"Maya targets your chanting because it's your most potent weapon against her. To the degree you allow her to distract you from chanting well, you become malleable to her will."

Mahatma dasa

“The Juhu land had buildings with tenants, and the tenants’ children would run around the grounds making noise. One of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples approached him and said, ‘We have to do something to keep the children quiet.’ Srila Prabhupada replied, ‘You cannot keep the children quiet. But their tendency to make noise can be channeled in Krishna consciousness, in doing kirtan.’ And that was the beginning of the devotees’ teaching and engaging the tenants’ children at Juhu. It wasn’t really a school in any formal sense, but the children really liked it. Their time with the devotees became their favorite time of the day. The devotees would teach them to chant and do kirtan, to recite prayers and worship Tulasi-devi. They would teach them the basic philosophy of Krishna consciousness and the essential practices of devotees.”

BGIS Talk

The question of verification is raised when we are concerned with distortion, hence it is an important question. One way to test for distortion is to track the changes (or lack of) in a linear fashion from origin to end (historically speaking). Another way to test for distortion is to study the desired effects of the treatment. If the results or effects deviate from our desired results/effects, then we can conclude that the treatment has been altered or distorted somewhere. So as an investigator we need to know the nature of the tool (in this case the Gita) and the desired result/goal of the tool (the Gita).

Srila Prabhupada said that verification can be done through three sources; historical evidence, spiritual authority (Parampara) and one's own self realization (atma tattva darshanam).

LINEAR REFERENCING FROM ORIGIN TO END 
Historical evidence (in the secular world historical literary evidence is held high)
This is a tedious process. Historical evidence of the Kurukshetra war for example has been tested through astronomical alignment of stars/planets, archaeological facts and radioactive testing (these are few i am aware of). Literature studies such as the Bhagavad Gita is tested by modern scholars by way of variations in grammatical/literary and language presentations. So as prabhuji mentioned, the Mahabharat has returned various results and considered by some as corrupted with different narrations of the same incident. This is much like the Crucifixion of Christ is narrated differently in the Gospel John versus Mathew or Luke or Mark. So scholars debate which version is correct. Strictly from a literary standpoint, due to lack of standard documentation techniques, one can expect distorted versions of the same story or incident. Bhagavad Gita in that historical accuracy sense may be distorted....the real answer - we do not know for sure. So if you are studying the Gita from an archaeologist and/or historian perspective, then you may be hard pressed to verify the veracity of each sanskrit sloka in the Gita.

VERIFICATION THROUGH EFFECTS OF TREATMENT (can be divided into two - spiritually speaking the following two are held high)
Spiritual Authority (Parampara System)
Having touched on the historicity of the Gita, still the slokas in the Bhagavad Gita is the same in all translations of the modern era dating back as late as 2000 years or so. Now if you are reading the Gita from the perspective of spiritual emancipation and enlightenment (effects of the Gita), then historical evidence is not useful. We need to test it from the standpoint of spiritual authority (Guru Parampara). The meaning, and interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita was, is and will be consistent within the Parampara system (cannot guarantee outside of it). So Srila Prabhupada comes within the Parampara system directly started by Lord Brahma leading to Vyas to Madhwacharya and finally to Prabhupada himself. While the language and contextual explanation may be unique to the commentator, however, the essence and meaning will remain intact. It is like old wine in a new botte principle. As time changes, people change, culture changes - so Prabhupada presents his commentaries to the audience he writes while maintaining the core spirit, value and essence of the Bhagavad Gita. The spirit is maintained air-tight within the Parampara system. So if you study the previous translations of Brahma Madhwa Parampara writings of the Gita with Prabhupada's commentary, you will find the meaning and essence repeating itself AS IT IS without ulterior motivations. So this is one way to test positive for the Gita.

One's Own Self Realization (atma tattva darshanam).
Another effect of the Gita is through one's own realization of the truth (tattva). This is one of the significant evidences that cannot be over stated. This is where most if not all miss the bus. While verifying the Gita based on spiritual authority is the first step to enter into the Gita Wisdom, it is by one's own realization one sustains the Gita and transmit the essence to future generations integral with the Parampara teachings. So spiritual authority and one's own realization goes hand-in-hand. In other words, great saints who are ALL self-realized "ARE" part of the Parampara system (are spiritual authorities). That is why we can say with 100% confidence that the Gita by Prabhupada is the gold standard. This gold standard is true even if you read any saint's translation who is part of the parampara system (it is not exclusive to Prabhupada). However, Srila Prabhupada's translation fits the 21st century audience, hence most appropriate. Besides, he is the one who took immense pain to spread the word of Krishna throughout the world and it is because of his pains we are currently reading this Bhagavad Gita As it is.

Through the parampara system and through the Gita wisdom itself, we can analyze who is a self-realized soul and who is not. Then based on that criteria, we judge appropriately. If we take the medicine appropriately given by the doctor as per the instruction of the doctor and the label of the medicine, then we will become cured of our disease. Although I may not know anything about the medicine itself, still i can vote with confidence that the doctor and medicine are bonafide. Similarly by practicing spiritual sadhana as given in the Bhagavad Gita (like the label of the medicine) and as given by the self-realized soul Srila Prabhupada (like the doctor), and if both the Gita and Prabhupada commentary is indeed genuine/valid, then the readers or audience must also become self-realized (much like the patient must be cured of his/her disease). This is the ultimate test. Bhagavad Gita As it is passes that test.

Thousands have turned their lives around (giving up drugs, illiicit sex, meat eating and intoxication) and lead pure spiritual lives by reading Prabhupada's Gita. There is so much evidence of this. While the US Federal Govt spends 1/3rd of its taxes (approx 1 trillion) on health, human services type issues, still the Govt is not able to solve the socio-economic issues that stems from drug addiction and intoxication and meat eating (obesity/health risks). Srila Prabhupada on the other hand successfully changed thousands of people's lives simply by the power of the words of Krishna in the Gita. Out of the thousands who sobered up, few hundred went on to themselves become self-realized.

Conclusion
Based on these above two points (parampara and atma tattva) we can confidently verify that the Bhagavad Gita As it is achieved its desired result/goal. To know the ultimate goal of Bhagavad Gita, please refer to BG 11.54, 11.55, 18.55, 18.65 and 18.66.

Hare Krishna

Full audio here: BG 18.65 A Surrogate Servant 2013-12-05 at Ananda Lila & Caitanya Lila’s house

Join us this Sunday for the association of Her Grace Sita Thakurani Devi Dasi You still have opportunities to sponsor one or more page(s) in the 2014 Vaisnava calendar Contact Savyasacin Prabhu for more details:  savyasacin.bms@gmail.com or 416-574-7116 Sunday Love Feast When? Sunday, December 22nd Program starts at 11 am Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation Bhagavad Gita - 9.34 man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māḿ namaskuru mām evaisyasi yuktvaivam ātmānaḿ mat-parāyanah Translation: Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will come to Me. The Sunday Feast program consists of arati, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.  Please come, get inspired and inspire others through your desire to share Krsna Consciousness! Program Schedule: 11.00 – 11.15                Tulsi Puja                                         11.15 - 11.30                  Guru Puja                                          11:30 – 11:55                Aarti & Kirtan                                    11.55 - 12.00                Sri Nrsingadev Prayers                        12.00 – 1:00                 Vedic Discourse by Her Grace Sita Thakurani Devi Dasi 1:00 – 1:30                    Closing Kirtan Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment.  UPCOMING EVENT: December 25th - Christmas Celebration at ISKCON BRAMPTON We are pleased to invite you, your family and friends for the Christmas Party & a Thank you program at ISKCON Brampton.  Program starts at 11:00am Guru Puja, Kirtan, Graduation, Visit from Bhakta Santa and Prasadam (Vegetarian Feast)! REGISTER YOUR CHILD TO ENSURE THEY WILL RECEIVE A GIFT FROM BHAKTA SANTA… please email us at sundayschool108@gmail.com with your child’s name and age by Friday, December 20th. Suggested donation $10/per child December 31st - New Year's eve candle light kirtan Program starts at 9:00 Start the new year in the presence of the Lord and in the association of devotees with a mid night aarti Jan 1st - New Year's program Special New Year's program with His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami. Program starts from noon including initiation ceremony.  More detailed program will be announced in the future weeks. Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare Chant and Be happy!

Now winter downs the dying of the year,
And night is all a settlement of snow;
From the soft street the rooms of houses show
A gathered light, a shapen atmosphere,
Like frozen-over lakes whose ice is thin
And still allows some stirring down within.

I’ve known the wind by water banks to shake
The late leaves down, which frozen where they fell
And held in ice as dancers in a spell
Fluttered all winter long into a lake;
Graved on the dark in gestures of descent,
They seemed their own most perfect monument.

There was perfection in the death of ferns
Which laid their fragile cheeks against the stone
A million years. Great mammoths overthrown
Composedly have made their long sojourns,
Like palaces of patience, in the gray
And changeless lands of ice. And at Pompeii

The little dog lay curled and did not rise
But slept the deeper as the ashes rose
And found the people incomplete, and froze
The random hands, the loose unready eyes
Of men expecting yet another sun
To do the shapely thing they had not done.

These sudden ends of time must give us pause.
We fray into the future, rarely wrought
Save in the tapestries of afterthought.
More time, more time. Barrages of applause
Come muffled from a buried radio.
The New-year bells are wrangling with the snow.

Filed under: Poetry

The post Sounds from Thursday evening Yoga is Music at Govinda’s appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Kali Yuga series 8.

The post With sex desire and promiscuity does Kali madden this world appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

...we had the first swan boat festival of the of the season. All of us had given up hopes because of the weeds in the lake and the issues with the motor. But “Krishna” had other plans. Read more ›

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ONLY EVER suggested that those who out of ignorance kill animals risk His wrath if they interfere with the activities of His samkirtan devotees. He overlooked the killing of animals by those in ignorance. He was unforgiving of anyone who tried to impede the samkirtan movement. Srila Prabhupada told me personally that the devotees should prepare Kachories "First Class- cooked in ghee!" and then with this they would "lose their taste for meat". Srila Prabhupada never called for the "execution" of the ignorant. Just the opposite. He called out "If anyone is hungry, please come and eat!!!" Read more ›

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

Swarupganj is a Village in Nabadwip Block in Nadia District of West Bengal State, India. It belongs to Presidency Division . It is located 13 KM towards west from District head quarters Krishnanagar, Nadia. 2 KM from Nabadwip. 109 KM from State capital Kolkata Read more ›

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

We have so many meetings—congressional meetings, United Nations meetings and altruistic meetings. They are trying to solve the problems of this world. Sometimes they can create some relief. But because there is still greed, pride, lust, envy, anger and illusion within the hearts of men, there is no question of peace. The disease remains. Read more ›

Book Distribution Story from Nitai Gaurasundara, Temple President, ISKCON Paris Read more ›

Heroic Servant Pulls Krishna’s Swan Boat Through The Water After Motor Goes “Kaput”!

by Gauranatraj das

Hare Krishna,

I am writing on behalf of the Congregational development team. Saturday June 22nd, we had the first swan boat festival of the of the season. All of us had given up hopes because of the weeds in the lake and the issues with the motor. But “Krishna” had other plans.

For almost 4 days the lake cleaning was going on but the amount of weeds had made it look as though this week it would be impossible to have the swan boat. We had a full house on the 22nd and a bus party eager to watch the swan boat. We also had someone sponsor it.

Finally we brought the dieties onto the boat and the boat started, somehow after a little hitches and stops it reached the other end where the guests and devotees lead by Parampara prabhu were ecstatically chanting. As the boat turned I noticed that there was one person behind the boat in the water and was moving along with the boat and he was none other than our hero “Josef” prabhu who was actually pulling the boat from the swan boat house to the ghat!!!!

Everyone was ecstatic, the sponsors were performing puja . I went up to Parampara prabhu and said , “Did you know, looks like our motor failed and Josef prabhu pulled the boat all the way by swimming in the water” as I said both me and Parampara pr had tears in our eyes. He then pulled the boat back all the way back to the swan boat house.

On the way back Jaya Krsna prabhu asked Josef prabhu “What happened” and Josef prabhu replied “Motor KAPUT!!!!” the motor was dead… and we had a human motor pushing the boat and the dieties. There are no words to describe this wonderful service by Josef prabhu.. He truly is the inspirational head of the congregation development team in New Vrindaban.

Answer Podcast

HG Bada Haridas Prabhu’s kirtan at Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda Temple 4.11.2013

The post December 20th, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

From the New York Times

Whole milk from organic dairies contains far more of some of the fatty acids that contribute to a healthy heart than conventional milk, scientists are reporting.

A study shows that drinking whole organic milk is more likely to lessen the risk factor for heart disease than conventional milk.

The finding, published Monday in the journal PLOS One, is the most clear-cut instance of an organic food’s offering a nutritional advantage over its conventional counterpart. Studies looking at organic fruits and vegetables have been less conclusive.

Drinking whole organic milk “will certainly lessen the risk factor for cardiovascular disease,” said the study’s lead author, Charles M. Benbrook, a research professor at Washington State University’s Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources.

“All milk is healthy and good for people,” he continued, “but organic milk is better, because it has a more favorable balance of these fatty acids” — omega-3, typically found in fish and flaxseed, versus omega-6, which is abundant in many fried foods like potato chips.

Under government requirements for organic labeling, dairy cows must spend a certain amount of the time in the pasture, eating grassy plants high in omega-3s; conventional milk comes from cows that are mostly fed corn, which is high in omega-6s. Nonorganic cows that graze in pastures also produce milk with greater amounts of omega-3s.

The research was largely funded by Organic Valley, a farm cooperative that sells organic dairy products. But experts not connected with the study said the findings were credible — though they noted that the role of milk in a healthy diet and the influence of fatty acids in preventing or causing cardiovascular disease are far from settled.

“I think this is a very good piece of work,” said Dr. Joseph Hibbeln, a nutritional neuroscientist at the National Institutes of Health.

The researchers looked at 384 samples of organic and conventional whole milk taken over 18 months around the country. Although the total amount of fat was almost the same, the organic milk contained 62 percent more omega-3 fatty acids and 25 percent fewer omega-6s.

The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in the organic milk was 2.28, much lower than the 5.77 ratio in conventional milk. (The figures do not apply to nonfat milk, which strips away the fatty acids.)

Nutrition experts broadly agree that omega-3 acids offer numerous health benefits. That was the impetus for the United States Department of Agriculture to urge people to eat more seafood when it revised its dietary guidelines in 2010.

But experts disagree sharply whether omega-6 consumption should be reduced.

In ancient times, people ate roughly equal amounts of the two fatty acids. Today most Americans now eat more than 10 times as much omega-6, which is prevalent in certain vegetable oils and thus also fried foods, as omega-3.

While omega-6 is essential, some health studies suggest that such a wide disparity is associated with many ills, Dr. Benbrook said. A shift to drinking organic whole milk — and raising consumption from the currently recommended three servings a day to 4.5 — would take a big step to lowering the ratio, he said, although adjustments would have to be made elsewhere in the diet to offset the added calories of the milk fat.

Donald R. Davis, another of the study’s authors, said the longstanding assumption that the saturated fats in whole milk raise the risk of cardiovascular disease has been questioned in recent years.

Dr. Walter Willett, chairman of the nutrition department at the Harvard School of Public Health, did not question the underlying data in the study. But he said the conclusions and recommendations were based on the “false assumption” that omega-6 fatty acids are harmful.

Dr. Willett said omega-6s were actually associated with a lower risk of heart disease, and he called the ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s “irrelevant.” People should try to eat more of both, he said.

And he noted that milk was not essential to a healthy diet; adults in many countries drink little or none. “We don’t know all the long-term consequences, so I think the best strategy given current knowledge is to keep intake low to moderate (as in the Mediterranean diet) if it is consumed at all,” Dr. Willet wrote in an email.

But Dr. Hibbeln of the National Institutes of Health, who has conducted research on the effects of fatty acids on heart disease, said animal studies showed that high levels of omega-6s interfered with omega-3s.

At the same time, though, he cautioned that the mix of omega-3s in milk is different from that in fatty fish. The simple ratio, he said, “is not as meaningful as we would like it to be.”

Still, he endorsed the organic milk recommendation. “You’re heading in the right direction,” he said.

Organic Valley uses independent milk-processing companies around the country, allowing the researchers to compare samples of organic milk with conventional milk from the same region.

The company provided $45,000 for an independent laboratory to measure the fatty acids, and it is a corporate sponsor of Dr. Benbrook’s program at Washington State. The university spent $90,000 to analyze the data and prepare the paper for publication.

George Siemon, chief executive of Organic Valley, said he was hoping to gain a better idea of how organic foods differ from conventionally produced ones.

“Organics have lacked a science base,” Mr. Siemon said. “I just wanted to know.”

Filed under: Cows and Environment, Health

From Muralidhar P

Answer Podcast

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The Lord is not like the mundane lord. The mundane master or lord never enjoys equally with his subordinates, nor is a mundane lord immortal, nor can he award immortality to his subordinate. The Supreme Lord, who is the leader of all living entities, can award all the qualities of His personality unto His devotees, including immortality and spiritual bliss. In the material world there is always anxiety or fearfulness in the hearts of all living entities, but the Lord, being Himself the supreme fearless, also awards the same quality of fearlessness to His pure devotees.

-       Srimad Bhagavatam 2.6.18 purport 

Isvara prabhu, formerly from the UK, now living at New Govardhana for the last 25 years, heads up a weekly Harinam party that chants from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast. There are also other kirtan parties that leave the farm twice a week for other areas.

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 dot com

ys

Rasa Rasika dasa

Alachua Kirtan Mela with Madhava & Mayapuris Read more ›

A daily routine …. “One must make it a daily routine to chant for an hour in the company of saintly Vaisnavas in a sacred, undisturbed place. Noting the Vaisnavas devotional attitude and their relish for the holy names, the neophyte should emulate this mood and gradually rid himself of all apathy while chanting. Step [...]