Anti Racism Demo, Trafalger Square, London
→ simple thoughts

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The dictionary informs us that racism “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.”

So basically we were on a demo where people wanted to see others beyond the gross bodily concept. Great let’s go a little further to the platform of the soul, so out comes the Prasad, the Holy Name and the books and a couple old rickshaws.

So we cooked up prasad for 1,000 people, subji, rice, cake and fruits. One person made the observation that the speakers at the demo were quite angry and forceful in their presention (as for many people racism can greatly effect their lives, racism because you are black or because you are white etc,) where as the “Harrys” give love.

The short video demonstrates that you don’t need too many resources to preach, cook some prasad and get a few friends together and have a good time.
Enjoy the movie.
Your servant
Parasuram Das

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 04/17/14
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Back to Godhead - Volume 11, Number 01 - 1976

New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 04/17/14.

Each week we highlight an earlier era of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

This digital photo is a bit fuzzy and it’s challenging, but not impossible, to identify people in it.

This week’s challenge:  We are hoping someone familiar with the photo can share some history as well as the names of some of the many devotees in it.

Extra credit: What year was this photo taken and what was the occasion?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook Page.

Technical stuff: We share a photo Thursday and confirm known details Sunday. Let’s keep it light and have a bit of fun!

Special request: If you have a photo showing New Vrindaban devotees in action, share it with us and we’ll use it in a future posting.

Tuesday, April 15th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Stay in the Water

Durban, South Africa
 
This marks the 20th year since the abolishment of apartheid in South Africa.  People of native origin fought long and hard to achieve their freedom as recent history tells.  Despite the policy and administrative adjustments, things are far from perfect. Now you have minorities complaining about favoritism.  Job opportunities are preferentially partial.  And it goes on and on.  

But lets not be naive. Nothing’s ever going to be a bowl of roses. We are living in the material world, so, let's not whine so much.  Let's not blame everyone else for our own discomforts. You put yourself in the spot where you are now.  Such is the nature of karma. So swallow it and get on with life.  Life isn’t always fair, okay?

Maybe you don't belong here in the first place? Is that fair? Is that a fair question?

Today we spent hours on preparing dramas for the upcoming weekend Festival of Chariots.  Walking took a back seat.  To address this “other worldly” issue I found it great in the script writing by local stand up comedian, K.C., we call him, when the Sangoma, a Zulu shaman, who directs the troubled under dogged victim out of his misery. The story plays up on the analogy that we are all fish out of water.

Little Fish is the actual name of the victim and he addresses the Sangoma, “I need help. I don't know what to do anymore.  I need someone to take my problems away.”  The Sangoma spews out sounds like only a wizard can do as he throws the bones and reads the message.  

“The bones don't lie.  You were in a good place, a really good place, a long time ago!  Hmm, hmmm, then you got greedy.  You left that place.  You left that lovely place, to come here! But my friend, you’re never going to be happy over here, this place is not for you.  You are never going to be happy here, unless you go back to your home.  This place is not for you... you are like a fish out of water.”

The message has merit.  It gives us something to aspire towards. 

May the Source be with you!

0 KM

Monday, April 14th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Durban, South Africa

To Tolerate


Kala, Tamohara and I were flying from Mauritius to South Africa.  While waiting at the airport in Johannesburg, the stopover before heading to Durban, I was reading some anecdotes from those who were with our guru.  A passage I read happened to be of an occurrence while our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had flown from Mauritius to Durban.  It was a small lesson on tolerance.

Pusta Krishna: We were flying from Mauritius to Durban on Quantus Airlines. I was seated beside Srila Prabhupada wearing my little British hat, shirt, coat and pants.  At that time there was a rugby match between South Africa and New Zealand teams, and there were a lot of rugby types on the plane. We had a seat in the non-smoking section, but people were smoking there and I was disturbed.  I was also concerned for Srila Prabhupada’s welfare.  So I asked the stewardess to please ask them to stop smoking in the non-smoking section.  She told the rugby type guys, who were drinking quite a bit as well, to stop smoking.  But they didn't stop. I was about to ask the stewardess, “Please ask them again,” when Prabhupada stopped me.  He said “What is the difference between us and them if we can’t tolerate these sort of things?  Don’t be an ordinary, common, foolish man.”

I thought the passage was instructive.  Why whine over everything?  While in the air on whatever jet, there are always little things that we persevere through. Anyway, “Sawubona!” which means, “Hello!” in Zulu.

May the Source be with you!

5 KM

Thirst for Wonder
→ Seed of Devotion

"Wisdom begins in wonder." - Socrates

This afternoon, I drove across a bridge and glanced over past the waterfalls. My eyes widened. Mist rose from the rushing, swollen river and the sun glimmered.

I crossed the bridge, parked my car, and dashed back out to the bridge with my camera phone. Who knew when this moment would come again, this precise painting by God?




I took several pictures then paused there in the middle of the bridge, gazing out at the river, the shrouded forests, the blue sky. The roar of the waterfalls surrounded me. Sometimes I measure my thirst for wonder by how desperate I am to take a picture. I'll crouch, crawl, tiptoe, reach, run, run, run. Photography for me is about viewing life as art and capturing the perfect way it blossoms and unfolds.

I paused on the bridge for only a couple moments, then dashed back to my car, pulling my coat tight. I drove into town and ran my errands.

When I returned much later, I parked my car again and walked out onto the bridge. I took more pictures. Wonder surrounds us every moment of every day if we are only willing to open our eyes to it. Okay, maybe we need to open our eyes AND crouch, crawl, tiptoe, reach, or run

run

run.


Sydney Temple
→ Ramai Swami

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There’s always a lot of action at Sydney temple, even during the week, both in the day and at night time. On my recent visit I was requested to give some classes on temple worship and on the last night I led kirtan between 7 and 9pm.

Sydney temple has purchased a 4 acre property at Vineyard, 5 Kilometres before Windsor. They plan to build another temple with nice accommodation so that the many devotees who live in the area have a wonderful facility to render service to the Lord.
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The Lake Of The Mind
→ Japa Group


"During the japa session, as the mind howls, don’t give up the chanting. However bad the mind's demands, don't give in; let's keep chanting till we complete our daily quota. The lake of the mind will eventually settle down. But be rest assured, tomorrow as you sit for another japa session, the mind will once again agitate. Again the solution is the same; do not react."

Radhanatha Swami

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ April 16, 2014
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

01

O brother, what kinds of enjoyment have you not already experienced in this world of birth and death? What kind of fame and worship have you not already attained in this world by scholarship, charity, and sacrifice? For today, O friend, simply accept whatever food comes unsought, look to see the good qualities in others and not their faults, do not put yourself forward, but remain obscure and unknown, and continually wander, without any companion, in this beautiful forest of Vrinda?vana.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, Sataka-2, Text-14, Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

Chitrakavitvani 2 – Chanting doesn’t make us give up what we naturally like to do – it enables us to do it better and do it for the best purpose
→ The Spiritual Scientist

charchoru ruchira ucchora      ruchiro 'ram charachare

chauracharo 'chirat chiram     rucha charur achuchurat

"Acting like a thief, Nanda's broad-chested son, the most handsome person in the world, quickly stole the gopis' garments. His effulgence made Him very attractive, and the sandal paste anointing His limbs enhanced His beauty."

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

The Answer is Easter
→ ISKCON News

In anticipation of Easter, one of the biggest celebration in the Christian religion, Southern Californian pastor Rick Warren talks about his son’s recent suicide and how people can overcome pain and despair.

Acquiring Krsna’s qualities
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 March 2014, Sydney, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.6.11)

1983-06-03sarva mahā-guṇa-gaṇa vaiṣṇava-śarīre
kṛṣṇa-bhakte kṛṣṇera guṇa sakali sañcāre (CC Madhya 22.75)

This verse is saying that all the good qualities are present within the body of a vaisnava. All the good qualities of Krsna are actually manifesting in the devotee. So it is interesting that we get the same qualities as Krsna. By serving Krsna, we get the good qualities of Krsna. By serving someone, you get the qualities of that person. It’s logical because whatever is important to that person becomes important to you. So if you serve Krsna, whatever is important to Krsna becomes important to you and the way Krsna conducts himself becomes important to us. In this way, we develop all the good qualities of Krsna by the grace of Krsna.

 

 

 

Giant Hanuman Sculpture Built With 26, 500 Bells
→ ISKCON News

This video is going to prove those wrong, who think science and faith cannot come together. Watch these guys at Charuvi Design Labs give shape to this unique amalgamation, in the most gigantic form possible. They used 26,500 bells to give shape to their dream of creating a huge Lord Hanuman structure. What’s more, this structure is interactive. When you touch Lord Hanuman’(feet), the bells start chiming and the whole structure seems to be coming alive. 

The root of sin is deliberate disobedience to God
→ The Spiritual Scientist

The root of sin is deliberate disobedience of the laws of nature through disregarding the proprietorship of the Lord. Disobeying the laws of nature or the order of the Lord brings ruin to a human being. Conversely, one who is sober, who knows the laws of nature, and who is not influenced by unnecessary attachment or aversion is sure to be recognized by the Lord and thus become eligible to go back to Godhead, back to the eternal home.

- Srila Prabhupada, Sri Isopanishad Mantra 1

Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-04-16 16:56:00 →

1970 April 16: "Regarding the three couples staying with George Harrison, if there is no contemplation of starting a temple there, simply to take advantage of staying there is no good. Not a single moment should be wasted - that is very important. We shall not act anything which has no connection directly with Krishna Consciousness business."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

Frequently Non-answered Questions
→ Dandavats.com

More than half of the problems that exist today would be tackled differently if we solely knew the answer to the question that Calvin poses. Wouldn’t it? Violence, discrimination, environmental pollution, corruption – you name it – all would end if everyone just got the answer to this fundamental question – who are we? And what are we doing here? Are we in tune with our real nature? Sometimes the questions we ask are more important than answers we already have. That’s what the teachers from ancient India tell us in the Vedanta Sutras – athato brahma jigyasa – literally, “thus, let us ask the questions about the Absolute Truth, God”. This, they say, is the question of all questions. Did you spend some time thinking about the big questions of life? Why don’t you? Read more ›

We need quality
→ Servant of the Servant

Everyone has got some followers. This.... What is that? Guruji Maharaja. He has got also so-called followers. The T.M.,(Transcendental Meditation of Mahesh Yogi)  - - - he has got also some followers. Everyone has got some followers. But what kind of followers they have ? That is quality. Everything has quality. Simply quantity is not. There are many Christians. Even up to date, some Christian fair or.... Many millions will come. What is the quality ? Quality is all meat-eater. But Christian means he should not kill. Where is the Christian ? So we have to test by the quality, followers. Not many followers, the quality of the followers. My Guru Mahäräja used to say like that, that "If I get at least one quality disciple, then all my labor will be success." He was saying like that: quality, not the quantity.

- Srila Prabhupada (Room Conversation  -  The Spirit of Preaching is to Make Perfect Disciples
- May 2, 1976, Fiji)

Hare Krishna

The Word Is Out!
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


The response to my new book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest has been streaming in: 

“Wonderful! Your storytelling art – which quickly gets to the essence of everything – has opened the world of Mahabharata to me , for it has opened up the world of the feelings and emotions of Mahabharata.” Sacinandana Swami

"Got the books. Already finished the first chapter....really nice. Have a friend who teaches comparative religion classes at the University here, I'll give her a copy.” Trivikrama Swami, FL

"Reading your book! Such a great job – deep and flowing. You are truly gifted to share this profound story the way you have. Outstanding!” Krsnanandini Dasi, OH 

“Thank you Andy for this wonderful book. As I sit here reading I feel whole regions of my mind and heart awaken. Soul food for our times.”  Rasika Walkingfeather


“I could not put it down…. I am going to give it out to others who I think have an interest…. It’s a landmark work….. How difficult it must have been to reduce the volume of the text and not loose the threads of the story, nor the essence of the philosophy! Magnificent!” Josef Lauber

“I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your unbelievable gift of Mahabharata:The Eternal Quest… I found myself picking it up only minutes after putting it down and reading it all in every spare moment I had…… a great telling of the classic…… When I came to the chapter where you condensed the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, I found tears in my eyes. It was wonderful, concise, and exceptionally powerful.” Emil Sofsky

“Thank you for this engaging rendering of Mahabharata. You’ve performed a great service.” Dr Vicky Jenkins, IN 

"Wow, what a wonderful book. We just finished it this morning ... i'm sad it's over...we'll have to read it again!" Mohanasini Lighfoot

"I just finished reading Mahabharata. Wonderfully done. Except I started to do the math to calculate the years of Kali-yuga remaining and...think I'll just keep playing my flutes. Thank you a great read." Lou Boden

“Hare Krishna. May you live for many years and keep producing wonderful stories that lift the spirits of all who hear them. " Vegavati DD  

“The book has brought Stephanie and I so much joy, we couldn't put it down and read it to one another so we could both enjoy together. We also love the cover artwork. Our complements to the artist.” Luke Kopyar

“I am almost finished reading the book. Very mesmerizing.” Dheeraj Handa, CA 

“I couldn’t put it down.” Vidya DD 

“Andy Fraenkel’s Mahabharata is a transcendental experience on every page.” Steve Howard, CO

“The book and website look really good. I'm excited that this important subject is getting attention.” Roi in Israel

“Very well written. You have kept the meaning of Mahabharata and have given life to the major and minor personalities.” Appa Roa Gollamudi, Hyderabad, India

“His book is an incredible rendition of one of the oldest written books on the planet. I highly recommend it if you want to immerse yourself in the most amazing drama and intrigue ever recorded.” Darrell Martin, Blue Boy Herbs


“Cows flying” in the festival of the cows’ first spring pasture, Krishna valley, Hungary (Album 166 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

This event would make excellent natural wonder visible to those who visit the valley Krishna Sunday April 13 th, as at the date of holding the "first spring grazing"! The first spring sprouting is one of the most joyous holiday for the cows, as after the long winter confinement for the first time and enjoy the taste of fresh grass in the soft sunlit meadow in spring Read more ›

Is This All There Is? — Devamrita Swami
→ ISKCON News

Work, buy and consume week after week, month after month, year after year, is that what we're really here for? Devamrita Swami elaborates on this common mantra: work, buy, consume, die explaining that actually there is more to life than that. (Produced by Bhakti Lounge, Wellington, New Zealand.)