Planet ISKCON

I have been taking some pictures in and around Gaura Haven / New Gupta Vraja, located in Otaki (about an hour's drive outside of Wellington). Here is a gallery the best photographs, the so-called "glory shots".

I'm relatively new to landscape photography. So, advice and suggestions are welcome.

Additionally, I gave a photo presentation about Gaura Haven at our recent Vyasa-Puja festival in honor of Devamrita Swami.

<p>Last month I went on an eco-retreat with a group of young interested persons who have been coming along to the Gaura Yoga center in Wellington New Zealand. We went to Gaura Haven (New Gupta Vraja), a retreat center recently acquired by Gaura Yoga. While there we proceeded to plant a variety of organic vegetables. The idea is to slowly move towards self-sufficiency.</p><p>Here some pictures from the weekend events:</p><p><a href="http://deltaflow.com/pictures/v/eco-retreat2008/"><img src="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/imgp0179.jpg" width="300" height="199" alt="IMGP0179.jpg"/></a></p>

Last month I went on an eco-retreat with a group of young interested persons who have been coming along to the Gaura Yoga center in Wellington New Zealand. We went to Gaura Haven (New Gupta Vraja), a retreat center recently acquired by Gaura Yoga. While there we proceeded to plant a variety of organic vegetables. The idea is to slowly move towards self-sufficiency.

Here some pictures from the weekend events:

Last month I went on an eco-retreat with a group of young interested persons who have been coming along to the Gaura Yoga center in Wellington New Zealand. We went to Gaura Haven (New Gupta Vraja), a retreat center recently acquired by Gaura Yoga. While there we proceeded to plant a variety of organic vegetables. The idea is to slowly move towards self-sufficiency.

Here some pictures from the weekend events:

I have a dilemma. I see posts on devotee websites and bulk emails full of slogans meant to change the hearts of their audiences. Devotees are connected with Krsna so anything posted by a devotee is in some way connected with the supreme. But slogans are so close to symbols, and symbols are fine for the masses, and though there's no harm in getting the masses off of their haunches in order to do something good for themselves and others, i cannot categorize devotees as part of the masses. The masses in this day and age are...... let me put it this way - not so Krsna conscious. Any small creeper of spiritual inquiry is immediately stamped out by their desires to eat, sleep, mate and defend. That is why slogans and symbols (even mode-of-goodness ones) are good for them - they need something catchy to clear the material mist once in a while. But it's rare souls, like devotees, who begin to inquiry further. And to throw slogans at these souls is, for want of a better word, sad. My dilemma is that i want to say something about how inquiry means so much more than symbolism and sloganism, but i can't for the slogans that devotees pass on are, in a certain capacity, correct - and they do attract attention.

I guess i did say something. By the way, did the images above inspire you to read this?

I have a dilemma. I see posts on devotee websites and bulk emails full of slogans meant to change the hearts of their audiences. Devotees are connected with Krsna so anything posted by a devotee is in some way connected with the supreme. But slogans are so close to symbols, and symbols are fine for the masses, and though there's no harm in getting the masses off of their haunches in order to do something good for themselves and others, i cannot categorize devotees as part of the masses. The masses in this day and age are...... let me put it this way - not so Krsna conscious. Any small creeper of spiritual inquiry is immediately stamped out by their desires to eat, sleep, mate and defend. That is why slogans and symbols (even mode-of-goodness ones) are good for them - they need something catchy to clear the material mist once in a while. But it's rare souls, like devotees, who begin to inquiry further. And to throw slogans at these souls is, for want of a better word, sad. My dilemma is that i want to say something about how inquiry means so much more than symbolism and sloganism, but i can't for the slogans that devotees pass on are, in a certain capacity, correct - and they do attract attention.

I guess i did say something. By the way, did the images above inspire you to read this?

<p>On the weekend of the 25th of October, 2008 the majority of practitioners of Krishna consciousness in New Zealand (and a few from Australia) went to a retreat center in Inglewood, NZ called <a href="http://verticalhorizon.co.nz/">Vertical Horizon</a>. There we celebrated the Vyasa-Puja (birthday of the spiritual master) of Devamrita Swami.</p><p>It was a grand festivals. Nearly 100 devotees were present. It was expertly organized by Visnumaya and Gopal Guru. So many great activities, presentations and speeches. The spiritual food (prasadam) was over-the-top great. I also really enjoyed seeing and speaking with many, many old friends.</p><p>I took over 800 photos. You can view a selection of the best shots <a href="http://deltaflow.com/pictures/v/album_001/">here</a>:</p><p><a href="http://deltaflow.com/pictures/v/album_001/"><img src="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/album-001.jpg" width="300" height="200" alt="album_001.jpg"/></a> <a href="http://deltaflow.com/pictures/v/album_001/"/></p><p>(the images 0.8-megapixel images in the gallery are fine for viewing on screen, but not nearly detailed enough for large prints. If anyone wants to print out any of the images, please email me and I can supply the original full 14.6 megapixel images from the <a href="http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/pentaxk20d/">Pentax K20d</a>)</p>

On the weekend of the 25th of October, 2008 the majority of practitioners of Krishna consciousness in New Zealand (and a few from Australia) went to a retreat center in Inglewood, NZ called Vertical Horizon. There we celebrated the Vyasa-Puja (birthday of the spiritual master) of Devamrita Swami.

It was a grand festivals. Nearly 100 devotees were present. It was expertly organized by Visnumaya and Gopal Guru. So many great activities, presentations and speeches. The spiritual food (prasadam) was over-the-top great. I also really enjoyed seeing and speaking with many, many old friends.

I took over 800 photos. You can view a selection of the best shots here:

(the images 0.8-megapixel images in the gallery are fine for viewing on screen, but not nearly detailed enough for large prints. If anyone wants to print out any of the images, please email me and I can supply the original full 14.6 megapixel images from the Pentax K20d)

On the weekend of the 25th of October, 2008 the majority of practitioners of Krishna consciousness in New Zealand (and a few from Australia) went to a retreat center in Inglewood, NZ called Vertical Horizon. There we celebrated the Vyasa-Puja (birthday of the spiritual master) of Devamrita Swami.

It was a grand festivals. Nearly 100 devotees were present. It was expertly organized by Visnumaya and Gopal Guru. So many great activities, presentations and speeches. The spiritual food (prasadam) was over-the-top great. I also really enjoyed seeing and speaking with many, many old friends.

I took over 800 photos. You can view a selection of the best shots here:

(the images 0.8-megapixel images in the gallery are fine for viewing on screen, but not nearly detailed enough for large prints. If anyone wants to print out any of the images, please email me and I can supply the original full 14.6 megapixel images from the Pentax K20d)

These bracelets are extremely versatile, they are my favourite for Jagannatha, Laddu Gopal and Gaura Nitai. These bracelets are so versatile I have made them for all my deities.
First of all, the supplies you require for these bracelets are as follows:

1. Crimp Beads (these are optional, but they help make the bracelets stronger)
2. Pliers
3. Elastic Jewelry Cord
4. Beads of your choice (using different colours and shapes can create different looking styles using this technique)
5. Scissors
   

Step 1: Cut a generous length of the elastic jewelry cord and tie a knot at the end. Next string on the crimp bead followed by the beads.

Step 2: Feed the unknotted end of the jewelry cord back through the crimp bead (in the opposite direction) to complete the bracelet.

Step 3: Use the pliers to 'crush' the crimp bead securing the bracelet. Alternatively, you can eliminate the crimp bead and just knot the cord however due to the stress put on the bracelet when stretched over the deity's hands the crimp beads tend to hold up better over the long run. However, for Jagganatha and Laddu Gopal I find knotting works best as the bracelets can be visible from all sides and they do not need to be stretched as much. Finally, trim off the excess jewelry cord.

These bracelets are extremely versatile, they are my favourite for Jagannatha, Laddu Gopal and Gaura Nitai. These bracelets are so versatile I have made them for all my deities.
First of all, the supplies you require for these bracelets are as follows:

1. Crimp Beads (these are optional, but they help make the bracelets stronger)
2. Pliers
3. Elastic Jewelry Cord
4. Beads of your choice (using different colours and shapes can create different looking styles using this technique)
5. Scissors
   

Step 1: Cut a generous length of the elastic jewelry cord and tie a knot at the end. Next string on the crimp bead followed by the beads.

Step 2: Feed the unknotted end of the jewelry cord back through the crimp bead (in the opposite direction) to complete the bracelet.

Step 3: Use the pliers to 'crush' the crimp bead securing the bracelet. Alternatively, you can eliminate the crimp bead and just knot the cord however due to the stress put on the bracelet when stretched over the deity's hands the crimp beads tend to hold up better over the long run. However, for Jagganatha and Laddu Gopal I find knotting works best as the bracelets can be visible from all sides and they do not need to be stretched as much. Finally, trim off the excess jewelry cord.

<p>In this talk at Gaura Yoga in Wellington, New Zealand I discuss a topic that has confounded many statesmen, philosophers and theologians. Why do bad things happen to good people and why do good things happen to bad people? I give an overview of different so-called answers that people try to give to this question. I then explain how the science of Krishna consciousness gives a much more satisfying and sensible answer than any other source of knowledge. There are lots of questions in the end.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/why%20bad%20things%20happen.m4a">Click here to play audio/video</a></p><p> </p><p>or download the source AAC file <a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/why%20bad%20things%20happen.m4a">bad things.m4a</a></p><p>or download the source MP3 file <a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/why%20bad%20things%20happen.mp3">bad things.mp3</a></p><p>or download the slides as a PDF file <a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/why%20bad%20things%20happen.pdf">bad things.pdf</a></p>

In this talk at Gaura Yoga in Wellington, New Zealand I discuss a topic that has confounded many statesmen, philosophers and theologians. Why do bad things happen to good people and why do good things happen to bad people? I give an overview of different so-called answers that people try to give to this question. I then explain how the science of Krishna consciousness gives a much more satisfying and sensible answer than any other source of knowledge. There are lots of questions in the end.

 

Click here to play audio/video

 

or download the source AAC file bad things.m4a

or download the source MP3 file bad things.mp3

or download the slides as a PDF file bad things.pdf

In this talk at Gaura Yoga in Wellington, New Zealand I discuss a topic that has confounded many statesmen, philosophers and theologians. Why do bad things happen to good people and why do good things happen to bad people? I give an overview of different so-called answers that people try to give to this question. I then explain how the science of Krishna consciousness gives a much more satisfying and sensible answer than any other source of knowledge. There are lots of questions in the end.

 

Click here to play audio/video

 

or download the source AAC file bad things.m4a

or download the source MP3 file bad things.mp3

or download the slides as a PDF file bad things.pdf

namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukalad-dhavamanam
paramrstam atyam tato drutya gopya

To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who I (due to the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed--to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.

namamisvaram sac-cid-ananda-rupam
lasat-kundalam gokule bhrajamanam
yasoda-bhiyolukalad-dhavamanam
paramrstam atyam tato drutya gopya

To the Supreme Lord, whose form is the embodiment of eternal existence,knowledge, and bliss, whose shark-shaped earrings are swinging to and fro, who is beautifully shining in the divine realm of Gokula, who I (due to the offense of breaking the pot of yogurt that His mother was churning into butter and then stealing the butter that was kept hanging from a swing) is quickly running from the wooden grinding mortar in fear of mother Yasoda, but who has been caught from behind by her who ran after Him with greater speed--to that Supreme Lord, Sri Damodara, I offer my humble obeisances.

Hello Everyone!
You are invited to attend our Kirtan Festival in Upstate NY. If you in the area or would like to fly in please register. October 24-26th.

Check out the list of activities and the link.

http://www.gauravani.com/

Essential Kirtan and Yoga Workshop
FRIDAY EVE: 6pm-8pm
Foundational Rhythms of Kirtan: Balaram Chandra
Stories within the Music; lila’s of Krishna and Rama: Raghunath
Kirtan and dance performance: prayers to the Butter Thief:
Gaura, Keli & Vrinda

SATURDAY:
7-8AM meditation, japa & pranayama w/ live sitar by Curtis Bahn: Balaram Chandra
8-9 AM breakfast prasad
9-930 Songs of the Sages:song study with Gaura and Raghunath
930-11AM BHAKTI VINYASA YOGA levels 2-4 with Raghunath
11-11:30AM break
11:30-12:45AM MANTRAS FROM THE VEDAS: their power and meaning by Raghunath
12:45-2:45pm Lunch Break
2:45-4:45pm Group Musical instrument Study (choose two)
Harmonium, Kartals, Indian Mrdanga (clay drum), Dance, Songs & Significance
4:45- 5:45 PM Restorative & Open mat Yoga with Live kirtan
5:45-8 PM Dinner Break
8-9:30 PM Karuna Shakti Evening Kirtan with Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits

SUNDAY:
7-8AM:mediation, japa & pranayama w/ live sitar by Curtis Bahn:Balarama Chandra
8-9 AM breakfast
9-10:30-MANTRAS & MOVEMENT :asana class with Keli Lalita
11AM-12:30 Experiments with Kirtan visualizations
12:30-1pm Final Dance and Kirtan with Gaura & Vrinda Rani
1pm-3pm Govardhana Picnic and Goodbyes

Yesterday a lady came to the Honolulu temple with her three children. All four of them were very nice and cultured; however, they had been left homeless due to the present economic climate. After they left i checked my email and had to filter out several items of spam telling me how to find foreclosures in my area. Greed and lust have broken out from their hiding places and are running amok in our sand castles. Without the KC perspective, it would be easy to get very depressed about how humanity is turning out -- shallow, cruel, and ridiculously opportunistic. Only can a person who  reasons that little further, allowing the Absolute a chance to enter the equation of life, find some reason to be optimistic about human nature -- or soul nature. It's at times like this that i wish i had the intelligence and openness to be able to chant Hare Krsna incessantly. Any other future is cruel.

Yesterday a lady came to the Honolulu temple with her three children. All four of them were very nice and cultured; however, they had been left homeless due to the present economic climate. After they left i checked my email and had to filter out several items of spam telling me how to find foreclosures in my area. Greed and lust have broken out from their hiding places and are running amok in our sand castles. Without the KC perspective, it would be easy to get very depressed about how humanity is turning out -- shallow, cruel, and ridiculously opportunistic. Only can a person who  reasons that little further, allowing the Absolute a chance to enter the equation of life, find some reason to be optimistic about human nature -- or soul nature. It's at times like this that i wish i had the intelligence and openness to be able to chant Hare Krsna incessantly. Any other future is cruel.

These "double stranded wire bracelets" are my favourite because they are easy to put on my deities and they are quite simple to make.
First of all, the supplies you require for these bracelets are as follows:

1. Beading Wire (make sure the gauge of the wire is not too wide for the aperture in the beads you choose TIP: the bigger the gauge number the thinner the wire)
2. Beads of your choice (using different colours and shapes can create different looking styles using this technique)
3. Toothpick or other round object (for larger deities I recommend a larger object such as the end of a paintbrush)
4. Wire cutters
5. Pliers

Step 1: Using the wire cutters cut a piece of wire approximately 5-6 times longer than the final length of the bracelets. Bend the wire in half and place the toothpick or other round object in the middle (as shown above).

Step 2: Twist the wire together 2-3 times creating a loop and remove the toothpick. This loop will be used to hold the 'tail' of the bracelet so make sure it is big enough to allow you to easily fasten the bracelet on your deities.

Step 3: At this point you should have a loop with two pieces of wire sticking out from it. Begin stringing the beads onto the two pieces of wire ensuring you have the same number of beads on each strand. Experiment with different colours and shapes to create interesting patterns. TIP: if you are using large beads begin and end each strand with 1-2 small seed beads to help the bracelet keep its shape.

Step 4: Use the pliers to hold the two strands of wire together (approximately 1- 2 cm away from the beads), and begin twisting until you have a nicely braided tail. Then use the wire cutters to cut the tail down ensuring you have enough to hook into the loop at the opposite end of the bracelet. I recommend leaving it a bit long until you try the bracelets on your deities you can be sure they fit properly.
The finished product, when dressing all you need to do is feed the tail into the loop and bend it into a hook to keep the bracelet in place.

Stay tuned for DIY Deity Jewelry: Bracelets- Part 2: Beaded Elastic Bracelets

These "double stranded wire bracelets" are my favourite because they are easy to put on my deities and they are quite simple to make.
First of all, the supplies you require for these bracelets are as follows:

1. Beading Wire (make sure the gauge of the wire is not too wide for the aperture in the beads you choose TIP: the bigger the gauge number the thinner the wire)
2. Beads of your choice (using different colours and shapes can create different looking styles using this technique)
3. Toothpick or other round object (for larger deities I recommend a larger object such as the end of a paintbrush)
4. Wire cutters
5. Pliers

Step 1: Using the wire cutters cut a piece of wire approximately 5-6 times longer than the final length of the bracelets. Bend the wire in half and place the toothpick or other round object in the middle (as shown above).

Step 2: Twist the wire together 2-3 times creating a loop and remove the toothpick. This loop will be used to hold the 'tail' of the bracelet so make sure it is big enough to allow you to easily fasten the bracelet on your deities.

Step 3: At this point you should have a loop with two pieces of wire sticking out from it. Begin stringing the beads onto the two pieces of wire ensuring you have the same number of beads on each strand. Experiment with different colours and shapes to create interesting patterns. TIP: if you are using large beads begin and end each strand with 1-2 small seed beads to help the bracelet keep its shape.

Step 4: Use the pliers to hold the two strands of wire together (approximately 1- 2 cm away from the beads), and begin twisting until you have a nicely braided tail. Then use the wire cutters to cut the tail down ensuring you have enough to hook into the loop at the opposite end of the bracelet. I recommend leaving it a bit long until you try the bracelets on your deities you can be sure they fit properly.
The finished product, when dressing all you need to do is feed the tail into the loop and bend it into a hook to keep the bracelet in place.

Stay tuned for DIY Deity Jewelry: Bracelets- Part 2: Beaded Elastic Bracelets

Check out the article here.

Kapila turned 10 today. Ten years of being a mother gone by in a flash. I am excited and a bit nervous to see what the next ten years will bring for my oldest child. My goodness, how time flies...

We started out the day with birthday pancakes for breakfast. I knew it was going to be a very busy day so we woke Kapila up a bit earlier and let him open his presents and blow out his candles before school.

I picked him up from school at 11am and took him out for lunch at Whole Foods. Then we went book shopping at the thrift shop. Turned around and picked Rasaraj up from school and picked Narada up from Radhanuga's. Got home around 3:15p. Homework and a tiny bit of down time. Headed to the temple for music practice with all the kids at 4:30p (they are practicing for a performance on Friday for my gurudev's Vyasapuja/birthday). Got home at 5:25p. Squeezed in dinner (rice, broccoli/carrot/tofu stir fry, yellow mung dal) that I cooked earlier. Left for Kapila's soccer game at 5:45p. Game at 6p. Back home at 7:15p. Cupcakes and milk then bedtime.

Reading the card from Grandpa and Grandma Presents from mom and dad-new japa bag, a movie he loves, and his very own Bhagavad Gita
An amazon.com giftcard from Auntie, Uncle, Jacob, and Timmy. Awesome!!!
An awesome Lego set from Radhanuga and family
Making a wish over his birthday pancakes ;0) I bet he was praying to win his soccer game :)

New sheets from Grandma & Grandpa-Star Wars!
Cupcakes for after soccer
Oops, caught daddy eating one before soccer
Of course Narada had to have one also
6pm soccer game (they won 4-1...undefeated so far!) He's waving to Saranam who came to watch

Kapila turned 10 today. Ten years of being a mother gone by in a flash. I am excited and a bit nervous to see what the next ten years will bring for my oldest child. My goodness, how time flies...

We started out the day with birthday pancakes for breakfast. I knew it was going to be a very busy day so we woke Kapila up a bit earlier and let him open his presents and blow out his candles before school.

I picked him up from school at 11am and took him out for lunch at Whole Foods. Then we went book shopping at the thrift shop. Turned around and picked Rasaraj up from school and picked Narada up from Radhanuga's. Got home around 3:15p. Homework and a tiny bit of down time. Headed to the temple for music practice with all the kids at 4:30p (they are practicing for a performance on Friday for my gurudev's Vyasapuja/birthday). Got home at 5:25p. Squeezed in dinner (rice, broccoli/carrot/tofu stir fry, yellow mung dal) that I cooked earlier. Left for Kapila's soccer game at 5:45p. Game at 6p. Back home at 7:15p. Cupcakes and milk then bedtime.

Reading the card from Grandpa and Grandma Presents from mom and dad-new japa bag, a movie he loves, and his very own Bhagavad Gita
An amazon.com giftcard from Auntie, Uncle, Jacob, and Timmy. Awesome!!!
An awesome Lego set from Radhanuga and family
Making a wish over his birthday pancakes ;0) I bet he was praying to win his soccer game :)

New sheets from Grandma & Grandpa-Star Wars!
Cupcakes for after soccer
Oops, caught daddy eating one before soccer
Of course Narada had to have one also
6pm soccer game (they won 4-1...undefeated so far!) He's waving to Saranam who came to watch

The picture above is the same stove we have.

The picture above is the same stove we have.

This Blog has come into being for a number of reasons. Firstly, I wanted a venue where I could share my interest in Deity Worship (some people have said it verges on an obsession). Additionally it will allow me to share tips and techniques of making deity jewelry. This second reason has been an idea I have had for quite some time but have never had the technical skill to create a decent website but thanks to this blog I'll be able to share some of the techniques I have come across when making jewelry for my beloved deities Shri Shri Radha Govindaji and their friends(Laddu Gopal, Gaura-Nitai, Jaganntha, Baladeva & Subhadra, Govinda and Sadashiva Shailgram shilas, and the newest addition Lakshmi Nrsimhadev).

Eventually, in addition to the gallery of my deities on the side of the blog I plan on including a gallery of reader's deities. If you would like me to include your deities please email me your deity pictures!

This Blog has come into being for a number of reasons. Firstly, I wanted a venue where I could share my interest in Deity Worship (some people have said it verges on an obsession). Additionally it will allow me to share tips and techniques of making deity jewelry. This second reason has been an idea I have had for quite some time but have never had the technical skill to create a decent website but thanks to this blog I'll be able to share some of the techniques I have come across when making jewelry for my beloved deities Shri Shri Radha Govindaji and their friends(Laddu Gopal, Gaura-Nitai, Jaganntha, Baladeva & Subhadra, Govinda and Sadashiva Shailgram shilas, and the newest addition Lakshmi Nrsimhadev).

Eventually, in addition to the gallery of my deities on the side of the blog I plan on including a gallery of reader's deities. If you would like me to include your deities please email me your deity pictures!