ISKCON Devotee Elected To Council of Eco-Village Network
→ The Yoga of Ecology


From Madhava Smullen at ISKCON News 



Sunset over the bell tower on Krishna-valley's main square (Somogyvamos, Hungary)

An ISKCON devotee, Radha Krishna Das, has been elected to the highest managerial body of the Global Eco-Village Network (GEN) Europe.
GEN describes itself as a constantly expanding group of intentional communities and eco-villages, that bridges all cultures and aims to create a global pool of wisdom for sustainable living.
GEN Europe serves Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and consists of fifty full member communities and over one hundred supporting members.
In becoming a part of their managerial body, Radha Krishna Das—who is also a member of the board of directors at ISKCON Hungary’s Krishna Valley eco-village—joins four other council members.
There’s president Macaco Tamerice, from the Damanhur community in Italy; Thomas Heuser, from ZEGG in Germany; Alfonso Flaquer, from La Base, the first straw bale dwelling community in Spain; and Jana-Momo Mohaupt, from Tamera in Portugal.
Radha Krishna was asked to run for election in the council when GEN Europe held its annual conference at Krishna Valley in July of this year.
The GEN Europe Council - Radha Krishna Das is in the back left corner
150 people from 35 countries attended the 12-day conference, making it the largest international meeting of non-ISKCON members ever held at Krishna Valley.
All were members of eco-villages and sustainable communities around Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
And all were very impressed with the 660-acre sustainable Krishna Valley farm, where 150 resident devotees produce almost all of their own food—including grain, honey, sixty different varieties of vegetables, and more than 600 fruit and nut trees—without the use of any pesticides, chemicals, or artificial fertilizers.
“After they saw the farm, we spoke for some time, and they asked me to run for election in their new council,” says Radha Krishna Das. “GEN Europe is an association of eco-villages who are trying to change the direction of the world, and to show good examples of how to live in harmony with nature. So of course I was delighted to.”
This means that Krishna Valley is also now a member of GEN. According to Radha Krishna, this is a very positive development for the ISKCON farm.
GEN Conference at Krishna Valley
“Not only can we share our experience with them, but we can learn a lot from them too,” he says. “There are eco communities that are part of GEN that have been running for thirty to forty years now, and have a wealth of technical and social development experience we can benefit from.”
For example, Radha Krishna explains, a Portuguese eco-village advised Krishna Valley on how to develop their water management system so that they could retain rainwater on their land during the dry summer months.
“For the past two years, we didn’t have rain for 3 or 4 months,” he says. “It was a catastrophe. The cows could not graze, and we had to put hay on the pasture just so they could eat something. But now, with the help of our friends from Portugal, we can keep the grass green and the cows can graze nicely.”
Radha Krishna believes that becoming a member of GEN could help the progress of not only Krishna Valley, but all of ISKCON’s eco-villages and farm projects.
“All of these eco-villages have had their own problems, which in many cases are very very similar to the ones that we’ve had—the social issues, the economic issues,” he says. “So we could learn a lot from each other’s failures and successes.”
Radha Krishna Das explains Krishna Valley's cow protection program to GEN Conference-goers
Many ISKCON rural communities would be eligible to become members of GEN—the only two requirements are being a group of at least 10 to 15 people who live together and work towards sustainable living; and paying an affordable annual membership fee.
Member communities become a part of an organization that is funded by the European Union, the European Voluntary Service, and the German Foreign Ministry. They can avail of special training and education programs recognized by UNESCO, attend GEN’s annual conference for a reduced fee, and vote at GEN’s general assembly.
Of course, ISKCON would also get the chance to network with people all over the world striving for the same goal of living off the land; people who are highly experienced in all the elements of sustainable living such as landscaping, water management, and energy efficiency, as well as getting grants and funding.
“GEN wants to share its information with as many people as possible, and truly hopes to change the direction the modern world is going in,” says Radha Krishna.
“In the future, we even hope to change governmental regulations and laws to become more favorable towards the development of eco-villages and intentional communities.”

Related Stories:


ISKCON Devotee Elected To Council of Eco-Village Network
→ The Yoga of Ecology


From Madhava Smullen at ISKCON News 



Sunset over the bell tower on Krishna-valley's main square (Somogyvamos, Hungary)

An ISKCON devotee, Radha Krishna Das, has been elected to the highest managerial body of the Global Eco-Village Network (GEN) Europe.
GEN describes itself as a constantly expanding group of intentional communities and eco-villages, that bridges all cultures and aims to create a global pool of wisdom for sustainable living.
GEN Europe serves Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, and consists of fifty full member communities and over one hundred supporting members.
In becoming a part of their managerial body, Radha Krishna Das—who is also a member of the board of directors at ISKCON Hungary’s Krishna Valley eco-village—joins four other council members.
There’s president Macaco Tamerice, from the Damanhur community in Italy; Thomas Heuser, from ZEGG in Germany; Alfonso Flaquer, from La Base, the first straw bale dwelling community in Spain; and Jana-Momo Mohaupt, from Tamera in Portugal.
Radha Krishna was asked to run for election in the council when GEN Europe held its annual conference at Krishna Valley in July of this year.
The GEN Europe Council - Radha Krishna Das is in the back left corner
150 people from 35 countries attended the 12-day conference, making it the largest international meeting of non-ISKCON members ever held at Krishna Valley.
All were members of eco-villages and sustainable communities around Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
And all were very impressed with the 660-acre sustainable Krishna Valley farm, where 150 resident devotees produce almost all of their own food—including grain, honey, sixty different varieties of vegetables, and more than 600 fruit and nut trees—without the use of any pesticides, chemicals, or artificial fertilizers.
“After they saw the farm, we spoke for some time, and they asked me to run for election in their new council,” says Radha Krishna Das. “GEN Europe is an association of eco-villages who are trying to change the direction of the world, and to show good examples of how to live in harmony with nature. So of course I was delighted to.”
This means that Krishna Valley is also now a member of GEN. According to Radha Krishna, this is a very positive development for the ISKCON farm.
GEN Conference at Krishna Valley
“Not only can we share our experience with them, but we can learn a lot from them too,” he says. “There are eco communities that are part of GEN that have been running for thirty to forty years now, and have a wealth of technical and social development experience we can benefit from.”
For example, Radha Krishna explains, a Portuguese eco-village advised Krishna Valley on how to develop their water management system so that they could retain rainwater on their land during the dry summer months.
“For the past two years, we didn’t have rain for 3 or 4 months,” he says. “It was a catastrophe. The cows could not graze, and we had to put hay on the pasture just so they could eat something. But now, with the help of our friends from Portugal, we can keep the grass green and the cows can graze nicely.”
Radha Krishna believes that becoming a member of GEN could help the progress of not only Krishna Valley, but all of ISKCON’s eco-villages and farm projects.
“All of these eco-villages have had their own problems, which in many cases are very very similar to the ones that we’ve had—the social issues, the economic issues,” he says. “So we could learn a lot from each other’s failures and successes.”
Radha Krishna Das explains Krishna Valley's cow protection program to GEN Conference-goers
Many ISKCON rural communities would be eligible to become members of GEN—the only two requirements are being a group of at least 10 to 15 people who live together and work towards sustainable living; and paying an affordable annual membership fee.
Member communities become a part of an organization that is funded by the European Union, the European Voluntary Service, and the German Foreign Ministry. They can avail of special training and education programs recognized by UNESCO, attend GEN’s annual conference for a reduced fee, and vote at GEN’s general assembly.
Of course, ISKCON would also get the chance to network with people all over the world striving for the same goal of living off the land; people who are highly experienced in all the elements of sustainable living such as landscaping, water management, and energy efficiency, as well as getting grants and funding.
“GEN wants to share its information with as many people as possible, and truly hopes to change the direction the modern world is going in,” says Radha Krishna.
“In the future, we even hope to change governmental regulations and laws to become more favorable towards the development of eco-villages and intentional communities.”

Related Stories:


Ecstatic Weekend of Book Distribution – Diwali Event
→ Toronto Sankirtan Adventures

Submitted by Minakshi dd


This weekend we had the opportunity to do Sankirtan not only on Saturday but also on Sunday. So two days of Sankirtan in the service of Srila Prabhupada!

This is a recap of Saturday’s event:

We went to a Banquet Hall in Mississauga where they were holding a Diwali Celebration.  We were able to secure a table in the lobby and immediately put up a huge poster of Srila Prabupada along with a variety of books. 

Beside us was a vendor selling saris – the name of her store happened to be “Maya” so we were joking among ourselves – “Do you want Krishna or Maya?” Of course we saw that people (especially the women) were all hovering around the sari table – Maya! 

Not only that, inside the hall, the music was blaring, the lights were pulsing, people were drinking and eating meat. But the Sankirtan devotees – Vicky Prabhu, Mayur Prabhu, Jessica Mataji, myself and my daughter Radhapriya stayed in the lobby and kept preaching and distributing books.  Our thoughts were on how Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda dealt with Jagai and Madhai. We are insignificant compared to this example. 

Final results for Saturday’s efforts – 116 Books including several Bhagavad Gitas and Krishna Books and $534 Laxmi Collected – Jaya Srila Prabhupada!



Ecstatic Weekend of Book Distribution – Diwali Event
→ Toronto Sankirtan Adventures

Submitted by Minakshi dd


This weekend we had the opportunity to do Sankirtan not only on Saturday but also on Sunday. So two days of Sankirtan in the service of Srila Prabhupada!

This is a recap of Saturday’s event:

We went to a Banquet Hall in Mississauga where they were holding a Diwali Celebration.  We were able to secure a table in the lobby and immediately put up a huge poster of Srila Prabupada along with a variety of books. 

Beside us was a vendor selling saris – the name of her store happened to be “Maya” so we were joking among ourselves – “Do you want Krishna or Maya?” Of course we saw that people (especially the women) were all hovering around the sari table – Maya! 

Not only that, inside the hall, the music was blaring, the lights were pulsing, people were drinking and eating meat. But the Sankirtan devotees – Vicky Prabhu, Mayur Prabhu, Jessica Mataji, myself and my daughter Radhapriya stayed in the lobby and kept preaching and distributing books.  Our thoughts were on how Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda dealt with Jagai and Madhai. We are insignificant compared to this example. 

Final results for Saturday’s efforts – 116 Books including several Bhagavad Gitas and Krishna Books and $534 Laxmi Collected – Jaya Srila Prabhupada!



Вишенка на торте
→ Traveling Monk

Глава 4

 

Я сидел в своей комнате в здании храма столицы Македонии Скопье, принимал прасадам и слушал бхаджан, который пели преданные на нижнем этаже храма.

– Какой нектарный бхаджан, – сказал я преданному, – и идет уже несколько часов.

– Да, Махараджа, – ответил он. – Македоняне очень музыкальны. Мы любим петь и играть на музыкальных инструментах. У нас здесь даже есть свой тип тамбуры, с четырьмя струнами. Преданные часто используют ее в бхаджанах.

Спустя два часа мы с группой из двадцати человек выехали на площадь в центре города. Площадь, отреставрированная за последние годы, – популярное место отдыха жителей Скопье, которые собираются здесь теплыми летними вечерами, общаются и закусывают в расположенных поблизости ресторанчиках. Когда мы подъезжали к площади, я увидел огромную статую Александра Великого.

– Очень впечатляющая статуя, – сказал я преданному.

– Да, – откликнулся он. – Александр родился в Македонии и отсюда отправился завоевывать мир. Он выстроил огромную империю, но она оказалась слишком большой, чтоб с ней управляться, и он так и не смог вернуться домой.

Во время путешествий я читаю «Дневники Тамала Кришны Госвами», и как раз сегодня утром мне попался отрывок, в котором Госвами цитировал высказывание Шрилы Прабхупады о том же самом, так что я подтвердил:

– Так оно и есть, Шрила Прабхупада говорил, что Александр Македонский не смог поддерживать свою обширную империю. Вот его слова: «Представьте, если бы я покорил Бомбей, а потом Карачи, и тем временем упустил бы Бомбей. Это и случилось с Александром Великим… чрезмерная экспансия». Шрила Прабхупада говорил, что по этой причине он настаивает на важности распространения книг более, чем на открытии храмов. Он говорил: «Не делайте из меня Александра при жизни. Люди уже поняли, что я велик. Не преуменьшайте меня».

Преданный показал на другую сторону площади.

– Там еще одна достопримечательность, – сказал он, – дом матери Терезы. Она родилась здесь в 1910-м году и уехала семнадцатилетней в Индию как миссионерка. Сейчас этот дом – национальный памятник.

Мы подошли ближе, оказалось, что около здания собралась огромная толпа.

– Сегодня в Македонии отмечают годовщину ее отъезда, – сказал преданный.

– Может быть, посмотрим, пока идет бхаджан? – предложил я.

– Да, давайте войдем, – ответил он, и мы направились ко входу. – Открытый амфитеатр, в котором Вы сегодня будете давать лекцию, – часть этого мемориала. Программа рекламируется по всему городу, как «Вечер с Индрадьюмной Свами». Думаем, будет около ста пятидесяти человек.

– Приглашены ли какие-нибудь официальные лица, городские чиновники или другие важные персоны? – спросил я.

– Ну, насчет этого я не знаю, – сказал он. – В основном мы фокусируемся на своих друзьях и обычных людях. Но кто знает? Молва идет.

Мы зашли в мемориал, и я заметил несколько буклетов и брошюр о жизни матери Терезы. Я взял одну и стал читать стих, который она написала на борту, покидая Европу в 1928-м году. Читая, я был настолько тронут стихотворением, что даже решил присесть. Поистине, в нем был дух миссионерства, дух той самой жизни, которую избрал и я, приняв санньясу, отреченный образ жизни.

На прощанье

Я покидаю отчий дом
и все места родные
ради далеких берегов
тропической Бенгалии.

Я оставляю всех друзей,
отрекшись от семьи и дома,
чтоб моему Христу служить
так, как велит мне сердце.

Прощайте, матушка, –
да будет с вами всеми Бог.
Меня же Сила Свыше
в жаркую Индию призвала.

Неспешно рассекая океана
волны, плывет корабль.
Последний раз бросаю взгляд
на берега родной Европы.

На палубе стоит бесстрашно
счастливая, спокойная,
дитя довольное Христа,
Его невеста новобрачная.

В руке ее железный крестик
Спасителя распятого, –
душа ее готова принести
свою непростую жертву.

«О Господи, взгляни на эту жертву
как на признание в любви,
позволь созданью Твоему
прославить Твое Имя.

Взамен я у Тебя прошу,
о милосерднейший Отец:
позволь спасти хоть одну душу,
ту, что Тебе уже знакома».

Ясные, чистые, летней росы
ее тихие слезы текут, так
подтвердив благословеньем
ее непростую жертву.

[ Гонжа Бояджиу]

– Махараджа, – произнес преданный, возвращая меня к реальности, – нам надо идти. На площади начали бхаджан.

Мы поспешили к поющим преданным, – вокруг них уже собралась большая толпа. Это напомнило мне наши публичные киртаны в Польше в начале 90-х. Подойдя, я снова поразился красоте музыки и пения. Молча постоял несколько минут, слушая, а потом обратился к преданному около меня.

– Думаю, вы все в прошлых жизнях были гандхарвами, – сказал я. – Господь Чайтанья послал вас сюда, чтобы освободить этих людей.

И отправился к преданной, раздающей сладкий прасад из корзинки.

– Не позволите мне взять корзинку и пораздавать прасадам? – спросил я ее.

Я постепенно продвигался с корзинкой к другой стороне площади, удивляясь, что ни один человек не отказался от прасада. Звуки киртана на расстоянии становились все тише. Пожилые женщины судачили на скамейках, а их мужья за грубыми деревянными столами играли в карты. Несколько молодых пар прошли мимо, явно удивленные моим ярко-шафрановым одеянием, но все были вежливы и почтительны. Несколько раз после короткого разговора люди приглашали меня к себе домой отобедать. Одни пожилые супруги даже спросили, есть ли мне, где остановиться на ночь.

«Вот в таких местах мне нравится бывать, – думал я. – Вот где я счастлив больше всего: на улицах, распространяя сознание Кришны».

Я улыбнулся про себя, подумав, что даже выхлопы проезжающих машин вдохновляют, напоминая мне годы, что я провел, распространяя книги и проводя харинамы в городах по всему миру.

Спустя сорок пять минут за мной пришел преданный.

– Махараджа, – сказал он, – мы бы хотели, чтобы Вы провели бхаджан.

Когда мы вернулись к бхаджан-группе, я взял микрофон и произнес небольшую речь, одну из тех, что давал на улицах тысячи раз. «Я мог бы делать это вечно, – думал я, – по сути дела, это путь к бессмертию». И припомнил один из моих любимых стихов:

“На людных площадях славлю я Твою милость, что дарована даже ничтожным созданьям, и что позволила мне, низкорожденному, жить в лесу Враджа, где Твои великие преданные, исполненные чистой любви, стремятся родиться хотя бы лесной травинкой”.

[ Шрила Рупа Госвами, Уткалика-валлари, стих 65 ]

На следующее утро после исполненной блаженства программы, усиленной еще более красивыми бхаджанами, все начали готовиться к вечерней программе. Позже, когда мы ехали в город, я спросил у преданных, будет ли в амфитеатре охрана. Македония – это бывшая часть Югославии, а я помнил о тех случаях насилия, с которыми столкнулся несколькими годами ранее в Боснии и Хорватии.

– В этом нет нужды, – ответил преданный. – Обычно у нас нет проблем.

Мы приехали к восьми вечера, преданные только что начали бхаджан.

«Падшие ангелы, – думал я про себя, улыбаясь их мелодичному киртану, который наполнил и амфитеатр, и прилегающую площадь. – Не привлечься невозможно».

Вскоре весь театр под открытым небом заполнился гостями. Когда бхаджан закончился, перед аудиторией занял свое место я. Настраивая микрофон и переговариваясь с переводчиком, я вдруг заметил, что пятеро крупных хорошо одетых мужчин вошли в амфитеатр и заняли стратегические позиции.

Заметив у них мини-микрофоны и проводки, уходящие за уши, я подумал, что должно быть, это команда охраны. Посмотрев левее, к выходу с программы, я заметил человека пониже, скорее всего, начальника команды, стоящего с двумя охранниками по обе стороны от него.

«Видимо, какая-то опасность все-таки есть, – подумал я, – но преданные, наверное, решили меня не тревожить. Должно быть, наняли парней на тот случай, если все-таки что-нибудь произойдет».

Ум мой был спокоен, и я, зная, что с любыми беспорядками легко разберутся, взял Бхагавад-гиту и начал лекцию. Аудитория была внимательна и хорошо воспринимала все, что я говорил, так что я углубился в философию и даже объяснил, кто такой Кришна, что такое Его имя, слава, форма и игры.

Потом я особо отметил, что философия сознания Кришны применима и в наше время. Я процитировал Шрилу Прабхупаду, что у нас есть духовное решение материальных проблем. Люди кивали головами, соглашаясь с теми доводами, что я приводил, – особенно начальник охранной команды.

Через пролетевший незаметно час я закончил свое выступление. И смутился от шквала аплодисментов. «Я всего лишь исполняю свой долг санньяси», – сказал я переводчику.

Когда я поднялся, чтобы отправиться к столику с книгами, то заметил, что охранная команда быстро направляется к выходу.

«Почему они не остались до конца программы?» – удивился я.

Около стола с книгами было столпотворение, люди ожидали меня, чтобы подписать только что приобретенные книги. Взяв ручку, я присел, подписывая книги и оставляя по несколько вдохновляющих слов.

Внезапно ко мне подбежал запыхавшийся преданный.

– Махараджа! – выговорил он. – Правда, здорово? Просто невероятно! Даже не верится.

– А что случилось? – сказал я.

– Вы не видели? – сказал он. – Премьер-министр страны был на Вашей лекции. Пришел, как только Вы начали, и стоял у входа с двумя телохранителями по бокам. Он оставался до самого конца Вашей лекции.

– Охрану я видел, – сказал я. – Но не знал, что здесь премьер-министр. Вот уж действительно, это как глазурь на торте этого чудесного визита в Македонию.

– Есть еще и вишенка поверх глазури, – заметил преданный, широко улыбаясь.

– И что бы это могло быть? – сказал я.

– Премьер-министр сообщил через своего секретаря, что ему очень понравилась Ваша речь.

Я покачал головой. «Милость Господа Чайтаньи безгранична», – думал я.

Шрила Прабхупада пишет:

«Движение сознания Кришны распространяется по всему миру просто благодаря рассказам о Кришне. Мы издали множество книг, в том числе “Шри Чайтанья-чаритамриту” в семнадцати томах по четыреста страниц в каждом, а также “Бхагавад-гиту” и “Нектар преданности”. Мы также публикуем “Шримад-Бхагаватам” в шестидесяти томах. Где бы говорящий ни пересказывал то, что он узнал из этих книг, а аудитория слушала его, там будет хорошая, благоприятная ситуация. Поэтому члены нашего Движения, особенно санньяси, должны очень хорошо заботиться о проповеди сознания Кришны. Это создаст благоприятную атмосферу».

[ Шримад-Бхагаватам 8.1.32, комментарий ]

Happy Diwali!
Bhakti Charu Swami

Happy Diwali to everyone! This is the day that marks Lord Ramachandra’s return to Ayodhya after He defeated Ravana and rescued Sita. The whole city was lit up with lamps to receive the return of the glorious prince, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Lord Ramachandra’s victory over Ravana marks the victory of the Supreme Personality […]

Srila Prabhupad Disappearance day celebrations – Saturday 17 November
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

Dear Devotees and Friends,

We would like to invite you all for the Disappearance day celebrations of our founder Acharya His Divine Grace Abhay Caranaravinda Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupada ( Srila Prabhupada )

Date: 17 November

Day: Saturday

The program is as follows

4.30 AM Mangala Arati led by Srila Prabhupada

7.00 AM Darshan arati and Gurupuja

7.30 AM Damodara Arati — offering lamp to Sri Damodara

7.45 AM Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Srila Prabhupada

10.30 AM Vaisnava Bhajans

11.00 AM Glorification of Srila Prabhupada ( Offering Homages )

12.00 Noon Bhoga Offering

12.30 PM Pushpanjali ( offering Flowers )

12.45 PM Gurupuja and Kirtan to Srila Prabhupada

1.30 PM Honoring the feast prasadam

Special Evening Program:

6.30 PM Bhajans

7.20 PM Special Arati to Srila Prabhupada ( The time of his departure from this world)

Please come and join in glorifying Srila Prabhupada ” Who built a home where the whole world can live”

If you like to sponsor the feast or the flowers and receive unlimited blessings from Srila Prabhpada please contact

Vrajanandana dasa — 0412 574 949

Shyama Saran dasa — 0439 969 002

Sita Rama Lakshmna dasa — 0422 045 525

Sita Rama Lakshman Dasa

SP Disappearance Day poster

Keeping The Darkness Away: Diwali & Govardhana
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das



Diwali, the Festival of Lights is a fitting time for the Hindu New Year.  One of the main stories behind this day is the return of Rama to Ayodhya. Rama and the monkey forces had defeated Ravana and his Raksasa hordes. Ravana had superior weapons and superior forces. The monkeys had only crude weapons – trees, rocks and clubs – but they won nevertheless. By the grace of Lord Rama, the monkeys were unstoppable. Having faith in Rama, we also have to be unstoppable in our efforts to serve Rama and glorify Him.

Several weeks later after the victory, Rama, Sita, Laksman and Hanuman boarded a flower airplane which took them back to Ayodhya. The citizens there waited in great anticipation. The city was bedecked with candles shining from every home. After so many long years the people were eager to see their Lord once again. His return would mark a new era for them - RamRaj. And we also must light the candles. Not only in our homes, but in our hearts. To renew our faith in the Lord and, at this time of year, welcome Him back into our lives.  But why every year? Indeed, we must welcome Him every day and every moment.

The day after Diwali is Govardhana Lila, and so, the devotees delight in worshiping Sri Rama and Sri Krishna back to back. They are one and the same. Krishna, as a child, growing up in Vrindaban, was very mischievous. One day,  Krishna’s father Nanda and the residents there were getting ready to worship King Indra who brought the much needed rain to the land. But in the middle of getting ready for one event, Krishna asked them to make another type of sacrifice – to worship Govardhana Hill instead. Krishna sometimes does that to us. You know what I’m talking about.

There’s a saying attributed to John Lennon: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” We’ve all experienced this in one way or other. Earlier this month my wife and I were a little concerned since Hurricane Sandy was supposed to brush by us (we had heard about the disruption in New York and New Jersey – and I pray for everyone in that area)  And so Sandy came, leaving us without electricity for only four hours.  What a relief! That wasn’t so bad (especially since at the beginning of the summer we had no power for eight days).

My wife and I thought that now we could get on with our lives. But even though the power went back on, our house remained without water for four days. For four days we had to fetch water to bathe and clean and cook. Normally, we get water from our own well. Now we were worried that the pump in the well stopped working, or worse yet, that the well caved in (which happened to us before). But Krishna was merciful. It was only a bad pressure tank in the basement, which our plumber fixed in several hours. 

Krishna often calls upon us to make some sacrifice. We’re expecting to do one thing, but something happens and we’re forced to do something else. So we could do it begrudgingly and curse our circumstances. Or we could find the strength to say “Thank you Krishna for giving me this opportunity to surrender to Your will.”

These holy-days can give us clues on how to live everyday.

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

Keeping The Darkness Away: Diwali & Govardhana
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das



Diwali, the Festival of Lights is a fitting time for the Hindu New Year.  One of the main stories behind this day is the return of Rama to Ayodhya. Rama and the monkey forces had defeated Ravana and his Raksasa hordes. Ravana had superior weapons and superior forces. The monkeys had only crude weapons – trees, rocks and clubs – but they won nevertheless. By the grace of Lord Rama, the monkeys were unstoppable. Having faith in Rama, we also have to be unstoppable in our efforts to serve Rama and glorify Him.

Several weeks later after the victory, Rama, Sita, Laksman and Hanuman boarded a flower airplane which took them back to Ayodhya. The citizens there waited in great anticipation. The city was bedecked with candles shining from every home. After so many long years the people were eager to see their Lord once again. His return would mark a new era for them - RamRaj. And we also must light the candles. Not only in our homes, but in our hearts. To renew our faith in the Lord and, at this time of year, welcome Him back into our lives.  But why every year? Indeed, we must welcome Him every day and every moment.

The day after Diwali is Govardhana Lila, and so, the devotees delight in worshiping Sri Rama and Sri Krishna back to back. They are one and the same. Krishna, as a child, growing up in Vrindaban, was very mischievous. One day,  Krishna’s father Nanda and the residents there were getting ready to worship King Indra who brought the much needed rain to the land. But in the middle of getting ready for one event, Krishna asked them to make another type of sacrifice – to worship Govardhana Hill instead. Krishna sometimes does that to us. You know what I’m talking about.

There’s a saying attributed to John Lennon: “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.” We’ve all experienced this in one way or other. Earlier this month my wife and I were a little concerned since Hurricane Sandy was supposed to brush by us (we had heard about the disruption in New York and New Jersey – and I pray for everyone in that area)  And so Sandy came, leaving us without electricity for only four hours.  What a relief! That wasn’t so bad (especially since at the beginning of the summer we had no power for eight days).

My wife and I thought that now we could get on with our lives. But even though the power went back on, our house remained without water for four days. For four days we had to fetch water to bathe and clean and cook. Normally, we get water from our own well. Now we were worried that the pump in the well stopped working, or worse yet, that the well caved in (which happened to us before). But Krishna was merciful. It was only a bad pressure tank in the basement, which our plumber fixed in several hours. 

Krishna often calls upon us to make some sacrifice. We’re expecting to do one thing, but something happens and we’re forced to do something else. So we could do it begrudgingly and curse our circumstances. Or we could find the strength to say “Thank you Krishna for giving me this opportunity to surrender to Your will.”

These holy-days can give us clues on how to live everyday.

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

What Matters About California’s GE Labeling Fight
→ The Yoga of Ecology





"Whether or not all of this means that the food movement is past the pimply stage of early adolescence, the fact is that California’s labeling fight broadened and emboldened this movement’s power base just as we are heading into a series of regulatory fights over new GE crops in the pipeline, and preparing for what looks like a spring 2013 re-authorization battle over the now-expired Food and Farm Bill.

If the fiscal cliff and other D.C. distractions succeed in keeping Congress from passing a 2012 Farm Bill in the lame duck session despite our insistence that they get off their duffs, then the very same sustainable food and farming forces that gathered together to push for Prop 37 will turn our attention and newly honed skills to securing the kind of agricultural policy that withdraws governmental support from the system of agriculture embodied by Monsanto. For every additional dollar of funding we win for organic agricultural research, that’s one dollar of public funding that will not be devoted to developing more GE crops that fail to deliver on promises to farmers and the public. And in this Farm Bill fight, we will bring to bear a broader base of power as well as a public disabused of the notion that agricultural biotechnology is the best thing since sliced bread."

What Matters About California’s GE Labeling Fight
→ The Yoga of Ecology





"Whether or not all of this means that the food movement is past the pimply stage of early adolescence, the fact is that California’s labeling fight broadened and emboldened this movement’s power base just as we are heading into a series of regulatory fights over new GE crops in the pipeline, and preparing for what looks like a spring 2013 re-authorization battle over the now-expired Food and Farm Bill.

If the fiscal cliff and other D.C. distractions succeed in keeping Congress from passing a 2012 Farm Bill in the lame duck session despite our insistence that they get off their duffs, then the very same sustainable food and farming forces that gathered together to push for Prop 37 will turn our attention and newly honed skills to securing the kind of agricultural policy that withdraws governmental support from the system of agriculture embodied by Monsanto. For every additional dollar of funding we win for organic agricultural research, that’s one dollar of public funding that will not be devoted to developing more GE crops that fail to deliver on promises to farmers and the public. And in this Farm Bill fight, we will bring to bear a broader base of power as well as a public disabused of the notion that agricultural biotechnology is the best thing since sliced bread."

Govardhana Puja Thursday 15th November
→ Welcome to the official site of ISKCON Perth

Dear Vaisnavas and Vaisnavis

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This year we will be celebrating Govardhana Puja on Thursday 15th November from 5 PM at our temple at 159 Canning Road Kalamunda. This year the festival will be coordinated by Kesava Gopal (0433922454) and Anuttama Kesava Prabhus. The feast will be cooked by Rasa Vigraha and Radhapati Prabhus. If you are able to give some time to help prepare the feast please contact Akshaya Puri (0401414172).

Please prepare and bring some sweets to decorate the hill.

The program is as follows

5.00 Bhajans
6.00 Class on Govardhana Lila by His Holiness Ramai Swami
6.45 Arati to Giri-Govardhana and circumabulation of Govardhana Hill
7.00 Gaura Arati and Damadorastakam
7.30 Prasadam Feast

For more information and sponsorships please contact Vrajananadana (0412574949 ) or Sita Rama Lakshmana (0422045525)

On behalf of the festival committee

your servant
Yadu Srestha (0423696537)

Download Goverdhan Puja poster

The Abysses of the Mind and the Highest Peaks of Consciousness (part 2/2). By Matsyavatara dasa (Marco Ferrini)
→ Matsya Avatar das adhikari

Although at times it seems to have no reasons to fall into a crevasse, we can witness that the gap is real for whom can perceive it. The same goes for the ecstatic experience which is usually ignored to the majority of people, but for the great personalities who has realized themselves, it may become a permanent reality, which in a single brush erases all the world attachments together with the taste for the sense gratification. One doesn't reach that experience by mere comprehension or due to the limited human efforts; it thus manifests thanks to the divine mercy and it is the divine mercy that helps us to get out of the crevasse: combined to our our personal effort, it brings clearness within us and start  to make the river of life flow again. In this way our happiness will also start to flow again freely, with no more obstacles of the past choices.   We cannot live lofty experiences at present if in the past we failed to recognize the existence of the crevasse with its characteristics, consciously choosing the way that takes us to the enlightened Hill, to the highest Sky, just like Virgilio explains  to Dante at the beginning of the Divine Commedy and like Krishna  says to Arjuna oppressed by a deep existential crisis at the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita. One does not fall into the crevasse at once, nor he reaches the peak in an instance. Such high ascent is the result of a constant work turned to avoid and correct the mistakes promptly, to coordinate all the efforts with the purpose to evolve and animated by the honest desire of spiritual self-realization.
Enviousness,  jealousy, lust, greed, anger, craving for fame – these are all the ropes that make one drift down the crevasse. On the other hand, mercy, compassion, humility, patience, forgiveness help to ascend. Those spiritual qualities, typical of authentic brahmanas, are the most elevated qualities to develop;  that is why the brahmanas who coherently practice and live them should not be submitted to power because these qualities represent the highest target. In Bhagavad-gita XVIII. 42 Krishna describes the main qualities from which many others originate; those who wish to reach the highest peaks of consciousness  do not have to learn them just by heart, but to catch the essence, how they are lived and taught.
Those qualities should become our nature, should enter each part of our being, in order to transfer ourselves gradually  from tamas to rajas, from rajas to sattva guna; only then we will avoid the risk of falling down the crevasse and our journey will be an evolution in progress towards the highest peaks of Bhakti, empowered with faithful and devoted love for Krishna. The practice of Bhakti is the most powerful instrument of evolution that allows us to develop the qualities described before and, in its greatest expansion, it is the highest  spiritual peak to reach. In the journey towards supreme Bhakti, authentic love and happiness increase step by step.

The Abysses of the Mind and the Highest Peaks of Consciousness (part 2/2). By Matsyavatara dasa (Marco Ferrini)
→ Matsya Avatar das adhikari

Although at times it seems to have no reasons to fall into a crevasse, we can witness that the gap is real for whom can perceive it. The same goes for the ecstatic experience which is usually ignored to the majority of people, but for the great personalities who has realized themselves, it may become a permanent reality, which in a single brush erases all the world attachments together with the taste for the sense gratification. One doesn't reach that experience by mere comprehension or due to the limited human efforts; it thus manifests thanks to the divine mercy and it is the divine mercy that helps us to get out of the crevasse: combined to our our personal effort, it brings clearness within us and start  to make the river of life flow again. In this way our happiness will also start to flow again freely, with no more obstacles of the past choices.   We cannot live lofty experiences at present if in the past we failed to recognize the existence of the crevasse with its characteristics, consciously choosing the way that takes us to the enlightened Hill, to the highest Sky, just like Virgilio explains  to Dante at the beginning of the Divine Commedy and like Krishna  says to Arjuna oppressed by a deep existential crisis at the beginning of the Bhagavad-gita. One does not fall into the crevasse at once, nor he reaches the peak in an instance. Such high ascent is the result of a constant work turned to avoid and correct the mistakes promptly, to coordinate all the efforts with the purpose to evolve and animated by the honest desire of spiritual self-realization.
Enviousness,  jealousy, lust, greed, anger, craving for fame – these are all the ropes that make one drift down the crevasse. On the other hand, mercy, compassion, humility, patience, forgiveness help to ascend. Those spiritual qualities, typical of authentic brahmanas, are the most elevated qualities to develop;  that is why the brahmanas who coherently practice and live them should not be submitted to power because these qualities represent the highest target. In Bhagavad-gita XVIII. 42 Krishna describes the main qualities from which many others originate; those who wish to reach the highest peaks of consciousness  do not have to learn them just by heart, but to catch the essence, how they are lived and taught.
Those qualities should become our nature, should enter each part of our being, in order to transfer ourselves gradually  from tamas to rajas, from rajas to sattva guna; only then we will avoid the risk of falling down the crevasse and our journey will be an evolution in progress towards the highest peaks of Bhakti, empowered with faithful and devoted love for Krishna. The practice of Bhakti is the most powerful instrument of evolution that allows us to develop the qualities described before and, in its greatest expansion, it is the highest  spiritual peak to reach. In the journey towards supreme Bhakti, authentic love and happiness increase step by step.

Learning To Bounce Back
→ The Yoga of Ecology


Click here to read the full article from Andrew Zolli at The New York Times

“None of these is a permanent solution, and none roots out the underlying problems they address. But each helps a vulnerable community contend with the shocks that, especially at the margins of a society, can be devastating. In lieu of master plans, these approaches offer diverse tools and platforms that enable greater self-reliance, cooperation and creativity before, during and after a crisis.

As wise as this all may sound, a shift from sustainability to resilience leaves many old-school environmentalists and social activists feeling uneasy, as it smacks of adaptation, a word that is still taboo in many quarters. If we adapt to unwanted change, the reasoning goes, we give a pass to those responsible for putting us in this mess in the first place, and we lose the moral authority to pressure them to stop. Better, they argue, to mitigate the risk at the source.”

Learning To Bounce Back
→ The Yoga of Ecology


Click here to read the full article from Andrew Zolli at The New York Times

“None of these is a permanent solution, and none roots out the underlying problems they address. But each helps a vulnerable community contend with the shocks that, especially at the margins of a society, can be devastating. In lieu of master plans, these approaches offer diverse tools and platforms that enable greater self-reliance, cooperation and creativity before, during and after a crisis.

As wise as this all may sound, a shift from sustainability to resilience leaves many old-school environmentalists and social activists feeling uneasy, as it smacks of adaptation, a word that is still taboo in many quarters. If we adapt to unwanted change, the reasoning goes, we give a pass to those responsible for putting us in this mess in the first place, and we lose the moral authority to pressure them to stop. Better, they argue, to mitigate the risk at the source.”

The Politics of "Climate Science"
→ The Yoga of Ecology





"As has been noted relentlessly this week, Monday evening's third and final presidential debate marked the first time since the 1980s that American presidential or vice presidential contenders were neither asked about, nor inclined to offer up on their own, opinions on climate change and what ought to be done about it.


For environmentalists -- and many ordinary Americans -- it seemed a rather discouraging milestone, particularly as a gargantuan super-storm -- of the sort that virtually all climate scientists have been warning for years would increase in frequency as the planet warmed -- threatens to slam headlong into the East Coast in a couple days' time. "Hurricane Sandy," wrote Daniel Honan at BigThink.com, "Mother Nature's revenge on the 2012 election?"

Phil Radford, the executive director of Greenpeace USA, suggested the absence of high level discussion of climate change at the debates was inexcusable. "I just think it's irresponsible for our leaders to not address one of the biggest challenges facing our generation," he said in a phone call on Friday. "It's one of the biggest security threats we have -- it's a threat to agriculture, it threatens our economy. And to simply not talk about it is one of the biggest failures of our leadership."

The Politics of "Climate Science"
→ The Yoga of Ecology





"As has been noted relentlessly this week, Monday evening's third and final presidential debate marked the first time since the 1980s that American presidential or vice presidential contenders were neither asked about, nor inclined to offer up on their own, opinions on climate change and what ought to be done about it.


For environmentalists -- and many ordinary Americans -- it seemed a rather discouraging milestone, particularly as a gargantuan super-storm -- of the sort that virtually all climate scientists have been warning for years would increase in frequency as the planet warmed -- threatens to slam headlong into the East Coast in a couple days' time. "Hurricane Sandy," wrote Daniel Honan at BigThink.com, "Mother Nature's revenge on the 2012 election?"

Phil Radford, the executive director of Greenpeace USA, suggested the absence of high level discussion of climate change at the debates was inexcusable. "I just think it's irresponsible for our leaders to not address one of the biggest challenges facing our generation," he said in a phone call on Friday. "It's one of the biggest security threats we have -- it's a threat to agriculture, it threatens our economy. And to simply not talk about it is one of the biggest failures of our leadership."

Chasing Red Herrings
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


Last installment of Getting By In The Kaliyuga

Balancing the budget is a red herring. Politicians make it sound like it’s the most important thing in the world, but at this point and time, it’s not. Five years ago the economy  took a nose dive. When Bush left office, we were in  a free fall. First, you have to stabilize the economy.  When that’s done then you can think about balancing the budget. This takes years to unravel. Romney even said recently that, if he gets elected, he needs eight to ten years to turn things around (but blames Obama for not getting things done in four years).

What happened to the budget to begin with? What happened to the jobs?  Who made out big time when the economy went down? Did you? Is the debt your fault?   Should you and your children be penalized for the debt?  Follow the money trail. Look the events of the last thirty years. The people that are responsible for all this don’t want us to look at the past. And did you ever see those Senate hearings   where the senators are all indignant and huffing and puffing, and the Wall Street guys are cowering at the table in front of the bench. People swallow this stuff up.  But it’s a charade because nothing ever comes of it. Nothing ever changes.

If the bankers make a profit, they get to keep it for themselves and in turn keep the politicians who helped them in office. And if the bankers screw up then  they get the politicians to convince us that we   all need help clean up the mess they created.  This is capitalism and socialism at its finest.

Prabhupada explains in Light of the Bhagavat (in the purport of text 44) that politicians "want to flourish in the guise of servants of the people...(that they) want to exploit the administrative power for their own self-interest...although professing democracy, they want to be kings.... they compete for votes by bad propaganda."  This sums up the mentality and modus operandi  of many politicians. Nowadays politicians and bankers throw out so many misleading “facts” and “figures” to confuse people. They even hire so-called “research firms” to come up with the conclusions they want you to see. Someone said that you’re entitled to you own opinions but your not entitled to your own facts.  So the problem is if you don’t (or can’t because of the misleading information) study and learn from past mistakes then you’re  condemned to repeat them. You might remember Laural and Hardy – “Here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.”  They never learn.

Of course, we have to learn how to maneuver through this material world, which often seems like a battlefield.  Sometimes, the battle is raging around us, and sometimes even within us. We have to try our best to do the right thing, without attachment to results, and in his books  Srila Prabhupada has provided an excellent basis, both materially and spiritually.  He has shown us that ultimately real happiness  is not about cultivation of mundane facts and figures. It’s not about who’s in the White House.  It’s not about attaining  satisfaction through the temporary connection we have to this body of ours.   It is about understanding our  own eternal nature as spirit souls and our loving relationship with the Supreme Soul of souls, the Lord Within The Heart.  It’s understanding the journey we're on in this life,  a journey of self discovery. Be true to yourself. Stay focused on the real goal. Don’t go chasing after red herrings.


"One who has renounced the fruits of his actions, whose doubts are destroyed by transcendental knowledge, and who is situated firmly in the self, is not bound by works, O conqueror of riches."  Bhagavad Gita 4:41

Chasing Red Herrings
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das


Last installment of Getting By In The Kaliyuga

Balancing the budget is a red herring. Politicians make it sound like it’s the most important thing in the world, but at this point and time, it’s not. Five years ago the economy  took a nose dive. When Bush left office, we were in  a free fall. First, you have to stabilize the economy.  When that’s done then you can think about balancing the budget. This takes years to unravel. Romney even said recently that, if he gets elected, he needs eight to ten years to turn things around (but blames Obama for not getting things done in four years).

What happened to the budget to begin with? What happened to the jobs?  Who made out big time when the economy went down? Did you? Is the debt your fault?   Should you and your children be penalized for the debt?  Follow the money trail. Look the events of the last thirty years. The people that are responsible for all this don’t want us to look at the past. And did you ever see those Senate hearings   where the senators are all indignant and huffing and puffing, and the Wall Street guys are cowering at the table in front of the bench. People swallow this stuff up.  But it’s a charade because nothing ever comes of it. Nothing ever changes.

If the bankers make a profit, they get to keep it for themselves and in turn keep the politicians who helped them in office. And if the bankers screw up then  they get the politicians to convince us that we   all need help clean up the mess they created.  This is capitalism and socialism at its finest.

Prabhupada explains in Light of the Bhagavat (in the purport of text 44) that politicians "want to flourish in the guise of servants of the people...(that they) want to exploit the administrative power for their own self-interest...although professing democracy, they want to be kings.... they compete for votes by bad propaganda."  This sums up the mentality and modus operandi  of many politicians. Nowadays politicians and bankers throw out so many misleading “facts” and “figures” to confuse people. They even hire so-called “research firms” to come up with the conclusions they want you to see. Someone said that you’re entitled to you own opinions but your not entitled to your own facts.  So the problem is if you don’t (or can’t because of the misleading information) study and learn from past mistakes then you’re  condemned to repeat them. You might remember Laural and Hardy – “Here’s another fine mess you’ve gotten me into.”  They never learn.

Of course, we have to learn how to maneuver through this material world, which often seems like a battlefield.  Sometimes, the battle is raging around us, and sometimes even within us. We have to try our best to do the right thing, without attachment to results, and in his books  Srila Prabhupada has provided an excellent basis, both materially and spiritually.  He has shown us that ultimately real happiness  is not about cultivation of mundane facts and figures. It’s not about who’s in the White House.  It’s not about attaining  satisfaction through the temporary connection we have to this body of ours.   It is about understanding our  own eternal nature as spirit souls and our loving relationship with the Supreme Soul of souls, the Lord Within The Heart.  It’s understanding the journey we're on in this life,  a journey of self discovery. Be true to yourself. Stay focused on the real goal. Don’t go chasing after red herrings.


"One who has renounced the fruits of his actions, whose doubts are destroyed by transcendental knowledge, and who is situated firmly in the self, is not bound by works, O conqueror of riches."  Bhagavad Gita 4:41

Save Europe’s Disappearing Cows, Say Campaigners
→ The Yoga of Ecology

Click here to read the full article from Sami Grover at TreeHugger



"Those who would build mega-dairies in Britain may not believe that cows belong in fields, but the majority of the public does. Yet while there's been some success by campaigners fighting specific intensive cattle farms, there does seem to be a steady creep toward larger, more intensive, and indoor-only cattle rearing operations in Europe.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is about to fight back.

Citing the statistic that 67% of all cows in Denmark never feel the sun or chew a blade of grass, the WSPA is launching a new campaign to save Europe's disappearing cows and keep them out in the open where they belong."



Save Europe’s Disappearing Cows, Say Campaigners
→ The Yoga of Ecology

Click here to read the full article from Sami Grover at TreeHugger



"Those who would build mega-dairies in Britain may not believe that cows belong in fields, but the majority of the public does. Yet while there's been some success by campaigners fighting specific intensive cattle farms, there does seem to be a steady creep toward larger, more intensive, and indoor-only cattle rearing operations in Europe.
The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is about to fight back.

Citing the statistic that 67% of all cows in Denmark never feel the sun or chew a blade of grass, the WSPA is launching a new campaign to save Europe's disappearing cows and keep them out in the open where they belong."



Indus Valley 2,000 years older than thought
→ Vedicarcheologicaldiscoveries's Weblog

Indus Valley 2,000 years older than thought

Nivedita Khandekar ,
Hindustan Times
New Delhi, November 04, 2012

The beginning of India’s history has been pushed back by more than 2,000 years, making it older than that
of Egypt and Babylon. Latest research has put the date of the origin of the Indus Valley Civilisation at 6,000 years before Christ, which contests the current theory that the settlements around the Indus began around 3750
BC.

Ever since the excavations at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro in the early 1920s, the civilisation was considered almost as old as those of Egypt and Mesopotamia.

The finding was announced at the “International Conference on Harappan Archaeology”, recently organised by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Chandigarh.

Based on their research, BR Mani, ASI joint director general, and KN Dikshit, former ASI joint director general, said in a presentation: “The preliminary results of the data from early sites of the Indo-Pak subcontinent suggest that the Indian civilisation emerged in the 8th millennium BC in the Ghaggar-Hakra and Baluchistan area.”

“On the basis of radio-metric dates from Bhirrana (Haryana), the cultural remains of the pre-early Harappan horizon go back to 7380 BC to 6201 BC.”

Excavations had been carried out at two sites in Pakistan and Bhirrana, Kunal, Rakhigarhi and Baror in India.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Indus-Valley-2-000-years-older-than-thought/Article1-954601.aspx


Lecture – Radhastami – Giriraj Swami
→ Classes and Bhajans

Morning lecture given on Radhastami by Giriraj Swami on Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, Text 13.

Dallas, TX
2012-09-22

TEXT 9.13

mahatmanas tu mam partha
daivim prakritim asritah
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jnatva bhutadim avyayam

TRANSLATION

O son of Pritha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.

PURPORT

In this verse the description of the mahatma is clearly given. The first sign of the mahatma is that he is already situated in the divine nature. He is not under the control of material nature. And how is this effected? That is explained in the Seventh Chapter: one who surrenders unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna, at once becomes freed from the control of material nature. That is the qualification. One can become free from the control of material nature as soon as he surrenders his soul to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the preliminary formula. Being marginal potency, as soon as the living entity is freed from the control of material nature, he is put under the guidance of the spiritual nature. The guidance of the spiritual nature is called daivi prakriti, divine nature. So when one is promoted in that way -- by surrendering to the Supreme Personality of Godhead -- one attains to the stage of great soul, mahatma.

The mahatma does not divert his attention to anything outside Krishna, because he knows perfectly well that Krishna is the original Supreme Person, the cause of all causes. There is no doubt about it. Such a mahatma, or great soul, develops through association with other mahatmas, pure devotees. Pure devotees are not even attracted by Krishna's other features, such as the four-armed Maha-Vishnu. They are simply attracted by the two-armed form of Krishna. They are not attracted to other features of Krishna, nor are they concerned with any form of a demigod or of a human being. They meditate only upon Krishna in Krishna consciousness. They are always engaged in the unswerving service of the Lord in Krishna consciousness.


Download: 2012-09-22 - Radhastami - 1 - Giriraj Swami Lecture.mp3

Gift of Fearlessness
→ Seed of Devotion

I was trembling. My heart was pounding.

I squeezed my way through the train compartment, people shouting and moving in every square inch. The devotee from the temple who was helping me carry all of my luggage finally settled my stuff on my bunk, Number 15. Then with a smile he said, "Okay, Mataji, I go now,"

Don't go, please don't go, I pleaded in my mind, but I spoke the words, "Oh, okay, Haribol,"

The devotee waved, and then he disappeared into the mass of bodies. He was my last link with the world I knew. I just sat there on my bunk in shock. I looked around and I saw men - all men - looking at me. I was going to be on this 2nd class train for 36 hours from Mumbai to Kolkatta. Alone. I had no phone. No access to anyone. I was cut off from the world. Anything could happen.

My mind whirred - I could still get off the train. I had 16 minutes to change my mind - grab all my luggage and somehow find a phone and get back to the temple. This was madness.

Suddenly, the train flooded with loudly chattering village women. They filled the aisles until there was barely room to move. I sat there utterly stunned. These women were joking. No way could they be riding with us.

But they were. When the train began to move, the women settled to the floor where they would be sleeping the night. I looked on in shocked disbelief.

I slept with my passport tucked into my shirt that night, murmuring the Nrisimhadeva Prayers for protection.

***

By the next afternoon, I hadn't smiled or moved from my bunk in over 14 hours. I had adjusted to the intensity of the train ride by putting up energetic shields and retreating deep inside of myself.

Towards midday, I was reading a book about Srila Prabhupad. There was this little girl trying to squish into my bunk (along with two other women). I decided to soften up a bit and give the little girl some space to lean her back against my bunk wall.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I saw this old guy across the aisle gesturing to the popcorn he had just bought, this big creepy smile on his face, trying to get the little girl to take some. She was refusing silently. He would reach towards her, and she shrank away.

I looked up from my book, sized up the situation, and stared daggers at the man. He still smiled, trying to get the girl to eat his popcorn. I said with knives in my voice, "Leave."

He smiled at me as if I was being silly - this little girl knew him.

So I turned to the little girl, gesturing, "Do you know him?"

She shook her head.

I turned back to the man and said in a deadly tone, "Leave her alone." It was incredible. I experienced profound and lethal anger surge inside of me. I suddenly found myself willing to fight for this little girl, and I didn't even know her name.

The other young girl on my bunk giggled at my intensity. I wondered for a moment if maybe I was mistaken - maybe the little girl did know the man and I was overreacting.

But I didn't care. I was doing my duty, since obviously no one else was protecting the little girl.

The man lost his smile and never bothered the girl again. I kept looking over at him, checking in to make sure, almost as if to say, "Just you DARE, you lowlife," But he never dared again.

Some time later, the little girl asked where I was from and where I was going, and I understood enough to respond simply.

But then I ended up connecting with the little girl, her name was Seetal, and the other young girl on my bunk, Kajal. I decided to teach these girls the most valuable thing I knew, so I taught them the Hare Krishna maha mantra. They soaked it up like sponges.

They chanted the mahamantra a few times. I could see delight shining on their faces, like they had just been given a special and mystical gift.

I explained in my limited Hindi that this mantra is bliss for the soul. And in a very grave tone, I also mimed that this mantra would give protection. When in fear, something frightful, chant this mantra. I thought of the lowlife man across the aisle who still sat there, and that there might be many more men like him in these girls' futures. I wouldn't always be there to protect them, maybe no one would be there. But if they remembered this mantra, maybe Krishna would be there.

The two girls took my explanation gravely and said the mantra again. Little Seetal said to me in English, "Thank you,"

I replied with a warm smile, "You are welcome."

I almost feel like those two girls were the reason I didn't get off the train last night. I was experiencing such fear at the beginning of this journey, fear of being alone, fear of being exploited. Everything had been stripped away from me on this train.

In the process of teaching these girls the mahamantra, I got in touch with the fearlessness in my own heart.


P.S. The next time I travel by train in India alone, First Class only!
Subscribe

Gift of Fearlessness
→ Seed of Devotion

I was trembling. My heart was pounding.

I squeezed my way through the train compartment, people shouting and moving in every square inch. The devotee from the temple who was helping me carry all of my luggage finally settled my stuff on my bunk, Number 15. Then with a smile he said, "Okay, Mataji, I go now,"

Don't go, please don't go, I pleaded in my mind, but I spoke the words, "Oh, okay, Haribol,"

The devotee waved, and then he disappeared into the mass of bodies. He was my last link with the world I knew. I just sat there on my bunk in shock. I looked around and I saw men - all men - looking at me. I was going to be on this 2nd class train for 36 hours from Mumbai to Kolkatta. Alone. I had no phone. No access to anyone. I was cut off from the world. Anything could happen.

My mind whirred - I could still get off the train. I had 16 minutes to change my mind - grab all my luggage and somehow find a phone and get back to the temple. This was madness.

Suddenly, the train flooded with loudly chattering village women. They filled the aisles until there was barely room to move. I sat there utterly stunned. These women were joking. No way could they be riding with us.

But they were. When the train began to move, the women settled to the floor where they would be sleeping the night. I looked on in shocked disbelief.

I slept with my passport tucked into my shirt that night, murmuring the Nrisimhadeva Prayers for protection.

***

By the next afternoon, I hadn't smiled or moved from my bunk in over 14 hours. I had adjusted to the intensity of the train ride by putting up energetic shields and retreating deep inside of myself.

Towards midday, I was reading a book about Srila Prabhupad. There was this little girl trying to squish into my bunk (along with two other women). I decided to soften up a bit and give the little girl some space to lean her back against my bunk wall.

Suddenly out of the corner of my eye, I saw this old guy across the aisle gesturing to the popcorn he had just bought, this big creepy smile on his face, trying to get the little girl to take some. She was refusing silently. He would reach towards her, and she shrank away.

I looked up from my book, sized up the situation, and stared daggers at the man. He still smiled, trying to get the girl to eat his popcorn. I said with knives in my voice, "Leave."

He smiled at me as if I was being silly - this little girl knew him.

So I turned to the little girl, gesturing, "Do you know him?"

She shook her head.

I turned back to the man and said in a deadly tone, "Leave her alone." It was incredible. I experienced profound and lethal anger surge inside of me. I suddenly found myself willing to fight for this little girl, and I didn't even know her name.

The other young girl on my bunk giggled at my intensity. I wondered for a moment if maybe I was mistaken - maybe the little girl did know the man and I was overreacting.

But I didn't care. I was doing my duty, since obviously no one else was protecting the little girl.

The man lost his smile and never bothered the girl again. I kept looking over at him, checking in to make sure, almost as if to say, "Just you DARE, you lowlife," But he never dared again.

Some time later, the little girl asked where I was from and where I was going, and I understood enough to respond simply.

But then I ended up connecting with the little girl, her name was Seetal, and the other young girl on my bunk, Kajal. I decided to teach these girls the most valuable thing I knew, so I taught them the Hare Krishna maha mantra. They soaked it up like sponges.

They chanted the mahamantra a few times. I could see delight shining on their faces, like they had just been given a special and mystical gift.

I explained in my limited Hindi that this mantra is bliss for the soul. And in a very grave tone, I also mimed that this mantra would give protection. When in fear, something frightful, chant this mantra. I thought of the lowlife man across the aisle who still sat there, and that there might be many more men like him in these girls' futures. I wouldn't always be there to protect them, maybe no one would be there. But if they remembered this mantra, maybe Krishna would be there.

The two girls took my explanation gravely and said the mantra again. Little Seetal said to me in English, "Thank you,"

I replied with a warm smile, "You are welcome."

I almost feel like those two girls were the reason I didn't get off the train last night. I was experiencing such fear at the beginning of this journey, fear of being alone, fear of being exploited. Everything had been stripped away from me on this train.

In the process of teaching these girls the mahamantra, I got in touch with the fearlessness in my own heart.


P.S. The next time I travel by train in India alone, First Class only!
Subscribe

Phone a Friend
→ Tattva - See inside out

Life is full of complexity, and making decisions can be incredibly tough. To spice it up there are emotional attachments, the stress factor, expectations of others and our general indecision and dithering. We can easily get stuck. Thankfully, we always have the option of “phoning a friend” and getting some good advice. Receiving good advice is a treat, and offering it to others is an art. It’s something we all do, and it’s something that we can all improve on. A few wise words can go a long way. Here are some reflections on refining your advice:

Before you give any advice:
  • Hear them out – sometimes people just need to be heard. Maybe they’re not expecting you to have all the answers. Maybe they just want someone to lend an ear.
  • Ask good questions – try to understand their predicament by asking questions. This gives you a clearer picture, and can help the other person see the same.
  • Reflection - what experience and wisdom can you draw upon which is relevant to this situation? Be aware of any biases and self-interest you may have, and try to be as selfless and impartial as possible.

While formulating your advice:
  • Philosophical & Practical – strike a balance between philosophical advice (that will address the deeper issues) and practical advice (that can offer immediate relief and progression). Both are important.
  • Achievable & Challenging – offer advice that people can actually follow through (this gives them hope and creates faith in you). But also challenge them to grow - don’t just give easy advice that makes you popular and doesn’t disturb them.
  • Inspirational not Intimidating – generate inspiration by sharing the benefits of following the advice. Avoid using fear tactics that force people or snooker them. 
  • Time Sensitive - always consider whether it’s the right time to offer advice. Are they in the right frame of mind to hear it? Do you need to give some intermediate steps first? Maybe things will be rectified automatically in due course of time?
  • Empathise - try to put yourself in their shoes. Avoid giving advice that you yourself wouldn’t follow. This is a good test of the strength and feasibility of your advice.
  • Another Opinion – don’t be afraid to admit that you may need another opinion. Refer them to someone else.

When you give the advice: 
  • Good delivery – demonstrate that you have understood their situation and considered the different angles. Offer the advice and explain the reasoning.
  • Get feedback - ask how it sounds. Often the best advice is created in an iterative way. Their reactions can help you refine it together and make it even more meaningful.
  • Detachment – accept that the person may not take your advice. They are not obligated. Learn to live with it, and let the person live with his or her decision.
  • Do the follow-up – keep in touch with them and see how things go. Offer ongoing support.

Maybe you can recall the last piece of advice you gave to someone. Did it follow some of these principles?

Phone a Friend
→ Tattva - See inside out

Life is full of complexity, and making decisions can be incredibly tough. To spice it up there are emotional attachments, the stress factor, expectations of others and our general indecision and dithering. We can easily get stuck. Thankfully, we always have the option of “phoning a friend” and getting some good advice. Receiving good advice is a treat, and offering it to others is an art. It’s something we all do, and it’s something that we can all improve on. A few wise words can go a long way. Here are some reflections on refining your advice:

Before you give any advice:
  • Hear them out – sometimes people just need to be heard. Maybe they’re not expecting you to have all the answers. Maybe they just want someone to lend an ear.
  • Ask good questions – try to understand their predicament by asking questions. This gives you a clearer picture, and can help the other person see the same.
  • Reflection - what experience and wisdom can you draw upon which is relevant to this situation? Be aware of any biases and self-interest you may have, and try to be as selfless and impartial as possible.

While formulating your advice:
  • Philosophical & Practical – strike a balance between philosophical advice (that will address the deeper issues) and practical advice (that can offer immediate relief and progression). Both are important.
  • Achievable & Challenging – offer advice that people can actually follow through (this gives them hope and creates faith in you). But also challenge them to grow - don’t just give easy advice that makes you popular and doesn’t disturb them.
  • Inspirational not Intimidating – generate inspiration by sharing the benefits of following the advice. Avoid using fear tactics that force people or snooker them. 
  • Time Sensitive - always consider whether it’s the right time to offer advice. Are they in the right frame of mind to hear it? Do you need to give some intermediate steps first? Maybe things will be rectified automatically in due course of time?
  • Empathise - try to put yourself in their shoes. Avoid giving advice that you yourself wouldn’t follow. This is a good test of the strength and feasibility of your advice.
  • Another Opinion – don’t be afraid to admit that you may need another opinion. Refer them to someone else.

When you give the advice: 
  • Good delivery – demonstrate that you have understood their situation and considered the different angles. Offer the advice and explain the reasoning.
  • Get feedback - ask how it sounds. Often the best advice is created in an iterative way. Their reactions can help you refine it together and make it even more meaningful.
  • Detachment – accept that the person may not take your advice. They are not obligated. Learn to live with it, and let the person live with his or her decision.
  • Do the follow-up – keep in touch with them and see how things go. Offer ongoing support.

Maybe you can recall the last piece of advice you gave to someone. Did it follow some of these principles?

Travel Journal#8.17: Kirtana in Germany and Eastern Europe
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk


Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 8, No. 17
By Krishna-kripa das
(September 2012, part one)
Wroclaw and Leipzig Ratha-yatras, Kirtana-Mela, Kirtan in Eastern Europe
(Sent from London, England, on November 2, 2012)

Where I Went and What I Did

After traveling with Janananda Goswami in Slovakia and Czech Republic, Dhruva, Trevor, Vamana, and I went to Poland for the Wroclaw (pronounced Vrotswav) Ratha-yatra and then onward to Germany for Kirtana-Mela, which culminated in a wonderful Leipzig Ratha-yatra. The next day Trevor and I joined the Nitai Gauranga harinama bus tour led by temple president Ananda Vardhana Prabhu of Talinn, Estonia, and returned to Wroclaw with them for an ecstatic harinama there with over twenty devotees. Trevor and I did harinama in Wroclaw two more days, and then went to Bydgoszcz (pronounced Bidgoshch) for harinama and an Ekadasi evening kirtana program. Then Trevor and I traveled south and participated in evening kirtana programs arranged by Punya Palaka Prabhu in Trutnov and Prague, Czech Republic, and held at restaurants Baladeva and Gauranga, respectively. Next we went to Modra, Slovakia, where Parmesvara and Gopali Prabhus have a very successful nama-hatta program at their home, and we had a lot of nice kirtana, and more people asked more questions than usual after the lecture. Then Trevor and I traveled by an overnight bus and then an overnight train to Crimea for Bhakti Sangama, popularly known as the Ukraine festival.

Highlights in the “Insights” section include some quotes from a Srila Prabhupada lecture and purport and some great appreciations of the chanting of the holy name by the senior devotees who came to Kirtana-Mela, such as Bhaktivaibhava Swami, Lokanatha Swami, Sacinandana Swami, Krishna Ksetra Prabhu, Kadamba Kanana Swami.


Itinerary

London - Nov. 2–3
New York State - Nov. 4 – 14
Jacksonville, Florida: Nov. 15
Gainesville, Florida: Nov. 16, 2012–April 2013

Wroclaw Ratha-yatra

Of the three Wroclaw Ratha-yatras I have been on, this was one of the best. We went around the Rynek Square four times, more than some years, and the sound system was better. One year Trivikrama Swami had been there, and his enthusiasm in kirtana, would have certainly added some extra life, complementing the beautiful bhajanas and more mellow kirtana of Krishna Ksetra Prabhu, who played wonderfully on the stage in the show afterward, which was watched by a good crowd. There were not an unlimited number of invitations to the stage show afterward, but it was nearby, and there were flyers for those who showed obvious interest. Seeing I had flyers in my hand, some people even approached me asking for them, revealing their enthusiasm for the devotional event.

Kirtana-Mela in Germany

Kirtana-Mela in Germany was attended by fewer people than last year, but the people I talked to were all glad that they came. The fact that the fee was higher and its payment more enforced may be one reason why.

As a brahmacari I got a discount in exchange for doing a service which was to amount to four hours a day, but turned out to be less. I cut vegetables in the kitchen after lunch as usually my favorite kirana singers were in the morning or the evening. The second day we decided to have our own kirtana while chopping vegetables, and we went on for three hours, with different devotees taking turns leading. It felt good as we were there for kirtana and we were doing kirtana but at the same time were we serving the devotees who love kirtana by helping prepare their meals, and so we felt we got a special benediction.

Advaita Gauranga Prabhu, a Jayapataka Swami disciple from Ukraine who has lived in Germany a number of years, was inspired to organize a couple of harinamas, and other devotees inspired by those, organized one of their own the following day. The first was in Limbach, the town where the Kirtana-Mela was held.


The second harinama, the one in Chemnitz was attended by thirty-two devotees.



Several people took videos of us, and we passed out invitations to the upcoming Leipzig Ratha-yatra and biweekly Leipzig Sunday feast to the interested people.

There was also a harinama for the children around the compound where the Kirtana-Mela was held. The harinama was just after a drama about Lord Caitanya inspiring the animals in Jharikhanda Forest to chant and dance, and so many of the children were still wearing their animal costumes, so it was an especially wild sight! Several children took turns leading, including one girl who was dressed as Lord Caitanya, and it was beautiful to see. The following video shows just one of the child singers chanting in the parking lot, but before and after, the harinama visited other parts of the camp.


At Kirtana-Mela, B. B. Govinda Swami was beautiful to hear:


Lokanath Swami was full of transcendental life-giving energy, and he got a lot of people dancing. Candramauli and Janananda Maharajas’ excelled in the dancing department, inspiring others. Yadubara Prabhu chanted one of my favorite tunes in a beautiful way. Kadamba Kanana Swami led during the same time as we went out on the harinamas, and I felt bad to miss so many of his kirtanas, as he always seems to give it all he has in the way of enthusiasm. Madhava Prabhu’s singing reminded me of our trip on the Mexico bus tour where we got to hear him sing live practically every evening for three weeks. It is always a tease that now our encounters with him are just a few days here or there, never like the three-week stretch on the Mexican bus tour. Shyamananda Prabhu from Ireland put in more hours than all the male dancers and really excelled in that area. We feel gratitude toward all the kirtana leaders and responders who shared their enthusiasm for the holy name and to those great souls who helped organize the event.

Although we left early to take advantage of a ride to Leipzig with temple president, Sadbhuja Prabhu, we heard that Sacinandana Swami said at the morning class that that would be the last Kirtana-Mela there in Germany. Apparently not all of the organizers had known of his decision and many were upset as the festival was very successful from the point of view of the participants and the organizers had enjoyed the sacrifice to make it possible for all. We also appreciate all the work done by the largely Russian group of devotees who took a lot of trouble to give hundreds of people a chance to hear and chant the holy name for hours a day together and increase their inspiration in Krishna consciousness, and we hope that by the enthusiasm of the devotees it will continue in the future.

Leipzig Ratha-yatra



I have been to Leipzig Ratha-yatra three times and this year was clearly the best. As last year, it was right after the Kirtana-Mela so all the leaders and most of the responders were filled with enthusiasm from that event. 



It reminded us of how Lord Caitanya and His associates did their year of nocturnal kirtanas at Srivasa Thakura’s house, and then brought their enthusiasm to the streets of Navadvipa in massive sankirtana. Leipzig has a small downtown, and it is easy to reach many people in that concentrated place. 



I think of the many Ratha-yatras I have attended, Leipzig excels in the promotion department with three sizes of promotional literature describing the Ratha-yatra, the stage show after, the local temple programs, and the history of the event. Often people who see our Ratha-yatras are not invited to the stage show after nor the local temple programs and that is a great loss from the promotional point of view. Also an amazing large number of devotees volunteered to distribute the literature. The devotees also passed out fruit, cookies, and sweet balls, as the prasadam of Lord Jagannatha, and book distribution went on as well. There was always a crowd of people viewing the stage show which continued till almost 8:00 p.m. in the evening. The public feast was wonderful, with a curd and vegetable preparation and all the srikhand you could eat! Many, many thanks to Sadbhuja Prabhu and his team for putting on a wonderful Ratha-yatra event. Thanks to Vishnujana Prabhu (alias Harinama Ruci) for the pictures. More can be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.420275604702047.101837.100001588327802&type=3

A Day with the Nitai Gauranga Harinama Bus Party

Devotees, numbering about eighteen, from various countries, especially the Baltics, headed by Ananda Vardhana Prabhu of Tallinn, Estonia, have a six-month long traveling harinama bus program in the summer visiting different cities in Europe. Bhakta Trevor and I had the pleasure of traveling with them to Wroclaw after the Leipzig Ratha-yatra, and chanting with them there for three hours. Having an additional eighteen devotees to do harinama with for a day was a great blessing. There are many good singers, instrumentalists, and dancers in the party. We chanted in the Rynek Square where just one week before we had the Wroclaw Ratha-yatra, and it was great to be giving the people there another chance to connect with Krisna through kirtana. Several devotees distribute books and CDs simultaneously to spread the mercy and to maintain the program. Devotees in Wroclaw have open programs periodically at a venue other than the temple to attract new people, and we distributed many invitations to the upcoming one.

Other Harinamas in Wroclaw

Trevor and I did a couple days of three hours of harinama in Wroclaw afterward, the first day joined by Balarama Prabhu, who does programs in his hometown of Opole. You can see people are attracted by the chanting, even from a small party. The second day, we sang for an hour each, before, after, and during a semi-weekly prasadam distribution program, near popular Rynek Square. Many of the regular prasadam eaters were happy with the live kirtana. (Usually there is a tape playing.) One lady we met earlier on harinama, joined us again to listen, to take prasadam, to buy incense, and to give me the ultimate small donation, one grosze ($0.003). An enthusiastic personality in the prasadam program is a young lady named Vishnu Patni Dasi, from Pogorzelica, a coastal town in the north, who met Indradyumna Swami’s festival tour when she was sixteen. Now thirteen years later, she is initiated and assists greatly with the deity worship and prasadam distribution in our Wroclaw temple. I have seen her come many years on the tour festivals, and it is wonderful to witness the development of her enthusiasm for spiritual life.

Harinama and Program in Bydgoszcz, Poland


Several years ago Parananda Prabhu, nama-hatta leader in Bydgoszcz, invited me to harinama in his town. I thought if I went there alone, the two of us would not make much of a party, but this year as Trevor was traveling with me, I decided to go there as we could have a better harinama. 



We found a lot of people smiled, moved with the music, and seemed to appreciate the kirtana. One man who had an administrative role in one section of the city said he would like us to perform there sometime.



We had a program with a few devotees, a talk, and a very lively kirtana, with a lot of dancing, and some fine Ekadasi prasadam.

I was happy that with the cooperation of Parananda Prabhu and Bhakta Trevor, I got to do harinama in yet another city. Thanks to Krsna Karsani dd, wife of Parananda Prabhu, for the photos. More can be found at on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3584014324124.2131554.1386218307&type=3

Trutnov Evening Kirtana

Punya Palaka Prabhu, who organizes our Krishna camp at Trutnov Open Air Music Festival (the Czech Woodstock) arranged evening kirtanas in Trutnov and Prague.

It was an adventure getting to Trutnov as I was depending on a bus to cross the Polish-Czech border which never came. Turns out it only ran on Fridays, and it was Thursday. We walked about 4 km to the first Czech town but found the last bus for the day had already left. While Trevor was doing his voice lessons, and I was trying to get a ride, a couple stopped and offered to give us a ride to the next town to catch the bus. The guy knew a little English, and I knew a little Polish, and we managed to converse. They were impressed I knew as much Polish as I did, which is very slight. The lady was from Poland and the guy from Czech. She spoke Polish, and he spoke a combination of the two languages from living near the border. From my attempted conversation, they decided that they liked us and drove us the whole 16 km to Trutnov, and we were very grateful.

The kirtana was at the devotee restaurant there called Baladeva. We were happy to get some prasadam after our long journey.

Martin, the organizer of the Trutnov festival, and his kids came for the kirtana. He has a fascination for Lord Jagannatha’s smiling face which appears on all the promotional material for the festival. Martin’s kids amazed me because all though they could not have been more than four or five years old, they played some shakers in time with the music for over half an hour. Trevor did a good job leading some kirtana. A few other people came, and they all had a good time.

Prague Evening Kirtana

We went on the usual Friday harinama in Prague, and then did a kirtana program at the not-yet-opened-at-that-time restaurant known as Gauranga. There are so many Hare Krishna restaurants in Prague now, I lost count of them. The husband and wife running this new Gauranga restaurant were very hospitable. While traveling there from Govindas, we met a couple who had some interest in Hare Krishna, and they came along with us and stayed for the entire three and a half hour kirtana. The man was familiar with Hare Krishna, yet it was new for the woman, and you could see she really liked it, and I was happy that by the will of Providence, she got that opportunity.

Parmesvara and Gopali’s Program in Modra

Parmesvara and Gopali are very friendly and enthusiastic disciples of Kadamba Kanana Swami, and they have fifteen or twenty Krishna programs each year at their house in Modra, a suburb of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, under an hour from the Czech border.

I went there three and four years old, but was too busy the last two years, so I was happy to go again. Some of my friends from Czech Republic and Slovakia that I knew from the Polish Woodstock, the Czech Woodstock, and from Mayapur were there. There must have been about twenty people for the program which was an hour of kirtana and an hour of class. Valmiki Prabhu, who does kirtana at the Czech Woodstock, and Trevor chanted nicely, and then I spoke. I was pleased that several people asked nice questions. The prasadam was very nice and kept us going on the overnight bus ride to the Lvov, where we were to catch a train to Crimea for the Ukraine festival. There was a little time for an additional kirtana before we left on our trip, and I took advantage of that. Paramesvara Prabhu kindly asked his congregation to donate for my Ukraine trip as well as helping out himself, and I offer thanks to all the people who helped out in that way.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

from a recorded lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam.

It is the duty of the father to instruct his the sons in the matter of the aim of life. Human life is meant for tapasya (austerity), not to imitate the hogs and dogs. People do not want to hear this, but because we are servants of Krishna we must instruct them anyway.

By our association with different modes of nature we are producing our next body.

The first instruction in Bhagavad-gta is “you are eternal.” Hearing this the intelligent person asks, “Why am I dying?”

Mukti means attaining your original form.

Although there are many processes for self-realization mentioned in Bhagavat-gita, Krishna recommends if you want to know Him, you should execute bhakti.

Any child can do it. If a child sees the form of Krishna in the temple, he can remember that form. Then one can do a little offering. A little flower, fruit, water.

To miss this opportunity to attain your original form by the simple practice of bhakti is suicidal.

If you accept something as prasadam, the mercy of the Lord, then there is no reaction, but if you accept something for your own enjoyment, you become entangled.

Ashram, whether brahmacari, grhastha, or sannyasa, means consciousness of Krishna is there.

You are kicked by the material nature, and you are master? Why are you so falsely proud?

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 8.78:

“To engage in the service of the Lord is the natural function of the living entity, but because he is covered by the influence of maya, the material energy, he thinks it to be a very difficult task. But if he places himself under the guidance of a spiritual master and does everything sincerely, immediately the Lord, who is situated within everyone’s heart, dictates how to serve Him (dadami buddhi-yogam tam). The Lord gives this direction, and thus the devotee’s life becomes perfect.”

Bhakivaibhava Swami:

Sometimes hearing is stressed and sometimes chanting is stressed. Why both? Because they both go together.

When Srila Prabhupada heard George Harrison and John Lennon liked to chant Hare Krishna, he invited them to lead the Ratha-yatra procession in London. Unfortunately that did not happen.

In the early days, we chanted minimum six or eight hours a day. We literally witnessed miracles right on the street.

One time a very rough looking person came toward the party, and I worried what would happen. Then he slipped and fell on his head, and walked away.

Once one devotee was speaking and stressing preaching, the brhad-mrdanga. Srila Prabhupada said, “If you do not know how to play the small mrdanga, how will you play the big mrdanga.” In other words if we are not attracted to Hare Krishna, how will we inspire others.

Association with devotees leads to attraction to chanting the holy name, and so it can be conceived of as most important. The Bhagavatam declares glories of the holy name. The dhama is constantly vibrating the holy name of the Lord. The mantras used in deity worship are filled with Krishna’s names. Also Jiva Goswami and Hari-bhakta-vilasa say deity worship should be accompanied by the chanting of the holy name.

There is no other religious practice as pure as the chanting of the holy name.

Four Vishnudutas came because Ajamila chanted the four syllables of Narayana. They opposed the three Yamaduta who came because Ajamila commited sins with body, mind, and words.

Although one may commit offenses, the solution is never to stop chanting. One must submit to the holy name, ask for forgiveness, and continue chanting.

Srila Prabhupada says our mauna vrata (vow of silence) is not to speak until we finish chanting our 16 rounds each day.

Lokanath Swami:

We are chanting the same mantra that made Lord Caitanya mad, and our goal is also to become mad with love for God.

Our madness in this world is a perverted reflection of the madness of the spiritual world.

Lord Caitanya had a night club, where they chanted and danced all night [Srivasa Angam]. You can say that Kirtana-Mela started at Srivasa Angam.

Wherever there is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there is Kirtana-Mela. Those who come in contact with Him immediately begin chanting and dancing.

This Hare Krishna mantra is a Radha Krishna mantra, so if you chant it your ultimate destination will be Vrndavana.

The Lord has come to stop our endeavors for bhukti, mukti, and siddhi?sense enjoyment, liberation, and mystic power.

Lord Caitanya has talked less and chanted more.

Lord Caitanya even made the animals mad with love of God. The deer and tigers were embracing and kissing.

If you want to become fearless, chant Hare Krishna (etan nirvidyamanamam . . . ).

We are in the Krishna sun, and we are in the present?no past, no future.

There was left over nectar from the Kumbha-mela pot, and the people possessing it proposed to Sukadeva Goswami that he give some to Maharaja Pariksit in exchange for Krishna-katha. Sukadeva Goswami’s response was in effect, “Get lost.” Why? Because they committed a big offense comparing narrations of Krishna to fruitive activities.

Sacinandana Swami:

Bring your attention, your everything to the first name, the first “Hare.” If you pay attention to the first “Hare,” by the grace of Radharani, you will see that you can easily pay attention to the entire mantra. It will be as effortless as swimming downstream with the current of Mother Ganges. We have to start somewhere, so start with the first “Hare.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

from his autobiography:

[Returning from a UN prayer meeting,] Swamiji said, “They will never have peace unless they chant and give up their sinful activities.”

from ISKCON in the 1970s:

In India, ISKCON published a book listing the names of every Indian scholar who supported us and his address. It was suggested that we do the same thing in America for the Americans. I suggested that this might be dangerous in America because our enemies had already taken the names of whatever professors we have published and written to them. They have slandered and blasphemed our movement to try to turn them away from us, and it hasn’t been good. When Prabhupada heard that, he immediately agreed that it would not be a good idea to publish a book like that in America. He said, ‘It will damage us by counter-propaganda. Yes, Canakya Pandita says don’t disclose your secrets, the enemy will take advantage.’ I asked Prabhupada, ‘But what about the injunction that a devotee should treat his enemy so openly that he should be willing to reveal everything to him?’ Prabhupada said that the days are different now in Kali-yuga. If the other party are cheaters, I shall cheat; otherwise they will take advantage.

He asked how much fifty books cost. He was told $250. ‘Is that much for an American? Make a policy and organization, whereby you introduce the books in every home?a full set in every home. Everyone can afford $250. The GBC should make such a plan. Print the full sets in every language. You have to use your intelligence. You have to find out how to remove $250 from their pockets and give them fifty books. They won’t be cheated. They will gain greater value for their lives. Don’t think your business is finished. There’s much work ahead. This is the water of the seed which has already taken root. Distribute more and more books and go on opening more centers. People should hear about us. In this way you have to protect the seed that is already planted there.’

“I told him the leaders were not enthusiastic about this outpost in Bhuvanesvara. He said, ‘Why not? This is the capital of Orissa. People are coming here. We have to have centers in every town, and even if it is not a big center, some have to work and stay here. Even if the people are coming every night only to eat kichari, that is also preaching.’
“Then he said that, ‘Our program for everywhere is kirtana and prasadam distribution. We distribute books and the collection is to support these things, kirtana and prasadam distribution.’ I mentioned that in America over the years, the devotees are not seen in the streets shaven-headed holding kirtana. He said, ‘It is not necessary to stress chanting in the streets. Distribute books and invite them to come for the love feast. They will see us by coming to the temple and joining in the kirtana.’”

Krishna Ksetra Prabhu:

Kirtana comes from kirti which means “fame” and implies that it should be spread.

Hobbs says, “Memory is the fading of experience.”

I see memories as being like cooking and the flavors are coming out.

Jiva Goswami says to make arcana (deity worship) complete we should have kirtana (chanting of the glories of God) before, after, and during the worship.

Narada Muni says the best way to see the Lord is to hear the Lord and to chant His name.

Vandanam (offering prayers) is part of arcanam (deity worship).

With gratitude we are acknowledging we are receptacles for the Lord’s mercy, and thus we become eligible to receive more mercy.

Srila Prabhupada indicated that we have one prayer, “O Lord, O energy of Lord, please engage us in eternal loving devotional service.”

The Hare Krishna mantra is in the vocative, calling out to Krishna. And when you call out, you hope to get a response. Not that you are so inattentive, you do not notice if there is any response or not.

Coming to Kirtana Mela, we get a sense that, “We have arrived. This is what it is all about.”

Q: How to recognize Krishna’s response?
A: By hearing the response of the kirtana of devotees we are hearing Krishna response to our chanting. By seeing how Krishna acts in our life is another way.

Kadamba Kanana Swami:

Generally we pray to the Lord to free ourselves from anxiety, but here Haridasa Thakura is desiring that the Lord be free from anxiety.

Those living entities who can’t chant, like the trees, are purified by the chanting of others.

For the materialists in their festivals there is just the pleasure of the moment, but for the devotees, there is the pleasure of the moment plus the eternal spiritual benefit. For us the benefit does not end when the kirtana (chanting) ends.

When Radha discovers a quality of Krishna, Her love embraces it. This continues more and more.

Most of the things I was asked to do as a devotee, I did not want to do, but I did them because it looked bad to say no. And people would say you have done so wonderfully, but I was just doing it because I was told to.

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita it is said Lord Jagannatha is the most merciful deity.

If your ticket is booked to leave before the Ratha-yatra [at the end of the Kirtana-Mela], it is a useless ticket. Throw it away.

Externally Srivasa Thakura was a party animal until an astrologer told him he had one year to live and he was wasting his life. Then he engaged in the devotional service day and night. One night he was hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam and felt he difficulty breathing so he went to a balcony and in his weakened condition he fell off the balcony. He was caught by an unknown person who disappeared in the crowd. That was on the day he was supposed to die. The next morning the first book Srivasa Thakura saw was the Brhan-Naradiya Purana and the verse, harer nama harer nama, and Srivas Thakura began having kirtana every night at his home.

In a Caitanya-caritamrita purport, Srila Prabhupada tells whenever there are the activities of the Sunday feast Lord Caitanya is personally present. There is a special guest at the Sunday feast [Lord Caitanya]!

So here at Kirtana-Mela Lord Caitanya is also personally present. We may not see.

Our habits can be purified. We can be what we are, but purified. Purified by the chanting. May we leave here with wave of enthusiasm and end our festival with Ratha-yatra. Tell those who stayed home they made a mistake. Tell our friends who stayed home to watch it on the Internet.

The faithful can mean full of faith or loyal, and as faith increases we can be more loyal.

We have moments that give us faith and keep us going.

How can you miss the Ratha-yatra? How can use miss the dessert? You had the curd subji, but you can't have the dessert?

We have come here not just to taste the nectar we know but also the nectar we do not know.

If you want to see the entire lecture as a video, click below:


Ananda Caitanya Prabhu:

Without being humble we cannot perform sacrifice.

Ratha-yatra is meant for engaging the people in general in the auspicious congregational chanting of the holy name.

In Puri almost all the attenders of Ratha-yatra are devotees, but in the West we see the extent of Lord Jagannatha’s mercy.

In Lithuania one person came to the temple and inquired, “Can I participate in hearing, chanting, and worshiping with you?” “Yes,” we replied, “but how did you hear about it?” The person explained, “Someone asked me to guard his books one December ten years ago . . .”

Compassion arises when we are happy in Krishna consciousness, and when we see how everyone is suffering.

Lord Brahma says, “O great actor, my Lord, all these poor creatures are constantly perplexed by hunger, thirst, severe cold, secretion and bile, attacked by coughing winter, blasting summer, rains and many other disturbing elements, and overwhelmed by strong sex urges and indefatigable anger. I take pity on them, and I am very much aggrieved for them.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.8)

Krishna teaches that to the extent the you give up the desire to enjoy the fruits of your actions you can be peaceful.

The lotus relies on the sun although the sun is so very far away.

When you are self-centered cooperation is impossible, but for those who are Krishna centered, cooperation is possible.

Strive for the association of pure unalloyed devotees, and you will receive the inspiration.

Ananta Vardhana Prabhu:

Lord Caitanya forbade his followers from making fun of the defeated Kesvava Kasmiri, showing that although the Lord was victorious, He was not proud.

When Shiva was bewildered by Mohini, he did not feel angry at the Lord, but rather appreciated the greatness of the Lord.

-----

bhakti-sadhana-srestha sunite haila mana
prabhu upadesa kaila nama-sankirtana

“Then the Bhattacarya asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ‘Which item is most important in the execution of devotional service?’ The Lord replied that the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.” (Sri Caitanya-caritmrita, Madhya 6.241)

Travel Journal#8.17: Kirtana in Germany and Eastern Europe
→ Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk


Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka, Vol. 8, No. 17
By Krishna-kripa das
(September 2012, part one)
Wroclaw and Leipzig Ratha-yatras, Kirtana-Mela, Kirtan in Eastern Europe
(Sent from London, England, on November 2, 2012)

Where I Went and What I Did

After traveling with Janananda Goswami in Slovakia and Czech Republic, Dhruva, Trevor, Vamana, and I went to Poland for the Wroclaw (pronounced Vrotswav) Ratha-yatra and then onward to Germany for Kirtana-Mela, which culminated in a wonderful Leipzig Ratha-yatra. The next day Trevor and I joined the Nitai Gauranga harinama bus tour led by temple president Ananda Vardhana Prabhu of Talinn, Estonia, and returned to Wroclaw with them for an ecstatic harinama there with over twenty devotees. Trevor and I did harinama in Wroclaw two more days, and then went to Bydgoszcz (pronounced Bidgoshch) for harinama and an Ekadasi evening kirtana program. Then Trevor and I traveled south and participated in evening kirtana programs arranged by Punya Palaka Prabhu in Trutnov and Prague, Czech Republic, and held at restaurants Baladeva and Gauranga, respectively. Next we went to Modra, Slovakia, where Parmesvara and Gopali Prabhus have a very successful nama-hatta program at their home, and we had a lot of nice kirtana, and more people asked more questions than usual after the lecture. Then Trevor and I traveled by an overnight bus and then an overnight train to Crimea for Bhakti Sangama, popularly known as the Ukraine festival.

Highlights in the “Insights” section include some quotes from a Srila Prabhupada lecture and purport and some great appreciations of the chanting of the holy name by the senior devotees who came to Kirtana-Mela, such as Bhaktivaibhava Swami, Lokanatha Swami, Sacinandana Swami, Krishna Ksetra Prabhu, Kadamba Kanana Swami.


Itinerary

London - Nov. 2–3
New York State - Nov. 4 – 14
Jacksonville, Florida: Nov. 15
Gainesville, Florida: Nov. 16, 2012–April 2013

Wroclaw Ratha-yatra

Of the three Wroclaw Ratha-yatras I have been on, this was one of the best. We went around the Rynek Square four times, more than some years, and the sound system was better. One year Trivikrama Swami had been there, and his enthusiasm in kirtana, would have certainly added some extra life, complementing the beautiful bhajanas and more mellow kirtana of Krishna Ksetra Prabhu, who played wonderfully on the stage in the show afterward, which was watched by a good crowd. There were not an unlimited number of invitations to the stage show afterward, but it was nearby, and there were flyers for those who showed obvious interest. Seeing I had flyers in my hand, some people even approached me asking for them, revealing their enthusiasm for the devotional event.

Kirtana-Mela in Germany

Kirtana-Mela in Germany was attended by fewer people than last year, but the people I talked to were all glad that they came. The fact that the fee was higher and its payment more enforced may be one reason why.

As a brahmacari I got a discount in exchange for doing a service which was to amount to four hours a day, but turned out to be less. I cut vegetables in the kitchen after lunch as usually my favorite kirana singers were in the morning or the evening. The second day we decided to have our own kirtana while chopping vegetables, and we went on for three hours, with different devotees taking turns leading. It felt good as we were there for kirtana and we were doing kirtana but at the same time were we serving the devotees who love kirtana by helping prepare their meals, and so we felt we got a special benediction.

Advaita Gauranga Prabhu, a Jayapataka Swami disciple from Ukraine who has lived in Germany a number of years, was inspired to organize a couple of harinamas, and other devotees inspired by those, organized one of their own the following day. The first was in Limbach, the town where the Kirtana-Mela was held.


The second harinama, the one in Chemnitz was attended by thirty-two devotees.



Several people took videos of us, and we passed out invitations to the upcoming Leipzig Ratha-yatra and biweekly Leipzig Sunday feast to the interested people.

There was also a harinama for the children around the compound where the Kirtana-Mela was held. The harinama was just after a drama about Lord Caitanya inspiring the animals in Jharikhanda Forest to chant and dance, and so many of the children were still wearing their animal costumes, so it was an especially wild sight! Several children took turns leading, including one girl who was dressed as Lord Caitanya, and it was beautiful to see. The following video shows just one of the child singers chanting in the parking lot, but before and after, the harinama visited other parts of the camp.


At Kirtana-Mela, B. B. Govinda Swami was beautiful to hear:


Lokanath Swami was full of transcendental life-giving energy, and he got a lot of people dancing. Candramauli and Janananda Maharajas’ excelled in the dancing department, inspiring others. Yadubara Prabhu chanted one of my favorite tunes in a beautiful way. Kadamba Kanana Swami led during the same time as we went out on the harinamas, and I felt bad to miss so many of his kirtanas, as he always seems to give it all he has in the way of enthusiasm. Madhava Prabhu’s singing reminded me of our trip on the Mexico bus tour where we got to hear him sing live practically every evening for three weeks. It is always a tease that now our encounters with him are just a few days here or there, never like the three-week stretch on the Mexican bus tour. Shyamananda Prabhu from Ireland put in more hours than all the male dancers and really excelled in that area. We feel gratitude toward all the kirtana leaders and responders who shared their enthusiasm for the holy name and to those great souls who helped organize the event.

Although we left early to take advantage of a ride to Leipzig with temple president, Sadbhuja Prabhu, we heard that Sacinandana Swami said at the morning class that that would be the last Kirtana-Mela there in Germany. Apparently not all of the organizers had known of his decision and many were upset as the festival was very successful from the point of view of the participants and the organizers had enjoyed the sacrifice to make it possible for all. We also appreciate all the work done by the largely Russian group of devotees who took a lot of trouble to give hundreds of people a chance to hear and chant the holy name for hours a day together and increase their inspiration in Krishna consciousness, and we hope that by the enthusiasm of the devotees it will continue in the future.

Leipzig Ratha-yatra



I have been to Leipzig Ratha-yatra three times and this year was clearly the best. As last year, it was right after the Kirtana-Mela so all the leaders and most of the responders were filled with enthusiasm from that event. 



It reminded us of how Lord Caitanya and His associates did their year of nocturnal kirtanas at Srivasa Thakura’s house, and then brought their enthusiasm to the streets of Navadvipa in massive sankirtana. Leipzig has a small downtown, and it is easy to reach many people in that concentrated place. 



I think of the many Ratha-yatras I have attended, Leipzig excels in the promotion department with three sizes of promotional literature describing the Ratha-yatra, the stage show after, the local temple programs, and the history of the event. Often people who see our Ratha-yatras are not invited to the stage show after nor the local temple programs and that is a great loss from the promotional point of view. Also an amazing large number of devotees volunteered to distribute the literature. The devotees also passed out fruit, cookies, and sweet balls, as the prasadam of Lord Jagannatha, and book distribution went on as well. There was always a crowd of people viewing the stage show which continued till almost 8:00 p.m. in the evening. The public feast was wonderful, with a curd and vegetable preparation and all the srikhand you could eat! Many, many thanks to Sadbhuja Prabhu and his team for putting on a wonderful Ratha-yatra event. Thanks to Vishnujana Prabhu (alias Harinama Ruci) for the pictures. More can be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.420275604702047.101837.100001588327802&type=3

A Day with the Nitai Gauranga Harinama Bus Party

Devotees, numbering about eighteen, from various countries, especially the Baltics, headed by Ananda Vardhana Prabhu of Tallinn, Estonia, have a six-month long traveling harinama bus program in the summer visiting different cities in Europe. Bhakta Trevor and I had the pleasure of traveling with them to Wroclaw after the Leipzig Ratha-yatra, and chanting with them there for three hours. Having an additional eighteen devotees to do harinama with for a day was a great blessing. There are many good singers, instrumentalists, and dancers in the party. We chanted in the Rynek Square where just one week before we had the Wroclaw Ratha-yatra, and it was great to be giving the people there another chance to connect with Krisna through kirtana. Several devotees distribute books and CDs simultaneously to spread the mercy and to maintain the program. Devotees in Wroclaw have open programs periodically at a venue other than the temple to attract new people, and we distributed many invitations to the upcoming one.

Other Harinamas in Wroclaw

Trevor and I did a couple days of three hours of harinama in Wroclaw afterward, the first day joined by Balarama Prabhu, who does programs in his hometown of Opole. You can see people are attracted by the chanting, even from a small party. The second day, we sang for an hour each, before, after, and during a semi-weekly prasadam distribution program, near popular Rynek Square. Many of the regular prasadam eaters were happy with the live kirtana. (Usually there is a tape playing.) One lady we met earlier on harinama, joined us again to listen, to take prasadam, to buy incense, and to give me the ultimate small donation, one grosze ($0.003). An enthusiastic personality in the prasadam program is a young lady named Vishnu Patni Dasi, from Pogorzelica, a coastal town in the north, who met Indradyumna Swami’s festival tour when she was sixteen. Now thirteen years later, she is initiated and assists greatly with the deity worship and prasadam distribution in our Wroclaw temple. I have seen her come many years on the tour festivals, and it is wonderful to witness the development of her enthusiasm for spiritual life.

Harinama and Program in Bydgoszcz, Poland


Several years ago Parananda Prabhu, nama-hatta leader in Bydgoszcz, invited me to harinama in his town. I thought if I went there alone, the two of us would not make much of a party, but this year as Trevor was traveling with me, I decided to go there as we could have a better harinama. 



We found a lot of people smiled, moved with the music, and seemed to appreciate the kirtana. One man who had an administrative role in one section of the city said he would like us to perform there sometime.



We had a program with a few devotees, a talk, and a very lively kirtana, with a lot of dancing, and some fine Ekadasi prasadam.

I was happy that with the cooperation of Parananda Prabhu and Bhakta Trevor, I got to do harinama in yet another city. Thanks to Krsna Karsani dd, wife of Parananda Prabhu, for the photos. More can be found at on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.3584014324124.2131554.1386218307&type=3

Trutnov Evening Kirtana

Punya Palaka Prabhu, who organizes our Krishna camp at Trutnov Open Air Music Festival (the Czech Woodstock) arranged evening kirtanas in Trutnov and Prague.

It was an adventure getting to Trutnov as I was depending on a bus to cross the Polish-Czech border which never came. Turns out it only ran on Fridays, and it was Thursday. We walked about 4 km to the first Czech town but found the last bus for the day had already left. While Trevor was doing his voice lessons, and I was trying to get a ride, a couple stopped and offered to give us a ride to the next town to catch the bus. The guy knew a little English, and I knew a little Polish, and we managed to converse. They were impressed I knew as much Polish as I did, which is very slight. The lady was from Poland and the guy from Czech. She spoke Polish, and he spoke a combination of the two languages from living near the border. From my attempted conversation, they decided that they liked us and drove us the whole 16 km to Trutnov, and we were very grateful.

The kirtana was at the devotee restaurant there called Baladeva. We were happy to get some prasadam after our long journey.

Martin, the organizer of the Trutnov festival, and his kids came for the kirtana. He has a fascination for Lord Jagannatha’s smiling face which appears on all the promotional material for the festival. Martin’s kids amazed me because all though they could not have been more than four or five years old, they played some shakers in time with the music for over half an hour. Trevor did a good job leading some kirtana. A few other people came, and they all had a good time.

Prague Evening Kirtana

We went on the usual Friday harinama in Prague, and then did a kirtana program at the not-yet-opened-at-that-time restaurant known as Gauranga. There are so many Hare Krishna restaurants in Prague now, I lost count of them. The husband and wife running this new Gauranga restaurant were very hospitable. While traveling there from Govindas, we met a couple who had some interest in Hare Krishna, and they came along with us and stayed for the entire three and a half hour kirtana. The man was familiar with Hare Krishna, yet it was new for the woman, and you could see she really liked it, and I was happy that by the will of Providence, she got that opportunity.

Parmesvara and Gopali’s Program in Modra

Parmesvara and Gopali are very friendly and enthusiastic disciples of Kadamba Kanana Swami, and they have fifteen or twenty Krishna programs each year at their house in Modra, a suburb of Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, under an hour from the Czech border.

I went there three and four years old, but was too busy the last two years, so I was happy to go again. Some of my friends from Czech Republic and Slovakia that I knew from the Polish Woodstock, the Czech Woodstock, and from Mayapur were there. There must have been about twenty people for the program which was an hour of kirtana and an hour of class. Valmiki Prabhu, who does kirtana at the Czech Woodstock, and Trevor chanted nicely, and then I spoke. I was pleased that several people asked nice questions. The prasadam was very nice and kept us going on the overnight bus ride to the Lvov, where we were to catch a train to Crimea for the Ukraine festival. There was a little time for an additional kirtana before we left on our trip, and I took advantage of that. Paramesvara Prabhu kindly asked his congregation to donate for my Ukraine trip as well as helping out himself, and I offer thanks to all the people who helped out in that way.

Insights

Srila Prabhupada:

from a recorded lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam.

It is the duty of the father to instruct his the sons in the matter of the aim of life. Human life is meant for tapasya (austerity), not to imitate the hogs and dogs. People do not want to hear this, but because we are servants of Krishna we must instruct them anyway.

By our association with different modes of nature we are producing our next body.

The first instruction in Bhagavad-gta is “you are eternal.” Hearing this the intelligent person asks, “Why am I dying?”

Mukti means attaining your original form.

Although there are many processes for self-realization mentioned in Bhagavat-gita, Krishna recommends if you want to know Him, you should execute bhakti.

Any child can do it. If a child sees the form of Krishna in the temple, he can remember that form. Then one can do a little offering. A little flower, fruit, water.

To miss this opportunity to attain your original form by the simple practice of bhakti is suicidal.

If you accept something as prasadam, the mercy of the Lord, then there is no reaction, but if you accept something for your own enjoyment, you become entangled.

Ashram, whether brahmacari, grhastha, or sannyasa, means consciousness of Krishna is there.

You are kicked by the material nature, and you are master? Why are you so falsely proud?

from Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Adi-lila 8.78:

“To engage in the service of the Lord is the natural function of the living entity, but because he is covered by the influence of maya, the material energy, he thinks it to be a very difficult task. But if he places himself under the guidance of a spiritual master and does everything sincerely, immediately the Lord, who is situated within everyone’s heart, dictates how to serve Him (dadami buddhi-yogam tam). The Lord gives this direction, and thus the devotee’s life becomes perfect.”

Bhakivaibhava Swami:

Sometimes hearing is stressed and sometimes chanting is stressed. Why both? Because they both go together.

When Srila Prabhupada heard George Harrison and John Lennon liked to chant Hare Krishna, he invited them to lead the Ratha-yatra procession in London. Unfortunately that did not happen.

In the early days, we chanted minimum six or eight hours a day. We literally witnessed miracles right on the street.

One time a very rough looking person came toward the party, and I worried what would happen. Then he slipped and fell on his head, and walked away.

Once one devotee was speaking and stressing preaching, the brhad-mrdanga. Srila Prabhupada said, “If you do not know how to play the small mrdanga, how will you play the big mrdanga.” In other words if we are not attracted to Hare Krishna, how will we inspire others.

Association with devotees leads to attraction to chanting the holy name, and so it can be conceived of as most important. The Bhagavatam declares glories of the holy name. The dhama is constantly vibrating the holy name of the Lord. The mantras used in deity worship are filled with Krishna’s names. Also Jiva Goswami and Hari-bhakta-vilasa say deity worship should be accompanied by the chanting of the holy name.

There is no other religious practice as pure as the chanting of the holy name.

Four Vishnudutas came because Ajamila chanted the four syllables of Narayana. They opposed the three Yamaduta who came because Ajamila commited sins with body, mind, and words.

Although one may commit offenses, the solution is never to stop chanting. One must submit to the holy name, ask for forgiveness, and continue chanting.

Srila Prabhupada says our mauna vrata (vow of silence) is not to speak until we finish chanting our 16 rounds each day.

Lokanath Swami:

We are chanting the same mantra that made Lord Caitanya mad, and our goal is also to become mad with love for God.

Our madness in this world is a perverted reflection of the madness of the spiritual world.

Lord Caitanya had a night club, where they chanted and danced all night [Srivasa Angam]. You can say that Kirtana-Mela started at Srivasa Angam.

Wherever there is Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there is Kirtana-Mela. Those who come in contact with Him immediately begin chanting and dancing.

This Hare Krishna mantra is a Radha Krishna mantra, so if you chant it your ultimate destination will be Vrndavana.

The Lord has come to stop our endeavors for bhukti, mukti, and siddhi?sense enjoyment, liberation, and mystic power.

Lord Caitanya has talked less and chanted more.

Lord Caitanya even made the animals mad with love of God. The deer and tigers were embracing and kissing.

If you want to become fearless, chant Hare Krishna (etan nirvidyamanamam . . . ).

We are in the Krishna sun, and we are in the present?no past, no future.

There was left over nectar from the Kumbha-mela pot, and the people possessing it proposed to Sukadeva Goswami that he give some to Maharaja Pariksit in exchange for Krishna-katha. Sukadeva Goswami’s response was in effect, “Get lost.” Why? Because they committed a big offense comparing narrations of Krishna to fruitive activities.

Sacinandana Swami:

Bring your attention, your everything to the first name, the first “Hare.” If you pay attention to the first “Hare,” by the grace of Radharani, you will see that you can easily pay attention to the entire mantra. It will be as effortless as swimming downstream with the current of Mother Ganges. We have to start somewhere, so start with the first “Hare.”

Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami:

from his autobiography:

[Returning from a UN prayer meeting,] Swamiji said, “They will never have peace unless they chant and give up their sinful activities.”

from ISKCON in the 1970s:

In India, ISKCON published a book listing the names of every Indian scholar who supported us and his address. It was suggested that we do the same thing in America for the Americans. I suggested that this might be dangerous in America because our enemies had already taken the names of whatever professors we have published and written to them. They have slandered and blasphemed our movement to try to turn them away from us, and it hasn’t been good. When Prabhupada heard that, he immediately agreed that it would not be a good idea to publish a book like that in America. He said, ‘It will damage us by counter-propaganda. Yes, Canakya Pandita says don’t disclose your secrets, the enemy will take advantage.’ I asked Prabhupada, ‘But what about the injunction that a devotee should treat his enemy so openly that he should be willing to reveal everything to him?’ Prabhupada said that the days are different now in Kali-yuga. If the other party are cheaters, I shall cheat; otherwise they will take advantage.

He asked how much fifty books cost. He was told $250. ‘Is that much for an American? Make a policy and organization, whereby you introduce the books in every home?a full set in every home. Everyone can afford $250. The GBC should make such a plan. Print the full sets in every language. You have to use your intelligence. You have to find out how to remove $250 from their pockets and give them fifty books. They won’t be cheated. They will gain greater value for their lives. Don’t think your business is finished. There’s much work ahead. This is the water of the seed which has already taken root. Distribute more and more books and go on opening more centers. People should hear about us. In this way you have to protect the seed that is already planted there.’

“I told him the leaders were not enthusiastic about this outpost in Bhuvanesvara. He said, ‘Why not? This is the capital of Orissa. People are coming here. We have to have centers in every town, and even if it is not a big center, some have to work and stay here. Even if the people are coming every night only to eat kichari, that is also preaching.’
“Then he said that, ‘Our program for everywhere is kirtana and prasadam distribution. We distribute books and the collection is to support these things, kirtana and prasadam distribution.’ I mentioned that in America over the years, the devotees are not seen in the streets shaven-headed holding kirtana. He said, ‘It is not necessary to stress chanting in the streets. Distribute books and invite them to come for the love feast. They will see us by coming to the temple and joining in the kirtana.’”

Krishna Ksetra Prabhu:

Kirtana comes from kirti which means “fame” and implies that it should be spread.

Hobbs says, “Memory is the fading of experience.”

I see memories as being like cooking and the flavors are coming out.

Jiva Goswami says to make arcana (deity worship) complete we should have kirtana (chanting of the glories of God) before, after, and during the worship.

Narada Muni says the best way to see the Lord is to hear the Lord and to chant His name.

Vandanam (offering prayers) is part of arcanam (deity worship).

With gratitude we are acknowledging we are receptacles for the Lord’s mercy, and thus we become eligible to receive more mercy.

Srila Prabhupada indicated that we have one prayer, “O Lord, O energy of Lord, please engage us in eternal loving devotional service.”

The Hare Krishna mantra is in the vocative, calling out to Krishna. And when you call out, you hope to get a response. Not that you are so inattentive, you do not notice if there is any response or not.

Coming to Kirtana Mela, we get a sense that, “We have arrived. This is what it is all about.”

Q: How to recognize Krishna’s response?
A: By hearing the response of the kirtana of devotees we are hearing Krishna response to our chanting. By seeing how Krishna acts in our life is another way.

Kadamba Kanana Swami:

Generally we pray to the Lord to free ourselves from anxiety, but here Haridasa Thakura is desiring that the Lord be free from anxiety.

Those living entities who can’t chant, like the trees, are purified by the chanting of others.

For the materialists in their festivals there is just the pleasure of the moment, but for the devotees, there is the pleasure of the moment plus the eternal spiritual benefit. For us the benefit does not end when the kirtana (chanting) ends.

When Radha discovers a quality of Krishna, Her love embraces it. This continues more and more.

Most of the things I was asked to do as a devotee, I did not want to do, but I did them because it looked bad to say no. And people would say you have done so wonderfully, but I was just doing it because I was told to.

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrita it is said Lord Jagannatha is the most merciful deity.

If your ticket is booked to leave before the Ratha-yatra [at the end of the Kirtana-Mela], it is a useless ticket. Throw it away.

Externally Srivasa Thakura was a party animal until an astrologer told him he had one year to live and he was wasting his life. Then he engaged in the devotional service day and night. One night he was hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam and felt he difficulty breathing so he went to a balcony and in his weakened condition he fell off the balcony. He was caught by an unknown person who disappeared in the crowd. That was on the day he was supposed to die. The next morning the first book Srivasa Thakura saw was the Brhan-Naradiya Purana and the verse, harer nama harer nama, and Srivas Thakura began having kirtana every night at his home.

In a Caitanya-caritamrita purport, Srila Prabhupada tells whenever there are the activities of the Sunday feast Lord Caitanya is personally present. There is a special guest at the Sunday feast [Lord Caitanya]!

So here at Kirtana-Mela Lord Caitanya is also personally present. We may not see.

Our habits can be purified. We can be what we are, but purified. Purified by the chanting. May we leave here with wave of enthusiasm and end our festival with Ratha-yatra. Tell those who stayed home they made a mistake. Tell our friends who stayed home to watch it on the Internet.

The faithful can mean full of faith or loyal, and as faith increases we can be more loyal.

We have moments that give us faith and keep us going.

How can you miss the Ratha-yatra? How can use miss the dessert? You had the curd subji, but you can't have the dessert?

We have come here not just to taste the nectar we know but also the nectar we do not know.

If you want to see the entire lecture as a video, click below:


Ananda Caitanya Prabhu:

Without being humble we cannot perform sacrifice.

Ratha-yatra is meant for engaging the people in general in the auspicious congregational chanting of the holy name.

In Puri almost all the attenders of Ratha-yatra are devotees, but in the West we see the extent of Lord Jagannatha’s mercy.

In Lithuania one person came to the temple and inquired, “Can I participate in hearing, chanting, and worshiping with you?” “Yes,” we replied, “but how did you hear about it?” The person explained, “Someone asked me to guard his books one December ten years ago . . .”

Compassion arises when we are happy in Krishna consciousness, and when we see how everyone is suffering.

Lord Brahma says, “O great actor, my Lord, all these poor creatures are constantly perplexed by hunger, thirst, severe cold, secretion and bile, attacked by coughing winter, blasting summer, rains and many other disturbing elements, and overwhelmed by strong sex urges and indefatigable anger. I take pity on them, and I am very much aggrieved for them.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.9.8)

Krishna teaches that to the extent the you give up the desire to enjoy the fruits of your actions you can be peaceful.

The lotus relies on the sun although the sun is so very far away.

When you are self-centered cooperation is impossible, but for those who are Krishna centered, cooperation is possible.

Strive for the association of pure unalloyed devotees, and you will receive the inspiration.

Ananta Vardhana Prabhu:

Lord Caitanya forbade his followers from making fun of the defeated Kesvava Kasmiri, showing that although the Lord was victorious, He was not proud.

When Shiva was bewildered by Mohini, he did not feel angry at the Lord, but rather appreciated the greatness of the Lord.

-----

bhakti-sadhana-srestha sunite haila mana
prabhu upadesa kaila nama-sankirtana

“Then the Bhattacarya asked Caitanya Mahaprabhu, ‘Which item is most important in the execution of devotional service?’ The Lord replied that the most important item was the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.” (Sri Caitanya-caritmrita, Madhya 6.241)

Kurma Cooking DVD sets Special Offer – Special Offer for Christmas
→ kurma News

My 20-hour, 11-disc Cookery DVD Collection is on special for just $60 for the pre-Christmas months of November and December. This is inclusive of postage and handling, anywhere in Australia. Hurry since stocks are limited!!!

Respond to this post now to take advantage of the great offer! Please note that this offer is only for those residing in Australia.

Kurma DVD:

The set includes:

INDIAN ENTREES Includes scrambled Panir cheese; sweet and sour glazed carrots; North Indian red bean curry (Rajma); green beans sauteed in yogurt and poppy seed sauce, and many more recipes. Colour 111 min.

SOUPS, RICE, SAVOURIES & CHUTNEYS Includes whole green mung bean and tomato soup; creamy vegetable soup; rice pilaf with nuts and peas; deep fried cauliflower balls in tomato gravy (kofta); apple chutney; fresh tomato and cucumber Raita, and many more recipes. Colour 111 minutes.

BREADS, DRINKS & DESSERTS Includes basic unleavened whole wheat breads (chapatis); flaky pan-fried breads stuffed with green peas (parathas); sweet yogurt smoothie (Lassi); rose sherbet; classic semolina Halava; traditional vanilla sweet rice, and many more. Colour 109 minutes.

EAST MEETS WEST LUNCH, BUFFET & DINNER Includes tofu steaks; rainbow brown rice; potato and cottage cheese rolls with cranberries; baked, stuffed avocados... Colour 90 minutes.

ASIAN-STYLE LUNCH, BUFFET & DINNER Includes Indonesian vegetable stew; Thai vegetable curry; Malaysian hot noodles with tofu; vegetarian spring rolls & more. Colour 82 min.

MEDITERRANEAN LUNCH, BUFFET & FEAST Includes Italian fried corn bread (Polenta); Turkish nut pastries in syrup (Baklava); spinach filo triangles (Spanokopita); Moroccan couscous with vegetable sauce; stuffed vine leaves (Dolades); and many more mouthwatering recipes. Colour 90 min.

NORTH INDIAN LUNCH I, II & SOUTH INDIAN DINNER Includes cauliflower and potato supreme; peanut and coriander chutney; savoury wholemeal pancakes (Dosa), and many more recipes. Colour 90 min.

MEXICAN-STYLE BUFFET, MIDDLE EASTERN ENTREES, ITALIAN LUNCH I & II Includes vegetarian chili; baked, stuffed cheesy corn breads (Enchiladas); Israeli chickpea croquettes (Falafel); Lebanese bulgur wheat salad (Tabbouleh); eggplant Parmagiana; potato dumplings with tomato sauce (Gnocchi), and more. Colour 120 min.

SUMMER PATIO LUNCH I, II & III; THE COMPLETE GOURMET MEAL Includes ricotta cheese-filled pastries (Calzone); summer chilled fruit soup; sweet potato pie; baked cheesecake; savory samosas; fresh coriander chutney, and more. Colour 120 min.

INDIAN FEAST I, II & III Includes Bengali royal rice; yeasted, puffed fried bread (Khamiri Poori); date and tamarind sauce; curried chickpeas; tomato, peas and home made curd cheese (Matar Panir); and many more. Colour 90 minutes.

THE VEGETARIAN SMORGASBORD, PICNIC & CHILDREN'S PARTY; HOME-STYLE LUNCH Includes potato & pea croquettes; vegie nut burgers; asparagus & tomato quiche; North Indian potato salad; carob fudge cake; shepherd's pie; steamed cauliflower salad with eggless mayonnaise, and many more recipes. Colour 120 minutes.

Yamuna Has Left Us
→ Life With the Cows and Land

Yamuna gets a hug from Jahnava in 2009

Yamuna has left this world listening to Srila Prabhupada singing sweet bhajans of Lord Krsna, the eternal cowherd boy. This morning Balabhadra went to check on her. She seemed to be peacefully sleeping with her head tucked next to her side. Balabhadra called her name and she didn't move. Again he called her name and again there was no reply. It was then he was close enough to touch her and there was no response. On closer examination he found she was not breathing anymore. 

She had been successfully and easily moved by tractor and sling from the lower pasture to the safety of the barn, about a mile away, on Friday before the bad weather started. We were also very concerned about the ever increasing wild coyote population living in the woods. On our Facebook page there is an album, with captions of this event that you can view at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151172300584471.471659.138008309470&type=3. 

She was far more comfortable and happy in the barn. However she kept trying to move and yesterday Balabhadra found her with her back legs split and her head crunched against the water tank even though he had offered her water several times a day along with hay. She was in such a tight situation and we again had to call for the tractor and sling to move her into a comfortable situation in the barn. She was quite happy in her new spot but appeared to be quite exhausted. Again she was offered fresh hay and water but declined both. Just before dark when Balabhadra was doing the evening herd check he again offered hay and water and she declined again. 

Yamuna was a wonderful sweet cow who grew up as a protected cow under the care of ISCOWP farm. She was friends with all the other cows in the herd and she very much liked her sweet treats whenever we brought them to the herd. She will be missed by all the cowherds and cows. Like the other 23 lifetime protected cows that have passed away on the ISCOWP farm, she will be buried on the farm. 

Thank you for praying for Yamuna. It is most fortunate that she left her body peacefully. 

Your servant, 
Chayadevi 
ISCOWP Co-Managing Director

Yamuna Has Left Us
→ Life With the Cows and Land

Yamuna gets a hug from Jahnava in 2009

Yamuna has left this world listening to Srila Prabhupada singing sweet bhajans of Lord Krsna, the eternal cowherd boy. This morning Balabhadra went to check on her. She seemed to be peacefully sleeping with her head tucked next to her side. Balabhadra called her name and she didn't move. Again he called her name and again there was no reply. It was then he was close enough to touch her and there was no response. On closer examination he found she was not breathing anymore. 

She had been successfully and easily moved by tractor and sling from the lower pasture to the safety of the barn, about a mile away, on Friday before the bad weather started. We were also very concerned about the ever increasing wild coyote population living in the woods. On our Facebook page there is an album, with captions of this event that you can view at: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151172300584471.471659.138008309470&type=3. 

She was far more comfortable and happy in the barn. However she kept trying to move and yesterday Balabhadra found her with her back legs split and her head crunched against the water tank even though he had offered her water several times a day along with hay. She was in such a tight situation and we again had to call for the tractor and sling to move her into a comfortable situation in the barn. She was quite happy in her new spot but appeared to be quite exhausted. Again she was offered fresh hay and water but declined both. Just before dark when Balabhadra was doing the evening herd check he again offered hay and water and she declined again. 

Yamuna was a wonderful sweet cow who grew up as a protected cow under the care of ISCOWP farm. She was friends with all the other cows in the herd and she very much liked her sweet treats whenever we brought them to the herd. She will be missed by all the cowherds and cows. Like the other 23 lifetime protected cows that have passed away on the ISCOWP farm, she will be buried on the farm. 

Thank you for praying for Yamuna. It is most fortunate that she left her body peacefully. 

Your servant, 
Chayadevi 
ISCOWP Co-Managing Director

The 8 Most Interesting Ideas to Revolutionize Urban Farms
→ The Yoga of Ecology


Click here to see the full photo essay from Lamar Anderson at The Atlantic Cities



"Today, while the Center for Science in the Public Interest was busy coordinating Food Day events across the nation, we got to thinking about all the delicious plants that will have to grow on buildings if our rapidly urbanizing world is to produce enough sustenance for the projected 9.1 billion people who will need access to fresh food by 2050. Could it really be a coincidence that so many of the causes CSPI addresses—healthy eating, hunger, food security, agriculture policy—find some resolution in the promise of agritecture, farmscrapers, and other utopian portmanteaus? We think not!

As the vertical farming trend has taken off in recent years, many architects and designers have begun tackling the question of how to marry agriculture with architecture. Here’s a look at some of our favorite concepts (most of them un-built) for fanciful food-producing pyramids, geodesic domes, flower pods, and insects."

All About Ghee
→ kurma News

Ghee – An Ayurvedic Perspective

(from http://www.amritaveda.com/learning/articles/ghee.asp)

"The milk of cows is considered to possess the essence or sap of all plants and Ghee is the essence of milk... When we consider Ghee we are in the company of superlatives. In India, Ghee has been so highly regarded for so many things, for so long, that one is slightly embarrassed to enter into this crowded river of praise.

Ghee2:

This is what I have heard:

The ingestion of Ghee is like offering the finest of fuels into the fires of digestion (Agni). In accord with this, Ghee builds the aura, makes all the organs soft, builds up the internal juices of the body (Rasa) which are destroyed by aging and increases the most refined element of digestion (Shukra or Ojas) the underlying basis of all immunity and the "essence of all bodily tissues”.

Maya Tiwari calls Ghee the “single most ojas producing food on earth”. Ghee is known to increase intelligence (Dhi) refine the intellect (Buddhi) and improve the memory (Smrti).

Although Ghee kindles or increases the digestive fire (Agni) on which all nutrition depends, it does so without aggravating Pitta - the elemental functioning of fire within the body. In fact, Ghee cools the body, essential in much of today’s world in which everything is overheating.

Ghee causes secretions and liquification in the dhatus - bodily tissues - that dissolve wastes allowing the functional intelligences of the body (doshas) to carry away toxins (Ama) (also known as aam). The ingestion of Ghee is used in Panchakarma specifically to first penetrate into and then dissolve ama in the dhatus, allowing the wastes to be then carried to the intestinal tract and then expelled.

It is traditionally considered, that the older Ghee is, the better its healing qualities. 100-year-old Ghee is highly valued in India and fetches a very high price. Such Ghee was often kept in Temples in large vats and families often pass on aged Ghee to their next generation to be used as medicine.

more ghee: Qualities of Ghee

Ghee is known as a substance that gives longevity… This is because it has opposite qualities (heavy, slow, oily, liquid, dense, soft), and thus pacifying effects, to the light, dry and rough qualities of Vata dosha. It is the increase of the qualities of Vata that are synonymous with aging. Ghee, in a very sure and steady way, slows the aging process by balancing the living one.

Ghee has the quality of snigda, oiliness, and unctuousness. It is smooth, lubricated and nurturing. Ghee is thought to make the voice soft and melodious.

Ghee is Guru, heavy. It increases the qualities of Kapha and decreases Pittaand Vata, which are both light.

Ghee has the quality of mrdu, softness. In Ayurvedic Panchakarma treatments, Ghee is the oil used on the eyes. In Netra Basti, a small dam is built around the eyes and filled with warm Ghee. Then, you open your eyes to its soothing softness. It seems after that treatment, that you see the world though a soft diaphanous curtain of love and loveliness.

more ghee: Healing Properties of Ghee

In ancient India, wells full of Ghee were especially for those who suffered wounds. When a surgeon cuts open a body, he only does so knowing that the body will be able to heal itself. The surgeon cannot do this. Ghee is known for the quality of Ropana - healing, and its effectiveness in facilitating recovery from wounds. In Ayurveda, when a person has a chronic peptic ulceror gastritis, Ghee is used to heal that ulcer inside the intestinal tract.

Ghee works wondrously on bedsores for the elderly or debilitated. It can be applied for broken bones and bruises. It is highly effective for all sorts of skin rashes. It is also used on burns of both fire and chemicals. Once, I accidentally got some sandalwood oil in my eye. It burned intensely and I was unable to wash it out with a variety of eyewashes. I spent hours in pain and finally I remembered to use Ghee. Almost immediately, the Ghee pacified the burning and the eye irritation ceased.

Just recently, a friend of mine who is a yoga instructor had a pressure cooker blow up in his face, giving him second and third degree burns. He immediately put some Ghee on his face and went to the emergency room. They told him that he would be scarred for life, that the burns would take several months to heal and that he should take steroids to help him (the body shuts down the production of testosterone after burns). He declined to take the steroids and continued to put on the Ghee, twice daily. After six days, he was completely healed without scarring.

Those with obesity should be very frugal in their use of Ghee and those with high ama should not take Ghee at all.

Ghee increases the overall strength, luster and beauty of the sarira - the body. Let us look at a variety of ways:

Used on the skin, Ghee softens and strengthens, protects and nourishes. Up until the last generation in India, there used to be men who gave Ghee massages on the street. It was always the preferred substance for the skin, but since it was more expensive than oil it has come to be used only for internal purposes. For generations, Indians have used Ghee for cooking and as an added measure on top of their food and as a medicine.

In India, medicinal ghee is passed on from one generation to the next. It was used for old and young, for new babies (Mothers in India will massage their children with Ghee) and for those in the last days of their life. I massaged my Father’s body with it before he died - He loved it. Sometimes, when he could not sleep, I rubbed it on his feet and temples and it soothed his agitation. It is considered it one of the best substances for self-massage (Abhyanga).

more ghee: Many Uses of Ghee

For Body Massage-Abhyanga. Apply ghee all over the body, rubbing into head, chest, limbs, joints and orifices. This will bypass the digestive system and allow the qualities of Ghee to penetrate directly into the deeper tissues. It is said that 60% of what is placed on the skin is absorbed into the body. We literally “eat” what we put on our skin. Western science has discovered that massaging the skin creates endorphins or peptides, which enhance the body’s immune system. Peptides are thought to be the vehicle that the mind and body use to communicate with each other, a literal chemistry of emotion. According to the Charak Samhita, regular Abhyanga slows the aging process.

Ghee is used in Purvakarma (early Panchakarma) where a small amount of Ghee is taken first thing in the morning by the practitioner to oleate the internal organs and “dissolve” the ama or toxic wastes in the tissues, allowing them to be carried to the digestive tract for elimination.

Ghee is used as a carrier or “yogavahi” for herbs and bhasmas because of its supreme penetrating qualities and thus ability to carry these substances deep into the dhatus or tissues. One or two teaspoons first thing in the morning followed immediately with hot water will promptly produce a bowel movement. It will also warm the body quickly. Two spoonfuls of Ghee in warm (non-homogenized) milk before bedtime is soothing to the nerves and lubricates the intestines and facilitates a bowel movement in the morning.

Ghee is excellent for cooking and sautéing or stir-frying. Ghee has one of the highest flash points of all oils and is very difficult to burn. In India, it is said that food is incomplete without the use of Ghee.

Ghee is excellent for a gargle (gandush) to improve the health of the teeth and gums.

Ghee can be used as a bath oil. Take two tablespoons of Ghee and mix with several drops of an essential oil of your choice.

Ghee is excellent for scrapes and both chemical and heat or fire burns. Ghee can be used in the eyes for tiredness or fatigue.

Ghee is an exquisite facial moisturizer.

In India it is said that if a few drops of ghee are placed in the nostrils then nosebleed can be checked. If this is done twice in a day, then headache can be relieved.

more ghee: How Ghee is Made

Ghee is the most refined end product of milk. (When you make Ghee, you are concentrating the quality of the milk you started with. This includes, antibiotics, hormones (rGBH), chemical pesticides, etc. For this reason, always use the best milk/butter you can find.) When you milk a cow, you get whole milk. If you let this milk sit for a while, cream rises to the top. If you skim off the cream and then churn it, after a while and all of a sudden, the fat globules will begin to stick to each other and form butter. What is left over is buttermilk.

In the west today, very little butter is churned the old fashioned way. Most modern dairies, even many “organic” ones, no longer churn their cream to make butter. In a typical dairy in America, the cream is now pushed (extruded) through a fine mesh screen in which the heavier and larger molecules of butter are held on one side of the screen while the smaller molecules of buttermilk pass on through.

I recently asked an Ayurvedic Teacher (Vaidya) about what difference this makes. He said that butter made without churning is lacking in a quality of fire (Agni). He even went further in his consideration of difference; the home-based Indian culture churns their cream with a hand churn, rolling it back and forth between their hands. This back and forth action, he said, imparts a particular balancing quality to the Ghee - instead of the one way churning of a gear driven churn.

As I have pointed out above, most of the butter made in the West today is not even churned. When we consider the process of butter and Ghee making at this level, we are in the realm of subtlety, but it is in exactly this realm (the subtle) that what is pure and purifying (sattvic) is found.

There is one very important difference in the way Ghee was and is made in India. The Indians start out with milk from a cow, just like in the West. But, they do not let the cream rise to the top and skim it off as we do in the West. Instead, and here comes the key difference - they culture the milk with yogurt, allowing it to sit for 4-5 hours, just before it becomes completely soured. Then they churn the whole milk. From that point on, the process is more or less the same.

This culturing with yogurt introduces another form of fire (agni) into the substance of refining the milk into butter and then Ghee.

As I have said, in my recent visit to modern day India, it was very hard to find high quality and pure cow Ghee. The commercial milk, cream and butter there are now homogenized and pasteurized or now ultra-pasteurized (This is a process whereby milk is heated to a higher temperature than pasteurization for a shorter period of time. This kills and destroys various living substances/enzymes in the milk thus prolonging shelf life. Ultra pasteurized milk can keep un-refrigerated for over a month). According to Ayurvedic Vaidyas I have consulted with, all of these factors increase the Vata (air and ether/destructive, catabolic, drying, rough) qualities in what was originally a very Kapha (earth and water, building, oily, tonifying, anabolic) substance - milk. Some of these processes, like homogenization, make the milk, and thus the cream and butter, indigestible. One of the things you can look for in milk and cream is the sticky quality (picchila), one of the gunas of Kapha. It will be lacking in processed milk products.

In the West, like India, there is a similar theme to the story. Although organic dairies are appearing all over the country, many of them make their butter by extrusion. Furthermore, they homogenize and ultra-pasteurize their milk (This is certainly not true of all milks available, but, like in Vrndavan, India, the tides of ignorance are increasing and the quality of milk and nutrition is decreasing,

Now, back to making Ghee. Once you have obtained your butter, you heat it in a stainless steel or enamel pot, bringing it to a boil. I believe that it is best to make your Ghee in stainless steel heavy pots, rather than aluminum because of the toxicity. It is best even to avoid thin stainless steel. This is because a heavier pot will distribute the heat of the fire more evenly, surrounding the Ghee.

Always try to use real fire rather than an electric range (This is again in the realm of subtlety and sattva that I referred to earlier). There is a quality of Agni that lends itself and pervades a substance cooked on flame that is not there when cooked on electricity. Because I could not understand the difference between the "heat” of a fire and the “heat” of an electric range, I asked several Vaidyas about this in India. They all simply said that fire was a superior (more sattvic) way to cook food. While I personally still cannot explain that to anyone, that is the way I do it.

It is very clear to me that it is most important to create and enjoy a beautiful and positive environment when you are making Ghee. This subtle recommendation is perfectly in line with cooking Ghee on an open fire - “it makes a difference”.

Once the Ghee begins to boil, turn it down to the lowest flame at which it will continue to boil. As it boils, moisture evaporates off it and it will begin to “clarify” - the butter will turn from cloudy yellowish liquid to a more golden color. Whitish cloudy milk solids will rise to the top and sink to the bottom. Do not stir it. After an hour and half to several hours, depending on the amount and the size of the pot and the amount of Ghee compared to the flame, your Ghee will be ready.

The moment Ghee is “ready” is very critical. If you cook the Ghee too little, you will be left with moisture in the Ghee and it will lack the exquisite taste and qualities that it can develop, also, it will tend to spoil or sour. If you cook it too much, it will burn and impart a certain nutty flavor to the Ghee. This does not ruin the Ghee at all, but it is to be noticed, so that over time you can capture the “perfect” Ghee to be experienced between these two “extremes”.

After the Ghee is done, you skim off the top light crust of whitish milk solids. These and the heavier ones at the bottom of the pot are traditionally used to make sweets. Children in India love them and always plead with their Mothers to have the leftovers when Ghee is made.

Then, you pour the golden, sweet-smelling liquid through layered cheesecloth - to catch any last impurities into a bottle, leaving the slightly burned milk solids (caramelized lactose) on the bottom of the pot you cooked it in (Ghee has no lactose or milk sugars in it). Be sure to not close the glass jar into which you pour the hot Ghee until it comes to room temperature. The reason for this is that there should not be any moisture from condensation that may form on the inside of the jar. It is moisture that spoils Ghee, allowing a mold to grow and causing it to go bad. This is the reason that you always use a clean and dry spoon to take your Ghee out of its container. It is also a reason not to refrigerate your Ghee. One, because it is not necessary and two, it causes condensation to form inside the jar as you take it in and out of the refrigerator.

more ghee: Time and Season

It is best to make Ghee on the waxing fortnights of the moon as the moon represents the Mother and nurturing and all the best qualities of milk and butter are energized at this time. Regarding time and season, the quality of Ghee will change as the time of year and the diet of the cows change. Not all milk cows in the West are given green pastures to graze on. Even those, which are allowed to graze in the fields, often do not do so all year round. In winter, there are many days that the cows are not able to go out in the pastures and there is more hay and silage in their diet. This will change the quality of the milk, butter and Ghee. I have noticed that the more the cows graze in the fields on grass, the more yellow is the Ghee. This “yellow” is the result of more chlorophyll in the butter.

The making of Ghee is a very beautiful and peaceful experience. The sound of softly boiling butter, the pouring of the thick golden liquid into bottles ... this wonderful smell permeates the space.

more ghee: Cows and Buffalos

In India, Ghee is made from both Cow and Buffalo milk. If we consider the qualities of both of these animals, we can see why the Ghee of Cows is to be preferred. If we look at the bodies of a Buffalo and a cow, the buffalo is more heavily muscled; it is a denser animal in its makeup. Cows have a more moderate make-up of fat. The Ghee of a Cow is in liquid form at body temperature. The Ghee of a Buffalo is still slightly solid. Buffalo will eat almost any food, even spoiled food, while Cows in their natural environment, will turn away from such fare. Buffalos are often quite dirty and smell more strongly than Cows. Cows tend to be clean and like little dirt on their bodies. Cows smell quite good as I have experienced, when I stopped to pet and smell them on the streets of India where they roam about, ubiquitously, slowly and peacefully. Finally there is the striking difference in temperament between a Cow and Buffalo. Cows are far gentler in nature. Buffalos are comparatively more stubborn and aggressive. Because of these qualities and more, Buffalo milk and Ghee are considered more dulling (tamasic) while Cow milk and Ghee are considered more pure and purifying (sattvic).

When I asked my Indian acquaintances why there is a growing use of Buffalo milk and ghee over Cow milk and Ghee, they all said, “It is because the Buffalo give more milk”. Furthermore, the Indian peasants seek the nourishment of Buffalo Ghee, which has a far higher fat content than cow Ghee.

Even in Vrndavan, the home of Sri Krishna, where he himself was a cowherd, protector of the cows (Govinda) and the divine lover of the Gopis, cowherdesses, I was usually unable to find anything but Buffalo Ghee in the marketplace. You can tell the difference because Buffalo Ghee is white and Cow ghee is yellow.

Cow Ghee is used in lamps in temples and pujas all over India. It is said that the light of a Ghee lamp is more beautiful and brilliant than any other light. The light of burning Ghee is said to ward off negativity and evil influence.

Ghee is nourishing and healing. Ghee is steady and dependable and always supportive of life and living. Ghee brings an excess of goodness wherever and whenever it is appreciated and used. I am thankful for a substance that of all the foods I know is most like a Mother."

(from http://www.amritaveda.com/learning/articles/ghee.asp)