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[ Home ] [ November 2002 ]
December 2002
Best Wishes for 2003
May the Lord bless you and protect you.
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Sri Prahlada Maharaja and Lord Narasimhadeva,
ISKCON Mayapura
Full size inside
photo:Radha Caran das (TKG)
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Maintaining Srila Prabhupada’s Room in Los Angeles By Kriyashakti dd Posted December 30, 2002 Hare Krishna, Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. For the past two years, we have been collecting and displaying items of historical significance as part of Srila Prabhupada’s remembrance in New Dwaraka.
Atita
Guna Devi Dasi Passes Away Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga! Her Grace Atita Guna Mataji passed away at the Sunway Medical Centre at about 11:45am on December 29, 2002. She was 72 years old. She had been ill for the past few days due to renal failure and a stroke. Her son, HG Tattvavit dasa, was by her side chanting the Panca-tattva mantra into her ears during the final moments. She is a very senior disciple of HH Jayapataka Swami (initiated 20 years ago). She is a leading supporter for Sri Jagannatha Mandir, Kuala Lumpur. A pensioner, she dedicated her life to collecting laksmi for Lord Jagannatha. Woodstock Web Site By Krishna-kripa das Posted December 30, 2002
Dear Maharajas, Prabhus, and Friends, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Every year Indradyumna Swami's festival tour sets up a Krishna camp at Poland's largest rock concert to allow people to imbibe the culture of Krishna consciousness. Here is a web page with many pictures and descriptions of this year's festival: http://www.krishna.com/seva/woodstock Your servant, [Article complete on this page]
Cow
Protection Web Site (ISCOWP) International Society for Cow Protection: www.iscowp.com Your servant, [Article complete on this page] By Bhakta Dean Posted December 30, 2002 Hare Krsna, Prabhus and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! The flat was built by Mayapur's professional building company, and it is situated behind Prabhupada's samadhi in the grihasta area. It's modern, clean, practical, and very spacious, about 110-120 sq meters. Spanish Programming By Caru dasa Posted December 30, 2002 We'd like some Spanish language programming for our radio station in Utah, USA. We need about five hours’ worth per week, and ideally, it would be in an MP3 or wave file we could run from our computer right into the mixer. If anyone has anything available, please tell contact us about details, including cost. [Article complete on this page] Cooks
Needed in Utah Next spring, the Utah temple would like to initiate daily food service for guests, catering, cookies for bake sales, etc. If there are any competent cooks who would be willing to do this for room, board, and a modest weekly allowance for necessities and to get the mercy of the Lord, please contact us. For more information, the web site is www.iskcon.net/utah. [Article complete on this page]
Association Needed in California Dear Prabhus, Hare Krsna. Our family is moving to Stockton, California (San Joaquin County), and we would like to connect with some devotees in the area (Sacramento and Fresno are within a 45-minute drive). We are originally from the East Coast so we feel somewhat isolated. We have two boys, ages 5 years and 11 months, so we would hope to find some children for them to play with.
Bombay 25th
Anniversary
Dear Friends, Prabhus, et al, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada ! January 14th is Makar Sankranti (the day when the Sun starts his northern journey). So what? Well, it is also the day when, in 1978, Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari opened Their temple in Bombay. Overseen by three big Government ministers and thousands of dignitaries and devotees, the priest, Nrsimha, performed the prana pratistha. To celebrate this auspicious day we are holding a grand festival. And you are invited.
Vedic Arts New CD:
Newsletter of VEDIC ARTS Publications Dear Prabhus, Maharajas, & Friends, Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Wishing you a Happy Krishna Conscious New Year 2003, we share the pleasure of announcing the launch of a New Interactive CD Rom ("Sri Krishna for Kids") From Jayadvaita Swami Posted December 25, 2002 If you are using the digital version of the Monier-Williams Sanskrit dictionary, you should make sure you have the latest version. Bootlegged Beta versions of this BBT software were widely sold and distributed. The Beta versions are inferior to the final product, some of them vastly so. The final version, released early this year, is freeware. You should be able to get a copy from your local BBT. How can you tell if you have the proper version? Producer Appreciates By Pandava Vijay dasa Posted December 25, 2002 Hari Bol, This is a note from the Programming director at the TV station that airs Dangerous TV/Hare Krishna TV: You've got tons of viewers. Did you know no other producer tells me they get this much response? Eric Eric was answering the following message:
All glories to His Divine Grace
"You Came
Running" One day in 1977, on the veranda in Mayapura, Srila Prabhupada said that his disciples were pure devotees who had come to help him. "How could it be that we're all pure devotees?" asked Bhavananda. "We were all born as mlecchas, in meat-eating families, and so on..." Srila Prabhupada cut him off. "That was all superficial," Srila Prabhupada said. "As soon as you heard the Holy Name, you came running." Bhavananda told this story on January 5, 2001, commenting on the potency of the Hare Krsna mantra after a Brhad-bhagavatamrta lecture given by Tamala Krsna Gosvami in Sydney, Australia. Mukunda Datta dasa
Why the Feet of
Sri Guru
This article appeared in issue number 40 of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications. One should understand what is sri-guru-carana-padma. The words "sri-guru" are very significant. "Sri" means sobha, beauty; sampada, transcendental wealth, or asset; and srestha, the topmost. "Sri-guru" means that guru who is endowed with sri, with prema-bhakti. The word "sri" is used because there is no question of Sri Guru disappearing or not being manifest. It is only applicable to a guru who is eternally manifest. Otherwise such a word would not be used.
Life Skills
Course Listen Up! February 21-23, 2003 LIFE SKILLS/ PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION COURSE Create powerful results in your relationships, career, and spiritual life
ü Obtain practical skills necessary for more meaningful relationships ü Learn how to overcome roadblocks to effective communication ü Use empathic listening ü Study problem solving strategies ü Feel empowered to take responsibility, and make/ keep commitments ü Gain insights into your personality and the way you run your life
Had a Stroke— Sri Moksada Ekadasi, 15-12-2002 Hare Krishna, Dear Devotee, Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. My name is Srimati Dasi, and I have been serving in ISKCON Mayapur as a full-time devotee and preacher since 1984. During this time I have developed a unique and very beautiful little bhajan kutir cum satsang center, which is also my residential quarters. My plan was to grow old and die here in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's most sacred and merciful dhama. But in April this year, the Supreme Lord revealed very clearly that He has a different plan in mind. I suffered a stroke, which has left me very weak and incapacitated. I am now in need of much more specialist support than Mayapur or Kolkata is presently able to offer. And so I have to sell my beautiful little ashram and move to ISKCON Vrndavana as soon as possible to meet my health needs responsibly.
Govardhana Puja at Padma Academy
Special memories from childhood and youth, sweet times of gaiety and festivity, special food, and many friends. Those regular holidays and festivals form our views of life and what we value. And children love to be involved, to have a special project for the event. The best is if the youth can plan for the festival for days or weeks in advance so the story becomes a part of their lives and connected with great fun. Such an event is Padma Academy’s annual Govardhana Puja program, celebrating its twelfth year in 2002.
From Sriman Pandit das Posted December 20, 2002 Dear Devotees, Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to HH Radhanath Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada! On Friday 27th December, 7:30pm, Bhajan Sandhya will take place at Bhaktivedanta Manor with HH Radhanath Maharaja.
Toronto:
American Academy Seven thousand delegates attended the annual Symposium of the American Academy of Religion in Toronto, from November 22nd to 25th. Afterwards, about 50 scholars and student delegates, appreciative of the interfaith efforts of His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, attended a memorial service for him in the dining hall at the Hare Krishna Temple on Avenue Road. Anuttama Das, Director of ISKCON Communications, North America, inaugurated the event with an introductory speech. The next item was a kirtan by the Toronto Devotee Youth Group. The chanting, performed in a melodious style, brought smiles and a round of applause from the delegates.
New Nigerian Scam http://www.wired.com/news/ Even when you think the check has cleared, it can still bounce and leave you holding the bag. Thanks to Lyall Ward for posting this link on Free Forum. [Article complete on this page]
Please Give Me
Your ...
The following article appeared in issue number twelve of Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free fortnightly email magazine from ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications. Girish Babu, the owner of a dharmasala in Nabadwip, once came with his wife to see Srila Gour Kishor Das Babaji Maharaja. Girish Babu's wife asked Babaji Maharaja, "Please instruct us how we can construct a small cottage for your bhajan. We feel pained to see you suffering throughout the rainy season and the hot season with very little shelter."
Another
Great So it has been another glorious year, preaching the glories of Lord Sri Caitanya's sankirtan mission and Srila Prabhupada's book-distribution mission. As I look back and reflect on this past year, I see how my life has been blessed in so many countless ways, how by trying to walk in the footsteps of all the great saints— my Guru Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada, Lord Nityananda, and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu— I find each step bringing me closer, by their mercy, closer to the lotus feet of Lord Sri Caitanya. I am trying to realize that such an insignificant insect as I am can indeed be a most fortunate spirit soul. By the mercy of Guru and Krsna, I am praying that I shall always remember them, always remain in their association, and keep them in my heart. Hare Krsna. Bhakti-Sastri Course in Belgium Posted December 16, 2002 Bhaktivedanta College/Vaisnava Theological Seminary Tel: +32 86323280, Website: www.bhaktivedantacollege.com Vaisnava Training and Education (VTE)/Bhakti-sastri Course
Transcendental
Visions Dear Devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. I have been making Krsna conscious short films and music videos for many years, but until now, they have only been seen by the devotees here in New Zealand. Now I am making a humble attempt to offer these productions to all the devotees and well-wishers of Krsna via the internet. From Pandava Vijaya dasa Posted December 15, 2002 "Me, Myself and the Lord" with Umapati Swami, George Harrison, Syamasundar, and Kurt Cobain Kurt Cobain and Nirvana perform, and Tina Turner speaks of Chanting. Pandava shows the viewer what Tina Turner means by chanting and shows how to chant. Umapati Swami is asked questions by Kurma the Frog about who is God, what is karma, and how to be happy in life. George Harrison leads musical chanting( kirtan) with his Hare Krishna chums. Syamasundar talks about what George meant in the song Here Comes the Sun, and George Harrison performs the song. The Story Of Bhaktivedanta Manor is explained by Shyamasundar dasa.
Varnasrama:
An Elusive Goal The Hare Krishna movement has not fulfilled its responsibility in regards to spiritual, self- sufficient community development as envisioned by its Founder/Acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. If this is to change, past mistakes and misconceptions must be re-evaluated using the writings and spoken words of Srila Prabhupada as the litmus test for success. Presently, there is a wide gap in the understanding of how to bridge the philosophy of Krishna consciousness to the practical skills needed to build a sustainable, spiritually focused society. Progress is dependent on narrowing this gap.
Tulasi Leaves
Available Hare Krsna Prabhus, We here at New Govardhan Hill, Puerto Rico, would like to render the service of supplying fresh Tulasi leaves and manjaris to other temples. We will send a box of fresh Tulasi in exchange for a donation for our Deities here. It's a chance for wonderful loving exchanges. Diary of a Traveling Preacher By Indradyumna Swami Posted December 12, 2002 December 7-10, 2002 I returned alone to Vrindavan from our pilgrimage to Puri and Mayapur. Craig went on to visit the site of Lord Buddha's self-realization in Bihar and the Ganges river at Varanasi. I wished him well as we embraced on our farewell. I was happy that our childhood friendship had evolved into a deeper, spiritual relationship. Knowing Craig's newfound enthusiasm for Krsna consciousness, I had no doubt our paths would cross again. In Vrindavan I had mixed feelings. I was attached to the holy dhama, as much as a neophyte devotee can be, and hankered to continue my bhajan, but I had accepted an invitation to visit devotees in the Middle East. I was, therefore, limited to only three more days in India. As I prepared to leave, I reflected on whatever advancement I may have made during the past two months.
Atlanta Prison Ministry: A Request Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada! Thank you so much for your kindness in printing the articles we’ve submitted. The response has been great. Now comes a time I don’t like, and this is to ask for donations. The ISKCON Atlanta prison ministry has been blessed with book donations and a number of devotees who are corresponding with inmates throughout the country. Changes to Article From Radha dasi Posted December 12, 2002 I want to thank you for posting my article and want to let you know that I have a couple of changes for the article to submit to you as follows: Could you please delete the e-mail address radha@gci.net from the article? It has been malfunctioning, and I believe I'm not getting a lot of my e-mails, unfortunately.
Important
Information Festival contacts: Festival sponsorship, donation and Festival general information: Bhakti Purusottama Swami — bps@pamho.net Accomodations: Naru Gopal Das — naru-gopal.jps@pamho.net Transportation: Purananda Das — purananda.JPS@pamho.net Children’s cultural programs: Sankalpa Devi Dasi — sankalpa@pamho.net Ex- Gurukuli’s accommodations: Vedasara Das — vedasara.bgv-mva@pamho.net 1. Accomodations: Mayapur ISKCON Guest House Accommodation: Krishna Consciousness: My desire in this article is to discuss and attempt to reconcile the essence of Srila Prabhupada’s arguments to support the scientific basis for God consciousness with the methods and processes accepted by the contemporary scientific community. It is my belief that those who are convinced of the merits of science and the scientific method will find the arguments presented by Srila Prabhupada to be fairly compelling. In the relatively recent history of science, there appears to be an underlying yet unstated assumption that religious doctrine and science are mutually exclusive with little hope for reconciliation. It is my hope that this article will, in some small measure, inspire the reader to attempt to bridge the gap between science and faith.
Street Chanting It seems that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is often trying to remind me of the importance of Harinam sankirtan (public chanting). Recently in Tokyo, Audarya Prabhu, an Israeli devotee, was distributing books, and he met a gentleman who had seen the chanting party in London 30 years ago. He had a good memory and took a book. Diary of a Traveling Preacher November 21 - December 6, 2002
As the auspicious month of Kartika drew to a close in Vrindavan, Craig asked me if there were other holy places in India that we could visit. I told him that there are countless holy places in India, but generally Vaisnavas congregate at three: Vrindavan, Mayapur, and Jagannath Puri. These tirthas are particularly dear to devotees because the Supreme Lord performed His transcendental pastimes in all three in different ages. Craig also inquired about Ahovalam, the appearance place of Lord Nrsimhadeva, the half man, half lion incarnation of the Lord who appeared millions of years ago to protect His dear devotee, Prahlad Maharaja. Craig had taken a liking to Lord Nrsimhadeva, avidly reading the seventh canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam, in which His pastimes are described. He even bought a large silver ring of Lord Nrsimhadeva in Vrindavan's bazaar. From Illumination TV Posted December 7, 2002
Couldn't make it to India this year for Srila Prabhupada’s 25th Anniversary of his Disappearance? Now once again, Srila Prabhupada has come to the West to you via the transcendental form of video. Illumination Television is proud to announce the production of the highlight reel of all the nectar that glorified His Divine Grace on this special occasion. You will see the throngs who worshiped Krishna-Balarama, Srila Prabhupada in his Samadhi, Baratnatyam dancing to the thousands in attendance as well as some of the most poignant memories of Srila Prabhupada ever told.
An
Unlimited Number of Winners Submitted by Candrasekhar Acarya (das) BCS The book distribution marathon is not like an ordinary marathon. In an ordinary, material marathon, you can only have one person who wins, but in the book distribution marathon, there may be one person who will distribute the most books, but everybody is a real winner. There can be an unlimited number of winners in the book distribution marathon. This is because
anybody who really surrenders and participates in it with full enthusiasm, really putting his or her
heart into it, will experience a lot of reciprocation from Krsna. That devotee will experience the
impossible becoming the possible.
All Glories To Srila Prabhupada! We are working with Kaunteya, who is with the congregational preaching ministry, in putting
together a manual for prison ministries that will be used throughout the world for devotees wanting
to start similar prison ministries. If there is anyone who could send us stories of his or her being
incarcerated and coming out into a Vaisnava community, please let us know of the reception and what
helped facilitate the adjustment from incarceration.
The End of Poverty Submitted by Candrasekhar Acarya (das) BCS In a purport in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada says that people in this world are very poverty stricken because of a lack of Krsna Consciousness. The mission of this Krsna Consciousness movement is to end this poverty that is now so rampant in society by giving people Krsna Consciousness. In this purport Srila Prabhupada says that there are three treasures that can dispel this poverty, namely knowledge of Krsna, service to Krsna, and love of Krsna. Someone who has these things is considered to be very wealthy. The Atlanta
Prison Ministries: My Story ISKCON prison ministries ki jai! What a light in the nation’s darkest holes! I know it for a fact. My name is Bhakta Chris Matthews, and I am the director of the ISKCON Atlanta prison ministries, a project Bhaktin Ginger Burnette and I have been working on. In a very short time the mercy of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu has shined on us tremendously, and I am positive that Srila Prabhupada is smiling on this endeavor. First, let me say thank you to Chandra Sekhara Prabhu of the main ISKCON prison ministry. Thank you for your selfless service and compassion in reaching out to the nation’s incarcerated, for I was one of those that your compassion reached, and it has inspired in me to do the same in spreading Krishna consciousness into the world's prisons. Protecting
the Holy Sacred Books
Holy sacred books should be treated with the greatest of care. I have noticed countless number of times initiated devotees, let alone aspiring devotees, mishandle these holy sacred books. I have seen devotees place them on the floor, on unclean tables, on chairs, benches, and on car seats, reading them with unclean hands and also when eating. Initiated devotees especially should set an example to all others by treating these sacred holy books with great care. It seems to me that this basic principle of looking after holy sacred books should be explained to devotees before they jump into saris and dhotis. Pyramid
House Goes Solar [This article also appeared in the Topanga Messenger, November 28 - December 11, 2002, under the title "Shapiro’s Pyramid House Goes Solar."] As the World Summit on Sustainable Development in South Africa struggled to agree upon a final
declaration, the happy installers from SoCal Solar Energy were putting the finishing touches on my
six-kilowatt solar electric system, now pumping clean energy into the ubiquitous "grid." I
sighed with relief as I witnessed Southern California Edison's meter spinning backwards, deducting
kilowatts from my bill. During the five-day installation, my neighbors gawked at the array of solar
panels on my roof and then quickly made their commitment in the form of a $1,000 deposit to get
their reservation into the state's rebate system.
The Lord’s Reflection
"Upon seeing His own reflection in a bejeweled pillar of His Dvaraka palace, Krsna desired to embrace it, saying, ‘Alas, I have never seen such a person before. Who is He? Just by seeing Him I have become eager to embrace Him, exactly like Srimati Radharani.’" Purport: "This is a verse from Srila Rupa Gosvami's Lalita-madhava (8.34)." —Sri Caitanya Caritamrta, Madhya 8.149 "In Rupa Gosvami's Lalita-madhava, it is said, ‘One day Krsna happened to see the shadow of His beautiful form reflected on the jeweled foreground. Upon seeing this bodily reflection, He expressed His feelings: "How wonderful it is that I have never seen such a beautiful form! Although it is My own form, still, like Radharani, I am trying to embrace this form and enjoy celestial bliss."’ This statement shows how Krsna and His shadow reflection are one and the same. There is no difference between Krsna and His shadow reflection, nor between Krsna and His picture. That is the transcendental position of Krsna." —Nectar of Devotion 64. Krsna's Exquisite Beauty December Book Marathon Dear Dipika.com reader, Hare Krsna. Devotees in ISKCON have many sacred holidays and special-occasion days throughout the year. The month of December has a special significance in the life of any ISKCON devotee. It is the month of the book distribution marathon, call it as you want: the Srila Prabhupada marathon or the Christmas marathon. The idea behind it is that each and every one of the devotees and followers of Srila Prabhupada will try to put more emphasis into book distribution. Link to East Hartford Write-Up The East Hartford Gazette recently carried an article about Govardhan Puja:
Calf has role in Hare Krishna Temple ceremony Once a year, in November, devotees of the Hare Krishna Movement gather in the inconspicuous yellow temple house on Main Street to celebrate Sri Govardhana Puja or the Festival of the Lifting of the Hill by the Indian deity Krishna. [For the rest of the article, go to: New Zealand Links
New Zealand Hare Krishna Spiritual Resource Network http://www.hknet.org.nz/index.htm Vaishnava Panjika - Calendar; database explaining all events, functions, festivals, feasts,
fasts Diary of a Traveling Preacher October 17-November 20, 2002 "While wearing the loincloth and torn quilt of a renunciate, maintaining my life with fruits that have fallen from the trees, discussing transcendental topics, not wasting time in any manner, giving up all kind of false ego, and begging alms door to door, I will constantly reside in the forest of Vrindadevi following in the footsteps of those who are completely surrendered to Sri Radhika." [Sri Vrindavan-mahimamrta, Sataka 1, Text 64] While on the road from Delhi to Vrindavan, I decided to write a mission statement of how I would conduct myself and what I hoped to achieve during my two-month stay in the holy dhama. I had experience from the past that unless one is focused on spiritual activities, precious time in holy places can be whittled away socializing and simply caring for bodily needs. I searched through the scripture and found a verse that seemed appropriate for one in the renounced order of life living in the holy dhama: Beyond the Masks By Kaunteya das Posted December 1, 2002
I had the fortune to be part of the group that took the course Vaisnava Counseling and Life Skills — Level Two: Self-Transformation, presented for the first time in ISKCON from November 2 though 6, 2002, in Radhadesh, Belgium. I had already taken the first-level course three times, (I am actually getting trained to present it myself) and I truly appreciate it. The tools for fruitful interaction and personal exploration are extremely valuable and relevant to any progressive human being, what to speak of preaching Vaisnavas. The second-level course had a much deeper impact on me, an impact difficult to fathom or quantify. Chakra Pendants and Earrings Looking for a perfect gift idea? Give your loved one something unique and protective. This Sudarshan Chakra pendant is more than a beautiful piece of jewelry. It’s also a talisman, a protective shield. Wearing this Vedic sign will bring auspiciousness and significant positive changes in your life, protecting your mind and heart from evil energy. Pendant weight: 3.5 grams. Size: 3 cm in diameter Atlanta Prison Ministry Update 12.01.02 Hare Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada ki jai! I just wanted to let everyone there know that the ISKCON Atlanta prison ministry is coming along great. In a few weeks we’ve been able to contact more than one half of the state’s prison systems, and all the religious coordinators have agreed to let us send in books and materials to the individual institutions. We are contacting others daily. An article on the ISKCON Atlanta prison ministries should be in the forthcoming Back to Godhead magazine. Govinda’s Restaurant for Sale I have decided to relocate with my family, and I am looking for enthusiastic individuals or couples that would like to take over the Govinda's Restaurant in Greensboro, North Carolina. Greensboro is an hour's drive from the Sandy Ridge (Prabhupada Village) devotee community and 45 minutes from the Hillsborough (New Goloka) devotee community. |
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