atma

I love this, the first time that I saw it was in Mayapur in the room 111 in the long building during Gour Purnima time. Hari Sauri found it so funny that he posted it in the reception, I got it again and I hope that you have a good laugh. RULES OF THE ROAD IN INDIA > >Traveling in India is an almost hallucinatory potion of sound, >spectacle and experience. It is frequently heart-rending, sometimes >hilarious, mostly exhilarating, always unforgettable - and, when you >are on the roads, extremely dangerous. > >Most Indian road users observe a version of the Highway Code based >on a Sanskrit text. These 10 rules of the Indian road are published >for the first time in English. > >ARTICLE I >The assumption of immortality is required of all road users. > >ARTICLE II >Indian traffic, like Indian society, is structured on a strict caste >system. The following precedence must be accorded at all times. In >descending order, give way to: cows, elephants, heavy trucks, buses, >official cars, camels, light trucks, buffalo, Jeeps, ox-carts, >private cars, motorcycles, scooters, auto-rickshaws, pigs, pedal >rickshaws, goats, bicycles (goods-carrying), handcarts, bicycles >(passenger-carrying), dogs, pedestrians. > >ARTICLE III >All wheeled vehicles shall be driven in accordance with the maxim: >to slow is to falter, to brake is to fail, to stop is defeat. This >is the Indian drivers' mantra. > >ARTICLE IV >Autos: Long blasts (desperate) denote supplication, i.e., to >oncoming truck, "I am going too fast to stop, so unless you slow >down we shall both die". In extreme cases this may be accompanied by >flashing of headlights (frantic). Single blast (casual) means "I >have seen someone out of India's 870 million whom I recognise", >"There is a bird in the road (which at this speed could go through >my windscreen)" or "I have not blown my horn for several minutes." > >Trucks and buses: All horn signals have the same meaning, viz, "I >have an all-up weight of approximately 12.5 tons and have no >intention of stopping, even if I could." This signal may be >emphasised by the use of headlamps (insouciant). Article IV remains >subject to the provision of Order of Precedence in Article II above > >ARTICLE V >All manoeuvres, use of horn and evasive action shall be left until >the last possible moment. > >ARTICLE VI >In the absence of seat belts (which there is), car occupants shall >wear garlands of marigolds. These should be kept fastened at all >times. > >ARTICLE VII > > >Rights of way: Traffic entering a road from the left has priority. >So has traffic from the right, and also traffic in the middle. Lane >discipline: All Indian traffic at all times and irrespective of >direction of travel shall occupy the centre of Roundabouts: India >has no round abouts. Apparent traffic islands in the middle of >crossroads have no traffic management function. Any other impression >should be ignored. > >ARTICLE IX >Overtaking is mandatory. Every moving vehicle is required to >overtake every other moving vehicle, irrespective of whether it has >just overtaken you. Overtaking should only be undertaken in suitable >conditions, such as in the face of oncoming traffic, on blind bends, >at junctions and in the middle of villages/city centres. No more >than two inches should be allowed between your vehicle and the one >you are passing - and one inch in the case of bicycles or >pedestrians. > >ARTICLE X >Nirvana may be obtained through the head-on crash.

I have to agree with JNDas and Karthik prabhus about what was going on with MOC during mother Teresa's time and now under Nivedita. I lived in Calcutta for many years and I met her in her house in Lower Circular Rd. Yes, I do have a picture with her that my mother displays very proud in the living room of her house. They do have a problem with accounts in MOC and they are not supporting many people (the poor I'm talking here). The last time that I went to the place in Kalighat was exactly a year ago when I took some journalists from my country that wanted to see how MOC worked. They were not impressed at all. I took them inside and they were very upset with the living conditions for the sick people.They had very bare beds, the simplest thing that you can imagine and very thin blankets (remember that it is cold for the bengalis in January). They were really disgusted because the journalists knew that mother teresa and her mission have plenty of money. When I did service for the devotee's confectionery I met many foreigners that came to work with mother Teresa and many of them were upset too. You see, they take homeless people from the street (plenty of them in Cal) but they don't cure them. The mantra is: we help them to die with dignity. That means not alone. But with all the money they have they should be able to have a very nice hospital with all the modern facilities and they have none. They don't give medicines to the people, crocin is like nothing, you have to take almost the whole bottle to bring the fever down for 4 hours. Many of the foreigners were dissapointed with the whole thing and even christians told me that they were upset that the nuns tried to convert the hindus before they died. Adri interviewed M. Teresa in one ocassion and it was really pathetic how she was defending her meat eating habit. I think that she got that it's not way that you win an argument with Adri When she passed away, a week later than Diana, of course the church tried very hard to make it like a big thing but it wasn't. I know because I was there. The church were they put her body for the people to pay respects it was only 3 blocks from my house and the crowds were all the school children from the catholics schools of Calcutta. They forced them to be there. When they took her body in procession through Middleton Rd, Park St, the streets were half empty. The foreigner journalists were trying very hard to make it look interesting but what can you do when it is not genuine local interest? The devotees had (maybe they still have it) a very nice program with prasada distribution and when we used to go to Kalighat the people from MOC used to get very annoyed with us. What was our fault? Feeding the people with very nice kitchari and papadams. Bengalis are very proud people and they don't like that foreigners use Calcutta as mean to get money. They got very annoyed with Dominique Lapierre and his book 'The City of Joy' and when they come to Cal to make the movie, Jyoti Babu and his government gave a very hard time to everybody involved in the picture. Adri got to meet Patrick Swayze at his hotel and he gave a book to him and they talked about the movie "Ghost" with all the thing about the Yamadutas, etc, etc. BTW, now I remember that Adri also met Yasser Arafat and gave him a Bhagavad Gita As It Is. Adri was very proud of that and had that picture in the temple board for almost a year, we used to make fun of him, like what was so great to have your picture taken with a terrorist . I think I got off track. Maybe in the beginning mother Teresa had good intentions and she did help poor, sick, homeless people but with all her fame and money that was collected in the name of Calcutta poor they don't have much to show and that is what people resent.

I read this article somewhere else and I felt that was worth of sharing it here. I know Dhruva from Mayapur and I hope that he continue in his journey and getting the mercy of Lord Narasimha Deva. Travels of a Narasimha Bhakta by Dhruva das To all the assembled devotees and well-wishers, Please accept my most humble obeisances and Glories to Srila Prabhupada and Narasimha Deva. I want to thank all of you who have been offering prayers on my behalf for the last few days, and I would also like to apologize if I may have, unintentionally, caused grief in the minds of my good parents. If I may, let me explain. Since coming to India again in August of last year, I wanted to search out 108 temples of Lord Narasimha Deva so that by His mercy I may be able to write a book on them. Having already seen so many unbelievable temples, I resumed my quest, leaving from Mamallapuram, where I had been staying with my brother Drdha for a few weeks, getting prepared. I decided to start from Ahovilam, where it had all begun. Although I wasn’t certain where my journey would take me from there, I prayed to the Lord, "Please, show me the way." Thinking like this, late one night, I had a dream. In it, the Lord, in His fierce Nrsimha form, spoke to me, assuring, "I will take you. Don’t worry. I will show you the way." Excitedly, I woke the next morning, jumped out of bed, and went into the jungles of Ahobilam thinking, "OK, I’m ready. Where to?" As I wandered aimlessly through the forest, I was certain something amazing was going to happen. It didn’t. "So much for big expectations, so much for dreams!" I thought. However, that night the Lord again appeared in my dreams, and smilingly repeated, "Just let me take you. Don’t worry about anything." So, feeling a sense of direction, I said goodbye to Ahobilam, and boarded a bus to Hyderabad. From there, incredible things began to happen. It was as if the Lord would guide me or send His devotees to help in so many ways. Like the time, early in my travels, I was suffering through a long bus ride, going to a temple, when suddenly a man sat down next to me. In perfect English, he asked me what I was doing. I was frankly surprised to find someone this far from civilization actually spoke my language. I tried to explain to him how I was going to see Narasimha Deva. Listening with interest, he said, "Well, you just missed this amazing temple. It’s back the way you just came." I knew I had to go back, so with urgency, we approached the driver, and my newfound friend spoke to him in Telugu, asking him to stop the bus immediately. While everyone either sitting, standing, huddled on the roof, or hanging out the doors stared at me in complete bewilderment, I got off, said thanks and Hare Krsna to all, and, standing in the middle of nowhere, waited for the next bus heading back. I must say that wherever I traveled, I was probably the only person many villagers had ever seen with white skin and shaved head and wearing tilak, dhoti, and wooden shoes. Smiling, I would greet them with "Hare Krsna!" to which many would fold their hands together, loudly responding with the Holy Names. It was incredible how complete strangers would come up to me and start talking or how pujaris, impressed with what I was doing, would invite me to their homes to take prasad, telling me marvelous tales of the history of their particular Deity. As the terrain grew more remote, the temples became more amazing. I saw Ugra, Jwala, Lakshmi Narashima, Yoga, Prahlada Narashima. How can I adequately describe the numerous, astonishing forms of the Lord that I encountered? Most of the Deities were Swayambhuv, which means self-manifesting. It is hard to put into words what happened in these last three weeks, but I will try to offer you a glimpse into a few of my adventures. Once, I rented a jeep to go to Ketavaram, which is situated in dense jungles along the Krsna River. Half asleep, I was awakened by an abrupt stop, and I saw a thick snake lying across the road. It must have been over 15 feet long, as only one end of his body was visible, the rest obscured by the underbrush. The driver simply drove over it, and as we did, I could see it’s lifeless eyes. I was astonished to see it was a python. You rarely see them in India. A short distance further, an even larger python also lay across the road. This one was dead, too. It was frightening to think of what this meant, if it was a good or bad omen. When I saw where the Diety was situated, I could understand why this might be a sign of danger. There I stood, at the base of a gigantic mountain, peering at the mouth of a cave that jutted from the edge of a cliff. Therein was my Lord. Steeling myself, I somehow managed the difficult climb and stood inside the narrow entrance of the cave, realizing it was all worth it. There stood Jwala Narasimha, seeming ready to destroy the whole world. He was over eight feet tall, protruding mightily from the wall, with a massive head, mouth gaping wide. His ears stood erect, with tongue seeming to wag as if a dueling sword. His eyes blazed like fire. Wow! I did not want to leave this place, but knew I had to continue, so I prayed to Jwala to let me return. As I turned to leave, something unbelievable happened. As I glanced back to get a last look at my Lord, He was engulfed by fire. As quickly as they appeared, the flames disappeared, and I wondered if it had been only my imagination. It was not until then that I realized, hearing noises from above, that I was not the only one there, as my flashlight illuminated thousands of tiny bats hanging from the walls and ceiling of the cave. Another incident stands out in my mind. It was when I was preparing myself for another solitary trek, this one taking me untold miles through a hazardous forest to ultimately see an Ugra Narasimha temple. While I hunched over my backpack, a local pujari ran up and warned me not to go. In broken English, he said a tiger had only yesterday, jumped up on the roof of a pilgrims’ TataSumo, then, after jumping down, stood at the window, licking his lips and staring at the terrified passengers. Of course, they turned back. Deciding to go anyway, I thought to myself; "The only tiger or lion out there is the Lord." At least, I hoped so. As I walked along, I heard this roar, and it was a little too close for comfort. I froze as I saw the bushes ahead shaking, and slowly pulled out the small knife I carried for protection. Well, in this case, it was not very comforting. I tried to decide what to do next, when the shaking stopped. I didn’t know if that was a good sign or not, so I wasn’t sure whether to continue or retreat. Something told me to go on, so running like the wind, I made it to the temple, thank Krsna! With my heart pounding out of my chest, I spent extra time praying to the Deity, wishing I wasn’t so foolhardy. Then I made my way quickly back down and told the pujari what had happened. He looked at me, incredulous, and smiling, he said, "May the Lord protect you on your journey." All I know is that I wanted to see the Lord at every time, at every place, and in every circumstance, and being ever merciful, He fulfilled that desire. Sometimes I went days without eating or sleeping. Traveling for hours on hellish buses, the only way I kept my sanity was by listening to the MP3 set of Prabhupada’s lectures I had brought or by chanting, often up to 64 rounds. It was as if I were possessed or something, and so I forgot the outside world. Despite the remote distances, I saw 27 temples of Nrsimha in only three weeks. Once, after a particularly difficult ascent to reach one temple, upon entering it I came face to face with an enormous king cobra.... Well, I think I’ll save that story for next time. So, stay tuned for more "Adventures of a Wild and Crazy Nrsimha Bhakta." I leave you with a taste of the adventures I plan to chronicle in my book and hope you hanker to hear more. Therefore, I beg for your forgiveness and blessings so that I may finish this wonderful aspiration of mine. I have now seen over 80 temples, by the Lord’s grace. I welcome any and all comments, encouragement, criticisms (constructive, thanks) suggestions, feedback, donations (especially helpful!) or whatever. And you can contact me at Dhruva22@AOL.com or my brother at Drdha108@hotmail.com. Your servant, Dhruva das Dream only Narasimha Deva .

When I heard about this incident I really saw everything in my mind. How many times I walked through this place in Calcutta? Almost every day. I went inside the American Center many times because they got a good collection of books. One of my friends that was in Calcutta 2 years ago called me to asked me if we walked in front of that building. Of course we did and I reminded her of her comments about the policemen in duty there. With all due respect to the dead policemen in this attack, you couldn't refrain yourself of making fun how the police guarded the place. They had at least 25 policemen there, all sitting confortably in chairs, most of them under a tree, drinking chai and playing cards. They were quite friendly, always saying 'Hare Krishna' to us. I found this report in the Calcutta Telegraph: WHEN IT’S TIME TO SHOOT, SCOOT BY A STAFF REPORTER Calcutta. Jan. 23: A day after the terrorist strike outside the American Center, investigators solved the mystery why no shot was fired in resistance by policemen on duty, and wished it had not learnt the ugly truth. Police commissioner Sujoy Chakraborty was shaken when he came to know while conducting a review that his officers carrying firearms and on duty at the spot had actually bolted from the scene when the assailants opened fire. “I’m ashamed that not a single shot was fired in retaliation. This absence of counter-response has given us a bad name,” said Chakraborty at a meeting that was called to reconstruct the crime and assess the quality of action of the policemen on duty at the centre. No matter how hard chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, also overseeing police affairs, tried in public to defend the force in the past 48 hours, the revelation that the police officers carrying arms had actually exposed unarmed constables to the vicious attack, forsaking the oath they had taken at the time of joining the service to stand by their men in all situations. In private, Bhattacharjee exploded at the scandalous and cowardly dereliction of duty by the officers and sought an explanation from the police top brass as to why there had been no retaliation, officials said. Of the 64 personnel on the scene, two were inspectors and four sub-inspectors who had revolvers in their belts. About 16 constables had rifles, but unlike the .303s, these guns are always loaded and just needed putting off the safety catch. Instead of drawing their weapons, the officers ducked and then moved out of harm’s way, leaving their men, some of whom were unarmed, to fend for themselves. Another shocking revelation was that a sergeant sitting in the cabin of the radio flying squad van, ironically codenamed Tiger, did not order his driver to chase the assailants. “The six men in the van did not do so out of fear,” the police chief was informed. The same sergeant, however, gave a detailed account of how he and his men were within striking distance of the assailants in the FIR he lodged later. He and his men had seen the whole incident from the secure confines of the police vehicle but were frozen into inaction. The Tiger turned into a meek deer when the motorbike-borne terrorists, apprehending that the policemen in this vehicle might do something, fired some shots at it before turning into Middleton Street. The shots had the desired effect. The policemen turned around and sped off in the other direction. Yet another inglorious act was by the officer who was supposed to oversee the switch in shifts of policemen at the centre. The armed officer got off a taxi at the Park Street-Chowringhee crossing — he did not ride up to the centre to save money — and began to walk towards his destination a few hundred metres away when he heard the shots ring out. He dived into the safety of a car park of a multi-storeyed building he was going past. When the administration sought an explanation from him, his reply to his superior was: “Boss, you must be knowing, with a wife and kids, who would want to invite trouble? I understood what was happening when I heard the shots. So I took the precaution.” No less scandalous was the role of the two officers, one in charge of the incoming shift and the other of the outgoing. The first came in late, while the other had left early. “We are investigating everything and everybody,” a senior official said.

The good news are that she doesn't have the disease, she has TB infection and with medicines for 6 months it will go away. TB infection it is not contagious but if it not treated it may get the disease and that is contagious and dangerous. I learnt that millions of Americans have TB infection and most of them don't even know it. TB germs can live in your body without making you sick. This is called TB infection. The inmune system traps TB germs with special germ fighters. But sometimes, the TB germs can break away and spread. Then they cause TB disease. The germs can attack the lungs or other parts of the body. If TB germs are in your lungs or throat, you can give TB infection to other persons through coughs or sneezes.

Reading BTG last night I saw the advertisement for Srila Prabhupada's Lotus Feet. They have these items: clear lucite in a free-standing design, 5"x3.5", $5.95. Life-size relief, painted gold, $49.95. Web: www.krishna.com

It has become pretty obvious to us Southerners that our present astrological signs have served their purpose and that we should get rid of them. When I'm out driving around I'll see bulls, and once in a great while I suppose I'll even see a ram. Up the street from me there's some twins, but I don't see them much. The rest of these things are just too obscure. You only see crabs on vacation. There are no lions or scorpions, not many archers and no damn water bearers. Virgins? The neighborhood's not crawling with them either. So, what we need here is some relevance. We need things we can recognize up there in the night sky. SCROLL DOWN TO YOUR BIRTH DATE...!! OKRA Dec 22 - Jan 20 Although you appear crude, you are actually very slick on the inside. Okras have tremendous influence. An older Okra can look back over his life and see the seeds of his influence everywhere. Stay away from Moon Pies. CHITTLIN Jan 21 - Feb. 19 Chittlins often come from humble backgrounds. Many times they're uncomfortable talking about just where they came from. A chittlin, however, can make something of himself if he's motivated and has plenty of seasoning. When it comes to dealing with Chittlins, be very careful. Chittlins can burn and then erupt like Vesuvius, and this can make for a really terrible mess. Chittlins are best with Catfish and Okra. Remember what when marriage time rolls around. BOLL WEEVIL Feb. 20 - Mar 20 You have an overwhelming curiosity. You're unsatisfied with the surface of things, and you feel the need to bore deep into the interior of everything. Needless to say, you are very intense and driven as if you had some inner hunger. Nobody in their right mind is going to marry you, so don't worry about it. MOON PIE Mar 21 - Apr 20 You're the type that spends a lot of time on the front porch. It's a cinch to recognize the physical appearance of Moon Pies. "Big" and "round" are the key words here. You should marry anybody who you can get remotely interested in the idea. It's not going to be easy. This might be the year to think about aerobics. Maybe not. POSSUM Apr 21 - May 21 When confronted with life's difficulties, possums have a marked tendency to withdraw and develop a "don't - bother - me - about - it" attitude. Sometimes you become so withdrawn, people actually think you're dead. This strategy is probably not psychologically healthy, but seems to work for you. One day, however, it won't work, and you may find your problems actually running you over. CRAWFISH May 22 - Jun 21 Crawfish is a water sign. If you work in an office, you're always hanging around the water cooler. Crawfish prefer the beach to the mountains, the pool to the golf course, the bathtub to the living room. You tend not to be particularly attractive physically, but you have very, very good heads. COLLARDS Jun 22- Jul. 23 Collards have a genius for communication. They love to get in the "melting pot" of life and share their essence with the essences of those around them. Collards make good social workers, psychologists, and baseball managers. As far as your personal life goes, if you are Collards, stay away from Moon Pies. It just won't work. Save yourself a lot of heartache. CATFISH Jul. 24 - Aug. 23 Catfish are traditionalists in matters of the heart, with one exception: Whiskers may cause problems for loved ones. You catfish are never easy people to understand. You prefer the muddy bottoms to the clear surface of life. Above all else, Catfish should stay away from Moon Pies. GRITS Aug. 24 - Sep. 23 Your highest aim is to be with others like yourself. You like to huddle together with a big crowd of other Grits. You love to travel, though, so maybe you should think about joining a club. Where do you like to go? Anywhere they have cheese or gravy or bacon or butter or eggs. If you can go somewhere where they have all these things, that serves you well. BOILED PEANUTS Sep. 24 - Oct. 23 You have a passionate desire to help your fellow man. Unfortunately, those who know you best your friends and loved ones may find that your personality is much too salty, and their criticism will probably affect you deeply because you are really much softer than you appear. You should go right ahead and marry anybody you want to because in a certain way, yours is a charmed life. On the road of life, you can be sure that people will always pull over and stop for you. BUTTER BEAN Oct. 24 - Nov. 22 Always invite a Butter Bean because Butter Beans get along well with everybody. You, as a Butter Bean, should be proud. You've grown on the vine of life and you feel at home no matter what the setting. You can sit next to anybody. However, you, too, shouldn't have anything to do with Moon Pies. ARMADILLO Nov. 23 - Dec 21 You have a tendency to develop a tough exterior, but you are actually quite gentle. A good evening for you? Old friends, a fire, some roots, fruit, worms and insects. You are a throwback. You're not concerned with today's fashions and trends. You're not concerned with anything about today. You're really almost prehistoric in your interests and behavior patterns. You probably want to marry another Armadillo, but Possum is another, somewhat kinky, mating possibility.

I just heard that somebody that I care for got TB. Any information in treatments, care or TB in general is welcome.

From Srila Prabhupada's purport to Bhagavad Gita chapter 2, text 8: Although Arjuna was putting forward so many arguments based in knowledge of the principles of religion and moral codes, it appears that he was unable to solve his real problem without the help of the spiritual master, Lord Sri Krsna. He could understand that his so-called knowledge was useless in driving away his problems, which were drying up his whole existence; and it was impossible for him to solve such perplexities without the help of a spiritual master like Lord Krsna. Academic knowledge, scholarship, high positions, etc, are all useless in solving the problems of life; help can be given only by a spiritual master like Krsna. Therefore, the conclusion is that a spiritual master who is one hundred percent Krsna conscious is the bonafide spiritual master for he can solve the problems of life. Lord Caitanya said that one who is the master in the science of Krsna consciousness, regardless of his social position, is the real spiritual master. kiba vipra, kiba nyasi, sudra kene naya yei krsna-tattva-vetta, sei'guru'haya "It does not matter whether a person is a vipra (learned scholar in Vedic wisdom) or is born in a lower family, or is in the renounced order of life-if he is a master in the science of Krsna, he is the perfect and bona fide spiritual master." (Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya 8.128) So without being a master in the science of Krsna consciousness, no one is a bona fide spiritual master. It is also said in vedic literature: sat-karma nipuno vipro mantra-tantra-visaradah avaisnavo gurur na syad vaisnava sva-paco guruh "A scholarly brahmana, expert in all subjects of Vedic knowledge, is unfit to become a spiritual master without being a Vaisnava, or expert in the science of Krsna consciousness. But a person born in a family of a lower caste can become a spiritual master if he is a Vaisnava, or Krsna conscious." (Padma Purana).... Therefore, if we want to curb lamentation for good, then we have to take shelter of Krsna, as Arjuna is seeking to do. So Arjuna asked Krsna to solve his problem definitely, and that is the way of Krsna consciousness.

A man asked his wife, "if you could have anything in the world for one day, what would you want?" "I'd love to be six again," she replied. On the morning of her birthday, he got her up bright and early and off they went to a local theme park. What a day! He put her on every ride in the park: the Death Slide, the Screaming Loop, the Wall of Fear, everything there was! Wow! Five hours later she staggered out of the theme park, her head reeling and her stomach upside down. Off to McDonald's they went, where her husband ordered her a Big Mac along with extra fries and a refreshing chocolate shake. Then it was off to a movie: the latest Hollywood blockbuster, hot dogs, popcorn, Pepsi Cola and M&M's. What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbled home with her husband and collapsed into bed. He leaned over and lovingly asked, "Well dear, what was it like being six again?" One eye opened. "You idiot, I meant my dress size." The moral of this story is: If a woman speaks and a man is actually listening, he will still get it wrong

Dear Valaya prabhu, as far as I understand it the 'patronage against'means to pray to him for not dying alone and not to have fires. He is the "patrono" for all those things mentioned before. He is the protector of Assisi, the animals, environment, etc,etc. BTW, Assisi has many saints from that time. I'm sorry that I can't explain it any better with my limited knowledge of English. As suryaz said before, you have certain saints that hold special significance and is especially meaningful to the devotee. Dear Jayaradhe, I miss your letters and I just finished watching the movie. Love it. Now I'm off to the beach for some good air. More later.

About Gauracandra mentioning candles in the Church. They are offerings for the deities, in the same way that we offer the ghee lamps to the deities at the temple. Actually for Catholics it is very easy to become a devotee. You accept deities, offerings, prayers, incense, candles, love God about everything else, love your neighbour(seing Paramatma in everyone), follow the commandments, etc. With the knowledge of Krsna consciousness you get the whole picture, with only the Bible they are too many questions left unanswered. That's why one more let me offer my eternal gratitude to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that tought me who God is and how can I develop love for Him and His associates.

My favorite saint is: St. Francis of Assisi. I guess that I'm attracted to him not only because of his purity but also I studied for 8 years with nuns when I was a child and we used to go through the back gardens of the school to the Church that was run by the Franciscans or Capuchinos. Originally they were vegetarian as St Francis was. In one occasion St Francis acknowledged that he ate lard for Lent. He was very strict in his vows but also very understanding and forgiving when some of his followers "fell down" I highly recommend the movie "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" made by Zefirelli about St Francis. I saw it in few temples and some devotees were so taken by it that one of them named his son Visnujana Franchesco Here is a little about him: Also known as Francis Bernardone; Poverello Memorial 4 October Profile Son of a rich cloth merchant. Misspent youth. Street brawler and some-time soldier. During an imprisonment in Perugia, he had a conversion experience, including a reported message from Christ calling him to leave this worldly life. Upon release, Francis began taking his religion seriously. He took the Gospels as the rule of his life, Jesus Christ as his literal example. He dressed in rough clothes, begged for his sustenance, and preached purity and peace. He visited hospitals, served the sick, preached in the streets, and took all men and women as siblings. He began to attract followers in 1209, and with Papal blessing, founded the Franciscans. In 1212 Clare of Assisi became his spiritual student, which led to the founding of the Poor Clares. Visited and preached to the Saracens. Composed songs and hymns to God and nature. Lived with animals, worked with his hands, cared for lepers, cleaned churches, and sent food to thieves. In 1221 he resigned direction of the Franciscans. While in meditation on Mount Alvernia in the Apennines in September 1224, Francis received the stigmata, which periodically bled during the remaining two years of his life. This miracle has a separate memorial on 17 September. Born 1181 at Assisi, Umbria, Italy as Francis Bernardone Died 4 October 1226 @ Portiuncula, Italy Canonized 1228 by Pope Gregory IX Patronage against dying alone, against fire, animal welfare societies, animals, Assisi Italy, birds, Catholic Action, Colorado, archdiocese of Denver Colorado, dying alone, ecologists, ecology, environment, environmentalism, environmentalists, families, fire, Italy, lacemakers, laceworkers, merchants, needle workers, peace, archdiocese of San Francisco California, Sante Fe New Mexico, tapestry workers, zoos. Audio Saint Francis of Assisi,by G. K Chesterton, RealAudio @ Broadcast.Com Representation birds; deer; fish; skull; stigmata; wolf Additional Information Open Directory Project links to sites devoted to or with information about Saint Francis of Assisi Saint Francis Screensaver, by Divine Mercy Secular Franciscan Fraternity Rule of Saint Francis Mira circa nos, Pope Gregory IX Auspicato Concessum, Pope Leo XIII Sacra Propediem, Pope Benedict XV Rite expiatis, Pope Pius XI Meditation on Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope John XXIII Homily on Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope John Paul II Homily on Saint Francis of Assisi, Pope John Paul II God's Troubadour, by Sophie Jewett Lives of the Saints for Every Day of the Year Lives of the Saints, John J Crawley The Will of Saint Francis Letter Written to all the Faithful Prayers Canticle of Brother Sun Immaculate Conception Novena Prayer by... Novena to Saint Francis of Assisi Prayer to... Prayer I by... Prayer II by... Prayer for Animals Prayer for the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi Prayer in Honor of the Sacred Stigmata Way of the Cross by... Reading Alms are an inheritance and a justice which is due to the poor and which Jesus has levied upon us. Saint Francis of Assisi -- Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society. Saint Francis of Assisi -- It was through his archangel, Saint Gabriel, that the Father above made known to the the holy and glorious Virgin Mary that the worthy, holy and glorious Word of the Father would come from heaven and take from her womb the real flesh of our human frailty. Though he was wealthy beyond reckoning, he still willingly chose to be poor with his blessed mother. And shortly before his passion he celebrated the Passover with his disciples. Then he prayed to his Father saying: "Father, if it be possible, let this cup be taken from me." Nevertheless, he reposed his will in the will of his Father. The Father willed that his blessed and glorious Son, whom he gave to us and who was born for us, should through his own blood offer himself as a sacrificial victim on the altar of the cross. This was to be done not for himself through whom all things were made, but for our sins. It was intended to leave us an example of how to follow in his footsteps. And he desires all of us to be saved through him, and to receive him with pure heart and chaste body. Let us also love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God's sake. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father's children who do his work. from a letter written to all the faithful by Saint Francis of Assisi "Jesus is happy to come with us, as truth is happy to be spoken, as life to be lived, as light to be lit, as love is to be loved, as joy to be given, as peace to be spread." Saint Francis of Assisi

To me reminds me of a skeleton of a dinosaur with a cannon in the middle.

Thanks for the info. Knowing Ramesh, is he ever in Costa Rica?

It does wonders for your pores though. All the hot steam open up the pores really nicely and you can unclog them and remove all the dead skin cells and blackheads. The trick is to finish with a cold shower to close up the pores again. BTW, I thought that brahmacaris take only cold showers.

Do you know how can I contact Ramesh?

I like the concept of the hands in prayer. Why the church is not giving the money for the Cathedral? If they don't have a place of worship why can't they help with the building? I looked at some of the brigdes that Calatrava built and some of them are interestings. Which one was the New York project? The one the looks like a pigeon flying?

Sri Caitanya-caritamrita Antya 11 text 71 tabe mahaprabhu saba bhakta-gana-sange samudre karila snana- jala-keli range Translation After sankirtana, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed in the sea with His devotees, swimming and playing in the water in great jubilation.

Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya 11 text 64 haridase samudra-jale snana karaila prabhu kahe,-"samudra ei'maha tirtha'ha ila" Translation Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu bathed the body of Haridasa Thakura in the sea and then declared ,"From this day on, this sea has become a great pilgrimage site."

Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include a free trip around the sun every year. Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live. How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on. Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier than the people who have to wait for them? If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy? Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside of us. If Walmart is lowering prices every day, how come nothing is free yet? You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person. Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once. Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened. We could learn a lot from crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors.... but they all have to learn to live in the same box. Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler. A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour. Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.

I read that Srila Prabhupada didn't like Jadurani painting the Lord with hair too long. It is in one of the conversations books. Doesn't Kesava means "the one with the soft,beautiful hair?" I do love that painting and was one of the first posters that I bought like a bhaktin. Now somebody gave it again to me and is hanging in my bedroom. The other paintings that I like are the ones when Krsna is opening His mouth for mother Yasoda, when He is eating in the forest with the cowherd boys, the Damodara picture, the one that I heard that Srila Prabhupada said that was the most real Krsna just looking like a 16 years old with a very soft body, without bulky muscles and of course Radha-Krsna in the swing that we use for Jhulan Yatra, I may go on and on and on. Srila Prabhupada said that were the "windows to the spiritual world"

Today I was in the beach most of the morning just having a very peaceful time and enjoying the beauty of the material creation when came to mind these verses.. Bhagavad Gita 10.24 purodhasam ca mukhyam mam viddhi partha brhaspatim senaninam aham skandah sarasam asmi sagarah Of priests, O Arjuna, know Me to be the chief, Brihaspati. Of generals I am Kartikeya, and of bodies of water I am the ocean. Bhagavad Gita 10.21 adityanam aham visnur jyotisam ravir amsumam maricir marutam asmi naksatranam aham sasi Of the Adityas I am Visnu, of lights I am the radiant sun, of the Maruts I am Marici, and among the stars I am the moon. In the end of the purport of the previous verse Srila Prabhupada explains that these representations of Krsna only give hints of His greatness. Just hints and they are already so beautiful and powerful.

You can get the DVD's in Hindi with english subtitles At this address: India Music and Boutique 9443 Venice Boulevard Culver City 90232 CA Phone: 310-837-5233 They also have Mahabharata that in MHO was better that Ramayan. I saw both of them on TV in India and still they have reruns. If you don't mind so much the overacting they are OK. I remember that we used to watch the series at the temple in Cal every Sunday after morning prasada until the temple president banned Ramayan because he said that they were talking mayavada and speculating too much. Mahabharata was such a hit that Sundays mornings hardly was any people in the streets and even Muslims were talking about family values, heroism, Krsna and the Pandavas, etc. Many times I saw the local Bengali devotees crying in the sad parts and cheering for the Pandavas like anything. It was really huge. Mark try to call at that address and ask them for cassetes, I know for sure that they have the DVD's for sale in there.

You can get the DVD's in Hindi with english subtitles At this address: India Music and Boutique 9443 Venice Boulevard Culver City 90232 CA Phone: 310-837-5233 They also have Mahabharata that in MHO was better that Ramayan. I saw both of them on TV in India and still they have reruns. If you don't mind so much the overacting they are OK. I remember that we used to watch the series at the temple in Cal every Sunday after morning prasada until the temple president banned Ramayan because he said that they were talking mayavada and speculating too much. Mahabharata was such a hit that Sundays mornings hardly was any people in the streets and even Muslims were talking about family values, heroism, Krsna and the Pandavas, etc. Many times I saw the local Bengali devotees crying in the sad parts and cheering for the Pandavas like anything. It was really huge. Mark try to call at that address and ask them for cassetes, I know for sure that they have the DVD's for sale in there.