Planet ISKCON

I was listening to a news report on the Indian caste system. The journalist talked about the huge amount of discrimination between the various castes in India. Only in the slums of the big cities, where everyone is equally poor, can people escape the shadow of the caste they were born into.

And what is to blame for all this segregation? The reporter says: why, of course, it is the evil Hindu faith with its antiquated beliefs and useless scriptures! The journalist went on to describe how there was a growing movement to throw out the Laws of Manu and establish the glorious Constitution as the basis of society (I won't link to the report, because it really isn't worth listening to).

Now, I won't go into the evils (real or imaginary) of so-called Hinduism in all its billions of shapes, sizes and variations. I will however point out that nowhere in the Vedic literature does it say that caste is established by birth. Everywhere it is said that caste (or varna) is determined by personal quality. If one has the qualities of an outcaste, then one should be treated like an outcaste. If one has the qualities of a brahmana, then one should be treated like a brahmana. Simple.

Proof? The Bhagavad-Gita (the basis of Hinduism - or so they say) says in verse 18.41:

"Br?hman?£as, ks?£atriyas, vai?>yas and ?>?«dras are distinguished by the qualities born of their own natures in accordance with the material modes, O chastiser of the enemy."

The word used is "svabh?va", which means "nature" or "quality". It does not say "janma", which would have meant birth. I think it is pretty clear.

The Srimad Bhagavatam (follow on to the Bhagavad Gita by the same author) makes it even clearer. In 7.11.35 the great sage Narada Muni is quoted:

"If one shows the symptoms of being a brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya or sudra, as described above, even if he has appeared in a different class, he should be accepted according to those symptoms of classification."

Here is a one way to determine which class one is most inclined to (note: there is a lot more to it than this simple explanation):

Brahmanas (intellectuals) are perfectly happy to be part of some larger operation, as long as it is well run and they can have their freedom. Ksatriyas (warriors) prefer to be part of smaller, poorly managed operation, as long as they are in charge. Vaisyas (merchants) want to make lots and lots of money and Sudras (laborers) are happy just working and not having to worry about any big decisions. No class is any "worse" than another. Different people work in different ways. It is foolish to pass laws making everyone equal when it is clearly not the case.

Krishna consciousness is not Hinduism. Hinduism does not make much sense to me. However, Krishna consciousness makes perfect sense and it is based on the best knowledge. A society based on varna and ashrama is perfect. But don't take my word for it: read the Bhagavatam and see for yourself the genius of the varnashrama system.

This week's Vedicsoc session was, once again, a bit of a surprise for me. 18 people showed up! Some from previous sessions, but also lots of new guests.

I taught a Slow-Deep Aerobic yoga class (everyone nearly died during the aerobic part), which went well. One lady asked me afterwards how long I had been practicing, since it seemed like I had been doing it since early childhood (if she only knew...).

Then some chanting of the Maha-Mantra on beads (though I ran out of beads, not expecting such a large crowd).

Then a discussion. I tried to make the discussion interactive and engaging, but the group was just the wrong size. Too large to personally interact with each person and too small to allow people to become anonymous in the group and feel safe to interact with me in that way.

I ended up talking for only a short while, explaining how we are not the body and giving an overview of the Bhagavad-Gita. I then randomly divided people into groups of four (making sure to mix people together who did not know each other) and told them to socialise, get to know each other and talk about whatever they like. While they were talking I walked around distributing prasadam to everyone. Very soon everyone was chatting, laughing and having a good time.

After about 20 minutes of small group chatting the session naturally came to a close. Everyone thanked me and the students headed off back into the material world.

Nearly everyone bought a set of beads.

This week's Vedicsoc session was, once again, a bit of a surprise for me. 18 people showed up! Some from previous sessions, but also lots of new guests.

I taught a Slow-Deep Aerobic yoga class (everyone nearly died during the aerobic part), which went well. One lady asked me afterwards how long I had been practicing, since it seemed like I had been doing it since early childhood (if she only knew...).

Then some chanting of the Maha-Mantra on beads (though I ran out of beads, not expecting such a large crowd).

Then a discussion. I tried to make the discussion interactive and engaging, but the group was just the wrong size. Too large to personally interact with each person and too small to allow people to become anonymous in the group and feel safe to interact with me in that way.

I ended up talking for only a short while, explaining how we are not the body and giving an overview of the Bhagavad-Gita. I then randomly divided people into groups of four (making sure to mix people together who did not know each other) and told them to socialise, get to know each other and talk about whatever they like. While they were talking I walked around distributing prasadam to everyone. Very soon everyone was chatting, laughing and having a good time.

After about 20 minutes of small group chatting the session naturally came to a close. Everyone thanked me and the students headed off back into the material world.

Nearly everyone bought a set of beads.

I recently had another consultation with Dr. Philip Weeks in Hereford.
My body is doing well. Certainly much, much better than it was. I'm fine as long as I watch what I eat (no diary, no wheat) and get enough sleep. That will most likely stay that way until I finish studying. This PhD is putting an intense amount of mental pressure on me, which is stopping my digestion from working as it should. Medicine can only do so much. The rest is in the mind and in the stars.

I was feeling a bit tired and run down. Phil decided to give me a "boost" with some acupuncture needles. He stuck needles in my chest, forehead, ankles, arms, knees and six places in my lower back. Most of these (especially the forehead and back) were actually quite painful. Usually acupuncture isn't at all painful. It just is a very weird tingly feeling when the needle hits the energy point. However, when the doctor misses the exact and needs to correct by moving the needle ever so slightly, then that can create some pain. Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, of course.

One good thing that practicing a martial art like Jiu Jitsu has taught me is that pain is just in the mind. Sure, I don't like it, but I'm not the mind, so I don't really mind.

After the treatment I felt weird, as always. However, very soon I was a lot more alert and energetic. It worked. My tiredness was needled away.

Apparently I respond well to acupuncture. People are different. Some respond better to herbs, some homeopathy, some Ayurveda, some western (killer) drugs. There is no one cure for all ailments (except chanting Hare Krishna, of course). Acupuncture works for me, so that's what the doctor applies.

Philip gave me some Probiotics and B-vitamines to take and sent me on my way. Onwards to the next battle ...

I recently had another consultation with Dr. Philip Weeks in Hereford.
My body is doing well. Certainly much, much better than it was. I'm fine as long as I watch what I eat (no diary, no wheat) and get enough sleep. That will most likely stay that way until I finish studying. This PhD is putting an intense amount of mental pressure on me, which is stopping my digestion from working as it should. Medicine can only do so much. The rest is in the mind and in the stars.

I was feeling a bit tired and run down. Phil decided to give me a "boost" with some acupuncture needles. He stuck needles in my chest, forehead, ankles, arms, knees and six places in my lower back. Most of these (especially the forehead and back) were actually quite painful. Usually acupuncture isn't at all painful. It just is a very weird tingly feeling when the needle hits the energy point. However, when the doctor misses the exact and needs to correct by moving the needle ever so slightly, then that can create some pain. Some areas of the body are more sensitive than others, of course.

One good thing that practicing a martial art like Jiu Jitsu has taught me is that pain is just in the mind. Sure, I don't like it, but I'm not the mind, so I don't really mind.

After the treatment I felt weird, as always. However, very soon I was a lot more alert and energetic. It worked. My tiredness was needled away.

Apparently I respond well to acupuncture. People are different. Some respond better to herbs, some homeopathy, some Ayurveda, some western (killer) drugs. There is no one cure for all ailments (except chanting Hare Krishna, of course). Acupuncture works for me, so that's what the doctor applies.

Philip gave me some Probiotics and B-vitamines to take and sent me on my way. Onwards to the next battle ...

It seems I may have been a bit too direct after all. This week only one person of the 21 that came last week came back. Three other new guests also came for the first time.

I was not intending to teach any yoga (which might also have had something to do with the low attendance), but since that was the main reason these three new guest came, I taught it anyway. Then chanting, a long discussion of desire and prasadam.

I asked people to write down:

Choices made in the past that significantly affected your present situation.
Choices you are making right now that will significantly affect your future.
If you could have anything you desired, what would it be?

And the discussion went from there. Here some of the desires people are having deep down in their hearts:

• lots of money
• nice car
• being popular
• passing exams
• glamours life
• happiness
• health
• love
• perfect friends
• perfect family
• no violence
• no fear
• no difficulty

It seems I may have been a bit too direct after all. This week only one person of the 21 that came last week came back. Three other new guests also came for the first time.

I was not intending to teach any yoga (which might also have had something to do with the low attendance), but since that was the main reason these three new guest came, I taught it anyway. Then chanting, a long discussion of desire and prasadam.

I asked people to write down:

Choices made in the past that significantly affected your present situation.
Choices you are making right now that will significantly affect your future.
If you could have anything you desired, what would it be?

And the discussion went from there. Here some of the desires people are having deep down in their hearts:

• lots of money
• nice car
• being popular
• passing exams
• glamours life
• happiness
• health
• love
• perfect friends
• perfect family
• no violence
• no fear
• no difficulty

My spiritual master visited me again for a few days. He arrived from Russia, having taken part in three huge festivals (in Hungary, Ukraine and Russia). One of his connecting flights was delayed and he ended having to stay overnight in an airport.

Needless to say, when he finally arrived he was exhausted. He came to Manchester to hide, rest and recover. Then, after two days of rest, onwards and upwards to more traveling and preaching all over the world.

During his stay I got to answer some computer questions. His laptop was acting up a little. He also inquired as to the possibilities and options for video recording and editing.

Krishna Katha was accompanying him on his travels and taking very good care of him. He took care of the tons and tons of washing and ironing that needed to be done for Guru Maharaja.
On the menu for his visit:

Day 1:

• Salad with cherry tomatoes and olive oil and lemon juice dressing
• Carrot, sweet potato, zucchini and brussels sprout coconut curry (he liked the brussel sprouts and asked for more, but he didn't like the carrots)
• Basmati and white rice with fennel
• Corn on the cob
• Green bean and broccoli samosas
• Tomato chutney
• Dorset apple cake (half of which I almost burned, but he liked it anyway)
• Apple and ginger juice (my juicer started smoking just after finishing the juice - yet another case of shoddy cheap made-in-China electronics that break just after the warranty runs out)

Day 2:

• Basmati and white rice with turmeric
• Salad with radishes and tahini dressing
• Tomato and spinach subji (too spicy, apparently)
• Asparagus and (red) bell pepper subji
• Sweet potato pie
• Tomato chutney
• Vanilla dream cookies
• Peppermint tea

My spiritual master visited me again for a few days. He arrived from Russia, having taken part in three huge festivals (in Hungary, Ukraine and Russia). One of his connecting flights was delayed and he ended having to stay overnight in an airport.

Needless to say, when he finally arrived he was exhausted. He came to Manchester to hide, rest and recover. Then, after two days of rest, onwards and upwards to more traveling and preaching all over the world.

During his stay I got to answer some computer questions. His laptop was acting up a little. He also inquired as to the possibilities and options for video recording and editing.

Krishna Katha was accompanying him on his travels and taking very good care of him. He took care of the tons and tons of washing and ironing that needed to be done for Guru Maharaja.
On the menu for his visit:

Day 1:

• Salad with cherry tomatoes and olive oil and lemon juice dressing
• Carrot, sweet potato, zucchini and brussels sprout coconut curry (he liked the brussel sprouts and asked for more, but he didn't like the carrots)
• Basmati and white rice with fennel
• Corn on the cob
• Green bean and broccoli samosas
• Tomato chutney
• Dorset apple cake (half of which I almost burned, but he liked it anyway)
• Apple and ginger juice (my juicer started smoking just after finishing the juice - yet another case of shoddy cheap made-in-China electronics that break just after the warranty runs out)

Day 2:

• Basmati and white rice with turmeric
• Salad with radishes and tahini dressing
• Tomato and spinach subji (too spicy, apparently)
• Asparagus and (red) bell pepper subji
• Sweet potato pie
• Tomato chutney
• Vanilla dream cookies
• Peppermint tea

Vedicsoc has reincarnated. Yes, we just had our first session. 21 people came; with a roughly 4/1 female-to-male ratio.

We started off with some Power Yoga. I modified the class structure to avoid poses that take up a lot of space (anticipating a large initial crowd). So, no "hero sequence" for example. The room would not have been big enough. The yoga went well. People can relate to yoga.

We then moved onto chanting two Vedic mantras for 5 minutes each (not the maha-mantra). I asked for questions and feedback. That also went well. Some questions I didn't answer straight out, but promised to answer later, explaining that the answer requires some background to fully understand.

The third phase of the session was the discussion. I asked if anyone knew what the word "Yoga" actually meant. No one knew (it means "to connect", by the way). I then asked what makes a car move, proceeding to explain the nature of consciousness, the complete whole we are all a part of and the dual personal and impersonal nature of that complete consciousness. Yoga, I said, means to connect to the personal complete consciousness named "Krishna".

I proceeded to give some more background and respond to questions. My aim was to dispel doubts, fears and misconceptions. So, I explained the authorized origins of the teachings, the fact that they required no blind faith, but can be scientifically verified by entering the Vedic laboratory. I said how there was no need to stop any current (so called) religion anyone may be practicing. I also strongly encouraged people to voice doubts, concerns and questions. "Questions are good, we like questions; no force, take as much or as little as you desire" (to dispel the idea that Vedicsoc is some dangerous money-grabbing, soul-eating, loony-fanatic cult).

I was amazed how I was directly advocating Krishna consciousness to these students. I had not planned to speak so plainly. My plan was to gradually introduce the more unfamiliar notions of the Vedic knowledge, but here I was, pulling no punches (in a nice way).

I was similarly amazed at some of the questions people asked. This was one intelligent group of students. One girl asked:

"So is connecting with Krishna like having a perfect relationship?"

We finished with some prasadam cookies (which went down well) and a chance to purchase some introductory literature. 15 people bought books (Perfection of Yoga or Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers).

And that was that. See you next week.

[Oh yeah, I recorded the session using the (horrible quality) built-in mic of my MacBook Pro. It is good enough for recording speech directly at the computer, but it is not made to record an entire room of conversation. I tried to clean the audio up as much as possible in a sound editor. It is still far from ideal. Anyway, enjoy (if you can).]

Vedicsoc has reincarnated. Yes, we just had our first session. 21 people came; with a roughly 4/1 female-to-male ratio.

We started off with some Power Yoga. I modified the class structure to avoid poses that take up a lot of space (anticipating a large initial crowd). So, no "hero sequence" for example. The room would not have been big enough. The yoga went well. People can relate to yoga.

We then moved onto chanting two Vedic mantras for 5 minutes each (not the maha-mantra). I asked for questions and feedback. That also went well. Some questions I didn't answer straight out, but promised to answer later, explaining that the answer requires some background to fully understand.

The third phase of the session was the discussion. I asked if anyone knew what the word "Yoga" actually meant. No one knew (it means "to connect", by the way). I then asked what makes a car move, proceeding to explain the nature of consciousness, the complete whole we are all a part of and the dual personal and impersonal nature of that complete consciousness. Yoga, I said, means to connect to the personal complete consciousness named "Krishna".

I proceeded to give some more background and respond to questions. My aim was to dispel doubts, fears and misconceptions. So, I explained the authorized origins of the teachings, the fact that they required no blind faith, but can be scientifically verified by entering the Vedic laboratory. I said how there was no need to stop any current (so called) religion anyone may be practicing. I also strongly encouraged people to voice doubts, concerns and questions. "Questions are good, we like questions; no force, take as much or as little as you desire" (to dispel the idea that Vedicsoc is some dangerous money-grabbing, soul-eating, loony-fanatic cult).

I was amazed how I was directly advocating Krishna consciousness to these students. I had not planned to speak so plainly. My plan was to gradually introduce the more unfamiliar notions of the Vedic knowledge, but here I was, pulling no punches (in a nice way).

I was similarly amazed at some of the questions people asked. This was one intelligent group of students. One girl asked:

"So is connecting with Krishna like having a perfect relationship?"

We finished with some prasadam cookies (which went down well) and a chance to purchase some introductory literature. 15 people bought books (Perfection of Yoga or Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers).

And that was that. See you next week.

[Oh yeah, I recorded the session using the (horrible quality) built-in mic of my MacBook Pro. It is good enough for recording speech directly at the computer, but it is not made to record an entire room of conversation. I tried to clean the audio up as much as possible in a sound editor. It is still far from ideal. Anyway, enjoy (if you can).]

Today we celebrated my Gurumaharaja's Vyasa-puja. This is my last few days in Wellington, as I'm heading back up to Auckland on Monday, so it was nice to observe the ceremony here, especially considering this is where I first got into Krsna consciousness, but I had never previous been in Wellington to celebrate Gurudeva Vyasa-puja.

Here is my offering to Gurudeva:

Dear Gurudeva,

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

On this most blessed and auspicious day, I hope for my mind to be deep in contemplation over the mysterious indebtedness that arises as a natural result of the Guru-disciple relationship.

Srila Gurudeva, it’s practically impossible for me to calculate exactly when my debt to you began. In the summer of 1998 I first met a disciple of yours, the first Hare Krishna devotee I had ever met, while walking in Whakatane township with some friends. I was full of envy and asked this devotee what it felt like to be a member of a cult. He just stared blankly at me, with my spiked up pink hair, facial peircings and dirty appearance and replied “Well…from my perspective it looks like you are the cult member.” All my friends laughed, and instantly I was filled with respect for this devotee.

The following year an aspiring disciple of yours approached the door of my parents’ house, and convinced me to give him a donation and thus I received the book Easy Journey to Other Planets. Over the following years, I frequently met your disciples in various cities in New Zealand. My brother and I spent ½ an hour talking to one disciple in Rotorua. Another gave me advice on asthma on Queen Street in Auckland. Often I would go looking for a Hare Krishna whenever I visited a city, and upon finding one I would walk past them repeatedly until they would talk to me. One day I even received a set of beads from a disciple of yours that I met on the streets of Hamilton, which lead me to start chanting Hare Krishna daily, for at least a little while. Your disciples fed me from their restaurant on many occasions. In fact, several previous associates of mine even became your very serious disciples.

Somehow, Gurumaharaja, one of my previous associates, turned surrendered soul, convinced me to take a trip to your Gaura-Yoga centre, to see a world traveling monk. With no money in my bank account, I had to beg $3 to come for the Sunday feast, and with that $3 I unknowingly placed myself into a debt of unimaginable proportions. On that night I heard you speak such obvious truths that I was ashamed to admit that I was so lost in a world of obvious illusion. We had a short discussion afterwards, during which you told me that I could only make a real change in the world if I first changed myself. From that night I felt a feeling of indebtedness to you, and in order to begin to pay it back, I tried to follow your advice faithfully, though progressing slowly.

Srila Gurudeva, somehow or other you dragged me from such a position of embarrassing suffering. One is automatically placed in an embarrassing position when they think they are the body, and I was so deep in such a position that I am now completely ashamed thinking about the situation, and thus I feel immensely indebted to you. And through your constant guidance, you have repeatedly given me the opportunity to begin to pay back my debt.

Srila Gurudeva, you placed me in the association of serious devotees, so that I could engage in serious devotional service to begin to pay back my debt to you. But, mysteriously, the happiness I felt by engaging in devotional service, in the association of devotees, only served to increase my feelings of indebtedness. Then, under your guidance, I began to try to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. It is clear that this is a service very dear to you, and I thought that perhaps by serving you in this way I might just be able to repay my debt to you. But Srila Gurudeva, the mystery is that the total opposite seems to be happening!

While in Auckland I met a boy named Jonathon, who had just returned to New Zealand from a student exchange experience in Denmark. While passing through the LA Airport, heading to Denmark, he ran into a disciple of yours who sold him a book. He read that book several times, and thus decided to become vegetarian. On the way back through the LA Airport he again met that same disciple of yours, receiving this time the Journey of Self Discovery. When I met him, he decided to buy a Science of Self Realisation. I sent you an e-mail about this story some time ago, for your pleasure, and as an attempt to pay off some of my debt.

But Srila Gurudeva, that story hasn’t ended, and thus my debt has only increased again! Recently, I have made a brief visit to Wellington. On the first Krishna Fest celebration I attended while here I had a boy come up to me, asking if I remembered him. He said I had met him a year and a half ago in Auckland. Since I had met him, he had met many other disciples of yours, and bought many more books to continue his collection, which he reads regularly. He has made himself familiar with a number of your disciples at your Gaura-Yoga Centre, he has started chanting a little bit, and seems enthusiastic to continue his associating with your disciples. As we talked I asked where he got his first book, and as he explained his story more, I realized who it was I was talking to. It was that same Jonathon who I wrote to you about over a year ago.

Srila Gurudeva, somehow or other, while trying to repay my debt to you, I have found myself to be an insignificant link in your chain of mercy which is working to pull conditioned souls out of the embarrassing ocean of material existence, out of the dark ocean of misery that is bodily identification. And as a result of being in this position I feel such happiness that it seems like my debt to you has just increased a thousand fold again!

Gurudeva, I don’t know what kind of trick you have played on me, but I don’t see any way out of this situation, for the only currency which you will ever accept for repayment of my debt only seems to increase my indebtedness to you more and more. But unlike my materialistic friends of yesteryear, who upon finding themselves in debt are feeling incredible pangs of stress and anxiety, for myself the thought of serving you for the rest of my life in order repay this great debt only serves to fill me with such a feeling of happiness and satisfaction that I am actually praying to you today that this debt will only increase a thousand-fold, year after year after year.

Your eternally indebted servant,
Vidyapati dasa

Today we celebrated my Gurumaharaja's Vyasa-puja. This is my last few days in Wellington, as I'm heading back up to Auckland on Monday, so it was nice to observe the ceremony here, especially considering this is where I first got into Krsna consciousness, but I had never previous been in Wellington to celebrate Gurudeva Vyasa-puja.

Here is my offering to Gurudeva:

Dear Gurudeva,

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

On this most blessed and auspicious day, I hope for my mind to be deep in contemplation over the mysterious indebtedness that arises as a natural result of the Guru-disciple relationship.

Srila Gurudeva, it’s practically impossible for me to calculate exactly when my debt to you began. In the summer of 1998 I first met a disciple of yours, the first Hare Krishna devotee I had ever met, while walking in Whakatane township with some friends. I was full of envy and asked this devotee what it felt like to be a member of a cult. He just stared blankly at me, with my spiked up pink hair, facial peircings and dirty appearance and replied “Well…from my perspective it looks like you are the cult member.” All my friends laughed, and instantly I was filled with respect for this devotee.

The following year an aspiring disciple of yours approached the door of my parents’ house, and convinced me to give him a donation and thus I received the book Easy Journey to Other Planets. Over the following years, I frequently met your disciples in various cities in New Zealand. My brother and I spent ½ an hour talking to one disciple in Rotorua. Another gave me advice on asthma on Queen Street in Auckland. Often I would go looking for a Hare Krishna whenever I visited a city, and upon finding one I would walk past them repeatedly until they would talk to me. One day I even received a set of beads from a disciple of yours that I met on the streets of Hamilton, which lead me to start chanting Hare Krishna daily, for at least a little while. Your disciples fed me from their restaurant on many occasions. In fact, several previous associates of mine even became your very serious disciples.

Somehow, Gurumaharaja, one of my previous associates, turned surrendered soul, convinced me to take a trip to your Gaura-Yoga centre, to see a world traveling monk. With no money in my bank account, I had to beg $3 to come for the Sunday feast, and with that $3 I unknowingly placed myself into a debt of unimaginable proportions. On that night I heard you speak such obvious truths that I was ashamed to admit that I was so lost in a world of obvious illusion. We had a short discussion afterwards, during which you told me that I could only make a real change in the world if I first changed myself. From that night I felt a feeling of indebtedness to you, and in order to begin to pay it back, I tried to follow your advice faithfully, though progressing slowly.

Srila Gurudeva, somehow or other you dragged me from such a position of embarrassing suffering. One is automatically placed in an embarrassing position when they think they are the body, and I was so deep in such a position that I am now completely ashamed thinking about the situation, and thus I feel immensely indebted to you. And through your constant guidance, you have repeatedly given me the opportunity to begin to pay back my debt.

Srila Gurudeva, you placed me in the association of serious devotees, so that I could engage in serious devotional service to begin to pay back my debt to you. But, mysteriously, the happiness I felt by engaging in devotional service, in the association of devotees, only served to increase my feelings of indebtedness. Then, under your guidance, I began to try to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. It is clear that this is a service very dear to you, and I thought that perhaps by serving you in this way I might just be able to repay my debt to you. But Srila Gurudeva, the mystery is that the total opposite seems to be happening!

While in Auckland I met a boy named Jonathon, who had just returned to New Zealand from a student exchange experience in Denmark. While passing through the LA Airport, heading to Denmark, he ran into a disciple of yours who sold him a book. He read that book several times, and thus decided to become vegetarian. On the way back through the LA Airport he again met that same disciple of yours, receiving this time the Journey of Self Discovery. When I met him, he decided to buy a Science of Self Realisation. I sent you an e-mail about this story some time ago, for your pleasure, and as an attempt to pay off some of my debt.

But Srila Gurudeva, that story hasn’t ended, and thus my debt has only increased again! Recently, I have made a brief visit to Wellington. On the first Krishna Fest celebration I attended while here I had a boy come up to me, asking if I remembered him. He said I had met him a year and a half ago in Auckland. Since I had met him, he had met many other disciples of yours, and bought many more books to continue his collection, which he reads regularly. He has made himself familiar with a number of your disciples at your Gaura-Yoga Centre, he has started chanting a little bit, and seems enthusiastic to continue his associating with your disciples. As we talked I asked where he got his first book, and as he explained his story more, I realized who it was I was talking to. It was that same Jonathon who I wrote to you about over a year ago.

Srila Gurudeva, somehow or other, while trying to repay my debt to you, I have found myself to be an insignificant link in your chain of mercy which is working to pull conditioned souls out of the embarrassing ocean of material existence, out of the dark ocean of misery that is bodily identification. And as a result of being in this position I feel such happiness that it seems like my debt to you has just increased a thousand fold again!

Gurudeva, I don’t know what kind of trick you have played on me, but I don’t see any way out of this situation, for the only currency which you will ever accept for repayment of my debt only seems to increase my indebtedness to you more and more. But unlike my materialistic friends of yesteryear, who upon finding themselves in debt are feeling incredible pangs of stress and anxiety, for myself the thought of serving you for the rest of my life in order repay this great debt only serves to fill me with such a feeling of happiness and satisfaction that I am actually praying to you today that this debt will only increase a thousand-fold, year after year after year.

Your eternally indebted servant,
Vidyapati dasa

I was listening to Christopher Allen (blog) giving a talk about Dunbar's number.

Dunbar measured the ideal sizes of various types of groups. The larger the group, the more time must be spent coordinating and socializing, and less time spent doing stuff.

Groups over 150 or so people, do not work.

Settlements split at that size, Roman army units are that size (a Centurion would command no more than 150 men), academic peer-groups don't work if they grow above 150, the list goes on ...

The best group size is far lower than 150, depending on what a group is trying to accomplish. 150 is the ideal number for a group of primates trying to survive. The ideal modern group size is somewhere around 40 - 60. Such groups can work very well.

Allen goes on to describe that a group of 40 people have a different dynamic to a small group of about 5 - 10 people. Groups of 10 people also work well, but do so in a different way to larger groups of 40 people. However, in between these two ideal group sizes the group dynamic falls apart. The group is too big for small group practices to work well, but too small for large group practices to take effect.

Groups of 13 people do not work.

Such groups must either shrink back to a more manageable size, or quickly expand to at least 20 people to allow large group dynamics to set in. Groups between 10 and 20 people will otherwise at best get nothing done or at worst break apart.

I was listening to Christopher Allen (blog) giving a talk about Dunbar's number.

Dunbar measured the ideal sizes of various types of groups. The larger the group, the more time must be spent coordinating and socializing, and less time spent doing stuff.

Groups over 150 or so people, do not work.

Settlements split at that size, Roman army units are that size (a Centurion would command no more than 150 men), academic peer-groups don't work if they grow above 150, the list goes on ...

The best group size is far lower than 150, depending on what a group is trying to accomplish. 150 is the ideal number for a group of primates trying to survive. The ideal modern group size is somewhere around 40 - 60. Such groups can work very well.

Allen goes on to describe that a group of 40 people have a different dynamic to a small group of about 5 - 10 people. Groups of 10 people also work well, but do so in a different way to larger groups of 40 people. However, in between these two ideal group sizes the group dynamic falls apart. The group is too big for small group practices to work well, but too small for large group practices to take effect.

Groups of 13 people do not work.

Such groups must either shrink back to a more manageable size, or quickly expand to at least 20 people to allow large group dynamics to set in. Groups between 10 and 20 people will otherwise at best get nothing done or at worst break apart.

A new University semester is upon us and Vedicsoc is back in business!

We just had the Fresher's Fair at the University. Up to four days of hoards of students being induced to join every kind of club or society one might imagine. I chose two days in the prime location (UoM Academy) for Vedicsoc's recruitment efforts. Kamren helped me.

We distributed loads of prasadam (Coconut Ice and Chinese Almond cookies), as well as 1000 flyers (and foolish me thought I had printed too many). 166 interested people put their email address down to be put on our mailing list.

On advice from Joy I added a timetable of events to the back of the flyers. A definite schedule of interesting topics should hopefully attract more people. I also set the price at ?£1 per session, pay-as-you-go. People liked the cheap price for a two hour long session, as well as the fact that they didn't have to commit to anything.

The fair itself was pretty intense: loud noise everywhere, wall-to-wall people and discarded flyers all over the place.

My realizations:

• Asian people are becoming more interested in yoga/meditation. We had quite a few Chinese and Japanese students come by, ask questions and sign up. In previous years there was zero interest from students from those countries.
• Students are getting older. Excessive sense gratification is prematurely aging young people. I remember when the freshers at University looked like little kids. Now I can hardly tell the difference between someone who is 18 and someone who is 28. All their innocence has been lost long long ago.
• (As my spiritual master also has said) men are generally spaced-out and women are angry. Indulging the senses destroys a man's intelligence and he becomes a spaced-out zombie. Women hope to get some emotional fulfillment from sense indulgence and are (inevitably) disappointed and angry when it does not result.

I tried to capture some of these ideas with my camera as I was distributing flyers and shouting at people trying to get their attention so they would join Vedicsoc. You can view the result of my photographic endeavors here. I think the pictures nicely illustrate the sad and sorry state of the student community (if I accidentally took a picture of anyone reading this blog entry and you don't want it displayed, please email me and I'll remove it).

Sorry for the low quality of the pictures. It was quite dark in the room and I had to resort to less than ideal ISO settings and shutter speeds.

On another side note: I've been watching the Radiant Vista Daily Critique. It is an excellent daily 5-minute video photo critique by master photographer Craig Tanner. He takes viewer/listener submitted photos and gives some encouraging words, as well as suggestions for improvement. I've learnt a lot about photography from these podcasts. I've implemented some of what I've learnt in this latest series of pictures. Further comments and suggestions are, of course, welcome.

A new University semester is upon us and Vedicsoc is back in business!

We just had the Fresher's Fair at the University. Up to four days of hoards of students being induced to join every kind of club or society one might imagine. I chose two days in the prime location (UoM Academy) for Vedicsoc's recruitment efforts. Kamren helped me.

We distributed loads of prasadam (Coconut Ice and Chinese Almond cookies), as well as 1000 flyers (and foolish me thought I had printed too many). 166 interested people put their email address down to be put on our mailing list.

On advice from Joy I added a timetable of events to the back of the flyers. A definite schedule of interesting topics should hopefully attract more people. I also set the price at ?£1 per session, pay-as-you-go. People liked the cheap price for a two hour long session, as well as the fact that they didn't have to commit to anything.

The fair itself was pretty intense: loud noise everywhere, wall-to-wall people and discarded flyers all over the place.

My realizations:

• Asian people are becoming more interested in yoga/meditation. We had quite a few Chinese and Japanese students come by, ask questions and sign up. In previous years there was zero interest from students from those countries.
• Students are getting older. Excessive sense gratification is prematurely aging young people. I remember when the freshers at University looked like little kids. Now I can hardly tell the difference between someone who is 18 and someone who is 28. All their innocence has been lost long long ago.
• (As my spiritual master also has said) men are generally spaced-out and women are angry. Indulging the senses destroys a man's intelligence and he becomes a spaced-out zombie. Women hope to get some emotional fulfillment from sense indulgence and are (inevitably) disappointed and angry when it does not result.

I tried to capture some of these ideas with my camera as I was distributing flyers and shouting at people trying to get their attention so they would join Vedicsoc. You can view the result of my photographic endeavors here. I think the pictures nicely illustrate the sad and sorry state of the student community (if I accidentally took a picture of anyone reading this blog entry and you don't want it displayed, please email me and I'll remove it).

Sorry for the low quality of the pictures. It was quite dark in the room and I had to resort to less than ideal ISO settings and shutter speeds.

On another side note: I've been watching the Radiant Vista Daily Critique. It is an excellent daily 5-minute video photo critique by master photographer Craig Tanner. He takes viewer/listener submitted photos and gives some encouraging words, as well as suggestions for improvement. I've learnt a lot about photography from these podcasts. I've implemented some of what I've learnt in this latest series of pictures. Further comments and suggestions are, of course, welcome.

Just got word that Hitesh has been initiated by his spiritual master (Devamrita Swami) during the recent festival in New Vraja dhama, Hungary. His initiated name is Radhikesa dasa. I'm really happy for him. Who would have known that a photography student from Manchester would become such a great humble servant in the Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya?

Here is a picture from the ceremony:

Just got word that Hitesh has been initiated by his spiritual master (Devamrita Swami) during the recent festival in New Vraja dhama, Hungary. His initiated name is Radhikesa dasa. I'm really happy for him. Who would have known that a photography student from Manchester would become such a great humble servant in the Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya?

Here is a picture from the ceremony:

"When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be"

-- John Lennon

"When they've tortured and scared you for twenty odd years
Then they expect you to pick a career
When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be"

-- John Lennon

“In the liberated state of affairs, the full-fledged affection for the Lord is awakened. As such, there is an unlimited flow of everlasting happiness, without the fear of its being broken as we have experienced here in the material world. The relationship with the Lord is never broken; thus there is no grief and no fear” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.47 purport).

I remember whenever I would experience some sort of happiness, when things would start to go well in my life, immediately the fear of loss would rush into my consciousness. “When is this going to end?” I knew it would. It always did. After some time of experiencing this duality of gain and loss the fear would take over. This happened with relationships, this happened with school and work, even (or especially) on drugs. I would be high as a kite, oblivious to the world, but then came the comedown. Even the onset of comedown would bring fear and grief. Why does it have to end? Why can’t I be like this forever? And sometimes those comedowns were extremely hard. From so high to so low, just like that.

Because of this fear we may not want to enter into any sort of relationships. Why go through all of the trouble if it will simply end sooner or later? Then we become a bitter hermit who hides from the world (I speak from experience here too). But this will not solve the problem. We have to have relationships. We have to have real love. And as the above quote states, that real ever-lasting relationship exists between the soul and God. Only in that relationship do we never have to fear loss, for it is eternal. Even without our knowledge the relationship still exists, as God is within our heart always watching over us. And when we turn our love back to Him then we experience this “everlasting happiness” which we are all searching for.

“In the liberated state of affairs, the full-fledged affection for the Lord is awakened. As such, there is an unlimited flow of everlasting happiness, without the fear of its being broken as we have experienced here in the material world. The relationship with the Lord is never broken; thus there is no grief and no fear” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.47 purport).

I remember whenever I would experience some sort of happiness, when things would start to go well in my life, immediately the fear of loss would rush into my consciousness. “When is this going to end?” I knew it would. It always did. After some time of experiencing this duality of gain and loss the fear would take over. This happened with relationships, this happened with school and work, even (or especially) on drugs. I would be high as a kite, oblivious to the world, but then came the comedown. Even the onset of comedown would bring fear and grief. Why does it have to end? Why can’t I be like this forever? And sometimes those comedowns were extremely hard. From so high to so low, just like that.

Because of this fear we may not want to enter into any sort of relationships. Why go through all of the trouble if it will simply end sooner or later? Then we become a bitter hermit who hides from the world (I speak from experience here too). But this will not solve the problem. We have to have relationships. We have to have real love. And as the above quote states, that real ever-lasting relationship exists between the soul and God. Only in that relationship do we never have to fear loss, for it is eternal. Even without our knowledge the relationship still exists, as God is within our heart always watching over us. And when we turn our love back to Him then we experience this “everlasting happiness” which we are all searching for.

What foods should you eat?

Is this question really that difficult to answer? Lots of people seem to think so. Indeed, from what I see people all around me eat, it would seem there is a huge need for some basic common-sense food education.

This website has a free downloadable easy-to-read guide that distinguishes foods that cause disease and foods that are good for health. It is very nicely presented. I agree completely (except for the thing about fish oils; not because they aren't healthy, but because I don't want to get the karma from killing the fish).

So, have a heart and be healthy and happy!

What foods should you eat?

Is this question really that difficult to answer? Lots of people seem to think so. Indeed, from what I see people all around me eat, it would seem there is a huge need for some basic common-sense food education.

This website has a free downloadable easy-to-read guide that distinguishes foods that cause disease and foods that are good for health. It is very nicely presented. I agree completely (except for the thing about fish oils; not because they aren't healthy, but because I don't want to get the karma from killing the fish).

So, have a heart and be healthy and happy!

There is a force that makes us act in the material world, even though we do not know what we are doing, or why we are doing it. We propose a new standard of intelligence: someone who can see this temporary material energy acts is a truly brilliant scientist. Not someone who can merely create some brilliant technology.

We need to understand that we should give the best of our lives to Krishna.

So, how much Krishna consciousness do you want to bite off?

We need to overhaul our lifestyle.

Who gives the best advice? What is the "absolute"? Where do you go to get knowledge of your true identity?

Please say: "give me the Bhagavad-Gita"

Conditioned life means denying Krishna - in a variety of ways. Some people have a fear that by focusing too much on Krishna they become limited or sectarian.

Where did personalism come from? Who is the best (unlimited) person? As soon as we acknowledge someone as a person that means there is personal obligation. We have calculated that the best way we can get on with our enjoyment program is to ignore the person Krishna. We have ourselves brainwashed into thinking: "I have no time"

We must have a progressive plan how to go forward in Krishna consciousness, otherwise the material world will pull us back.

Questions:

• But I don't have enough disciple to practice all of Krishna consciousness.
• I see disciple as just following the teaching, not some victorian thing imposed upon us.
• Will I appreciate Krishna consciousness if I just subject myself to it?
• It seems like we should just read to enjoy the verse, not thinking "if I read this verse it is going to make me x,y,z". We should be attached to the result, right?
• Will our freedom always be limited?
• You say that real religion does not require you to believe in anything, but can be experienced in the laboratory, but then you say some faith must be there in the beginning?
• Vivekananda said that it is very good to be born in a church, but it is very bad to die in it, because you do need some kind of system when you are at the embryonic stage until you can stand alone.
• Perhaps she is talking about when you come to the spiritual platform from the material platform?
• Isn't it up to you to find you path? How can you say that somebody else's path is not valid?
• There are so many maps by so many different religions, all claiming to be valid.
• It really winds me up when I'm told "whatever you do, it has to go to Krishna". How do I do it? Do I have to go all the way into the laboratory, since I can't talk to Krishna directly? I can also misinterpret what I hear.
• Surely you can chant someone's glories by talking about him, not just by chanting?
• I want to be convinced that this is the path.
• In the Bible it says "in the beginning was the word", but the translation of the original greek is "logos" which means "conversation", like the Bhagavad-Gita's conversation between Krishna and Arjuna.
• I think in the Indian mentality there is a lot of thinking "I can be God", but in the Christian world people don't consciously think that. Also, a Muslim is always thinking that the best position is to be a servant of God. Not how he can become God.
• Do we not believe in Advaita? Becoming one with God does not mean wanting to be God.
• If you become realized you are a part of the whole is that still duality? Is the thing that is left after the body decays is not the whole?
• We need sat-sanga discussion to understand what we are reading, otherwise there will be so many misconceptions.

There is a force that makes us act in the material world, even though we do not know what we are doing, or why we are doing it. We propose a new standard of intelligence: someone who can see this temporary material energy acts is a truly brilliant scientist. Not someone who can merely create some brilliant technology.

We need to understand that we should give the best of our lives to Krishna.

So, how much Krishna consciousness do you want to bite off?

We need to overhaul our lifestyle.

Who gives the best advice? What is the "absolute"? Where do you go to get knowledge of your true identity?

Please say: "give me the Bhagavad-Gita"

Conditioned life means denying Krishna - in a variety of ways. Some people have a fear that by focusing too much on Krishna they become limited or sectarian.

Where did personalism come from? Who is the best (unlimited) person? As soon as we acknowledge someone as a person that means there is personal obligation. We have calculated that the best way we can get on with our enjoyment program is to ignore the person Krishna. We have ourselves brainwashed into thinking: "I have no time"

We must have a progressive plan how to go forward in Krishna consciousness, otherwise the material world will pull us back.

Questions:

• But I don't have enough disciple to practice all of Krishna consciousness.
• I see disciple as just following the teaching, not some victorian thing imposed upon us.
• Will I appreciate Krishna consciousness if I just subject myself to it?
• It seems like we should just read to enjoy the verse, not thinking "if I read this verse it is going to make me x,y,z". We should be attached to the result, right?
• Will our freedom always be limited?
• You say that real religion does not require you to believe in anything, but can be experienced in the laboratory, but then you say some faith must be there in the beginning?
• Vivekananda said that it is very good to be born in a church, but it is very bad to die in it, because you do need some kind of system when you are at the embryonic stage until you can stand alone.
• Perhaps she is talking about when you come to the spiritual platform from the material platform?
• Isn't it up to you to find you path? How can you say that somebody else's path is not valid?
• There are so many maps by so many different religions, all claiming to be valid.
• It really winds me up when I'm told "whatever you do, it has to go to Krishna". How do I do it? Do I have to go all the way into the laboratory, since I can't talk to Krishna directly? I can also misinterpret what I hear.
• Surely you can chant someone's glories by talking about him, not just by chanting?
• I want to be convinced that this is the path.
• In the Bible it says "in the beginning was the word", but the translation of the original greek is "logos" which means "conversation", like the Bhagavad-Gita's conversation between Krishna and Arjuna.
• I think in the Indian mentality there is a lot of thinking "I can be God", but in the Christian world people don't consciously think that. Also, a Muslim is always thinking that the best position is to be a servant of God. Not how he can become God.
• Do we not believe in Advaita? Becoming one with God does not mean wanting to be God.
• If you become realized you are a part of the whole is that still duality? Is the thing that is left after the body decays is not the whole?
• We need sat-sanga discussion to understand what we are reading, otherwise there will be so many misconceptions.

My spiritual master, Devamrita Swami, recently visited my humble little abode. Not much to report. I was so busy serving and arranging things that I didn't ask him any questions. Actually, all the many worries, doubts and concerns that had been on my mind evaporated in his association. I ended up not needing to ask him anything.

Hitesh was traveling with Guru Maharaja. He is due to get initiated at the Ukraine festival sometime very soon (or perhaps it has happened already). It was nice to see old gloomy Manchester resident Hitesh (judging by his old passport photo) literally glowing in his saffron robes. Krishna consciousness creates happiness. No question about it (Lilamayi Subhadra also thinks so).

The two of us worked together nicely cooking for the Guru. Here is what we prepared on the two (and a half) days:

Day 1:

• Salad with radishes and carrots
• Basmati rice with wild rice
• Tomato soup with zucchini
• Stir fried broccoli and sweet potato subji
• Organic corn on the cob (which he really liked; it was the first time I found organic corn in the local ASDA supermarket)
• Wholemeal easy apple pie with vegan custard

Day 2:

• Salad with cherry tomatoes and cucumber
• Yellow basmati rice with wild rice
• Oven roasted vegetables with rosemary
• Spicy spinach and tomato subji
• Split mung dal soup
• Wholemeal carrot and sunflower seed cookies

Day 3:

• Cauliflower and pea samosas for the flight (which weren't quite spicy enough, apparently)

My spiritual master, Devamrita Swami, recently visited my humble little abode. Not much to report. I was so busy serving and arranging things that I didn't ask him any questions. Actually, all the many worries, doubts and concerns that had been on my mind evaporated in his association. I ended up not needing to ask him anything.

Hitesh was traveling with Guru Maharaja. He is due to get initiated at the Ukraine festival sometime very soon (or perhaps it has happened already). It was nice to see old gloomy Manchester resident Hitesh (judging by his old passport photo) literally glowing in his saffron robes. Krishna consciousness creates happiness. No question about it (Lilamayi Subhadra also thinks so).

The two of us worked together nicely cooking for the Guru. Here is what we prepared on the two (and a half) days:

Day 1:

• Salad with radishes and carrots
• Basmati rice with wild rice
• Tomato soup with zucchini
• Stir fried broccoli and sweet potato subji
• Organic corn on the cob (which he really liked; it was the first time I found organic corn in the local ASDA supermarket)
• Wholemeal easy apple pie with vegan custard

Day 2:

• Salad with cherry tomatoes and cucumber
• Yellow basmati rice with wild rice
• Oven roasted vegetables with rosemary
• Spicy spinach and tomato subji
• Split mung dal soup
• Wholemeal carrot and sunflower seed cookies

Day 3:

• Cauliflower and pea samosas for the flight (which weren't quite spicy enough, apparently)

He looks at her from across the meadow. Her brownish hair waves in the wind as she dances and smiles, but not at him. He realizes she has no interest in him as much as he longs for her. It was always like that with every girl. The one he liked could care less. Is that why he liked them? To torture himself? Just then he noticed another looking in his direction, with that same expression of want. But this time, he was the one who did not reciprocate. “Why is it that we always are looking for the one who is looking for someone else?” he wondered. “Why can’t we find the one who could fully repose our love?” Then it hit him, it’s only Krishna who could do that. Only Krishna who loves everyone, unconditionally. Only He who no matter how many turn toward Him can truly satisfy their feelings. Only Him.

He looks at her from across the meadow. Her brownish hair waves in the wind as she dances and smiles, but not at him. He realizes she has no interest in him as much as he longs for her. It was always like that with every girl. The one he liked could care less. Is that why he liked them? To torture himself? Just then he noticed another looking in his direction, with that same expression of want. But this time, he was the one who did not reciprocate. “Why is it that we always are looking for the one who is looking for someone else?” he wondered. “Why can’t we find the one who could fully repose our love?” Then it hit him, it’s only Krishna who could do that. Only Krishna who loves everyone, unconditionally. Only He who no matter how many turn toward Him can truly satisfy their feelings. Only Him.

I’m staying at my father’s new house in Gainesville. He’s finally done it, after all these years. Bought his own house and moved back to his favorite place. And I’m happy for him. Of course, to tell you the truth, when I first found out that he was planning to do this I was a bit surprised and maybe even a little disappointed. After all, he is almost 58, which in Vedic culture is a time to be winding down one’s material responsibilities and preparing for the final exam of leaving this world, not accumulating a mortgage and tons of debt. One is supposed to have gone through the full life experience and now, children grown, pass things off to them and have time and energy to fully focus on one’s spiritual life.

But he has sacrificed much of his life for service. This is the first time he’ll have owned property in his entire life, which is more surprising given the fact that he’s been a successful attorney for the past 25 years. He sacrificed his youth to living in and running a temple, for the first couple years barely able to pay for food. He worked tirelessly in that position, and then even more so when he became a lawyer. Instead of making a healthy living, he worked mostly for the movement, losing much income to preserve and protect the mission his spiritual master had given him. We were never in want, but we didn’t have the most comforts either. Mostly we lived modestly and the sometimes embellishments were brought about by his going into debt.

So now he has this house and he deserves to enjoy. He still has hopes for service in a new field and maybe will be able to serve more now than he ever has. But he also has to worry about paying that mortgage and the many other bills associated with it. And he’s not getting any younger. Where will he get the energy? What if he starts developing serious health problems? I guess we can’t let these kinds of questions stop us from taking risks in life. Otherwise, we would never be able to do anything.

But when I look at my own life, I wonder about the future and how much I want to become invested in this society. In “getting my share”. In other words, going about the normal routine of job, home, family and the rest. How long will this society continue? When will a major war take place? When will economic collapse occur? When will a hurricane or earthquake come along and destroy everything? Or simply when will death come? Once again, we can’t think about these questions all the time and plan our life accordingly, living in bomb shelters or germ-free biospheres. I recently heard that the reason BV, my former gurukula (spiritual boarding school) folded was because it bought the land based on small initial payments and then a balloon payment five years down the road. They agreed to this deal thinking that a war would come by then and therefore they wouldn’t ever have to pay it.

However, at the present rate I don’t think this society can last much longer. So how could I just go about my life as if nothing were wrong? I have to do something meaningful to help change take place. I can’t just worry about my socio-economic position. I saw a couple of nice documentaries last night. One was called The Corporation, a vivid expose of the utter power and nightmarish effects the modern corporations have upon us all. I didn’t watch the whole thing, but saw enough to get the point. Hopefully I’ll be able to watch it in full another time. The other, I can’t remember the name, was about a lady named Helen Kolnukaff?, who at one point 25 years ago became one of the leaders of the anti-nuclear arms movement by giving up her profession as a medical doctor to travel all around the world and write books about the horrors and politics of nuclear war. In this doc she has written a new book all these years later and struggles to bring people back to the issues in a changing environment of corporate control and mass media and the overall apathy of people today. Although going through many obstacles, she connects on a grassroots level and gradually through her optimistic mentality begins to spark the movement again. She said at one point that a cynic is simply an optimist who has given up.

In seeing these I validated my understanding of the terrible circumstances we face today in society and the great need for change. And I also realized that with determination and faith in God one person can make a difference. But can I be that person?

I’m staying at my father’s new house in Gainesville. He’s finally done it, after all these years. Bought his own house and moved back to his favorite place. And I’m happy for him. Of course, to tell you the truth, when I first found out that he was planning to do this I was a bit surprised and maybe even a little disappointed. After all, he is almost 58, which in Vedic culture is a time to be winding down one’s material responsibilities and preparing for the final exam of leaving this world, not accumulating a mortgage and tons of debt. One is supposed to have gone through the full life experience and now, children grown, pass things off to them and have time and energy to fully focus on one’s spiritual life.

But he has sacrificed much of his life for service. This is the first time he’ll have owned property in his entire life, which is more surprising given the fact that he’s been a successful attorney for the past 25 years. He sacrificed his youth to living in and running a temple, for the first couple years barely able to pay for food. He worked tirelessly in that position, and then even more so when he became a lawyer. Instead of making a healthy living, he worked mostly for the movement, losing much income to preserve and protect the mission his spiritual master had given him. We were never in want, but we didn’t have the most comforts either. Mostly we lived modestly and the sometimes embellishments were brought about by his going into debt.

So now he has this house and he deserves to enjoy. He still has hopes for service in a new field and maybe will be able to serve more now than he ever has. But he also has to worry about paying that mortgage and the many other bills associated with it. And he’s not getting any younger. Where will he get the energy? What if he starts developing serious health problems? I guess we can’t let these kinds of questions stop us from taking risks in life. Otherwise, we would never be able to do anything.

But when I look at my own life, I wonder about the future and how much I want to become invested in this society. In “getting my share”. In other words, going about the normal routine of job, home, family and the rest. How long will this society continue? When will a major war take place? When will economic collapse occur? When will a hurricane or earthquake come along and destroy everything? Or simply when will death come? Once again, we can’t think about these questions all the time and plan our life accordingly, living in bomb shelters or germ-free biospheres. I recently heard that the reason BV, my former gurukula (spiritual boarding school) folded was because it bought the land based on small initial payments and then a balloon payment five years down the road. They agreed to this deal thinking that a war would come by then and therefore they wouldn’t ever have to pay it.

However, at the present rate I don’t think this society can last much longer. So how could I just go about my life as if nothing were wrong? I have to do something meaningful to help change take place. I can’t just worry about my socio-economic position. I saw a couple of nice documentaries last night. One was called The Corporation, a vivid expose of the utter power and nightmarish effects the modern corporations have upon us all. I didn’t watch the whole thing, but saw enough to get the point. Hopefully I’ll be able to watch it in full another time. The other, I can’t remember the name, was about a lady named Helen Kolnukaff?, who at one point 25 years ago became one of the leaders of the anti-nuclear arms movement by giving up her profession as a medical doctor to travel all around the world and write books about the horrors and politics of nuclear war. In this doc she has written a new book all these years later and struggles to bring people back to the issues in a changing environment of corporate control and mass media and the overall apathy of people today. Although going through many obstacles, she connects on a grassroots level and gradually through her optimistic mentality begins to spark the movement again. She said at one point that a cynic is simply an optimist who has given up.

In seeing these I validated my understanding of the terrible circumstances we face today in society and the great need for change. And I also realized that with determination and faith in God one person can make a difference. But can I be that person?

"You have to be a man of action," they say. "Don't wait for things to come to you. For maybe they never will." Yet I look toward the sky dreamily thinking about a mystical destiny and gain coming of its own accord. How long will I look?

"You have to be a man of action," they say. "Don't wait for things to come to you. For maybe they never will." Yet I look toward the sky dreamily thinking about a mystical destiny and gain coming of its own accord. How long will I look?

So many opinions, what to do and what not. Mistakes to learn from, new systems discovered. Am I really going there, back again? Didn’t I run from this once before? Feelings I forgot were there. Interesting it is, but the mind can only think about so many things. Do I want this going during japa, during puja? What happened to Krishna?

So many opinions, what to do and what not. Mistakes to learn from, new systems discovered. Am I really going there, back again? Didn’t I run from this once before? Feelings I forgot were there. Interesting it is, but the mind can only think about so many things. Do I want this going during japa, during puja? What happened to Krishna?

My MacBook Pro needed a repair. So then, here is a first hand account of my experience with the AppleCare tech support.

The first problem I had was the battery malfunctioning. It would continually display a battery life estimate of 55 hours (which would have been nice, if true), even when empty. So, I phoned Apple and the tech support person ran me through a long list of trouble-shooting steps. She concluded that the battery was indeed faulty and arranged to send me a new battery. The new battery arrived two days later. With the battery came a prepaid UPS box to send the faulty battery back (Apple took my credit card number, so if I did not returned the old battery they will bill me for it).

Then I decided to complain about the infamous "whine" problem. The MacBook Pros make a faint, high-pitched whining/buzzing noise when running idle while on battery power. Apple had been denying the problem until last month when they announced a fix. I again phoned Apple support and (after about 45 minutes of running through every possible other thing that might be causing the noise) the tech support person arranged for the MacBook to be picked up for repair. The very next day a box for the computer arrived by UPS. UPS collected the computer a few hours later that same day.

Now the trouble started. It seems that since practically all MacBook Pros had this "whining noise" problem, everyone on the planet decided to send their laptop into Apple for repair at the same time. The result was that Apple was very short on the part (motherboard/logicboard) needed for the repair. To cut a long story short, after 4 weeks of my repair being "on hold - in queue for part" I phoned Apple and told them I critically needed my laptop. 3 days later it arrived in the post fully repaired and in good working order.

Tech support staff were always friendly, expert and helpful. The longest I was on hold for was about 3 minutes. They explained the situation with the long queue for the part, saying that repairs normally will take no longer than 7 days. They then upgraded the priority of my repair so it would "jump the queue".

I learnt the key words to say when talking to an Apple tech support person. They are "critical" and "unacceptable" . The staff are trained to agree to repair almost any complaint, however small, if you say it is "unacceptable". If you say the use of your computer is "critical", the priority of the repair gets boosted and it is completed in record time.

Apple recently has won a whole load of tech support awards. They are generally rated equally to Lenovo (both got grade A). In this particular review of computer tech support the other manufacturers scored as follows:

1. Apple: A
2. IBM/Lenovo: A
3. Fujitsu/Siemens: A-
4. Dell: B+
5. Gateway: B+
6. Sony: B
7. HP: B
8. Acer: C
9. Toshiba: D-

(also check out PCMag's recent consumer satisfaction survey. Yup, Apple comes first there, too.)

My MacBook Pro needed a repair. So then, here is a first hand account of my experience with the AppleCare tech support.

The first problem I had was the battery malfunctioning. It would continually display a battery life estimate of 55 hours (which would have been nice, if true), even when empty. So, I phoned Apple and the tech support person ran me through a long list of trouble-shooting steps. She concluded that the battery was indeed faulty and arranged to send me a new battery. The new battery arrived two days later. With the battery came a prepaid UPS box to send the faulty battery back (Apple took my credit card number, so if I did not returned the old battery they will bill me for it).

Then I decided to complain about the infamous "whine" problem. The MacBook Pros make a faint, high-pitched whining/buzzing noise when running idle while on battery power. Apple had been denying the problem until last month when they announced a fix. I again phoned Apple support and (after about 45 minutes of running through every possible other thing that might be causing the noise) the tech support person arranged for the MacBook to be picked up for repair. The very next day a box for the computer arrived by UPS. UPS collected the computer a few hours later that same day.

Now the trouble started. It seems that since practically all MacBook Pros had this "whining noise" problem, everyone on the planet decided to send their laptop into Apple for repair at the same time. The result was that Apple was very short on the part (motherboard/logicboard) needed for the repair. To cut a long story short, after 4 weeks of my repair being "on hold - in queue for part" I phoned Apple and told them I critically needed my laptop. 3 days later it arrived in the post fully repaired and in good working order.

Tech support staff were always friendly, expert and helpful. The longest I was on hold for was about 3 minutes. They explained the situation with the long queue for the part, saying that repairs normally will take no longer than 7 days. They then upgraded the priority of my repair so it would "jump the queue".

I learnt the key words to say when talking to an Apple tech support person. They are "critical" and "unacceptable" . The staff are trained to agree to repair almost any complaint, however small, if you say it is "unacceptable". If you say the use of your computer is "critical", the priority of the repair gets boosted and it is completed in record time.

Apple recently has won a whole load of tech support awards. They are generally rated equally to Lenovo (both got grade A). In this particular review of computer tech support the other manufacturers scored as follows:

1. Apple: A
2. IBM/Lenovo: A
3. Fujitsu/Siemens: A-
4. Dell: B+
5. Gateway: B+
6. Sony: B
7. HP: B
8. Acer: C
9. Toshiba: D-

(also check out PCMag's recent consumer satisfaction survey. Yup, Apple comes first there, too.)

I attended Krishna's birthday in Wales.

I took a train down to Cardiff, walked to the Soul Centre and felt like I was going to faint from the strain of the long trip and fasting. Some fruit helped restore my body.

I then took some pictures of the Soul Centre. It is a very stylish urban spiritual centre, don't you think?

The devotees went out on harinam in Cardiff for two and a half hours. It was great! After about an hour of chanting while walking around the city centre we spread out some blankets and spent the rest of the time sitting down and chanting.

Just as we were preparing the seated area a group of about five young people came up to me and asked me what "all this" was about. I briefly started to explain when one of them asked if we believed in the Bible. I said "yes, we do". Somewhat surprised, the guy started to ask some more questions. By this time I started to realize that these were rather fanatical (though respectful and inquisitive) Christians I was talking to.

Soon the kirtan had started and was going on in full-force, purifying the surrounding atmosphere. Oh well, I thought, I might as well take the opportunity to talk to these evangelical Christians about Krishna while they hear the holy name.

They presented all kinds of doubts and attacks against the notions of reincarnation, salvation outside of solely following Jesus, karma, vegetarianism (apparently, it says in the Bible that God wants us to eat meat). I explained the Krishna conscious perspective on all these point. One young man was surprised to hear the sensible KC viewpoints. The others however were closed-minded. They strained their brains to come up with something that "this heathen Hare Krishna" could not answer.

However, little did they know that all knowledge comes from Krishna, especially on his birthday. With Krishna on my side I could answer all their points. After we had talked for quite some time they asked me what distingishes a bona-fide religion from a bogus one. I answered that one aspect of a bona-fide religion is that it has a disciplic succession, like catholicism, for example.

I was very much surprised when they shoot back:

Catholics are not Christians!!

They argued that the catholic church has changed aspects of the literal meaning of the Bible. It also believes that we can go to heaven simply by following a mechanical process without surrendering our heart (which is actually true: someone can, for example, go to Gandarvaloka, which resembles the Christian idea of heaven, just by following the necessary rules and regulations of pious life; though, of course, that isn't the perfection of life).

I now realize that the lack of a disciplic succession is the main fault in evangelical Christianity. It takes the Bible as literally true. Too literally true. Without a chain of teachers coming down from the original teacher it is very easy to misinterpret the teacher's teachings and loose the true meaning (BG4.2). That is exactly what these poor Christians have done. They follow the exact words of the Bible without taking into account time, place, circumstance and intent. It is not just Chistians however. There are so many bogus interpretations of the Bhagavad-Gita which distort the true meaning.

Later, returning to Swansea, we sang bhajans until late into the night. Suki-Krishna expertly led the most amazing chanting on the harmonium. We also watched a documentary about Indradyumna Swami's amazing Festival of India tour. It is such an inspiring series of festivals! The film made me want to go to Poland and help out (but I won't because my body couldn't handle the intense austerity of the tour).

At midnight, the time of Krishna's appearance, over 100 different preparations were offered to the deity. The devotees then partook in the obligatory feast. As usual, I couldn't eat more than about two preparations because of dietary restrictions. So is life. On the bright side: my body held up surprisingly well. I even managed to chant 54 rounds throughout the day.