Archive for April, 2007
Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Wildlife Sightings
a rabbit
a chipmunk (I thought that the neighborhood cats had gotten them all).
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Ms. Rural
Sunday, April 29th, 2007
Barn Swallows
   The barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) returned to our neighbor’s barn a few days ago.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Ms. Rural
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
The Sun of the Holy Name
The weather has become cold and grey again, just when I think summer is finally here, winter makes a return, and it is dark and cold again.
That is often how it feels in spiritual life. Just when you think you are making a little progress, you realize how much further you have to go.
“To penetrate the darkness of ignorance and bless everyone’s heart, the holy name has risen like the shining sun.”
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
The White Squirrel
   There is an albino squirrel that lives in the woods. I saw him once last year, just after we moved here. This year I was able to get several snapshots but could not get close enough to obtain a clearer picture. My camera does not have a long-range telephoto. I assume that it is […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Ms. Rural
Saturday, April 28th, 2007
Russell Simmons On ?Doing You?
“He is an icon. There’s no other way to describe Russell Simmons and his 25 plus year career as an entrepreneur that has included the founding of Def Jam Records, Phat Farm clothing, the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, and numerous philanthropic organizations. Simmons released his latest book, Do You: 12 Laws to Access the Power […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Friday, April 27th, 2007
austerity.
Sometimes, various personalities think my life is not austere enough. Would it be better to stick my head in the sand? Austerities are relative to an environment and a person. One time I was riding on a bus in South India and I was very uncomfortable. I was trying to put my finger on why […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by your servant-bcd
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Saragrahi Vaishnava
Saragrahi Vaishnava
by Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur
Alas, for those that spend their days
In festive mirth and joy!
The dazzling deadly liquid forms
Their heart for e’er employ!!
The shining bottles charm their eyes
And draw their heart’s embrace!
The slaves of wine can never rise
From what we call disgrace!
Was man intended to be
A brute in work and heart?
Should man the Lord of all around
From common sense depart?
Man’s glory is in common sense
Dictating us the grace,
That man is made to live and love
The beauteous Heaven’s embrace!
The flesh is not our own alas!
The mortal frame a chain;
The soul confined for former wrongs
Should try to rise again!!
Why then this childish play in that
Which cannot be our own,
Which falls within a hundred years,
As if a rose ablown!
Our life is but a rosy hue
To go ere long to nought!
The soul alone would last for e’er
With good or evil frought!!
How deep the thought of times to be?
How grave the aspect looks?
And wrapt in awe become, Oh! I
When reading Nature’s books!
Man’s life to him a problem dark!
A screen both left and right!
No soul hath come to tell us what
Exist beyond our sight!
But then a voice, how deep and soft,
Within ourselves is left;-
Man! Man! Thou art immortal Soul!
Thee Death can never melt!!
For thee thy Sire on High has kept
A store of bliss above,
To end of time, thou art Oh! His
Who wants but purest Love.
Oh Love! Thy power and spell benign
Now melt my soul to God!
How can my earthly words describe
That feeling soft and broad!!
Enjoyment — sorrow, — what but lots
To which the flesh is heir?
The soul that sleeps alone concludes
In them it hath a share!!
And then! my friends no more enjoy
Nor weep! for all below;-
The women, wine and flesh of beasts
No love on thee bestow!
But thine to love thy brother man
And give thyself to God,
And God doth know your wages fair;-
This fact is true and broad!!
Forget the past that sleeps, and ne’er
The future dream at all,
But act in times that are with thee
And progress thee shall call!!
But tell me not in reasoning cold
The soul is made alone
By earth’s mechanic, lifeless rules
And to destruction prone!
My God who gave us life and all
Alone the Soul can kill,
Or give it all the joys above
His promise to fulfil!
So push on thy onward march O Soul!
Against an evil deed
That stands with soldiers — hate and lust!
A hero be indeed!!
Maintain thy post in spirit world
As firmly as you can,
Let never matter push thee down,
O stand heroic man!
O Sharagrahi Vaishnab soul!
Thou art an angel fair:
Lead, lead me on to Vrindaban
And spirit’s power declare!!
There rests my Soul from matter free
Upon my Lover’s arms,
Eternal peace and Spirit’s love
Are all my chanting charms!!
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Tina The Tech Writer
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Friday, April 27th, 2007
Japanese Bindweed
   I spent several hours yesterday working against the expansion of the Japanese bindweed (Polygonum cuspidatum) in our yard. Japanese bindweed, aka Japanese knotweed, is an invasive species that was introduced to the U.S. in the 19th century. It has since spread over most of the U.S., and has reached Alaska.
It grows by means of […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Ms. Rural
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
Mulching The Azaleas, Festival of Inspiration
We have a couple of native deciduous azaleas that are headspinningly fragrant in bloom. My wife had brought over some compost from the small dump truck load we had bought and had unloaded across the lane.
We took the deer netting off them this morning and spread the compost around them. I had ten 5 […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
New Vrindaban Sunday School
by Mudakari dasi
The New Vrindaban Sunday School program consist of two classes: Damodar (ages 5-8), taught by Ruci dasi, and Madhava (ages 6-11), taught jointly by Gokula Taruni dasi & Ramlila dasi.
Last Sunday there was an Earth Day program in the garden with Tapapunja das. The students have been working on Lord Nrsimhadeva masks, […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by mg
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
4 Regulative Principles of Freedom
Last night we discussed the 4 regulative principles of freedom.
We have to thank Sri Kishore Prabhu not only for cooking a wonderful feast but also for sitting in wrapped attention throughout the entire discussion.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Thursday, April 26th, 2007
Butterflies
“In spring the blue azures bow down
at the edge of shallow puddles
to drink the black rain water.
Then they rise and float away into the fields.”
—-Mary Oliver (Spring Azures)
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Ms. Rural
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Economic Nonviabilty Of Devotee Milk Production
I was recently forwarded the following email:
“With all of this talk about cows, it sure would be nice to walk into a supermarket and buy a half gallon of milk, or butter, yogurt, cheese, etc. with Lord Krsna’s face on the packaging. Why is it, other farmers can produce milk and market […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Wednesday, April 25th, 2007
Upadeshavali Verse 7 Meditations
“We are not doers of good or bad deeds, nor are we scholars or illiterate. Carrying the shoes of Hari’s pure devotees as our duty, we are initiates into the mantra “kirtaniya sada hari”.â€Here Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur is clarifying for us what our position and duty is. Bhagavat Dharma, the vaishnava “religion,” has nothing […]