viernes, 18 de noviembre de 2011

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO FIND YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?



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"Planet ISKCON" - 35 new articles

  1. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO FIND YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?
  2. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Seminar Lecture : Lord Krishna’s Vrindavana Pastimes (Part 5)
  3. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Stambha Bhava
  4. Australian News: Harinam – Canberra – Get it on!
  5. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  6. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  7. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  8. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  9. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  10. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  11. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  12. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  13. Japa Group: Meditate Upon The Transcendental Sound Vibration
  14. H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: The special process of chanting part 1
  15. Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Faults of others
  16. Dandavats.com: Japa & Kirtan Retreat at Varsana 1st, 2nd and 3rd days
  17. Dandavats.com: Bhaktivedanta Players perform to a full house at the Watford Palace Theatre
  18. Dandavats.com: Mayapur Chandras
  19. Dandavats.com: Murari’s Kirtan Valley “Super 1st Sat. Feastival”
  20. Dandavats.com: Short promo on the Spiritual Counsellor System at ISKCON-London
  21. Dandavats.com: Bhaktivedanta Players Ramayana at Watford Palace Theatre
  22. Dandavats.com: Bhaktivedanta College Radhadesh: Exciting New Course Starts in 2012
  23. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Video: Book Distribution Drama - January 2010
  24. Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Do You Want To Make Money From Facebook?
  25. New Vrndavan, USA: 2012 Deity Flower Garden Work Progressing
  26. Spiritual Scientist: Are we mixing up our means and our ends?
  27. H.H. Sivarama Swami: The world debt stands at $280,000,000,000,000
  28. Australian News: Friends of ISKCON Sydney
  29. Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Devotional mentality takes precedence, not rules
  30. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Wednesday, November 16th, 2011
  31. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
  32. H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Together we share our mood and enthusiasm!
  33. Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Voluntary Creative Simplicity
  34. Gouranga TV: Trivikrama Swami Sunday Bhagavad-Gita Class Orlando 10/30/2011
  35. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 17 November 2011--The Home of Unlimited Sweetness--and--How to Identity a Pure Devotee?
  36. More Recent Articles
  37. Search Planet ISKCON
  38. Prior Mailing Archive

Akrura das, Gita Coaching: HOW TO FIND YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?



Designed by Ajita Krishna
 
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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Seminar Lecture : Lord Krishna’s Vrindavana Pastimes (Part 5)

THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON LORD KRISHNA’S PASTIMES IN VRINDAVANA IS THE FIFTH LECTURE IN A SERIES OF SEVEN, GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CARU SWAMI. Transcription : His Grace Vrajendrasuta Dasa. www.naamhat.blogspot.com Edited by: Ramananda Raya Dasa Audio source: click here So when Krishna was about 7 years old, one day He saw that, all [...]

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Stambha Bhava

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.12 - Performing devotional service with enthusiasm.

 
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Australian News: Harinam – Canberra – Get it on!

Dear Devotees,

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

Thank you for your participation in ISKCON Canberra temple’s activities.

This Saturday we are planning to do Harinam from 10.30 am till 12.00 noon tomorrow (Saturday). Please gather at the temple by 10.15 am and we will proceed to city together. Kindly confirm your participation by contacting me (ndrw_connell@yahoo.com.au ) or the temple (iskcon@harekrishnacanberra.com ) as soon as possible.

Your Servant,

Ayodhyadeva Ram das

Click here to visit the HareKrishnacanberra.com site


 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 November 18: "Provocation and misunderstanding may remain between one man and another but our staunch faith in Krishna Consciousness may not allow any material disruption. Therefore please try to be sympathetic with any person even if they differ."

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 November 18: "Regarding Srimad-Bhagavatam, please send me the chapters you have revised I want to see how it is being done. I am glad you are not omitting anything, but just making grammatical correction, that is very nice. "

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 November 18: "Our position has nothing to do with them. They cannot do anything and if somebody does something, they will be envious. So many persons were envious of my Guru Maharaja, but He was preaching and He did not care for them."

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 November 18: "You have requested me if you can again return to your wife. How is that possible? Then you have to give up your sannyasi dress. You can support her if you want and she can remain separately, but you cannot see her nor talk with her, neither correspond."

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 November 18: "Real business is to spread the message of Lord Caitanya throughout the world. So that place where we may broadcast Krishna Consciousness all over the world, if you are able to get it without too much difficulty, that will be a very great asset for preaching."

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 November 18: "We do not criticize the communist idea, but we want to make it perfect. Let the leading men of any communist country come and talk with us and we are sure to make him convinced about this loftiest philosophy of Krsna consciousness."

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1972 November 18: "We are not so much after big, big buildings, we are interested to preach only. Not that we shall have to labour so much just to get money for maintaining, so much so that our spiritual life becomes neglected, no."

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1975 November 18: "If you want to have Krsna, one must be above illicit sex life. That requires some strength. By chanting Hare Krsna, one will become strong. Unfortunately, we have no taste for this chanting. This is our misfortune."

 
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Japa Group: Meditate Upon The Transcendental Sound Vibration

The introspective devotee must first discard all the ten offenses and simply meditate on the holy name trying to chant constantly. He should distinctly pronounce the holy name and meditate upon the transcendental sound vibration. 
Harinama Cintamani p.105
 
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H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: The special process of chanting part 1


(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, 2011)

It is said that if you do some other type of worship, let’s say that we are fasting and we are giving in charity, so we are doing austerities. With these, we are following a process to obtain the result. We go through the austerity and hope to gain a result. But it is said that in the chanting, we have already obtained the result, since the chanting itself is the result. Therefore, with this chanting it is the best process, because other processes, like meditation in the Satya-yuga was performed for what?

For getting a result of an alteration of consciousness, but the chanting is already there, because the darshan of the Lord is there…..the Lord is present while we are chanting!

Therefore, we have already attained in the chanting, which is to be understood. So the process is actually more direct, and we see that Krishna is manifesting His name, and therefore, this chanting is a special process!

 
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Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Faults of others

When you are offended at any man's fault, turn to yourself and study your own failings. Then you will forget your anger.

- Epictetus AD 55 - AD 135 - Greek sage and philosopher

Look within. Amend yourself, rather than pry into the frailties of others. When faults in others misguide and delude you - have patience, introspect, find faults in yourself. Know that others cannot harm you unless you harm yourself.

- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami - AD 1874 - AD 1937 - Vaishnava saint and philosopher

Hare Krishna

 
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Dandavats.com: Japa & Kirtan Retreat at Varsana 1st, 2nd and 3rd days

By Adipurusa das

So this Krishna consciousness movement is very great movement, more valuable than the conception of Lord Siva or Lord Brahma, because it is given by Krishna personally, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So do not try to see Krishna in His virat form. Simply try to serve Him in humble position. Then your life will be successful.

 
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Dandavats.com: Bhaktivedanta Players perform to a full house at the Watford Palace Theatre

By Radha Mohan das

The Watford Palace Theatre welcomed over 550 people through its doors on Sunday 13 October for a joyous Diwali celebration. The evening began with a Hari Name down Watford High Street, led by musicians from Bhaktivedanta Manor and involving children from the local community

 
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Dandavats.com: Mayapur Chandras

Radha Kanta Das: With much delight I am happy to inform you of our new Mayapur kirtan group called "Mayapur Chandra's". The group, headed by Naru Gopal Prabhu, has 6 other main members all expertly trained in kirtan and other devotional fields either in the Mayapur Gurukula, the MA, or MI

 
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Dandavats.com: Murari’s Kirtan Valley “Super 1st Sat. Feastival”

Gadi das: Hare Krsna! Every first Saturday of each month, Murari's Kirtan Valley will be hosting a beautiful feast complete with chanting, dancing and offering gifts to the beloved deities. Enjoy many aspects of Krishna at our beautiful cow-protected farm

 
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Dandavats.com: Short promo on the Spiritual Counsellor System at ISKCON-London

Bhava Bhakti devi dasi: Hare Krsna! Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Here is a short video - promo on the Spiritual Counsellor System at ISKCON-London

 
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Dandavats.com: Bhaktivedanta Players Ramayana at Watford Palace Theatre

David: The Bhaktivedanta Players recently put on a performance of the Ramayana at Watford Palace Theatre. Please find photos below

 
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Dandavats.com: Bhaktivedanta College Radhadesh: Exciting New Course Starts in 2012

Bhaktivedanta College: Potential Teachers - Exciting New Course Starts September 2012 "A Bachelor in Educational Studies, Theology & Religion" Excellent Career Prospects! An Uplifting Spiritual Environment! Validated by the University of Chester, UK!

 
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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Video: Book Distribution Drama - January 2010


Book Distribution Play Part 1

Subido por RishiToronto el 10/01/2010




Book Distribution Play Part 2

Subido por RishiToronto el 10/01/2010




At the beginning of last year (January 1, 2010), we held our annual Srila Prabhupada Festival and, as a little treat, we had a small skit about book distribution.  Check it out! 

Part One: 
 

Part Two: 

 
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Do You Want To Make Money From Facebook?


Filed under: Jokes        
 
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New Vrndavan, USA: 2012 Deity Flower Garden Work Progressing

The goal for 2012 is to not buy any flowers for the Deities during the growing season.

An area has been set aside for this in the Garden of Seven Gates. Despite an unusually wet autumn,  some progress has been made. Here is Jayadevi standing in an area that has been covered with compost and had soft rock phosphate spread on it.

Most of this will be planted into annuals though some will be perennials.  20 mums and 20 peonies have already been planted.  The annual production will come up to speed in 2012 but it will take about 5 years to get the perennial garden fully planted. The eventual size could be about 5 times this area.

The gardens will be done organically. Chemical fertilizer is N-P-K which is nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium. The nitrogen will come from cover crops and compost, the soils here are naturally rich in potassium and it can be supplemented with wood ash,  but they are weak in phosphate.  So we have supplemented with rock phosphate, an organic form,  at the rate of 2000 pounds per acre (2,200 k per Ha).  This is slow release so it will suffice for the next ten years.

The compost didn’t spread itself so Kalindi and her husband Adam did that.  They also spread some on some new terraces where berries will be planted next year.

Anyone wanting to contribute to support this project please let us know. One way is through the Contact Us form on the Home page of the Brijabasi Spirit.

We can also engage anyone who wants to donate time working in the garden so if you are planning a visit and want to do some hands on, let us know.

Another way to contribute is to grow some flowers in your own garden and donate them to the Deities directly.

If you have any divisions of perennials or flowering shrubs that you would like to share, we can accept donations of plants.  Before modern commerce and catalogs, that is how most gardens expanded, through gifts or trades with other gardeners.  You could also order plants through a catalog and have them sent to us but please contact us in advance so we would know what is coming.

Further plans for this fall is to  dig some daffodils in what used to be a picking garden for the  Deities but which is  a nonwalkable distance away and plant them in the temple area where the flower pickers can have easier access. Wouldn’t it be nice to do a thousand of them?

 

 

 
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Spiritual Scientist: Are we mixing up our means and our ends?

The power of illusion often makes us mistake the means to be the ends and the ends to be the means. Even among believers, many get misled by religious materialism, and mistake the things of this world to be the ends and devotion to God to be the means to acquire and secure those ends. However, our connection with worldly things is temporary, whereas our connection with God is eternal; that’s why the Bhagavad-gita (2.42-43) points out that making the eternal as a means to the temporary is a pathetic underutilization of our life’s potential.

To utilize our life’s potential fully, we need to make the temporary the means to the eternal by using the things of this world as the means to the ends of establishing an eternal loving connection with God.

To protect ourselves from mixing up our means and our ends, we need to regularly connect ourselves with the scriptures, the devotees and the environments that focus on pure devotional service, which is the expressway for unleashing our potential for eternity.

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: The world debt stands at $280,000,000,000,000

It is not good economics or spirituality to be part of the system contributing to such debt.

 
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Australian News: Friends of ISKCON Sydney

If you are not friends with ISKCON Sydney on Facebook, you oughta be.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/197047279940/


 
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Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Devotional mentality takes precedence, not rules

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana because He takes only the essence of a devotee's attitude. If a devotee sincerely surrenders, the Lord, as the Supersoul in everyone's heart, immediately understands this. Thus even though, externally, a devotee may not render full service, if he is internally sincere and serious the Lord welcomes his service nonetheless. Thus the Lord is known as bhāva-grāhī janārdana because He takes the essence of one's devotional mentality. 

- SB 8.23.2 - Purport by Srila Prabhupada 

This quote, i think, forms the foundation for bhakti yoga. Our sincere efforts to please the Lord and the Lord's consequential mercy upon us forms the basis of our advancement in Krishna consciousness. One cannot go without the other. I also think when Srila Prabhupada was physically present in this world, he practiced this point to the core. No matter how ragged or far-off an individual was, if that individual had some inclination for sincere service (in whatever form or shape) towards Krishna, Srila Prabhupada being the expert fanned that small spark of service to a forest fire. To do that, Srila Prabhupada took the most humble position, tolerated our misgivings (in other words did not care for our negative qualities) and was ready to facilitate at any level as long the individual person performed his or her sincere service. To actually bow down and humble oneself to help a person advance in their sincerity/service towards Krishna is real preaching and this type of preaching pleases the Lord. Also, this exhibits one's love for the other. This love between individuals forms the bond and strength against adversities in this material world and helps us stay focused in Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada, therefore, was and is the glue for this whole movement because he was unabashed in his love by patiently teaching us to render some (small or big) service to Krishna. People took note of this love. 

Unfortunately, in today's ISKCON (and this is strictly my experience), we have become more inclined towards following rules and regulations detached from this mood of loving dealings and judge devotees as "advanced" based on one's ability to strictly follow rules. By loving dealings, I do not mean just words of sweetness or politeness at all times...I mean a genuine desire to show concern for others based on philosophical and spiritual values. 

If we want to cultivate a worldwide community, then we have to follow in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada in that we should be ready to tolerate others misgivings and at the same time genuinely encourage them to perform some service to Krishna according to their natural capacity. This does not require management training or workshops...all it requires is a genuine feeling or desire to help others get closer to Krishna. If we display this quality of affection and tolerance, devotional mentality will automatically grow in us and in others. In this devotional atmosphere, the desire to follow rules will automatically follow. 

In essence, rules are secondary to cultivating devotional mentality and not the other way round. As followers of ISKCON, we have to help people increase their devotional mentality (bhava) towards God, then, once we successfully do that in an individual, automatically the individual will gradually develop the desire to follow the rules to make further progress. I believe the current ISKCON has to create an atmosphere (by that I mean the local leaders should lead from the front) where the followers feel welcomed and their natural propensity to serve the Lord (in devotion) be aroused. I feel this is lacking and hence contrary to the purport above. 

Hare Krishna

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Wednesday, November 16th, 2011

I Like to See 

Toronto, Ontario 

My regular walking companion is Praveen. I am so fortunate to have someone like him. I chalk out the route which is usually a rather spontaneous meander. When a new person is invited to join us he/she can't figure out where we're going. It can be a kind of maze. It's a different route each day. What is consistent is our mantra: "Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare." 

Today we took to a park called Rosehill Reservoir and then through residential areas. I appreciated the quiet nature of these places. It is inevitable to hit traffic though. I'm peaceful but for one thing. I resent the carbon monoxide just like I resent having to take in the fumes of a cigarette. My rebellious mind wants to argue and say, "There are such strict stipulations on where smoking is prohibited. Why can this not apply to automobiles? Why does my health have to be compromised by your greed, Mr. or Mrs. Motorist?" 

I asked someone today, "What kind of world are we leaving the next generation, one that where we will gag at every breath because of people's laziness of body or people's brains lacking the intelligence to come up with innovations on clean mobilization?" 

I hear horror stories about traffic in places like Manila, Mexico and Delhi regarding pushing people out of their freeness to walk safely. How is traffic emissions any less harmful than trafficking drugs? I would give preference to horse and donkey emissions than to the foulness we toss in the air from our automobiles. 

As you can see, my resentment is strong but for a reason. I like to see a better world- a world increased in cleanliness and in spirituality. 

7 Km

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, November 15th, 2011

Frame the Day 

Toronto, Ontario 

In the past when I was more firmly entrenched in management I found it absolutely necessary to give myself recess- that is, to break away from a routine that was going to wear me down. It could have been kitchen work in the ashram as much as it was office work. I needed to incorporate into the pattern of my activities a change. 

I recall driving throughout Canada and the States, on behalf of the mission of course, putting on thousands of miles/kilometres. Driving a van with one or two companions/monks and carrying good Bhaktivedanta Book Trust reading material and our own brand of monk-made carved candles and such, I encountered a physical drain and lower back problems. Solution: change directions somewhat and start walking. My mottos became "Have shoes, will travel," and "Take beads, will chant." 

It was a cure. Muscles became activated that were not otherwise and I developed greater calmness. There was time for myself with Him, God-in-the-heart. 

Yogendra, Dhruva and I arrived by bus from Buffalo at 6am. We had a choice to take a cab or our legs. I suggested the latter. It was a break from wheels. Our trek was miniscule in length- a mere 2.5 km. Nevertheless, short that it was, it broke the dullness of sitting in a bus. We enjoyed the air. 

To wind down the day I again broke routine. After hours of nailing down dates and tickets for future trips I just had to burst out the door at 9:30pm to meet the real air again, to meet the sidewalk and to have whatever little connection with Him that I could have. I arranged to meet with Keshava, one of our young facilitators at the temple. We discussed at Queens's park on a park bench topics to do with breathing fresh air and then walked back to the temple/ashram on the same route as the early morning, on Avenue Road. We parted. I lay down to rest happy to have framed my day with air, shoes and God. 

6 KM

 
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H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Together we share our mood and enthusiasm!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Melbourne, 2011)

In kirtan we are feeling that somehow or other we are being swept up together. Together we are chanting, and together the energy of the chanting carries us and we somehow or other become absorbed and uplifted! That is the potency of sankirtan……of congregational chanting, where together we share our mood and enthusiasm!

 
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Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Voluntary Creative Simplicity




How we went from $42,000 to $6,500 andlived to tell about it!
By L. Kevin & DonnaPhilippe-Johnson

As a middle class American, it's beendifficult for me to understand how we are
supposed to make a living when thereare so many things working against us. How
can we go on day after day with therising cost of food, fuel, utilities, car
insurance, taxes and health care, whiledealing with the insecurity of
unemployment?

In the past, whenever I consideredthese things, I felt a hopeless
sense of impending doom in the pit ofmy stomach. There is so much talk about
how to solve these issues, but nothingever seems to stop the downward spiral of
struggle and stress that millions offolks are experiencing.

Like many working people, my life wentalong fine during the 1980s. I had a good
paying job ($42,000 a year) and thoughI didn't enjoy the kind of work I was
doing as an industrial draftsman,receiving a steady paycheck every week kept me
going without much complaint.

But then came the Gulf War in the 1990sand after
that point I faced nine layoffs overthe span of 10 years. By the time September
11 happened, I hadn't been able tomaintain steady employment in the
petrochemical industry for over adecade. I would work about three or four
months, then back again to theunemployment line.

It was at this point that I realizedthat something was wrong. The life strategy
I had grown up to believe in was nolonger working and there didn't seem to be
any answers. Obviously no one was goingto get me out of this, so I decided I
needed to take matters into my ownhands and figure out a way to redefine my
basic approach to living.

Lucky for me, I have an adventurouswife. She was on the same page with me and
was willing to make some drasticchanges in our lifestyle. As a committed team,
we decided to figure out another way tosurvive despite these uncertain, hard
economic times. Since we didn't have alot of money and because it was getting
harder to find steady employment, wedecided to rethink our basic values in
order to create a life for ourselveswhere we could be independent and free of
needing a career or a full-time job.

And for us, that meant first andforemost, moving to the country. If we were
going to be poor, we thought, at leastit would be better to be poor in the
country. That way we could grow our ownfood and reduce our expenses. Eventually
we discovered that there were otherswho felt the same way we did. Today there
is a small, but growing movement inthis country towards a lifestyle we call
"Voluntary Creative Simplicity."

We decided to start over, to shakeloose from all the things holding us down. We
got rid of all the stuff we didn't needand worked on paying off debt. Then
canceling our credit cards and usingcash, we followed an efficient financial
plan that taught how to track everypenny. By doing this we were able eventually
to save a little bit of money. (See thebook entitled, Your Money or Your Life,
by Joe Dominguez & Vicki Robin.)

Also, we wanted to be strong andhealthy to do the work required for this basic
lifestyle so we changed our eatinghabits. We broke away from the standard
American fast food, pre-packagedsupermarket diet in favor of organically grown
whole grains, raw fruits andvegetables, fermented dairy, nuts, seeds and
sprouts and eliminated all junk foodsand prescription drugs. We started
exercising regularly by walking,practicing yoga, and gardening.

Since we no longer wanted to pay healthinsurance premiums, we decided to start a special
savings account ($1,000) just foremergency first-aid treatment. And of course
we got rid of the cell phone, cabletelevision and Internet bills and greatly
minimized our use of air conditioning.The beginning of the path to the simple
life was a process of elimination inevery aspect of our lives.

Eventually we found 2-1/2 acres ofland, 35 miles out of the city. Inspired by
our new vision, one summer we saidgoodbye to the city, permanently moved out to
our new place and set up a dome tent tolive in. We happily lived in our tent
that summer while clearing the land andconstructing a rustic 10' by 12' room
with a sleeping loft. We did this on a"pay-as-you-go" plan, hauling all the
materials in the back of our old pickuptruck. Never having built anything
before, we worked hard and gained theskill of building our own shelter.

As the tiny outbuilding took shape,next came the installation of an underground
cistern for collecting rainwater, andfinally, the construction of our
three-room (500 square foot) cabin.Since we had to borrow $9,000 to purchase
the property, I continued to takewhatever jobs I could find (drafting, clerk
work, courier, dishwasher, bakeryassistant, etc.) while Donna stayed busy
working on our organic garden, plantingfruit trees and composting. She enjoys
learning about native plants andhealing herbs that she can grow.

Over the next few years, while workingtoward our goals of self-reliance and
independence, we became stronger,healthier and more confident in our ability to
rely on our own skills. It was quite anempowering experience. We learned how to
build things, grow our own food, takeresponsibility for our own health, and
best of all, we learned how to laughand have fun again.

The simple joys and true pleasures offresh, home-grown food, watching everything grow and prosper
in harmony, working with our own handsand spending quality time together
replaced all of the costly false valuesthat had occupied our time before.

Gradually we paid off the land,finished the cabin and succeeded in minimizing
our basic utility costs. We began tonotice that our expenses were decreasing as
the quality of our life was increasing.As long as we stayed home and didn't
travel to a steady job we really didn'tneed very much money. The lifestyle of
voluntary creative simplicity wasresulting in compounding efficiency and
improvement in every area of our lives.Soon, we saw the proof of the
inefficiency of working a full-timejob.

After figuring in the work-relatedexpenses of one job, I realized that my take home pay was only $3 anhour! Atthat point I was convinced that it was far more costeffective to stay home,
grow our own food, split our ownfirewood and bake our own bread than it was to
travel to a job day after day. Yet westill needed some form of income.

Though we had reduced the amount weneeded to around $540 a month (way below the
poverty level in America), we still hadto find a way to generate that income
without relying on full-timeemployment. Once we had succeeded in drastically
reducing the amount of money we needed,I knew it would be easy to earn this
income by working odd jobs such asbuilding rustic furniture, playing guitar for
tips, simple carpentry, part-timedrafting, office work, plumbing, etc. However,
there was one thing I really loved todo...bake handmade whole-grain sourdough
bread in an outdoor wood-fired clayoven! I had always shared my bread with
friends and family, but it never reallyoccurred to me to do it as a way to earn
extra money.

We soon discovered that there was noauthentic, handmade sourdough bread being
produced in our area, and little bylittle, people began asking if they could
trade or buy from us. Within a year wehad enough bread customers to generate
the supplemental income needed to meetour modest expenses. And now there is
even more demand and a waiting list ofneighbors and friends who want our bread
regularly.

They know our bread is special becausethe organic wheat is freshly
hand milled, the loaves are lovinglymade entirely by hand and baked in our
outdoor clay oven. (See our article, "AHomemade Clay Oven and Naturally
Fermented Sourdough Bread," in theJuly/August 2005 issue of COUNTRYSIDE.)

We want to let others know there is awide open market for this kind of
specialty bread, even in very smalltowns like ours, because so many people, for
various reasons, are unable orunwilling to make it for themselves. In fact,
there is such a demand for this uniqueartisan bread that many people are
perfectly willing to pay us $4.50 aloaf! Anyone who wants to earn a little
extra cash, say $50-$100 a week ormore, should consider learning this valuable
skill, then educating and sharing intheir local community.

We continuously hand out educationalmaterial about the health benefits of sourdough bread, offer
informative presentations in our localcommunity and give out free bread
samples.

Our system of distribution is arrangedlike a "bread co-op." There are regular
customers who buy a batch of six loavesat a time, which we deliver fresh to
them once a month. An added bonus oflearning this skill is the inexpensive,
incredibly delicious, wholesome breadthat we make for ourselves, which helps
reduce our food bill. This is just anexample of how a valuable skill such as
this can be financially supportive whenyou are living and thinking small.

While the key to the lifestyle ofvoluntary simplicity, is "thinking small,"
many people still believe the oppositeis true-"bigger is better." For example,
people often tell us we should investin a commercial bakery and produce more
sourdough bread. But in order to expandand make a career out of baking and
selling bread, we would have to go intodebt to purchase commercial mixers,
freezers and large ovens, work longerhours and face the mountain of
bureaucratic permits, codes, fees andrestrictions. As a result, the simple,
authentic handmade artisan bread thatour customers love would have to be
sacrificed in favor of expanding volumeand making more money.

Everybody loses but the bankers and thebureaucrats. We would fall right back in the same old
trap, getting into debt and sacrificingour freedom and quality of life for a
job. This is an example of compoundinginefficiency.

The downfall of many people who wouldlike to break the bonds of stress and
financial enslavement to the system istheir tendency to think too big. But we
must realize that this has beenprogrammed into us by the industrial society and
loan institutions, all attempting toexcite and feed our insatiable desires.

Friends, it takes a lot of mindfulawareness to break free of all these traps.
It also requires an ability toimprovise and adapt towards an alternative model.
The lifestyle of voluntary simplicityis one option and the resulting benefits
are transformational.

The point I'm making is this: many ofus can no longer think in terms of having
a lifetime career anymore. For whateverreason, things are changing in this
country. Outsourcing and cheaper laborcosts in other countries will continue to
eliminate jobs in the United States.And though the opportunity still exists to
work, we must understand that it may beonly temporary. While continuing to work
at a job or career one should be wiseand set up a plan to survive without
steady employment for certain periodsof time if necessary.

This could mean storing some supplies,purchasing a piece of property where a
small shelter, tent or tipi can beerected if necessary, or getting out of the
city and into the country where one canprovide food for themselves. My old
Grandpa used to say, "all thetroubles in this country began when people stopped
growing their own food." And hewas right. The younglings of this modern age
don't even know what real food is, muchless how to grow or prepare it! This has
to change. (That's another reason wepromote sourdough bread baking. It is time
to start a "slow-food"movement).

Thinking small is one of the mostintelligent and powerful things one can do.
Consciously reducing one's life down tothe simple basics is the secret to
happiness. And it is so easy. What isthe solution? This is our advice,
especially to young people:

"Don't get in debt, don't think interms of a career (work at a job for one
reason only, to get paid so you can buya place to live and grow some food),
live in a small shelter, unloadunnecessary stuff, reduce monthly expenses,
extract yourself from the enslavementof modern technological materialism, stay
healthy by exercising, eat a simple,wholesome diet, develop some practical
skills, practice your art or trade andserve your local community. Teach your
children to value true pleasures. Realwealth is perishable: food, health,
trees, flowers, herbs, healthy soil,clean water, fresh air, friends and art.
Learn to value and appreciate theseabove all else."

Of course we realize that everyone hasto creatively work out their own unique
plan according to their particularcircumstances, especially if there are
children to raise. (We have six grownchildren.) But with "small thinking," so
many opportunities open up and the moreone can release, the more freedom there
is to experience with each passingyear.

If someone would have suggested to usten years ago that there was a way for the
two of us to live on much less, buildour own little hut, buy our freedom, give
up steady employment, work fewer hours,become happy, healthy, debt free,
self-reliant, and live fearlesslywithout health insurance, I would have told
them they were crazy.

This has been an incredible, radicaljourney for us, but now we know from first hand experience that withvision, patience, self-discipline and courage, it is possible tocreate such a reality.

Creative voluntary simplicity expandsfaster than inflation. For those who can
do it, instead of thinking too big andchasing after more money to find
happiness and security, the answer cantruly be summed up in the words of the
Greek philosopher, Diogenes: "Truefreedom is in the minimum of needs."
Kevin and Donna have an instructionalvideo (VHS format only) on baking
naturally fermented sourdough bread for$30. This includes the video, a set of
written instructions, a packet ofstarter culture and shipping costs. Send check

or money order to L. Kevin Johnson,4402 Gilead Rd., Clinton, LA 70722.
 
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Gouranga TV: Trivikrama Swami Sunday Bhagavad-Gita Class Orlando 10/30/2011

Trivikrama Swami Sunday Bhagavad-Gita Class Orlando 10/30/2011

 
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Thursday 17 November 2011--The Home of Unlimited Sweetness--and--How to Identity a Pure Devotee?

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Thursday 17 November 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. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) 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. For Transcendental Association Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Help Popularize Our Message By Liking Today's Thought on Facebook: Today's Thought: The Home of Unlimited Sweetness uploaded from Sri Vrindavan Dhama, India 16 November 2011--Tomorrow we are heading out for my lecture series in Pune, India. Spending time in Sri Vrindavan Dhama is always nectarean because Sri Vrindavan Dhama, being Krishna's eternal home, is non-different from Him and is thus is eternally manifested as an abode of unlimited sweetness. Just being in this most sacred of all places for even a few minutes can awaken feelings of love of God within one's heart. It is so nice. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Relishing Srila Prabhupada's Divine Association in His Vrindavan Quarters--30 October 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Vrindavan_SP.Quarters.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Identity a Pure Devotee? Who is pure devotee? How can we identify him? Geetha Answer: He is Totally Addicted to Krishna A pure devotee is someone who is free from all material desires, even the subtle ones, such as profit, adoration, and distinction. He is recognizable as that person who is totally addicted to Krishna and fully absorbed 24 hours daily in spreading Krishna's glories all over the world. If we surrender unto the pure devotee, our lives will become perfect. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization 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: {contact_address e

 
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