domingo, 5 de diciembre de 2010

Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: 30 Days And Counting…



PLANET ISKCON



 
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"Planet ISKCON" - 59 new articles

  1. Australian News: Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha Mandir Siksha Ceremony: Take Part
  2. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Grapefruit Jelly Jam Yes Ma’am
  3. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Sunday 5 December 2010--Break Free Now--and--Can Chanting Alone Lead to Perfection?
  4. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Dina Bandhu Prabhu
  5. Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Artisan Bread for Bumbling Fools
  6. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana
  7. Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: 30 Days And Counting…
  8. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Harinama with Deena Bandhu Prabhu
  9. Japa Group: One Should Constantly Chant
  10. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: more important to preach about Vrndavana than to come to Vrndavana
  11. ISKCON News.com: Magical India Delights Festive Brazilians
  12. ISKCON News.com: The Marathon That Everybody Wins
  13. ISKCON News.com: Could Star Wars be Based on Vedic Literature?
  14. Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: A little from a lot and a lot from a few
  15. Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: An Unexpected Guru
  16. Dandavats.com: Vraj Mandala Padayatra Oct/Nov 2010
  17. Dandavats.com: Simple Living - the Path to Happiness and Personal Fulfillment?
  18. Kurma dasa, AU: Christmas - Meaty and Unsustainable
  19. Dandavats.com: 24-hour Kirtan Festival New Year’s Eve at the Berkeley Temple
  20. Dandavats.com: Volunteer Editor needed by Food for Life Global
  21. Book Distribution News: A little from a lot and a lot from a few
  22. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Update on Cancun climate change talks
  23. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 152
  24. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Prabhupada Meditations
  25. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: There is Playtime in Krishna Consciousness
  26. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write
  27. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  28. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  29. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  30. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  31. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  32. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
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  35. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  36. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  37. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  38. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  39. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  40. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
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  42. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
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  44. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  45. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  46. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  47. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  48. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  49. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  50. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  51. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  52. Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Prayers for Senior Vashnavi, beloved disciple & precious spirtual daughter of Srila Prabhupada
  53. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Vraja Kumara asks what it takes to go back to Godhead
  54. Kurma dasa, AU: Christmas Recipes from Kurma's Kitchen #1 - Kofta
  55. Japa Group: Japa Poem
  56. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Video of Yesterday's Harinama
  57. Gouranga TV: Vishvambar Das kirtana
  58. Kirtan Australia.com: *Live* Video Stream of 24 Hour Kirtan Sydney
  59. Australian News: Hook into the Sydney 24 hr kirtan Live feed NOW!
  60. More Recent Articles
  61. Search Planet ISKCON
  62. Prior Mailing Archive

Australian News: Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha Mandir Siksha Ceremony: Take Part

Hare Krishna Dear Devotees.

We are all looking forward to the New Year 2011 which is around the corner. How about taking new challenges this New Year to enlighten ourselves? This is where ISKCON Sydney is inviting you to take part in the 12th Siksha Ceremony 2010. This SIKSHA CEREMONY shall be conducted on Dec 18th when the devotees will receive the blessings of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath formally from the President/Vice President of ISKCON Sydney Temple.

We are also celebrating Gita Jayanti on Dec 18th, 2010. Join us at 5.00 pm on Dec 18th, 2010 for Gita Jayanti Ygana, followed by the !2th Siksha Ceremony.

Please read on…..

His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, writes in the introduction to the Bhagavad-gita As It Is :

tasmat sarvesu kalesu
mam anusmara yuddhya ca
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir
mam evaisyasy asamsayah

“Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krishna and at the same time continue your prescribed duty of fighting. With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without doubt. ( Bg. 8.7 )

“He (Krishna) does not advise Arjuna simply to remember Him and give up his occupation. No, the Lord never suggests anything impractical. In this material world, in order to maintain the body one has to work. Human society is divided, according to work, into four divisions of social order – brahmana, kshatriya, vaishya and sudra. The brahmana class or intelligent class is working in one way, the kshatriya or administrative class is working in another way, and the mercantile class and the laborer, merchant, administrator or farmer, or even if one belongs to the highest class and is a literary man, a scientist or a theologian, he has to work in order to maintain his existence. The Lord therefore tells Arjuna that he need not give up his occupation, but while he is engaged in his occupation he should remember Krishna (mam anusmara). If he doesn’t practice remembering Krishna while he is struggling for existence, then it will not be possible for him to remember Krishna at the time of death. Lord Chaitanya also advises this……. Therefore we have to practice remembering the Lord always, twenty four hours a day, by chanting His names and moulding our life’s activities in such a way that we can remember Him always.”

Undoubtedly it is important for everyone to practice Krishna consciousness, devotional service to Lord Krishna in their life. The beauty of Krishna Consciousness is that you can take up the practices of devotional service to the Lord as much as you are ready, for Krishna Himself promises in the Bhagavad-gita : “There is no loss or diminution in this endeavor, and even a little advancement on this path protects one from the most fearful type of danger.” So bring Krishna into your daily life and soon you will feel the benefit.

The following are the different levels of commitment and standards of devotional service that you can practice at home while carrying out your normal activities of life. You can choose the level and standard that you can most comfortably practice and ISKCON will offer you guidance and inspiration to practice at that level and help you to gradually reach higher and higher standards.

SHRADDAVAN: A devotee who fulfils the following standards
of devotional service shall be blessed by Sri Sri Radha
Gopinath to practice Krishna consciousness as a
SHRADDAVAN:

1. He/she is an active devotee in the temple’s
congregation, that is he/she visits the temple as often as
possible, does some service in the temple participates and
associates with Krishna conscious programs in the temple.
2. He/she chants at least one round of the Hare Krishna
maha mantra every day.
3. He/she reads the teachings of Sri Krishna as given in
the books of Srila Prabhupada.

KRISHNA SEVAK: A devotee who in addition to fulfilling the
above mentioned commitments of Shraddhavan, fulfils the
following additional standards of devotional service shall
be blessed by Sri Sri Radha Gopinath to practice Krishna
consciousness as a
KRISHNA SEVAK:

1. He/she is dedicated to personal improvement in
devotional practice and purity by gradually applying the
teachings of Srila Prabhupada under the guidance of his
representatives.
2. He/she accepts that Sri Krishna is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead.
3. He/she shall voluntarily engage in practical devotional
service to Lord Krishna.
4. He/she chants a minimum of four rounds of the Hare
Krishna maha mantra every day.
5. He/she refrains from eating non-vegetarian food (meat,
fish and eggs) and tries to lead a moral life.

KRISHNA SADHAK: A devotee who in addition to fulfilling
the above mentioned commitments of Krishna sevak, fulfils
the following additional standards of devotional service
shall be blessed by Sri Sri Radha Gopinath to practice
Krishna consciousness as a

KRISHNA SADHAK:

1. He/she is dedicated to leading a devotional way of life
by gradually learning and practicing Bhakti-yoga according
to the teachings of Srila Prabhupada under his
representatives.
2. He/she is studying the books of Srila Prabhupada and
attend the classes in ISKCON.
3. He/she worships Sri Krishna, as far as practical, in
the ISKCON temples, and in the home by setting up an
altar, offering arati and foodstuffs, worshipping the
sacred Tulasi plant and following basic sadhana like
rising early in the morning.
4. He/she chants eight to sixteen rounds of the Hare
Krishna maha mantra every day.
5. He/she leads a pure holy life by avoiding intoxication
(alcoholic drinks), meat-eating, gambling, and extra-
marital sex.
6. He/she observes fasting on the ekadashi and
festival days, as indicated in the vaishnava calendar.

SRILA PRABHUPADA ASHRAYA: A devotee who in addition to
fulfilling the above mentioned commitments of Krishna
sadhak, fulfils the following additional standards of
devotional service shall be blessed by Sri Sri Radha
Gopinath to practice Krishna consciousness under
SRILA PRABHUPADA ASHRAYA:

1. He/she is dedicated to taking divine shelter of Srila
Prabhupada by following the principles of Krishna
consciousness.
2. He/she practices Krishna consciousness with strong
conviction.
3. He/she chants a minimum of sixteen rounds of the Hare
Krishna maha mantra every day.
4. He/she strictly avoids intoxication including coffee
and tea, meat-eating including onion and garlic, gambling,
cinema, sports, and illicit sex.
5. He/she is well versed in the basics of Krishna
conscious philosophy by reading the books of Srila
Prabhupada systematically and is actively engaged in
preaching (according to his/her capacity) to others about
Krishna consciousness.
6. He/she is doing some responsible service (however
simple it may be) in the temple.
7. He/she follows a strict sadhana programme at home by
rising early in the morning and following a program
similar to the temple as far as possible. He/she shall
also attend at least one Bhagavatam class per week in the
temple.

SRI GURU CHARANA ASHRAYA: A devotee who in addition to
fulfilling the above mentioned commitments of Srila
Prabhupada Ashraya, fulfils the following additional
standards of devotional service shall be blessed by Sri
Sri Radha Gopinath to practice Krishna consciousness under

SRI GURU CHARANA ASHRAYA:

1. He/she has developed additional faith in and surrender
to an authorised spiritual master of ISKCON.
2. He/she has been practicing Srila Prabhupada Ashraya
standards for a minimum of six months and receive a
recommendation from the temple president/vice president.
3. He/she shall pass the written test provided for this
ashraya as per ISKCON law.

SHIKSHA CEREMONY: On 18th DEC 2010 Sat ,
the SHIKSHA CEREMONY shall be conducted where the devotees
shall receive the blessings of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath
formally from the President/Vice President, ISKCON, Sydney (except for
Sri Guru Charana Ashraya, which will be given by the
spiritual master himself).

HOW CAN YOU TAKE PART IN THE SHIKSHA CEREMONY:
Please fill out the online application form by clicking on to the below link http://www.iskcon.com.au/shiksha_program.html > and submit to us, or alternatively fill out the printed form at the temple and drop it in the box at the ISKCON temple reception. Please indicate the level of your practice of Krishna consciousness. You shall be notified via e-mail. Those fortunate devotees who qualify in all respects shall take part in the Shiksha ceremony.

For more information, please contact:
ISKCON Congregation Services,
ISKCON Sydney
180 Falcon St
North Sydney NSW 2060
Tel: 02 9959 4558
Email: sydney.iskcon@gmail.com

180 Falcon Street, North Sydney NSW 2060. Australia. Phone: (02)9959 4558

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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Grapefruit Jelly Jam Yes Ma’am

Can you handle the gorgeousness of this fruit? Such amazingly fresh grapefruit, picked last weekend by the amazing boys of my life! XOXOX Vm & Babu.

 

Using his powers for good, my son climbed this grapefruit tree in a parking lot of the hotel we stayed at in Siesta Key and, with a little assistance from my husband, filled two re-usable shopping bags with ripe, sweet grapefruit.

 

Total nectar! Okay, you have to channel a German Hare Krishna monk to get the full effect of that phrase. I juiced a lot of grapefruits last nite. I learned that my $30 citrus juicer was not meant to juice a lot of grapefruit. I also learned that fresh grapefruit juice tastes best when drunk from a cheers cup.

 

The Babu, home from work and freshly showered, drinking his antioxidants and bioflavinoids.

 

Around 10 o'clock in the evening, I revealed on Facebook my plans for Friday nite: JAM MAKING! Mohini was all like, "Not without me!" And I was all like, "Duh, come over." And so she did. She even went home to get her own juicer when she saw what a dying sick animal mine was. Moaning and wheezing. It was terrible. This was Mohini's second time making jam--her first using natural pectin and doing it low sugar! Exciting times, I tell ya!

 

We stayed up till 3 in the morning, acting like young girls on a chitty chatty jam making binge. Only we are in our thirties and I am way pregnant and we both have demanding offspring. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.

 

The next morning, I stumbled out of bed at an unbelievably late 9 am and was greeted in the kitchen by these jarred jewels! Grapefruit jelly and cranberry grapefruit jam.

 

I set aside some for gifts and some for the family.

 

I have these corny gift tags from Target, so tonite I scribbled out some I.D.'s for tiny jams.

 

While Florida may not have a proper fall–no crabapple, no quince, no pear–we do have winter citrus! Not a bad deal at all…if you have a good juicer!


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Save up to 20% on Unique Holiday Gifts

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Sunday 5 December 2010--Break Free Now--and--Can Chanting Alone Lead to Perfection?

================================================================== Thought for the Day--Sunday 5 December 2010 ================================================================== Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and to you, our treasured readers. Our purpose is to help everyone awaken...

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Dina Bandhu Prabhu

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.45-48

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Devadeva Mirel, Alachua, USA: Artisan Bread for Bumbling Fools

A bit of a spoiler putting this gorgeous round loaf at the front of the post, but seeing is believing.

My BFF Padi is becoming famous for her mastery of the 5 minute no-knead artisan bread loaf. I particularly fancy her baguettes. We had a little telepathic love moment yesterday when she whipped up a batch of vegan cranberry shortbread bars whilst I (yes, she’s British) got hot and steamy over some easier than your mama (okay, that was just wrong) artisan bread.

Let’s take a look at what I did. First step, mix your dough! It is best to mix the dough *at least* 12 hours before you plan to bake. However, as I find with pizza crust, the longer you let the scant amount of yeast in your dough ferment, the more flavorful and chewier your finished product will be.

Here is the recipe I used for the bread. Yes, the flour is white.

Easy Artisan Bread

5 cups bread flour/hi-gluten flour

1 teaspoon sugar

2 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon yeast

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups room-temperature water


*This makes a very wet dough that is difficult to work with! Keep some extra flour on hand for mixing in so that your hands don’t turn into an abominable dough monster. If you have a stand mixer, use that to mix it up real good. If not, incorporate the ingredients all together  with your paws.
*Put the dough in a floured bowl and cover. Set to rise in a warm room for about an hour.  Make sure dough is well wrapped (you can put in a plastic container or cover a bowl with saran). Stick in fridge over nite or for a few days.
*On day you are set to bake, remove from fridge and allow to rise in a warm room for a few hours.
*Everything else you need to know is below the next pic.

 

Inside the Oven: I preheated the oven on broil with a soapstone tile that I use as a pizza stone and my dutch oven on the bottom rack. After an hour of preheating, I placed the bread dough I had rising on a sheet of parchment inside the dutch oven (parchment included). I then sprayed the top of the bread with Braggs Liquid Aminos and sprinkled sesame seeds on top. Then I carefully pulled up a corner of the parchment and dumped about a half cup of water into the cooker. Steam shot up and I carefully replaced the lid, transferring the cooker back to the oven. Reducing the heat to 475 degrees and turning on my convection for optimal air circulation, I returned in 35-40 minutes to remove the cooker from the oven.

I was happily shocked when I removed the lid (carefully since I am an idiot prone to burns, forgetting that things are skin-threateningly hot). The loaf was beautiful!

The outer crust was rough and flaky. The taste of the Braggs was not at all distinguishable yet I know the spritzing did the bread good.

But what about the inside? I was in love when I cut into this bread. Gainesville bakeries, eat your doughy hearts out!

On a bread high, I decided to give homemade mozzarella a try. It wasn't until I put the milk up that I remembered that my candy thermometer broke. Can anyone recommend one that is not total crap? Anyway, feeling confident I went ahead, hoping I could feel out the required temps needed for cheese making. Talk about hoping against hope. I guess I brought the milk to 90 too quickly, or warmed it past 90. It started to curdle (had citric acid in it). I added the vegetable rennet and carried on. The curd firmed up, but was not firm enough. Something was wrong and Stacia wasn't here to council me through it! The whey was not clear enough, that I know. But was I doomed from my initial heat up? I aborted the mission, undertaken with too much bravado and whimsy, and simply hung my curds in a cheese cloth (cloth diaper, actually), cutting my losses. I squeezed out the way, brayed the curds, kneading in salt and dried Italian herbs, rolled into a log and sliced. Unfortunately, the resulting cheese was too good and I ate a huge sandwich of the stuff--the delicious bread, creamy cheese and utterly flavorless roma tomatoes--despite having no real fire of hunger. Ahhhh, it was good.

Within a few hours, most of the bread was eaten by my kids and I. By the time my husband got home from work, all that was left was a tiny wedge. No worries. It's so easy to make. Tomorrow I will mix a few batches of dough. Some to bake, some to freeze. Just a few weeks left until our 6 pound bun comes out of the oven!


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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Today's Darsana

05/12/10
The Devatas have showered SS Radha Ballabha with gardenias, one of Srila Prabhupada's favorite flowers.

The 3 altars altogether are bathing in torrents of jasmine.

The demigods were obviously pleased and present to greet the Deities this morning.

Here's the
slideshow.
Wherever you are now, you can also sing the Govindam prayers along with the Devas while taking darsana!

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Caitanya Mangala, CA, USA: Kulimela Australia: 30 Days And Counting…


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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Harinama with Deena Bandhu Prabhu

hari

The presence of such a genuine Vrajabhasi as Deena Bandhu Prabhu was deeply felt yesterday on Harinama.

It was literally like floating on waves of nectar; everyone felt so light and in bliss, and we had such a responsive audience.

The pictures speak for themselves. A big thank you to Davendra Prabhu who took such nice pictures.

Here's the
slideshow.

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Japa Group: One Should Constantly Chant


Being always ready to offer respects to others, demanding no respect for oneself, one should constantly chant the holy name. One should render intimate service to Sri Radha and Krishna in the mood of the residents of Vraja.

Sri Harinama Cintamani
Haridasa Thakura to Lord Caitanya
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: more important to preach about Vrndavana than to come to Vrndavana

Our business is to glorify Krsna as the Lord of Vrndavana and to popularize Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Hare Krsna Movement. I was a resident in Vrndavana, but at the age of 70 I tried to preach Krsna consciousness a little bit and now this Institution has come out. So, I think it is more profitable to preach about the Master of Vrndavana, Krsna, outside of Vrndavana. A devotee of Krsna can create Vrndavana everywhere by preaching the glories of Krsna.

There are many sahajiyas who imitate Rupa Goswami not to go out of Vrndavana, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained always outside Vrndavana for preaching purposes, although He is is the master of Vrndavana personally. I have no objection to your coming to Vrndavana, but as you have accepted the sannyasa order, it is more important to preach about Vrndavana rather than to come to Vrndavana. I am getting older and older and it is getting difficult for me, therefore I am requesting all my younger disciples to preach all over the world.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Gurudasa -- Vrindaban 18 November, 1976

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ISKCON News.com: Magical India Delights Festive Brazilians

By Gaura Hari Das on 4 Dec 2010

The Magic India festival troupe arrived in Brazil as heavy snow fell around many of their home countries in Northern Europe. Having previously toured Australia for the last three Summers under the name Le Carnaval Sprituel, the same devotees have now just embarked on an 8 week tour of Brazil joining up with local devotees under the name The Magic India.


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ISKCON News.com: The Marathon That Everybody Wins

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 3 Dec 2010

December is the month of the Prabhupada Marathon, in which devotees make an increased effort to introduce others to the enlightening spiritual literature —introduced to the Western World by ISKCON's founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada—that changed their lives.


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ISKCON News.com: Could Star Wars be Based on Vedic Literature?

By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON News on 3 Dec 2010

A new book by scholar and popular ISKCON author Satyaraja Dasa (Steven J. Rosen) investigates the connection between two unlikely bedfellows—Star Wars and the Hindu Tradition.


 
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Bharatavarsa.net: Book distribution seminar: A little from a lot and a lot from a few

A Book Marathon Message By Giriraj Swami (From a talk on January 11, 2010, Kiev, Ukraine)

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah

"In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons, and confidential companions." (SB 11.5.32)

This verse refers to Lord Caitanya. Those who are intelligent (su-medhasah) will worship this incarnation, Lord Caitanya, by performance of sankirtana-yajna.

Book distribution is sankirtana. Kirtana means "glorification" and sam means "complete." Glorification of Krsna is complete when many devotees participate. Also, complete glorification means glorifying not only Krsna's name but also His form, His qualities, His pastimes, His entourage, His paraphernalia--everything related to Him. Distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books is complete glorification of Krsna because Srila Prabhupada's books glorify Krsna fully--His name, form, qualities, pastimes, and so on.

Who worships Lord Caitanya by sankirtana? Those who are highly intelligent. Of course, sometimes someone might not be so intelligent--he might just be fortunate. Here I am not referring to you, but to myself, as I am about to explain how I was engaged in sankirtana.

I began in Boston in 1969. As His Holiness Niranjana Swami mentioned, we should tax our brains to think of different ways to distribute Prabhupada's books. Srila Prabhupada used to do that, and one area that he considered important was bookstores, and back then he wanted one devotee in each temple to place his books in bookstores.

The Boston temple was very small then, and somehow either Satsvarupa or Brahmananda thought I could try. So I took the books to various bookstores, and I was quite successful, they were purchasing the books. I was extremely successful in putting Prabhupada's books in the Harvard Co-Op. They took a huge order, maybe twenty copies of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and other books. And when Srila Prabhupada heard, he was very pleased. It was the first time, to my knowledge, that he was aware of a specific service that I had done.

Years later, when I was in Madras, although our main program for distributing books in India was life membership, I did go to some bookstores. In fact, Srila Prabhupada was so intent on his books being distributed that he would sometimes write me letters suggesting specific bookstores that I could approach. So, there was a large bookstore on the main street of Madras, Higgenbotham's Booksellers on Mount Road, and they placed a really large order--about sixty large books. I would periodically visit the store to see if the books were selling, and they were, and then we would supply them more books.

Srila Prabhupada was so pleased that he wrote me a letter: "I am most pleased especially to hear that you are distributing many books. Go on increasing books, and go on increasing my pleasure." The more we increase the distribution of Prabhupada's books, the more we increase Prabhupada's pleasure, and that is our goal. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado: When Prabhupada is pleased, when the spiritual master is pleased, then Krsna is pleased.

Later, I did a college program in Bombay and wrote a report about it to Srila Prabhupada, explaining what I had said to the students. At the time Prabhupada was ill in Vrndavana, and Tamal Krishna Goswami, his secretary, was replying to letters on Prabhupada's behalf. Tamal Krishna Goswami wrote back that Srila Prabhupada was especially pleased to hear that the students had purchased his books. I had been thinking that Prabhupada might be pleased with what I had told the students, but when I read that Prabhupada was "especially" pleased to learn that students had purchased many of his books, I realized that that is where the real substance is. If they get Prabhupada's books, they get the complete philosophy and practice of Krsna consciousness--and the inspiration to take it up.

These books are so important, and the order of the spiritual master is so important, that if we distribute the books on the order of the spiritual master, in the way the spiritual master has instructed, there will be great potency in the activity. We must tax our brains how to distribute Prabhupada's books. And if we take up that order, and actually work to distribute them, we will experience wonderful results.

On my way from America to South Africa, I stopped in England just before the marathon began, and on my way from South Africa to Ukraine, I stopped there again just after the marathon ended. England had a very successful marathon, and their motto was, "A little from a lot." If a lot of devotees participate, even if each one does only a little, it will add up. Of course, some devotees, who have the time and facility, can do a lot. But others, such as householders, may be able to do only a little. So that's a good motto: "A little from a lot." And we may also get a lot from a few. And that is a wonderful combination: a few from a lot and a lot from a few.

We request all of you to please take up this service of book distribution. Be one of the few who do many, or one of the many who do a few. Srila Prabhupada will be pleased with all of you because his guru maharaja wanted this distribution of books. By performing this service of sankirtana, you will certainly be blessed by Srila Prabhupada, the parampara, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, and Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.

Hare Krsna.

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Bhakti Lata, Alachua, USA: An Unexpected Guru

The bench in front of Turlington Hall

This afternoon on a break between classes, I sat down on the big circular bench in front of Turlington to eat some pretzels. Just around the curve of the bench, I saw a young man absorbed in a small black book with gold on the edges of the paper. I felt washed with curiosity.

For several minutes, I debated whether I should begin a conversation. The young man closed his book and sat back to gaze at the sky with a ponderous tone. Finally I thought, What do I have to lose?

So I picked up my backpack and sat 3 or 4 feet away from him. "Excuse me," I said. "May I ask a personal question?"

He turned his gentle brown eyes to me. "Yes," he said.

"Why do you read the Bible?"

The young man's balance and grasp of the Bible and Christianity was like clear, clean water. And yet he maintained that he still has many questions, like "Why would God allow suffering in the world?" "Is there any second chance at salvation?" "Why are we here?" I believe that Krishna Consciousness answers those questions, but I never replied.

I simply inquired. I simply listened.

I never brought up my religion, or that my views of love and faith come from Krishna consciousness. Even when he asked me if I was interested in reading the Bible, I kept out any mention of the scriptures follow. I inquired purely as a seeker.

I'm not sure how long we sat there beneath the giant oak tree in the midst of the whorls of students all rushing to their business. Time seemed to suspend in the presence of such a timeless conversation.

But the most timeless moment came when the young man said, "The Bible describes a standard, and I strive to live by that standard every day. But... I fail. Every day, I fail. And yet God loves me anyway. To me... that is how God becomes more and more beautiful, every day."

We were silent for several moments. Then he asked me, "What are your thoughts on all this?"

I collected my thoughts and said, "It almost brings tears to my eyes..." and then tears stung my eyes, "... that we are so undeserving, but God loves us anyway. That if we surrender, the Lord can become more and more beautiful every day." I wiped away my tears.

The young man asked, "What is your name?"

"Bhakti," I replied.

"Bhak...ti?"

"Yes. It means 'devotion'." I said. "What is your name?"

"Cory. I don't know its meaning, though." He smiled.

"Thank you for sharing, Cory," and with that I packed up my things and we said goodbye.

That may be the last time I ever speak with or even see Cory again.

Of course I did not agree with a lot of the Christian philosophy we discussed. But I did not ask questions to find out what I disagreed on. I asked questions to seek the essence, to inquire into the beauty of his faith.

And I truly feel that I found it, I found a drop of essence.

Thank you, Cory. Today you were my guru.
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Dandavats.com: Vraj Mandala Padayatra Oct/Nov 2010

By Parasuram das and Yasoda Dulal das

41,000 books - The Teaching of Lord Caitanya were distributed in Vraja this Kartik by the Padayatra team. Yasoda Dula prabhu from New Zealand, Loka Saranya prabhu from Czech, Vikunta Vijay (61 year old) from Russia, Prahlad Prya from Russia, and Parasuram from Ireland

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Dandavats.com: Simple Living - the Path to Happiness and Personal Fulfillment?

By Dhanesvara Das

One of my friends, the devil's advocate, wrote to me to ask how "living in a one room cabin off-grid relates to the performance of devotional service and the development of Daiva-varnashrama Village?

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Kurma dasa, AU: Christmas - Meaty and Unsustainable

It's that time of the year when meat-eaters of the Christmas-celebrating world go totally crazy in a bloodlust of flesh-consumption.

Here in Australia we are bombarded with images of roasted pig-parts and de-capitated turkeys, all glossed-up and covered in sauce, honey-glazed, stuffed, basted, and always surrounded with happy-looking Christmas-ites.

How does all this impact on our fragile planet? Badly. Here's some horrific US statistics:

reflections:

Eight Meaty Facts About Animal Food

WHERE’S THE GRAIN? The 7 billion livestock animals in the United States consume five times as much grain as is consumed directly by the entire American population.

HERBIVORES ON THE HOOF. Each year an estimated 41 million tons of plant protein is fed to U.S. livestock to produce an estimated 7 million tons of animal protein for human consumption. About 26 million tons of the livestock feed comes from grains and 15 million tons from forage crops. For every kilogram of high-quality animal protein produced, livestock are fed nearly 6 kg of plant protein.

FOSSIL FUEL TO FOOD FUEL. On average, animal protein production in the U.S. requires 28 kilocalories (kcal) for every kcal of protein produced for human consumption. Beef and lamb are the most costly, in terms of fossil fuel energy input to protein output at 54:1 and 50:1, respectively. Turkey and chicken meat production are the most efficient (13:1 and 4:1, respectively). Grain production, on average, requires 3.3 kcal of fossil fuel for every kcal of protein produced. The U.S. now imports about 54 percent of its oil; by the year 2015, that import figure is expected to rise to 100 percent.

THIRSTY PRODUCTION SYSTEMS. U.S. agriculture accounts for 87 percent of all the fresh water consumed each year. Livestock directly use only 1.3 percent of that water. But when the water required for forage and grain production is included, livestock’s water usage rises dramatically. Every kilogram of beef produced takes 100,000 liters of water. Some 900 liters of water go into producing a kilogram of wheat. Potatoes are even less “thirsty,” at 500 liters per kilogram.

HOME ON THE RANGE. More than 302 million hectares of land are devoted to producing feed for the U.S. livestock population — about 272 million hectares in pasture and about 30 million hectares for cultivated feed grains.

DISAPPEARING SOIL. About 90 percent of U.S. cropland is losing soil — to wind and water erosion — at 13 times above the sustainable rate. Soil loss is most severe in some of the richest farming areas; Iowa loses topsoil at 30 times the rate of soil formation. Iowa has lost one-half its topsoil in only 150 years of farming — soil that took thousands of years to form.

PLENTY OF PROTEIN: Nearly 7 million tons (metric) of animal protein is produced annually in the U.S. — enough to supply every American man, woman and child with 75 grams of animal protein a day. With the addition of 34 grams of available plant protein, a total of 109 grams of protein is available per capita. The RDA (recommended daily allowance) per adult per day is 56 grams of protein for a mixed diet.

OUT TO PASTURE. If all the U.S. grain now fed to livestock were exported and if cattlemen switched to grass-fed production systems, less beef would be available and animal protein in the average American diet would drop from 75 grams to 29 grams per day. That, plus current levels of plant-protein consumption, would still yield more than the RDA for protein.

From “Livestock Production: Energy Inputs and the Environment” By David Pimentel

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Dandavats.com: 24-hour Kirtan Festival New Year’s Eve at the Berkeley Temple

Miko Armon: We, the Devotees of the Berkeley Krishna Temple, are inviting you to a 24-hour Kirtan Festival New Year's Eve to bring in the New Year. (see attached flyer). The Jagannatha Deities at the Berkeley Temple are the first Deities in ISKCON

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Dandavats.com: Volunteer Editor needed by Food for Life Global

Priyavrata das: If you have professional editing skills and time to volunteer your services to Food for Life Global, please contact Priyavrata das now. We are specifically looking for someone that has experience editing both KC and non-KC books

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Book Distribution News: A little from a lot and a lot from a few

A Book Marathon Message By Giriraj Swami (From a talk on January 11, 2010, Kiev, Ukraine)

krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam sangopangastra-parsadam yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah

"In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krsna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krsna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons, and confidential companions." (SB 11.5.32)

This verse refers to Lord Caitanya. Those who are intelligent (su-medhasah) will worship this incarnation, Lord Caitanya, by performance of sankirtana-yajna.

Book distribution is sankirtana. Kirtana means "glorification" and sam means "complete." Glorification of Krsna is complete when many devotees participate. Also, complete glorification means glorifying not only Krsna's name but also His form, His qualities, His pastimes, His entourage, His paraphernalia--everything related to Him. Distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books is complete glorification of Krsna because Srila Prabhupada's books glorify Krsna fully--His name, form, qualities, pastimes, and so on.

Who worships Lord Caitanya by sankirtana? Those who are highly intelligent. Of course, sometimes someone might not be so intelligent--he might just be fortunate. Here I am not referring to you, but to myself, as I am about to explain how I was engaged in sankirtana.

I began in Boston in 1969. As His Holiness Niranjana Swami mentioned, we should tax our brains to think of different ways to distribute Prabhupada's books. Srila Prabhupada used to do that, and one area that he considered important was bookstores, and back then he wanted one devotee in each temple to place his books in bookstores.

The Boston temple was very small then, and somehow either Satsvarupa or Brahmananda thought I could try. So I took the books to various bookstores, and I was quite successful, they were purchasing the books. I was extremely successful in putting Prabhupada's books in the Harvard Co-Op. They took a huge order, maybe twenty copies of the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and other books. And when Srila Prabhupada heard, he was very pleased. It was the first time, to my knowledge, that he was aware of a specific service that I had done.

Years later, when I was in Madras, although our main program for distributing books in India was life membership, I did go to some bookstores. In fact, Srila Prabhupada was so intent on his books being distributed that he would sometimes write me letters suggesting specific bookstores that I could approach. So, there was a large bookstore on the main street of Madras, Higgenbotham's Booksellers on Mount Road, and they placed a really large order--about sixty large books. I would periodically visit the store to see if the books were selling, and they were, and then we would supply them more books.

Srila Prabhupada was so pleased that he wrote me a letter: "I am most pleased especially to hear that you are distributing many books. Go on increasing books, and go on increasing my pleasure." The more we increase the distribution of Prabhupada's books, the more we increase Prabhupada's pleasure, and that is our goal. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasado: When Prabhupada is pleased, when the spiritual master is pleased, then Krsna is pleased.

Later, I did a college program in Bombay and wrote a report about it to Srila Prabhupada, explaining what I had said to the students. At the time Prabhupada was ill in Vrndavana, and Tamal Krishna Goswami, his secretary, was replying to letters on Prabhupada's behalf. Tamal Krishna Goswami wrote back that Srila Prabhupada was especially pleased to hear that the students had purchased his books. I had been thinking that Prabhupada might be pleased with what I had told the students, but when I read that Prabhupada was "especially" pleased to learn that students had purchased many of his books, I realized that that is where the real substance is. If they get Prabhupada's books, they get the complete philosophy and practice of Krsna consciousness--and the inspiration to take it up.

These books are so important, and the order of the spiritual master is so important, that if we distribute the books on the order of the spiritual master, in the way the spiritual master has instructed, there will be great potency in the activity. We must tax our brains how to distribute Prabhupada's books. And if we take up that order, and actually work to distribute them, we will experience wonderful results.

On my way from America to South Africa, I stopped in England just before the marathon began, and on my way from South Africa to Ukraine, I stopped there again just after the marathon ended. England had a very successful marathon, and their motto was, "A little from a lot." If a lot of devotees participate, even if each one does only a little, it will add up. Of course, some devotees, who have the time and facility, can do a lot. But others, such as householders, may be able to do only a little. So that's a good motto: "A little from a lot." And we may also get a lot from a few. And that is a wonderful combination: a few from a lot and a lot from a few.

We request all of you to please take up this service of book distribution. Be one of the few who do many, or one of the many who do a few. Srila Prabhupada will be pleased with all of you because his guru maharaja wanted this distribution of books. By performing this service of sankirtana, you will certainly be blessed by Srila Prabhupada, the parampara, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, and Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.

Hare Krsna.

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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Update on Cancun climate change talks

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/richardblack/

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: 152

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4:38 A.M.

Excerpts from Sri Harinama Cintamani (spoken by Haridasa Thakura to Lord Caitanya and written by Bhaktivinoda Thakura):
More Material on the First Offense in Chanting (Criticizing a Saintly Person):

The main characteristic of a saintly person is his complete surrender to Krishna. This is called his svarupa, or direct quality of saintly characteristic. The qualities that are ornamental are called tathasta. The sadhu’s acceptance of Lord Krishna as his only shelter is his svarupa-laksana, and all the other qualities are tathasta. Haridasa Thakura tells the history of Raghunatha dasa. He was very eager to take to the life of complete renunciation and wanted to run away from his opulent home life, but Lord Caitanya told him that renunciation will take place gradually, within the heart. When Raghunatha dasa met Lord Nityananda, he held a feast for him and treated very charitably all of Lord Nityananda’s associates. In this way he received the mercy of Lord Nityananda. He then became qualified to completely leave home and renounce. He joined Lord Caitanya in Jagannatha Puri. Caitanya Mahaprabhu put him under the care of Svarupa Damodara and gave him the following concise teachings for life in the renounced order:

“One should not engage in, nor give audience to, frivolous materialistic conversations. The wearing of fine clothes and the tasting of delicacies must be rejected. Being always ready to offer respects to others, demanding no respect for oneself, one should constantly chant the holy name. One should render intimate service to Sri Radha and Krishna in the mood of the residents of Vraja.”

We should not try to imitate the instructions given to Raghunatha dasa Goswami for extreme renunciation but follow the specific instructions given to us by Srila Prabhupada, and then we will become successful.

This morning I woke at 1:30 A.M. and began chanting in bed. I fell asleep again and woke up at the alarm set for 2:30, my new schedule. I got up from bed and began my chanting. I chanted at a good rate and finished over thirteen rounds. But I developed a headache, and this was an impairment to easy chanting. The pain distracted me and made me pay attention to my forehead rather than to the sound vibration. But I persisted and camped up the count. I did not feel depressed but felt I had done my best. When you are hampered physically and you nevertheless keep on chanting and try your best, you don’t feel depressed but you feel worthy and in line for Krishna’s mercy.

Lord Caitanya told Raghunatha
when He first met him, “Don’t
act like a crazy man.
Continue your grhastha life
and let renunciation grow in your heart.”
Raghunatha got a great head start
when he put on a chipped rice
festival and fed prasadam and gave golden coins
to the cowherd devotees of Nityananda Prabhu.
Nityananda said Raghunatha would be
free from the shackles of family life
very soon. And despite the guards
to keep him from running away
he escaped during the night and traveled
to Nilacala. There he was accepted
as an intimate follower of Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. Caitanya put him under
the direction of Svarupa Damodara,
and he carried out his orders.
Prabhupada tells us not to imitate Raghunatha
but follow the rules and regulations he
has given us for real renunciation in
the heart.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Prabhupada Meditations

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Kirtana-rasa:

“In the second recall session with Baladeva, I started again from my 1966 apartment at First Street and took the short walk over to 26 Second Avenue. B. was going to steer me into the hallway to go up to see Swamiji in his apartment, but I suddenly wanted to go directly into the storefront and attend the temple meeting:

“Thinking of the kirtanas . . . with his one-headed drum. That’s really the heart of association with Swamiji, he’s playing his drum, and we start playing the karatalas. It’s really nice, the making of spiritual music together, especially when you feel part of the group. Swamiji is leading the kirtana. First he sings some prayers, and you just go with it and listen. It’s not only sound but the total kirtana, watching him and trying to get the bliss.

“When Swamiji sings, you all sing together and your voices are merged. It’s musical and spiritual but it’s a kind of crying too—Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare . . .

“You start in; this is going to go for half an hour. It goes back and forth, he sings and then you sing. Swamiji is completely into it. He loves to do what he’s doing, chanting Hare Krishna.

“After awhile the dancing started. Maybe Acyutananda or Jadurani, Kirtanananda, Brahmanananda, and I would get up too. The dancing was walking in a circle or standing in your place and moving your feet. The circle goes slowly around in front of Swamiji on the dais. Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

“He keeps his eyes closed, and sometimes they open and he sees what’s going on. He looks around at the people, and then he closes his eyes again.

“After the kirtana there would be waves of quieting down and the devotees would be smiling to each other, ‘Wow, that was far-out, man. Boy, I really got off on that one.’
Then there would be calming down, getting your seat, getting ready to hear Prabhupada talk. Swamiji was getting himself ready, he had his pocket watch, and he put that in its place, getting his book ready, and maybe he’d say, ‘Raymond, fix this light.’ Or, ‘Get water,’ while everyone’s rustling and trying to calm down.

“One wants to be with Swamiji again in those kirtanas. If it can be done, it will act as a vital tonic. The presence of the guru.

“Don’t deride the love which Prabhupada encouraged us to feel in the kirtanas. Now,  many years later, don’t patronize, ‘We were hippies, you know, and Prabhupada was permissive. He encouraged ecstasy in the kirtana, and he led us to believe that we actually loved the Lord, but since then, we’ve discovered that we don’t love Lord Krishna so easily.’

“It may be said that I’ve overlooked a great secret—it was easy to love Lord Krishna when Srila Prabhupada was leading you in kirtana, and that’s still available. Meditate on being in kirtana with him as you go about your routine duties on his behalf. Don’t complain, ‘But now I have to be a guru,’ and ‘Everything is institutionalized’—but as you go about your bathing, eating, sleeping, etc., you can sing, and in your mind’s eye you are with him.”

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: There is Playtime in Krishna Consciousness

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In yesterday’s Free Write I
wrote that I had a concussion
playing football. That never
actually happened. It was a
dash of fantasy which I
promised you the day before
I would indulge in.

Sections of the journal come
straight out of Srimad-Bhagavatam
and the Harinama Cintamani so I
allow myself to play sometimes.
Krishna is not always serious
or truthful. He tricks the
boys and they trick him and
His tricks on the gopis are
unfathomable. They are
meant to increase their
natural love and sometimes
they are referred to as
“loving sports.”

I am a sober sannyasi,
a physically ailing senior
citizen, but I am not
a dour personality.
I like to have some fun.

Sometimes I have even played
“’Round Midnight” while writing
a poem. I am strictly in the
line of Prabhupada and
Rupa Goswami but
I was born and raised
in New York City and
still carry some of that
karma with me. I
am trying to dovetail it
with Krishna consciousness
and I have just quoted today
from the
Srimad Bhagavatam
where it says you should use
your talents and proclivities
for the service of Krishna.
Some things have to be thrown
off as undesirable ballast
but I thought you’d
guess I really wasn’t playing
football and I still like
the music and poetry
that touches human chords
and is not destructive
but inspirational.

I know some devotees
are more strict and more
narrow-minded and can’t come
with me. I respect them
and like to hear their
presentations.
But I have to go my way
for now
and look for playmates
in the limitless realm
of Krishna consciousness.

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami: Free Write

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We have started reading “The Rasa Dance: An Introduction.” It is all very familiar, but it is charming and interesting. Prabhupada explains parakiya-rasa. It is an adulterous affair. In the material world, it is abominable. The gopis’ relationship with Krishna is pure and sublime. In the material world, parakiya-rasa is compared to iron, and in the spiritual world it is compared to gold. The gopis’ only desire is to please Krishna. In the material world, if a servant is not paid wages, he will not serve. But the gopis serve Krishna under any conditions. When Krishna plays the flute during the full moon evening of the sarat season, the gopis stop whatever they are doing and run to the spot at Vamsi-vata where Krishna is standing in His three-fold bending form. No matter what they were doing or whoever tries to impede them, the gopis break free and rush to Krishna. One gopi was locked up in her house by her brothers, and she gave up her body in meditation on Krishna. Most of the gopis reached Krishna and gathered around Him. Krishna greeted them officially and with welcoming words.

At first He did not treat them intimately but asked them why they had come at the dead of night. He cautioned them that the jungle was full of wild animals. He suggested that they go home after a scenic view of the forest and act as chaste wives. The gopis were very depressed at Krishna’s distant treatment of them. They began to cry tears and scratch their toes in the sand. Why was He treating them like this. They asked what boy would behave so coldly to beautiful girls who came to him at the dead of night? Krishna was simply testing the gopis, and gradually He warmed up to them. Maharaja Pariksit and Sukadeva Goswami had been discussing why Krishna acted this way. Krishna was supposed to be setting the ideal behavior for persons according to the codes of religion, so why was He playing the flute to attract the minds of the gopis to come and join Him. Sukadeva Goswami told Maharaja Pariksit that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and whatever He did was righteous.

Krishna is called Hrsikesa, the controller of the senses, and He was actually the true husband of all living beings. Sukadeva Goswami assured Maharaja Pariksit that anyone attracted to Krishna attains liberation from material bondage because Krishna is the transcendental master of all mystics. The gopis remained quiet while Krishna told them to go home, but finally they couldn’t stand it any longer and they spoke up angrily. “Krishna,” they said, “You are very cruel!” They pleaded with Him not to discourage their long-held desires to have Krishna as their husband. They asked Him to satisfy their desires and said they could not go home again. Hearing their anxious pleas, Krishna began to smile, and being kind to them He began to embrace them as they desired. They walked in the forest together. When Krishna touched the bodies of the gopis, their lust to embrace Him increased. The gopis, however, soon began to be very proud, thinking themselves to the most fortunate women in the universe. In order to curb their false pride and to show them His causeless mercy, He immediately disappeared from the scene. This is an instance of Krishna’s practice of renunciation.

I’m reading a book on journal-keeping, A Walk Between Heaven and Hell by Burghild Nina Holzer. She wanted to write a book to help students in journal writing and decided the best form was not a textbook but a journal. A wise decision. Her book is filled with the love of journal-keeping. It is so important to her. She has learned a lot about life and writing by writing. It makes me want to make my journal more real and life-giving. The last few days I have been pressing free writing, even reaching incoherency. That’s part of it. Writing your life. Holzer’s father has been dying for a long time, her brother just died. She had a baby die at birth. She’s living through a long winter, making trips to Austria to see her dying father.

Through it she keeps writing. She discovers a journal can be anything: “A journal can be anything! You hear me? A journal can be anything!’ This is what I told my students over and over. ‘Listen to me: you can make the rules, you can make the restrictions, you can give the permission. A journal can hold just about anything. You can make it your confessional, or your grocery list . . . My journal is a vision-quest, searching for something, entry after entry, finding myself.’ A Krishna conscious person is searching for Krishna. His journal is a vision-quest searching for his relationship with Krishna entry after entry, finding Krishna in himself. The journal-writer Holzer attends a workshop on human energy systems. “’What is health?’ someone in the class asked today, and I couldn’t help but think of my writing, and I thought, ‘The flow, the flow, always the flow.’”

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 December 5 : "Regarding my meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury, please arrange for this. We will talk on a religious basis and we may invite many respectable elites of the city to participate."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 December 5 : "One gentleman has offered us a small Temple in Vrndavana with room for about 20-25 men. It is in care of our friend. Please go there immediately and see it and do the needful."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 December 5 : "Upon the shoulders of you the leaders of this Movement falls the responsibility of saving this earth planet from the present dangerous position. So the work is in your hands. Let me be free now to translate books."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 December 5 : "MacMillan Co. should not change our Bhagavad-gita As It Is from our version. Examine the contract very thoroughly and consult. You may also send me a copy of the contract."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 December 5 : "Three years ago I asked Dai Nippon to print 20,000 copies of Back To Godhead and barely we could distribute them. Now your temple alone is distributing so many, so this is very, very encouraging to me."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 December 5 : "It is the perfect form of preaching. Follow the line laid down by Prahlada Maharaja and try to take every one back to home, back to Godhead. And this is done by distributing our literature."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 December 5 : " Thank you very much for increasing the book distribtuion. My Guru Maharaja was most pleased to see books distributed so continue to increase it more and more."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 December 5 : "We require men for India. Our programs there are important and there is a great need. I am requesting that you send at least one or two first class men from your zone. Kindly make arrangement for this."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 December 4: "In these hymns they have no definite idea of what is God. But we are directly praying to Krishna for the highest benediction of eternal devotional service so we do not require to repeat the Christian hymns."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 December 4: "One person is appreciating water while another person is tasting the water. When we taste, appreciation is automatically there and when we have taste for chanting, automatically appreciation for God is there."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1969 December 4: "Anything which will remind one of Krishna is spiritual, and anything which will make one forget Krishna is material. Actually, everything is of spiritual nature because everything is coming from Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 December 4: "You can write songs about Krishna, but one cannot take it very seriously. They should be perfectly from the transcendental platform, without any tinge of mundane influence or nonsense imagination."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 December 4: "Regarding Bombay project, the foundation should be dug immediately. Regading Government loan, ask for at least 1 crore. If we construct a very attractive hotel many tourists will come just like the Holiday Inn."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1974 December 4: "Regarding money for the Vrindaban project, I have written for a report, and as soon as it comes, I will reply you. You must be satisfied how the money is being spent."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 December 4: "The reports are very encouraging. Keep me informed. There is tremendous field in India for selling books, 600,000,000 people. In every home there should be at least one of our publications."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 December 4: "Yes, your present engagement is more important, managing Calcutta temple is not so important. I am pleased that you are selling my books, this is superior engagement, so please continue and increase it more and more."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 December 3: "Lord Caitanya said the ocean of Krishna Consciousness increases daily, nobody is static in Krishna Consciousness, everyone becomes a dynamic force for spreading this movement. It is truly a happy movmement, "
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 December 3: "If preaching is strong, management will be strong. That is the rule. If we simply remain pure and become very convinced of this Krishna consciousness philosophy, any sane man will agree with us when we speak."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1971 December 3: "This is very good news. MacMillan is enthusiastic to print our Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 30,000 paperback and 10,000 hardback. See to it that everything is done smoothly, so that Bhagavad-gita may be presented to the world without further delay."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 December 3: "I do not know why these inventions are going on. I have never introduced these things. That is our only business, to invent something new program? Who has introduced these things?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 December 3: "We have got our standard. It was sufficient for Lord Caitanya, the Six Gosvamis, Bhaktivinode Thakura, my Guru Maharaja, and for me. Why it shall now be inadequate that my disciples must manufacture something? That is not possible."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1973 December 3: "We have opened some Centers and they must be maintained. But we shall not open any more Centers for now. We require much manpower and resources, we must consolidate our energy."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 December 3: "I started this movement by book selling. I was never a beggar for money, but I was writing and selling books and publishing BTG alone. But I could not give the thing shape, so I decided to come to America."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 December 3: "My Guru Maharaja very much liked my writing and my Godbrothers, they also liked my writing. After I wrote that poem of my Guru Maharaja for Vyasa Puja they used to call me Poet."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 December 2: "Our first business is to complete our rounds each day. The other paraphernalia and activities shall be executed as time permits. If there is no time then we must disregard."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

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Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA: Prayers for Senior Vashnavi, beloved disciple & precious spirtual daughter of Srila Prabhupada

Every morning we are blessed to hear a beautiful rendition of Govindam adi-purusham prayers during deity greetings and the melodious singing is synonymous with Yamuna devi dasi. Srila Prabhupada sent 3 of his spirtual daughters (namely Yamuna devi dasi, Malati devi dasi and Janaki devi dasi) as well as 3 of his spirtiual sons (Gurudasa, Shyamsundara das and Mukunda Prabhus) to London, England and the rest as they say, is history. The dedicated disciples met up with George Harrison and the Beatles and did beautiful recordings released by Apple records that have brought so many devotees to the fold.

The Canadian connection is that these instructions to go the London came in Montreal.
The ultimate ISKCON connection is our beloved Guru Maharaja, Srila Prabhupada was so pleased with the recording and Govindam adi-purusham that he  instructed it to be played daily at deity greetings which continues to this day and will continue for thousands of years to come. And our Godsister who was so beloved to Srila Prabhupada, Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi will be tied to that forever. On a sad note, in this material world of misery, Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi is not well and with the dedicated efforts of her friend and God-sister Malati devi dasi, she is going to India to Bhaktivendanta Hospital. If you want to contibute in any way please contact Her Grace Malati devi dasi or Paypal to
servingkrishna@aol.com.

Of course, prayers are required and what better way than prayers of action and to distribute Srila Prabhupadas books today while meditating on Yamuna devi dasi.
 
With that note I will leave you with 2 video tributes and meditations.
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Vraja Kumara asks what it takes to go back to Godhead

Chanting namabhasa gives only this material existence, but Srila Prabhupada said that, “If you simply can understand what is Krsna and what is your relationship with Krsna, that is sufficient to take you back to home, back to Godhead. ” Please could you comment on this.

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Kurma dasa, AU: Christmas Recipes from Kurma's Kitchen #1 - Kofta

Over the next few weeks I plan to publish some great Christmas-friendly recipes.

Do you have any tasty, tried-and-true veg recipes that have enchanted dinner guests? If the answer is yes, please share them with me, and I'll publish them.

kofta:

Betty from Texas wrote:

"Hello Kurma, can you share any Xmas recipes for vegetarians? My daughter and her family are committed non-carnivores and I don't know quite what to cook for them on the Big Day."

Succulent Mixed Vegetable Balls in Herbed Tomato Sauce (Kofta)

Koftas are succulent, Indian style vegetable balls that can be served soaking in sauce or smothered in gravy. A number of vegetables are suitable for making kofta – potato, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach and radish are the most popular. My favourite kofta are made from a mixture of cauliflower and cabbage and served on a bed of steaming hot rice, or as illustrated, couscous. Try these succulent delights either as part of a main meal or as an accompanying savoury. Makes 24 koftas.

(Note that there is no water added to the cabbage mixture on purpose. Try to avoid adding any, and your koftas will be better. If the mix is just too dry despite squeezing, add the smallest sprinkle of water to make a firm mix).

Sauce 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 bay leaves ½ teaspoon yellow asafetida powder 4 cups tomato puree 1 teaspoon dried basil 2 teaspoons salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1½ teaspoons sugar

Koftas 2 cups grated cauliflower, 2 cups grated cabbage, 1½ cups chickpea flour, ½ teaspoon yellow asafetida powder, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garam masala, ½ teaspoon cayenne, oil for deep frying.

The sauce: Heat the oil in a saucepan over moderate heat. When hot, drop in the bay leaves and saute for 1 minute or until fragrant. Sprinkle in the yellow asafetida powder, and fry momentarily.

Stir in the tomato puree and basil. Raise the heat, bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until a little reduced. Add in the salt, pepper and sugar, remove from the heat and keep warm.

The koftas: Combine all the kofta ingredients in a bowl until well mixed. Roll the mixture into 24 balls. Heat the oil for deep-frying in a wok or deep pan over fairly high heat to about 180° C / 350° F. Carefully drop in 6-8 balls.

Fry the koftas for 2 or 3 minutes or until they rise to the surface and start to colour.

Reduce the heat to low, and fry for another 8-10 minutes, or until they are a deep reddish brown.

Remove and drain on paper towels. Increase the oil temperature to its original temperature, and repeat the frying procedure for the remaining batches of koftas.

Serve: soak the koftas in the hot sauce 10 minutes before serving time to allow them to fully soak and become plump and succulent.

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Japa Group: Japa Poem


Some sadhus say there is
only one offense—to criticize
saintly persons. There are
actually ten offenses, but they
talk that way to emphasize
the poison of sadhu-ninda.
Some sadhus swear they will
never use the word “ninda”
(offenses to others) or think that word
in their thoughts.
Krishna is kind and ready
to forgive the worst sinners.
Who are we to be unforgiving,
as if we are better than Krishna?
If someone offends us we can take
it that we are suffering from our
past offenses to others. Be tolerant
and go on chanting. Then you
have a chance to improve in
chanting. Chanting with envy to others
and you are pouring gasoline on
your offensive attitudes.

From
Bhajan Kutir #151

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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Video of Yesterday's Harinama

russell

While waiting for the 150 pictures to upload,
here is short
video of the harinama.

Russell Prabhu has recorded 1hour and 50minutes of the harinama and will upload it in segments of 15 minutes in the coming week.

So stay posted!

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Gouranga TV: Vishvambar Das kirtana

Vishvambar Das kirtana

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Kirtan Australia.com: *Live* Video Stream of 24 Hour Kirtan Sydney

Hare Krishna,

The live video stream of the 24 hour kirtan with Vaiyasaki Das in Sydney can be viewed by following this link.

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Australian News: Hook into the Sydney 24 hr kirtan Live feed NOW!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/iskcon-sydney-24-hour-kirtan

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