Planet ISKCON

<h3><strong>Science is Great</strong></h3><p><span>Science is great! Science helps us understand the world, cure diseases, build great things like computers, mobile devices, skyscrapers, and jet airplanes. It is useful, fascinating and magical. Indeed, sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic, as the physicist and science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke</span> <a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Arthur_C._Clarke/">famously said</a>.</p><p>Moreover, additional benefits of science include wonderful inventions like coal-fired power plants, automobiles, and industrial farming, all allowing humans to do great things like <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/entire-rainforests-set-to-disappear-in-next-decade-585840.html">destroy the rainforest</a>, <a href="http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-spm.pdf">raise the temperature of the entire planet</a>, and <a href="http://innovationwatch.com/extinction-the-causes-and-consequences-of-the-disappearance-of-species-by-paul-and-anne-ehrlich-random-house/">cause mass extinctions</a>, clearly undesirable side effects of science. However, science will surely be able to solve the problem it has created. Take the Toyota Prius, for example, a wonder of technology, a hybrid car that is extremely fuel efficient. While it still uses fuel like any other car, it is much better than the gas-guzzlers of yesteryear. So good that its “fuel efficiency” is <a href="http://fatknowledge.blogspot.com/2005/05/horses-vs-cars.html">close to that of a horse</a>. With a few more years of scientific advances, we will surely be able to make cars that run on nearly nothing, re-grow the rainforest and clone extinct species back into existence. So, science is great. Right?</p><h3><span><strong>The Horsemen Approach</strong></span></h3><p>Have you heard of the Four Horsemen? The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse">Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conquest">Conquest</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War">War</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famine">Famine</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death">Death</a>, are described in the last chapter of the Bible as harbingers of final judgement of God over all people. However, I’m not speaking of these horsemen. Rather, I’m referring to the self-styled Four Horsemen known as the torch-bearers of the “New Atheists” movement: Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris and Christopher Hitchens. These four scientists claim to represent critical thinking, knowledge and reason. Disagree with their thinking and you must be an irrational, delusional religious fanatic. After all, they represent science. </p><p>The most famous of the Four Horseman is Professor Richard Dawkins of Oxford University. A prolific author, Dawkins is best known for his book “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0618918248/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=julianseidenb-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0618918248">The God Delusion</a>”. He also occasionally gives <a href="http://www.richarddawkins.net/events">public lectures</a>. I remember hearing of one of his lectures a few years ago. </p><h3><span><strong>The Horseman Speaks</strong></span></h3><p>I was sitting in my office in the School of Computer Science at the University of Manchester, an office with narrow slits of windows letting in a little daylight, a building that is perpetually either too hot or too cold, having been designed with a monstrously over-powered air-conditioning system for the vacuum tube computers of years gone by. This building, the hallowed halls of learning, the zenith of Western Civilization, is not named after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing">Alan Turing</a>, the famous scientist from Manchester who came up with a universal theory of computation. Instead, it is named after <a href="http://www.computer50.org/mark1/kilburn.html">Tom Kilburn</a>, the engineer who built the first stored program computer, highlighting the difference between science and engineering. Scientists come up with ideas, but it is the engineers that make them actually work and create technology. Engineering is applied science. </p><p><span>While sitting at my desk, Mikel, a friend and fellow PhD student, came in wearing a large backpack. I waited until he sat down and caught his breath, then asked him where he just came from. He explained he was at Oxford University for a public lecture by Richard Dawkins. I then asked what he thought of the lecture, expecting a rant about how Dawkins was brilliantly condemning religion, especially the Catholic Church. Mikel was a staunch atheists with a special axe to grind against the Catholic Church, an organization quite prominent in his home country of Spain. I enjoyed these rants, as they were quite entertaining and often led to interesting friendly arguments between the two of us.</span></p><p><span>Much to my surprise, however, Mikel said he was disappointed by Dawkins’ talk. Mikel explained that he was expecting Dawkins to make some good arguments for atheism, but instead the Professor was using emotional language and preaching like a Bible-basher. According to Mikel, Dawkins sounded as much as a religious fanatic, as the religious leaders he was speaking against with such “religious” fever.</span> </p><p><span>I remember this incident because it taught me of the insidiousness the Western materialistic scientific worldview. Matter is imbued with extraordinary secret powers. The material universe can come from nothing by magic, life can arise from matter by accident, and consciousness can arise from the brain by biochemical reaction. These claims are true, because, well, they just are.</span></p><h3><span><strong>Science is True</strong></span></h3><p><span>Let us examine a few of the ideas of materialistic science. I was quite astounded when I first learnt of each of these, reacting with a “wow, I would never have thought!”</span></p><p>It is common knowledge that the Earth orbits around the Sun. The Earth as the center of the Universe is an archaic idea, an outdated concept, one that no one believes in anymore. Western scientists as far back as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus">Copernicus</a> have discovered that actually the Sun is in the center and the Earth <a href="http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/retrograde/copernican.html">orbits around that</a>. </p><p>But not so fast. If we dig a bit deeper we learn that accepted wisdom is false. The Earth actually orbits around the gravitational center of the solar system. Large planets such as Jupiter and Saturn, pull on the Earth with their enormous gravitational force. This causes the central point of orbit to vary greatly. Indeed, it is almost <a href="http://mechanicalintegrator.com/?p=148">never being centered directly on the Sun</a>. We can go further still. Let us take into account that our entire solar system is orbiting around the galactic core, and our galaxy, in turn, is probably moving and orbiting in some undiscovered pattern around other galaxies. So, why do we believe one childish simplification of the structure of the universe (Sun is the center) in favor of another (Earth is the center)?</p><p>To <a href="http://our.ownpointofview.com/?p=1">quote Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi</a>:</p><blockquote><p>"Luke, you’re going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our <a href="http://www.obimomkenobi.com/2008/06/many-of-the-truths-we-cling-to-depend-greatly-on-our-own-point-of-view/">own point of view.</a>"</p></blockquote><p><span>There is more scientific “truth” that falls into this hazy realm, a realm of generally accepted scientific wisdom, a place of theories that no one has ever verified by observation and theories which are impossible to verify by observation.</span></p><p><span>One such hypothesis is the big bang theory. It proclaims to explain the origin of matter, time and space, but it seems highly unlikely that anyone will be able to stage an experiment to verify what actually happened at the beginning of the universe.</span></p><p>Then there is macro-evolution. A species is defined as a group of life-forms that <a href="http://www.pnas.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&amp;pmid=15851674">can interbreed producing fertile offspring</a>. Evolution claims that species evolve into other species, yet scientists have <a href="http://www.icr.org/index.php?module=articles&amp;action=view&amp;ID=867">never observed</a> any animal evolving into a new creature that no longer can interbreed with members of its previous species).</p><p>The last question we will tackle is the origin of life, and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/026269221X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=julianseidenb-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=026269221X">origin of consciousness</a>. How best to get to the bottom of these mysteries and know for sure? Could such a thing even be possible? Believe it or not, I see very good reasons to be optimistic about solving these conundrums.</p><h3><span><strong>Science is becoming more Scientific</strong></span></h3><p><span>Why do I see reasons to be optimistic? Two reasons, each converging on the other, as if seeking to merge in a wonderful fusion of spiritual and material knowledge.</span></p><p><span>On the spiritual side: we are rediscovering ancient spiritual knowledge that gives a detailed scientific account of life, the universe and consciousness. More on this a bit later on.</span></p><p>On the material side: some scientists are beginning to remove the blinders of materialism, considering that perhaps there might be more to the universe than just matter. Chinks are beginning to appear in the armor of the Western materialist worldview. People are beginning to realize that <a href="http://www.springerlink.com/content/k477132777n3660v/">money does not buy happiness</a>, unlimited economic <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155963071X/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=julianseidenb-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=155963071X">growth is unsustainable</a>, and something as subtle as consciousness plays a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double-slit_experiment">significant role in the laws of physics</a>. Scientists are realizing there is a great need for scientific research to answer fundamental questions such as: What is consciousness? How can we become more conscious? What is happiness? How can we become more happy?</p><p>In short, science is realizing that true science can and should be open to the <a href="http://pypacademymiami2011.wikispaces.com/file/view/BRADY+Eng.pdf">study of everything</a> and scientific spiritual knowledge is eagerly waiting to be rediscovered by open-minded scientists. Wonderful! </p><h3><span><strong>Vedas: Knowledge of Everything</strong></span></h3><p><span>I first came across the Vedic wisdom ancient India in the year 2000 while studying at the University of Southampton. I stumbled upon a university club dedicated to studying and applying the knowledge contained in the Vedas. “Veda” literally means knowledge, and the many books that encompass the Vedic literature indeed contain a great deal of knowledge.</span></p><p><span>One of the many pearls of timeless Vedic wisdom is that real spiritual knowledge should be scientific. The Vedas teach how to use scientific methods to study and understand spirituality. This was an intriguing proposition. I had always admired the rigor of scientific knowledge, and here was a way to apply that methodology to the big questions of life (who am I, why are we here, etc.)</span> </p><p><span>The Vedic wisdom explains the mystery of conscious as follows.</span></p><blockquote><p><span>“O son of Bharata, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness.”</span></p><p>- <a href="http://vedabase.net/bg/13/34/">Bhagavad-Gita 13.34</a></p></blockquote><p>That is the basis of scientific spiritual teachings. The body only functions when there is consciousness, without consciousness there can be no life. At the same time, the conscious entity is a separate thing from the material body. Some interpretations of quantum mechanics lead to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0199753814/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=julianseidenb-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=0199753814">similar conclusions</a>.</p><h3><span><strong>Happiness, proof in the pudding</strong></span></h3><p>Everyone wants to be happy. The United States of America was founded on the promises of the right to the “<a href="http://www.ushistory.org/declaration/document/">pursuit of happiness</a>.” Yet it offers no clue on how someone might go about finding happiness. Indeed, that is one of the great mysterious of life. What will make me happy?</p><p><span>It turns out that happiness is one of the key factors in the scientific approach to spiritual knowledge. The Vedic knowledge explains a step-by-step process for finding happiness, happiness with a very distinct flavor, happiness unlike any previously experienced, happiness that is, quite literally, out of this world.</span></p><p><span>Here is a quote from a Vedic scripture on the topic of happiness.</span></p><blockquote><p><span>“Some say that people will be happy by performing pious religious activities. Others say that happiness is attained through fame, sense gratification, truthfulness, self-control, peace, self-interest, political influence, opulence, renunciation, consumption, sacrifice, penance, charity, vows, regulated duties or strict disciplinary regulation. Each process has its proponents."</span> </p><p>- <a href="http://vedabase.net/sb/11/14/10/">Srimad Bhagavatam 11.14.10</a></p></blockquote><p><span>All the persons I have just mentioned obtain temporary fruits from their material work. Indeed, the meager and miserable situations they achieve bring future unhappiness and are based on ignorance. Even while enjoying the fruits of their work, such persons are filled with lamentation. </span> </p><blockquote><p>O learned Uddhava, those who fix their consciousness on Me [Krishna], giving up all material desires, share with Me a happiness that cannot possibly be experienced by those engaged in sense gratification.”</p><p>- <a href="http://vedabase.net/sb/11/14/12/en">Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.14.12</a></p></blockquote><p><span>This quote acknowledges various approaches to attaining happiness, ultimately recommending the approach of fixing one’s consciousness upon Krishna, Krishna being the Supreme Personality of Godhead, universally revered throughout the Vedic literature. The happiness experienced during this practice of “Krishna Consciousness” is markedly different from the happiness experienced through so many other activities. Here we have a scientific hypothesis: happiness in Krishna Consciousness is distinct from the happiness experienced when pleasing the senses.</span></p><p><span>“Hold on!” you might say, “happiness is a subjective experience, not something that can be objectively measured. Science only deals with things that are objectively measurable.” True enough, but consciousness is an entirely subjective experience, and that is exactly what we are trying to study here. We have to cast off the shackles of materialistic science to make progress is this exciting new field of spiritual science. Just because something is not objectively measurable does not mean it does not exist, and certainly does not mean we should not endeavor to study it. Otherwise, if we neglected to study anything new and unknown, how could we make any progress?</span></p><h3><span><strong>Process</strong></span></h3><p><span>So how does one make process in this exciting realm where science and spirituality coalesce? The Vedic wisdom suggests an approach.</span></p><blockquote><p>“Now hear, O son of Pṛthā, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.”</p><p>- <a href="http://vedabase.net/bg/7/1/en">Bhagavad-Gita 7.1</a></p></blockquote><p><span>Here Krishna is speaking in the seventh chapter of the Bhagavad-Gita. He is explaining a scientific yoga process for understanding His nature. This process is more than just physical exercise. Yoga is a complete system for self-realization where the physical yoga postures are only one small part of the routine, there to make the practitioner fit to dive deeper into the complete system, culminating in complete absorption in the spiritual energy, resulting in full consciousness of Krishna beyond any doubt. So, at the end of a systematic process we have scientific proof.</span> </p><p><span>The process Krishna mentions involves integrating Krishna consciousness into everyday activities, aligning them with Krishna’s desires. Krishna recommends, reading about him, chanting of special Vedic mantras, contemplating the spiritual science and ultimately dedicating all one’s actions for a spiritual purpose. At the end of the process, the result should speak for itself.</span></p><p>As the Nobel Prize winning quantum physicists <a href="http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1932/heisenberg-bio.html">Werner Heisenberg</a> has famously said: </p><blockquote><p><span>“The first gulp from the glass of the natural sciences will turn you into an atheist, but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you.”</span></p></blockquote>

Nara and Narayana, who were saved from the slaughterhouse, are doing very well with their preliminary training in the yoke. In this video, Balabhadra das gives a few pointers on how to train a young team to the yoke.

Nara and Narayana, who were saved from the slaughterhouse, are doing very well with their preliminary training in the yoke. In this video, Balabhadra das gives a few pointers on how to train a young team to the yoke.

BY SANTI VARDHANA CAITANYA DASA

PHOTOS BY MULAKARANAM DASA

 

UPDATES FROM KUALA LUMPUR

6/2/2013 1.26pm

HH Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami has unfortunately contracted shingles.

The Doctors at Mawar Specialist Hospital are at loss what to do because it would 
need a strong dosage of antiviral drugs to counteract the resistant bacterias of the shingles. 
They are afraid it would worsen the liver sclerosis. 

They are already giving the antiviral drugs. However they are concerned about the liver sclerosis.
Therefore, they had advised that we use traditional medicines or even prayers simultaneously.

Today Maharaja went to Mahkota Hospital in Malacca for liver check up and met
a liver specialist. According to the liver specialist, Maharaja's liver is 10% damaged due to auto immune hepatitis. Auto immune hepatitis is a form of immune disorder whereby the body's own immune cells attacks the liver cells. This progressively damages the liver daily and the doctors have to prescribe immuno-suppressant drugs  in order to suppress the immune cells from attacking the liver cells. 

Unfortunately, by doing so, it would lower the immune system of Maharaja's body. Any form of sickness could create damage to Maharaja's health. The liver specialist has confirmed that without administering this drug the liver would be completely damaged within a year.

Therefore, the Doctors are looking from all angles to see what is best for Maharaja to recover from all these complications.

We humbly request all devotee to please increase your prayers and hold kirtans in your respective temple for Maharaja's health.

What is shingles?

What causes shingles?

BY SIMHESVARA DASA

18/1/2013 2.44pm

18/1/2013 2pm

The two hour angioplasty operation was successful.
The major block was cleared and Doctors placed a stend
and few other blocks were also cleared.

Maharaja is conscious and responding well to devotees. 
He will be monitored for next six hours and will rest at
Mahkota Specialist Hospital Malacca. Tomorrow, HH will be 
transferred back to Mawar Specialist Seremban to continue 
medication for liver sclerosis. 

17/1/2013 9pm HH Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami Maharaja will be taken to Mahkota Hospital in Malacca tomorrow morning at 7am for angioplasty operation.

 

17/1/2013 5.51pm

HH Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami Maharaja had a massive heart attack at 4 PM. His condition is critical now.  Simheswara Prabhu has to decide whether to bring Maharaja to the Temple or send Maharaja for the Angioplasty operation.

 

BY SIMHESVARA DASA

17/1/2013 1.11pm 

I had just visited HH Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami Maharaja. Maharaja is better now. HH is speaking and breathing is with a bit of problem. Dry cough. Plan is to do angioplasty on one or more blocks.

 

 

In the collection that is Classic ISKCON Records, there have been a lot of strange practices that went into making these records. From incredibly shoddy recording to bizarre disorganization, it’s been very difficult to figure out not only what was released, but who released it and when.

The Mayapur LP covers all of these bases. And though it’s far from the most disorganized release, this one has me absolutely confused.

By all looks, this is an album that contains a live recording of a Hare Krishna Festival. That festival probably took place in Mayapur. The word “Mayapur” is on the front cover, and on the back there’s a blurb in four different languages that talks about the Mayapur festival. It explains that nobody in this recording was a professional musician.

The label of the record itself gives us a little more information, stating: “Live recordings of a Hare Krishna Festival.” Side one is simply entitled “Part I,” while side two is labeled as “Part II.”

So it seems pretty straight forward. Someone took a microphone and a tape recorder to the Mayapur festival, made some field recordings, maybe touched them up a bit, and then cut a record.

But that’s not actually what’s on the record. The recordings are three tracks of Srila Prabhupada. Two are definitely from the studio, while the last one could be live (or it could simply be in a bigger studio with more devotees).

Getting back to the confusion, I have no absolute idea which record label released this. The record definitely comes from Germany, and in Germany there were two ISKCON-based record labels. One was called Hare Krsna Records, which mostly released recordings made by Hansadutta das. The other was called Radha Krsna Productions, and it mostly released music by Acyutananda das. That said, both labels were somehow related and released at least one identical record (the Hare Krishna Festival, which I’ll reconvert soon, I promise).

The blurb on the back cover alludes to Hare Krsna Records. The center paper label makes no claim to either organization. However, the etching on the runout groove of the vinyl (called the matrix) is: RKP-1006. If true (and I believe it is – mostly because I have to believe in something), that would make this Radha Krsna Productions’ sixth record – and probably their last.

The Music

Side A
1) Hare Krishna Mantra

Side B
1) Sri-Sri Gurv-astakam
2) Jaya Radha Madhava

The first song, which takes up all of the first side, is the same recording featured on the first Krishna Consciousness record, released by Happening Records in 1966 (which I will get to soon enough). This was the only other time (as far as I can tell) that it appeared on vinyl. The second side contains two songs, the first of which is a fairly famous version of “Sri Sri Guru-astaka.” Both of these songs appear on the Hare Krishna Classics & Originals CD released in the 90s.

The last song is “Jaya Radha Madhava,” but it’s no version I’ve heard anywhere before. It’s not any of the BBT CDs, nor on any of the “Vintage Series” CDs. It’s also not been released on any other vinyl records as far as I can tell. This is a very sweet version with a full congregation of devotees chanting along.

You can listen to samples below:

Wild Speculation
As with most of the Classic ISKCON Records, we’re left with zero details about the recording, pressing and distribution of this release. In actuality, none of it makes any sense. Here’s both a record cover and label that appear to contain recordings of the Mayapur Festival. Yet, when you drop the needle, you’re blessed with Srila Prabhupada instead. How this came about is anyone’s guess.

My speculation is this: The devotees, perhaps in 1976 or so, decided that it would be nice to release a record of field recordings from the Mayapur Festival. Thinking that nothing could possibly go wrong, they threw together an album cover, got a bunch of labels printed and then went to record the festival. Along the way, somehow something went horribly wrong. Maybe the devotee tasked with pushing the [REC] button spaced out. Maybe it was recorded, but somebody misplaced the tapes (ie, “spaced them out”). Maybe the sound quality was so horrible that it was rendered unlistenable. Whatever the reason, the music they wanted to appear on this record wasn’t available.

So rather than trash a thousand (or more? less? who knows!) covers and labels, they decided to fill it with Srila Prabhupada. Listening to it, I can tell that they must have had the master tapes (or a good copy thereof) in their possession. The first song sounds great, especially considering it’s the oldest of the bunch. The second and third sound even better. With these in hand, they then sent thirty-three minutes of mono music to the pressing plant. And what we have now is a Srila Prabhupada album, half of which had been already released, in a record cover claiming that it was a stereo recordings of the Mayapur Festival. Surprise!

The Archival Process
This was one of the easier records to work on. My copy of it is VG+ on the Goldmine Scale, and while it’s got its fair share of pops and clicks, it sounds pretty good. You’ve got to understand that I’m archiving, not restoring. The difference is that while I am doing my best to fix the many, many tiny pops and clicks, it’s simply not possible to fix them all. While I can assure you that this particular record has never sounded better, I also have to remind you that it has been sourced from a 35 year old chunk of vinyl that has gone through the hands of who knows how many people (apparently including someone named Werner Wilde who thought it a good idea to put address stickers on his records). You will still hear some pops and clicks. The only way to really avoid that is to acquire the master tapes and do a full restoration.

I have archived this record in both lossless FLAC (level 8) and as high quality MP3s (320kbps). For most, the MP3s will do just fine.

Just click on the button and it’ll take you to a page where you can download the zip file. Then open the zip file with WinZip (or whatever program you use to open zip files). Add to your MP3 library or burn it to a CD-R. Easy as pie!

Technical Information:

Media Used:
Vinyl LP from my personal collection.

Audio Equipment Used:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon w/ acrylic platter and Speedbox II
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M Red
Preamp: Bellari VP-130 w/ Sovtek 12AX7LPS Vacuum Tube
Soundcard: Roland Edirol UA-1EX USB external soundcard

Software Used:
Audacity 2.0.1 on Linux Mint 14 (recorded at 24bit/96kHz)
Gnome Wave Cleaner 0.21-17 (click/pop removal)
Gnac 0.2.4 (to convert file to 16 bit FLAC level 8 and 320kbps MP3)

Artwork:
Scanned at 300dpi with Epson v500 Scanner
Edited and Restored Using GIMP Image Editor 2.8.2

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, in partnership with the Alliance of Religions and Conservation, is addressing the need for custodianship of pilgrim sites within India. They have begun the Bhumi Project, an endeavor aimed to create awareness regarding the effects of pilgrimage on the environments of holy refuges. In November, I attended a conference on this subject as the representative of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. Many pilgrimage towns were represented for a weekend of discussions centering on planning the environmental sustainability of these revered sanctums.

Spiritual havens in India attract millions of visitors each year as they offer their obeisances to treasured deities and honor sites of worship. Grand festivals glorifying significant gods are auspicious milestones in the calendars of many. Attendance is welcomed and the festivities abound with joy.

However, while each step of a parikrama and each esteemed celebration are invaluable tributes, the aftermath of such glorification remains the responsibility of the local communities. Considerations such as green energy, trash disposal and recycling are among the many topics needing attention to ensure that the environmental impact on these respected places of homage is contained.

Since the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium will be a prominent feature in Mayapur and the surrounding areas, the management and planning officials of the project have assumed the responsibility of stewards of the local communities. Several progressive technologies will be employed in the new temple, the most exciting being one which will harness the natural power of Mother Ganga. Called a hydrokinetic turbine, the system is simple technology and easy to build. It has a proven history of successful installations worldwide on slow running rivers and canals. An area of the Ganga has been found which is deep enough and has enough speed to accommodate the needs of this small device. The turbine will float like a boat in the river and a single installation will produce approximately 75 kilowatts per hour. This translates into producing nearly half of Mayapur’s daily 4000 kilowatt consumption in 24 hours. Additionally, the hydrokinetic turbine is safe for the aquatic life and natural habitat in the river due to its slow rpm, open structure and silent operating.

Building a spiritual city is a huge undertaking requiring the dedication and forethought of many. The directors of the ToVP recognize the duties of their positions and work tirelessly to commemorate the sanctity of Mayapur in thought, word and deed.

For more information on the Bhumi Project, please visit bhumiproject.org.

As I’m getting ready to pitch into Side Two of the Mayapur LP, I’ve also decided to start a Facebook Page for Sit Properly.

Rather than updating this blog every time I have something to say, I’ll post it on Facebook. This will keep you good people in the loop as to how the digitization of each Classic ISKCON Record is coming along.

Take a gander to your right and you’ll see the Facebook Like Box. Click it and it’ll take you to our page.

This will cut down on the frivolous and random posts on the blog, allowing the music to be the focus. And that’s the point.

Haribol!

Eric

9 March at 09:00 until 11 March at 14:00 Chant-Fest is a retreat-festival experience which awakens your inner-soul and touches your heart through blissful devotional chanting and dancing. Re-kinder your love with the divine through soul-stirring, heartfelt sacred Kirtan-Chants with a wonderful line-up of local and international Kirtan & Yoga artists as we explore different […]

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While I’m waiting for the last piece of equipment to arrive (the Sovtek 12AX7LPS Vacuum Tube), I thought I’d give a rundown of the hardware that I’ll be using this time around compared to what I used before. This is really of no interest to anyone aside from the geekily curious.

First, let’s start with the heart of it all – the turntable. I’ve upgraded to the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon, a belt-driven, quiet deck with a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm. When I first started this project in 2007, I had a portable plastic picnic player. It was nice to have turntable again, but sound quality wasn’t exactly its top priority.

I then wandered into an Audio Technica LP-120, which is a knock off of the much more famous Technics 1200. You’ll recognize these iconic tables as the “wheels of steel” used by every DJ ever. While it was a step in the right direction, and I made certain tweaks to it to better the sound quality, it simply was a DJ table through and through. The Pro-Ject is infinitely better for my purposes.

I’ve also changed the phono preamp, a necessary component for getting any sound of your table. Each preamp is different and some sound great, while others are barely passable. What I had before was a very budget-minded preamp that actually performed pretty well. What I have now, the Bellari VP130 Tube Preamp, sounds amazing. I love a warm sound when it comes to vinyl, and the Bellari is smooth and comforting even with the stock tube. The Sovtek 12AX7LPS should make it even more so.

But that’s not all I changed. For instance, I swapped out the metal platter on the Pro-Ject with an acrylic one. This does away with the felt mat and thus the static produced. This means less pops and clicks (many pops/clicks are produced not by scratches in the vinyl, but by static).

I also added a device called the Speedbox II. One of the issues with belt drive turntables is their inability to play at constant speeds (when compared to direct drive tables). Most folks would never notice this. But for my purposes, the less pitch shifting that occurs, the better. Plus, though I don’t have perfect pitch, I could hear a bit of warbling on held out, steady notes. It simply provides a more accurate speed and sound. It also slows the motor down, and that cuts down on motor noise. Other things like better cables and stylus are new, as well.

What all this means is that before the sound even gets to the computer, it will be much cleaner and more accurate than before.

The computer’s job is then to translate the music to digital without changing the sound. This is, of course, impossible, but I want it to be as close t perfect as I can get. For that, I’ll be recording at 24bits with a sampling rate of 96kHz. This is much, much higher quality than a CD (16/44.1), but allows tons of room for editing out pops and clicks. Let’s face it, the records I’m converting here are not pristine.

I’ll then convert the files down to 16bit FLACs and 320k MP3s (both resampled to 44.1kHz so they can be played in regular MP3 players, too). The FLACs will be for people who are okay with big files (and want to burn CDs) and will indeed sound better than the MP3s, which are much smaller, but will still sound pretty darn good.

Basically, I’m going to start with a huge audio file that gives me room to edit out to stuff that shouldn’t be there so that when it gets to you, the listener, it sounds amazing.

What’s really fun about this is that it will all be done on a Linux operating system (LinuxMint)! For a complete run down of the tools and equipment I’ll be using, see below.

Technical Information:

Audio Equipment Used:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon w/ acrylic platter and Speedbox II
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M Red
Preamp: Bellari VP-130 w/ Sovtek 12AX7LPS Vacuum Tube
Soundcard: Roland Edirol UA-1EX USB external soundcard

Software Used:
Audacity 2.0.1 on Linux Mint 14 (recorded at 24bit/96kHz)
Gnome Wave Cleaner 0.21-17 (click/pop removal)
Gnac 0.2.4 (to convert file to 16 bit FLAC level 8 and 320kbps MP3)

Sunday Feast, January 13th @ 11:00am 


The Vaisnava Calendar 2013 will be distributed in the following weeks at ISKCON Brampton. Please be there to receive yours!
ISKCON Brampton will be issuing tax receipts for 2012 donations this Sunday.

Upcoming events:

ISKCON Brampton Youth Program - Friday January 25th 2013 @ 7:00pm

Everyone is welcomed to come and participate. The program will  start at 7:00pm sharp! So please try to make it at around 6:45pm. Sumptuous Prasadam will also be served at 9:00pm.

This event is absolutely free, but donations to the temple are always accepted.

Anyone that would like to help out with prasadam, or has any questions/queries please contact Sukhavak Das at sukhavakdas@hotmail.ca.

Sunday Feast, January 13th @ 11:00am 


The Vaisnava Calendar 2013 will be distributed in the following weeks at ISKCON Brampton. Please be there to receive yours!
ISKCON Brampton will be issuing tax receipts for 2012 donations this Sunday.

Upcoming events:

ISKCON Brampton Youth Program - Friday January 25th 2013 @ 7:00pm

Everyone is welcomed to come and participate. The program will  start at 7:00pm sharp! So please try to make it at around 6:45pm. Sumptuous Prasadam will also be served at 9:00pm.

This event is absolutely free, but donations to the temple are always accepted.

Anyone that would like to help out with prasadam, or has any questions/queries please contact Sukhavak Das at sukhavakdas@hotmail.ca.

Click here to view the blog/slideshow from our friend Rachelle Klapheke at The New Yorker

Click here to view the blog/slideshow from our friend Rachelle Klapheke at The New Yorker

As I’ve been getting ready to start up again, I’ve been trying to figure out which albums to convert first. I’m going to start with the album entitled simply: Mayapur. It was the sixth release by Radha Krishna Productions, though their name doesn’t appear anywhere on the cover or label. Oddly, only “Hare Krishna Records” is mentioned. This is the only Classic ISKCON record that I’ve never converted before.

The label claims that it is a live recording of a Hare Krishna festival, but it absolutely is not. It’s actually three recordings of Srila Prabhupada in the studio. You’ve definitely heard one of the songs before. Probably two. But the third seems to be something that has never been released digitally at all. In fact, I’ve only ever heard it here. That’s exciting!

I’ll then start with the selections that I had first done in 2007. I’ll probably kick that off with Krishna Consciousness by Srila Prabhupada. This was the first ISKCON record ever released. I have it posted, of course, but the MP3s are in a very low quality and no lossless FLAC files exist for it.

From there, I’ll probably head to the double LP called The Beautiful Hare Krsna People, released by Radha Krishna Productions out of Germany. The history of this one is weird and varied, clouded in a Tolkien-like mystery that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Due to the freakish practice of reissuing the same music under various labels and titles, converting this LP will take care of several other releases.

After that will come one of the many, many records inexplicably titled Hare Krsna Festival. This one was released by both Radha Krishna Productions (RKP-1004) and Hare Krishna Records (HKR-1003).

I’ve also been looking for a better copy of Acyutananda Swami’s Songs of the Bengali Vaisnavas, also entitled Lieder Der Bengali Vaisnavas, and most commonly known as India, since that’s the only word appearing on the front cover. My copy, the probable second pressing, sounds horrible. You can read all about it here. I’m currently looking for a clean first pressing.

This is proving very difficult. I’ve found ten record sellers (mostly in Germany) who quite possibly have the first edition. I emailed all of them, asking three specific questions to determine if they have the version I’m looking for.

First, I asked which cover was used. Was it the one with the “cut out” or was it the one without? Second, I asked if the text on the back was in German or English. Third, I asked if the labels were yellow or had a picture on them.

After four days, only two have responded. The first gave me a straight answer, telling me exactly which version they had (sadly, it wasn’t the version I was looking for). The second just said “I’m sorry. No.” Which makes no sense at all, since I wasn’t asking any yes or no questions. The remaining eight have been silent, which is a huge bummer since I’m pretty sure at least two of them have the exact version I’m looking for.

So anyway, I’ll keep everyone updated on the progress.

As it stands now, here is the schedule (with absolutely no promises of a time frame):
-Mayapur
-Krishna Consciousness by Srila Prabhupada
-The Beautiful Hare Krsna People Double LP
-Hare Krishna Festival (RKP-1004/HKR-1003)
-Songs of the Bengali Vaisnavas by Acyutananda Swami (if I find a first pressing)

From there, I’ll move on through the rest of my collection, which can be viewed here. I’m still unsure whether or not I’ll be converting the George Harrison-produced Apple Records since they’re readily available on CD. They are definitely my lowest priority at this point.

And for those who might ask if I’ll be converting a specific record from the 80s, the answer (which is probably “no”) and its explanation can be found here.

When all the vinyl is finished, I will start in on the cassettes! So basically, sometime in 2016.

Friday, 1 February 2013 7:15 – 8:00 – Vegetarian dinner 8:00 – 10:00pm – kirtan concert Price: $29 (includes dinner) Concert only $19 Event on Facebook

1. We have funds. We need cover designs and proofreading for fifty low run books.
2. Locating and digitizing art work.
3. Obtaining a tripod for photography.
4. Typists and proofreaders for my autobiography.
5. Visit and promote sdgonline.org and our Facebook site.
6. Buy ebooks and post comments on them.
7. Print 50 sets of 100 of my books to place in schools and libraries at $7 per book.
8. Transferring audio tapes to digital format.

1. to contemplate something we previously experienced
2. dharana: to focus our meditation on a specific subject
3. dhyanam: to meditate on a specific form of the Lord
4. dhruvanusmriti: a flow of remembrance of some pastime of the Lord.
5. samadhi: complete absorption.

1. We have funds. We need cover designs and proofreading for fifty low run books.
2. Locating and digitizing art work.
3. Obtaining a tripod for photography.
4. Typists and proofreaders for my autobiography.
5. Visit and promote sdgonline.org and our Facebook site.
6. Buy ebooks and post comments on them.
7. Print 50 sets of 100 of my books to place in schools and libraries at $7 per book.
8. Transferring audio tapes to digital format.

1. to contemplate something we previously experienced
2. dharana: to focus our meditation on a specific subject
3. dhyanam: to meditate on a specific form of the Lord
4. dhruvanusmriti: a flow of remembrance of some pastime of the Lord.
5. samadhi: complete absorption.

Today as I cleaned up the kitchen I reached into the cinnamon jar and took a small stick to chew on. That small stick led to a deep appreciation of a spark of a spark of Krsna’s splendor. It took … Continue reading →

It’s been nearly two years since I’ve done anything with this site. I had been in the middle of reconverting all of the Classic ISKCON Records from vinyl to digital. The older files (done in 2007) sounded fairly bad. The newer ones (from 2011) sound quite a bit better, but still don’t sound as good as I’d like them.

Recently, I’ve upgraded my equipment and will soon be going back through all of the Classic ISKCON Records and bringing them all up to the sound quality they deserve. They’ll be available in both high bitrate MP3 as well as lossless FLAC files.

That said, everything that I’ve ever converted from vinyl to digital is still available here. When I convert a new version, I’ll post it here and update the links, etc.

As for the Classic ISKCON Tapes, I would really like to update them as well. The problem is that I no longer have a tape deck. That will hopefully soon be remedied. No promises on the time frame though.

For now, I’ve got a record or two that I’ve never posted. They’ll be the first that I do and will become the template of everything I do from here on out.

If you are aware of any ISKCON records or tapes (recorded/released before 1979) that I don’t have, please let me know. I’d love to complete my collection and offer them to the assembled devotees.

Haribol!
-Eric

Last week as I was sitting down to chant my noon gayatri I realized something. I was trying to chant all the mantras really quickly as though I had some place to get to immediately. Truth was, the only thing I had lined up afterwards was checking my email! So why the need to rush?

When I analyze my life, I grudgingly realize it's something I do constantly. I fast forward through most of my spiritual practices as though there is some imaginary race that I must win. Even though I know faster isn't better, the challenge in slowing down is having to acknowledge the fact that I may be doing things imperfectly.

When I used to take singing lessons, the thing that challenged me the most was singing my scales slowly. And I'm not talking about just slowly, I mean excruciatingly slow. That was the time my teacher would always correct me. Over and over and over again would I have to repeat them until I got it right. Although frustrating, I never forgot what she told me. "If you don't get it right when you sing slow, you'll not only sing it wrong when you sing fast, but worse, you won't even notice that you're singing it wrong."

Similarly, as I hit fast forward in almost everything I do, I'm starting to realize the only person I'm short changing is myself. As aspiring bhakti yogis one of the most importantly lessons to imbibe is that it is the mood and consciousness that matters. When I rush, my consciousness is of stress, not devotion!

It's a humbling lesson. There's no need to fast forward. It's a good thing to hit pause and re-evaluate and even more important to be satisfied on play. That's the time when I'll grow.

Last week as I was sitting down to chant my noon gayatri I realized something. I was trying to chant all the mantras really quickly as though I had some place to get to immediately. Truth was, the only thing I had lined up afterwards was checking my email! So why the need to rush?

When I analyze my life, I grudgingly realize it's something I do constantly. I fast forward through most of my spiritual practices as though there is some imaginary race that I must win. Even though I know faster isn't better, the challenge in slowing down is having to acknowledge the fact that I may be doing things imperfectly.

When I used to take singing lessons, the thing that challenged me the most was singing my scales slowly. And I'm not talking about just slowly, I mean excruciatingly slow. That was the time my teacher would always correct me. Over and over and over again would I have to repeat them until I got it right. Although frustrating, I never forgot what she told me. "If you don't get it right when you sing slow, you'll not only sing it wrong when you sing fast, but worse, you won't even notice that you're singing it wrong."

Similarly, as I hit fast forward in almost everything I do, I'm starting to realize the only person I'm short changing is myself. As aspiring bhakti yogis one of the most importantly lessons to imbibe is that it is the mood and consciousness that matters. When I rush, my consciousness is of stress, not devotion!

It's a humbling lesson. There's no need to fast forward. It's a good thing to hit pause and re-evaluate and even more important to be satisfied on play. That's the time when I'll grow.

The first question often asked about the Bhagavad-gita is why was it spoken on a battlefield? Despite a common view that religion is a major cause of war, in most people’s minds the two should remain separate. Religion or spirituality should result in peace not conflict. If one’s spiritual practises bring about the bloodthirsty desire to eliminate the followers of some other faith then they must be suspect. That would surely seem to make sense.

Nevertheless the Gita did arise from a war, the great Battle of Kurukshetra. Not only that, but its final message to Arjuna—a mighty warrior who had suddenly veered towards pacifism—was to give up his “petty weakness of heart” and sally forth to slay his enemies in battle. How then is it a religious text?

Perhaps we should begin by defining religion. Dictionaries usually describe it as a system of belief in some supernatural power. That is where the conflicts tend to arise. My beliefs may well be different to yours, and human nature is such that we identify with these to the point where we create divisions based upon them. Hence we have many religious communities going under different names—Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc. In most people’s minds this is what is meant by religion, all these various designations. The Gita however gives a broader definition.

In Sanskrit, the language of the Gita, the word for religion is dharma. This translates more accurately as the essential nature of a thing. In the case of a person this nature is to serve. We are always serving someone or something, be it our boss, family members, country, or maybe just our dog. We cannot avoid service. Even if we have no one to serve we will still serve our own mind and senses, which constantly demand satisfaction in one way or another. We cannot sit peacefully for very long before one bodily demand or another impinges upon us and we have to act to satisfy it.

Vedic wisdom tells us that this service propensity is actually meant for God. This is real religion, the dharma of the soul. No doubt the adherents of all the above named faiths and most others will concur with this, despite their external differences. Whatever our practises the ultimate aim must be to know and love God, to unite with him and serve him eternally. When we serve anything other than God we are never satisfied; we constantly search for the lasting fulfilment that no amount of sensual pleasure or material relationships can provide. As Augustine said, “Our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.”

This is the message propounded by the Gita. It speaks of all beings as eternal parts of God having an unbreakable loving relationship with him. Arjuna’s dilemma as a warrior who was not inclined to fight was only the external context for a far deeper message than just getting him to take up his weapons. That message is encapsulated in the Gita’s key verse in the ninth chapter, where Krishna says, “Always think of me, offer me your respects, worship me and become my devotee. Surely then will you come to me.” This is the essence of all religion and it was what Arjuna had forgotten. He was thinking he had so many other duties which had all begun to seem onerous, conflicting and ultimately impossible. He got to the point where he did not know which way to turn or what to do. Krishna’s response was simple; just do what I want and you will be peaceful and happy.

As it happened at that time Krishna wanted Arjuna to fight. After all, sometimes fighting and violence are required when there are disturbing elements in society. We need the forces of law and order, which was Arjuna’s duty, but that’s not the real point. The ultimate message of the Gita is not about fighting or any other specific kind of work. It is about surrendering to God, acting only for his pleasure, recognising that this is truly in our own and everyone else’s best interests. When Arjuna understood this point his dilemma was over and he became peaceful. “My illusion is gone,” he told Krishna. “I am now free of duality and prepared to do whatever you ask.” And as Krishna asked him to fight that very fighting became a pure spiritual activity that led Arjuna to the highest point of self-realisation.

All of us are like Arjuna in so many ways. We stand on the battlefield of life faced with all kinds of challenges which often seem overwhelming. Sometimes we too don’t know which way to turn but the message of the Gita is also there for us. “Turn to me,” says Krishna. “I will always protect you and in the end bring you back to me.” That is the fight facing us all, turning from illusion towards Krishna, but with his help we like Arjuna will surely emerge victorious.

A curious confection: The British ‘Stick of Rock’ is made entirely of pink and white coloured sugar and has the name of the seaside town where it is sold running all the way through it. No matter where you slice it, or suck it, you’ll always get the same name, the same sweet taste. So it is with the Vaishnava tradition. The sampradaya is sweet all the way through as is the Name of God. And the stick – the parampara – is the structure that delivers it.

 

The words sampradaya and parampara are often used interchangeably, as if they conveyed exactly the same meaning. Sampradaya means a school of thought or philosophical conclusion or siddhanta, embodied by a community of orthodox practitioners. Parampara is, quite literally, ‘one after the other’ – an historical chain of spiritual preceptors, each of whom was a legacy-holder for the same path and practice.

Sampradaya refers to what the sincere aspirant may contact in the here and now, how he may be taught the siddhanta in the present day, and locate a current exemplar of the tradition. Whereas parampara refers to how the siddhanta has been transmitted down through the years. It is a chain of illustrious preceptors, each of whom was connected to the previous one, either through accepting the teachings (siksha) or by becoming initiated with a mantra (diksha), or a combination of both. The parampara is a lineage of successive gurus which is established retrospectively, sometimes long after their physical demise. A leading member of the sampradaya – usually the current acarya himself – looks back over the centuries, traces his finger over the spiritual family tree, and concludes: ‘This is how we all got here.’

When we describe a parampara we single out certain persons who have contributed the most in establishing the siddhanta, explaining it to others; defending it from intellectual attack; and leaving behind a body of literature that served best to perpetuate the siddhanta beyond the lifetime of the authors. Yet in choosing some lineage-holders we simultaneously de-select others. They were not unworthy souls, rather, they were great Vaishnavas, each playing their part in supporting, defending and extending the sampradaya in their own time. But others were singled out to have their names as a permanent fixture in the list of the greatest historical contributors.

No devotees living today – including those who initiate disciples – know whether they will be ‘in the parampara,’ although by definition they are already ‘in the sampradaya.’ Of course, for disciples, their own chosen guru is the current representative of the parampara. But if the disciples do not initiate their own disciples then that singular branch of the parampara will terminate at the death of the last disciple.

It may be that the majority of current initiators in the ISKCON branch of the Gaudiya lineage – by this process of discipular termination – will not feature in the parampara 100 years hence, and what to speak of 300 years. They might be collectively featured in some future chronicle as the sincere and determined followers of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada; as those who met him personally and helped him in his mission to establish Gaudiya teachings outside India. But the moving index fingers of historians or acaryas of the far-distant future may pass immediately from Srila Prabhupada to the next major contributor in the chain. Names that are firmly fixed in the minds of all today, written in black ink as it were, may fade to grey or disappear completely, as many thousands throughout history have already done. Those who criticize the ISKCON movement for having what they consider to be less-than-suitable names ‘in the parampara’ should not unduly trouble themselves: time and tide will wash away anyone who is undeserving. And those who are already brilliant will continue to shine.

Words by B.B.Govinda Swami

 

I read, with sadness, of the death of the young Indian girl who was gang raped in Delhi.

My prayers go to that departed soul, to her family, and to her friend who was also beaten and thrown off the bus.

The present perverted culture of India allows rape and molestation of women to take place anywhere and everywhere in the nation.

I have been shocked in hearing the stories of my female students in Vrindavan;

A western lady told me how while standing in front of Radhe Shyam, her eyes closed in prayer, an Indian man approached her, grasped her breasts, touched her buttocks, and rubbed his hand against her private parts.

A forty-ish year old Indian lady told me how on Sri Krishna Janmastami, an Indian man pushed his genitals onto her as everyone was wedged in the crowd trying to have darshan.

I heard tonight on Indian TV that in one political party alone there are 31 accused rapists.

This tragedy stirs me up.

I wish the Indian youth were savvy enough, and courageous enough, to use the social media in the same way that it has been used over the past few years to bring a change to the status quo.

But I think the Indian youth are too afraid of what their parents and society would say. Rather, they use the social media to ape the degraded materialistic culture.

I wish the Indian old elite would do the right thing, step aside, and allow brains that work to develop a structure for the nation in which all the citizens were equal before the constitution.

Yet … a drastic change would bring no good result if there were no Krishna consciousness, God consciousness.

It has been said that the fish rots from the head down.

The world is rotting, India included.

Maybe India is rotting more … for turning away from its ancient spiritual traditions.

Did you ever visit a country of 1,241,491,960 people where over half of the people perform their toilet activities on the train tracks or the sides of the roads daily?

Urination in public is so socially acceptable?

Where people in towns and villages heap their trash in the middle of the national highways?

The rich build huge mansions, high boundary walls, and dump their garbage outside their walls.

Where sacred rivers have been killed, officially declared dead by the World Health Organisation.

Why? Due to the the unrestricted dumping of pollutants from factories and waste from slaughter houses? All run by greedy materialistic men.

A country where over 100,000 people die on the roads yearly, and where hundreds and thousands are left maimed for life.

Where there is noise everywhere, plastic everywhere, smoke and smog everywhere.

And to get the most simple deed accomplished you must give a gift?

As Prabhupada sat and wrote in his rooms at Radha Damodar, he stated that what we are seeing today is simply the burnt remnants of India’s great tradition of culture.

That was 50 years ago.

Yes, a revolution is needed. But, it should be a revolution of consciousness. Krishna consciousness, God consciousness.

These situations make me think, “if I were young I would join a revolution and pull down the rotten machine.”

Now, alas, I am too old to sling stones and could never tolerate gunfire.

But then, when I was young, I did join a revolution. And I am still a small part of it, and I am still trying to pull.

bharata-bhumite hoila manusya janma yara
janma sarthaka kari karo para-upakära

This is Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mission, para-upakara.

His mission is to be very merciful to all people.

So, I will continue in the revolution of Srila Prabhupada and Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

I will continually try to assist my master to change the degraded consciousness of the world.

Please everyone, take the holy names, study the message of Bhagavad Gita, worship Sri Krishna.

By these activities, the degraded material consciousness of this world will change.

One poet said, “I’m starting with the man in the mirror.”

Another small Indian man said, “Be the change that you want to see in the world.”

Together …. Let’s make that change.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare