Yuga dharma Harinam Sankirtan in Typhoon Yolanda devasted Tacloban Leyte (Album 9 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Words cannot express a humble and peaceful province in Visayas devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda last November 7, 2013 noted as the Worlds strongest tropical cyclone landfall in history. In spite of this hearth breaking tragedy our mission is to spread the holy name yuga dharma Harinaam Sankirtan in Tacloban Leyte ki Jaya!! -- Read more ›

New Vrindaban Family Weekend Feb. 15-17 2014
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

New Vrindaban is hosting a  Family Weekend February 15-17th 2014

The weather is getting better every day, so come visit and bring your family.
Contact: (304) 843-1600 ext. 111 or 120
• Kids will learn spiritual songs, do arts and crafs and perform a spiritual drama.
• Parents have the option to participate – it is a good way to strengthen family ties.
• Experienced teachers will conduct the sessions in 3 di?erent age groups.
• A fun weekend for the whole family in a spiritual realm.
• A good way to hand down Indian heritage to the next generation.
• Costs: book your hotel room at the Palace Lodge. Donations welcomed for the kids program
and the prasadam.
• Schedule: Saturday 15th evening 5 pm to Monday 17th morning 11 am

krsna playing flute

Soccer Saves Gosh From Major Car Wreck
→ View From a New Vrindaban Ridge

I was leaving the main drag of Elm Grove and headed to an on ramp to get on 1-70 on my way to dialysis. It’s a 4 lane street and I was in the left lane to turn onto the on ramp. I was about a car length behind a pickup truck in the right lane when he signaled a turn and started slowing down bringing my front bumper about even with his rear bumper. I was going about 30-35 MPH (50-60 Kph).

Suddenly a car filled my lane. It was already there by the time I perceived it. If I had taken  a millisecond to process what was happening I would have plowed right into it but my instinct seized control and I cranked the wheel hard left then as I was now heading straight to the curb had to crank it hard  right to not crash into that.

It  all happened so fast I didn’t even get scared or excited until I was at dialysis 5 minutes later, then it sunk in what had happened.  I realized why the car pulled out. I was screened from the driver’s view by the truck so s/he never saw me. Since they saw him slowing down and signalling a turn s/he thought it was safe to pull out.

How did that instinct come to the surface and save me?  From soccer (futbol).

I took up soccer at age 45 and played until I was 54 and my liver failed hence no more stamina. I wasn’t the greatest  ball handler but I had quick accurate feet from decades of dancing so I could play passable defense. As a matter of fact at a pickup game once with high school and college players they started calling me The Wall because no one was getting by me

When I coached defense to my kids I emphasized the 4 Ps – Pressure,  Position , Posture, and Patience.

Pressure means to get on the ball handler quickly. Position means where you are in relation to the ball handler.  Turn 45 degrees to his shoulders so he can’t pass between your legs, you should know which is his strong foot so be on that side putting the ball on his weak foot,  and knowing his burst speed give him enough of a cushion so you can have time to pivot in the direction he moves  if he tries to get by you. Posture is  knees bent and 60% of your weight  on your rear leg so you can pivot on it to  follow the direction he moves.  Patience means don’t stab at the ball because as soon as you shift your weight he will be around you in the opposite direction. Wait for him to make a mistake and maintain your cushion

So as you wait for him ignore his foot movements they can be a feint, ignore his head movements and watch the hips, hip movement is a commitment to a direction.

This happens so fast you don’t have time to analyze and decide — you have to hone your reactions to react immediately without taking the time it takes for a sensory impression to travel to the brain and back to your muscles  — you basically connect from eyes  directly to the muscles.

I know that isn’t scientific but it is the mediation I  used to jack up my reaction time.

This happens many times in a game  so through repetition it starts to become ingrained. Which is why when the car pulled in front of me the reaction just kicked in  and saved me from a major car collision.

Thank you soccer.


Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever, Sports

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ February 1, 2014.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

0102

Brother, do you know for certain when you will die? Do you think the maha-mantra will check the powerful death? Do you think that death will patiently wait and allow you to die at the time you prescribe? Is it for these reasons that again and again you fearlessly leave Vrndavana?

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-50 Translation.]

Please click here for more photos

Association with mundane people
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 31 July 2005)

redlightdistrict_amsterdamFor a sannyasi to associate with mundane persons is like willingly drinking poison! And not only for a sannyasi but for a devotee too. One should not associate with women who are addicted to lusty desires nor should one associate with men who are addicted to such women. This is not recommended for one who is serious about going back to Godhead because it is said that sex life is the chain, maithunya argara, it is the chain that binds us in the prison of material existence.

“But it is natural, it is natural, what can we say? You cannot be artificial. It is one of the natural inclinations of the body just like hunger and thirst! It is also not only that… it is like a means to express affection and love.”

Yes, one must also make a distinction between the gross lusty activities which, for example, are going on in the red light district of Amsterdam and the exchanges in a loving relationship. That is also a fact. A distinction is made and therefore Krsna says, “Yes, between a husband and wife.” Then that is a different thing. In the Vedic culture, a husband and wife would together go for spiritual life but nowadays that is not always there. Spiritual life, if it is at all there, is something symbolic and for most, it is something in the background. It is not a very prominent thing. But in Vedic culture, spiritual life was in the foreground. It was an important element in life – prominent and it should be! Therefore, sex life should be within religious principles, within marriage.

For all of us, it is not beneficial to associate with people who are in the grip of lust. At least not intimately. If one becomes very friendly with mundane people then after some time, we also become mundane.

 

The Power of Story (3)
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


The storyteller has to be a jack of all trades. You are the script writer, the director and the actor. As such, you have to make a variety of decisions, beginning with choosing a story for your repertoire.  Then, how is your story is going to begin and how is it going to conclude. You have to be very clear on that. Know exactly what note your story is going to end on. The fun part is getting from point A to point B. That’s when you take the audience on a little journey. You can weave this way and that, sharing the philosophy here and there. Of course, you should know your story inside and out. Then only can you present the story and make adjustments based on the nature of your audience and how much time you have.
You also have to decide on what the story's focus. What’s your story going to convey?  Also, in the hands of different speakers, a story can sound and feel totality different.  The same story will even take on different meanings or evoke laugher at a place where an audience has never laughed before. Very often, all these elements fall in place over time.  You can’t rush it.  Through repeated tellings, deeper levels of the story, and way to share the story, open up. Very often these insights emerge from the responses of your audience. An audience can tell you a lot about how to improve your story. Prabhupada also comments, “Krishna will give the intelligence how to execute. Strictly adhere to Krishna's instructions and He'll give intelligence how to execute them from within your heart.” The thing is, a good storyteller is first of all a good listener.
See www.Mahabharata-Project.comfor info and reviews of my book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest –  a ‘cinematic’ rendition of India’s ancient epic.  

Camel Caravan Kirtan
→ travelingmonk.com

Srila Prabhupada once said, “Tax your brains how to spread this movement.” So today we loaded our devotees, puppets and musical instruments on carts drawn by camels and did harinam throughout the city of Vadodara, all the while announcing our festival tomorrow night. News of the extravaganza spread quickly and soon all local newspapers and [...]

Camel Caravan Kirtan! (Album 131 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Indradyumna Swami: Srila Prabhupada once said, "Tax your brains how to spread this movement." So today we loaded our devotees, puppets and musical instruments on carts drawn by camels and did harinam throughout the city of Vadodara, all the while announcing our festival tomorrow night. News of the extravaganza spread quickly and soon all local newspapers and television stations came out to interview us. Everyone we met on the streets promised to come. If they do, then our 'camel caravan kirtan' will have been a great success! -- Read more ›