the text with Gita Press edition as well as Baladeva Vidyavhusan's edition and the manuscript is correct." Prabhupada Letters :: 1970   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1971 February 22: "Chief Controller of Foreign Exchange, Reserve Bank of India: Instead of taking money from my many thousands of disciples, I want to convert that money into books on this Krishna Consciousness Movement and bring these books into India without payment. Kindly grant me necessary permission." Prabhupada Letters :: 1971   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1971 February 22: "Our main consideration in the development of our centers is that people be attracted to this Krsna consciousness Movement one way or another. Work sincerely and Krsna will give all things needed for the continuous dissemination of the Hare Krsna Mahamantra." Prabhupada Letters :: 1971   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1972 February 22: "The Lord helps the living entity both from inside and outside but surrender to Supersoul is the advanced stage. So long one is not advanced, he must take direction from the external manifestation of Supersoul - the bona fide Spiritual Master." Prabhupada Letters :: 1972   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1972 February 22: "On the carbon-copy contract you neglected to initial the last clause. Also I have added to Section XII: 'As well as the 48 pages of illustrations for which the Author reserves the right to publish for any purpose he may determine." So when MacMillan Co. has duly signed, then the thing is done, I am satisfied." Prabhupada Letters :: 1972   • Email to a friend • •   Srila Prabhupada's Letters 1972 February 22: "If five centers can distribute over 8,000 Krishna Books in just two months, what to speak of Bhagavad-gita As It Is. MacMillan must publish our books with all haste. Worldwide demand is such that 40,000 copies can be sold in a few months time." Prabhupada Letters :: 1972   • Email to a friend • •   Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Narada Muni das: We were celebrating the Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Maharaja, and Srila Prabhupada gave a lecture and he was saying how he had not done any service for his spiritual master. And he was thanking all of us, implying that without us his service couldn't have been rendered when in actuality it was only by Prabhupada's mercy that we were able to render any service. So he said, "Because I have nothing to offer to my Guru Maharaja, I am going to offer all of you." And then Srila Prabhupada went and he performed arati to the deities, and he offered us to his spiritual master. I don't know exactly the spiritual process, but I definitely felt the result of Srila Prabhupada's kindly connecting us with his Guru Maharaja. Then after arati Srila Prabhupada turned and started dancing, and the word can't really be understood in terms of what Srila Prabhupada was manifesting. It was more like when Lord Chaitanya is described when He was dancing in a circle like a firebrand, it was one continuous movement. Srila Prabhupada was hopping up and down across the temple room back and forth; and the entire place where we were, the whole space, was immediately transported to another dimension. We were really out of the material world. I was a very young devotee, and I remember to this day my crying, tears running down my face, and realizing how Srila Prabhupada was actually entering into our hearts and he was cleaning them, he was purifying us so that someday in the future we would actually be able to render devotional service. >From the transcript to Following Srila Prabhupada, DVD #2.   • Email to a friend • • Australian News: NEWS UPDATE: Photo’s of ISKCON Christchurch post quake Temple Deities before the earthquake.\ Thanks to Radha John for the following photo’s of damaged temple building. Thanks to Prananatha Dasa for these photo’s of damaged temple building. IMPORTANT NOTICE. If you, or someone you know, wishes to make a donation to the Christchurch Temple, you can, until something official is set up, make donations via PayPal through this account: paul@videoguys.co.nz 100% will be passed on to the Temple. Thank you. Your servant, Prananatha das. Share this story your way:   • Email to a friend • •   H.H. Sivarama Swami: Nandakisora Pareek asks, “I am praying to God regularly but I can’t find peace and rest. Please guide me” and Narsing Brahanpure says “We are born and dead again, we leave this world with lots of hope, so what is the meaning of life?”   • Email to a friend • • Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: And The Wind Cries “Hare” The soundtrack wasn’t Hendrix or any other artificial sound. I was out splitting wood and the West wind, the purifying wind,  was blowing hard and it was a be still and know that I am God kind of day.  The swishing of the fir tree branches was the lead exploring tempo and counterpoint, while the steady roar of wind through the bare branches of deciduous forest supplied the bass with the depth of sound to drown out traffic noise from Route 250.  Last year’s gourd crop, cured dry or almost dry,  rattled against each other on the arbor to provide percussion. I was chopping wood with my maul. I had had some trees pulled up near the house last year and they are dry enough to use.  There was some ash and locust. First I cut the fence post lengths out of the locust logs which can be seen lying next to the arbor waiting to be split into usable fence posts. Then I cut the remainder into firewood lengths. After 10 weeks of consistently below normal temperatures, we got a sudden warm up that melted the accumulated snow and two days in a row set record high temperatures for those dates.  So this was a beautiful day, the cutting was finished, noisy chain saw set aside, and I was able to concentrate on splitting the cord wood by hand. This kind of menial labor is very soothing for me. Other types of work like sales, working a computer, talking on the phone, meetings, driving in traffic — all these and most activities require attention from the mind. Splitting wood frees the mind, lets it develop bigger thoughts without intrusion. I find that restful and, if I can keep up a decent pace, I get an exercise high from it. My medical condition prevents me from doing it all day long as I might have in the past, but if I go out and do what I can, take a break and get back when I can, over a few days the pile of wood does get bigger. When I haul wood in from other locations I can only unload it on one side of the pile, but here I am bringing it in a wheelbarrow so I go to the far side of the pile and stack it there first, because I can easily get to it. Note the three ends of rows of wood left over on the right.  I always put up more wood than I need for a winter so I have a jump on the next year, but this year I got into the extra wood and that is all that is left over. We still have a lot of wood burning days left, but we have storage space in the house we replenish from the main pile, and I think there is enough there to get us through. We will start at that end of the pile and go the other direction next year, so we never have any wood older than 2 years in the pile. I stack it level, but as I am stacking I leave the last layer on the top and finish it off with the inevitable weird shape pieces that are hard to stack. My yearly goal is to have the  next year’s wood in the pile by the end of April, because once frost ends there is too much to do in the garden to worry about firewood.  Plus, even cured wood laying on the ground in the forest can be 12 % moisture, and in the pile by summer’s end will have only 8%. That is extra moisture that will steal heat and escape in the form of steam up the stovepipe so best to burn completely cured and dry wood. Today it is snow on the ground again so I am confined by my lack of austerity to the house, but I can almost hear the music of the wind in my memory. Filed under: Cows and Environment   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Appearance Day Lord Nityananda 2011, New Orleans, US. Sent by His Grace Sribash Prabhu For more pictures please click here   • Email to a friend • • H.H. Sivarama Swami Many rules and spiritual practices are not necessary for advancement in devotional service. Simply take complete shelter of the holy name and purify your heart and consciousness. - Jagadananda Pandit   • Email to a friend • •   Akrura das, Gita Coaching: GITA COACHING AT GOLOKA DHAMA, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 2010 Click on the title to access the video.   • Email to a friend • •   Mayapur Online: Forest of Vrindavan in Mayapur Today is the celebrated occasion of appearance day of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura. He established Caitanya Math in Antardvipa, Mayapur and called this place “Vrindavana Pattan”, which means the place where the forest of Vrindavana is manifest. By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s spiritual potency, Syama-Kunda, Radha-Kundaand Giri-Govardhana of Vrindavana are all manifest here. read more   • Email to a friend • •   Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Sweet Nectar to celebrate ISKCON Spirtual Grandfather's Appearance Day. It is noon on the auspicous appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Maharaj and just as Srila Prabhupada is the spirtual father and Founder Acarya of ISKCON, Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarasvati Thakur is the the Spirtual Grandfather. So instead of blogging about an historical account, I am trying to capture points that stood out for from my dad's talk about him just now at home...  - In the Nectar of Devotion Srila Prabhupada states, "So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's struggle for this movement has come out successful".  - Srila Prabhupasa continues, "Our Krishna consciousness movement in the western world is based on the above mentioned proposition of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasavati Gosvami Prabhupada, our spirtual master. On his authority, we are claiming members from all sections of the Western countries".  - Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur had great spirtual strength and that can be seen because he was the ONLY disciple of Gaur Kishore Das Babaji and thus the only link in the disciplic succession. It can also be seen with the establishment of 64 maths and further by the fact that Abhay Charan (Srila Prabhupada) was wary of "sadhus" but found solace and his spirtual master in Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarasvati Thakur.    - Srila Bhaktisddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Maharaj judged his disciple (Srila Prabhupada) and had the foresight to know who could carry out the movement around the world.  - He gave Srila Prabhupada two primary instructions. Print books and preach in English. - If it was not for these instructions by our spirtual grandfather, there would be no ISKCON or worldwide Hare Krishna  movement.  -Srila Prabhupada took these instructions to heart and followed them while other disciples of Srila Bhatisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur were drowning in politics, in fighting, administration and trying to control assets. - This is  why we say Srila Prabhupada was the foremost and dear disciple since he took Krishna consciousness all over the world with the instructions of of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur.  - In humility, Srila Prabhupada said " “Because I have nothing to offer to my Guru Maharaja, I am going to offer all of you.”  So with that spirit and instruction, O' Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakhur Maharaj, your spirtual grand children and great grand children fall at your lotus feet and thank you for giving us our beloved Spirtual Master and direct link to you and allowing us to partake in the glorious Sankirtan movement of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu!  jaya om visnu-pada paramahamsa parivrajakacarya astottara-sata sri srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada ki jaya!   • Email to a friend • •   Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Recipe : Easy Vegan Gravy Extended family visits have begun! My in-laws just left to go back home. My mom comes next weekend. Brother-in-law the weekend after that. And then a couple of weeks later my sister flies down. Everyone wants to see Baby Bindu before she gets too big. Bindu will be 8 weeks tomorrow and is weighing in at 9 lbs. She’s gained a little over 3 pounds since birth. And I’ve lost a little under zero pounds! Hmmmm, I wonder why? Part of the problem may be meals like this, eaten in abundance–at least two helpings of everything. My husband and his mother cooked most nights, but yesterday they were all out at the springs, so I decided to get things going in the kitchen. Puttering through the days on little sleep and breastfeeding brain, I wasn’t highly sensitized to what was–or wasn’t–in the larder. What I was highly sensitized to was everyone’s different likes and dislikes. Thus, things got complicated quickly. When everyone returned home things only became more complicated as my son told me I promised to make soup with dumplings when grandma and grandpa were here. Did I? There is no way for me to remember, but since my son isn’t breast feeding, I trust his recall. My father-in-law is not very fond of tofu but seems to like seitan, all vegetarian things considered. In light of this discovery, I thought the seitan roast should make an appearance at the dinner table. And you can’t have the roast without gravy! Okay. You can. But gravy does seem to make it better. Inspired by my blog friend Scissors & Spice’s own Easy Vegan Gravy Recipe post, I actually wrote mine down to share. This recipe is simple and can be gussied up many ways. But that’s not why you’re here reading this post. There are other blogs with complicated fancy feasts for your table. Blogs by people not breastfeeding their baby while measuring out ingredients. This is not those blogs. Recipe below…. vegan roast vegan gravy topped with brown butter + herbs RECIPE : EASY VEGAN GRAVY INGREDIENTS : 3 TB olive oil 1/2 cup sifted chickpea flour 1/2 tspn black pepper 1/2 tspn celery seed 1/4 tspn dried sage 1/4 tspn dried thyme 1/2 tspn mustard powder 1/2 tspn yellow hing (optional) 3 TB Braggs (or soy sauce) 2 TB nutritional yeast 2 cups water EQUIPMENT : stove sauce pan whisk measuring spoons / cup sifter spice grinder DIRECTIONS : Heat sauce pan on stove, medium heat Grind spices and herbs to fine powder in spice grinder Put olive oil in sauce pan After oil heats up, add sifted chickpea flour to toast, constantly stirring Allow chickpea flour to darken a few shades. Do not get very dark Add the spice mixture and continue whisking Add water, soy sauce and nutritional yeast, whisking over medium low heat until thickened If needed, add more water to gravy Serve warm VARIATIONS : There are different ways to make this gravy fancier without too much trouble. If you have a stick blender on hand, you may want to saute celery, mushrooms, leeks, etc, add to the gravy and then puree. Or, you may use those ingredients or fresh herbs as a garnish. Since we are actually not vegan, I added brown butter and herbs to the gravy as a delicious embellishment. vegan roast fresh from the oven organic fresh dill inspiring spring red fingerling potatoes + hungarian paprika + dried herbs + coarse ground black pepper + kosher salt + olive oil + 475 degree heat + fresh dill my son made a special request... ...soup with dumplings to finish the meal on a sweet note, a little banana bread. nothing says "i'm a busy mom" quite like banana bread! the meal was rather beige. the dumplings were filled with spinach. there was also a snow pea dish not pictured. and pasta topped with freshly chopped tomatoes. red. those dishes colored up the meal. also, our cooking/dining space is cheerily spotted with jars of brightly hued flowers. this bunch was bought by the husb for our anniversary. these beautiful red bud blossoms were hacked from a tree in our yard. your winter is our spring in florida! Tagged: baking, brunch, dessert, food, recipe, seitan, side dishes, vegan, vegetarian   • Email to a friend • •   Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Pranati to honour his appearance day nama om vishnu padaya krishna presthaya bhutale srimate bhaktisiddhanta sarasvati iti namine I offer my respectful obeisances unto His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, who is very dear to Lord Krishna,having taken shelter at His lotus feet. sri varsabhanavi devi dayitaya krpadhaye krishna sambandha vijnana dayine prabhave namah I offer my respectful obeisances to Sri Varsabhanavi-devi-dayita Dasa [another name of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, who is favored by Srimati Radharani and who is the ocean of transcendental mercy and the deliverer of the science of Krsna. madhuryojjvala premadhya sri rupanuga bhaktida sri gaura karuna sakti-vigrahaya namo 'stu te I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the personified energy of Sri Caitanya's mercy, who deliver devotional service which is enriched with conjugal love of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, coming exactly in the line of revelation of Srila Rupa Gosvami. names te gaura vani sri murtaye dina tarine rupanuga viruddhapasiddhanta dhvanta harine I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, who are the per sonified teachings of Lord Caitanya. You are the deliverer of the fallen souls. You do not tolerate any statement which is against the teachings of devotional service enunciated by Srila Rupa Gosvami.   • Email to a friend • • ISKCON News.com: Quake In New Zealand Kills At Least 65, Traps More By Joe Morgan for BBC News on 22 Feb 2011 A powerful earthquake struck one of New Zealand's biggest cities Tuesday. The Christchurch ISKCON temple was also damaged, the Deities broken, and devotees injured.     • Email to a friend • •   Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Prayers for devotees of ISKCON family in Christchurch Our heartfelt prayers for the devotees in Christchurch, New Zealand. We pray that Sri Nitai Gaurachandra allows for a speedy recovery of Srila Prabhupada's outpost in Christchurch after the recent earthquake. Hoping beautiful Sri Nitai Gaurachandra are fine and early damage reports are reversed.       • Email to a friend • •   Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: Sri Advaita Acarya's Appearance Day Magic On being dropped off in Hamilton city center in New Zealand by "The General" (Sriman Krishna Dasa Prabhu), I could immediately detect a very special atmosphere and felt unusually peaceful and confident. These feelings were further boosted by the minor austerity of the half-day fast. The whole day was magic, but there are four special exchanges I want to share with the devotees: 1) I stopped a very old man wearing a tartan hat. He was from Wales and of very cheerful disposition. After we indulged in a short glorification of Wales, he happily looked at a Bhagavad-gita and subsequently gave a $20 donation. He didn't want to take a Gita, preferring to travel light, so I offered him a copy of "Elevation to Krishna Consciousness." He slipped it into his small bag and cheerfully walked off, promising to read it. 2) I was passing a somewhat despondent-looking group of young people when suddenly a young boy called out, "Excuse me, excuse me! I read that small book ["Elevation to Krishna Consciousness"] you gave to my friend last week. It's amazing, and I tried the meditation techniques it suggests. They really work, brother, they really work!" His intense animation was in stark contrast to his friends' moroseness. I thanked him for reading the book and gave him an invitation card for our Tuesday Krishna Fests. He was clearly in ecstasy. 3) A little later a Maori youth ran up to me and asked, "Have you got a book on Lord Nrsimhadeva?" He explained that he had an Indian work colleague and had become very interested in Lord Nrsimhadeva after "lots of discussion about Hinduism." I showed him the brief description and small image of Lord Nrsimhadeva in the SB 1.1 and then invited him to attend a Krishna Fest, promising to give him my Lord Nrsimhadeva poster if he attended. 4) Later I hurried to stop an interesting-looking young man about to cycle off on his bike. Despite looking fairly grungy, he was somewhat bright and effulgent. After seeing the books he felt inspired to find an ATM, withdraw some money, return, and then give a nice donation D explaining that he would never normally do this. He took a Sri Isopanisad and made a further gesture of good will by giving me an expensive-looking chocolate bar. (NB- this has not been eaten . . . yet ;) I feel very fortunate to have been able to witness Sri Advaita's magical causeless mercy first hand. Working under such powerful, absolute authorities is extremely exciting, and I beg for the good will and blessings of the devotees to be able to continue. All glories to Sri Advaita! Aspiring to aspire to become your servant, Bhakta Chi, Hamilton, NZ   • Email to a friend • • Book Distribution News: Sri Advaita Acarya's Appearance Day Magic On being dropped off in Hamilton city center in New Zealand by "The General" (Sriman Krishna Dasa Prabhu), I could immediately detect a very special atmosphere and felt unusually peaceful and confident. These feelings were further boosted by the minor austerity of the half-day fast. The whole day was magic, but there are four special exchanges I want to share with the devotees: 1) I stopped a very old man wearing a tartan hat. He was from Wales and of very cheerful disposition. After we indulged in a short glorification of Wales, he happily looked at a Bhagavad-gita and subsequently gave a $20 donation. He didn't want to take a Gita, preferring to travel light, so I offered him a copy of "Elevation to Krishna Consciousness." He slipped it into his small bag and cheerfully walked off, promising to read it. 2) I was passing a somewhat despondent-looking group of young people when suddenly a young boy called out, "Excuse me, excuse me! I read that small book ["Elevation to Krishna Consciousness"] you gave to my friend last week. It's amazing, and I tried the meditation techniques it suggests. They really work, brother, they really work!" His intense animation was in stark contrast to his friends' moroseness. I thanked him for reading the book and gave him an invitation card for our Tuesday Krishna Fests. He was clearly in ecstasy. 3) A little later a Maori youth ran up to me and asked, "Have you got a book on Lord Nrsimhadeva?" He explained that he had an Indian work colleague and had become very interested in Lord Nrsimhadeva after "lots of discussion about Hinduism." I showed him the brief description and small image of Lord Nrsimhadeva in the SB 1.1 and then invited him to attend a Krishna Fest, promising to give him my Lord Nrsimhadeva poster if he attended. 4) Later I hurried to stop an interesting-looking young man about to cycle off on his bike. Despite looking fairly grungy, he was somewhat bright and effulgent. After seeing the books he felt inspired to find an ATM, withdraw some money, return, and then give a nice donation D explaining that he would never normally do this. He took a Sri Isopanisad and made a further gesture of good will by giving me an expensive-looking chocolate bar. (NB- this has not been eaten . . . yet ;) I feel very fortunate to have been able to witness Sri Advaita's magical causeless mercy first hand. Working under such powerful, absolute authorities is extremely exciting, and I beg for the good will and blessings of the devotees to be able to continue. All glories to Sri Advaita! Aspiring to aspire to become your servant, Bhakta Chi, Hamilton, NZ   • Email to a friend • •   Dandavats.com: Invitation to Tirobhava Mahotsava Panca Tattva das: Hare Krsna. Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!Please see the invitaion card attached