atma

Premananda prabhu: if I'm right, your Gurudeva lives in the shores of the Ganges in Mayapur, near Puri maharaja's temple. I know his family well and his girls when they were really little. His name was Pandu before he took shelter of Lalita Prasada. I'm talking about the same person? Bhavananda got lots of his paintings for the Guesthouse in Iskcon.

Premananda prabhu: if I'm right, your Gurudeva lives in the shores of the Ganges in Mayapur, near Puri maharaja's temple. I know his family well and his girls when they were really little. His name was Pandu before he took shelter of Lalita Prasada. I'm talking about the same person? Bhavananda got lots of his paintings for the Guesthouse in Iskcon.

Is due to karma that some people are more sensitive and intuitive than others. Normally persons that have visions can use them to help people if they know how to channel the gift that they have. Destiny is there but also free will. Most of goods astrologers, tarot readers, visionaries, etc, will tell you the tendencies and the most probably thing that will happen because actually nothing is certain because if we surrender to God everything may change in a second. "Just surrender to me...." How is that sloka? I think if an astrologer reads Animesh's uncle's astrological chart he may find that he has the Moon in the 12th house or Rahu in it, or planets in the 8th. Nothing is without a purpose, those visions are for a reason.

Is due to karma that some people are more sensitive and intuitive than others. Normally persons that have visions can use them to help people if they know how to channel the gift that they have. Destiny is there but also free will. Most of goods astrologers, tarot readers, visionaries, etc, will tell you the tendencies and the most probably thing that will happen because actually nothing is certain because if we surrender to God everything may change in a second. "Just surrender to me...." How is that sloka? I think if an astrologer reads Animesh's uncle's astrological chart he may find that he has the Moon in the 12th house or Rahu in it, or planets in the 8th. Nothing is without a purpose, those visions are for a reason.

I know quite well Paramadwaita maharaja (Alanath before). He started his reform movement in 1983 from Colombia and later on he moved away from Iskcon, taking over the temples in that country. Many devotees left their gurus (after reading Maharaja's paper about all the wrong things in Iskcon, gurus fall down, etc). In the beginning PM took the devotees with him to take shelter of Sridhar Maharaja and later on he started giving initiations on his own. That was the funny part for me because in his paper he criticized devotees in Iskcon because THEY believed that they were gurus, they didn't just play the role, they believe it. I'm talking all this because PM is one of the main persons in the WVA and I know as a fact that he doesn't want his disciples to associate with Narayana Maharaja. One of my closest friends left him for NM, and he is very upset about it. So much for a big family and take shelter of the senior vaisnavas. For me the problem for unity is the desire to be guru, everyone want to became one and that create competition and envy when the person is not completely pure. Is no way for cooperation when you're fighting for disciples.

Adam was walking around the Garden of Eden feeling very lonely, so God asked Adam, "What is wrong with you?" Adam said he didn't have anyone to talk to. God said he was going to give him a Companion and she would be called "woman." God said,"This person will cook for you and wash your clothes, she will always agree with every decision you make. She will bear your children and never ask you to get up in the middle of the night to take care of them. She will not nag you, and will always be the first to admit she was wrong when you've a disagreement. She will never have a headache, and will freely give "love" and compassion whenever needed. Adam asked God, "What will this woman cost?" God said, "An arm and aleg." Adam said, "What can I get for just a rib.? The rest is history.......

Three guys died and when they get to the pearly gates, St. Peter meets them there. St. Peter said,: "I know that you guys are forgiven because you're here. Before I let you into heaven, I have to ask you a couple of questions. Make sure you tell the truth because if you don't you will forfeit your privilege of being here and we'll have to ask you to visit our friend below. Your answers will also determine what kind of car you get. You have to have a car here in Heaven because it is so big!" The first guy walks up and Peter asks him, "How long were you married?" The guy replies, "24 years." St. Peter then asks, "did you ever cheat on your wife?" The guy says, "Yes, about 10 times....but you said I was forgiven." Peter said,"yeah, but that's not too good. Here's Pinto for you to drive." The second guy walks up and gets the same questions from Peter to which he replies, "I was married for 41 years and cheated on her only once, but that was during our first year and we worked it out and I was faithful there after." Peter said, "I'm pleased to hear that, here's a Lincoln Town Car for you to drive." The third gut walked up and said, "Peter, I know what you're going to ask. I was married for 63 years and didn't even look at another woman! I treated my wife like a queen!" St.Peter said:"Very good. I'll give you a Jaguar to drive." A little while later, the two guys with the Lincoln and the Pinto saw the guy with the Jaguar crying on the golden sidewalk so they went to see what was the matter. When they asked him what was wrong he tearily said, "I just saw my wife and she was on a skateboard!"

A woman's husband had been slipping in and out of coma for several months, yet she stayed by his bedside every single day. When he came to, he motioned for her to come nearer. As she sat by him, he said,"you know what? you have been with me trough all the bad times. When I got fired, you were there to support me. When my business failed, you were there. When I got shot, you were by my side. When we lost the house, you gave me support. When my health started failing, you were still by my side....You know what?" "What dear?" She asked gently. "I think you bring me bad luck."

A man is driving down a steep, narrow mountain road. A woman is driving up the same road. As they pass each other the woman leans out the window and yells, "Pig!" The man inmediately leans out his window and replies with "Freak!" They each continue on their way, as the man rounds the next curve he crashes into a pig in the middle of the road!!

Maitreya; Remembering indian women, don't get involved with them! One of my friends, started a relatioship with one of them in Bengal and one night when they were together, a mob came and he has to run for his life! Somehow he managed to escape through a window and run all the way to the Jalangi only in gamcha with 50 armed villagers behind him. Somehow he lost his gamcha and he jumped in the Jalangi to cross back to Mayapur, (he was in Swarup Ganj). Next day he had to leave the holy dhama for good and took shelter in Calcutta for a while. He still scared from the experience. Don't mess up with Indian girls! You'll have all the village or at least all her family behind you forever!!!

Maitreya; Remembering indian women, don't get involved with them! One of my friends, started a relatioship with one of them in Bengal and one night when they were together, a mob came and he has to run for his life! Somehow he managed to escape through a window and run all the way to the Jalangi only in gamcha with 50 armed villagers behind him. Somehow he lost his gamcha and he jumped in the Jalangi to cross back to Mayapur, (he was in Swarup Ganj). Next day he had to leave the holy dhama for good and took shelter in Calcutta for a while. He still scared from the experience. Don't mess up with Indian girls! You'll have all the village or at least all her family behind you forever!!!

Talking about physical beauty! For the last two months I had to associate with lots of very diverse people and all of them had cosmetic surgery! One lady has a very nice heart but she is so into her face, she doesn't have one wrinkle but she thinks she needs another face lift!! One more and I don't know from where they're going to pull the skin. She looks so unreal. Another lady is 83 and when I told her how young she looked she told me that was all natural, her daughter came out saying that her mother had 4 plastic surgeries!! The old lady's problem is that she wants a man even though she's 83! I can't stand the plastic look, and they think they look good. I guess that is the universal beauty here in Hollywood. So relative. In some part in Africa they like long necks, then from very young age they put this rings in the girls necks to elongate it. Pure torture. JRdd, Mangalananda was here for the Prabhupada's festival and he sang all his songs, including "Change of Heart" We had a really good time

Talking about physical beauty! For the last two months I had to associate with lots of very diverse people and all of them had cosmetic surgery! One lady has a very nice heart but she is so into her face, she doesn't have one wrinkle but she thinks she needs another face lift!! One more and I don't know from where they're going to pull the skin. She looks so unreal. Another lady is 83 and when I told her how young she looked she told me that was all natural, her daughter came out saying that her mother had 4 plastic surgeries!! The old lady's problem is that she wants a man even though she's 83! I can't stand the plastic look, and they think they look good. I guess that is the universal beauty here in Hollywood. So relative. In some part in Africa they like long necks, then from very young age they put this rings in the girls necks to elongate it. Pure torture. JRdd, Mangalananda was here for the Prabhupada's festival and he sang all his songs, including "Change of Heart" We had a really good time

Maitreya, remember that you're reaching Vrindavan during rainy season. The last few years had been quite heavy for that area. A couple of years ago Radha Kunda was so flooded that they took the water out in buckets to make it ready for Bahulastami, where everybody goes at midnight for bathing. The weather will be hot and unpleasant in September. During Kartika will be quite nice and by middle November the cold will start. It becomes really freezing and gloomy. Even with 3 pairs of socks your feet feel sooooooo cold. A nice winter coat from the West is the best, otherwise you'll have to wear 10 chadars to keep warm. The weather is so extreme over there, so cold in winter and very hot in summer. Later I'll tell you about robberies and goondas.

Dasanudas, any more information in FOV?

Forget it Sushil! You'll get contaminated with my association. I think you are Marwari, I got lots of friends from that community. They are really nice people. Just remember to pray for me when you go to Vrindavan. Ys, Atma.

If Earth's population as shrunk into a village of just 100 people- with all the human ratios existing in the world still remaining - what would this tiny, diverse village llok like? That's exactly what Phillip M. Harter, a medical doctor at the Stanford University School of Medicine, attempted to figure out. This is what he found: 57 would be Asian 21 would be European 14 would be from the Western Hemisphere 8 would be African 52 would be female 48 would be male 70 would be nonwhite 30 would be white 70 would be non-Christian 30 would be Christian 89 would be heterosexual 11 would be homosexual 6 people would posses 59% of the entire world's wealth, and all 6 would be from the United States 80 would be live in substandarn housing 70 would be unable to read 50 would suffer from malnutrition 1 would be near death 1 would be pregnant 1 would have a college education 1 would own a computer. The following is an anonymous interpretation: Think of it this way. If you live in a good home, have plenty to eat and can read, you are a member of a very select group. And if you have a good house, food, can read and have a computer, you are among the very elite. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness....you are more fortunate than the million who will not survive this week. If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation......you are ahead of 500 million people in the world. If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harrasment, arrest, torture, or death...you are fortunate, more than 3 billion people in the world can't. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep....you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace.....you are among the 8% of the world's wealthy. If your parents are still alive and still married.....you are very rare, even in USA. If you hold up your head with a smile on your face and are truly thankful....you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not. If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder....you are blessed because you can offer healing touch. If you can read this message, you just received a doble blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than 2 billion people in the world that cannot read at all! Have a good day, count your blessings, and try to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

Here it is: Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 3, Ch.7, text 17. Translation and Purport by His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada/ yas ca mudhatamo loke yas ca buddheh param gatah tav ubhau sukham edhete klisyaty antarito janah Both the lowest of fools and he who is transcendental to all intelligence enjoy happiness, whereas persons between them suffer the material pangs. PURPORT The lowest of fools do not understand material miseries; they pas their lives merrily and do not enquiry into the miseries of life. Such persons are almost on the level of animals, who, although in the eyes of superiors are always miserable in life, are unaware of material distresses. A hog's life is degraded in its standarn of happiness, which entails living in a filthy place, engaging in sex enjoyment at every opportune moment, and laboring hard in a struggle for existence, but this is unknown to the hog. Similarly, human beings who are unaware of the miseries of material existence and are happy in sex life and hard labor are the lowest of fools. Yet because they have no sense of miseries, they supposedly enjoy so-called happiness. the other class of men, those who are liberated and are situated in the trascendental position above intelligence, are really happy and are called paramahansas. But persons who are neither like hogs and dogs nor on the level of the paramahansas feel the material pangs, and for them inquiry about the Supreme Truth is necessary. The Vedanta-sutra states, athato brahma-jijnasa: "Now one should inquire about Brahman." This enquiry is necessary for those who are between the paramahansas and the fools who have forgotten the question of self-realization in the midst of life in sense gratification.

The next time you're washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts from the 1500s: Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May and were still smelling pretty good by June. However, even in June they were starting to smell, so brides carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water. Following him, the same water was used by the other men, the sons, the women, and finally the children. Last of all came the babies. By then, the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, "don't throw the baby out with the bath water." Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw, piled high. It was the only place for animals to get warm. So all the dogs, cats, and other small critters (including mice, rats and bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained, it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. hence the saying, "it's raining cats and dogs." The roof was not always effective in stopping things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom, where bugs and droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Thus, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. This is how canopy beds came into existence. The floor of the house was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. hence the saying, 'dirt poor." The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery when they got wet in winter. So, they spread tresh on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they kept adding more tresh until when the door was opened the it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entryway which came to be known as the "threshold." Food was cooked in the kitchen in a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Everyday they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They mostly ate vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat stew for dinner, leave the leftovers in the pot, and then start over the next day. Sometimes the stew had food in it that had been there for quite some time. Hence the rhyme, "peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old." Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of both wealth and that a man could "bring home the bacon" They would cut off a little to share with guests and sit around and "chew the fat." Those with money had plates made of pewter. Food with a high acid content caused some lead to leach onto the food causing lead poisoning and death. This happened most often with tomatoes. So, for the next 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous. Most people did not have pewter plates, but have trenchers a piece of wood with the middle scooped out like a bowl. Trenchers were never washed and often worms got into the wood. After eating off wormy trenchers, one could get "trenchmouth." Bread was divided according to status; workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the "upper crust." Lead cups were used to drink ale or whiskey. The combination would sometimes knock them out for a couple of days. They might be taken for dead and prepared for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table. The family would gather around and eat and drink for a couple of days and wait to see it they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake." England is old and small and they started running out of places to bury people. So, they would dig up coffins and reuse the graves. When reopening these coffins, one out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside. They realized they had been burying people alive. So, a string was tied on the wrist of the deceased. It led up through the coffin, up though the ground, and was tied to a bell. Someone sat out in the graveyard all night (the graveyard shift) to listen for the bell. Thus, someone could be "saved by the bell," or be considered a "dead ringer."

Monkeys in Vrindavan! So much to say about them. I saw one of them coming from behind the ricksha and take in a really neat way the glasses of this devotee who was sitting on it.The monkey went in a roof and after we threw a few bananas to him, he gave back the glasses. Little bit chewy but not so much harm. The males can be very agressive and they are very strong, don't mess with them, EVER. Last year some foreigner boys were teasing them and the monkeys don't tolerate non-sense, they chased the boys and one of them jumped from the fence in Dhanuka Ashrama running away and broke lots of bones (one of the kids) The females with babies are fierce too. The best is to ignore them and if you see a really big group avoid them. Last year I was with my friend's baby and other kids walking out of the ashram were we stayed when a group of dissapointed monkeys (because they didn't get anything from the kitchen) saw us. Without any warning they attacked us! The children started runnig away and the monkeys chased us and even nibble in our legs! A man with a big stick came out and the monkeys went away. Because they are mating all the time, the children are always asking,"what're they doing?" There mom has to come with the explanation and start getting repetitive because is all the time the same thing! Now I remember about the pigs in Vrindavan, they are huge and the sweepers of the Dhama. They eat EVERYTHING and you see them in the gutters cleaning up! If you chant japa early morning you can see when the local children are answering the "call of nature" in the gutters outside their houses. A line of kids squat next to each other passing and other kids are with sticks chasing the pigs away for the other children to pass in peace! I'm not exaggerating. I saw this a few times. To think that people eat pig!!!!

Just came to my mind this "devotee" that I knew very well. An active homosexual, addicted to cocaine he took iniciation from Satyaraja's guru in San Jose, Costa Rica about 3 years ago. All the temple there (GM temple) knew about him and his bad habits and I think because they don't care so much about regulations and chanting of japa, it was no problem for him to get initiated. I'm a very fallen soul and I fail to understand the reasoning behind this. This person continued with his bad habits after diksha and now he is dead. The honor of his guru is on the floor with this kind of disciple. This is only one example, I can say more about many others but I'm not going to get into it. It seems to me and others that here we see the recruiting of numbers not quality. I have to say that I do know others disciples of Narayana Maharaja that are very renounced and saintly but I can't accept these quick initiations, with people that don't follow anything.

Hare Krsna Sushil: You really embarrased me! I had the fortune of live in India for 15 years and every Kartik I went to Vrindavan for association and parikrama. This year I don't think I'll be there but maybe when you go there you can pray for me. Your servant, Atma.

I was blessed with the darshan of both Maharajas. Moreover I did have the saintly association of Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaja for few years. I used to go for morning and evening darshan at his temple in Seva Kunja in Vrindavan during Kartika. I met him in Vishakapatnam where he got another temple. During Gour Purnima he cames to Mayapur and his temple is located next to ISKCON BBT. Most of the time he stays in Puri. He is a very humble vaishnava and his presence always made me feel that I have to improve my character. Like when you're in the presence of a saintly person you feel how fallen you're! Many times during his darshan we were all in tears because he transmits so many devotional feelings. At the same time is very practical and down to earth. I was present when a few old Prabhupada's disciples went to him to complaint about ISKCON, and he listened to them and adviced them to reasume their devotional lives.What was the use of criticize if they were not following the principles, or doing any devotional service? Most of them were fallen but because of his association, they are chanting and active in devotional service now. Once I noticed that he didn't wear socks and was already the beginning of winter. I went to the famous Loi Bazaar and got for him socks, mittens and a swami hat. His look of surprise when I gave him the things, I'll always remember. I was very happy when I went for darshan that evening and he was wearing everything! He gave me the garland that he was wearing and I put it on my neck. I was so happy that I completely forgot that I was stepping in Seva Kunj (is full of monkeys) All of the sudden I see this huge male monkey rushing straight towards me, I kwew that I wasn't carrying any bag or food with me and I was wondering what this monkey wants and in the last second I realized. Just when the monkey jumped at me I took the garland out of my neck and he got it in mid-air! Even the monkeys want B.V. Puri Maharaja's mercy!! I have many friends who are his disciples and I'll try to get the information that you required.

I was blessed with the darshan of both Maharajas. Moreover I did have the saintly association of Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaja for few years. I used to go for morning and evening darshan at his temple in Seva Kunja in Vrindavan during Kartika. I met him in Vishakapatnam where he got another temple. During Gour Purnima he cames to Mayapur and his temple is located next to ISKCON BBT. Most of the time he stays in Puri. He is a very humble vaishnava and his presence always made me feel that I have to improve my character. Like when you're in the presence of a saintly person you feel how fallen you're! Many times during his darshan we were all in tears because he transmits so many devotional feelings. At the same time is very practical and down to earth. I was present when a few old Prabhupada's disciples went to him to complaint about ISKCON, and he listened to them and adviced them to reasume their devotional lives.What was the use of criticize if they were not following the principles, or doing any devotional service? Most of them were fallen but because of his association, they are chanting and active in devotional service now. Once I noticed that he didn't wear socks and was already the beginning of winter. I went to the famous Loi Bazaar and got for him socks, mittens and a swami hat. His look of surprise when I gave him the things, I'll always remember. I was very happy when I went for darshan that evening and he was wearing everything! He gave me the garland that he was wearing and I put it on my neck. I was so happy that I completely forgot that I was stepping in Seva Kunj (is full of monkeys) All of the sudden I see this huge male monkey rushing straight towards me, I kwew that I wasn't carrying any bag or food with me and I was wondering what this monkey wants and in the last second I realized. Just when the monkey jumped at me I took the garland out of my neck and he got it in mid-air! Even the monkeys want B.V. Puri Maharaja's mercy!! I have many friends who are his disciples and I'll try to get the information that you required.

Reading the previous post, I couldn't stop laughing because I remembered my first train journey in India! Completely naive I went to India with one girlfriend whose experience of Bharat was like a hippy in a previous journey. We arrived in Delhi beginning of January and we were shocked how cold it was. Somehow we got a car ride with the Vrindavan temple president to the Holy Dhama. After few days there (next post will be about the animals in the holy dhama), we decided to go to Mayapur. Full of enthusiasm, we just jumped in the public bus to go back to Delhi. After 3 hours or so we arrived to Old Delhi and the quantity of traffic and people there was fascinating and scary at the same time. Somehow we managed to reach New Delhi train Station (I forgot to mention that we hardly spoke any english!!) My friend went inside to get the tickets to Calcutta and went she came out she told me to hurry up because the train was leaving in 15 minutes! I had no idea that you can reserve in advance your seat and sleeper berth. I just trusted my friend because she got some experience of India before. Somehow one coolie showed us which compartment to get into. I'm not exagerating but hundreds of people wanted to get in the same compartment that we supposed to go in. I guess that because people saw us foreigners, young and in saris they took pity on us and they let us squeeze in the coach. More mercy and somehow we got to be seated, somehow unconfortable because were was meant for 3 they put 6. With all the people staring really hard at us and everybody smoking, I was wondering how we'll pass the night, because the only thing that I knew was that Calcutta was like 25 hours away. Around 10 PM somehow everybody accomodated everywhere,even in the floor and they gave us a berth (meant for 1) for both of us to lie down. All this time I though that this was the normal way of travelling in India, so I didn't mind so much. I was still in awe that somehow I made it to India and that was enough. After sharing the night with more than 100 people with all the noises, grunts and worst of all all the men staring at us, I discovered that I got Indra's course and heavy crumps. I'm not going to describe the toilets here, it's a painful memory. I knew that I had to do something to stop the pain and I remembered that cumin tea was good for that. Slowly slowly, early morning, I made my way through different coaches and finally I found the kitchen! Only because Krishna is great I managed to get my cumin tea from that kitchen, the guys there didn't have a clue of my presence there and of course didn't understand a word of what I said. "Comino chai" The day went very slowly and went we entered Bengal in the evening the train got stuck, didn't move anymore! After few hours we saw all the people taking their luggage and just leaving the train! We were in the middle of fields not even in a train station! We just followed the people (good that we didn't have too much luggage) through some fields and boarded a local train. We reached Howrah Station in Calcutta at 1 in the morning! No way that I was going out of the station at that time then I asked my friend were we'll pass the rest of the night, she just looked around, saw everybody sleeping on the floor and got the bright idea of saying "here like everybody else!" Still stupid, I thought, OK I see hundreds of people sleeping on the floor, this must be the way of doing it. And in that way we spent the night trying to sleep on the floor of Howrah Station with all the lepers, beggars, thieves and homeless! By 6 in the morning we took a taxi to the ISKCON temple and by 6.30 we were in the bus bound to Sridham Mayapur! Later on when I knew the way the different trains run and the classes, etc, I wanted to kill my friend. She just took me in the unreserved coach! Never,never, travel like that. Is really hell! Second AC is the best for long distance travel. First class is almost as expensive as flying. The best is to fly everywhere. The only good thing out of this was that most of the people were kind to us and took pity of our ignorance, they didn't take advantage.