Archive for December, 2007
Tuesday, December 11th, 2007
“The Gardener 85″ by Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)
Who are you, reader, reading my poems an hundred years hence?
I cannot send you one single flower from this wealth of the spring, one single streak of aagold from yonder clouds.
Open your doors and look abroad.
From your blossoming garden gather fragrant memories of the vanished flowers of an aahundred years before.
In the joy […]
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Monday, December 10th, 2007
Weapons Of Mass Destruction In Iran
Why is Bush so bent on war with Iran? For the same reason he rushed to war in Iraq. They have a weapon that can destroy the American economy — switching from dollars to euros for oil sales:
“Iran Drops Dollar From Oil Deals: report 12/8/07
“TEHRAN (AFP) — Major crude producer Iran has completely stopped carrying […]
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Monday, December 10th, 2007
Storytelling - Written and Spoken - For All Ages
My Holiday Sale
All items below are written and produced by yours truly , recipient of WV 2005 Artist Fellowship Award.
Shipping in USA is $3 for 1st item and $1 for each additional item, or $5.00 max on one order. Contact me at story108@juno.com
***1) The Fish Who Wouldn’t Stop Growing And Other Wisdom Stories From Ancient India ( 12 Stories) - Book $8
Internationally acclaimed storyteller Laura Simms calls it “A marvelous collection of stories resplendent with meaning, pathos, and joy.”
***2) Sacred Voices - stories & meditations from sacred traditions w/music - CD $7
“Your Sacred Voices CD is a treasure. I love your voice.” Jennifer Rudick, Storyteller & Workshop Leader
***3) Mahabharata - Story Concert of India’s Ancient Epic w/music - Cassette $7
“Your Mahabharata has created a long lasting impression on our minds.” Koti Sree Krishna, Hindu Society of Greater Cincinnatti
And Stories To Grow By Booklet Series
Shipping in USA, if only ordering items 4 thru 6, is $2 for 1st item and $1 for 2nd and/or 3rd item, or $3.00 max on order for all three.
***4) Flying Turtles & Frightened Elephants - 7 Stories of Wit & Wisdom From Many Lands (for grades 1 - 3) - $4
***5) The Magic Horn & Other Tales of Enchantment (six stories for grades 3 - 6) - $4
***6) Rime Of The Ancient Mariner - An exciting retelling of Coleridge’s epic w/some of Coleridge’s original poem sprinkled throughout. I’ve performed my story version to student’s in 5th grade and up with tremendous response. Poem is usually studied in 11th or 12th grade - $4
“What a wonderful collection of stories! Storytellers, librarians, parents, grandparents, and more will be drawn to the simple yet direct style of how the stories are told. What I’ve seen in other collections doesn’t compare to the manner presented here. I would highly recommend this collection to anyone.” Kathy Maron-Wood, Senior Librarian, Children’s Dept,Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh
“This collection of stories is a rich treasure trove of traditional folktales crafted in a way that a child or young reader would want to hear them. The words lift up off the page like the sun rising in one of the stories. I recommend that you take these tales, spend a quiet evening with your kids, and watch the stories come alive.” Kevin D. Cordi, Author, Teacher & National Co-Chair of Youth Storytelling Network
“These stories are wonderful, uniting the familiar rhythm of the folktale with liveliness and humor. The author’s talent as a performer comes through in these stories, and it is easy to imagine that children would be entranced by hearing or reading these tales. I’m impressed with the author’s selection of tales and with the polished nature of his narration.” Dr. Julie Pfeiffer, Dept of English, Hollins University, Va.
And also available -
***7) Coaching On Writing, Theater & Storytelling - Hone your writing or performance skills - help with rehearsal techniques, strenghtening the voice, refining your performance or writing, promoting yourself - all at non-stress rates. Have also worked with high school and college students.
“Sankirtana Das is my storytelling guru.” Sacinandana Swami
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Monday, December 10th, 2007
My India Diary-Part 1
Take a deep breath. Wash your glasses, and rub the sleep out of your eyes. Here are some impressions from the other side of the world, as myself, Caitanya Das, and Justin hit the Holy Dham.
Day 1 12/7
By the Lord’s grace, we are here.
There is nothing like a cab ride to the airport, Delhi highways, early morning rush, to really make you hear the Holy Name.
14-hour plane ride to Delhi. Spent it eating airplane paneer and ginger ale, sleeping with my neck cocked sideways, dreaming about Sicilian gangsters, and reading “Taking Care of Krishna’s Devotees” by HH Niranjana Swami, to learn about the mood at Radha-Gopinath Mandir.
Simplicity. Care. Sacrifice. Struggling together.
“If you are preaching, then management will follow like a shadow.”
Not so simple to do. Addicted to the complicated…
In the Delhi temple overnight. Scenery is grey, wild dogs and remains of car accidents flashing by. This trip certainly isn’t about the external.
Morning program is sweet, so many devotees, brahmacaris, one voice. Touched to see Justin so touched. Here we go…
Day 2 12/8 Radha-Gopinath Mandir Chowpatty Mumbai
I think the crabby body is adjusted sleep-wise, and I digested the first big prasad all right. Like I say, I’m an American boy with a South Indian stomach.
Traffic jams in Mumbai, these cities are so ugly. Where is India?
The first little piece is here at Radha-Gopinath Mandir. Shyamsundar from New Vrindaban greets us with promises of home-cooking in the days ahead, which thrills Justin to to no end.
Lucky souls that we are, always flying by the seat of our dhotis, we arrive just in the nick of time for the intimate brahmacari Vyasa-Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja.
After I get over my initial intimidation of being in a room with such fixed-up brahmacari superstars. I begin to hear and taste some sweetness. Maharaja is our spiritual father, loving, caring, even a little stern. He speaks that if we cooperate, Krsna will reciprocate. The better something is, the harder maya will try to attack, and usually in more hidden, subtle ways, leaving a broken pot that is very hard to fix. The true austerity is to not let maya in for one moment. (In like a needle, out like a plow).
Just hoping now to hear the Holy Name, that I don’t embarrass myself too much, and that I, in some small way, can serve these exalted Vaisnavas.
Day 3 12/9
Today is quite the event. HH Radhanath Swami’s BIG Vyasa-Puja at Cross Maidan, where Maharaja met Prabhupada for the first time.
Watching Maharaja offer puja to Prabhupada, while thousands sing along, is gigantic, cosmic, one of those moments where I can pull myself out of my problems, my hang-ups, my cold lonely hopelessness, and realize just how merciful the perfect Vaisnava sadhu is, just how correct this whole process is, and how sadhana and preaching and resounding Krsna Krsna is the real revolution.
Caitanya Das speaks in his offering of an impression I’ve had of Maharaja: He is like the warm. live-giving sun, and we are all just creepers, stretching out as best as we can towards his light.
Maharaja then speaks and it’s another one of those “wow” moments considering the context of the present-moment, the history, and the whole transcendental exactitude of the cosmic alignment.
He speaks of the mode of goodness, transmuting its assets with Krsna at the center into real weapons of the soul. Simplicity and humility turns one into a soldier-child in the war against maya.
I also like Ghanashyam Prabhu’s (from NYC) offering, his honesty and how we can’t put on an outward appearance of humility forwards if that doesn’t reflect what is going on in our mind, if we are criticizing other devotees. I pray to be shamed by that honesty, and I pray to to be able to surrender to Maharaja for at least a few seconds in this lifetime.
Day 4 12/10
Drinking coconut water like there is no tomorrow. Also, in India your car is not towed if you park illegal. They just deflate your tires.
Maharaj gives an epic Bhagavatam class in the morning. He says that the more we see faults in others, the more faults we carry with us. We should read the words of Ravana, of Hiranayakasipu, and understand they accurately describe many of our own negative character traits.
All is not lost, if we feed the good dog in our hearts, even though the bad dog, spoiled after lifetimes of surplus sense gratification, barks louder and louder. We can tolerate his barking if we cling to the Holy Name and to the association of the Vaisnavas.
Maharaja also speaks of the loving details of bhakti. The small gifts, soaked in love and devotion, that is better than any opulent diamond. Prabhupada was just as concerned with the smallest detail as with the big picture. As Balarama Chandra Das says, true bhakti is essential service done precisely.
Comments Off - Posted in Contributors by Club 108
Monday, December 10th, 2007
My India Diary-Part 1
Take a deep breath. Wash your glasses, and rub the sleep out of your eyes. Here are some impressions from the other side of the world, as myself, Caitanya Das, and Justin hit the Holy Dham.
Day 1 12/7
By the Lord’s grace, we are here.
There is nothing like a cab ride to the airport, Delhi highways, early morning rush, to really make you hear the Holy Name.
14-hour plane ride to Delhi. Spent it eating airplane paneer and ginger ale, sleeping with my neck cocked sideways, dreaming about Sicilian gangsters, and reading “Taking Care of Krishna’s Devotees” by HH Niranjana Swami, to learn about the mood at Radha-Gopinath Mandir.
Simplicity. Care. Sacrifice. Struggling together.
“If you are preaching, then management will follow like a shadow.”
Not so simple to do. Addicted to the complicated…
In the Delhi temple overnight. Scenery is grey, wild dogs and remains of car accidents flashing by. This trip certainly isn’t about the external.
Morning program is sweet, so many devotees, brahmacaris, one voice. Touched to see Justin so touched. Here we go…
Day 2 12/8 Radha-Gopinath Mandir Chowpatty Mumbai
I think the crabby body is adjusted sleep-wise, and I digested the first big prasad all right. Like I say, I’m an American boy with a South Indian stomach.
Traffic jams in Mumbai, these cities are so ugly. Where is India?
The first little piece is here at Radha-Gopinath Mandir. Shyamsundar from New Vrindaban greets us with promises of home-cooking in the days ahead, which thrills Justin to to no end.
Lucky souls that we are, always flying by the seat of our dhotis, we arrive just in the nick of time for the intimate brahmacari Vyasa-Puja of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja.
After I get over my initial intimidation of being in a room with such fixed-up brahmacari superstars. I begin to hear and taste some sweetness. Maharaja is our spiritual father, loving, caring, even a little stern. He speaks that if we cooperate, Krsna will reciprocate. The better something is, the harder maya will try to attack, and usually in more hidden, subtle ways, leaving a broken pot that is very hard to fix. The true austerity is to not let maya in for one moment. (In like a needle, out like a plow).
Just hoping now to hear the Holy Name, that I don’t embarrass myself too much, and that I, in some small way, can serve these exalted Vaisnavas.
Day 3 12/9
Today is quite the event. HH Radhanath Swami’s BIG Vyasa-Puja at Cross Maidan, where Maharaja met Prabhupada for the first time.
Watching Maharaja offer puja to Prabhupada, while thousands sing along, is gigantic, cosmic, one of those moments where I can pull myself out of my problems, my hang-ups, my cold lonely hopelessness, and realize just how merciful the perfect Vaisnava sadhu is, just how correct this whole process is, and how sadhana and preaching and resounding Krsna Krsna is the real revolution.
Caitanya Das speaks in his offering of an impression I’ve had of Maharaja: He is like the warm. live-giving sun, and we are all just creepers, stretching out as best as we can towards his light.
Maharaja then speaks and it’s another one of those “wow” moments considering the context of the present-moment, the history, and the whole transcendental exactitude of the cosmic alignment.
He speaks of the mode of goodness, transmuting its assets with Krsna at the center into real weapons of the soul. Simplicity and humility turns one into a soldier-child in the war against maya.
I also like Ghanashyam Prabhu’s (from NYC) offering, his honesty and how we can’t put on an outward appearance of humility forwards if that doesn’t reflect what is going on in our mind, if we are criticizing other devotees. I pray to be shamed by that honesty, and I pray to to be able to surrender to Maharaja for at least a few seconds in this lifetime.
Day 4 12/10
Drinking coconut water like there is no tomorrow. Also, in India your car is not towed if you park illegal. They just deflate your tires.
Maharaj gives an epic Bhagavatam class in the morning. He says that the more we see faults in others, the more faults we carry with us. We should read the words of Ravana, of Hiranayakasipu, and understand they accurately describe many of our own negative character traits.
All is not lost, if we feed the good dog in our hearts, even though the bad dog, spoiled after lifetimes of surplus sense gratification, barks louder and louder. We can tolerate his barking if we cling to the Holy Name and to the association of the Vaisnavas.
Maharaja also speaks of the loving details of bhakti. The small gifts, soaked in love and devotion, that is better than any opulent diamond. Prabhupada was just as concerned with the smallest detail as with the big picture. As Balarama Chandra Das says, true bhakti is essential service done precisely.
Comments Off - Posted in Contributors by Club 108
Monday, December 10th, 2007
Meditation
Bhakti Yoga is the yoga of devotion, the science of the soul thus explained in the Vedic Scriptures. Upon seeing the lotus feet of the Lord in the deity one should meditate on His lotus feet and proceed upwards until finally contemplating His beautifu…
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Sunday, December 9th, 2007
The McGurk Effect
First watch this very short small video (216k)and carefully note to yourself what the guy is saying.
(There is actually an even smaller video here if you have a weak dialup connection but the instructions are right there and I think it is more fun to watch it with a Zen mind (no expectations) first.)
Then read […]
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Sunday, December 9th, 2007
Part Two: What The College Students Really Thought About New Vrindaban
by Sankirtan das
Dear Global Leadership Students,
I really enjoyed reading all of the papers. They were thoughtful and candid, and even humorous at times. I’d like to address a few of the points that cropped up in your reflections on your visit to New Vrindaban. I’ll try to keep my responses brief.
Student: “I still think […]
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Saturday, December 8th, 2007
Merciful
Yesterday we went to Columbus Ohio for the Viasa Puja celebration of His Holiness Radhanath Swami. The amount and quality of the preparations offered to Radhanath Swami by his disciples on the observance of his birthday was beyond anything I imagined….
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Saturday, December 8th, 2007
Kangaroo Flatulence
My inner child (apparently age 12) couldn’t resist posting this:
Eco-friendly kangaroo farts could help global warming: scientists
SYDNEY (AFP) - “Australian scientists are trying to give kangaroo-style stomachs to cattle and sheep in a bid to cut the emission of greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, researchers say.
“Thanks to special bacteria in their stomachs, kangaroo flatulence […]
Comments Off - Posted in Cows and Environment, Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Saturday, December 8th, 2007
Deity Stories: A New Temple For Radha Vrindaban Candra (Part Two)
Installation of the Deities.
The Brijabasi Spirit reported: (93)
“Radha-Vrindaban Chandra, Gaura-Nitai, and Gopala Nathji were placed on Their altars, which had been drilled with nine small holes. In the holes were placed nine precious jewels of the nine major planets. They were then filled with turmeric. A yantra—a small piece of gold plated copper, […]
Comments Off - Posted in The Old Days, Contributors by mg
Friday, December 7th, 2007
Deity Stories: A New Temple For Radha Vrindaban Candra (Part One)
by Hrishikesh
On July 4, 1983 , a “temporary” temple for Shri Shri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra was dedicated which dwarfed many United States ISKCON temples in beauty, size and craftsmanship. The building was constructed in less than ten months; the temple room, which covered 5,000 square feet of floor space, was constructed in less than three months, […]
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Friday, December 7th, 2007
Surprise! A Martin House Gourd Appears
I had previously posted about a gourd plant engulfing our Blue Spruce tree and how its endeavor was futile. After the frost when the leaves of the gourd plant withered, there appeared inside the branches of the tree, previously hidden, one gourd.
Normal production for a martin house gourd vine is around 10 or so, […]
Comments Off - Posted in Cows and Environment, Contributors by Madhava Gosh
Thursday, December 6th, 2007
Timeless
Today was a pretty smooth one… all I did was sit down on the snow and meditated all day…. right. Actually, my day was better than that. First of all, the Srimad Bhagavatam lecture today was very inspiring talking about things such as the importan…
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Thursday, December 6th, 2007
Tall Glasses and Small Plates
Optical illusions that make you fatter and your wallet lighter
by Paul Michael
Photo: Stock Exchange
One of my best friends, a long time ago, told me that the key to food portion sizes was this - “Eat from small plates, drink from taller glasses.” It’s a piece of advice I had forgotten, […]