General Membership of ISKCON
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY ISKCON GBC 

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

MAYAPUR - Whereas there is a need to recognize as general members those who wish to identify with the spiritual family of ISKCON,

Whereas such recognition should include some basic parameters,

Whereas such recognition should not involve any legal rights for the general members,

RESOLVED:

Whoever, regardless of gender, race, nationality, religion, etc., subscribes to the following statement, shall be considered a general member of ISKCON:

“I wish to be counted as part of the spiritual family of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), and I will practically support its mission. I accept the teachings of Lord Krishna as presented by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acarya of ISKCON.

“While I understand that this general membership does not confer upon me any rights in ISKCON organizations, I am grateful to participate in this spiritual movement intended for the upliftment of the entire human society.”

Scorn Your Ability
→ Japa Group

avācya-vādāṁś ca bahūn
vadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ
nindantas tava sāmarthyaṁ
tato duḥkha-taraṁ nu kim

TRANSLATION
Your enemies will describe you in many unkind words and scorn your ability. What could be more painful for you?

PURPORT
Lord Kṛṣṇa was astonished in the beginning at Arjuna’s uncalled-for plea for compassion, and He described his compassion as befitting the non-Āryans. Now in so many words, He has proved His statements against Arjuna’s so-called compassion.

Bhagavad-gītā As It Is 2.36

Association Is King
→ Japa Group



Today I was speaking with an old devotee friend....recently he is struggling with Japa but after talking with him for awhile, wants to change that situation.

By the Lord's mercy we can associate with each other in spiritual life....talk about the Lord, about our struggles and help to inspire one another to make progress - this is real association and very precious in this world.

Our internal life
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 April 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Rama Naumi Initiation Lecture)

krsnaThere exists our internal life. One cannot just be fixed on dharma by determination,”Okay, by intelligence I have understood this philosophy. It makes sense and I am deeply impressed by it. I think it is the truth. I think I am going to adjust my life to it.’ That is intellectual, it is very nice but that still is a burden.

So, one must also have an internal life. Give mercy and go and collect it. Dig deep in the scriptures because in the scriptures, there are amazing descriptions of amazing personalities. Chant, chant the name of the Lord, that name is unlimited. Invest energy, do not chant mechanical, really chant it. Everyday, chant at the best time. Chant the best rounds; make something out of that chanting! That is the internal life.

We must have both, internal life and quality. Otherwise, if it waters down then suddenly, the vows become a burden. If we are not having an internal life then the vows become a burden and then our so-called merciful activities become superficial, just to show! How can you have compassion for others when you do not have a better quality of life? You can only have compassion when you have a better quality of life otherwise you can be like an actor on stage and act as if you are compassionate. Real compassion is only possible when we have a better quality of life ourselves, then it is natural. So we must endeavour for that and rewards will come.

 

Saturday, June 7th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Creston, British Columbia

Persevere

There’s no doubt that there is struggle in the matter of walking, even in this almost perfect climate, and in clean mountain air.  I’m not much worried about grizzly encounters, but I’m cautious.  People have been nice, and I have rare to find any redneck dynamic.  Not even a remark of bigotry.  I enjoy the trekking, partially because of the austere side of it.  You do get your aches and pains for sure.  The mind may try to agitate.  That struggle is good. 

Here is what I get out of it, perseverance. 

Todd is a customs officer at a place on the border called Kingsgate.  He saw me when I was just about ready to enter the town Erickson.  He pulled over while on his way to work, “Just curious to know why you’re walking.  After my graduation I trekked from the coast to Creston, where I lived.  I found in the course of my walking I discovered many things about myself.  I did this walk solo.” 

I commended him for his task and agreed that it’s something more people should do.  “You give yourself time to reflect on past, present and future.  It becomes a spiritual experience.”

Amongst the other people I met today, a Jehovah’s Witness woman emerged from a vehicle at a major juncture along the road.  Her driver drove some distance to turn around.   When I first saw her, I was judging by her high heels that she wasn’t prepared to do any serious walking.  She came to me and made it clear that she’s a member of Jehovah.  She came with the journal, ‘The Watch Tower’ in hand.  I was willing to accept the literature only on the basis that she would accept my card with the maha mantra.   I was also of the conviction that if we were going to converse on the basis of my religion/my religion, and how ‘mine’ is the only approach, no!

We managed to keep everything light and leaving each other on the note, “God bless”.  We stayed on common ground.  I didn’t even have to persevere. 

May the Source be with you!

35 KM

Friday, June 6th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Kitchener, British Columbia

Trimming Down

In the first hour I may have two or three layers on to address morning chill.  Before long, comes off the hoodie.  The next hour, comes off my t-shirt underneath my traditional kurta (devotional shirt).  Even my safety vest I strip off due to there being enough sunlight by now.  In the third hour, I’m likely removing my socks.  By now, there’s nothing much left to peel off. 

The road brings with it warmth and coolness.  Asphalt appears to be a conductor of heat from the sun.  Although I can’t complain, temperatures remain below 22 degrees Celsius. 

Coolness arrives from the motorists who are on a passionate run to get to wherever.  Apart from the occasional happy honker, everyone else seems to be flying on the fuel of the greedy go.  No time to pay heed to a pedestrian.  I generally look for alternative wayside roads that angle along to meet the highway.  There, we find peace.  I did detour once, only to find myself at a cul-de-sac, a dead end.  A kind Mexican woman didn’t mind that I traversed her pasture land where I came upon the field’s corner.  My intent was to meet the highway again. Luckily the barbed wire on the fence didn’t entangle or rip my dhoti.  Remember, I’m as stripped down to as meagre as I’ll be after leaving Daruka with the extra burdensome clothing.  Finally, a quiet road lead me to the village of Kitchener, and to a juncture of the Crowsnest Pass.

One other thing seems to be missing these days.  Yes, of course, it’s Michael.  Michael is making the slow journey back to home, Toronto.   His allotted time with us has expired.  So, we’re down to three guys and one drama queen (Billie Jean, the parrot) and one crammed vehicle. 

We had a great swim in Vasa Lake, which relaxed muscles, and then took off for a visit to the Adi Vajra Shanehasalen asram.  Our connection with this community allowed us to make mutual relations.

May the Source be with you!

35 KM

SO! it seems the Timingala is REAL! http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/1769…
→ Mahavishnu Swami

SO! it seems the Timingala is REAL!
http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/176915/Something_Ate_This_Shark_But_What/


Something Ate This Shark... But What? [Video]

The film crew tags a number of great white sharks to study their movement patterns along Australia's coast. When one of the devices washes ashore, could a killer whale be to blame?From: HUNT FOR THE SUPER Continue reading →

Thursday, June 5th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Yahk, British Columbia

Baby Crow

There is life in death with the emergence of the soul, even when an entity apparently bites the dust.  From the nest of a crow fell this baby bird, and somehow landed on the edge of the highway.  Funny, when you consider the name of this road way – the Crowsnest Pass.  I looked at the little buzzard, not a sign of life was in it, so where did the atma go?  The answer lies in karma, which is often times too complex to make some order or shape out of it.  As the body lay there rather featherless and practically balding, we can imagine that its soul is in flight. 

On his way to work, Patrick saw me, pulled over and came out of his truck to offer pranams.  Under his safety vest was a dark sweat shirt with an adorable insignia of Ganesh printed on it.  He’d been to Tibet like many westerners have been doing as of late.  Instead of the Himalayas, he obtained a little flavour of Tibet right here in the Rockies, only I’m not a Buddhist monk.  I may not even qualify as an austere monk necessarily.  What did make a difference for Patrick and me was the spiritual exchange that we had so early in the morning. 

Others came to see me on the highway.  The neighbourliness of motorists is like prana  (life force), but on the road you get both life and death.  Many signs of death are apparent on the highway such as the lifeless baby crow and the numerous crucifixes erected to demarcate automobile mishaps.  There’s a lot of vitality on this road because of the recurring appearance of the Moyie River and historically Dewdley blazed the trail here during gold rush days. 

May the Source be with you!

40 KM

Wednesday, June 4th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Cranbrook, British Columbia

I Stepped On

I stepped on what appeared to be a trail at Cranbook’s west end.  I was wrong.  A sign posted on this narrow cleared space near this swampy body of water, was a natural maternity habitat for local turtles.  An elderly man was raking the ground, readying it for turtle nesting.

I apologized to the man when I discovered my mistake.  “Oh, that’s alright, you didn’t know,” he replied forgivingly. 

Whenever there is an opportunity to trek somewhere parallel to a super busy highway, I jump for it.  Karuna, my walking partner for this morning, and I, spotted the Trans Canada Trail while walking during the morning rush hour.  We dashed for that trail and enjoyed the shade and tranquility it offered.  When it is inevitable that we stick to the main road, then we accept it as a practice in austerity.  The traffic is particularly busy through Cranbrook, a juncture that leads to Vancouver, Calgary, and the States. 

Being where the motorists frequent is always the most challenging, but I did meet nice samaritans today.  I had stopped by at a house asking for a possibly alternative parallel road.  The owner of the home informed me that there wasn’t any.  Somehow or other he was intrigued when I told him about the nationwide walk, because a half hour later, he and his wife pulled over and presented a bag full of goodies.

“Now, if there’s anything in this bag, you can’t eat, you can just take it out right now.”  So I looked inside and I pulled out the can of tuna and the package of beef jerky, and then went on to enjoy the fruit with thanks.  Not much later, a woman who had heard there’s a monk in town, drove out to the shoulder of the road where I continued to amble along.  Intrigued, she offered a donation and a smile.  Both were precious. 

I have one lament about these days, we don’t seem to be having success in school engagements in either Alberta or BC like we experienced in the prairies and north western Ontario.  Even yoga societies appeared too busy for our presentation.  Either that, or it’s too short notice.  So be it.  We are spending time with Paul and Sara and their friends who have come to visit.  Paul is 83 and he makes a mean rhubarb apple pie.  Due to our presence there, Paul and Sara’s company is enjoying vegetarian cuisine which we consecrate to make it prasadam. 

I thank Arnie from the Daily Townsman for coming to do an interview.

May the Source be with you!

35 KM

Our stories: Dhamananda devi dasi
→ Vaisnava Connection - London Temples

 

dhamananda pic

Hare Krishna!

My first contact with the devotees, without even noticing it, was with the George Harrison’s song “My Sweet Lord”. It was a #1 Hit in Spain and I loved it. I bought the LP and I listened to it everytime I could. I was 14 years old.

At 17, when I finished my studies, I decided to go to Paris and just by life chances, I ended up living close to the Hare Krishna Temple. It was in the Rue le Sueur, next to the park where I was going every day with the little girl I was taking care of. During the two years I was there I could see them quite often, but I never went to the temple. It seems it wasn’t my time yet.

I came back to Spain and I had to go through a couple of years of suffering to realize that this life is not made to enjoy it. At the beginning of ’82 a Srila Prabhupada book, “Elevation to Krishna Concioussnes” arrived to my home. Years after I discovered that during these Christmas there was a Ladies Sankirtan Party who did a Marathon in Bilbao, near to where I was living, and probably someone from my family bought them that book. When I first saw it I loved it, especially the Srila Prabhupada picture, to which I started to offer incense (in my way, of course). I built a little altar and I even put a little cactus. I liked the book so much, and I started trying to follow the principles Srila Prabhupada was mentioning.

A bit later I found out that a friend of mine was living in New Vrajamandala and during Eastern I went there to see the farm. I loved it so much that I had to stay, I couldn’t go back home.

One month after arriving to the farm, I joined the ladies Travelling Sankirtana Party and we travelled all around Spain. Later on, in the ’87, I got married with Sabda-Brahma and we lived for 5 years more in New Vrajamandala, until we moved to Jalón, in Alicante, where we are still living with our son Nityananda.

Here we have a prosper devotee community quite near, wich helps us to stay Krishna conscious, and without the London Temple morning programs, it wouldn’t be the same. Mayapur.tv has brought back to me enthusiasm for participating in this marvelous Srila Prabhupada movement. There I have met great devotees from all over the world, who like me are willing to please Krishna. We are a big family, and this makes me feel very motivated.

Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to share my life with you all. See you in the next London program. Haribol!

 

 

 

Taster Poem by Julia
→ Vaisnava Connection - London Temples

darshan manor 08032014

Beautiful gems on sacred ground

Bend and sway to magical sound

Glowing colours alight with love

Dance before you, Lord above

Radha and Krishna inspire such a sight 

I kneel in awe with devotees so bright

 Julia

(Hopefully more to follow!!  please nag Julia on my behalf :-))

 

This is Krishna. Now Take Him!
→ Servant of the Servant

Amazingly beautiful Krishna

Just imagine a person who manifests everything that exists out of His transcendental body, Who is so powerful that not even a blade of grass can move without His sanction, who is so kind that no matter how much you neglect Him, He still has unlimited love for you, Who is so attractive that anyone who comes into His contact cannot help but fall madly in love with Him, Who is so sweet that anything else besides Him is by comparison unbearably bitter, Who is so funny that He can make everyone laugh uproariously, Who is so serious that He can make everyone very sober even the most frivolous buffoons, Who plays His flute so artistically with such unlimited depth of beautiful emotions that He can make everyone cry pools of tears in ecstasy, Who is so accessible that even though He is the supreme superstar you can have Him exclusively as your personal companion, and Who has so many unlimited wondrous qualities that I could go on writing this sentence infinitely for all of eternity. (Do I need to stop?) This is Krishna. Now take Him!

Sankarshan Das Adhikari

Hare Krishna

Is Krishna in the Vedas? Should Rāma-bhaktas Become Krishna Bhaktas?
→ The Enquirer

Q: Is there śāstric evidence for the understanding that Krishna is the original Bhagavān, the source of Viṣṇu, aside from the commonly quoted Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 1.3.28 and Brahmā Saṁhitā 5.1?

I think the first thing to remember here is that Krishna is a very rare avatāra. He is 1,000 times more rare than any other Viṣṇu Avatāra (Because they appear once per kalpa, but Krishna appears only once in an entire day of Brahmā — 1,000 kalpa). And every time Krishna appears, he is immediately followed by Śrī Krishna Caitanya and his associates, especially Śrīla Rūpa Goswāmī and Śrīla Jīva Goswāmī, etc.

So for 95% of the duration of the cosmos, Krishna is rather irrelevant. He is not known except by those very rare mystics whose knowledge extends beyond the beginning of the current cosmos. Therefore in the vast majority of śāstra Krishna is not directly discussed. Simply put, he is irrelevant to most of the material world, and even most of the spiritual progress going on within the material world, for the vast majority of the time.

But when, just after the 500th revolution of kalpa, at the very end of the dvāpara-yuga, Krishna appears… all of the sudden he becomes exceedingly relevant in this world, although for a short time on a cosmic scale. Krishna is like a flash of lightning or a supernova, very rare, and when it happens it is over very quickly, but while it happens… oh boy is it bright and exciting!

After Krishna appears Vyāsa records his līlā in Bhāgavata Purāṇa. Then there is a period of slight pause, and then Mahaprabhu Arrives with his associates to completely explain Krishna and open a huge doorway for almost anyone and everyone to access the beauty of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa and its object.

So, what I am saying is that most of the time Krishna is irrelevant to the world, and therefore most of the scripture doesn’t deal directly with Krishna. But when Krishna does come, once in 1,000 kalpa he is followed immediately by associates who generate śāstra relevant to his revelation.

So, the words of Mahaprabhu, the words of Kaviraja Goswāmī, the words of Śrī Rūpa, Sanatana, Raghunātha and Jīva Goswāmī… these are equal to and superior to the words of the Sāptaṛṣi who composed the ancient vedas, and the words of the other ṛṣī who composed Upanishads and so on. We do not agree to the idea that simply because something is not extremely old, its not authentic. The relatively modern texts of Śrī Rūpa and Śrī Jīva, for example, are superior to the Purāṇas, Upanishads, and Vedas – because they were written during the “supernova” of Krishna’s revelation.

In the very old Vedas, there is still indication of Krishna but it is indirect. In other words, he is not mentioned much by name, but is regularly pointed to as an ideal.

Two classic, important, examples are

(1) the Vedanta’s analysis of the Upanishads, stating ānanda-mayābhyāsāt — “The Upanishads repeatedly declare that the ultimate life is composed of bliss itself.”

(2) Taittiriya Upanishad, stating raso vai saḥ — “The supreme is certainly rasa himself.”

So, the Upanishads (which bring out the philosophical import of the four Veda) repeatedly point to bliss / rasa as the true essence of life – and that is really what the Krishna conception is. Krishna is the supreme life, and thus the supreme rasa, the supreme bliss. So our ācāryas, like Madhvācārya, confidently say, “All the Vedas glorify Krishna.” And even Krishna says, in Gītā, vedaiś ca sarvair ahaṁ eva vedyo — “The real thing to be known in all the Vedas is me.”

Madhvācārya says (in commenting on Gītā 2.24), that the older Vedic scriptures can be most clearly understood for what they really are pointing towards only if we study them in light of the newer scriptures (especially the Gītā. In Bhagavad Gītā, several statements support that Krishna is Bhagavān and even svayam Bhagavān.)

In this way, we are quite content with the 3rd chapter of canto 1 of Śrīmad Bhāgavata Purāṇa (which elaborately and explicitly makes the point that Krishna is svayam Bhagavān, and the origin of all avatar), and with the Brahmā Samhita discovered by Śrī Krishna Caitanya, and with the statements of Mahaprabhu and the Six Goswāmīs.

Here are a few more instances of indirect descriptions of Krishna in the Upaniṣads:

The essential declaration that the supreme is an entity possessing personality, and desire to expand (the root nature of Krishna) is made all across the Upaniṣad. For example: Chāndogya Upaniṣad (6.2.1):

sadeva saumyedam agra āsīd ekam evādvitīyam
tad aikṣata bahu syām prajāyeya

“In the beginning the One was certainly undivided, and desired to manifest as many.”

Aitareya Upaniṣad (1.1-2):

ātmā vā idam eka evāgra āsīn nānyat kiñcana miṣat
sa īkṣata lokān nu sṛjā

“In the beginning there was certainly only one entity, and nothing else. He desired to manifest all things.”

The Gītā declares in many places that Krishna is Bhagavān, who is defined as the origin of Brahman. For example (Bhagavad Gītā 14.27): brahmaṇo hi pratiṣṭhāhaṁ – “I am certainly the very foundation of reality (Brahman).”

A later Upaniṣad, Gopāl Tāpanī Upaniṣad (Pūrva 50), mentions Krishna by name:

tasmāt kṛṣṇa eva paro devaḥ

“Therefore the supreme divinity is certainly all-attractive (Krishna).”

Q: Should we preach the Krishna conception to those who have other understandings of Bhagavān.

Our natural function, being enamored with Krishna, is that we will speak about Krishna. Much like school boys talk about the various girls in bands like AKB48, and the school girls talk about the various boys in bands like One Direction, or whatever. It is just natural that we will gush about Krishna.

We do not “preach” per se, it is just natural that when we open our mouths, what is in our hearts comes out.

You cannot “make” someone a devotee of Krishna, or a devotee at all. You can only hope to inspire them to make themselves a devotee. Love cannot be created, it comes only from freewill, so we cannot create bhakti in someone else. We can only inspire them to create it within themselves.

If someone is inspired to be a devotee of Narasiṁha, Varāha, Rāma, Viṣṇu, etc. then your expression of love for Krishna will only inspire their affection for Narasiṁha, Varāha, etc. Similarly, if one is inspired to be a devotee of Krishna, then expressions of devotion for Rāma and so on, will only inspire their inspiration towards Krishna.

Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana Goswāmīs were brothers. They had a third brother, and his son was Jīva Goswāmī. This third brother was a devotee of Rāma. Śrīla Rūpa and Sanātana could not interest him in becoming a devotee of Krishna.

Sometimes it will happen, because sometimes the soul will be inspired. But usually it won’t happen because the soul is already fixed in its inspiration.

There is no need to make the effort, in my opinion.


The vibhavas, prabhavas and anubhavas of Krishna’s para shakti
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Krsna  has  one  personal   energy called  svarupa sakti  or  para  sakti. This para  sakti has three  vibhavas, three  prabhavas and three  anubhavas by Krsna's  will. The three  vibhavas are the cit sakti,   jiva sakti  and  maya  sakti.   The three  prabhavas are the iccha sakti, kriya sakti and  jnana sakti. The three  anubhavas are sandhini, hladini and samvit. By the  influence of  the  iccha  sakti  (Supreme Will),  the  cit  sakti  manifests  Goloka, Vaikuntha and  other  places  of the  Lord's  pastimes, Krsna's  names, the  Lord's  various two  handed or  four  handed or  six handed forms,  the  pastimes with  his  associates in Goloka,  Vrndavana, and  Vaikuntha, and  spiritual qualities such  as mercy,  forgiveness, and    generosity.   By the  influence of the  jnana  sakti,  the    cit  sakti  produces various perceptions: aisvarya,  madhurya,  and   beauty  of  the  spiritual  world.    Krsna   alone possesses the iccha sakti.  The controller of the jnana sakti is Vasudeva and  the controller of the  kriya  sakti  is Baladeva, or Sankarsana. By the  influence of the  iccha  sakti,  jnana sakti  and  kriya  sakti   upon the jiva sakti,   the forms  of eternal associates, devatas, men, demons  and   raksasas appear.    By  the  influence  of  Krsna's   kriya   sakti,   the  Lord's activities become  manifest. Within  the  cit sakti,  the  sandhini, samvit and  hladini saktis  combine to produce the distinctive ecstasies  of prema.

Chaitanya Shikshamrita, Bhaktivinoda Thakura

 

Non-vegetarians healthier than vegetarians?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

- Chaitanya Charan das and Sukadeva das, PhD

Hierarchy of evidence

"Vegetarians are unhealthier than non-vegetarians." So claimed a recent study:
http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2014/04/01/study-vegetarians-less-healthy-lower- quality-of-life-than-meat-eaters/

The article stated: “Vegetarians were twice as likely to have allergies, a 50 percent increase in heart attacks and a 50 percent increase in incidences of cancer. The cross-sectional study from Austrian Health Interview Survey data and published in PLos One examined participants dietary habits, demographic characteristics and general lifestyle differences.”

At the bottom of the ladder of credibility 

What this article didn’t care to mention was the significance of the term “cross-sectional study.” Most readers would probably pass over the technical sounding term, assuming it to be something that indicates credibility and reliability. Their assumption couldn’t be further from the truth. Researchers, especially in the medical and health fields, have a variety of studies of different levels of reliability; and in that hierarchy, cross-sectional studies fall somewhere near the bottom.

A quick analysis of some of the problems of the studies lower in the hierarchy is as follows:

  • Cross-sectional studies are weak because they provide no direct evidence of the sequence of events.
  • True prevalence surveys—cross-sectional studies of a defined population—guard against selection bias but are subject to measurement and confounding biases.
  • Case-control studies are vulnerable to selection bias and can be susceptible to confounding and measurement bias.
  • Well-conducted cohort studies are better because they can be performed in a way that minimizes known confounding, selection, and measurement biases.
  • Randomized trials are better still because the research design protects against possible biases and provides stronger evidence for a cause-and-effect relationship.
  • Systematic reviews are the highest level of evidence.

Fletcher et al - http://www.amazon.com/Clinical-Epidemiology-Essentials-Robert-Fletcher/dp/B00D9TDLT6

Readers interested in learning more about this hierarchy of evidences can refer here for an introductory analysis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierarchy_of_evidence

or here for a more technical analysis

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/118/16/1675.full

For those who are not into the technical stuff, the simple point is that this study, being none-too-reliable, needs to be taken with due skepticism.

More reliable studies confirm the health benefits of vegetarianism

And an even greater reason for skepticism is that this study is contradicted by many studies of a far higher level of reliability, as can be seen by a quick search of the relevant medical literature. Here are a

A systematic review published in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism found that vegetarians have a significantly lower ischemic heart disease mortality (29%) and overall cancer incidence (18%) than nonvegetarians.

A systematic review published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association reported that vegetarians have lower risk of death from ischemic heart disease, lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure, and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, lower body mass index and lower overall cancer rates than nonvegetarians. Additionally, contradicting the popular myth that vegetarian diets are nutritionally inadequate, the study reported that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful and nutritionally adequate for individuals during all stages of the life cycle, including pregnancy, lactation, infancy, childhood, and adolescence, and for athletes.

A randomized control trial published in the Journal of the American Dietic Association found that a very-low-fat vegan diet increases intake of protective nutrients that combat several chronic diseases and minimizes intake of dietary factors implicated in several chronic diseases.

A randomized control trial published by Cancer Research confirmed that red meat enhances the colonic formation of the DNA adduct O6-carboxymethyl guanine, thereby reiterating the well-known association of red meat with colorectal cancer.

Readers who prefer a non-technical analysis can the various benefits of vegetarianism – health being just one of them – summarized in an acronym: HELP: Health, Environment, Livestock, Poor.

http://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2012/01/are-there-any-logical-reasons-to-choose-vegetarianism/

The overall verdict of scientific research confirms the time-tested wisdom of the Vedic spiritual tradition: we are meant primarily to be vegetarians.

 

 

Safe, Danger and Relapse Zones in the War against temptation
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Lecture Podcast

Lecture Outline:

Safe Zone (shama)
•Absorption in Krishna due to taste
•Focus on something constructive due to liking or due to urgency
Danger Zone (Dama)
•Exposure to triggers
•Ext triggers - billboards and Int triggers - boredom
Relapse Zone (Papa)
•What defines us is not how we fall, but how we rise
•Don’t cover – recover
Gita 02.60 refers to internal trigger and 02.67 refers to external trigger