jueves, 24 de noviembre de 2011

Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 24) – Meeting Mr Mrzezyno



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"Planet ISKCON" - 31 new articles

  1. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  2. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  3. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: 12 Hour Kirtan with the Mayapuris
  4. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Festival of the Chariots 2012
  5. H.H. Devamrita Swami: The God That Jokes
  6. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Poem for November 23
  7. Spiritual Scientist: The Secret of Enlightened Enjoyment
  8. H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: The rope of transcendental knowledge
  9. Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Madhat.me
  10. H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Taking on responsibility
  11. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara Prabhu
  12. Karnamrita das, NC, USA: Spiritual Thanksgiving: Levels of Gratitude
  13. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Vaiyasaki Prabhu
  14. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected Writings
  15. Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 24) – Meeting Mr Mrzezyno
  16. Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group
  17. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Narahari Deva cites NOD and asks
  18. Spiritual Scientist: Why does the Gita recommend working with detachment?
  19. Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Vegetarian Thanksgiving
  20. Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Spontaneous human combustion
  21. New Vrndavan, USA: New Vrindaban CVPT Presentation Tues 11/29/11
  22. Australian News: Vaiyasaki Rocks Melbourne Forest – captured on video
  23. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Video: Behind the Scenes with Gaura-Shakti - Cooking for the Sunday Feast!
  24. Spiritual Scientist: From mission impossible to mission unstoppable
  25. H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Seminar Lecture : Lord Krishna’s Vrindavana Pastimes (Part 6) (1-50 min.)
  26. Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Safe Water and a Toilet -- Is That Too Much to Ask... for 2.5 Billion People?
  27. Gouranga TV: 2011 09 14 Evening kirtan part 2 on Ukraine festival “Bhakti Sangama 2011″ – HG Madhava Prabhu
  28. Temple of the Vedic Planetarium: His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami visits the ToVP
  29. H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Two weeks in Mayapur
  30. H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Poem for November 22
  31. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 23 November 2011--Super Ecstatic Departure Kirtan--and--Why 18 Chapters of Gita for Arjuna?
  32. More Recent Articles
  33. Search Planet ISKCON
  34. Prior Mailing Archive

Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 November 24: "You describe that you are seeing more and more how Krishna is your friend and this is very nice. The more one understands that Krishna is my friend and my duty is to serve my Dearest Friend, the more one can know that he is advancing in Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1968 November 24: "It has given me great satisfaction to see how the London center is progressing so nicely. All six of my disciples who I sent to London are very sincere servants of Krishna and you simply remember to continue in this way and your activities will continue to bring nice results."

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: 12 Hour Kirtan with the Mayapuris

12hour

 

The kirtan waves created by the Mayapuris during the last 12 Hour kirtan are still sweeping the shores of Melbourne.

Here is a one and a half hour video of Balarama Kirtan leading the last slot for the night.

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Festival of the Chariots 2012

Are you ready? Lord Jagannatha's Festival of the Chariots is returning to the St. Kilda Festival this summer. The date has been fixed as Sunday February the 12th.

012RathaYatraTeaser.jpg Once again ISKCON's Vedic Village will be established in the Catani Gardens from around 10am. till 9pm. 

Mark the date in your dairy and stay tuned for more details as they become available.

 
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H.H. Devamrita Swami: The God That Jokes

Occasionally, noting an especially ironic or remarkable occurrence in our life, we may quip, "Krishna has a sense of humor." Indeed, His Vrindavan pastimes definitely show that.

 

As Uddhava tells it, one day Krishna entered a greenhouse—dressed as a gardening girl. He so enthralled the cowherd girls with His jokes and laughter that His exit left them stunned. In their ecstasy, though the horticultural tasks were unfinished, their minds and eyes departed with Him.

 

Besides Krishna, the residents of Vraj can also initiate the mirth and merriment. Just hear how one of the gopis wisecracked at Kutila, sister of Abhimanyu, and the lets-pretend husband of Srimati Radharani:

 

"My dear Kutila, daughter of Jatila, your breasts are as long as string beans—simply dry and long. Your nose is so gorgeous that it defies the beauty of the noses of frogs. And your eyes are more beautiful than the eyes of dogs. Your lips defy the flaming cinders of fire, and your abdomen is as beautiful as a big drum. Therefore, my dear beautiful Kutila, you are the most beautiful of all the cowherd girls of Vrindavan, and because of your extraordinary beauty, I think you must be beyond the attraction of the sweet blowing of Krishna's flute!"

 

In addition to such funniness among Krishna and His devotees mentioned in Nectar of Devotion, we can find in Lord Chaitanya's pastimes a special brand of humor.

 

The grandfather of Mahaprabhu, Nilambara Chakravarti, and the father and uncle of Raghunatha das were warm friends. Lord Chaitanya was of the same age as Raghunatha das, and he took advantage of their elders' close relationship to jest with him.

 

“Your father and his elder brother are both related as brothers to My grandfather, Nilambara Chakravarti. Therefore I consider them My grandfathers.

“Since your father and his elder brother are younger brothers of Nilambara Chakravarti, I may joke about them in this way."

 

Let's see if we are bold and clear enough to relish Mahaprabhu's transcendental gag. Fasten your seat belts.

 

“My dear Raghunatha dasa, your father and his elder brother are just like worms in stool in the ditch of material enjoyment, for the great disease of the poison of material enjoyment is what they consider happiness."

 

Srila Prabhupada writes in his purport:

 

"When a man is attached to material enjoyment, he is attached to many miserable conditions, but nevertheless he accepts his condemned position as one of happiness. Sense enjoyment is so strong for such a person that he cannot give it up, exactly as a worm in stool cannot give up the stool. From the spiritual point of view, when a person is too absorbed in material enjoyment, he is exactly like a worm in stool. Although such a position is utterly miserable to the eyes of liberated souls, the materialistic enjoyer is greatly attached to it."

 

(See Antya-lila 6: 196-199 for deeper insight)

 

May Sri Gaura Hari's joke be on us. Bring that day on, when we can also, from a mature standpoint of detachment and realization, have the last bhakti laugh.


 
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Poem for November 23

4:35  A.M.  Poem for November 23 One morning many people came from Akrura-tirtha. As they came from Vrndavana they made a tumultuous sound. Lord Caitanya asked them, “Where are you coming from?” The people replied, “Krishna has again manifested Himself in Kaliya lake. He dances on the hoods of the serpent Kaliya and the jewels [...]

Poem for November 23 is a post from: EVERY DAY

 
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Spiritual Scientist: The Secret of Enlightened Enjoyment

The essential principle of spiritual advancement is an internal redirection of our thoughts from the material to the spiritual, from worldly objects to the source of all those objects: Krishna

Because our mind is habituated, even addicted, to contemplating on worldly objects in the hope of getting some pleasure thereof, the prospect of giving up that worldly contemplation and enjoyment seems like poison. However, if we can just tolerate the poison by gently but firmly fixing our mind on Krishna, who is the reservoir of all happiness, then that mental connection with the divine will soon become the channel that gradually fills and eventually floods our consciousness with uninterrupted, unending pleasure. The Bhagavad-gita (18.37) explains this secret of enlightened enjoyment poetically: that which tastes like poison in the beginning will taste like nectar in the end.

 
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H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: The rope of transcendental knowledge

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, UK, May 2011) Initiation Lecture 

It is the time to make a commitment. A commitment to the truth…..a commitment to reality. For so many lifetimes we have been committed to illusions. For so many lifetimes we have chased false dreams. For so many times we have searched for happiness here and there…..and everywhere…..and what did we get? Each time again, we thought for a moment:

“Yes…yes…yes….success….success!”

And then it didn’t work. Then again it slipped out of our hands before we knew….and then again we suffered, then we suddenly realise:

“What have I done?”

But again we tried again and again we tried to enjoy this illusory energy. Today we make a commitment. A commitment to hold on to the rope of transcendental knowledge! To firmly hold on to this rope, and no matter what happens, to never leave! To never ever leave for a moment this shelter of this transcendental rasas. We know that our spiritual master is fixed at the Lotus Feet of Krishna.

It is said that the etymological meaning of the word ‘guru’ is heavy. Not that the guru is a heavy personality who will chastise us – sometimes he will, but the heaviness of the guru is described as:

“The guru is fixed at the Lotus Feet of Krishna and he is so heavy that you cannot move him from that position! He will always be there.”

Therefore, whenever we turn to our spiritual master, we turn to Krishna, and thus we always again turn to our spiritual master because he will reconnect us with Krishna……….because our connection is feeble and weak. Yes, with the rope of transcendental knowledge, we are holding on but with a weak grip and so many times it is slipping from our hands! Then…then what will we do?

 
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Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Madhat.me

 

 

We just added the new domain!  madhat.me

 

 

I'm indebted to Hilary Tapper for all her help on this one.  Couldn't have done it without her.  My computer nerd skills were outmatched.

 

 

The "madd"-"monk" has finally passed it's time.  It's been a great ride guys.  Thanks for keeping up with it all.

 

 

Your servant, Madhavendra Puri dasa (aka Mad Hatter).


 
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H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Taking on responsibility

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Leicester, UK, May 2011) Initiation Lecture 

It is described that the spiritual master is the mercy manifestation of Krishna. He is particularly present in our life at all times to direct us! In this way a disciple must always be sure to be in the care of the spiritual master. At the same time a spiritual master is not always present in every situation, at least not in his personal form. The spiritual master will not always be there to answer our questions about anything and everything:

“Should I go left? Or right? What should I do now?”

He is not taking away our responsibility. We ourselves our responsible. We are responsible to act appropriately according to the scriptures….according to the directions of the sadhus. And we need to ourselves realise that we must take shelter! We are looking at the spiritual master for inspiration and enthusiasm in spiritual life!

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara Prabhu

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.25 - The Bhagavad-gita is the essence of good fortune because it is non-different from Sri Krsna.

 
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Karnamrita das, NC, USA: Spiritual Thanksgiving: Levels of Gratitude

Image Source,Photobucket Uploader Firefox Extension 
Although I have written a fair amount about the importance of gratitude, and giving thanks, in honor of the day (which is Thanksgiving on Thursday in the USA), I thought I would add a few more thoughts about it, hopefully from a slightly different perspective. While those of us who are vegetarians find it odd to celebrate our gratitude with a dead bird, many don’t have that sensitivity, and to them, that is food. Without belaboring that point, the general idea of giving thanks is certainly a good thing, especially in relationship to the Supreme Lord. From a religious perspective ordinary everyday gratitude for material facilities, things, and relationships is a step in the right direction. While gratitude isn’t “ordinary”, and is welcome, there are levels of gratitude, which are practically never considered.

read more

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Vaiyasaki Prabhu

Class given on 23-11-2011.
Srimad Bhagavatam 1.4.24 - The ultimate goal of Vedic knowledge is Sri Krsna, the Personality of Godhead.
 
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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Selected Writings

From My Autobiography The autobiography is a work-in-progress. I have written my memories of my pre-Krishna conscious life and my career in ISKCON, and I will continue to do so.  Now I am writing on the books I have written over the thirty-five years. I am presently writing on the book called Churning the Milk [...]

Selected Writings is a post from: EVERY DAY

 
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Madhavendra Puri, New Govardhana, AU: Won-Durr Boiz in Poland (Part 24) – Meeting Mr Mrzezyno

[The Won-Durr Boiz diary series is based on four ex-gurukuli brothers (surname: Durr) coming together for the first time to share Krsna consciousness with the outside world.  Madhavendra Puri (the author and middle elder) has been waiting in Radhadesh (Belgium) for his brothers to arrive.  Nitai Canda (the eldest) and Rupa Gosvami (the youngest) arrive first, and Bhisma Deva (the middle younger) is scheduled to come half way through.  Their adventure takes them through Belgium, Germany and Poland, for rathayatras, festival tours and kirtana events.  These diaries aim to bring inspiration and joy to the readers, and hopefully encourage others to entangle themselves in Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtana movement – whether for the spiritual benefits or simply for the fun.]

 

 

 

[Mr Mrzezyno is back in action!]

 

 

Diary for the 11th - 13th

 

 

Poland (23) . Poland (24)

 

Read original post: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com]

 

Subscribe: [http://maddmonk.wordpress.com/subscribe]

 


 
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Japa Group: Please Join The Japa Group


Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 (at) gmail.com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa
 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Narahari Deva cites NOD and asks

Generally the devotee is attracted by the Supreme sweetness of the Lord rather than his greatness. But here Srila Prabhupada states that the devotee becomes attracted by the Lord’s greatness, then sweetness. How should one understand this statement by Srila Prabhupada?

 
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Spiritual Scientist: Why does the Gita recommend working with detachment?

Question: Whenever we work, it is the desire for the result that motivates us to work. Why, then, does the Bhagavad-gita recommend that we work without desiring the results?

Answer: The Bhagavad-gita recommends working with detachment because obsession with the short-term material results of work can deprive us of the long-term spiritual results.

Gita wisdom outlines the sublime art that can transform our work in the temporary realm into a ladder for ascending to the eternal realm. Just as every art needs an aesthetic sensibility, the Gita’s art of work needs a metaphysical sensibility to discern that work has the potential to yield two everlasting results: spiritual wisdom and spiritual devotion.

Here’s an example to illustrate how obsession with the material can blind us to the first result of spiritual wisdom.  When students study with an obsession for marks, that obsession causes them to study selectively instead of comprehensively. This lop-sided approach may yield the short-term result of marks, but deprives them of the long-term results of deep understanding of the subject, healthy study habits and an educated mind trained to learn. Similarly, when we work with an obsession for the material results of our work, that obsession constrains us to see all the events of life only in terms of our success and failure. This uni-dimensional fixation deprives us of the holistic vision that sees life as an experiential learning ground for the philosophical truths like the role of higher powers in determining the results of our work, the insubstantiality of material gains and the indestructibility of our own spiritual identity.

Now, let’s consider an example of how working without obsession for the material can yield the second result of spiritual devotion. Consider salespersons working in a cloth-shop with their employer overseeing. If they focus on demonstrating their sincerity and diligence to their employer by their prompt service, courteous behaviour and gentle persuasion while dealing with the customers, then their employer will become pleased and will provide their remuneration, even if they don’t succeed in every sales attempt. Similarly, when we work in the world, the Lord is overseeing from within our own hearts. If we focus on trying to please him by doing our work to the best of our capacity, then he will grant us everlasting devotion to him, even if we don’t get the material results in our every endeavor.

Thus the Gita doesn’t demotivate us by teaching us to neglect or reject the worldly results of our work, but it urges us to not get stuck in them. By providing us with a loftier motivation for our work, it inspires us to work to the best of our capacity and to relish everlasting results.

 
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Vegetarian Thanksgiving

Someone asked me what I was going to make for Thanksgiving.

My reply? “Reservations.”

Well, not exactly but with the kids all gone we don’t bother making much.  We have an invitation to a  friends celebration and our contribution will be a vegan cake and our fake champagne.

Our alcohol free champagne recipe is one 2 liter bottle of ginger ale mixed with a can of frozen white grape juice concentrate.  Throw in some frozen berries for visual appeal and add ice cubes.

Here is a nice page with lots of ideas to pick from if you are still looking.

“American Thanksgiving dinner, with its traditional turkey as the main course, can be difficult for vegetarians. Here are some ideas to mix and match for your vegetarian Thanksgiving menu, from appetizers to dessert.”


Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever        
 
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Ananda Subramanian, Iowa, USA: Spontaneous human combustion

Spontaneous human combustion or SHC is a phenomenon where a living human body without an apparent external source of ignition starts to ignite from within spontaneously. SHC is not very well studied or documented by modern science yet as there are not many reported cases to investigate. However, it is a valid phenomenon that is continuing to baffle medical experts and scientists. There are experts on both sides of the fence supporting or rejecting SHC. According to Wikipedia, there have been more than 200 cases documented over a period of 300 years. 

The thing that is astounding apart from the spontaneous ignition is that the furniture and other objects proximal to the victim is not damaged or burnt by the high temperatures. Damage is limited only to the victim’s clothing, floor area and furniture. Anyways, SHC is a modern day mystery that is yet to be fully studied. 

Although it seems that SHC is a modern day mystery, actually, there is a reference to it in the Bhagavatam. Srimad Bhagavatam is an ancient book spoken 5000 years ago and documented as such. In it, there is a reference to SHC and the nature of it. Please see below. 

The material body is a combination of earth, water, fire, air and ether. There is already fire within the body, and our practical experience is that the heat of this fire sometimes increases and sometimes decreases. The fire within the bodies of the sons of Sagara Mahārāja became so much hotter that all of them burned to ashes. The fire's increased heat was due to their misbehavior toward a great personality. Such misbehavior is called mahad-vyatikrama. They were killed by the fire of their own bodies because of insulting a great personality. 

SB 9.8.11 

Hare Krishna

 
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New Vrndavan, USA: New Vrindaban CVPT Presentation Tues 11/29/11

New Vrindavan Community Vision Planning Team Presentation

Open program in the Lodge next Tuesday 29 November at 5.30 pm

Bhakta Tom Reinhardt will host a video program on Intentional Communities, 
and speak on his experience with different Intentional Communities.

There will be pizza prasadam before the program, starting at 5.30 pm, video starting at 6.00 pm.

There will be a Q & A session afterwards.

Subject of video: “A New We”

Filming of ecological communities and eco-villages in Europe.

5 featured communities are: 
1. Schloss Glarisegg, Switzerland 
2. La Borie Noble, France 
3. Krishna Valley, Hungary 
4. Matavenero y Poibueno, Spain 
5. Sieben Linden, Germany 
total time: ~55 minutes

Open slide show presenting eco-villages in Missouri

1. Dancing Rabbit 
2. Red Earth Farms 
3. Sand Hill Farms

Brief description of Bk. Tom’s involvement with the “Fellowship of Intentional Communities” (FIC)

Everyone is welcome!

Bhakta Tom Reinhardt grew up in Wheeling, WV and joined ISKCON in New Vrindavan in 2007 through Tapahpunja prabhus’ small farm training center. 
A graduate of a local high school, he served 6 years in the Marines. 
Here in NVC he has done a variety of services for Radha Vrindavanchandra. He’s currently returned from an extended visit in Missouri, and will remain here for a couple of months.

YIS 
Gaura Sakti das

 
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Australian News: Vaiyasaki Rocks Melbourne Forest – captured on video

There is a story in The Charitamrita that tells how Lord Caitanya was walking through the forest singing the Lords names. As he goes deeper into the forest and deeper into his kirtan he starts to dance and all of the forest creatures start to dance and chant with him.

Recently this happened in Melbourne Australia when Vaiyasaki, travelling through the forest with his harmonium sat down and started to play and sing the Mahamantra. Hailey Mead caught the event on Video with her hidden camera. Click on the video below and take a look at what happened next:


 
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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Video: Behind the Scenes with Gaura-Shakti - Cooking for the Sunday Feast!

A few Sundays ago, Toronto's Hare Krishna kirtan-yoga group, Gaura-Shakti, had the delightful opportunity to cook for the weekly Sunday Feast at the temple.  Inviting friends to come help, Gaura-Shakti and Friends prepared a fun, Chinese menu and worked away in the temple kitchen for hours! 

For many of our volunteers, it was their first time in the temple's kitchen and so they got a chance to learn about the high standards of the temple kitchen, how cooking in the temple kitchen is a meditative experience and that the kitchen is looked upon as belonging to Srimati Radharani - Lord Krishna's divine feminine energy.  So it was a fun learning experience for all. 

Here's a fun little behind-the-scenes look at what was certainly a special experience! 

 
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Spiritual Scientist: From mission impossible to mission unstoppable

In the Bhagavad-gita (11.33), Lord Krishna assures Arjuna of success in his battle against formidable ungodly forces, provided Arjuna just becomes determined to serve. Krishna’s assurance applies not only to the specific, historical battle that Arjuna fought five thousand years ago, but also to the universal, inner battle that all of us have to fight against the ungodly forces in our own hearts. When our attempts to live virtuously are repeatedly thwarted by the internal ungodly forces, we may become disheartened, and start feeling that combating these forces is a mission impossible. However, if we just maintain our resolve to serve Krishna, he will gradually but positively bless us with sublime happiness and divine power. These blessings will stimulate a strong, spontaneous attraction toward Krishna that will overcome all obstacles and surcharge us with the conviction that our spiritual advancement is not a mission impossible, but a mission unstoppable.

 
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H.H. Bhakticharu Swami: Seminar Lecture : Lord Krishna’s Vrindavana Pastimes (Part 6) (1-50 min.)

THE FOLLOWING LECTURE ON LORD KRISHNA’S PASTIMES IN VRINDAVANA IS THE SIXth LECTURE IN A SERIES OF SEVEN, GIVEN BY HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CARU SWAMI. (1-50 min.) Transcription : Her Grace Madhuri Radhika Dasi/Shyama Mohini Dasi/Vrajendra Suta Dasa Editing : Her Grace Hemavati Radhika Devi Dasi Audio-reference : click here So today, we will discuss about [...]

 
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Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Safe Water and a Toilet -- Is That Too Much to Ask... for 2.5 Billion People?



By the time you finish reading this paragraph, one more child will have died from something that's been preventable for over a century. Nearly 40 percent of the world's population is still unable to secure a safe glass of water or access a basic toilet. While we continue to rally around the goal of ensuring safe water and sanitation for all, the real question we are left asking ourselves: how do we truly confront this in a way that results in realizing our vision within our lifetime? 

Even today, as solutions are known and available, lack of access to safe water and sanitation continues to claim more lives through disease than any war claims through guns. 

This painful reality has driven philanthropic efforts to help stop the suffering. There are conferences, master plans, frameworks, legislation, new institutions, and even more resolved resolutions. Money is raised, wells are dug, ribbons are cut. But even after decades of charity, subsidies, multilateral aid, and investments on the part of governments and outside non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the system remains inefficient and largely misses the goal of providing relief for those at the base of the economic pyramid (BOP) in their daily need to secure water. The intentions are good, but the relief is not trickling down. 

On average, those living in slums pay 7-15 times more per liter of water than owners of nearby five-star hotels. This is because subsidies are largely delivered through unrealistically low water tariffs -- if you are too poor to afford a water connection, you can't capture the subsidy. Similarly, if you are a poor day laborer in Port-au-Prince and you want a drink of safe water to quench your thirst, you will pay 250 times more than the cost of New York City tap water. Those who lack cash pay with their time -- hours each day spent scavenging for water from public taps that frequently run dry, rivers, or even drainage ditches. There are nearly a billion people in this trap of water insecurity and about 2.5 billion lack a sanitary toilet. 

Instead of viewing this as an ocean of people with their hands out waiting for charity-driven solutions, what if we see many of them, or even most of them, as potential customers. In the past decade we have seen a paradigm shift in how we understand the BOP -- a shift that holds much promise for tackling the water and sanitation crisis. Microfinance has been a catalyst in this, democratizing access to capital. Water.org has tapped into the power of microfinance to demonstrate that its principles can spill over into meeting the water and sanitation needs of the poor. 

Through WaterCredit, we have explored the application of microfinance to water and sanitation needs. With the support of the Pepsico Foundation, we have reached more than 250,000 people with loans that allow them to pay connection fees for house taps and to construct toilets. This was done at an average philanthropic cost of $24/person, which, in turn, leveraged more than three times that amount in the form of commercial capital to complete the finance package for each household. We are now taking this to scale with an $8 million grant from the Pepsico Foundation announced last Thursday and a $3.8 million grant from the MasterCard Foundation. We project that this philanthropic capital will leverage an additional $36 million in commercial capital, reaching about one million people. In the case of India, we will drive the philanthropic cost per person served down even further, to $10 by the end of the grant. 

Access to capital -- philanthropic, social and commercial -- is certainly a choke point in achieving universal access to water and sanitation. But neck and neck is lack of accountability to those living in poverty on the part of their governments and water utilities. Unfortunately, about half of investments that do find their way to water and sanitation infrastructure misses the mark due to corruption, incompetence, inadequate maintenance, and subsidies captured by those who could pay for services. 

The potential of microfinance to democratize access to capital is paralleled by the potential of technology and social media to democratize access to information. In the same way that social media and mobile devices allowed those driving the Arab Spring to find their voice in holding their leaders accountable for principles of democracy, we believe they can be used to allow the poor -- citizens in their own right -- to hold their leaders accountable for investments made into basic services such as water and sanitation. More people now have access to a cell phone than a toilet. What if a cell phone became a tool for the poor to better hold their elected officials accountable for fulfilling their mandate to provide sanitation? 

Approaching this crisis in a way that truly yields lasting and scalable solutions requires that we tap into orthogonal forces -- trends that are swirling around us that, at first, seem unrelated to the business of addressing the water and sanitation needs of the poor. New tools have been placed in our toolbox -- often, when we in the water sector were looking the other way, drilling another well. Microfinance and social media are just two examples of these tools. 

While the issues surrounding water poverty are complex, at a fundamental level they need to be addressed from the bottom up. Philanthropic capital should be used catalytically to jump-start markets for the hundreds of millions who can afford to meet their own needs if only given the right tools. It should be used to help drive transparency and accountability around public funds already targeting this crisis. It should seek to back those initiatives that can continue to democratize those forces and tools that we in the United States take for granted, whether poor or affluent, in leveling the playing field. 

We call on ourselves and other NGOs, governments, utilities, philanthropists, and influencers to recommit to approaching this crisis from the perspective of the poor. This call includes directing more resources towards experimentation and discovery, and doing so in a way that taps into and channels the intrinsic power of the poor as customers and citizens. It also includes raising the stakes by putting the global water and sanitation crisis on the map in a way that it truly deserves. This is a challenge worthy of the next global movement, similar to what was needed to sound the alarm around the fight against HIV/AIDS. 

This is that next movement and we are honored to have the opportunity to work with Arianna Huffington, who pledged herself and her team to give this movement an incredible kick-start with the launch of a new section of Huffington Post -- a section that will be dedicated to giving coverage to this cause, the doers, the solutions, and the discourse that is needed to change the world. 2011-11-01-GaryandMattTIME100bwsketch.jpgIn the end we know that we cannot fund-raise our way out of this crisis. Ultimately, it will be creativity, innovation, and collective action that will allow us to achieve universal access to water and sanitation, and do so in our lifetime. 
Gary White and Matt Damon are the co-founders of Water.org. 
 
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Gouranga TV: 2011 09 14 Evening kirtan part 2 on Ukraine festival “Bhakti Sangama 2011″ – HG Madhava Prabhu

2011 09 14 Evening kirtan part 2 on Ukraine festival “Bhakti Sangama 2011″ – HG Madhava Prabhu

 
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Temple of the Vedic Planetarium: His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami visits the ToVP

Recently His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami came to the offices to see how construction was progressing. He arrived with Sankarshan Nitai Das and was given the grand tour, starting from Sadbhujas' personal office! Bhakti Caru Swami inquired about all levels of design and Sadbhuja Das was the perfect guide.

 
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H.H. Kadamba Kanana Swami: Two weeks in Mayapur

The last two weeks Kadamba Kanana Maharaja spent in Sridhama Mayapur, West Bengal in India. Maharaja basically spent his stay by teaching. In the mornings, for a total of ten days, he taught theBhaktirasamrita Sindhu part of the Bhakti Sashtri course, which was translated by Srila Prabhupada as “The Nectar of Devotion“. This course covers the first 19 chapters, and Maharaja expertly guided the students through the different aspects of this book.

In the evenings Maharaja gave a course on the Caitanya Caritamrta. In this course, he explained the book from different angles, while approaching it through overviews of personalities, pictures, quotes and slokas.

Also, on one of the days, Jayadvaita Maharaja and Kadamba Kanana Maharaja had organised a big lunch for all the present Prabhupada disciples. It was a very nice occasion, and all the honoured guests highly appreciated the prasadam.

Additionally, on the weekends Kadamba Kanana Maharaja took out groups of devotees on parikrama. The first Saturday we went on a huge Harinama, which took us from the Yogapita to Srivasangan further to the Caitanya Matha. There was harinama all the way through and Maharaja was supported by the power-kirtaneers from South Africa who got everyone to dance in ecstasy.

The next weekend then we went with boats, starting from the Prabhupada Gata, to Mamgachi. There we visited Vrindavana Dasa Thakura’s birthplace. Maharaja gave a little lecture, in which he mainly read from the Caitanya Bhagavata, which was composed by that very Vrindavana Dasa, and than continued to the next destination with Kirtana, led by him, Hare Krsna Prabhu and others.

The next destination was the place where Vasudeva Datta’s original deities, Sri Sri Madan Gopal, reside. There, after a short talk about Vasudeva Datta’s glories and compassion, all the devotees were happy to take the wonderful prasadam, which was served on that very place. After a delicious feast we than eventually went back to Mayapur, performing Sankirtana Yajna all the way home.

Last Sunday Maharaja had a little home program at the house of Samba Prabhu and Saci Devi. After a beautiful kirtana, performed by Markandeya Prabhu, Maharaja gave a short talk about the amazing qualities of Krsna. The program ended with wonderful prasadam. 
Enjoy the pictures!

If you can’t view the slideshow, just visit flickr!

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H.H. Satsvarupa das Goswami (Ret.): Poem for November 22

4:31  A.M. Poem for November 22 When Lord Caitanya saw the place where the rasa dance took place He immediately lost consciousness in ecstatic love. He then went to Tentuli-tala where He took rest.  The tamarind tree called Tentuli-tala was very old, having been there since the time of Krishna’s pastimes. Since the river Yamuna [...]

Poem for November 22 is a post from: EVERY DAY

 
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H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Wednesday 23 November 2011--Super Ecstatic Departure Kirtan--and--Why 18 Chapters of Gita for Arjuna?

]]]]]]] A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Wednesday 23 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: Super Ecstatic Departure Kirtan uploaded from Mumbai, India On 21 November 2011 when we were getting ready to depart from ISKCON's Pune temple the devotees were singing a send-off kirtan for us. Seeing a wonderful opportunity to dive into the unlimitedly sweet ocean of Lord Sri Krishna's names, I got out of the soon-to-depart van, asked a devotee for the mridanga drum he was playing, and took the lead of the kirtan. It turned out to be another one of those super-sweet unforgettable kirtans that goes deep into the soul connecting the sincere chanter with the Lord within. Such kirtans transport us beyond this material world into that amazingly wondrous Spiritual Sky. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Diving into the Ocean of Unlimited Kirtan Bliss Pune, India--21 November 2011 http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Pune_Kirtan1.JPG http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Pune_Kirtan2.JPG http://www.backtohome.com/images/2011-Fall/Pune_Kirtan3.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: Why 18 Chapters of Gita for Arjuna? Dear Gurudeva, Namaste. I would like to humbly ask the following questions: Both Sri Krishna and Arjuna are mentioned by various names in Bhagavad-gita. What is the main purpose? What is the purpose of a prolonged dialog between Lord and Arjuna to fit in 18 chapters? Was the warrior Arjuna slow in his understanding? Yours in yoga Janardan Mali Answer: To Free Us From Delusion Different names of Krishna and Arjuna convey different aspects of their personalities. Therefore through these different names we can understand them better. Arjuna did not require to hear the Bhagavad-gita because he is an eternal associate of Krishna. But for the sake of our enlightenment he played the role of a deluded soul so that Krishna could speak the Bhagavad-gita to deliver us from our delusion. 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

 
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