Planet ISKCON

23|1Last Saturday I hosted a Saturday Feast at my flat. Nanda Sunu, Tejpal, Ben and Joy attended. It was nice to have all their association. Good association keeps me out of trouble (smile).

On the menu:

• Quinoa, Tomato and Cucumber Salad
• Vegetarian Sheppard??(TM)s Pie
• Zucchini, Green Pepper and Tomato Subji
• Almond & Pea Rice
• Sunflower Seed Cookies

Among other things we discussed various philosophies including Buddhism. This verse and purport from the Caitanya Caritamrita explains the flaws in the nine fundamental principles of Buddhism. It's an interesting read.

However, as stated in the purport, logical argument is boring and useless. We can argue, speculate and discuss as long as we like, but, in the end, everything comes down to the direct conscious experience of Krishna. The proof of the pudding is in the eating: Krishna consciousness.

Check out some pictures of the event. Nanda Sunu has also blogged about it.

Swimming is great exercise. I??(TM)ve been swimming twice a week for the past few weeks.

When I first started swimming, about four months ago, I would swim for 30 minutes and go for 14 lengths of the pool (25m) with frequent pauses at each end to catch my breath. I would also be completely wiped out for the next two days afterwards while my body recovered.

Now, in the same 30 minutes, I can swim 27 lengths and am energized afterwards. Imagine the possibilities: if my endurance and speed continues to improve at this rate, then I??(TM)ll be breaking the sound barrier in 4 years time and swimming at the speed of light after just 10 years of committed practice.

The Vedic literature recommends swimming (and wrestling) as the absolute best bodily exercise. I was skeptical when I first started, but now, after some initial austerity, I have to admit that the Vedas are (obviously) correct.

Swimming is great exercise. I??(TM)ve been swimming twice a week for the past few weeks.

When I first started swimming, about four months ago, I would swim for 30 minutes and go for 14 lengths of the pool (25m) with frequent pauses at each end to catch my breath. I would also be completely wiped out for the next two days afterwards while my body recovered.

Now, in the same 30 minutes, I can swim 27 lengths and am energized afterwards. Imagine the possibilities: if my endurance and speed continues to improve at this rate, then I??(TM)ll be breaking the sound barrier in 4 years time and swimming at the speed of light after just 10 years of committed practice.

The Vedic literature recommends swimming (and wrestling) as the absolute best bodily exercise. I was skeptical when I first started, but now, after some initial austerity, I have to admit that the Vedas are (obviously) correct.

Apple has created a short video tutorial on how to plan a good podcast. It is somewhat focused on their new GarageBand podcast-enabled audio editor (which looks like a superb application, by the way), but has some good tips on creating a nice, fun, high-quality, downloadable, timeshiftable, RSS-subscribeable online radio show. Check it out.

Apple has created a short video tutorial on how to plan a good podcast. It is somewhat focused on their new GarageBand podcast-enabled audio editor (which looks like a superb application, by the way), but has some good tips on creating a nice, fun, high-quality, downloadable, timeshiftable, RSS-subscribeable online radio show. Check it out.

School in Germany starts at 7:30am. At least it did when I was in school there. This simple, but ingenious fact contributes greatly to the overall good of German society. The children lean better in the morning hours, before the passionate mid-day sets in, they get trained to get up early and their parents are also forced to get up early. Both children and parents therefore have to go to bed earlier, reducing nightly sinful and criminal activities. Children (and adults) can't get into trouble at night if they're not awake. Brilliant!

At the same time, I wasn??(TM)t too happy about the German curriculum. Here are some things I disliked:

They choose to ignore the history of the world outside of Europe (and the American west). I really wanted to learn some Asian, African and South American history, but the teacher??(TM)s response was: ??oesorry??.

World War II was ignored. While World War I was covered in great detail, the painful memories of the second Great War were blocked out. History lessons covered the time up to 1939 and then made a jump to 1945. What happened in between, I asked. Teacher??(TM)s response: ??oenothing interesting??.

Lutheran religious education (evangelische Religion) primarily covered two themes: the role of the church in the 3rd Reich and various philosophies of religion. The latter lessons taught us na??ve kids that "religion and divinity are projections of human nature" (Ludwig Feuerbach) and that "Gott ist tot" (Friedrich Nietzsche). As a result I and practically all my friends became complete atheists.

Sports were limited to some basic team sports and track and field. Neither provided much in the way of good exercise. Team sports involved standing around most of the time waiting for the ball to come one's way. Track and field involved waiting around most of the time waiting for one's turn to run or jump. Physical education could have been orchestrated to be much more interesting and provide much more benefit for the students.

School in Germany starts at 7:30am. At least it did when I was in school there. This simple, but ingenious fact contributes greatly to the overall good of German society. The children lean better in the morning hours, before the passionate mid-day sets in, they get trained to get up early and their parents are also forced to get up early. Both children and parents therefore have to go to bed earlier, reducing nightly sinful and criminal activities. Children (and adults) can't get into trouble at night if they're not awake. Brilliant!

At the same time, I wasn??(TM)t too happy about the German curriculum. Here are some things I disliked:

They choose to ignore the history of the world outside of Europe (and the American west). I really wanted to learn some Asian, African and South American history, but the teacher??(TM)s response was: ??oesorry??.

World War II was ignored. While World War I was covered in great detail, the painful memories of the second Great War were blocked out. History lessons covered the time up to 1939 and then made a jump to 1945. What happened in between, I asked. Teacher??(TM)s response: ??oenothing interesting??.

Lutheran religious education (evangelische Religion) primarily covered two themes: the role of the church in the 3rd Reich and various philosophies of religion. The latter lessons taught us na??ve kids that "religion and divinity are projections of human nature" (Ludwig Feuerbach) and that "Gott ist tot" (Friedrich Nietzsche). As a result I and practically all my friends became complete atheists.

Sports were limited to some basic team sports and track and field. Neither provided much in the way of good exercise. Team sports involved standing around most of the time waiting for the ball to come one's way. Track and field involved waiting around most of the time waiting for one's turn to run or jump. Physical education could have been orchestrated to be much more interesting and provide much more benefit for the students.

The Apple iPod is the world's most beautiful MP3 player.

The iPod was designed by Jonathan Ive and his team of designers. Their goal was to create the perfect product. They achieved this with an extreme amount of attention to detail.

One aspect of the design is the basic shape of the device. The rectangle that is the iPod comes closer than any other MP3 player to the golden ratio 1 : 1.618 (also sometimes called the golden section). This ratio appeals to us at an unconscious level.

Attractive human faces have proportions that correspond to the golden ratio, indeed, the human body itself exemplifies this ratio, the Greek Parthenon and many other famous ancient monuments use the ratio throughout their design, the logarithmic spiral on a Nautilus Shell conforms the to golden ratio and even a TV image using those proportion is more appealing (that's why widescreen TV is 16:10). The golden section is deeply ingrained in the design of the Universe. We can't help but be attracted by it.

Here are the ratios of several popular MP3 players:

1 : 1.67 = iPod
1 : 1.75 = iRiver H10
1 : 1.47 = Creative Nomad Zen Xtra

The iRiver is too tall, the Nomad is far too fat, but the iPod's shape, though also slightly too tall, comes closest to this magic ratio. It is certainly no accident that it is the most visually appealing. I am however surprised that no other company has created an MP3 player that exactly uses the golden section (the iRiver H320 comes close by using the same ratio as the iPod, but otherwise looks like an ugly brick - sigh).

So remember, whenever you design anything try to use this golden ratio and people will become instinctively attracted.

The Apple iPod is the world's most beautiful MP3 player.

The iPod was designed by Jonathan Ive and his team of designers. Their goal was to create the perfect product. They achieved this with an extreme amount of attention to detail.

One aspect of the design is the basic shape of the device. The rectangle that is the iPod comes closer than any other MP3 player to the golden ratio 1 : 1.618 (also sometimes called the golden section). This ratio appeals to us at an unconscious level.

Attractive human faces have proportions that correspond to the golden ratio, indeed, the human body itself exemplifies this ratio, the Greek Parthenon and many other famous ancient monuments use the ratio throughout their design, the logarithmic spiral on a Nautilus Shell conforms the to golden ratio and even a TV image using those proportion is more appealing (that's why widescreen TV is 16:10). The golden section is deeply ingrained in the design of the Universe. We can't help but be attracted by it.

Here are the ratios of several popular MP3 players:

1 : 1.67 = iPod
1 : 1.75 = iRiver H10
1 : 1.47 = Creative Nomad Zen Xtra

The iRiver is too tall, the Nomad is far too fat, but the iPod's shape, though also slightly too tall, comes closest to this magic ratio. It is certainly no accident that it is the most visually appealing. I am however surprised that no other company has created an MP3 player that exactly uses the golden section (the iRiver H320 comes close by using the same ratio as the iPod, but otherwise looks like an ugly brick - sigh).

So remember, whenever you design anything try to use this golden ratio and people will become instinctively attracted.

I??(TM)m back in Manchester from my visit to Germany. My realization is that the external environment makes a huge difference one's ability to practice Krishna consciousness.

My parents??(TM) house in Germany is filled with so much stuff: over 30 years of clutter. This mass of mess (even if orderly arranged) seriously agitated my senses. I could not chant the maha-mantra property in that environment. My mind would constantly interrupt, asking me to do so many seemingly important things. Very soon I would give in to its demands, my resolve weakened by the atmosphere.

• The result: I didn??(TM)t chant all in one go, but spread out throughout the day.
• The result: chanting became a chore, an unwelcome duty that I had to push myself to do.
• The result: my meditation was wavering, weak and wholly inadequate.
• The result: my days became distracted, full of sense-gratification and completely unproductive.

Krishna is not kidding in the Bhagavad Gita when he says that he is time. With the pure single-pointed attention that Krishna consciousness brings one can accomplish many, many things in a seemingly very short amount of time.

An inattentive, unconscious person might work really hard their whole life, but ultimately get very little done. However, a fully Krishna conscious devotee (such as Srila Prabhupada) can write 60 books, circle to globe 14 times, initiate thousands of disciples and create a world-wide network of temples and ashrams all in just 12 years.

This morning, back at my flat, I was amazed at how much better my chanting was. Chanting was such a rejuvenating and refreshing experience. I didn't want to stop. I could have gone on for hours and hours.

The experience has strengthened my determination to live simply. Today I went through all the stuff in my flat and threw a load of it away. I filled two large garbage bags full of unless junk I had accumulated. I must do this kind of review more often.

I??(TM)m back in Manchester from my visit to Germany. My realization is that the external environment makes a huge difference one's ability to practice Krishna consciousness.

My parents??(TM) house in Germany is filled with so much stuff: over 30 years of clutter. This mass of mess (even if orderly arranged) seriously agitated my senses. I could not chant the maha-mantra property in that environment. My mind would constantly interrupt, asking me to do so many seemingly important things. Very soon I would give in to its demands, my resolve weakened by the atmosphere.

• The result: I didn??(TM)t chant all in one go, but spread out throughout the day.
• The result: chanting became a chore, an unwelcome duty that I had to push myself to do.
• The result: my meditation was wavering, weak and wholly inadequate.
• The result: my days became distracted, full of sense-gratification and completely unproductive.

Krishna is not kidding in the Bhagavad Gita when he says that he is time. With the pure single-pointed attention that Krishna consciousness brings one can accomplish many, many things in a seemingly very short amount of time.

An inattentive, unconscious person might work really hard their whole life, but ultimately get very little done. However, a fully Krishna conscious devotee (such as Srila Prabhupada) can write 60 books, circle to globe 14 times, initiate thousands of disciples and create a world-wide network of temples and ashrams all in just 12 years.

This morning, back at my flat, I was amazed at how much better my chanting was. Chanting was such a rejuvenating and refreshing experience. I didn't want to stop. I could have gone on for hours and hours.

The experience has strengthened my determination to live simply. Today I went through all the stuff in my flat and threw a load of it away. I filled two large garbage bags full of unless junk I had accumulated. I must do this kind of review more often.

22|1I spent Christmas in Germany with my parents. View the pictures.

I like Germany. This is partially to do with my having grown up here, but also because Germany has a very deep history and culture. Just turn on one of the many classical radio stations to see what I mean. Of course, any piety that is left in Germany is rapidly dwindling due to the influences of Kali-yuga pop-culture. Such a shame, Germany has/had so much potential.

Example: I talked to a neighbor last week (Frau Schott). A 91-year old lady. She was still sharp-witted, living with and giving advice to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her body was strong enough to walk up the town's step hills carrying her shopping basket. Certainly some very good karma there for a very nice lady.

I also met some old friends from high-school. It was interesting to hear what has happened to everyone. I can see that they are all just harvesting the results of the karma: some have gotten married (most haven't), some have children (mostly accidentally), some are still studying (forever aimless students), some are working (and are too busy to do anything else but work). I could see, in every case, that whatever my past classmates were experiencing was pre-determined. Everyone was automatically getting their various desires fulfilled by the laws of nature according to their various stocks of pious-credits. Very little free will (although quite a bit of good karma).

The same would also have happened to me. I too would be living the same, old, boring, mundane, dry, been-there-done-that life that everyone seems to take so seriously. But in the period from 2000 until 2002 I gradually made the conscious decision to switch trains: from the Karma-merry-go-round to the Krishna-Express. Looking back, I'm glad I did.

(My eternal gratitude to those devotees who influenced and advised me.)

22|1I spent Christmas in Germany with my parents. View the pictures.

I like Germany. This is partially to do with my having grown up here, but also because Germany has a very deep history and culture. Just turn on one of the many classical radio stations to see what I mean. Of course, any piety that is left in Germany is rapidly dwindling due to the influences of Kali-yuga pop-culture. Such a shame, Germany has/had so much potential.

Example: I talked to a neighbor last week (Frau Schott). A 91-year old lady. She was still sharp-witted, living with and giving advice to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her body was strong enough to walk up the town's step hills carrying her shopping basket. Certainly some very good karma there for a very nice lady.

I also met some old friends from high-school. It was interesting to hear what has happened to everyone. I can see that they are all just harvesting the results of the karma: some have gotten married (most haven't), some have children (mostly accidentally), some are still studying (forever aimless students), some are working (and are too busy to do anything else but work). I could see, in every case, that whatever my past classmates were experiencing was pre-determined. Everyone was automatically getting their various desires fulfilled by the laws of nature according to their various stocks of pious-credits. Very little free will (although quite a bit of good karma).

The same would also have happened to me. I too would be living the same, old, boring, mundane, dry, been-there-done-that life that everyone seems to take so seriously. But in the period from 2000 until 2002 I gradually made the conscious decision to switch trains: from the Karma-merry-go-round to the Krishna-Express. Looking back, I'm glad I did.

(My eternal gratitude to those devotees who influenced and advised me.)

I recently read an interesting article by Paul Graham on how to make wealth. He advocates working really, really hard in a start-up for a few years and (maybe) getting a huge pay-off from the effort (or ending up with nothing, if the venture, like ever so many start-ups, fails).

However, an interesting point he makes is the distinction between wealth and money. Wealth is what we are really after, while money is just the exchange medium for wealth we use in today's society. All the money of the world would be of no use to you if you were stranded on a desert island with nothing to buy. Similar, if you had a machine (or surabi cow) that could create anything you desired, you would have no need for money.

Graham writes:

Until recently even governments sometimes didn't grasp the distinction between money and wealth. Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations) mentions several that tried to preserve their "wealth" by forbidding the export of gold or silver. But having more of the medium of exchange would not make a country richer; if you have more money chasing the same amount of material wealth, the only result is higher prices.

Similarly, on a smaller scale, many people chase after money, when what they actually desire is wealth. Wealth is whatever someone values and therefore wants to acquire.

Graham falls into the same trap that ensnares practically everyone. He reasons:

Create things that people desire => make money => buy things you desire => objective accomplished.

In reality the following happens:

... buy things you desire => desire more => buy more => desire more => buy more => never become truly satisfied

The spiritual solution is given in BG 2.70: instead of trying to create more and more wealth we should practice minimizing your desires (and since annihilating desire is impossible, replacing it with a higher taste - BG 2.59). That way, even if we don't have the luck (good karma) to be part of a successful start-up, we'll still be supremely wealthy. We'll be able to buy all the things you want, even with a modest income, because we'll desire less stuff than the common manipulated-by-marketing consumer. Even better, we'll also will gain permanent, spiritual wealth.

All material wealth is eventually destroyed by the effects of time. However, spiritual advancement lasts forever.

I recently read an interesting article by Paul Graham on how to make wealth. He advocates working really, really hard in a start-up for a few years and (maybe) getting a huge pay-off from the effort (or ending up with nothing, if the venture, like ever so many start-ups, fails).

However, an interesting point he makes is the distinction between wealth and money. Wealth is what we are really after, while money is just the exchange medium for wealth we use in today's society. All the money of the world would be of no use to you if you were stranded on a desert island with nothing to buy. Similar, if you had a machine (or surabi cow) that could create anything you desired, you would have no need for money.

Graham writes:

Until recently even governments sometimes didn't grasp the distinction between money and wealth. Adam Smith (Wealth of Nations) mentions several that tried to preserve their "wealth" by forbidding the export of gold or silver. But having more of the medium of exchange would not make a country richer; if you have more money chasing the same amount of material wealth, the only result is higher prices.

Similarly, on a smaller scale, many people chase after money, when what they actually desire is wealth. Wealth is whatever someone values and therefore wants to acquire.

Graham falls into the same trap that ensnares practically everyone. He reasons:

Create things that people desire => make money => buy things you desire => objective accomplished.

In reality the following happens:

... buy things you desire => desire more => buy more => desire more => buy more => never become truly satisfied

The spiritual solution is given in BG 2.70: instead of trying to create more and more wealth we should practice minimizing your desires (and since annihilating desire is impossible, replacing it with a higher taste - BG 2.59). That way, even if we don't have the luck (good karma) to be part of a successful start-up, we'll still be supremely wealthy. We'll be able to buy all the things you want, even with a modest income, because we'll desire less stuff than the common manipulated-by-marketing consumer. Even better, we'll also will gain permanent, spiritual wealth.

All material wealth is eventually destroyed by the effects of time. However, spiritual advancement lasts forever.

download
Verse: BG 5.21-22
Place: ISKCON Leipzig, Germany
Time: 44 min.

Summary:
This is a very provocative verse. Krishna rejects all false pleasure. Shouldn??(TM)t there be a balance between both false and real pleasure? Physiologists say that repression can be damaging to the psyche.

No! Would you make a balance with real and counterfeit money? A yogi has better things to do than enjoy false pleasure. And, by the way, psychologist is the profession with the highest suicide rate.

Detachment requires training. We must know what is good, what is bad and get a taste of the real, unlimited pleasure obtainable by concentrating on the Supreme. Such spiritual pleasure is far, far higher than the highest material pleasure (sex life). It is worth the small inconvenience necessary to obtain it. Material pleasure simply traps us.

Questions:

• What is the role of intuition when choosing a guru?
• How to employ the material elements for the atma-tattva?
• Why do you wear a watch? Time does not play a role for Krishna! You??(TM)re under the same material stress and time pressure as everyone else. Isn??(TM)t that a contradiction?
• What does it mean to serve Krishna?
• But Krishna talks of two yogas: jnana and bhakti?

download
Verse: BG 5.21-22
Place: ISKCON Leipzig, Germany
Time: 44 min.

Summary:
This is a very provocative verse. Krishna rejects all false pleasure. Shouldn??(TM)t there be a balance between both false and real pleasure? Physiologists say that repression can be damaging to the psyche.

No! Would you make a balance with real and counterfeit money? A yogi has better things to do than enjoy false pleasure. And, by the way, psychologist is the profession with the highest suicide rate.

Detachment requires training. We must know what is good, what is bad and get a taste of the real, unlimited pleasure obtainable by concentrating on the Supreme. Such spiritual pleasure is far, far higher than the highest material pleasure (sex life). It is worth the small inconvenience necessary to obtain it. Material pleasure simply traps us.

Questions:

• What is the role of intuition when choosing a guru?
• How to employ the material elements for the atma-tattva?
• Why do you wear a watch? Time does not play a role for Krishna! You??(TM)re under the same material stress and time pressure as everyone else. Isn??(TM)t that a contradiction?
• What does it mean to serve Krishna?
• But Krishna talks of two yogas: jnana and bhakti?

I just listened to an interesting interview with John Barrow, a cosmologist and mathematician who talks about his book: The Infinite Book : A Short Guide to the Boundless, Timeless and Endless.

He explains how the Universe may or may not be infinity and outlines a theory where our particular Universe is finite, but there exists an infinitely old realm of unlimited parallel universes beyond ours. We will however, never know for sure, since, in order to get information from those other Universes that information would have to travel faster than the speed of light, which is, of course, impossible (according to Einstein).

This theory sounds remarkably similar to the view of the Universe given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Maha-Visnu is in the infinite spiritual causal ocean where time does not exist and generates unlimited finite Universes just like ours.

Barrow also explains how there are different sized infinities (as discovered by Galileo Galilei). There are, in fact, an unlimited number of infinities, each larger than the next. The infinite infinity is mathematically impossible (as shown by Georg Cantor, but hypothetically possible for a meta-physical being such as God.

There are several statements in Vedic literature that the spiritual energy is three times larger than the material energy (SB 2.6.20 and Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya-lila Chapter 21 Verses 51, 55, 56, 57, 87). Devotees always told me that these statements were not to be taken literally. I was however never satisfied with that explanation. However, using Cantor??(TM)s mathematics of infinite sets, it is indeed perfectly reasonable to talk about multiple differently sized infinities.

I just listened to an interesting interview with John Barrow, a cosmologist and mathematician who talks about his book: The Infinite Book : A Short Guide to the Boundless, Timeless and Endless.

He explains how the Universe may or may not be infinity and outlines a theory where our particular Universe is finite, but there exists an infinitely old realm of unlimited parallel universes beyond ours. We will however, never know for sure, since, in order to get information from those other Universes that information would have to travel faster than the speed of light, which is, of course, impossible (according to Einstein).

This theory sounds remarkably similar to the view of the Universe given in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Maha-Visnu is in the infinite spiritual causal ocean where time does not exist and generates unlimited finite Universes just like ours.

Barrow also explains how there are different sized infinities (as discovered by Galileo Galilei). There are, in fact, an unlimited number of infinities, each larger than the next. The infinite infinity is mathematically impossible (as shown by Georg Cantor, but hypothetically possible for a meta-physical being such as God.

There are several statements in Vedic literature that the spiritual energy is three times larger than the material energy (SB 2.6.20 and Caitanya Caritamrita Madhya-lila Chapter 21 Verses 51, 55, 56, 57, 87). Devotees always told me that these statements were not to be taken literally. I was however never satisfied with that explanation. However, using Cantor??(TM)s mathematics of infinite sets, it is indeed perfectly reasonable to talk about multiple differently sized infinities.

I??(TM)ve just fixed some more bugs in this website. For some reason the last few lines of some of my modified WordPress theme files got cut off and replaced with a garbled server error message. Weird (or: hackers!?). If this website looked a bit strange over the past few days, then that was the reason.

Anyway, it's all working again now (and more secure, too). Enjoy.

(Note: I've also changed the layout slightly. Tell me what you think.)

I??(TM)ve just fixed some more bugs in this website. For some reason the last few lines of some of my modified WordPress theme files got cut off and replaced with a garbled server error message. Weird (or: hackers!?). If this website looked a bit strange over the past few days, then that was the reason.

Anyway, it's all working again now (and more secure, too). Enjoy.

(Note: I've also changed the layout slightly. Tell me what you think.)

download
Place: ISKCON Leipzig, Germany
Time: 19 min.

Summary:
Why struggle so hard for material enjoyment which is temporary in nature? Erich Honecker, for example, thought that the Berlin wall would be there 100 years from now. 6 months later: both he??(TM)s gone and the wall is gone.

There is an attitude of: "just be as happy as you can, focus on the pleasure and don??(TM)t be negative, just follow your heart and intuition". French existentialist philosopher Albert Camus said: "Don??(TM)t try to lead me, don??(TM)t try to follow me, just walk with me through the chaos".

However, in any practical situation no one actually does that. For example, when going on a walk in forest we make a plan, take a map and follow the official path established by forest rangers.

Krishna consciousness is the authorized way. The Vedic literature is the torchlight of knowledge that allows us to see the whole picture of what is going on, instead of stumbling blindly in the darkness of ignorance.

download
Place: ISKCON Leipzig, Germany
Time: 19 min.

Summary:
Why struggle so hard for material enjoyment which is temporary in nature? Erich Honecker, for example, thought that the Berlin wall would be there 100 years from now. 6 months later: both he??(TM)s gone and the wall is gone.

There is an attitude of: "just be as happy as you can, focus on the pleasure and don??(TM)t be negative, just follow your heart and intuition". French existentialist philosopher Albert Camus said: "Don??(TM)t try to lead me, don??(TM)t try to follow me, just walk with me through the chaos".

However, in any practical situation no one actually does that. For example, when going on a walk in forest we make a plan, take a map and follow the official path established by forest rangers.

Krishna consciousness is the authorized way. The Vedic literature is the torchlight of knowledge that allows us to see the whole picture of what is going on, instead of stumbling blindly in the darkness of ignorance.

Namahatta has a great article from HH Radhanath Swami. He talks about the counselor system in the temple in Mumbai, Chowpatti. It sounds like a great place. A perfect situation where everyone is super nicely cared for. The article is well worth reading.

Namahatta has a great article from HH Radhanath Swami. He talks about the counselor system in the temple in Mumbai, Chowpatti. It sounds like a great place. A perfect situation where everyone is super nicely cared for. The article is well worth reading.

This week's Vedicsoc session was different. As a follow on from Sunday's Gita reading I advertised a Bhagavad-Gita Q&A. Unfortunately the interest of the student community in such things is practically zero these days. Well, two, to be exact. I taught a very quick yoga class (some breathing and 10 sun salutes), followed by an extra long japa session (18 minutes of chanting of the maha-mantra).

Then we had what ended up being a two hours long discussion. I found myself battling mayavadi conceptions throughout most of that time. However, even given Prabhupada's authoritative purports the two guys that came did not accept. Ultimately we came to some intricate (irrelevant) detailed questions about the nature of the time which I could not answer. I stressed that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. But, alas, the maha-mantra of today's society is: "never commit to anything".

Still, we parted favourably (and I sneakily gave both of them a gift of a MP3-CD filled with Krishna conscious talks lectures).

This week's Vedicsoc session was different. As a follow on from Sunday's Gita reading I advertised a Bhagavad-Gita Q&A. Unfortunately the interest of the student community in such things is practically zero these days. Well, two, to be exact. I taught a very quick yoga class (some breathing and 10 sun salutes), followed by an extra long japa session (18 minutes of chanting of the maha-mantra).

Then we had what ended up being a two hours long discussion. I found myself battling mayavadi conceptions throughout most of that time. However, even given Prabhupada's authoritative purports the two guys that came did not accept. Ultimately we came to some intricate (irrelevant) detailed questions about the nature of the time which I could not answer. I stressed that the proof of the pudding is in the eating. But, alas, the maha-mantra of today's society is: "never commit to anything".

Still, we parted favourably (and I sneakily gave both of them a gift of a MP3-CD filled with Krishna conscious talks lectures).

Forrester magazine has an interest short article on the subject. View it here.

Forrester magazine has an interest short article on the subject. View it here.

download
Verse: SB 2.10.1
Place: ISKCON Berlin, Germany
Time: 59 min.

Summary:
There is always change. The body changes, the government changes (Devamrita Swami tells some stories of preaching in the DDR, former East Germany) and people become bewildered.

Srimad Bhagavatam however allows us to conquer the darkness of ignorance, the conception that the world is here for our enjoyment, and understand that all energy has an owner who (at least) likes be acknowledged. Devotion can come later. Devotees as devoted as Mother Yasoda can even conquer Krishna.

The creation is supreme exhibition of artistry. It is so expertly arranged that it looks like no one is behind it. It is like an expert manager who sets things into motion without people noticing it was actually him. Things generally progress from subtle to gross. It is like that in management, male/female relationships and many other things.

Don??(TM)t get caught up in all the changes, attacks of material nature and material desires. Srimad Bhagavatam gives both knowledge and detachment.

Questions:

• How is it that if we stop practicing Krishna consciousness in this life we can continue from where we left off in the next life?
• How to convince someone that God didn??(TM)t give them this world for their enjoyment?
• My understanding is that you should only have a relationship to Krishna, not anybody else, is that right?

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Verse: SB 2.10.1
Place: ISKCON Berlin, Germany
Time: 59 min.

Summary:
There is always change. The body changes, the government changes (Devamrita Swami tells some stories of preaching in the DDR, former East Germany) and people become bewildered.

Srimad Bhagavatam however allows us to conquer the darkness of ignorance, the conception that the world is here for our enjoyment, and understand that all energy has an owner who (at least) likes be acknowledged. Devotion can come later. Devotees as devoted as Mother Yasoda can even conquer Krishna.

The creation is supreme exhibition of artistry. It is so expertly arranged that it looks like no one is behind it. It is like an expert manager who sets things into motion without people noticing it was actually him. Things generally progress from subtle to gross. It is like that in management, male/female relationships and many other things.

Don??(TM)t get caught up in all the changes, attacks of material nature and material desires. Srimad Bhagavatam gives both knowledge and detachment.

Questions:

• How is it that if we stop practicing Krishna consciousness in this life we can continue from where we left off in the next life?
• How to convince someone that God didn??(TM)t give them this world for their enjoyment?
• My understanding is that you should only have a relationship to Krishna, not anybody else, is that right?

The ancient Japanese art of paper folding has come a long way since the time of ancient Japan. Using computers to calculate the folds necessary Robert Lang creates some amazing origami artwork. Check it out here.

The ancient Japanese art of paper folding has come a long way since the time of ancient Japan. Using computers to calculate the folds necessary Robert Lang creates some amazing origami artwork. Check it out here.

Gita Jayanti was today. I invited some of the Vedicsoc crew over to my flat for a reading of the Bhagavad-Gita. Three guys from Vedicsoc attended.

We started off taking (ekadasi) prasadam. I made the following:

• Chinese leaf salad
• Sago Pilaf
• Tomato chutney/sauce
• Potato wedges
• Sweet potato pie (the speculation buckwheat pastry turned out quite good)
• Luglos

I was intending to make a few more preparation, but ran out of time. I??(TM)ll try better next time.

So, anyway, after chatting for a bit we got into reading the Gita. Three hours later: a deep feeling of peace pervaded the atmosphere, everyone was blissful, spiritually satisfied and saturated with transcendental knowledge.

I found the austerity of the reading extremely rewarding. The Bhagavad-Gita is such an amazing book. So much knowledge!

Gita Jayanti was today. I invited some of the Vedicsoc crew over to my flat for a reading of the Bhagavad-Gita. Three guys from Vedicsoc attended.

We started off taking (ekadasi) prasadam. I made the following:

• Chinese leaf salad
• Sago Pilaf
• Tomato chutney/sauce
• Potato wedges
• Sweet potato pie (the speculation buckwheat pastry turned out quite good)
• Luglos

I was intending to make a few more preparation, but ran out of time. I??(TM)ll try better next time.

So, anyway, after chatting for a bit we got into reading the Gita. Three hours later: a deep feeling of peace pervaded the atmosphere, everyone was blissful, spiritually satisfied and saturated with transcendental knowledge.

I found the austerity of the reading extremely rewarding. The Bhagavad-Gita is such an amazing book. So much knowledge!

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Place: Nienburg, Germany
Time: 69 min.

Summary:
Jihad consciousness is the traditional, village culture, not necessarily exclusive to Islam. It is any group of people that value their cultural uniqueness and ethnicity. These kinds of people want to fight the ongoing globalization by any means.

McWorld consciousness is the global consumer culture. Global brands, global food, global pop-stars, global morality (make up your own religion and do whatever feels right). These people look down on the primitive tribespeople. The McWorld is ruled by big business. It is good business if everyone wants the same food. Big Macs can then be mass produced in large quantities for large profits.

Both types of consciousness are merely polished animal life. They are in what is known as ??oesilpa jnana??. Higher than that is ??oebrahma vidya??, or knowledge of a spiritual reality beyond the bodily identification. However, that is just the beginning, the kindergarten, of spiritual knowledge. Higher than that is knowledge of ??oeparamatma??, the Supersoul. The peak of knowledge is knowledge of ??oebhagavan??, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This level includes all the lower levels.

Questions:

• How can this absolute knowledge manifest in our daily lives?
• In the Bhagavad-Gita it says that a householder must perform his duty? What is this duty?
• How can be become perfect if our karma is in the way?
• When following the spiritual path there are often so many obstacles, impediments and unfortunate circumstances that one gets confused. I have so many problems with my children that I can no longer believe in God.
• Is it possible to enlighten the Jihad and McWorld people with real spiritual knowledge?

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Place: Nienburg, Germany
Time: 69 min.

Summary:
Jihad consciousness is the traditional, village culture, not necessarily exclusive to Islam. It is any group of people that value their cultural uniqueness and ethnicity. These kinds of people want to fight the ongoing globalization by any means.

McWorld consciousness is the global consumer culture. Global brands, global food, global pop-stars, global morality (make up your own religion and do whatever feels right). These people look down on the primitive tribespeople. The McWorld is ruled by big business. It is good business if everyone wants the same food. Big Macs can then be mass produced in large quantities for large profits.

Both types of consciousness are merely polished animal life. They are in what is known as ??oesilpa jnana??. Higher than that is ??oebrahma vidya??, or knowledge of a spiritual reality beyond the bodily identification. However, that is just the beginning, the kindergarten, of spiritual knowledge. Higher than that is knowledge of ??oeparamatma??, the Supersoul. The peak of knowledge is knowledge of ??oebhagavan??, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This level includes all the lower levels.

Questions:

• How can this absolute knowledge manifest in our daily lives?
• In the Bhagavad-Gita it says that a householder must perform his duty? What is this duty?
• How can be become perfect if our karma is in the way?
• When following the spiritual path there are often so many obstacles, impediments and unfortunate circumstances that one gets confused. I have so many problems with my children that I can no longer believe in God.
• Is it possible to enlighten the Jihad and McWorld people with real spiritual knowledge?

The Vedicsoc session was interesting yesterday. One of the students from last week liked the Power Yoga so much that she enthusiastically brought one of her friends along. Word of mouth is the best advertising. Altogether four people attended the session.

I taught I rather good slow-deep aerobic class that was well received. We then chanted the Hare Krishna mantra for a while on beads. This was received with some suspicion. Then, coming to the discussion, the two new girls affirmed that they were perfectly happy with their life and did not want to have anything to do with any spiritual process or ??oereligion??. Yuck! (though I explained, or at least attempted to explain, that it was actually a very scientific process)

They continued to affirm: ??oewe like passion and are perfectly happy with our lives as they are. We like stress: it gives us the opportunity to learn to manage our time better.??

I tried loads of approaches to introduce them to spirituality, but no chance. They almost certainly won??(TM)t come back next week. In any case, they have gotten a lot of benefit from their brief exposure to Krishna consciousness.

The Vedicsoc session was interesting yesterday. One of the students from last week liked the Power Yoga so much that she enthusiastically brought one of her friends along. Word of mouth is the best advertising. Altogether four people attended the session.

I taught I rather good slow-deep aerobic class that was well received. We then chanted the Hare Krishna mantra for a while on beads. This was received with some suspicion. Then, coming to the discussion, the two new girls affirmed that they were perfectly happy with their life and did not want to have anything to do with any spiritual process or ??oereligion??. Yuck! (though I explained, or at least attempted to explain, that it was actually a very scientific process)

They continued to affirm: ??oewe like passion and are perfectly happy with our lives as they are. We like stress: it gives us the opportunity to learn to manage our time better.??

I tried loads of approaches to introduce them to spirituality, but no chance. They almost certainly won??(TM)t come back next week. In any case, they have gotten a lot of benefit from their brief exposure to Krishna consciousness.

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Verse: Damodarastaka prayers, verse #2
Place: Dortmund, Germany
Time: 48 min.

Summary:
Krishna is the most beautiful little cowheard boy. He is also the Supreme Lord. He is full of paradoxes: here is God and he is hungry, attention seeking, wanting to be fed, stealing butter, fearfully running away, being caught and bound up by his mother. Only in Vrindavana, where no one thinks of Krishna as God, can such intimate pastimes take place. Brahma and Siva can??(TM)t relate with Krishna in such ways. Our goal in the month of Kartika should be to understand this Krishna.

Questions:

• Was Krishna really afraid, or was he just putting on a show?
• Isn??(TM)t it impossible to understand Krishna?