The Perfect Joy of St Francis as told by HH Radhanath swami

The post December 29th, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

This short video gives solid tips on how to be successful.

On my way to Hawaii, I get a window seat. For over 5 hours I mostly stare out the window while we fly over the Pacific Ocean. There's something strange and surreal to be hurtling through the air at 500 miles per hour and the landscape never changes. The ocean is a constant, neverending blue.

Hour after hour, I gaze out at the clouds, sky, ocean. Suddenly, my vision seems to flip upside down. I seem not so much to be staring down at the ocean but up at the sky.

If we're willing to look at something or someone long enough, maybe we'll be surprised by how our world flips upside down.

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so to not listen, mute your speakers.)

Part of the downside, or the disease even, of being an adult in the modern industrialized world, is to lose the amazement and curiosity of a child, becoming almost oblivious to our surroundings in the name of time management, progress, or efficiency. We become jaded by familiarity or thinking we understand things. We also live in a world of overstimulation, and infatuation with newness and change. Our modern gadgets seem to save us time, but then they force us, and we are expected, to move faster and do more, in less time. Many people can’t sit still and “smell the roses,” finding it necessary to multitask even when on vacation, or accompanying their small children to the playground. What used to be part of life’s simple pleasures, like taking a walk in the park, or just quietly sitting, seem like a luxury or waste of time.

I have been blessed with a life which isn’t hurried and is surrounded by the beauty of the countryside. I only have to go out a few times a week, and can be focused on my spiritual practices, service, and self-improvement. We have lived in rural North Carolina for ten years, and I have gradually noticed a change in me. I have slowed down and am more in tune with my environment than I was when I lived in Baltimore and was busy with work and the fast pace of modernity. This is part of the reason that I can write and consider so many topics. As it is said, 50% of life is just showing up. To me, part of showing up, is to slow down, or be present enough, to observe our surroundings—or as Ramdas said many years ago, “Be here now,” or we could refer to this as mindfulness.

read more

Christmas eve for many around the world is celebrated in preparation for Christmas Day, a commemoration of Lord Jesus’s appearance more that two thousand years ago.

“You are Mine and I am yours. All that is Mine is yours. He who hates you also hates Me, and he who follows you also follows Me. Formerly you were Nara and I was Narayana. Though individuals, we are as one. No one can understand our oneness and difference.”

- Krishna to Arjuna, Mahabharata, Vana Parva

Please see the link for all photos …

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/114809389518597520995/albums/5962501866151365777

Whose heart would not be enchanted by Vrindavana where Sri Radhika-Madanamohana enjoy many pastimes, where there are many trees and flowering vines, where the ground is paved with jewels, and where the birds, deer and other animals are all maddened with transcendental bliss?
[ Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrndavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-19 Translation ]

Whose heart would not be enchanted by Vrndavana where Sri Radhika-Madanamohana enjoy many pastimes, where there are many trees and flowering vines, where the ground is paved with jewels, and where the birds, deer and other animals are all maddened with transcendental bliss?
[ Sourcs : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrndavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-19 Translation ]

Camera: Polaroid EE100 (with Big Swinger meniscus lens) | Film: Fuji FP-100C

After a bit of testing, I’ve discovered that I need to do more testing. I removed the single element meniscus lens from the black & white only Polaroid Big Swinger 3000. First, I placed it in the Colorpack II, after removing the three glass elements. I found that only things about four feet away were in focus – everything else was blurry.

Hardly discouraged, I dug the plastic lenses out of my Polaroid EE100 and plopped the BS3k lens in their place (this was no where near as easy as I make it sound). Because the two cameras thus far mentioned had the same focal distance (114mm), I got the same results in both. However, since the EE100 is a folding camera, I can reduce the focal length so that (in theory – I’ve not tested this yet … much) everything is in focus (as it was in the BS3k).

Though I’ve yet to test it with film, I was able to test it with wax paper! This was an exciting bit of brain storming that I later discovered was already known by pretty much anyone who has ever built a camera. Anyway, by dismantling an empty film pack, I was able to tape a piece of wax paper to the spot where the film otherwise would sit. From a dark room, I pointed the camera out the window and moved the front piece of the camera (containing the lens and shutter) back towards me until things were in much better focus. All said, it was about a half inch back – give or take.

All this was because Fuji stopped making black & white Polaroid film, thus rendering my B&W only BS3k obsolete. Taking a HUGE que from this post, I popped the lens out of the BS3k (without breaking anything) and eventually placed it not in a ridged bodied camera but in a “new” folding camera, the EE100 (which is basically the same thing as the Reporter). I used an xacto knife and finally a dremmel, but was able to cut away enough plastic to fit the lens, but not enough to damage anything beyond use.

The photo above was taken with the EE100 (w/ BS3k lens) before I realized that I could actually get everything in focus by pulling the lens closer to me. While I really love the look of the photo, 90% or more of what I shoot are wide landscape scenes. I almost never have a subject in the foreground. If I do, then usually there really isn’t a background. This was going to force me to look at things in different ways, to retrain my eye to see in 3D (or something). I was really excited about it.

But now I’m even more excited that I might not have to relearn this! Actually, since the camera defaults to a close focus, and since only by manually pulling back the shutter/lens can I get to (and past) the infinity stop, it will serve as a constant reminder to look for subjects rather than at landscapes only. Basically, I turned the Big Swinger 3000 from a fixed focus black & white only camera to a scale focus color (and b&w – the EE100 has a setting for 3000iso) camera. There are, of course, no markings to tell me when something may or may not be in focus. Basically, I’ve created the trombone of Polaroids. Dig me!

Sorry for being so long-winded, but I figure that someone out there might want to try this modification.

And if I really wanted to, I could just desaturate it.

Special Day Meditation Podcast

Kali Yuga series 11.

The post Oil massage anyone? And about sacred places, hairstyle, the goal of life, lawyers, good housekeepers and ritualists appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

An Interview with Krsna dasi from England

Dec. 20, 2013

Lilasuka dasi:  Krsna dasi, what made you think of coming to New Vrindaban?

Krsna dasi: Many reasons, really. But the main reason was that New Vrindaban was a very dear project to Srila Prabhupada. If I was going to go anywhere outside of my home country, it’s New Vrindaban because it was so dear to Srila Prabhupada.  Actually, I saw an advertisement online in January this year from Jaya Krsna inviting people to come to New Vrindaban. I was working at the time, so I couldn’t go right away. But I did come here as soon as I got a chance.  New Vrindaban is a major historic project for ISKCON – the perfect place to spend some time.

LD: There are parts of New Vrindaban’s past history that aren’t so pleasant. Did you know about this and did you decide to come anyways?

KD: Yes, I knew some of the history and had heard bits of things, but I deliberately didn’t catch up on it.  I wanted to experience New Vrindaban as it is today, first-hand.  I didn’t care to know about the history.

LD: What was the actual impetus that made you finally decide to come?

KD: I replied to Jaya Krsna that I’d like to come and volunteer for a few weeks for whatever was needed.  I told him that I could do things like office work, or cooking.  He replied, “Yes! Sure! Please come!”

LD: So you’re had some experience cooking for Krsna?

KD:  Yes.  I cooked back home in 1987.  Then, from 1987 to 2000, I used to cook at the Sunday feast at whatever temple I was visiting. I had visited many temples in Europe.  After I came to New Vrindaban, I got to cook for a Sunday feast once. I think it’s great when a Sunday feast has lots of sweets, so I cooked sweets for the feast.  I like to bake.

LD: What do you like about New Vrindaban?

KD: Wow! That’s a big question. The first thing is that New Vrindaban is an old ISKCON project that Srila Prabhupada really wanted. This is important to me.  Also, there are lots of older devotees from the early days that stuck with New Vrindaban. That’s inspirational.  Finally, everywhere you go in America, you pretty much know that you’re in America. But here, it is a world apart.   And everything you need to live is here!   At least, that’s my experience.  You don’t even have to leave once you’re here.

Also, we can have the association of all different kinds of devotees, with different backgrounds and experiences.  In the summer time, especially, lots of young, enthusiastic devotees come and stay for a while and serve.  New Vrindaban is really vibrant.  There’s a great morning program with a lot of devotees attending.  I mean, compared to some temples where I’ve been, sometimes there are only one or two devotees attending, and if you are not a singer, it’s very difficult.

LD: Tell me more.  I’m getting enlivened just listening to you!

KD: Well, there’s a real sense of community here. One thing is that so many devotees take breakfast and lunch together, which reminds me of the old days.  It’s really nice.

It’s a busy place where everyone is always busy with so much service to do.  When you see that everyone is engaged either in pujari work, cooking, gardening, wood chopping, the restaurant, the lodge, whatever – it’s encouraging.

I also like the way the kitchen is set up, with all stainless steel.  Obviously it needs a bit of work, but it’s easy to cook in and I love the big double ovens. It works!  I love the scenery in New Vrindaban.  I’ve always loved walking.  At home, I walk six and a half miles to work every day, which takes about one hour and 10 minutes.  So I love going for long walks here too.

LD:  I understand you’re leaving in a few days. Are you planning to come back?

KD: If I’m allowed!  I would like to. I love it here.  I’ve always felt welcome.  The devotees look after me and the ashram is quite comfortable.

LD: You make New Vrindaban sound like Utopia!

KD:  Well, I especially like the service I do when I come here.  A person can get engaged in their own propensity. It’s such a big place so no matter what you like to do, there’s something here for you.  As a matter of fact, I have thought of services for some of my friends if they would ever come here.  I know exactly where they’d fit in.  I’ve also asked my son and daughter to come here. They’d love it.

LD: Thank you very much, Krishna dasi.

Beautiful autumn scenery at New Vrindaban

H.H Giriraj Swami – Disappearance of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur

The post December 28th, 2013 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

From Vikas Kumar:

AS YOU SAID THAT WHEN DRAUPADI CHEER HARAN WAS HAPPENED AT THAT TIME \"VIKARANA\"SAID WHEN KSHATRIY COMES UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GAMBLING , DRINKING , WOMENISING,THEN HE LOST HIS INTELLIGENCE ,SO DONT CONSIDER HIS ACTIONNS......
BUT AS IN BHAGWAD GEETA IT IS WRITTEN THAT , WHEN OTHeR KSHATRIYA INVITES OTHER FOR GAMBLING, FIGHT THEN OTHER HAS TO GO....THEN THESE TWOO THINGS SEEMS CONTRADICTORY TO ME.. PLEASE CLEAR ME.

Answer Podcast

From Vikas Kumar:

Answer Podcast

From Srikar

Answer Podcast