Archive for August, 2007
Friday, August 31st, 2007
Janmastami Schedule, Tuesday Sept. 4th
7:30 Gaura-arati, Nrsimha-arati w/extended kirtan
8:30 Children’s Costume & Talent Show* (see below)
9:00 Drama (Caitanya Prabhu)
9:30 Boat Festival/Bhajans ( bhajan texts will be provided )
10:30 Drama (Damodar Prabhu)
11:00 Slide Show
11:15 Appreciations
11:30 Kirtan
12:00 Darsana
*8:30 Children’s Costume & Talent Show
Who: Children of all ages
What: Costume/Talent Show of Krishna’s pastimes (from any Lila-Lord Rama, Nrsimha, Pandavas etc.)
When: Tuesday / Janmashtami […]
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Friday, August 31st, 2007
More Radhanath Swami in Alachua Nectar
Alachua was really wonderful. Of course it is always wonderful to have Maharaj’s association, and although I certainly don’t deserve it Maharaj was very kind to me. I guess that is the definition of mercy. Mercy is something that is given that is not deserved.
For me personally it was quite an experience to be back in Alachua. Since I left four years ago I’ve been back a couple of times but not not more than a couple of days each time, and it has been almost two years since I’ve been. This time I spent ten days in addition to the LA Ratha and the New Vrindaban Kirtan Festival, and the fifteen hour car ride. This year I really spent alot of time with Alachua devotees.
I got to spend time with many of the older devotees there, many of whom are the parents of my friends, and all of whom have seen me grow up materially and spiritually (still lots of growing to do). And I spent even more time with youth.
Somehow despite my total lack of good qualities devotees very mercifully appreciated whatever little devotional service I have been trying to perform over the past number of years. Everyone was very kind to try to encourage me in this way.
It was also interesting just to be go back to Alachua for a visit before I go to Govardhan to make a deeper to commit to brahmcari life. The nature of the mind is to always feel that the grass is greener on the other side. Although the community there is so wonderful and although I have so many dear friends there somehow being there only increased my determination to go to Govardhan.
And of course just being in Alachua with Mahraj was wonderful. This time is was quite different than previous years. I didn’t do any personal service for Maharaj, mostly I just tried to avoid him so I wouldn’t disturb him. But it was still nice. And as it turns out I may see Maharaj here in New York for Janmastami, and if not here than I’ll probably see him in London for a few days. Which is pretty cool because on my other two major trips to India I also traveled with Maharaj to London, and then Italy.
When I told Maharaj about my travel plans, he said, “That’s perfect.” I was relieved to hear that because I was a little apprehensive about seeing Maharaj again in London.
Wednesday night after the Youth Bhajan program I was in the kitchen talking with Vishvambhar and few others. Maharaj came over embraced me, and asked Vish “Do you know this gentleman?” He did the same thing when I was in LA hanging out with Gaura and Ananta. It is the perfection of my life if somehow I can assist Maharaj in his service in any way. Sometimes in public he glorifies me and sometimes he makes fun of me or makes a joke about me. Either way it is wonderful. Then he told Vish, “He is going to Govardhan to become a Sanskrit pandit.” He also said something similar at the disciples meeting. I thought it was kind of funny because when we spoke about it he made it clear that I was not going there to be a pandit or even to learn sanskrit.
Just as Maharaj was leaving we were standing outside Maharaj embraced me and said “I’ll miss you,” then he kind of pushed me away and said “I’ll be seeing you more than anyone else.” It was very sweet. Especially because I had been trying my best to stay far away from Maharaj but of course the heart always hankers for those personal exchanges of love.
It is drug, and I am fully addicted. Of course the most important thing is pleasing guru, being in Maharaj’s personal association when he is displeased with you is the most painful thing in the world and being away from him but knowing that he is pleased with your service is equally as wonderful as being in his personal association.
I’m very happy I took Ananta Govinda Prabhu’s advice to take advantage of the opportunity to have Maharaj’s association. Although I’ll be India I’ll be mostly in Govardhan and won’t actually have that much opportunity for physical association over the next few years. I just pray that I can somehow please Maharaj with my service at Govardhan.
Here are some videos and pictures from the past few days.
Krishna Balarama Abhisekha, kirtan by Badahari Prabhu. His kirtan can melt stone.
Initiation yajna with Chaturatma Prabhu.
Wednesday youth bhajans with Radhanath Swami.
Radhanath Swami and Chaturatma Prabhu during the initiation.
When Maharaj was in Seattle Janaki Devi, the first female disciple of Srila Prabhupada in the Hare Krishna movement, came to visit him and she brought him a special gift, Srila Prabhupada’s karatals.
She also drew a beautiful picture of Lord Caitanya.
It was really wonderful to be together again with Krishna and Balarama for Balarama’s appearance day. I have spent alot of time seriving these dieties in Alachua and we were together in Sharanagati for three Balaram’s appearance day celebrations. It is kind of a tradition. And three years ago I put on the saffron cloth in their presence. It was nice to see them again, especially on this day.
Radha Syamsundara on Balaram’s appearance day.
University of Florida Krishna Lunch serve out line.
As you can see the line is about a mile long. Krishna Lunch is amazing they distribute nearly a thousand plates of prasdam everyday on UF campus. 
And don’t forget to check out the lectures online here.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Friday, August 31st, 2007
Where Is God?
A married couple had two little boys, ages 8 and 10, who were excessively mischievous. They were always getting into trouble. Their parents knew that if any mischief occurred in their village, their sons were probably involved.
.
The boys’ mother heard that a pundit in town had been successful in disciplining children, so she […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
Radhanath Swami in Alachua Videos
Posted by Atmanivedana Prabhu
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
Public Enemy #1: Bottled Water
From www.breitbart.com, on Aug 15, 2007. Original article linked here
It’s a hugely beneficial liquid in a slim cylinder of plastic, but for US environmentalists, it is the new public enemy number one: bottled water.
With US bottled water sales growing nearly 10 percent annually — and the trash from tossed containers climbing just as quickly — calls for Americans to go back to drinking tap water have surged since the beginning of summer.
“This country has some of the best public water supplies in the world,” the New York Times said in an editorial earlier this month.
“Instead of consuming four billion gallons (15 billion liters) of water a year in individual-sized bottles, we need to start thinking about what all those bottles are doing to the planet’s health.”
As was pointed out at World Water Week in Stockholm on Monday, US personal consumption per capita, including water from all sources, hits 400 liters (106 gallons) each day — compared to 10 liters (2.6 gallons) a person in developing countries.
And US consumers are drinking more bottled water by the day. According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation, growth in bottled water sales last year was 9.7 percent, making the total market worth about 11 billion dollars.
Bottled water in the United States does not mean mineral water, even if Americans grumble more and more about paying a high price to drink water with little to distinguish it.
At the end of July beverage giant PepsiCo was forced by public pressure to explain on its Aquafina bottled water that the contents inside come from … the tap.
Pepsi’s response “is an important first step,” said Gigi Kellett, director of the “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign.
“Concerns about the bottled water industry, and increasing corporate control of water, are growing across the country,” she said.
From mineral springs or from public pipes, water once in a bottle is expensive. The New York Times estimated that for some consumers the bill could hit 1,400 dollars a year — for an amount that, taken from a home faucet, might cost less than half a dollar.
And it is not always better.
“Bottled water sold in the United States is not necessarily cleaner or safer than most tap water, according to a four-year scientific study,” the National Resources Defense Council recently reported. It also said regulation has not guaranteed more pure water in bottles.
Another point of attack is the packaging waste, which Earth Policy Institute tied to an issue of US security policy: oil imports.
According to the institute, it costs the United States 1.5 million barrels of oil a year to produce the plastic bottles used for water.
And if one adds the energy required to transport it — especially premium water imported all the way from France, Italy and even the Fiji islands — the negative impact on the environment rises quickly.
The anti-bottled water campaign has gotten political support: the mayor of San Francisco has stopped supplying water in containers to his staff, telling them to drink what comes out of the faucet.
And New York has launched a campaign to persuade its inhabitants to stick to public sources to quench their thirst.
Feeling they were at the center of the target, bottled water producers went on the defense last week, in part arguing that bottled water helps liberate consumers from calorie-heavy sweet sodas.
“The bottled water industry has recently been the target of misguided and confusing criticism by activist groups and a handful of mayors who have presented misinformation and subjective criticism as facts,” the International Bottled Water Association said.
Association president Joseph Doss said they were being unfairly singled out.
“If the debate is about the impact of plastic packaging on the environment, a narrow focus on bottled water spotlights only a small portion of the packaged beverage category and an even smaller sliver of the universe of packaged products,” he said.
“Any efforts to reduce the resources necessary to produce and distribute packaged goods — and increase recycling rates — must focus on all packaging,”
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Bhakta-Chris
Thursday, August 30th, 2007
Hindu Culture: A Sinking Ship?
Besides the fact that India has become a world leader in beef and leather exporting, (meaning that cow protection, a pillar of Hindusim, is no longer important) and under increasing pressure of Westernization, the death blow may be the imbalance of males to females. While it may seem that preaching in India is booming, […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
three months over.
Dear Friends,
Obeisances to all of you. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The three months of service to our Guru Maharaja are coming to a close tomorrow. We are most grateful for the opportunity to serve. Thank you all for the encouragement and friendship over the summer. We ask for each of your prayers that We can have this most blessed opportunity again and again.
We return to New Vrindaban for the Janmastami celebrations and on the 11th of September we commence our fall quarter of college outreach. We will be sharing much of our outreach activities which We hope you might find enjoyable.
If anyone would like to know anything about our summer travels please contact us. We will not post anything directly related to those experiences. We pray that all of our services thus forward are imbued with whatever we have received.
Today we said good bye to our dear partner, GKD. He has been blessed with the opportunity to serve at Goverdhan. We ask only for his prayers as he has ours.
Thank you for everything.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by your servant-bcd
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
Radhanath Swami in Alachua (part 2)
It has been an amazing few days so much nectar, Sunday Feast, disciples meeting, Bhagavatam classes everyday, Balarama’s appearance day (Maharaj gave three lectures), a beautiful initiation ceremony (two more second generation devotees took initiation), and lots and lots of incredible kirtans.
You can check out some of the lectures here.
ps. Hopefully within the next few days I’ll post some videos and photos.
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Gauranga Kishore Das
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
Devotee Appreciation and Community Building: From NVMT
Dear New Vrindavan Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisance’s. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for all of the wonderful service to New Vrindavan that you have performed in the past. It is because of all of you, with your sincere desire to serve the order […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Arya
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
Gopi Lila Updates
Here’s the link to Hari Bhakta’s blog. He’s putting updates on Gopi Lila’s health there.
http://hari-ontheroad.blogspot.com/
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by mg
Wednesday, August 29th, 2007
Kesava and Madhava Are Now Oxen
When I was a kid, my family ran a brood cow operation. We would have about 150 head of cattle in the summer. The breeding was timed so all the cows dropped their calves at the same time in early spring. Once the calves were old enough, we would round them up off the […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007
Lord Balarama on His Appearance Day
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by jm
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007
From 1998
If you wanted to make a case I haven’t had an original idea since 1998, the following could be used to bolster your case. The message of branding ourselves as environmentalists and establishing an endowment fund for cows continues to today. It would also serve as an example of how easy it is to have […]
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Tuesday, August 28th, 2007
Schedule for Janmashtami Celebrations - Sept. 1st, 2nd, 8th
Please note: The actual day of Janmastami is Tuesday September 4th…
Click to enlarge and print out.
Your Servants,
Congregational Dept., NVMT & Arya Siddhanta dasa
No Comments » - Posted in Contributors by Arya
Monday, August 27th, 2007
Srimad-Bhagavatam Meditation 1:18:20
I humbly ask you to read first the translation and Bhaktivedanta purport to today’s verse, the 2oth verse from the First Canto, Eighteenth Chapter.
This month’s Time Magazine features a fascinating and heart-rending cover article about a new book about to be released on Mother Teresa, titled Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light. In the article and book, we learn that underneath her saintly demeanor and fantastic efforts to provide simple material and spiritual relief for so many downtrodden people was an internal struggle so deep and acute as to make this most pious well-wisher even question the very existence of God.
I was quite taken aback when I came upon these revelations, and I began to try and understand how her expressions of pain and longing within her own personal faith fit into the paradigm of separation as we understand it in our Vaisnava tradition. We can understand that Srimati Radharani’s feelings of separation from Krsna were sometimes so intense as to make her practically lifeless. We also understand from guru, sastra, and sadhu that these feelings of separation are actually the highest ecstacy that can be experienced in relation with Sri Krsna.
There is something about the plight of Mother Teresa in her mood of separation that strikes my heart in a very mournful way. Even in my very limited understanding of scripture, there is a sense and small taste of transcendence from studying the moods of Radharani, but seems to me to be nothing transcendent in the sheer misery Mother Teresa would express of her inner spiritual plight.
For example, in quoting from the article: “She compares the experience to hell and at one point says it has driven her to doubt the existence of heaven and even of God. She is acutely aware of the discrepancy between her inner state and her public demeanor. “The smile,” she writes, is “a mask” or “a cloak that covers everything.” Similarly, she wonders whether she is engaged in verbal deception. “I spoke as if my very heart was in love with God — tender, personal love,” she remarks to an adviser. “If you were [there], you would have said, ‘What hypocrisy.’”
What is so startling is that someone like Mother Teresa, whose determination to alleviate the sufferings of so many people by spreading the mission of the Lord is an inspiration to preachers of all faiths, could do so much and carry on so diligently while having to deal with this disconnection between her soul and the Supreme. I know that for myself, my motivation in Krsna consciousness depends completely on the strength of my convictions and faith. If I was feeling no connection with Krsna, I would not be sacrificing to participate in devotional service. I am nowhere near any kind of advanced level to continue as a devotee if Krsna were to handle me roughly by His embrace or makes me brokenhearted by not being present before me.
The Bhagavatam verse above struck me with a feeling of connection to these revelations of Mother Teresa’s inner struggle. It is mentioned that the goddess of fortune renders all kinds of service unto the Lord, although He is unwilling and not even in need of such services. The goddess of fortune cannot even enter into the intimate circle of the gopis’ lila with Krsna despite all her service. Why, as in Mother Teresa’s case, does she incessantly and eternally continue when her most inner desire of full reciprocation is being denied. In essence, where did Mother Teresa get her spiritual strength from, and how do we define her mood of separation from what we understand in our own tradition?
In any case, I am sure I am expressing so many misunderstandings, and I pray to you, the humble reader, to please read the article about the inner struggle of Mother Teresa, and I hope you may be able to add to a discussion of this mystery. I will follow up a soon with another piece with some nice points I gathered from a discussion of this article with some of my fellow inmates here at New Vrindaban. Please feel free to add your points here or even write me at cfici26@yahoo.com. Hare Krsna.