Planet ISKCON

I finished re-reading the Caitanya Caritamrita over Christmas. That makes it the second time I've read the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita all the way through. Nevertheless, I feel like I know nothing. There is so much knowledge in those books that even a lifetime of study will just scratch the surface. And even if, by some miracle, I were able to absorb all the knowledge, there is still many, many lifetimes of realization locked up in the Vedic literature. And even if I fully understand all the points, it will take a long time to actually apply them in my life.

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to keep reading. I'll get there eventually. Good thing that the books get better and better every time I read them. It even says so: Krishna consciousness is joyfully performed (and scientific) (BG 9.2 and 10.9). So what if it takes a long time? I certainly don't have anything better to do.

So then, time to once again dive into the wonderful, fascinating, thrilling, treasure-trove of transcendental knowledge: the 1st Canto of the Bhagavatam.

I finished re-reading the Caitanya Caritamrita over Christmas. That makes it the second time I've read the Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrita all the way through. Nevertheless, I feel like I know nothing. There is so much knowledge in those books that even a lifetime of study will just scratch the surface. And even if, by some miracle, I were able to absorb all the knowledge, there is still many, many lifetimes of realization locked up in the Vedic literature. And even if I fully understand all the points, it will take a long time to actually apply them in my life.

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to keep reading. I'll get there eventually. Good thing that the books get better and better every time I read them. It even says so: Krishna consciousness is joyfully performed (and scientific) (BG 9.2 and 10.9). So what if it takes a long time? I certainly don't have anything better to do.

So then, time to once again dive into the wonderful, fascinating, thrilling, treasure-trove of transcendental knowledge: the 1st Canto of the Bhagavatam.

I’m winding down the last days of 2006 living in my Volvo, scrounging for different bathrooms and places to plug in the computer, not to mention finding free internet signals. Yes, this is homelessness for the new century.

For me, it’s a chance to finally be out on my own. No dependence on family or temples. No comfort to make me fat and lazy. Just out there, on the road, meeting different people, having different unique adventures and experiences. It forces me to distribute books too, for it’s my only way to make money for gas and food. And in order to distribute you have to be Krishna conscious. Keep the sadhana going and be regularly reading the books. For it is not a mundane affair, that if you just have some business sense or a sales person mentality you can do it. No, you gotta be on a higher plane, or at least seriously aspiring towards that.

But you may think that perhaps I’m going backwards. After all, I’m supposed to be heading for the life of responsibility. And I was to some degree. Did some work for my father and took the job at the mall. Passed the CBEST and all I had to do was put in the applications and maybe I could have gotten a job as a sub. But something has been stopping me, and I’m not sure what it is. Fear of that life. Fear of settling, compromising on my dreams (whatever they are). Fear of being ordinary.

So maybe I am going backwards. But sometimes it’s needed to go forward again, this time in the proper direction. Not simply based on what society expects of you.

I’m winding down the last days of 2006 living in my Volvo, scrounging for different bathrooms and places to plug in the computer, not to mention finding free internet signals. Yes, this is homelessness for the new century.

For me, it’s a chance to finally be out on my own. No dependence on family or temples. No comfort to make me fat and lazy. Just out there, on the road, meeting different people, having different unique adventures and experiences. It forces me to distribute books too, for it’s my only way to make money for gas and food. And in order to distribute you have to be Krishna conscious. Keep the sadhana going and be regularly reading the books. For it is not a mundane affair, that if you just have some business sense or a sales person mentality you can do it. No, you gotta be on a higher plane, or at least seriously aspiring towards that.

But you may think that perhaps I’m going backwards. After all, I’m supposed to be heading for the life of responsibility. And I was to some degree. Did some work for my father and took the job at the mall. Passed the CBEST and all I had to do was put in the applications and maybe I could have gotten a job as a sub. But something has been stopping me, and I’m not sure what it is. Fear of that life. Fear of settling, compromising on my dreams (whatever they are). Fear of being ordinary.

So maybe I am going backwards. But sometimes it’s needed to go forward again, this time in the proper direction. Not simply based on what society expects of you.

In the last Vedicsoc session before the christmas break we talked about the controversial topic of human origins.

I talked about the established theory of Charles Darwin and why it (seemingly) makes a lot of sense. We then watched a part of the Mysterious Origins of Man documentary and I gave examples of some other archeological discoveries and so-called paranormal physical phenomena from Michael Cremo's books: Hidden History of the Human Race and Human Devolution: a Vedic alternative to Darwin's theory

We then discussed why the concept of the "knowledge filter" which prevents idea that radically contradict established ideas from being taken seriously. People naturally think:

"Modern humans, millions of years old? No, that is clearly impossible, otherwise I would have learnt about it in school. There must be some mistake. Let me ignore the evidence."

We concluded by discussing the Vedic alternative explanation: humans aren't ascended apes, instead we are actually fallen angels. The Vedas contain detailed genealogical records documenting human origins from "angels" (sophisticated living entities living on other planets and/or in other dimensions). But those are just absurd children's stories, right ... ?

The result: (much to my surprise) everyone attending the session agreed. "Wow, yes, the Vedic version makes a lot more sense."

In the last Vedicsoc session before the christmas break we talked about the controversial topic of human origins.

I talked about the established theory of Charles Darwin and why it (seemingly) makes a lot of sense. We then watched a part of the Mysterious Origins of Man documentary and I gave examples of some other archeological discoveries and so-called paranormal physical phenomena from Michael Cremo's books: Hidden History of the Human Race and Human Devolution: a Vedic alternative to Darwin's theory

We then discussed why the concept of the "knowledge filter" which prevents idea that radically contradict established ideas from being taken seriously. People naturally think:

"Modern humans, millions of years old? No, that is clearly impossible, otherwise I would have learnt about it in school. There must be some mistake. Let me ignore the evidence."

We concluded by discussing the Vedic alternative explanation: humans aren't ascended apes, instead we are actually fallen angels. The Vedas contain detailed genealogical records documenting human origins from "angels" (sophisticated living entities living on other planets and/or in other dimensions). But those are just absurd children's stories, right ... ?

The result: (much to my surprise) everyone attending the session agreed. "Wow, yes, the Vedic version makes a lot more sense."

Guru Maharaja asked Frank-Peter what the most memorable part of our trip was. Answer: the Swami's lectures and the spiritual feeling of nourishment in the heart from devotee association.

Bits of advice from the Guru:

• Marriage, whether you know the person or not, is difficult. However, if you stick to it until you're over 45, the passions die down, and you start to work together very well. The problem is that few couples can weather the storm for that long.
• German ISKCON was famous around the world as the epicenter of extremism and fanaticism.
• Women need to decide: do they want to surrender to the nest, or do they want to become Krishna conscious career women?
• Mellow husbands are okay, but passionate men are in for a shock when they are no longer the number one baby of the family. For every child you have the attention you get from your wife goes down by at least 33%.
• You want to get things done, you ask a busy person.
• Service defines everything: you have to stay at an appropriate level of fitness for executing your service. Its very easy to ignore your health.
• Germans are probably the most direct persons on the Earth. They are tough. You can tell them things straight-on. They appreciate it, too. You are not wasting their time.
• A good manager/executive like Dina Sharana is defined not so much by what they do, rather they are defined by what they do not do.

Also, check out the pictures from the trip.

Guru Maharaja asked Frank-Peter what the most memorable part of our trip was. Answer: the Swami's lectures and the spiritual feeling of nourishment in the heart from devotee association.

Bits of advice from the Guru:

• Marriage, whether you know the person or not, is difficult. However, if you stick to it until you're over 45, the passions die down, and you start to work together very well. The problem is that few couples can weather the storm for that long.
• German ISKCON was famous around the world as the epicenter of extremism and fanaticism.
• Women need to decide: do they want to surrender to the nest, or do they want to become Krishna conscious career women?
• Mellow husbands are okay, but passionate men are in for a shock when they are no longer the number one baby of the family. For every child you have the attention you get from your wife goes down by at least 33%.
• You want to get things done, you ask a busy person.
• Service defines everything: you have to stay at an appropriate level of fitness for executing your service. Its very easy to ignore your health.
• Germans are probably the most direct persons on the Earth. They are tough. You can tell them things straight-on. They appreciate it, too. You are not wasting their time.
• A good manager/executive like Dina Sharana is defined not so much by what they do, rather they are defined by what they do not do.

Also, check out the pictures from the trip.

I just listened to a talk by Dr. Philip Weeks on various aspects of natural medicine. Wow, it was really interesting. (Dr. Weeks was instrumental in helping my body recover from Ulcerative Colitis / Crohn's Disease.)

He talks about how he cured blood poisoning in his own leg using echinacea. He tells the story of one of his patients who had lethal radiation poisoning and was due to die in 6 months, but was completely cured by doing an intense juice fast. He talks extensively about amalgam dental fillings (50% mercury) causing auto-immune diseases, cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease and general insanity. Plus, heavy metal poisoning in general.

Why can some people drink, smoke, eat junk food and still never get sick, while others are constantly getting sick from the smallest bit of unhealthy living? Philip answers this question (hint: genetical strength/resilience has a lot to do with it).

He talks about the "mandate of heaven" and how to optimize our bodily constitution and mental/emotional well-being.

Listen the audio of his talk at the Fresh Festival October 2006. Also, check out his comprehensive website.

I just listened to a talk by Dr. Philip Weeks on various aspects of natural medicine. Wow, it was really interesting. (Dr. Weeks was instrumental in helping my body recover from Ulcerative Colitis / Crohn's Disease.)

He talks about how he cured blood poisoning in his own leg using echinacea. He tells the story of one of his patients who had lethal radiation poisoning and was due to die in 6 months, but was completely cured by doing an intense juice fast. He talks extensively about amalgam dental fillings (50% mercury) causing auto-immune diseases, cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol, Alzheimer's disease and general insanity. Plus, heavy metal poisoning in general.

Why can some people drink, smoke, eat junk food and still never get sick, while others are constantly getting sick from the smallest bit of unhealthy living? Philip answers this question (hint: genetical strength/resilience has a lot to do with it).

He talks about the "mandate of heaven" and how to optimize our bodily constitution and mental/emotional well-being.

Listen the audio of his talk at the Fresh Festival October 2006. Also, check out his comprehensive website.

Krishna is like the sun, sometimes unmanifest like the sun at night, sometimes manifest.

Krishna has a right to do whatever he wants, but we don't like that.
We want things done our way. However, Krishna does things his way and thereby creates subject matter for eternal conversation.

Story of my father educating me in the real point of life: leave some footprints in the sand when you're gone.

Where are the former leader of the DDR's (E. Honiker) footprints? Ever place has its local heroes. In Weimar they are Schiller, Goethe and Liszt, but in other parts of the world no one has ever heard of them.

Mysterious: the Lord wants to take his own Yadu dynasty away from the world. The reasons are that some of his family members where becoming too powerful, familiar and proud, less intelligent people would automatically consider someone born in that dynasty spiritually qualified and that they were so attached to him that they couldn't have handled the feelings of separation from him.

Brahmanas curse the Yadu dynasty. Maharaja Pariksit is confused as to why and asks Sukadeva Goswami.

Yadu boys play a joke on the great sages and get cursed to give birth to an iron club that will destroy the entire dynasty. They told there family members and King Ugrasena had the club ground up and thrown into the ocean. These turned into iron reeds that the Yadus used to beat each other to death.

Krishna let all this happen. He wanted to reduce the prestige of the material world. Just like the death of Jimi Hendrix caused DS to loose faith in material glory.

Understanding Krishna is the greatest career goal.

Questions:

• Duryodana is a partial incarnation of Kali. Why does Balarama love him so much?
• Caitanya said we should be very humble, but I often feel angry at other people's disinterest in Krishna consciousness. What is the proper attitude?
• What happened to the larger piece of iron from the ground up club that the fish swallowed?

Krishna is like the sun, sometimes unmanifest like the sun at night, sometimes manifest.

Krishna has a right to do whatever he wants, but we don't like that.
We want things done our way. However, Krishna does things his way and thereby creates subject matter for eternal conversation.

Story of my father educating me in the real point of life: leave some footprints in the sand when you're gone.

Where are the former leader of the DDR's (E. Honiker) footprints? Ever place has its local heroes. In Weimar they are Schiller, Goethe and Liszt, but in other parts of the world no one has ever heard of them.

Mysterious: the Lord wants to take his own Yadu dynasty away from the world. The reasons are that some of his family members where becoming too powerful, familiar and proud, less intelligent people would automatically consider someone born in that dynasty spiritually qualified and that they were so attached to him that they couldn't have handled the feelings of separation from him.

Brahmanas curse the Yadu dynasty. Maharaja Pariksit is confused as to why and asks Sukadeva Goswami.

Yadu boys play a joke on the great sages and get cursed to give birth to an iron club that will destroy the entire dynasty. They told there family members and King Ugrasena had the club ground up and thrown into the ocean. These turned into iron reeds that the Yadus used to beat each other to death.

Krishna let all this happen. He wanted to reduce the prestige of the material world. Just like the death of Jimi Hendrix caused DS to loose faith in material glory.

Understanding Krishna is the greatest career goal.

Questions:

• Duryodana is a partial incarnation of Kali. Why does Balarama love him so much?
• Caitanya said we should be very humble, but I often feel angry at other people's disinterest in Krishna consciousness. What is the proper attitude?
• What happened to the larger piece of iron from the ground up club that the fish swallowed?

"How sophisticated is human design? How many humans can walk out into a meadow and with their left hand scrape away a little dirt and with their right hand put something into the ground that starts to make oxygen, sequester carbon, fix nitrogen, distill water, provide habitat for hundreds of species, build soil, accrue solar energy as fuel, generate complex sugars and food, change color with the seasons, create micro-climates and self-replicate?"

From a talk by William McDonough on Cradle to Cradle Design.

"How sophisticated is human design? How many humans can walk out into a meadow and with their left hand scrape away a little dirt and with their right hand put something into the ground that starts to make oxygen, sequester carbon, fix nitrogen, distill water, provide habitat for hundreds of species, build soil, accrue solar energy as fuel, generate complex sugars and food, change color with the seasons, create micro-climates and self-replicate?"

From a talk by William McDonough on Cradle to Cradle Design.

As we drove from Berlin to Leipzig I noticed that wind power generators were everywhere. Every few km there was a patch of about 15 windmills. Germany is the world's greatest producer of wind power. It generates double the amount of wind power than the next runner up (which is France, I think). A good thing too: German has instituted a law that requires that all nuclear power plants are shut down in the next 50 years. The 40% of the country's power that those generate needs to be replaced with renewable energy.

The East Germans are quite hearty people. More so than their western breatheren. They seem more emotional and personable.

Guru quotes:

The TV is the greatest destroyer of Krishna conscious family life and time for chanting

The prasadam in Berlin is very good. When there is good prasadam, the mind is peaceful.

As we drove from Berlin to Leipzig I noticed that wind power generators were everywhere. Every few km there was a patch of about 15 windmills. Germany is the world's greatest producer of wind power. It generates double the amount of wind power than the next runner up (which is France, I think). A good thing too: German has instituted a law that requires that all nuclear power plants are shut down in the next 50 years. The 40% of the country's power that those generate needs to be replaced with renewable energy.

The East Germans are quite hearty people. More so than their western breatheren. They seem more emotional and personable.

Guru quotes:

The TV is the greatest destroyer of Krishna conscious family life and time for chanting

The prasadam in Berlin is very good. When there is good prasadam, the mind is peaceful.

If you just make 10% of the population of Berlin Krishna conscious the whole country will change. Krishna can do the seemingly impossible. Don't buy into the Hare Krishna folk tales. In spite of material failure, going on and on in Krishna's service is always successful.

How long will it take to get to Leipzig? Frank-Peter is Germany's safest and most mellow driver. Driving with him is like driving on a bed of feathers.

The exclusiveness of devotional service should always be discussed. It is not sectarianism.

Real sustainable human economic development doesn't exist today, nor does sense gratification that doesn't kill you in the process, let alone religiosity, that can't deliver any genuine information about God. Everyone knows everything, except what they should know.

Why do we worship someone's feet? A speck of dust from Krishna's lotus feet can situate you beyond liberation.

Krishna forces pleasure onto the devotee. Don't worry about your own pleasure.

Who had gotten a letter from the mayor thanking you for serving Krishna? There is no support, no fame and no appreciation from materialist society.

Talk it up about serving Krishna. That is the highest position in reality! How to increase? How to serve better? Krishna appreciates this.

If you follow the so-called great people of today's society you'll go crazy. It's not that having precise spiritual knowledge in optional.

Germany has changed a lot since the 80s. The under 45s are open to everything. However, then one must understand: what is the best thing? Everyone is saying their thing is the best. Are all cars the same? Is a Mercedes as good as a Hyundai?

In the material world it's not enough to be a nice guy, you need to be
smart: you need knowledge. Bhagavatam is the topmost knowledge. See for yourself.

Questions:

• I still cannot understand the violence of Balarama towards Romaharsana Suta. We talk so much about love and peace, so why did Balarama have to kill him.
• How to engage our weak women's sentimentalism in devotional service?
• Many people say this movement is not very sentimental at all, no emotion, unlike e.g. Christians.

If you just make 10% of the population of Berlin Krishna conscious the whole country will change. Krishna can do the seemingly impossible. Don't buy into the Hare Krishna folk tales. In spite of material failure, going on and on in Krishna's service is always successful.

How long will it take to get to Leipzig? Frank-Peter is Germany's safest and most mellow driver. Driving with him is like driving on a bed of feathers.

The exclusiveness of devotional service should always be discussed. It is not sectarianism.

Real sustainable human economic development doesn't exist today, nor does sense gratification that doesn't kill you in the process, let alone religiosity, that can't deliver any genuine information about God. Everyone knows everything, except what they should know.

Why do we worship someone's feet? A speck of dust from Krishna's lotus feet can situate you beyond liberation.

Krishna forces pleasure onto the devotee. Don't worry about your own pleasure.

Who had gotten a letter from the mayor thanking you for serving Krishna? There is no support, no fame and no appreciation from materialist society.

Talk it up about serving Krishna. That is the highest position in reality! How to increase? How to serve better? Krishna appreciates this.

If you follow the so-called great people of today's society you'll go crazy. It's not that having precise spiritual knowledge in optional.

Germany has changed a lot since the 80s. The under 45s are open to everything. However, then one must understand: what is the best thing? Everyone is saying their thing is the best. Are all cars the same? Is a Mercedes as good as a Hyundai?

In the material world it's not enough to be a nice guy, you need to be
smart: you need knowledge. Bhagavatam is the topmost knowledge. See for yourself.

Questions:

• I still cannot understand the violence of Balarama towards Romaharsana Suta. We talk so much about love and peace, so why did Balarama have to kill him.
• How to engage our weak women's sentimentalism in devotional service?
• Many people say this movement is not very sentimental at all, no emotion, unlike e.g. Christians.

Krishna is the master of masters of yoga, so any understanding of him is the highest kind of mystic yogi.

How far can you take your spiritual life living in a big city?

In the Dwarka pastimes: Krishna has just gotten rid of Shalva, Dantavakra and Vidura and ended his mission of annihilating the miscreants. Balarama was going on pilgrimage while the battle of Kuruksetra was going on. When visiting the sagas at the forest of Namasuranya he was offered respect by everyone expect Romaharsana Suta who was sitting on the vyasasana.

Lord Balarama became angry. His mission was to annihilate hypocrites.
Romaharsana was not humble, not self-controlled, and just pretending to be a great sage and therefore needed to be terminated. He killed him with a single blade of kusa grass.

The sages cry out: abscheulich (alas, alas). They request Balarama to seat Romaharsana's son in his father's place, kill the demon Bhalva and tour all the holy places as atonement.

Thereafter Balarama saw Bhima and Duryodhana fighting, told them they should give up their anger and stop trying to kill each other. They didn't and Balarama left the scene, assuming it was destiny/Krishna's arrangement.

Yesterday in Weimar someone asked me: you may have knowledge, but still act in the opposite way. How is that the topmost thing? But real knowledge is realized, it is shown in actions, like a fire that burns.
That is what Romaharsana lacked. True, real knowledge!

Each pastime of Krishna's has deeper and deeper realization within it.
Think about it and understand the two-sided reality. Everything Krishna does can fascinate you endlessly. That is being the most powerful urban mystic.

Questions:

• Krishna normally acts to set an example to the ordinary people, but sometimes he acts immorally, like when he tells Arjuna to kill Asvatarma. Why?
• Do you have some practical advice on how to practice Krishna consciousness in such a disturbing environment as a big city?
• I heard you were preaching in the East before the Wall came down. Do you have any trilling stories from that time?

Krishna is the master of masters of yoga, so any understanding of him is the highest kind of mystic yogi.

How far can you take your spiritual life living in a big city?

In the Dwarka pastimes: Krishna has just gotten rid of Shalva, Dantavakra and Vidura and ended his mission of annihilating the miscreants. Balarama was going on pilgrimage while the battle of Kuruksetra was going on. When visiting the sagas at the forest of Namasuranya he was offered respect by everyone expect Romaharsana Suta who was sitting on the vyasasana.

Lord Balarama became angry. His mission was to annihilate hypocrites.
Romaharsana was not humble, not self-controlled, and just pretending to be a great sage and therefore needed to be terminated. He killed him with a single blade of kusa grass.

The sages cry out: abscheulich (alas, alas). They request Balarama to seat Romaharsana's son in his father's place, kill the demon Bhalva and tour all the holy places as atonement.

Thereafter Balarama saw Bhima and Duryodhana fighting, told them they should give up their anger and stop trying to kill each other. They didn't and Balarama left the scene, assuming it was destiny/Krishna's arrangement.

Yesterday in Weimar someone asked me: you may have knowledge, but still act in the opposite way. How is that the topmost thing? But real knowledge is realized, it is shown in actions, like a fire that burns.
That is what Romaharsana lacked. True, real knowledge!

Each pastime of Krishna's has deeper and deeper realization within it.
Think about it and understand the two-sided reality. Everything Krishna does can fascinate you endlessly. That is being the most powerful urban mystic.

Questions:

• Krishna normally acts to set an example to the ordinary people, but sometimes he acts immorally, like when he tells Arjuna to kill Asvatarma. Why?
• Do you have some practical advice on how to practice Krishna consciousness in such a disturbing environment as a big city?
• I heard you were preaching in the East before the Wall came down. Do you have any trilling stories from that time?

We travelled to Berlin with Maitreya-Muni das, a very nice disciple of Pritu Prabhu. It was a very nice sunny day with hardly any traffic. A very nice ride up to Germany's capital city (4 million people live in Berlin).

The temple itself was a bit of a shock. Located off a main street in an old courtyard of sorts, it had a run-down DDR-look to it, but at the same time was extremely peaceful. None of the noises from the busy road penetrated in. Dieties of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra shone brightly. Supremely excellent prasadam was served upon our arrival. I've rarely seen Guru Maharaja chant so much while taking a meal. The food was most definitely out of this world.

I met Bhakta Andr?©, an expert photographer who took off in his Krishna consciousness while visiting New Zealand. In Wellington he met Devamrita Swami and married his long-term girlfriend.

The Saturday Feast started off with an hour of super-sweet bhajans. The singing, harmonium and mrdanga playing was expert.

We travelled to Berlin with Maitreya-Muni das, a very nice disciple of Pritu Prabhu. It was a very nice sunny day with hardly any traffic. A very nice ride up to Germany's capital city (4 million people live in Berlin).

The temple itself was a bit of a shock. Located off a main street in an old courtyard of sorts, it had a run-down DDR-look to it, but at the same time was extremely peaceful. None of the noises from the busy road penetrated in. Dieties of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra shone brightly. Supremely excellent prasadam was served upon our arrival. I've rarely seen Guru Maharaja chant so much while taking a meal. The food was most definitely out of this world.

I met Bhakta Andr?©, an expert photographer who took off in his Krishna consciousness while visiting New Zealand. In Wellington he met Devamrita Swami and married his long-term girlfriend.

The Saturday Feast started off with an hour of super-sweet bhajans. The singing, harmonium and mrdanga playing was expert.

Some things degrade with time, but there is always a revival. This is a miracle: devotees openly discussing Krishna consciousness in the DDR. Freestyle spirituality is popular today. No repressive dogma! The need for a religious institution is even more alien.

Devotees are an opportunity to talk about Krishna. Then everything becomes positive. Pray for the ability to associate. Nice association of devotees will attract the lonely people of today. How? Help others to achieve their (genuine) dreams. The more you give Krishna, the more you get Krishna.

Real love requires qualification. You have to practice. Like being a student. 5 years of study just to understand something ordinary like hospitality or tourism. Dedicate your whole life for this purpose.

Questions:

• How can we motivate people to become attracted to Krishna in one of the four ways explained in the Bhagavad-Gita?
• I'm always wondering what is the right decision for Krishna. Like e.g. to work or not.
• How to develop loving relationships without becoming familiar?

Some things degrade with time, but there is always a revival. This is a miracle: devotees openly discussing Krishna consciousness in the DDR. Freestyle spirituality is popular today. No repressive dogma! The need for a religious institution is even more alien.

Devotees are an opportunity to talk about Krishna. Then everything becomes positive. Pray for the ability to associate. Nice association of devotees will attract the lonely people of today. How? Help others to achieve their (genuine) dreams. The more you give Krishna, the more you get Krishna.

Real love requires qualification. You have to practice. Like being a student. 5 years of study just to understand something ordinary like hospitality or tourism. Dedicate your whole life for this purpose.

Questions:

• How can we motivate people to become attracted to Krishna in one of the four ways explained in the Bhagavad-Gita?
• I'm always wondering what is the right decision for Krishna. Like e.g. to work or not.
• How to develop loving relationships without becoming familiar?

Weimar is a famous beautiful university town. The birthplace of Schiller, one of the most famous German authors ever. It is one of the only cities in East Germany that has grown in population since the reunification. Income comes mostly from tourism. Gurudeva's comment about Weimar devotees: quite an unusual crowd, they were quite mellow, usually Germans are really intense people.

The devotees are a nice, close knit community of university students and householders: no big leaders, no big programs; just simple, kind, loving and caring, free-flowing, non-rigidness.

East Germany has lots of unemployment. Practically every second person I spoke to didn't have a job. Even educated people have trouble finding themselves jobs. However, rent is very cheap. Living life does not cost much.

The programs are in a former slaughterhouse with very cheap rent. Even running just one program each week the congregation can easily afford to permanently rent the room.

Weimar is a famous beautiful university town. The birthplace of Schiller, one of the most famous German authors ever. It is one of the only cities in East Germany that has grown in population since the reunification. Income comes mostly from tourism. Gurudeva's comment about Weimar devotees: quite an unusual crowd, they were quite mellow, usually Germans are really intense people.

The devotees are a nice, close knit community of university students and householders: no big leaders, no big programs; just simple, kind, loving and caring, free-flowing, non-rigidness.

East Germany has lots of unemployment. Practically every second person I spoke to didn't have a job. Even educated people have trouble finding themselves jobs. However, rent is very cheap. Living life does not cost much.

The programs are in a former slaughterhouse with very cheap rent. Even running just one program each week the congregation can easily afford to permanently rent the room.

We're originally a part of Krishna, but struggling like a fly that has landed in some jelly. I was the first regional secretary for the DDR.

Weimar is famous for its culture. One thing is going on in the world:
economic development, more money, more money, more money!

In times with material "good times", people need to do it out of their intelligence. Most people tend to come because of distress, but such motivation does not last. We need to develop attraction to Krishna and his service, just like people are attracted to money making.

People are into being spiritual, but not religious. People think being religious means focusing on specific rules and real spirituality is free from all that. That kind of false religion is something that people are afraid of. However, real religion means complete, definite understanding of what is God.

There is so many so-called spirtual paths and teachers. What to do? Go party! Make money! Those become people's religion. But as soon as the goal of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead is known, everything makes sense. That is what is unique about Krishna consciousness.

Materially what is the benefit in trying to understand anyone? It has been going on for millions of years. But that desire to understand, focused on Krishna, is real religion.

Bhagavad-Gita already assumes some basic human intelligence: not belief in God, that's easy, kindergarden-stuff. Instead, a program for your senses to understand the Supreme is given. So don't be afraid of admitting you are trying to understand Krishna.

Please remember: you can eliminate all confusion, simply by understanding that the whole point of everything is simply to understand Krishna.

Questions:

• People know, i.e. Have knowledge of what a cigarette does to the body, but still they smoke. So how does that relate to the faith and knowledge that is talked about in the BG?
• What is the missing link between reading Bhagavad-Gita and acting on that knowledge?
• Isn't gaining some interest in Krishna consciousness by devotee association also just faith as ordinarily known?
• Krishna is known to have the opulence of renunciation, but how does he display this?
• I once saw a person with a sign: "I am God and can answer all questions". I asked him "what is my name?" and he could not answer. He said he was just God wanting to experience "ignorance". This made me think: Why did Krishna need to come as Lord Caitanya to experience his own devotees' love?
• The yuga-dhama in this age of Kali-yuga is to chant the holy name, so what is the importance of, for example, deity worship?

We're originally a part of Krishna, but struggling like a fly that has landed in some jelly. I was the first regional secretary for the DDR.

Weimar is famous for its culture. One thing is going on in the world:
economic development, more money, more money, more money!

In times with material "good times", people need to do it out of their intelligence. Most people tend to come because of distress, but such motivation does not last. We need to develop attraction to Krishna and his service, just like people are attracted to money making.

People are into being spiritual, but not religious. People think being religious means focusing on specific rules and real spirituality is free from all that. That kind of false religion is something that people are afraid of. However, real religion means complete, definite understanding of what is God.

There is so many so-called spirtual paths and teachers. What to do? Go party! Make money! Those become people's religion. But as soon as the goal of understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead is known, everything makes sense. That is what is unique about Krishna consciousness.

Materially what is the benefit in trying to understand anyone? It has been going on for millions of years. But that desire to understand, focused on Krishna, is real religion.

Bhagavad-Gita already assumes some basic human intelligence: not belief in God, that's easy, kindergarden-stuff. Instead, a program for your senses to understand the Supreme is given. So don't be afraid of admitting you are trying to understand Krishna.

Please remember: you can eliminate all confusion, simply by understanding that the whole point of everything is simply to understand Krishna.

Questions:

• People know, i.e. Have knowledge of what a cigarette does to the body, but still they smoke. So how does that relate to the faith and knowledge that is talked about in the BG?
• What is the missing link between reading Bhagavad-Gita and acting on that knowledge?
• Isn't gaining some interest in Krishna consciousness by devotee association also just faith as ordinarily known?
• Krishna is known to have the opulence of renunciation, but how does he display this?
• I once saw a person with a sign: "I am God and can answer all questions". I asked him "what is my name?" and he could not answer. He said he was just God wanting to experience "ignorance". This made me think: Why did Krishna need to come as Lord Caitanya to experience his own devotees' love?
• The yuga-dhama in this age of Kali-yuga is to chant the holy name, so what is the importance of, for example, deity worship?

Only 2 people for Vedicsoc this week. It was raining very (!) heavily.

I asked what they wanted to do. The request, to my surprise, was kundalini yoga. They really liked that. One person again said that the minute they closed their eyes in savasana they saw a bright green light.

We then discussed Ayurveda. Principles of Ayurveda:

1. Eat consciously. Chew food well and pay attention to eating. No eating mindlessly while doing something else. Enjoy the food.
2. Eat a proper regulated times. 8am, 12am, 5pm are the ideal times. (Snack of some fruit at 3pm is good, too). The main thing is to always eat at the same time each day. The exact time that is doesn't matter so much.
3. Pass urine after a meal.
4. Drink plenty of water, but not one hour before or one hour after a meal, since that will drown out the fire of digestion.
5. Once or twice a week self-massage with cold-pressed sesame oil (or almond oil for vata bodies and stressed people). Apply a thin layer all over the body.

• Don't repress the 13 body calls.
• When sick eat the right things according to your body type (and no meat, fish, eggs, deep fried, microwaved, processed, or fast-food; regardless of body type)

Amazing that this medical knowledge had its origin:
2000 years before Buddhism
1000 years before the Greek civilization
1000 years before the first Chinese dynasty (Xia)
1000 years before the Mayan civilization (and interestingly according to the Mayan Long Court system of recording time, the current cycle of this world began in 3114 BC, almost the exact time of Krishna's leaving the world)
500 years before the Egyptian pyramids

Of course, the Vedic culture is the origin of all the world's civilizations, so, in that sense, it makes perfect sense.

Only 2 people for Vedicsoc this week. It was raining very (!) heavily.

I asked what they wanted to do. The request, to my surprise, was kundalini yoga. They really liked that. One person again said that the minute they closed their eyes in savasana they saw a bright green light.

We then discussed Ayurveda. Principles of Ayurveda:

1. Eat consciously. Chew food well and pay attention to eating. No eating mindlessly while doing something else. Enjoy the food.
2. Eat a proper regulated times. 8am, 12am, 5pm are the ideal times. (Snack of some fruit at 3pm is good, too). The main thing is to always eat at the same time each day. The exact time that is doesn't matter so much.
3. Pass urine after a meal.
4. Drink plenty of water, but not one hour before or one hour after a meal, since that will drown out the fire of digestion.
5. Once or twice a week self-massage with cold-pressed sesame oil (or almond oil for vata bodies and stressed people). Apply a thin layer all over the body.

• Don't repress the 13 body calls.
• When sick eat the right things according to your body type (and no meat, fish, eggs, deep fried, microwaved, processed, or fast-food; regardless of body type)

Amazing that this medical knowledge had its origin:
2000 years before Buddhism
1000 years before the Greek civilization
1000 years before the first Chinese dynasty (Xia)
1000 years before the Mayan civilization (and interestingly according to the Mayan Long Court system of recording time, the current cycle of this world began in 3114 BC, almost the exact time of Krishna's leaving the world)
500 years before the Egyptian pyramids

Of course, the Vedic culture is the origin of all the world's civilizations, so, in that sense, it makes perfect sense.

Devamrita Swami spent the night at my old home in Germany. He suggested I should take a course in lawyer's rhetoric for making a presentation and arguing. I need to learn negotiation and cynicism: to size up the opposition and get what you want (this was right after having been chewed up and spat out at yet another PhD interview).

Another idea: sales training. Salesmen need to anticipate possible objections, never say something one could answer 'no" to.

While at my parents' house he saw a picture of my playing the cello. He said:

"I didn't know you played the cello, you should play it in kirtan. Use all skills in Krishna's service."

He then also saw a picture of my sailin a boat:

"I didn't know you sailed, when was that?"

In the morning he visited expert physiotherapist who had been practicing for 27 years to treat his whiplashed neck. "There is a definite difference between a good physiotherapist and an ordiany masseure", the physiotherapist explained. "The physio has much more knowledge of how the body works". This guy loved his job and spent 30 minutes loosening the Gurus stiff neck.

DS continued to ask lots of questions about the event from various pictures of me my parents have all over the house. My graduation, sailing, my playing musical instrument, etc.

He appreciated the quiet area/house. I served Gurudeva an all-organic breakfast: apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries, millet with raw sugar and maple syrup. I found German food to be very high quality, much more so than in the UK. Or, maybe it's just what my body is used to from growing up there.

We went to briefly visit Schloss Rettershof. It is now a hotel, but 20 years ago it was a huge Hare Krishna centre. The devotees used to have 17 Mercedes sankirtan mini-vans with which travelling sankirtan parties used to fan out over the surrounding area every week. Everyone gathered back at the Schloss (castle) on Sunday for the Sunday Feast.
During this time GM was using Schloss Rettershof as a base to travel into Eastern Europe, communist Russia, and so on. Thus he wanted to see his old home once again.

Once when Srila Prabhupada visited Germany the devotees made a huge advertizing campaign to publicize his arrival. They had the idea to print and put up posters everywhere, announcing: "der F? 1/4 hrer kommt!" (the leader is coming), with a picture of Prabhupada under the writing. Of course, the word F? 1/4 hrer was commonly used to refer to Hitler. As one might imagine, the campaign caused quite a commotion and outcry. However, as a result thousands of curious people came to observe Prabhupada. The streets leading up to the temple were lined wall-to-wall for miles with curious people eager to catch a glimpse of the strange Indian "F? 1/4 hrer".

Gurudeva mentioned that my flat was very nice as a transfer location when switching continents (when jetlagged to the max). He said (mercifully) that my cooking skills were increasing. He especially liked my pasta salad. There is also quite a lot to be said for good facilities, large external computer monitor, high-speed wireless Internet, rebounder, quiet location, good prasadam.

Dina Sharana met and accompanied us on our trip to Weimar. She is the new Euro GBC for Germany. She talked a lot about the revival of ISKCON Germany. An endless task that she is working very hard to accomplish. Devamrita Swami jokingly calls her the Kaiserin (Empress).

Devamrita Swami spent the night at my old home in Germany. He suggested I should take a course in lawyer's rhetoric for making a presentation and arguing. I need to learn negotiation and cynicism: to size up the opposition and get what you want (this was right after having been chewed up and spat out at yet another PhD interview).

Another idea: sales training. Salesmen need to anticipate possible objections, never say something one could answer 'no" to.

While at my parents' house he saw a picture of my playing the cello. He said:

"I didn't know you played the cello, you should play it in kirtan. Use all skills in Krishna's service."

He then also saw a picture of my sailin a boat:

"I didn't know you sailed, when was that?"

In the morning he visited expert physiotherapist who had been practicing for 27 years to treat his whiplashed neck. "There is a definite difference between a good physiotherapist and an ordiany masseure", the physiotherapist explained. "The physio has much more knowledge of how the body works". This guy loved his job and spent 30 minutes loosening the Gurus stiff neck.

DS continued to ask lots of questions about the event from various pictures of me my parents have all over the house. My graduation, sailing, my playing musical instrument, etc.

He appreciated the quiet area/house. I served Gurudeva an all-organic breakfast: apples, oranges, grapes, strawberries, millet with raw sugar and maple syrup. I found German food to be very high quality, much more so than in the UK. Or, maybe it's just what my body is used to from growing up there.

We went to briefly visit Schloss Rettershof. It is now a hotel, but 20 years ago it was a huge Hare Krishna centre. The devotees used to have 17 Mercedes sankirtan mini-vans with which travelling sankirtan parties used to fan out over the surrounding area every week. Everyone gathered back at the Schloss (castle) on Sunday for the Sunday Feast.
During this time GM was using Schloss Rettershof as a base to travel into Eastern Europe, communist Russia, and so on. Thus he wanted to see his old home once again.

Once when Srila Prabhupada visited Germany the devotees made a huge advertizing campaign to publicize his arrival. They had the idea to print and put up posters everywhere, announcing: "der F? 1/4 hrer kommt!" (the leader is coming), with a picture of Prabhupada under the writing. Of course, the word F? 1/4 hrer was commonly used to refer to Hitler. As one might imagine, the campaign caused quite a commotion and outcry. However, as a result thousands of curious people came to observe Prabhupada. The streets leading up to the temple were lined wall-to-wall for miles with curious people eager to catch a glimpse of the strange Indian "F? 1/4 hrer".

Gurudeva mentioned that my flat was very nice as a transfer location when switching continents (when jetlagged to the max). He said (mercifully) that my cooking skills were increasing. He especially liked my pasta salad. There is also quite a lot to be said for good facilities, large external computer monitor, high-speed wireless Internet, rebounder, quiet location, good prasadam.

Dina Sharana met and accompanied us on our trip to Weimar. She is the new Euro GBC for Germany. She talked a lot about the revival of ISKCON Germany. An endless task that she is working very hard to accomplish. Devamrita Swami jokingly calls her the Kaiserin (Empress).

On this day we flew to Germany from Heathrow. While checking in at the airport there was some complication with the booking. The lady at the ticket desk spent what must have been 30 minutes merrily reading over regulations, filling out forms, discussing with her colleagues until finally issuing us with tickets. All was fine. Oh, the bureaucracy. GD's comment: only India comes close to the British standard of bureaucracy, and they learnt it from the British.

Uneventful flight to Frankfurt in a small plane ...
... and to my parents' house in Germany ...

On this day we flew to Germany from Heathrow. While checking in at the airport there was some complication with the booking. The lady at the ticket desk spent what must have been 30 minutes merrily reading over regulations, filling out forms, discussing with her colleagues until finally issuing us with tickets. All was fine. Oh, the bureaucracy. GD's comment: only India comes close to the British standard of bureaucracy, and they learnt it from the British.

Uneventful flight to Frankfurt in a small plane ...
... and to my parents' house in Germany ...

Just 3 people for this week's Vedicsoc session. Last week's power yoga session may have been too intense. Then again, it was probably just a case of exams and coursework stopping many people from coming.

Yoga was a relaxing slow-deep stretch. Comments afterwards:

"While lying in savasana I kept seeing all kinds of strange colors flashing before my eyes."

(I related to story of Prabhupada telling a young hippy to "just keep chanting, it will go away")

"I've done yoga before, but never like this. I definitely feel something is happening to me."

Atmayoga is very good at making you feel its effects. Other yoga styles may be more austere, more intense, faster paced, more interesting, more expert, or better exercise, but in my option, Atmayoga excels in creating strong feelings in the bodies of the practitioners (which does not, of course, exclude any of the other benefits from accruing).

Then, as I say almost every session, I explained: "if you think this yoga is powerful, just think what the actual recommended process for this age, the chanting of Hare Krishna, will do for you?" Sadly, yoga, being on the bodily platform, is more instantly accessible and attractive. Nevertheless, we did some chanting of the Maha-Mantra and the people seemed to like it.

We then discussed "happiness". The group admitted that they generally were not very happy. I presented how material happiness is temporary and therefore not worth pursuing (referencing BG 5.22). Everyone could agree on that.

However, when I came to a solution to all this misery, I didn't take peoples previous conditioning of the structure of the universe into account enough. Everyone tends to believe the (mostly nonsense) they have been taught in school by their (mostly ignorant) teachers. It's natural to do so. So, breaking the conception that human life on earth is the be-all and end-all is difficult. More faith in the brilliance of the Vedic scripture is needed. However, faith is a dirty word these days.

Just 3 people for this week's Vedicsoc session. Last week's power yoga session may have been too intense. Then again, it was probably just a case of exams and coursework stopping many people from coming.

Yoga was a relaxing slow-deep stretch. Comments afterwards:

"While lying in savasana I kept seeing all kinds of strange colors flashing before my eyes."

(I related to story of Prabhupada telling a young hippy to "just keep chanting, it will go away")

"I've done yoga before, but never like this. I definitely feel something is happening to me."

Atmayoga is very good at making you feel its effects. Other yoga styles may be more austere, more intense, faster paced, more interesting, more expert, or better exercise, but in my option, Atmayoga excels in creating strong feelings in the bodies of the practitioners (which does not, of course, exclude any of the other benefits from accruing).

Then, as I say almost every session, I explained: "if you think this yoga is powerful, just think what the actual recommended process for this age, the chanting of Hare Krishna, will do for you?" Sadly, yoga, being on the bodily platform, is more instantly accessible and attractive. Nevertheless, we did some chanting of the Maha-Mantra and the people seemed to like it.

We then discussed "happiness". The group admitted that they generally were not very happy. I presented how material happiness is temporary and therefore not worth pursuing (referencing BG 5.22). Everyone could agree on that.

However, when I came to a solution to all this misery, I didn't take peoples previous conditioning of the structure of the universe into account enough. Everyone tends to believe the (mostly nonsense) they have been taught in school by their (mostly ignorant) teachers. It's natural to do so. So, breaking the conception that human life on earth is the be-all and end-all is difficult. More faith in the brilliance of the Vedic scripture is needed. However, faith is a dirty word these days.

Need to experience that chanting Hare Krishna solves all problems. At least one night a week come together and chant non-stop for one, two, three hours. That's a practical demonstration of the simple, powerful taste of kirtan. Real community building. Bonding. You'll be shocked at the transformation.

Any questions about anything?

• With the emphasis on service and bonding, how do fit in private sadhana and study?
• DS: who has read all of Caitanya Caritamrita? How can you live without having read the CC?
• Does Krishna refer to Himself as time anywhere?
• DS: have you read all of Bhagavad-Gita? What do you do with all your time?
• It's an offense to preach the glories of the holy name and yet we are giving out Krishna Book to the most unqualified. How do we remain enthusiastic about doing that?
• Can you relate some memories of Srila Prabhupada?
• Can you relate to us how you came to Krishna consciousness?
• We hear that the holy name is non-different from Krishna. What are some analogies that can help us realize that?
• We see so many great personalities really relishing chanting, how do we gain that same taste?

Need to experience that chanting Hare Krishna solves all problems. At least one night a week come together and chant non-stop for one, two, three hours. That's a practical demonstration of the simple, powerful taste of kirtan. Real community building. Bonding. You'll be shocked at the transformation.

Any questions about anything?

• With the emphasis on service and bonding, how do fit in private sadhana and study?
• DS: who has read all of Caitanya Caritamrita? How can you live without having read the CC?
• Does Krishna refer to Himself as time anywhere?
• DS: have you read all of Bhagavad-Gita? What do you do with all your time?
• It's an offense to preach the glories of the holy name and yet we are giving out Krishna Book to the most unqualified. How do we remain enthusiastic about doing that?
• Can you relate some memories of Srila Prabhupada?
• Can you relate to us how you came to Krishna consciousness?
• We hear that the holy name is non-different from Krishna. What are some analogies that can help us realize that?
• We see so many great personalities really relishing chanting, how do we gain that same taste?