Planet ISKCON

It is funny how we devotees always can find something to occupy ourselves with. If I was a karmi, staying here at the ayurvedic center I would have left screaming for being bored out of my mind. Benefits of being a devotee, Radha rati mataji and me are occupying ourselves with singing kirtans, reading the Bhagavatam (we have an aim to finish the first canto before we leave) and generally exchanging our realizations.

Last night I was particularly lamenting on my separation from Panihati Dham and the deities there. Deity worship is something that I miss truly from the core of my heart. You have to be a pujari to know what I'm talking about....a pujari who has no deities at the moment to serve. A small temple like Panihati dham where during the weekdays, it is just you and the deities....prabhupad singing softly in the main temple room, there is so much bliss that it really hurts knowing that it is highly impossible for me to go back to that kind of service.

Prabhupad's bhajans are the most soothing sounds in this world. Getting absorbed in Prabhupad's deep voice, removing Panihati candra's mukut pieces, scrubbing gopi dots off of Madan mohan, giving jagannath some fresh water for the night, sweeping and mopping the altar with some eucalyptus oil.....

Bringing in their beds....tucking Krishna's flute under his pillow...

"Now come, O Kesava, along with Your beloved Srimati Radharani and Her friends, to the bed covered with transcendental, aromatic flowers. Now happily enjoy Your pastimes, O Madhava."

and then chanting the respectful mantras for everyone else , switch off the lights on the altar,
and then whisper a,
"Good night...".....and slowly tiptoe out the back locking the doors...

...until I see them the next morning glowing softly for Mangala arati....



So, Caitanya Mahāprabhu is very kind. Parama karuna, pahū dui jana. Two Lords, Nitāi-Gauracandra, Nityānanda Prabhu and Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, They are very kind, you see? They have appeared just to reclaim the fallen souls of this age. So They are more kind than Krishna. Krishna, He is also very kind. He comes to deliver. But Kṛṣṇa demands that first of all surrender. Caitanya Mahāprabhu even does not demand surrender. He is so kind. (voice choking) So take shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and be happy. Thank you very much. (weeping) (end)

-Srila Prabhupada, Arrival Address, February 28, 1975, Atlanta, Georgia.


You made Prabhupada weep...will I ever gaze at your merciful eyes again? scrub the chandan off your feet?....

(…continued from Part 1) Pandavas Paradise is a 400 hectare (almost 1000 acres) retreat centre/nature reserve/temple situated in the Cerrado, the vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil. The Cerrado is known as the world´s most biodiverse savanna with about 10,000 … Continue reading →

I am writing this sitting steps away from that Krishna
That Kanha whose lotus eyes are said to have been carved by Vishvakarma himself
Lotus eyes indeed! They look mesmerizing through Kanakadasa's window!
Feeling the breeze, hearing the melodious birds, leaves rustling

A conversation I overhear....





Radha: "Who taps on My door with one finger?"
Krsna: " O crooked girl, it is Madhava."
Radha: "Madhava is a name of spring. Has springtime come knocking on my door?"
Krsna: "Certainly not! It is the holder of the Sudarsana wheel"
Radha: "Potters hold wheels. Are you a potter?"
Krsna: "I am not. I am the person who holds up the entire world."
Radha: "The forked-tongue serpent king, Ananta holds up the world. Are you he?"
Krsna: "No. I am the person who crushes serpents."
Radha: "The bird-king Garuda crushes serpents. Are you he?"
Krsna: "No! I am Lord Hari!!"


How delightful right? :D

For those of you who haven't caught the clue, I am in Udupi right now... enjoying the peace, catching up on my reading!

P.S: Maha-abhishek was so intense an experience that I cannot put words to it. Mercy? The word just doesnt cover it for Gauranga....

I am writing this sitting steps away from that Krishna
That Kanha whose lotus eyes are said to have been carved by Vishvakarma himself
Lotus eyes indeed! They look mesmerizing through Kanakadasa's window!
Feeling the breeze, hearing the melodious birds, leaves rustling

A conversation I overhear....





Radha: "Who taps on My door with one finger?"
Krsna: " O crooked girl, it is Madhava."
Radha: "Madhava is a name of spring. Has springtime come knocking on my door?"
Krsna: "Certainly not! It is the holder of the Sudarsana wheel"
Radha: "Potters hold wheels. Are you a potter?"
Krsna: "I am not. I am the person who holds up the entire world."
Radha: "The forked-tongue serpent king, Ananta holds up the world. Are you he?"
Krsna: "No. I am the person who crushes serpents."
Radha: "The bird-king Garuda crushes serpents. Are you he?"
Krsna: "No! I am Lord Hari!!"


How delightful right? :D

For those of you who haven't caught the clue, I am in Udupi right now... enjoying the peace, catching up on my reading!

P.S: Maha-abhishek was so intense an experience that I cannot put words to it. Mercy? The word just doesnt cover it for Gauranga....

Now that I am living only four miles from the temple I sometimes walk home. It is a pleasant walk, mostly avoiding the main highways and taking a particularly nice country road surrounded by forest, farms and cows. You can hear the birds singing and see hawks flying overhead. You have time to think and appreciate the Lord’s amazing creation. When I am walking I imagine going back to a much simpler time where walking was the primary means of transport. How I wish I were back in that time again. Everything you need you can get to by foot. If you want to visit a friend or the doctor you just walk a few minutes. Or if you have to go to another town you walk for a couple of days, maybe a week, sleeping along the roadside or in a friendly person’s barn. I love being able to just get somewhere not depending on anything except my own two feet. No car and all of its hassles. No rides from others.

But these days it is practically impossible not to own a car. Maybe if you live in a big city like New York, but you are still dependent on public transport. I always wanted to travel around the country by foot. I felt that this would allow me to more fully understand my dependence on the Lord alone; how He is actually maintaining and supplying everything we need. Driving in a car I felt too much safety. Safety from the elements and from strangers. Ironically in so many ways driving is by far more dangerous. So it is simply a false sense of security, allowing us to hide away from our external fears and in doing so hide away from the basic activities of nature and living interaction.

Maybe one day we will run out of oil and be forced to go back to walking. Of course our towns will have to become localized again and then so will our community. In fact, this could allow for real community to form again, not the artificial or virtual one we experience today. I do long for that day.

Now that I am living only four miles from the temple I sometimes walk home. It is a pleasant walk, mostly avoiding the main highways and taking a particularly nice country road surrounded by forest, farms and cows. You can hear the birds singing and see hawks flying overhead. You have time to think and appreciate the Lord’s amazing creation. When I am walking I imagine going back to a much simpler time where walking was the primary means of transport. How I wish I were back in that time again. Everything you need you can get to by foot. If you want to visit a friend or the doctor you just walk a few minutes. Or if you have to go to another town you walk for a couple of days, maybe a week, sleeping along the roadside or in a friendly person’s barn. I love being able to just get somewhere not depending on anything except my own two feet. No car and all of its hassles. No rides from others.

But these days it is practically impossible not to own a car. Maybe if you live in a big city like New York, but you are still dependent on public transport. I always wanted to travel around the country by foot. I felt that this would allow me to more fully understand my dependence on the Lord alone; how He is actually maintaining and supplying everything we need. Driving in a car I felt too much safety. Safety from the elements and from strangers. Ironically in so many ways driving is by far more dangerous. So it is simply a false sense of security, allowing us to hide away from our external fears and in doing so hide away from the basic activities of nature and living interaction.

Maybe one day we will run out of oil and be forced to go back to walking. Of course our towns will have to become localized again and then so will our community. In fact, this could allow for real community to form again, not the artificial or virtual one we experience today. I do long for that day.

Stole this from my sister's blog.

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold or distinctify the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!! We have no idea what happened to #11...


*1. Started your own blog

*2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

*4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

*6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

*7. Been to Disneyland (tokyo disneyland counts, right?)

*8. Climbed a mountain.

*9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

12. Visited Paris

*13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

*18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

*20. Slept in an overnight train

*21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

*29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)

*30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

*37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo's David

*41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

*45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48.Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

*51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

*53. Played in the mud

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

*60. Served at a soup kitchen

*61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

*63. Got flowers for no reason

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

*69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

*70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar.

72. Pieced a quilt

*73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

*84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

*86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

*88. Had chicken pox

89. Saved someone's life

90. Sat on a jury

*91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

*93. Lost a loved one

*94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

*98. Owned a cell phone

*99. Been stung by a bee

*100. Read an entire book in one day

Stole this from my sister's blog.

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold or distinctify the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!! We have no idea what happened to #11...


*1. Started your own blog

*2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

*4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

*6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

*7. Been to Disneyland (tokyo disneyland counts, right?)

*8. Climbed a mountain.

*9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

12. Visited Paris

*13. Watched a lightning storm at sea

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

*18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

*20. Slept in an overnight train

*21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

*29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)

*30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

*37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo's David

*41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

*45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48.Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

*51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

*53. Played in the mud

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

*60. Served at a soup kitchen

*61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

*63. Got flowers for no reason

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

*69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

*70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar.

72. Pieced a quilt

*73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

*84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Read the entire Bible

*86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

*88. Had chicken pox

89. Saved someone's life

90. Sat on a jury

*91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

*93. Lost a loved one

*94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

*98. Owned a cell phone

*99. Been stung by a bee

*100. Read an entire book in one day

Photo from H.H BB Govinda Swami Maharaj's facebook album

Iskcon guru-vrinda ki jai!

Photo from H.H BB Govinda Swami Maharaj's facebook album

Iskcon guru-vrinda ki jai!

I was fortunate to be able to visit ISKCON Montreal and have darshan of Sri Sri Radha Manohara. These life sized deities are stunning, I believe they are the largest Radha Krishna deities in North America. View the gallery below of lordships Sri Sri Radha Monahara, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra, as well as Sri Sri Gaura Nitai from ISKCON Ottawa.

I was fortunate to be able to visit ISKCON Montreal and have darshan of Sri Sri Radha Manohara. These life sized deities are stunning, I believe they are the largest Radha Krishna deities in North America. View the gallery below of lordships Sri Sri Radha Monahara, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Jagannatha, Balabhadra and Subhadra, as well as Sri Sri Gaura Nitai from ISKCON Ottawa.

When my husband came home from Japan we celebrated by making gyoza (dumplings). Rasaraj, always eager to help in the kitchen, cut up veggies and helped cook the filling. My husband brought us donuts from Japan as an extra special treat. The glazed donut in the picture below has sesame seeds on it and was the best one out of the whole selection he brought home. www.doughnutplant.jp

When my husband came home from Japan we celebrated by making gyoza (dumplings). Rasaraj, always eager to help in the kitchen, cut up veggies and helped cook the filling. My husband brought us donuts from Japan as an extra special treat. The glazed donut in the picture below has sesame seeds on it and was the best one out of the whole selection he brought home. www.doughnutplant.jp

Last week I spent a few days at Pandavas Paradise (Paraíso dos Pândavas). My husband and I try to go there every couple of weeks to get out of the city and spend some time with the beautiful deities in … Continue reading →

I just realized that I haven't posted to my blog for about 6 weeks. So, here is a little update to keep my blog flame from dying out.

I was quite sick for most of the month of January. Mostly respiratory ills. The doctor finally said that I probably have adult onset episodic asthma. UGH! She said it means that I will be susceptible to the wheezing episodes whenever I get a cold or have seasonal allergies. I have never had breathing problems or wheezing in my entire life until now. It was very scary to lay down at night to sleep and start wheezing. I felt like i couldn't get enough air to my lungs and like i was breathing through a pillow :( My poor little Narada also had a bad cold with some very mild wheeziness (is that a word?). His doctor sent him home with a nebulizer for breathing treatments, which i also used on the doctor's advice.

My husband went to Japan for 10 days at the end of January. He didn't take any pictures...He says he had a great time and saw his family and many of the wonderful devotees there. And, by Krishna's arrangement he even saw his guru HH Kavicandra Swami, in Osaka. He brought us back some donuts from the Donut Plant in Tokyo. This is the same donut shop in NYC that makes pure vegetarian donuts and offers them to the Lord so that they are all prasadam when sold.

We had a wonderful celebration for Lord Nityananda's appearance day last week. I was so happy to not be sick anymore that i cooked a prep for the feast and went to the program at the temple. I hadn't been to the temple for a couple months due to illness.

Kapila is starting spring soccer in Mebane tomorrow. I'm so happy and relieved to find something close by for him. He's not interesting in playing any other sports so otherwise he would only have fall soccer.

I enrolled my baby for kindergarten this month. He will be five years old next month. I think I may cry when he starts school in August. I'm sure he won't cry.

Okay, I think that may be it for now. I will follow this post up with some recent pictures.

I just realized that I haven't posted to my blog for about 6 weeks. So, here is a little update to keep my blog flame from dying out.

I was quite sick for most of the month of January. Mostly respiratory ills. The doctor finally said that I probably have adult onset episodic asthma. UGH! She said it means that I will be susceptible to the wheezing episodes whenever I get a cold or have seasonal allergies. I have never had breathing problems or wheezing in my entire life until now. It was very scary to lay down at night to sleep and start wheezing. I felt like i couldn't get enough air to my lungs and like i was breathing through a pillow :( My poor little Narada also had a bad cold with some very mild wheeziness (is that a word?). His doctor sent him home with a nebulizer for breathing treatments, which i also used on the doctor's advice.

My husband went to Japan for 10 days at the end of January. He didn't take any pictures...He says he had a great time and saw his family and many of the wonderful devotees there. And, by Krishna's arrangement he even saw his guru HH Kavicandra Swami, in Osaka. He brought us back some donuts from the Donut Plant in Tokyo. This is the same donut shop in NYC that makes pure vegetarian donuts and offers them to the Lord so that they are all prasadam when sold.

We had a wonderful celebration for Lord Nityananda's appearance day last week. I was so happy to not be sick anymore that i cooked a prep for the feast and went to the program at the temple. I hadn't been to the temple for a couple months due to illness.

Kapila is starting spring soccer in Mebane tomorrow. I'm so happy and relieved to find something close by for him. He's not interesting in playing any other sports so otherwise he would only have fall soccer.

I enrolled my baby for kindergarten this month. He will be five years old next month. I think I may cry when he starts school in August. I'm sure he won't cry.

Okay, I think that may be it for now. I will follow this post up with some recent pictures.

Their Lordships Shri Shri Gaura Nitia and Shri Shri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha looking stunning on the Appearance Day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Darshan of my deities from the festival can be found in my gallery.

Their Lordships Shri Shri Gaura Nitia and Shri Shri Radha Ksira-Chora Gopinatha looking stunning on the Appearance Day of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. Darshan of my deities from the festival can be found in my gallery.

<p>I recently gave a talk at the Krishna Fest at Gaura Yoga on the "Vedic System of Self-Development". Thanks to Sivarama Swami for the <a href="http://www.sivaramaswami.com/?p=3929">inspiration</a> for this talk.</p><p><a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/vedic system of self-development.m4a">You can view the talk synchronized with slides here</a>.</p><p>or download the source AAC file <a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/vedic system of self-development.m4a">vedic system of self-development.m4a</a></p><p>or download the source MP3 file <a href="http://www.deltaflow.com/wp-content/vedic system of self-development.mp3">vedic system of self-development.mp3</a></p>

I recently gave a talk at the Krishna Fest at Gaura Yoga on the "Vedic System of Self-Development". Thanks to Sivarama Swami for the inspiration for this talk.

You can view the talk synchronized with slides here.

or download the source AAC file vedic system of self-development.m4a

or download the source MP3 file vedic system of self-development.mp3

I recently gave a talk at the Krishna Fest at Gaura Yoga on the "Vedic System of Self-Development". Thanks to Sivarama Swami for the inspiration for this talk.

You can view the talk synchronized with slides here.

or download the source AAC file vedic system of self-development.m4a

or download the source MP3 file vedic system of self-development.mp3

<p>I was listening to the following podcast:</p><p><a href="http://itc.conversationsnetwork.org/shows/detail4002.html">Darrel Rhea: Marking During an Economic Meltdown</a></p><p>The title is deceptive. It is more about analyzing a market or activity holistically and reinventing it to taking into account the complete picture. With a complete view of all the factors, motivations, desires, side-effects and intentions, one can transform into a truly customer focused organization.</p><p>Darrel Rhea gives example how he helped do this for Apple Retail Stores, Electrolux Kitchen Appliances, the Australian Tax System and Hospital Stroke Treatment.</p><p>How about we think about the classic Sunday Feast in this way? In New Zealand the Sunday Feast has already been adapted and reinvented to a certain extent to make it more accessible to newcomers, but without changing any of the core values of Krishna Consciousness. But more can always be done to improve it even further.</p><p>(Learn more about the "Krishna Fest" as it is in Wellington, New Zealand: <a href="http://gaurayoga.co.nz/festivals/">Gaura Yoga - Festivals</a>)</p><p>Think of the usual kind of person that might attend a Krishna Conscious center: curious, wary, ignorant of any kind of philosophy, averse to ritual, averse to religion, proud, attached to the opposite sex, not able to sit on the floor for long periods of time, short attention span, self-conscious (unless intoxicated), concerned about spending too much money and concerned about the environment (although not actually doing much about it).</p><p>So, using that picture of the typical guest, how would you reinvent the Sunday Feast with a fresh outlook, unencumbered by past traditions? Things that might be changed: name, time, music, types of events, sequence of events, physical layout of the room(s), decoration of the room(s), devotee numbers, devotee dress &amp; accessories and devotee language &amp; attitude.</p><p>Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.</p>

I was listening to the following podcast:

Darrel Rhea: Marking During an Economic Meltdown

The title is deceptive. It is more about analyzing a market or activity holistically and reinventing it to taking into account the complete picture. With a complete view of all the factors, motivations, desires, side-effects and intentions, one can transform into a truly customer focused organization.

Darrel Rhea gives example how he helped do this for Apple Retail Stores, Electrolux Kitchen Appliances, the Australian Tax System and Hospital Stroke Treatment.

How about we think about the classic Sunday Feast in this way? In New Zealand the Sunday Feast has already been adapted and reinvented to a certain extent to make it more accessible to newcomers, but without changing any of the core values of Krishna Consciousness. But more can always be done to improve it even further.

(Learn more about the "Krishna Fest" as it is in Wellington, New Zealand: Gaura Yoga - Festivals)

Think of the usual kind of person that might attend a Krishna Conscious center: curious, wary, ignorant of any kind of philosophy, averse to ritual, averse to religion, proud, attached to the opposite sex, not able to sit on the floor for long periods of time, short attention span, self-conscious (unless intoxicated), concerned about spending too much money and concerned about the environment (although not actually doing much about it).

So, using that picture of the typical guest, how would you reinvent the Sunday Feast with a fresh outlook, unencumbered by past traditions? Things that might be changed: name, time, music, types of events, sequence of events, physical layout of the room(s), decoration of the room(s), devotee numbers, devotee dress & accessories and devotee language & attitude.

Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

I was listening to the following podcast:

Darrel Rhea: Marking During an Economic Meltdown

The title is deceptive. It is more about analyzing a market or activity holistically and reinventing it to taking into account the complete picture. With a complete view of all the factors, motivations, desires, side-effects and intentions, one can transform into a truly customer focused organization.

Darrel Rhea gives example how he helped do this for Apple Retail Stores, Electrolux Kitchen Appliances, the Australian Tax System and Hospital Stroke Treatment.

How about we think about the classic Sunday Feast in this way? In New Zealand the Sunday Feast has already been adapted and reinvented to a certain extent to make it more accessible to newcomers, but without changing any of the core values of Krishna Consciousness. But more can always be done to improve it even further.

(Learn more about the "Krishna Fest" as it is in Wellington, New Zealand: Gaura Yoga - Festivals)

Think of the usual kind of person that might attend a Krishna Conscious center: curious, wary, ignorant of any kind of philosophy, averse to ritual, averse to religion, proud, attached to the opposite sex, not able to sit on the floor for long periods of time, short attention span, self-conscious (unless intoxicated), concerned about spending too much money and concerned about the environment (although not actually doing much about it).

So, using that picture of the typical guest, how would you reinvent the Sunday Feast with a fresh outlook, unencumbered by past traditions? Things that might be changed: name, time, music, types of events, sequence of events, physical layout of the room(s), decoration of the room(s), devotee numbers, devotee dress & accessories and devotee language & attitude.

Please leave your thoughts and opinions in the comments below.

These necklaces are easy to make and the technique can be modified to add or subtract tiers. This style creates the look of multiple necklaces but because it is a single piece you don’t need to worry about different necklaces getting tangled, making dressing really simple.

Supplies:

1. Polyester Sewing Thread
2. Extra Fine Beading Needle
3. Seed Beads
4. Decorative Beads (5 crystal bi-cones and 6 glass beads)
5. Scissors
   Step 1: Begin by double stringing a generous length of the sewing thread on to your needle and tying a stop bead (simply tie a knot around a seed bead) towards the end, leaving a 3-4 inch tail.
   
   Step 2: String on 8-10 seed beads followed by a crystal bi-cone, then string on more seed beads to the desired length of the first necklace.
   
   Step 3: Next, string on one glass bead, a crystal bi-cone and three seed beads. To create the pendant, pass the needle back through the crystal bi-cone and pull the thread all the way through.
   
   Step 4: Complete the second side of the necklace with the glass bead, seed beads, crystal bi-cone and the seed beads. Then securely tie the ends of the string together.
   
   Step 5: Now to create the second tier pass the needle back through the seed beads and crystal bi-cone. Then you can begin stringing on your seed beads adding a few more than you did for the first tier to ensure this necklace will sit below the first one. Continue with the pattern as you did for the first necklace and securely tying off the thread.
   
   Step 6: At this point you could finish your necklace with two tiers, or you can repeat step five with more seed beads to create a third tier.

These necklaces are easy to make and the technique can be modified to add or subtract tiers. This style creates the look of multiple necklaces but because it is a single piece you don’t need to worry about different necklaces getting tangled, making dressing really simple.

Supplies:

1. Polyester Sewing Thread
2. Extra Fine Beading Needle
3. Seed Beads
4. Decorative Beads (5 crystal bi-cones and 6 glass beads)
5. Scissors
   Step 1: Begin by double stringing a generous length of the sewing thread on to your needle and tying a stop bead (simply tie a knot around a seed bead) towards the end, leaving a 3-4 inch tail.
   
   Step 2: String on 8-10 seed beads followed by a crystal bi-cone, then string on more seed beads to the desired length of the first necklace.
   
   Step 3: Next, string on one glass bead, a crystal bi-cone and three seed beads. To create the pendant, pass the needle back through the crystal bi-cone and pull the thread all the way through.
   
   Step 4: Complete the second side of the necklace with the glass bead, seed beads, crystal bi-cone and the seed beads. Then securely tie the ends of the string together.
   
   Step 5: Now to create the second tier pass the needle back through the seed beads and crystal bi-cone. Then you can begin stringing on your seed beads adding a few more than you did for the first tier to ensure this necklace will sit below the first one. Continue with the pattern as you did for the first necklace and securely tying off the thread.
   
   Step 6: At this point you could finish your necklace with two tiers, or you can repeat step five with more seed beads to create a third tier.

I am currently in Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon river in the North of Brazil. Belém is in the state of Pará, famous for its Brazil nuts (which are actually known as Pará nuts here in Brazil). I … Continue reading →