Planet ISKCON

(Warning: this is going to be kind-of technical)

I??(TM)ve just changed how I deal with email. Here is what I did:

I opened two accounts using Google??(TM)s free Gmail service. I then set my university email account to forward all messages I get to one Gmail account. I then set that Gmail account to forward all messages it gets to the other Gmail account (but does not archive it). This second Gmail account applied various filters and labels to all incoming messages. Newsgroup messages are, for example, automatically archived upon receipt. That way they don??(TM)t clog my inbox, but I can search them quickly and easily using Google if I need to. I then also set all my private email account to forward to email to this second email account.

To check email I simply download from the second Gmail account using Microsoft Outlook and POP, or, if I??(TM)m traveling or am at University, just log into Gmail. When I??(TM)m in University, I download from the first Gmail account and set Gmail to archive the messages I have downloaded. That way my work machine only gets PhD related email.

The end result: All my email is backed up on one Gmail account, my University email and private email are separated, I have a nice email web interface I can use when on the road and both my home and University PCs get copies of all email relevant to me at those locations.

Now, all that was left to do was to create a backup of all my old email. After some trying I used to University??(TM)s SMTP server to and Mozilla Thunderbird (using an extension called Redirect, which has the ability to bounce email messages) to forward all my old email to myself in the newly setup Gmail accounts. I don??(TM)t think the University was too happy about my suddenly spamming their server with the 20000 (don??(TM)t ask) emails I??(TM)ve received in the past year and a half. Anyway, it??(TM)s for a good cause and they haven??(TM)t blocked me yet.

This all worked well. I now have all my old email stored in Gmail for instant access wherever I go.

(Warning: this is going to be kind-of technical)

I??(TM)ve just changed how I deal with email. Here is what I did:

I opened two accounts using Google??(TM)s free Gmail service. I then set my university email account to forward all messages I get to one Gmail account. I then set that Gmail account to forward all messages it gets to the other Gmail account (but does not archive it). This second Gmail account applied various filters and labels to all incoming messages. Newsgroup messages are, for example, automatically archived upon receipt. That way they don??(TM)t clog my inbox, but I can search them quickly and easily using Google if I need to. I then also set all my private email account to forward to email to this second email account.

To check email I simply download from the second Gmail account using Microsoft Outlook and POP, or, if I??(TM)m traveling or am at University, just log into Gmail. When I??(TM)m in University, I download from the first Gmail account and set Gmail to archive the messages I have downloaded. That way my work machine only gets PhD related email.

The end result: All my email is backed up on one Gmail account, my University email and private email are separated, I have a nice email web interface I can use when on the road and both my home and University PCs get copies of all email relevant to me at those locations.

Now, all that was left to do was to create a backup of all my old email. After some trying I used to University??(TM)s SMTP server to and Mozilla Thunderbird (using an extension called Redirect, which has the ability to bounce email messages) to forward all my old email to myself in the newly setup Gmail accounts. I don??(TM)t think the University was too happy about my suddenly spamming their server with the 20000 (don??(TM)t ask) emails I??(TM)ve received in the past year and a half. Anyway, it??(TM)s for a good cause and they haven??(TM)t blocked me yet.

This all worked well. I now have all my old email stored in Gmail for instant access wherever I go.

download
Place: Goloka Dhama, Abentheuer, Germany
Time: 38 min.

Questions:

• The king and householder Maharaja Rantideva didn??(TM)t teach spiritual knowledge directly, so how can we learn from him?
• How will someone learn from the reactions to their bad deeds in past lives if they can??(TM)t remember them?
• How can we possibly offend Krishna? Who are we to be able to offend God?
• How to be so compassionate that we accept other??(TM)s suffering?
• Was Citraketu??(TM)s insulting Lord Siva and being cursed by Parvati Krishna??(TM)s arrangement?
• When and how do we get the mercy of the devotee?
• What is the nature of ??oerealization???
• How can we change our tactics to better connect with present-day people?
• How do we understand the Bhagavad-Gita where Krishna says that he who explains him to the devotee is most dear?
• Krishna is self-satisfied and has only created this material world for our sake, but he arranged for Jaya and Vijaya??(TM)s falldown so he could have a good fight. Isn??(TM)t that some selfish desire on his part?

download
Place: Goloka Dhama, Abentheuer, Germany
Time: 38 min.

Questions:

• The king and householder Maharaja Rantideva didn??(TM)t teach spiritual knowledge directly, so how can we learn from him?
• How will someone learn from the reactions to their bad deeds in past lives if they can??(TM)t remember them?
• How can we possibly offend Krishna? Who are we to be able to offend God?
• How to be so compassionate that we accept other??(TM)s suffering?
• Was Citraketu??(TM)s insulting Lord Siva and being cursed by Parvati Krishna??(TM)s arrangement?
• When and how do we get the mercy of the devotee?
• What is the nature of ??oerealization???
• How can we change our tactics to better connect with present-day people?
• How do we understand the Bhagavad-Gita where Krishna says that he who explains him to the devotee is most dear?
• Krishna is self-satisfied and has only created this material world for our sake, but he arranged for Jaya and Vijaya??(TM)s falldown so he could have a good fight. Isn??(TM)t that some selfish desire on his part?

I taught a full 90-minute power yoga session this week in Vedicsoc. A total of four people attended. Two new guests came. Both were attracted by the prospect of intense exercise and not really interested in the Vedic knowledge. That??(TM)s the point of the power yoga aspect of atma-yoga: to be mainstream and attractive to common-joe-consumer. The new guests could however be persuaded to engage in some purifying mantra-meditation at the start of the session and also engage in some purifying prasadam taking at the end.

I??(TM)m continually surprised that, despite the general state of disrepair of my body, I manage to execute the yoga asanas I teach for longer than any of the (obviously serious unfit) students. Maybe I??(TM)m just getting extra power from an unseen source. Who can say?

I taught a full 90-minute power yoga session this week in Vedicsoc. A total of four people attended. Two new guests came. Both were attracted by the prospect of intense exercise and not really interested in the Vedic knowledge. That??(TM)s the point of the power yoga aspect of atma-yoga: to be mainstream and attractive to common-joe-consumer. The new guests could however be persuaded to engage in some purifying mantra-meditation at the start of the session and also engage in some purifying prasadam taking at the end.

I??(TM)m continually surprised that, despite the general state of disrepair of my body, I manage to execute the yoga asanas I teach for longer than any of the (obviously serious unfit) students. Maybe I??(TM)m just getting extra power from an unseen source. Who can say?

Joel Spolsky, a prominent blogger and CEO of a small software company, wrote an article on a 12 steps for better software development. The article is from the year 2000, but still relevant today.

The Joel Test: 12 Steps to Better Code

While a University's main purpose isn't exactly software development, computer scientist researchers do frequently have to do programming. Here's how my research group rates based on Joel's criteria:

# Do you use source control?
- Yes (well, half the time, at least for the main project)

# Can you make a build in one step?
- No

# Do you make daily builds?
- No

# Do you have a bug database?
- Yes (finally)

# Do you fix bugs before writing new code?
- No

# Do you have an up-to-date schedule?
- What's a schedule?

# Do you have a spec?
- What's a spec?

# Do programmers have quiet working conditions?
- Hell no.

# Do you use the best tools money can buy?
- No way (our PCs don't even have CD-burners)

# Do you have testers?
- The users are the testers, aren't they?

# Do new candidates write code during their interview?
- No

# Do you do hallway usability testing?
- Kind of

So: 2.5 / 12.

Not the greatest of scores. Now, I could try to revolutionize the University: transform the stale, old practices into a new high-tech, high-productivity environment that students and researchers love to work in. March into the dean's office demanding that he break down the establishment, write essays, post flyers, complain to everyone in the department ...

Or I could just tolerate and leave the country as soon as possible ...

Joel Spolsky, a prominent blogger and CEO of a small software company, wrote an article on a 12 steps for better software development. The article is from the year 2000, but still relevant today.

The Joel Test: 12 Steps to Better Code

While a University's main purpose isn't exactly software development, computer scientist researchers do frequently have to do programming. Here's how my research group rates based on Joel's criteria:

# Do you use source control?
- Yes (well, half the time, at least for the main project)

# Can you make a build in one step?
- No

# Do you make daily builds?
- No

# Do you have a bug database?
- Yes (finally)

# Do you fix bugs before writing new code?
- No

# Do you have an up-to-date schedule?
- What's a schedule?

# Do you have a spec?
- What's a spec?

# Do programmers have quiet working conditions?
- Hell no.

# Do you use the best tools money can buy?
- No way (our PCs don't even have CD-burners)

# Do you have testers?
- The users are the testers, aren't they?

# Do new candidates write code during their interview?
- No

# Do you do hallway usability testing?
- Kind of

So: 2.5 / 12.

Not the greatest of scores. Now, I could try to revolutionize the University: transform the stale, old practices into a new high-tech, high-productivity environment that students and researchers love to work in. March into the dean's office demanding that he break down the establishment, write essays, post flyers, complain to everyone in the department ...

Or I could just tolerate and leave the country as soon as possible ...

download
Verse: SB 4.29.35
Place: Goloka Dhama, Abentheuer, Germany
Time: 49 min.

Summary:
"To become free from material misery one must take to Krishna consciousness". Is this a sectarian or even fanatical statement? Why not respect everyone??(TM)s paths equally?

Not discriminating between various different spiritual paths is covered impersonalism, Devamrita Swami explains. Our career is to understand Krishna. His personal qualities, likes, dislikes, etc. We have to get over the fear that we are being sectarian by focusing on Krishna.

You may object: "Not Krishna!", but if not Krishna, then who? What other solution is there? Where else is there so much specific and detailed information about God?

Srila Prabhupada was a master teacher. He made the most complex subject matters very easy to understand. His books are practical, goal oriented and certainly don??(TM)t contain any foggy, new-age statements. Don??(TM)t just read his books once. Everyone should have the experience that they can read Prabhupada??(TM)s books over and over again and realize the ever freshness of devotional service.

Questions:

• Preaching is sometimes difficult because we have the Krishna stigma attached to us.
• I realize I need a deep understand of the philosophy, but isn??(TM)t endeavoring for knowledge a material activity?
• We see that a lot of older devotees are fading away, especially now.
• What about other Vaisnava disciplic successions? Why stay in ISKCON?

download
Verse: SB 4.29.35
Place: Goloka Dhama, Abentheuer, Germany
Time: 49 min.

Summary:
"To become free from material misery one must take to Krishna consciousness". Is this a sectarian or even fanatical statement? Why not respect everyone??(TM)s paths equally?

Not discriminating between various different spiritual paths is covered impersonalism, Devamrita Swami explains. Our career is to understand Krishna. His personal qualities, likes, dislikes, etc. We have to get over the fear that we are being sectarian by focusing on Krishna.

You may object: "Not Krishna!", but if not Krishna, then who? What other solution is there? Where else is there so much specific and detailed information about God?

Srila Prabhupada was a master teacher. He made the most complex subject matters very easy to understand. His books are practical, goal oriented and certainly don??(TM)t contain any foggy, new-age statements. Don??(TM)t just read his books once. Everyone should have the experience that they can read Prabhupada??(TM)s books over and over again and realize the ever freshness of devotional service.

Questions:

• Preaching is sometimes difficult because we have the Krishna stigma attached to us.
• I realize I need a deep understand of the philosophy, but isn??(TM)t endeavoring for knowledge a material activity?
• We see that a lot of older devotees are fading away, especially now.
• What about other Vaisnava disciplic successions? Why stay in ISKCON?

from http://www.ftrain.com/ProcessingProcessing.html:

World: I'd love to make my web site smarter, link things together more intelligently.

Semantic Web Research Community: Sure! You need a generalized framework for ontology development.

World: Okay. That'll help me link things together more easily?

SWRC: Even better, it will lead to a giant throbbing robot world-brain that arranges dentist's appointments for you! Just read the Scientific American article.

World: Will that be a lot of work?

SWRC: No. But even if it is, we will blame you for being too stupid to understand why you need it.

World: Huh. I guess so. But I don't understand why I need it, exactly.

SWRC: That is because you are too stupid. It's fine, we have your best interests in mind.

World: I don't want to nag, but while I read a book on set theory, how about those fancy links?

SWRC: Well, if you insist, and can't wait, there's always XLink.

World: Aha. That looks handy...except, oh, there's no easily available implementation. And I'm not really sure what it's supposed to do.

SWRC: That is because you are lazy and stupid.

World: Ah well. Do you think I should apply for grants for the development of my little web site Ftrain.com? Just enough for a monthly unlimited Metrocard would be a help.

SWRC: We will have all the grants! Be gone with your bachelor's degree from a second-tier private liberal arts college! And where is your RSS feed?

World: Sorry.

SWRC: Slacker! Bring me more graduate students, I am hungry!

from http://www.ftrain.com/ProcessingProcessing.html:

World: I'd love to make my web site smarter, link things together more intelligently.

Semantic Web Research Community: Sure! You need a generalized framework for ontology development.

World: Okay. That'll help me link things together more easily?

SWRC: Even better, it will lead to a giant throbbing robot world-brain that arranges dentist's appointments for you! Just read the Scientific American article.

World: Will that be a lot of work?

SWRC: No. But even if it is, we will blame you for being too stupid to understand why you need it.

World: Huh. I guess so. But I don't understand why I need it, exactly.

SWRC: That is because you are too stupid. It's fine, we have your best interests in mind.

World: I don't want to nag, but while I read a book on set theory, how about those fancy links?

SWRC: Well, if you insist, and can't wait, there's always XLink.

World: Aha. That looks handy...except, oh, there's no easily available implementation. And I'm not really sure what it's supposed to do.

SWRC: That is because you are lazy and stupid.

World: Ah well. Do you think I should apply for grants for the development of my little web site Ftrain.com? Just enough for a monthly unlimited Metrocard would be a help.

SWRC: We will have all the grants! Be gone with your bachelor's degree from a second-tier private liberal arts college! And where is your RSS feed?

World: Sorry.

SWRC: Slacker! Bring me more graduate students, I am hungry!

When you come up with a new idea, for heavens sake, don??(TM)t present in a public forum: envious, self-obsessed people will cut you down to make themselves look good. Instead, talk to as many people as possible one-to-one. Get their feedback and slowly perfect the idea, so that, when it comes time to present it, everyone in the room already knows all about it and agrees with your plan (and there was no reason anymore to actually give the presentation).

Researchers will try to help each other up to a point, but everyone very much looks out for their own prestige and publication count. This is very different from working in a company: there maximum teamwork is encouraged. ??oeWorks well in a team?? is never in the job description for a researcher, but very much a critical skill for any corporate employee. Firms are in the research game so that the company as-a-whole can make more money. Universities are also in the research game to make more (government grant) money, but it??(TM)s more every man/woman/student for himself/herself.

There is more freedom in academic, but also more competition. Whereas employees in the corporate world are slaves, but at least don??(TM)t need to worry about someone stealing their good ideas.

However, whatever the field of work, the politics and social manipulation is often much more important than actual skill. I might as well try to learn (or renouce it all and live the worry free, easy life of a saint).

When you come up with a new idea, for heavens sake, don??(TM)t present in a public forum: envious, self-obsessed people will cut you down to make themselves look good. Instead, talk to as many people as possible one-to-one. Get their feedback and slowly perfect the idea, so that, when it comes time to present it, everyone in the room already knows all about it and agrees with your plan (and there was no reason anymore to actually give the presentation).

Researchers will try to help each other up to a point, but everyone very much looks out for their own prestige and publication count. This is very different from working in a company: there maximum teamwork is encouraged. ??oeWorks well in a team?? is never in the job description for a researcher, but very much a critical skill for any corporate employee. Firms are in the research game so that the company as-a-whole can make more money. Universities are also in the research game to make more (government grant) money, but it??(TM)s more every man/woman/student for himself/herself.

There is more freedom in academic, but also more competition. Whereas employees in the corporate world are slaves, but at least don??(TM)t need to worry about someone stealing their good ideas.

However, whatever the field of work, the politics and social manipulation is often much more important than actual skill. I might as well try to learn (or renouce it all and live the worry free, easy life of a saint).

The death of superstar footballer George Best was the talk of the office yesterday. I??(TM)d never heard of the guy, but apparently he had all kinds of problems. One of my colleagues remarked how amazing it was that despite having a liver translate and knowing that any alcohol could kill him, he still could not give up drinking.

I picked up a Bhagavad-Gita from my desk, opened it to verse 59 in chapter two and handed it to her. It certainly got her thinking. She read the verse about five times and then studied the purport.

In the end she asked if one had to be vegetarian to practice this process. I explained it??(TM)s a natural result of the practice and not really a big deal. She replied that she just liked the taste of meat too much: anyway, It??(TM)s natural to eat meat, right? I didn??(TM)t press the argument (and she does like the prasadam that I make every week).

She asked a few more questions, but then got distracted by her laptop (IBM Thinkpad) spontaneously rebooting itself.

The death of superstar footballer George Best was the talk of the office yesterday. I??(TM)d never heard of the guy, but apparently he had all kinds of problems. One of my colleagues remarked how amazing it was that despite having a liver translate and knowing that any alcohol could kill him, he still could not give up drinking.

I picked up a Bhagavad-Gita from my desk, opened it to verse 59 in chapter two and handed it to her. It certainly got her thinking. She read the verse about five times and then studied the purport.

In the end she asked if one had to be vegetarian to practice this process. I explained it??(TM)s a natural result of the practice and not really a big deal. She replied that she just liked the taste of meat too much: anyway, It??(TM)s natural to eat meat, right? I didn??(TM)t press the argument (and she does like the prasadam that I make every week).

She asked a few more questions, but then got distracted by her laptop (IBM Thinkpad) spontaneously rebooting itself.

I went to see Dr. Philip Weeks two days ago. It just so happened that I had an appointment just after that stressful presentation of mine. And yes, the stress certainly damaged my digestion.

Philip started off by burning Chinese herbs on various acupuncture points on my body. He would light the herb-powder, let it smoke and burn until it became uncomfortably hot on my skin, then quickly lifted it off. Burning the herbs apparently re-kindles the digestive fire in the body.

He also did some normal acupuncture on me. He stuck on needle in my forehead (third eye chakra) to release the stress I??(TM)ve been subjected to. He also did the usual points around my lower legs. Some points on my chest were troublesome. I??(TM)ve lots so much weight that there wasn??(TM)t enough muscle for the needle to trigger the chi flow. The needle were just (slightly) painful, without the strange tingling feeling of a successful acupuncture point.

Still, Phil was satisfied with the overall effect of the treatment. I feel a bit better today ??" I think. But then I do always feel a lot better straight after acupuncture treatment, but it wears off after a week. Ideally, I??(TM)d have acupuncture every week until my body gets the point and starts behaving the way it should. But alas, we don??(TM)t live in an ideal world.

Philip said that acupuncture is very good at inducing healing when you know exactly what the problem is. His Vega testing machine is very good at diagnosing illnesses, toxins and poisons. He can then use acupuncture to fix the problem, if the patient??(TM)s body does not respond to more high-tech homeopathy-type treatment. On top of that come various herbal tinctures that Phil mixes and prescribes.

I??(TM)m now taking a whole slew of herbs to try and get this broken down body machine working again:

Oregano complex kills yeast in my gut. That fungus better watch out! It also produces a strange oregano smell/burp about an hour after taking it.

Digestive enzymes are very powerful. They cause the food I eat to be digested earlier in the colon, thereby hopefully reducing the colonic irritation and increasing the amount of nutrients I absorb. They should allow me to gain some much needed weight. Something is certainly happening. I feel quite tired (more than usual) after eating and kind-of weird. I had a stomach ache last night. We??(TM)ll see how this develops.

Probiotics replenish the good bacteria in my digestive system.

Clay and slippery elm powered lines my colon wall, reducing irritation and allowing it to heal. It also stop diarrhea by expanding and almost crystallizing in contact with water. The clay-mesh slows the digestive process and forms clumps with any liquid.

Chickpea protein powder is a good source of protein (which my body desperately needs to build itself back up) that is not dairy related (since dairy products are difficult for my body to absorb in its current state).

Finally, detox tea, as the name implies, reduces toxins in my body. Always good.

I went to see Dr. Philip Weeks two days ago. It just so happened that I had an appointment just after that stressful presentation of mine. And yes, the stress certainly damaged my digestion.

Philip started off by burning Chinese herbs on various acupuncture points on my body. He would light the herb-powder, let it smoke and burn until it became uncomfortably hot on my skin, then quickly lifted it off. Burning the herbs apparently re-kindles the digestive fire in the body.

He also did some normal acupuncture on me. He stuck on needle in my forehead (third eye chakra) to release the stress I??(TM)ve been subjected to. He also did the usual points around my lower legs. Some points on my chest were troublesome. I??(TM)ve lots so much weight that there wasn??(TM)t enough muscle for the needle to trigger the chi flow. The needle were just (slightly) painful, without the strange tingling feeling of a successful acupuncture point.

Still, Phil was satisfied with the overall effect of the treatment. I feel a bit better today ??" I think. But then I do always feel a lot better straight after acupuncture treatment, but it wears off after a week. Ideally, I??(TM)d have acupuncture every week until my body gets the point and starts behaving the way it should. But alas, we don??(TM)t live in an ideal world.

Philip said that acupuncture is very good at inducing healing when you know exactly what the problem is. His Vega testing machine is very good at diagnosing illnesses, toxins and poisons. He can then use acupuncture to fix the problem, if the patient??(TM)s body does not respond to more high-tech homeopathy-type treatment. On top of that come various herbal tinctures that Phil mixes and prescribes.

I??(TM)m now taking a whole slew of herbs to try and get this broken down body machine working again:

Oregano complex kills yeast in my gut. That fungus better watch out! It also produces a strange oregano smell/burp about an hour after taking it.

Digestive enzymes are very powerful. They cause the food I eat to be digested earlier in the colon, thereby hopefully reducing the colonic irritation and increasing the amount of nutrients I absorb. They should allow me to gain some much needed weight. Something is certainly happening. I feel quite tired (more than usual) after eating and kind-of weird. I had a stomach ache last night. We??(TM)ll see how this develops.

Probiotics replenish the good bacteria in my digestive system.

Clay and slippery elm powered lines my colon wall, reducing irritation and allowing it to heal. It also stop diarrhea by expanding and almost crystallizing in contact with water. The clay-mesh slows the digestive process and forms clumps with any liquid.

Chickpea protein powder is a good source of protein (which my body desperately needs to build itself back up) that is not dairy related (since dairy products are difficult for my body to absorb in its current state).

Finally, detox tea, as the name implies, reduces toxins in my body. Always good.

I gave a lunchtime presentation yesterday. It was the same event that my colleague got hammered at last week. Only this time practically the entire research group attended: about 35 people.

My presentation was about the potential future direction of my research. I had planned to talk about how I could incremental classify otherwise unmanageably large ontologies. However, I was barely past the first powerpoint slide when one professor started pointing out flaws in the formal language, logic and approach I was suggesting. I attempting to carry on, but as I went on, the audience of experts (Manchester is the world leader in automated reasoning/classification) pointed out more and more flaws and areas I had not yet though through sufficiently.

Very soon it didn??(TM)t matter what I said. No one was listening anymore. I had some genuinely good ideas, but by they were buried under the initial barrage.

I was surprised at the bloodlust with which I was set upon. My (wrong) assumption was that I could present my idea to a friendly group of fellow researchers to get useful feedback and advice. Instead, every tiny inconstancy and imprecise use of terminology was berated.

Advice from my supervisor (he couldn??(TM)t make it to my talk because he was out of the country at the time, but got emails expressing concerned from practically every researcher who was there): ??oeYou??(TM)re too far along in your career to get away with presenting half-baked ideas (though he said it was very good when I rehearsed the presentation with him the week before). Some of these people are so certain that they are right that they are very difficult to convince otherwise, even when they're wrong, which actually happens quite often??. I have to be super-rock-solid in knowing my stuff. Even with these so-called ??oefriends??.

My supervisor was supportive and impressed that I was not completely emotionally shattered by the experience. Note: I was certainly shattered, but chanting the Hare Krishna mantra the next morning drew all the emotion out of me and fixed my consciousness. My body is another (ongoing) story: more on that tomorrow.

I still think that my idea for incremental classification would work, but now it is probably best done in a different way by someone other than me. Also, now everyone in the department thinks I??(TM)m an idiot and don??(TM)t know what I??(TM)m talking about (and lots of people feel really sorry for me for being ripped apart so severely). So, I??(TM)m going to change the direction of my research away from the hard-core description logic to a more practical/maintenance focus.

Someone today asked me if the experience has put me off. It certainly has put me off logic. If becoming a logician turns people into a blood thirsty vampires, that??(TM)s not a career path of choice for me. I also prefer doing things which are of practically use. Formal logic can get rather theoretical.

So, in the end: my armour is cracked, my body is wounded, but I??(TM)m still alive. Time to regroup and fight a new battle on another day.

I gave a lunchtime presentation yesterday. It was the same event that my colleague got hammered at last week. Only this time practically the entire research group attended: about 35 people.

My presentation was about the potential future direction of my research. I had planned to talk about how I could incremental classify otherwise unmanageably large ontologies. However, I was barely past the first powerpoint slide when one professor started pointing out flaws in the formal language, logic and approach I was suggesting. I attempting to carry on, but as I went on, the audience of experts (Manchester is the world leader in automated reasoning/classification) pointed out more and more flaws and areas I had not yet though through sufficiently.

Very soon it didn??(TM)t matter what I said. No one was listening anymore. I had some genuinely good ideas, but by they were buried under the initial barrage.

I was surprised at the bloodlust with which I was set upon. My (wrong) assumption was that I could present my idea to a friendly group of fellow researchers to get useful feedback and advice. Instead, every tiny inconstancy and imprecise use of terminology was berated.

Advice from my supervisor (he couldn??(TM)t make it to my talk because he was out of the country at the time, but got emails expressing concerned from practically every researcher who was there): ??oeYou??(TM)re too far along in your career to get away with presenting half-baked ideas (though he said it was very good when I rehearsed the presentation with him the week before). Some of these people are so certain that they are right that they are very difficult to convince otherwise, even when they're wrong, which actually happens quite often??. I have to be super-rock-solid in knowing my stuff. Even with these so-called ??oefriends??.

My supervisor was supportive and impressed that I was not completely emotionally shattered by the experience. Note: I was certainly shattered, but chanting the Hare Krishna mantra the next morning drew all the emotion out of me and fixed my consciousness. My body is another (ongoing) story: more on that tomorrow.

I still think that my idea for incremental classification would work, but now it is probably best done in a different way by someone other than me. Also, now everyone in the department thinks I??(TM)m an idiot and don??(TM)t know what I??(TM)m talking about (and lots of people feel really sorry for me for being ripped apart so severely). So, I??(TM)m going to change the direction of my research away from the hard-core description logic to a more practical/maintenance focus.

Someone today asked me if the experience has put me off. It certainly has put me off logic. If becoming a logician turns people into a blood thirsty vampires, that??(TM)s not a career path of choice for me. I also prefer doing things which are of practically use. Formal logic can get rather theoretical.

So, in the end: my armour is cracked, my body is wounded, but I??(TM)m still alive. Time to regroup and fight a new battle on another day.

download
Place: Heidelberg Temple, Germany
Time: 41 min.

Summary:
Emperor Pariksit asks Sukadeva Goswami: Why is the maintainer of moral principles breaking these very principles by dancing with other people??(TM)s wives in the middle of the night?

The answer is that spiritually super-powerful people (like Siva and Vishnu) transgress ordinary piety and impiety. Krishna is in everyone: everything and everyone belongs to him. He does not accumulate karma. Everything he does increases the pleasure of his devotees.

Questions:

• The four Kumaras refused to get married, so Brahma created other children to increase the population of the Universe. All these people were pure devotees. So therefore, is family life spiritual?
• Please say some more about how we need to be ready to hear about the rasa-lila and can??(TM)t just jump straight to it.
• Please say some more about the position of the gopis??(TM) husbands.

download
Place: Heidelberg Temple, Germany
Time: 41 min.

Summary:
Emperor Pariksit asks Sukadeva Goswami: Why is the maintainer of moral principles breaking these very principles by dancing with other people??(TM)s wives in the middle of the night?

The answer is that spiritually super-powerful people (like Siva and Vishnu) transgress ordinary piety and impiety. Krishna is in everyone: everything and everyone belongs to him. He does not accumulate karma. Everything he does increases the pleasure of his devotees.

Questions:

• The four Kumaras refused to get married, so Brahma created other children to increase the population of the Universe. All these people were pure devotees. So therefore, is family life spiritual?
• Please say some more about how we need to be ready to hear about the rasa-lila and can??(TM)t just jump straight to it.
• Please say some more about the position of the gopis??(TM) husbands.

Not much to report on for Vedicsoc today. None of the new people from last week came. However, three of the regulars attended. Slow-deep stretch yoga was so relaxing that it put two of the attendees to sleep. Oh well. I repeated the discussion from last week, since this was an (almost) entirely new audience.

Not much to report on for Vedicsoc today. None of the new people from last week came. However, three of the regulars attended. Slow-deep stretch yoga was so relaxing that it put two of the attendees to sleep. Oh well. I repeated the discussion from last week, since this was an (almost) entirely new audience.

download
Place: Heidelberg Temple, Germany
Time: 76 min.

Summary:
There is a huge gap between belief in God and understanding Krishna. Any civilized human being can believe in God. So what? Understanding Krishna however gives freedom from repeated birth, doing the same few basic activities over and over again and eventual death. Many people however want God to stay out of our affairs. Krishna hides himself from such people.

Devamrita Swami gives the example of his father??(TM)s desire to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing his children happy at Christmas. Some slight selfishness is always there in us, but Krishna acts without motives. He acts simply to please his devotees.

While Krishna gets no reactions for His actions, we most certainly do. Devamrita Swami??(TM)s father, after returning from a world-trip, told his fianc?©e: ??oeI??(TM)ve seen that there are other ways of relating to God than through Jesus?? and received a heavy reaction. If we act according to Krishna??(TM)s direction we??(TM)ll be free from reactions, but as long as we have material motives then there will be reactions.

Questions:

• Is it part of Krishna consciousness to become free from karma?
• Doesn??(TM)t Krishna have some desire for us to become Krishna conscious and he therefore isn??(TM)t desireless?
• Do we relate with Krishna, or does he relate with us?
• New devotees might be serving Krishna for his own benefit. Will selfless service automatically develop?
• Is it similar with serving the devotees? Will the heart gradually soften simply by mechanical service?

download
Place: Heidelberg Temple, Germany
Time: 76 min.

Summary:
There is a huge gap between belief in God and understanding Krishna. Any civilized human being can believe in God. So what? Understanding Krishna however gives freedom from repeated birth, doing the same few basic activities over and over again and eventual death. Many people however want God to stay out of our affairs. Krishna hides himself from such people.

Devamrita Swami gives the example of his father??(TM)s desire to enjoy the satisfaction of seeing his children happy at Christmas. Some slight selfishness is always there in us, but Krishna acts without motives. He acts simply to please his devotees.

While Krishna gets no reactions for His actions, we most certainly do. Devamrita Swami??(TM)s father, after returning from a world-trip, told his fianc?©e: ??oeI??(TM)ve seen that there are other ways of relating to God than through Jesus?? and received a heavy reaction. If we act according to Krishna??(TM)s direction we??(TM)ll be free from reactions, but as long as we have material motives then there will be reactions.

Questions:

• Is it part of Krishna consciousness to become free from karma?
• Doesn??(TM)t Krishna have some desire for us to become Krishna conscious and he therefore isn??(TM)t desireless?
• Do we relate with Krishna, or does he relate with us?
• New devotees might be serving Krishna for his own benefit. Will selfless service automatically develop?
• Is it similar with serving the devotees? Will the heart gradually soften simply by mechanical service?

20|1Over the following weeks I'll be posting lectures of my spiritual master, Devamrita Swami, recorded during his recent tour of Germany (be sure to subscribe by pressing the green button). Thanks to Guruvani for expertly recording these. I sadly could not join my guru on the tour due to poor health.

These pictures are of Guruvani's and Bhumna Krishna's visit to my parent's house in Germany shortly before jetting off to a far away country.

20|1Over the following weeks I'll be posting lectures of my spiritual master, Devamrita Swami, recorded during his recent tour of Germany (be sure to subscribe by pressing the green button). Thanks to Guruvani for expertly recording these. I sadly could not join my guru on the tour due to poor health.

These pictures are of Guruvani's and Bhumna Krishna's visit to my parent's house in Germany shortly before jetting off to a far away country.

There are a couple of new features on my blog that I though I??(TM)d tell you about. Have you notice the colorful buttons under the ??oemeta?? heading on the right side of the page? Here??(TM)s what they do:

Do you want to be automatically kept up to date with the latest interesting sounds from the spiritual world? Well, today is your lucky day. Just click the green button.

You can automatically subscribe to my MP3 Podcasts using Apple??(TM)s iTunes application by pressing the green ??oeSubscribe?? button. By doing this your computer??(TM)s iTunes media player software (and iPod, if you have one) will automatically download the latest talks and lecture I publish. I??(TM)ll be releasing a bunch of new MP3s very soon, so keep your ears primed.

Using iTunes is easier, if you know what you??(TM)re doing you can use any RSS Podcast aggregator (like iPodder) to subscribe. ??oeRSS Podcast?? button allows you to get the standard Really Simple Syndication (RSS) news/mp3 feed from my website.

Finally, the ??oeBF Mapstats?? button allows you to see many people from around the world who visit this website. Click on and see the physical location of the last five people who visited in a Google Map. Neat stuff (it??(TM)s a service offered by a website called BlogFlux, hence the BF title).

There are a couple of new features on my blog that I though I??(TM)d tell you about. Have you notice the colorful buttons under the ??oemeta?? heading on the right side of the page? Here??(TM)s what they do:

Do you want to be automatically kept up to date with the latest interesting sounds from the spiritual world? Well, today is your lucky day. Just click the green button.

You can automatically subscribe to my MP3 Podcasts using Apple??(TM)s iTunes application by pressing the green ??oeSubscribe?? button. By doing this your computer??(TM)s iTunes media player software (and iPod, if you have one) will automatically download the latest talks and lecture I publish. I??(TM)ll be releasing a bunch of new MP3s very soon, so keep your ears primed.

Using iTunes is easier, if you know what you??(TM)re doing you can use any RSS Podcast aggregator (like iPodder) to subscribe. ??oeRSS Podcast?? button allows you to get the standard Really Simple Syndication (RSS) news/mp3 feed from my website.

Finally, the ??oeBF Mapstats?? button allows you to see many people from around the world who visit this website. Click on and see the physical location of the last five people who visited in a Google Map. Neat stuff (it??(TM)s a service offered by a website called BlogFlux, hence the BF title).

I reinstalled Windows XP on my computer over the weekend. My lowly Dell Inspiron 4150 laptop was showing its age. The operating system was clogged up lots and lots of old applications and orphaned data. It was time for a spring clean.

I deleted everything (after doing a backup) and started from scratch. It took three days to install all the many, many programs, utilities and applications I use. I must have downloaded gigabytes of updates and software. Windows itself is the worst culprit. The amount of patches and updates Microsoft has released in 3 years is mind-boggling.

As Gopala-Guru has remarked recently: something as complex as Windows needs constant tweaking and fixing by highly intelligent software engineers. Something even more complex, like the human body, supposedly came about completely by chance and involved no intelligent design whatsoever. Uh-hu ??¦

Yes, sometimes it is necessary to tear down the decrepit, old, moldy, rotten and highly unstable foundations and start over. A fresh new beginning to break free from past paradigms can work wonders. Free from debt and in a new attractive, city-center location ...

It certainly worked well for my computer. It runs so much faster now. Almost like new. The austerity of the re-install will help me get a few more months of life out of this machine.

I reinstalled Windows XP on my computer over the weekend. My lowly Dell Inspiron 4150 laptop was showing its age. The operating system was clogged up lots and lots of old applications and orphaned data. It was time for a spring clean.

I deleted everything (after doing a backup) and started from scratch. It took three days to install all the many, many programs, utilities and applications I use. I must have downloaded gigabytes of updates and software. Windows itself is the worst culprit. The amount of patches and updates Microsoft has released in 3 years is mind-boggling.

As Gopala-Guru has remarked recently: something as complex as Windows needs constant tweaking and fixing by highly intelligent software engineers. Something even more complex, like the human body, supposedly came about completely by chance and involved no intelligent design whatsoever. Uh-hu ??¦

Yes, sometimes it is necessary to tear down the decrepit, old, moldy, rotten and highly unstable foundations and start over. A fresh new beginning to break free from past paradigms can work wonders. Free from debt and in a new attractive, city-center location ...

It certainly worked well for my computer. It runs so much faster now. Almost like new. The austerity of the re-install will help me get a few more months of life out of this machine.

One of my colleagues gave a internal departmental presentation of some of his research results a few days ago. Apart from the usual mix of students and professors, one American research, who happened to be visiting our University at the time, also attended.

My colleague was ripped to shreds. Everyone asked him very difficult question. They did not properly understand the research and asked very challenging question based on their false conceptions. He, in turn, did not realize what they had misunderstood and ended up unable to give clear answers to the questions.

What struck me was that this American research was so (over) confident. He would make bold statements and people believed and agreed with him, simply because he seemed so confident in his presentation.

He would say things like: "I don't think those results are true!" and everyone would nod their head in agreement. I happened to know that the results in question were indeed true, but this didn't seem to matter. His confidence was too powerful.

This kind of confidence seems very prominent in the USA. Americans??(TM) idea of the ideal personality is the domineering, over-confident superstar (jerk). This is part of the reason why I??(TM)m not too keen on living and working in the United States. My personality is better suited for a more mellow country (*cough* ... New Zealand ... *cough*).

On the topic of confidence: Srila Prabhupada had great power to convince others by virtue of his firm faith. I remember listening to one conversation between him and disciple.

The disciple said: "Prabhupada, the scientists say there are 2 million different species of life"
Prabhupada??(TM)s reply: "2 million? No, 8,400,000!"

That settled the matter. He sounded so certain of this fact that no one could argue.

One of my colleagues gave a internal departmental presentation of some of his research results a few days ago. Apart from the usual mix of students and professors, one American research, who happened to be visiting our University at the time, also attended.

My colleague was ripped to shreds. Everyone asked him very difficult question. They did not properly understand the research and asked very challenging question based on their false conceptions. He, in turn, did not realize what they had misunderstood and ended up unable to give clear answers to the questions.

What struck me was that this American research was so (over) confident. He would make bold statements and people believed and agreed with him, simply because he seemed so confident in his presentation.

He would say things like: "I don't think those results are true!" and everyone would nod their head in agreement. I happened to know that the results in question were indeed true, but this didn't seem to matter. His confidence was too powerful.

This kind of confidence seems very prominent in the USA. Americans??(TM) idea of the ideal personality is the domineering, over-confident superstar (jerk). This is part of the reason why I??(TM)m not too keen on living and working in the United States. My personality is better suited for a more mellow country (*cough* ... New Zealand ... *cough*).

On the topic of confidence: Srila Prabhupada had great power to convince others by virtue of his firm faith. I remember listening to one conversation between him and disciple.

The disciple said: "Prabhupada, the scientists say there are 2 million different species of life"
Prabhupada??(TM)s reply: "2 million? No, 8,400,000!"

That settled the matter. He sounded so certain of this fact that no one could argue.

21|1Here the promised set of pictures from Vedicsoc session #5. All 18 of these people have practiced Krishna consciousness to some extent, or are indeed very distinguished Vaisnavas. I narrated the stories of when, where and how these people came upon Krishna consciousness and where they ended up because of it.

Apologies to anyone how embarrassed by my using them as an example. Just keep in mind that it was for a greater good.

You can view the gallery here.

In case you are wonder who some of these people are. Here a run-down of names (left to right):

1. Lord Brahma
2. Dhruva Maharaja
3. Steve Jobs
4. Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
5. Bhakta Tirtha Swami
6. Ambarish Das / Alfred Ford
7. Elias and Mangala Vaisnava Das
8. George Harrison
9. Krishna
10. Narada Muni and Vyasadeva
11. Devamrita Swami
12. Sukanti Radha Devi Dasi
13. Bhakta Hitesh
14. Hriman Krishna Das
15. Carana Renu Devi Dasi and Mukunda Das
16. Atmananda Das
17. Vrinda Devi Dasi
18. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

21|1Here the promised set of pictures from Vedicsoc session #5. All 18 of these people have practiced Krishna consciousness to some extent, or are indeed very distinguished Vaisnavas. I narrated the stories of when, where and how these people came upon Krishna consciousness and where they ended up because of it.

Apologies to anyone how embarrassed by my using them as an example. Just keep in mind that it was for a greater good.

You can view the gallery here.

In case you are wonder who some of these people are. Here a run-down of names (left to right):

1. Lord Brahma
2. Dhruva Maharaja
3. Steve Jobs
4. Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura
5. Bhakta Tirtha Swami
6. Ambarish Das / Alfred Ford
7. Elias and Mangala Vaisnava Das
8. George Harrison
9. Krishna
10. Narada Muni and Vyasadeva
11. Devamrita Swami
12. Sukanti Radha Devi Dasi
13. Bhakta Hitesh
14. Hriman Krishna Das
15. Carana Renu Devi Dasi and Mukunda Das
16. Atmananda Das
17. Vrinda Devi Dasi
18. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

7 guests came to the Vedicsoc session yesterday. I was surprised: very few of the regulars came, but 5 new people replaced them.

All the newcomers found flyers and were attracted by those. Better late than never, I suppose. It certainly shows the value of not requiring a subscription. So many clubs want people to pay an up-front fee to join. This might make them money, but it certainly does not encourage membership. No one wants to commit to anything these days.

People said they liked the kundalini-yoga I taught, but they didn??(TM)t seem too enthusiastic about it. I have to admit, it was kind of weird. Strange breathing, chakra energy manipulation, it??(TM)s not for everybody. It is also incredibly difficult to teach. I had to constantly refer back to my notes. Who can remember all those crazy asanas, breath rhythms and transition?

I??(TM)ve found there to be two kinds of students. One group want to get fit and therefore prefer fast paced, give it all you got, passionate power yoga. Others aren??(TM)t fit and don??(TM)t want to be because it??(TM)s too much work. They prefer mellow, relaxing, de-stressing, slow-deep stretch yoga. I try to give them both.

The discussion was about past and present practitioner of Krishna consciousness. I printed out pictures of 18 people that have practiced Krishna consciousness to some degree. I then let the students choose which persons??(TM) stories they wanted to hear. My aim was to alleviate some the fears and doubts people might have about KC. Hearing real human success stories makes it so much easier to see oneself also practicing this ancient and mysterious science of self-realization.

(I'll post the pictures I used tomorrow.)

Summary: the samosas I made were very well received. Two girls bought beads and wanted to start chanting. Two more didn??(TM)t have any money on them, but were eager to purchase their set of beads next week. All guests said they would definitely return next week. We shall see.

7 guests came to the Vedicsoc session yesterday. I was surprised: very few of the regulars came, but 5 new people replaced them.

All the newcomers found flyers and were attracted by those. Better late than never, I suppose. It certainly shows the value of not requiring a subscription. So many clubs want people to pay an up-front fee to join. This might make them money, but it certainly does not encourage membership. No one wants to commit to anything these days.

People said they liked the kundalini-yoga I taught, but they didn??(TM)t seem too enthusiastic about it. I have to admit, it was kind of weird. Strange breathing, chakra energy manipulation, it??(TM)s not for everybody. It is also incredibly difficult to teach. I had to constantly refer back to my notes. Who can remember all those crazy asanas, breath rhythms and transition?

I??(TM)ve found there to be two kinds of students. One group want to get fit and therefore prefer fast paced, give it all you got, passionate power yoga. Others aren??(TM)t fit and don??(TM)t want to be because it??(TM)s too much work. They prefer mellow, relaxing, de-stressing, slow-deep stretch yoga. I try to give them both.

The discussion was about past and present practitioner of Krishna consciousness. I printed out pictures of 18 people that have practiced Krishna consciousness to some degree. I then let the students choose which persons??(TM) stories they wanted to hear. My aim was to alleviate some the fears and doubts people might have about KC. Hearing real human success stories makes it so much easier to see oneself also practicing this ancient and mysterious science of self-realization.

(I'll post the pictures I used tomorrow.)

Summary: the samosas I made were very well received. Two girls bought beads and wanted to start chanting. Two more didn??(TM)t have any money on them, but were eager to purchase their set of beads next week. All guests said they would definitely return next week. We shall see.

4 people turned up for the Vedicsoc session yesterday. I did a basic power yoga class. Someone commented how it was amazing and almost mystical the way the yoga generated so much heat in his body. That reminded me of Hiranyakashipu's yoga austerity and his ability to thereby increase the heat of the entire Universe.

Most of the people who came were into speculating, giving their own thoughts and ideas. I asked them how they might verify their speculations. This they could not do.

The Vedic literature gives authorized spiritual knowledge that is back up by countless sages and the Supreme Personality of Godhead himself (and even he quotes other authorities in the course of the text). I explained the deep intricacies of karma and why bad things happen to good people.

One Indian guest had loads and loads of questions. An insatiable appetite for knowledge, but, at the same time, vague Hindu conceptions of pseudo-mayavadi philosophy. He'll only be able to understand the Bhagavad-Gita if he purifies himself by the regular chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. We shall see.

Devotees are so very, very rare in this material world (BG 7.3).

One fellow PhD-student friend of mine came along to the session. She wanted to see what it was all about and experience the yoga (as well as see why I have a stack of Bhagavad-Gitas in my office). She was a pious Muslim and didn't feel comfortable chanting the maha-mantra, so it didn't press her on that. However, she was happy to chant "om namo bhagavata vasudevaya" and liked it very much. Islam, when practiced property, is a very powerful process. I was impressed by her chastity and purity.

4 people turned up for the Vedicsoc session yesterday. I did a basic power yoga class. Someone commented how it was amazing and almost mystical the way the yoga generated so much heat in his body. That reminded me of Hiranyakashipu's yoga austerity and his ability to thereby increase the heat of the entire Universe.

Most of the people who came were into speculating, giving their own thoughts and ideas. I asked them how they might verify their speculations. This they could not do.

The Vedic literature gives authorized spiritual knowledge that is back up by countless sages and the Supreme Personality of Godhead himself (and even he quotes other authorities in the course of the text). I explained the deep intricacies of karma and why bad things happen to good people.

One Indian guest had loads and loads of questions. An insatiable appetite for knowledge, but, at the same time, vague Hindu conceptions of pseudo-mayavadi philosophy. He'll only be able to understand the Bhagavad-Gita if he purifies himself by the regular chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. We shall see.

Devotees are so very, very rare in this material world (BG 7.3).

One fellow PhD-student friend of mine came along to the session. She wanted to see what it was all about and experience the yoga (as well as see why I have a stack of Bhagavad-Gitas in my office). She was a pious Muslim and didn't feel comfortable chanting the maha-mantra, so it didn't press her on that. However, she was happy to chant "om namo bhagavata vasudevaya" and liked it very much. Islam, when practiced property, is a very powerful process. I was impressed by her chastity and purity.