suchandra

Many Vaishnavas are worried about an apparent injustice in the world, writing articles like Gouranga Kishore das about 0.001% owning 99.9% of the world's riches. This is, however, how this material world functioned since millions of years. When Lord Caitanya appeared in a Muslim regime - there was surely all kind of oppression against the Hindus going on - but is it mentioned in the Gaudiya Vaishnava literature? The only thing what is mentioned, devotee means to tolerate the dualities of this world and that it is our karma. Is India facing a new enemy? This should be rather the exact resultant reactions of past activities and as Prabhupada says, "trying to improve your material situation is the business of rascals".

IS INDIA FACING A NEW ENEMY

<table class="contentpaneopen"><tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" align="left" valign="top" width="70%"> Written by The Editor

http://www.vina.cc/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=234 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="createdate" valign="top"> Tuesday, 19 June 2007 </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" valign="top">

Hundred years ago most Hindus lived on a vegetarian diet, worshiped their deity, studied the Bhagavad Gita, Ramayana and other Vedic scriptures, chanted mantras and lived in harmony with nature, animals and humans. India has a rich spiritual living tradition which flourished and survived even during twelve centuries of foreign suppression. Although the religions of the Old Testament (Judeo-Christianity & Islam) invaded India to destroy Hindu culture, and they were successful to some extent, their final goal was not achieved. Hinduism survived and in 1947 India became the largest democracy on this planet.

Surprisingly after India regained its independence it started to loose interest for its own spiritual tradition and practices. Shouldn’t India be happy to be free again? Sure it was, but then shouldn’t it dance in ecstasy and embrace it’s rich ancient tradition with more enthusiasm? During the last 60 years of independence more Hindus have abandoned their spiritual values than during twelve centuries of foreign rule. (forced conversions do not count)

During the last 60 years of independence more Hindus have abandoned their spiritual values than during twelve centuries of foreign rule. (forced conversions do not count)

It would be foolish to think that this is happening by chance. An ancient spiritual tradition does not disappear by itself at a point where it should be flourishing. So what is going on?Basically the followers of the Old Testament have not given up. They have found new and more effective ways to attack "pagan religions". One of their key weapon has become their multinational Media companies. The Television and Print Media is a great means of molding popular opinion and they have been very successful so far.

The first movies to be produced in India were religious movies about the life of Sri Krishna (Mahabharata) and Sri Rama (Ramayana). This is what the religious minded people wanted to see, their real heroes Whom they worshipped for so many centuries, and no doubt to see Them moving on Television was very attractive and thats how Television became popular in India. What the innocent population did not know was that the TV program was slowly to be changed as multinational Media companies started to establish their presence on the indian TV market. These Media companies know very well how people can be influenced to change their habits and beliefs by watching Television. Of course, to satisfy the Hindu population spiritual programs are still being broadcasted and the simple laymen might think that things are still alright. But how can a child or spiritually uneducated person differentiate what is good or bad if at morning the TV shows a sadhu reciting Vedic scriptures and singing mantras, at night a soap opera shows a husband having an affair with another woman and this is praised as real love, while the grandmother in the background is worshipping Sita-Ram? And at other times Hindu teens are shown going to McDonalds ordering a Chicken Burger with Coca Cola. How can a child differentiate what is right or wrong if Mother says one thing and Father says another thing? It cannot, because both are his parents and the child is bound to become confused.

The Television is no doubt a great technical invention and if it is used to elevate the viewer it can be a good tool. But we should be aware that these multinational Media companies are working hard, investing billions of dollars, to get their message of materialism through.

India and other countries have suffered for centuries under merciless, religious bigots, but India's spiritual tradition could not be destroyed until today because purity is there, saints are there to protect the sanatan dharma. We can only pray to the pure saints and Krishna to protect us from these strong influences, which have spread so successfully in India and elsewhere, and to enlighten us on our spiritual path.

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Looks like that harinam doesnt work in Australia to provide rain since they have lots of harinam in Sidney, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin etc.

Australia - the continent that ran dry

http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/mg19426085.300-australia--the-continent-that-ran-dry.html

• 13 June 2007
  
• Rachel Nowak
  
• Magazine issue 2608

IN THE beginning the Australian drought was fun. A talking point over the barbecue, an excuse to shower with a lover or spend more cloud-free days with friends at the beach. Tales of thirst-crazed camels rampaging through country towns merely added to the excitement.

Sometime last year, the mood changed - perhaps with the first inkling that water restrictions had all but destroyed urban gardens and that agricultural production across the country had fallen by a fifth. Last month, when water storage fell so low that energy supplies were threatened, the sense of panic became palpable. Australia is facing a national crisis, one that promises to transform the country, inexorably changing where people live, what they eat, what they do in their spare time, and - most threatening of all - their future economic well-being.

Whether Australia can adapt remains to be seen, and water experts around the world will ...

Australia suffers worst drought in 1,000 years

Australia's blistering summer has only just begun but reservoir levels are dropping fast, crop forecasts have been slashed, and great swaths of the continent are entering what scientists yesterday called a "one in a thousand years drought".With many regions in their fifth year of drought, the government yesterday called an emergency water summit in Canberra. The meeting between the prime minister, John Howard, and the leaders of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland was told that more than half of Australia's farmland was experiencing drought.

David Dreverman, head of the Murray-Darling river basin commission, said: "This is more typical of a one in a 1,000-year drought, or possibly even drier, than it is of a one in 100-year event." He added that the Murray-Darling river system, which receives 4% of Australia's water, but provides three-quarters of the water consumed nationally, was already 54% below the previous record minimum. Last month it recorded its lowest ever October flows. Inflow this year was just 5% of the average.The drought is likely to affect drinking water supplies to many areas. Sydney's largest reservoir is now 40% full and many small rural towns in east Australia face shortages within a month.

It is also expected to have a serious impact on crops. Last week, the government forecast its lowest wheat crop for 12 years, a 62% decrease on last year. Yesterday the agriculture minister Peter McGauran announced the allocation of more than A$200m (£80m) to help businesses which service drought-stricken farmers, in addition last month to the A$910m in payments for 72,000 farmers affected by drought.

The drought has set off a fierce political debate in Australia about climate change. The country has maintained, with the US, a sceptical stance on the issue, and Mr Howard has refused to sign Australia up to the Kyoto agreement. However, polls suggest he is increasingly out of step with public and scientific opinion and the drought has forced him to demonstrate concern.

With an election due within a year and the environment emerging as a big political issue, Mr Howard last month announced several "green energy" projects. He now concedes that climate change is taking place but argues that the Kyoto process is flawed because it does not include the big polluters - India, China and the US. But last week new UN figures showed that Australia's emissions of greenhouse gases were the highest per capita in the west, apart from Luxembourg, and that they had grown by 1.5 tonnes a head since 1990.

Australia now emits almost as much carbon and other greenhouse gases as France and Italy, which each have three times its population.

In Kenya next week Australia will come under intense pressure from ministers of developing countries at the UN meeting on climate change. However, Mr Howard is not expected to change his position.

Adding to the government's embarrassment, the leading scientific body in Australia - the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation - this week predicted that rainfall in parts of eastern Australia could drop by 40% by 2070, along with a 7C rise in temperature. It said that by 2030 the risk of bush fires would be higher, that droughts would be more severe and that rainfall and stream run-off would be lower.

Mike Young, a water management expert at the University of Adelaide, told Reuters this week that Australia's long-term climate was changing. "When the drought breaks we will not return to cooler, wetter conditions. It is the worst type of drought because we are not expecting to return back to the old regime. The last half of last century was much wetter. What we seem to have done is ... built Australia on the assumption that it was going to be wetter, and we haven't been prepared to make the change back to a much drier regime."

South Australia's premier, Mike Rann, said yesterday: "What we're seeing with this drought is a frightening glimpse of the future with global warming."

But Mr Howard played down the assessment that the drought was the worst in 1,000 years, saying he doubted if anybody really knew.

also see:

A Sacred River Endangered by Global Warming

Glacial Source of Ganges Is Receding

By Emily Wax

Washington Post Foreign Service

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/16/AR2007061600461.html?referrer=emailarticle Sunday, June 17, 2007; Page A14

VARANASI, India -- With her eyes sealed, Ramedi cupped the murky water of the Ganges River in her hands, lifted them toward the sun, and prayed for her husband, her 15 grandchildren and her bad hip. She, like the rest of India's 800 million Hindus, has absolute faith that the river she calls Ganga Ma can heal.

Around Ramedi, who like some Indians has only one name, people converged on the riverbank in the early morning, before the day's heat set in. Women floated necklaces of marigolds on a boat of leaves, a dozen skinny boys soaped their hair as they bathed in their underwear, and a somber group of men carried a body to the banks of the river, a common ritual before the dead are cremated on wooden funeral pyres. To be cremated beside the Ganges, most here believe, brings salvation from the cycle of rebirth.

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School children hold portraits of Indian astronaut Sunita Williams and pray for her safe return from space, in Ahmadabad, India. Sunita Williams sets a record for the six month single space flight by a woman.

US astronaut to compete in marathon – in space

From http://space.newscientist.com

US astronaut Sunita Williams runs on the space station's treadmill. Bungee cords keep her from floating away (Image: NASA)

US astronaut Sunita Williams is set to run the Boston Marathon ... in space.

Williams is in the middle of a six- or seven-month rotation aboard the International Space Station (ISS). She may in fact break the record for the longest stay in space by a US astronaut because it is not certain when a shuttle will launch to pick her up (see Space station astronaut set to break US flight record).

The 41-year-old will run the 42.2-kilometre (26.2-mile) race on the station's treadmill on 16 April and will circle the Earth at least twice during the event, putting her speed relative to Earth far above the other entrants.

She says she is doing it to motivate children to be fit. "I encourage kids to start making physical fitness part of their daily lives," Williams said. "I think a big goal like a marathon will help get this message out there."

Williams qualified for the Boston Marathon by finishing among the top 100 women in the Houston Marathon in January 2006.

Williams's sister, Dina Pandya, and her friend, astronaut Karen Nyberg, will be in Boston running the race on the ground that day. The marathon will begin at 1000 EDT (1500 GMT) on 16 April, but NASA is not certain whether Williams will run at the exact same time as the other women runners because the crew generally gets up much earlier in the day.

Williams runs at least four times a week in space, including two longer runs and two shorter ones, according to NASA. The ISS also has a stationary bicycle and a device that simulates weight training so astronauts can try to stem the loss of muscle mass and bone density due to microgravity.

Just found this video from a mataji who obviously is in great favour of combining hatha-yoga and bhakti-yoga.

My question is if there're devotees who had an observable positive result in improving health by performing hatha-yoga exercises and which exercises were used?

Well there is no evidence of that - it's really just speculation - however - there is a great deal of evidence that krishna is a literary creation developed over time.

Dr. Phil Fernandes ( A chapter from his doctoral dissertation):

"It appears that there are two opposing drives in each person. One is a thirst for God (John 6:35). The other is the drive for human autonomy (Romans 3:10-12). If a persons seeks God with all his heart, he will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). But if he chooses to continually reject the Creator, there is no amount of evidence that will change his mind, unless he chooses to sincerely consider the evidence. All that the Vaishnava apologist can do is provide evidence for the existence of the God of the scripture and to refute arguments for atheism. Once a strong case for Theism is made, the atheist must still choose to accept or reject the evidence. The inward persuasion of the Holy Spirit on the heart of the nonbeliever is necessary, but, in the end, the atheist must choose to follow that persuasion. The ultimate problem is not one of the intellect; it is a moral problem of the will. When all is said and done, one must choose God."

Good points by JALAKARA DASA (ACBSP) in his meditation upon leaving ISKCON, "did all these devotees of Lord Caitanya for 432 went to hell because there wasnt any registered Vaishnava society?"

The first registered institutional Gaudiya Vaishnava society started about 1918.

 

• "Abhay still thought of the Caitanya Math as the headquarters of his spiritual master’s mission…and since 1948 it had been under the legal ownership of Bhaktivilas Tirtha Maharaj. Bhaktivilas Tirtha Maharaj replied “Those who are against Chaitanya Math, they are motivated by their individual ambitions.” Anyone who was against the Chaitanya Math, he said was acting illogically and against the instructions of Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. So according to Tirtha Maharaj, the thing for Abhay to do, the thing he had neglected to do for so many years, was to join the Chaitanya Math and act under his direction."

<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td class="articleheader">Stars campaign for Idol aspirant

</td></tr> <tr> <td class="articleauthor">A STAFF REPORTER

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070619/asp/northeast/story_7942138.asp

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Symposium held in Mexico and attended by Shri Ram Madhav and Stephen Knapp. Shri Ram Madhav clarified India’s commitment to peace by combining the wisdom of Gandhiji with a holistic approach that takes into account the modern realities of terrorism and globalisation.

June 24, 2007

Page: 12/28

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http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=189&page=12 It is the ‘omni-theistic’ outlook that is lacking at many places in the world today. Hinduism’s indigenous traditions and values, being in sync with the traditions and values of other ancient cultures such as Mexico’s, can provide a sustainable path that can guarantee the world harmony.

Below is a report on a recent symposium held in Mexico and attended by Shri Ram Madhav and Stepehn Knapp. This is the second year of such an event in Mexico and has been planned for next year as well.

A call for enhanced Mexico and India relations and for an effective response to the challenges of a globalised world was made at the International Symposium on the Social Sciences, Globalisation and the Cultures of Resistance. It was held at Saltillo in Mexico. Saltillo, also known as la Atenas de México or the Athens of Mexico, is the traditional home of many leading Mexican luminaries. The international convention drew attendance from India, USA and regions throughout Latin America and included many representatives from the Coahuila State and Saltillo city’s cultural and education departments, local scholars, journalists, artists and students. The symposium was held on the grounds of State Central Public Library, Biblioteca Publica Central Estatal Ildefonso Villarello Velez.

The event was inaugurated by Andre Salas Mendoza from the Coahuila State Secretariat of Education and Culture, India’s RSS National Executive Member Shri Ram Madhav, Lady Norma Zapata, director of the State Central Public Library and author and researcher Gene Matlock. Highlights of the four-day symposium included Christian theologist and Professor Fernando Navas’ (of U.N.A.M.) presentation on ‘Conversion vs. Inter-religious Dialogue,’ Professor Jaime Torres Mendoza’s ‘The Social Process of Change in Academic Paradigms,’ Vedic Friend’s Association (VFA) president Steven Knapp’s ‘The War

Against Hinduism, ‘Ancient Mexico’s Hindu-Turkish Connections’ by Gene Matlock, on ‘Idols, Myths and Religion vs. Deities, Histories and Science’ by VFA promotional director and Vedic Empire Production’s Vrndavan Parker, on ‘Yama in Sanskrit Phonetics’ by Girish K. Jha, Department of Sanskrit, Patna University, ‘Vedic Cosmology: Understanding the Universe and its Structure’ by Prof. Carlos Rocha of the Bhaktivedanta Institute for the Sciences and Humanities. ‘Human Rights Violations and the Globalisation Process’ by RSS National Executive Member Shri Ram Madhav, ‘The Importance of Conservation of Ancestral Cultures before the Globalisation Process’ by Dr Yashwant Pathak, International Coordinator International Centre for Cultural Studies, ‘The Antiquity of the Srimad Bhagavat Purana’ by Prof Haracio Arganis from VFA’s Latin American Branch Asociación Vedica de los Amigos (AVA) and Coahuila director of Bhaktivedanta Institute for the Sciences and Humanities.

Andre Salas Mendoza proclaimed, “We open a window of our individual being so that others can enter. If we do not open up this way we are going to die of starvation or solitude. And this is immense when such solitude is seen in a global perspective. Such solitude on the international levels leads to misunderstandings and conflicts. So before the necessity to speak it is necessary to think. Invoking Li Yung Tang and Einstein, Andre Salas Mendoza called for sustainable growth that measured success through a holistic and humane perspective.

Lady Norma Zapata spoke on the holistic understanding that humans are beings who function as societies. “We need to apply that great science, one that includes all other sciences, that which integrates and relates all within the cohesive whole. We recognise in Augusto Comte, social philosopher, to have elaborated a specific science for the study of the society.”. She declared that the symposium has “the objective of creating bridges of cultural communication, a way to stimulate dialogue and understanding regarding the social and cultural realities facing us all as we attempt to integrate with the great global idea.”

In his talk Shri Ram Madhav highlighted the Hindu perspective on ‘Positive Globalisation’ by citing the ancient Vedic phrase Vasudhaiva Kuthumbakam or whole world is one family. He called it a positive form of globalisation that can benefit all humanity. He also stated that rather than monotheism or polytheism, Hinduism represented an ‘omni-theistic’ outlook. It is this ‘omni-theistic’ outlook that is lacking at many places in the world today. Hinduism’s indigenous traditions and values, being in sync with the traditions and values of other ancient cultures such as Mexico’s, can provide a sustainable path that can guarantee the world harmony. He urged the Mexican people, “Do not exchange your tortillas for pizzas and India please do not give up rotis in exchange for burgers.” He also called for Mexico and India to develop extensive cultural and economic ties that are “bound to be of great mutual benefit for two such countries, that share so much in common.”

Shri Ram Madhav and Stephen Knapp were also special guests at the Asociación de Abogados de Coahuila AC or Coahuila State Lawyers Association Conference on ‘Societal Violence and the Judicial System’ held at UNIVAS, Universidad Valle de Santiago. In his speech, Shri Ram Madhav clarified India’s commitment to peace by combining the wisdom of Gandhiji with a holistic approach that takes into account the modern realities of terrorism and globalisation. This position is based on preparation and strength in all areas of national life such as economic, social, military, cultural and political. An effective application and modern outlook rooted in the time-tested indigenous traditions and culture of India.

In comparing Detroit, America’s auto city with Saltillo, Mexico’s rising auto city, Stephen Knapp urged the people of Saltillo to maintain their cultural and peaceful lifestyles in order to avoid the hell that has become Detroit. He also encouraged people to see beyond skin colour, nationality, religion, language and class and realise that we are really not so different from one another.

Author Gene Matlock released his latest book What Strange Mystery Unites the Turkish Nations, India, Catholicism and Mexico? at the symposium and live on-air over a local radio station from the conference venue.

The final day of the conference featured a presentation by Dr Narahari Achar of Memphis University. Using Planetarium Software, he revealed ancient humanities’ understanding of the astronomical sciences in his presentation entitled ‘Astronomical Historical Records in the Literature of Ancient South Asia.’ The final presentation of the event was presented by Iskcon Governing Commissioner Guru Prasad Swami. In his lecture entitled ‘A Proposal for the Integration of the Philosophies of India’ he urged the audience to seriously consider the ancient and practical wisdom of Hindu civilisation as we collectively face the onslaught of mercantile globalisation.

In the closing ceremonies presided over by director of the Coahuila State Library system, Gloria Gonzalez, State Certificates of Recognition were presented to all the speakers at the symposium.

The event finale featured dance and musical presentations from both the Mexican and Indian Hindu traditions. The Indian Guadalupe dancing girls, a 12 man band or Rondalla group, a troupe of Mexican Folk Dancers, Krishna Chaitanya’s Bengali Bhajan Band and Bhakta Rueben’s Bharatnatyam of Mexico provided this unique cross-cultural entertaining experience.

The symposium was organised by Saltillo’s ‘Ildefonso Villarello Velez’ Central Public Library, the Coahuila State Organisation of Public Libraries and Book Publishers, the International Center for Cultural Studies, the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Sciences and Humanities, Vedic Empire Productions and Vedic Friends Association (VFA).

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Good points but anyone who tries to satisfy the ritviks criticisms is just wasting his time.

 

Ritviks are, in essence, fault-finders. If you change something to counter their criticisms, they will pick up on something else. You can't satisfy fault-finders no matter what you do. Like the story about the old man, young boy and donkey that Srila Prabhupada narrated.

 

As regards the ritvik claims that they were beat up ... this is precisely why I lost all respect for ritviks. Why resort to dishonesty to push your agenda? These guys barge into Ratha Yatra like snakes stealing other animals burrows, intimidate Vaisnavas and then claim to be harassed. Not only non-gentlemanly but certainly not Vaisnava behaviour. The ritviks are walking a dangerous line and I will do all I can to avoid their association.

Thanks visitor, if one has this kind of realization one anyway doesnt live in this world anymore so way care in the first place?

From that minute spirit so much earth, water, fire is coming. So why

not the supreme spirit, huge quantity of water, earth, will not come? How

one can deny it?

This is of course kali-yuga, the Dalai Lama advertising to eat cow meat. At least he should stick to fish or chicken, but no, it has to be veal.....

Dalai Lama digs into veal, pheasant

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=605615

First Course

Nancy Stohs

It's a question most chefs never get the privilege of pondering:

What to serve the Dalai Lama?

In Milwaukee chef Sandy D'Amato's case, the answer was veal.

Veal?

Despite expectations that a vegetarian feast would be in order, the team of chefs assembled to cook for His Holiness on his recent visit to Madison was given no such instruction, said Catherine McKiernan, executive chef at the Madison Club, where the elaborate luncheon was held.

84335Dalai Lama

The Dalai Lama got a wonderful meal; the chefs, including Sanford D'Amato (third from right, next to Dalai Lama), got the chance to meet one of the world's renowned religious leaders.

'Sandy' D'Amato

Sanford "Sandy" D'Amato, chef/co-owner of Sanford Restaurant, 1547 N. Jackson St., Coquette Cafe, 316 N. Milwaukee St., and Harlequin Bakery, is a James Beard Award winner. For more information, visit www.sanfordrestaurant.com.

The Dalai Lama is, it turns out, a meat lover.

And so the five-course menu, served to about 60 people on May 3, including the guest of honor, his entourage and assorted citizens, included a stuffed pheasant breast, D'Amato's slow-cooked veal roast with scalded morels and escarole, and an asparagus soup with a chicken stock base.

A cured fish appetizer, mixed green salad, eggplant-and-chickpea entrée, and three full-size chocolate desserts completed the menu.

Created and coordinated by Jim Walsh, a Wisconsin native who attended UW-Madison, the luncheon cost $500 to $1,000a head and was a fund-raiser for the Deer Park Buddhist Center and Monastery near Madison.

Walsh is the founder and CEO of Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate, a premium chocolate whose trees were blessed by the Dalai Lama and whose chocolate was the first ever eaten by the spiritual leader.

Fittingly, his latest product, Intentional Chocolate, is a dark chocolate that's engineered to promote "an increased sense of energy, vigor and well-being" in those who consume it.

Walsh told D'Amato he picked him to be on the chef team after eating at Sanford Restaurant in Milwaukee.

He was looking for restaurants that had a zen-like feel, where the service and food and ambience "all made sense together."

Sanford measured up, as a place where "nothing seemed forced," and it seemed as though "everything was meant to be there."

D'Amato may not have put "zen" and "Sanford" in the same sentence before, but he was duly flattered.

The other chefs were Shawn McClain from Chicago's Spring Restaurant, Green Zebra and Custom House and John Gadau and Phillip Hurley, co-owners and chefs of Sardine and Marigold Kitchen restaurants in Madison.

They weren't operating completely in the dark about their honored guest.

They knew the Dalai Lama eats only breakfast and lunch, and that his vows prohibit him from eating anything after 1 p.m.

"Everything had to be seasonal and local and Wisconsin-themed, as it were," McKiernan said, noting the presence on the menu of pea shoots, pheasant and "a lot of asparagus."

D'Amato's veal came from Strauss Veal in Franklin.

For security reasons, the chefs didn't know exactly when the exiled leader would show up. They were told it could be 11:15 or 11:45 a.m., 12:15 or 12:30 p.m.

The chefs also had been briefed on Dalai Lama protocol: Never turn your back on him. Don't touch him. Don't speak to him unless he speaks to you.

Right around noon, D'Amato was heading downstairs to the kitchen, one level below the dining area, to check on his food.

Halfway down, he met His Holiness heading up the stairs.

"So I did kind of a little moonwalk backward all the way up and smiled," D'Amato said.

The chefs had hoped it would be possible to get a photograph with him but were not planning to press the issue.

When the Dalai Lama saw them all standing behind the table of food, the Dalai Lama said, "Oh, the cooks! Picture! Picture!" D'Amato recalled.

"He grabbed my hand and another other fellow's . . . " and the proof is printed in this newspaper.

And how did His Radiance like the food?

With all due respect, "he chowed down," D'Amato said.

In addition to the veal dish and a Warm Bittersweet Intentional Chocolate Tart with Coffee Ice Cream, D'Amato brought bread for the meal from his Harlequin Bakery.

"He ate nine pieces of bread," the chef said.

The Dalai Lama commented later that everything was really delicious, D'Amato said, asking how this dish and that were made. And, he noted approvingly, "it's good quantity."

Ashley Walsh of Los Angeles, Jim Walsh's daughter and co-coordinator of the luncheon, sat at the Dalai Lama's table.

"He pretty much lapped up every single plate that he had put in front of him," she recalled. "He loves food; he likes good food."

Before this, the biggest luminary D'Amato had cooked for was Julia Child, on her 80th birthday. For McKiernan, it was Al Gore.

By comparison, McKiernan said, "This was much more intense. It was nerve-wracking. There was more security here for the Dalai Lama than there was for Al Gore."

"This was the biggest thing I've ever been involved in," D'Amato echoed. "It was really exciting when he came in.

"You listen to him speak . . . he just transcends politics and religion. What he's saying is . . . all about compassion and love and getting rid of your anger. And everything that is bad in the world was created by man, so man can fix it all."

D'Amato had brought along a copy of the Dalai Lama's latest book, "How to See Yourself As You Really Are," hoping to get the author's signature.

The Dalai Lama obliged - but first he referenced the title and laughed.

"He has this real infectious giggle," D'Amato said. "He said, 'Look, there's no "self" in Buddhism, and this is my book.' "

Nevertheless, he signed it, addressing D'Amato and his wife, Angie, with a message in Tibetan. He translated it as: "I hope the two of you have wonderful success and wonderful happiness in all of your lifetimes."

Yes, that last word is plural.

D'Amato said he's always believed he'd come back in his next life as a food.

"Maybe a hot dog."

You can eat like the Dalai Lama by making this recipe served to the spiritual leader on his recent visit to Madison.

Sandy D'Amato adapted his slow-cooked veal recipe for faster home preparation.

Veal with Morels, Escarole and Rhubarb Essence

Makes 4 servings

Rhubarb essence (see recipe)

Marinated potatoes (see recipe)

2 tablespoons clarified butter

¼ pound fresh morels, cleaned and cut in half

1 large shallot, finely diced (about 2 tablespoons)

1 head escarole, cleaned and cut into 1-inch pieces, washed and dried

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing

4 medallions (6 ounces each) veal loin or veal strip loin (I prefer Strauss Veal)

Half-dried rhubarb slivers to garnish (see note)

Prepare rhubarb essence and marinated potatoes. Set aside.

Place a large sauté pan over high heat. When hot, add clarified butter. When butter is hot, add morels and sauté about 2 minutes. Add shallot and escarole that has been tossed with the extra-virgin olive oil. Cook 1½ minutes until escarole is wilted. Season with salt and pepper and immediately remove from heat.

To finish: Place a non-stick sauté pan over high heat. Add olive oil and season veal medallions with salt and pepper. When oil is hot, add meat and sauté about 2 minutes per side or until lightly golden. Remove from pan.

To assemble: Divide escarole, morels and marinated potatoes among 4 plates. Top each with a veal medallion and garnish with rhubarb essence and half-dried rhubarb slivers, if desired.

Note: To make half-dried rhubarb slivers, cut thin slices of rhubarb and toss with sugar. Bake in preheated 225-degree oven until-half dried.

Rhubarb essence:

2 cups rhubarb juice from juiced fresh rhubarb, cooked until reduced to ¼ cup

1/3 cup grape seed oil

2 teaspoons sugar or to taste

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Mix together all ingredients.

Marinated potatoes:

1½ cups water

½ cup vinegar

Salt to taste

2 Idaho potatoes, peeled and diced small

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

20 grinds of black pepper

2 cloves garlic, chopped fine

In saucepan, bring water, vinegar and salt to a boil. Add potatoes and cook until tender. Drain well and place in a bowl. Sprinkle parsley over top of potatoes. In small skillet, heat oil with red pepper, black pepper and garlic until garlic turns light brown. Pour over potatoes and mix.

Now this is new, till now it was known that Harikes left with "only" some 5 million dollars, now one of his prominent ex-disciples says (see below), wrong, 10 million. It is not that I dont think that Harikes didnt deserve to take these 10 or whatever millions but it should be clear that the GBC has the exact number and should make it public. Why all this secretiveness?

• Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.1:
  
  
  "In human society all over the world there are millions and billions of men and women, and almost all of them are less intelligent because they have very little knowledge of spirit soul. Almost all of them have a wrong conception of life, for they identify themselves with the gross and subtle material bodies, which they are not, in fact. They may be situated in different high and low positions in the estimation of human society, but one should know definitely that unless one inquires about his own self beyond the body and the mind, all his activities in human life are total failures. Therefore out of thousands and thousands of men, one may inquire about his spirit self and thus consult the revealed scriptures like Vedanta-sutras, Bhagavad-gita, and Srimad-Bhagavatam. But in spite of reading and hearing such scriptures, unless one is in touch with a realized spiritual master, he cannot actually realize the real nature of self, etc."

• Bhagavad Gita 2.44:
  
  
  bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam
  
  
  tayapahrta-cetasam
  
  
  vyavasayatmika buddhih
  
  
  samadhau na vidhiyate
  
  
  TRANSLATION
  
  
  In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things, the resolute determination for devotional service to the Supreme Lord does not take place.

• Vaisistya Astaka
  (3)
  
  
  21. If everyone simply sat down together and considered these things, then what nice preaching there could be!
  
  
  22. That is your order also, that everyone coming together should merge in your message and preach it to the world.
  
  
  23. If everyone simply imitates, then there will only be a contradictory result. As long as it goes on, there will only be failure.
  
  
  24. Even now, my Godbrothers, you return here in the order of our master, and together we engage in his puja.
  
  
  25. But simply a festival of flowers and fruits does not constitute worship. The one who serves the message of the guru, really worships him.
  
  
  26. The service of the message is the real meaning of the Vedas. Don't be proud, brothers. Come back to this.
  
  
  27. Kalidas Nag [a learned man who was defeated in debate by Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati and later became his disciple], that master said in public forum one day,
  
  
  28. That Kali's mission was to kill all the entire world while the essential meaning of Lord Caitanya's message was kept locked up in a cage.
  
  
  29. Oh, shame! My dear brothers, aren't you embarrassed? In the manner of businessmen you increase your disciples.
  
  
  30. Our spiritual master said to preach! Let the neophytes remain inside the temples and simply ring the bells.

• (4) 31. All these things are not our spiritual master's preaching methods. These are all the things done by the caste gosvamis.
  
  
  32. But just take a good look at the terrible situation that has arisen. Everyone has become a sense enjoyer and has given up preaching.
  
  
  33. In the temples also they have begun to lock the doors. Preach this bhagavata-dharma; don't hesitate.
  
  
  34. Within this world there is another world, whose sound is the unequaled penetrating force.
  
  
  35. The preaching that "the molla only goes as far as the mosque and no further" should be put to an end today.
  
  
  36. From the seas, across the earth, penetrate the universal shell; come together and preach this Krsna consciousness.
  
  
  37. Then our master's service will be in proper order. Make your promise today. All of you get together and decide what should be done.
  
  
  39. You have become renouncers, brothers, so renounce everything. But if you also renounce the order of your spiritual master, then what kind of renunciation is that?
  
  
  40. The one who renounces his guru's order (guru-tyagi) and the one who tries to enjoy the assets of his spiritual master (guru-bhogi) are two kinds of useless persons. First become a servant of your spiritual master (guru-sevi), and then you will understand all these things clearly.
  (5) 41. If there is only one Supreme Lord, then a true sadhu, even if his wealth increases, gives up his desire for profit, adoration and prestige in this material world.
  
  
  42. Your gold, brother, is the father of sense gratification. This meaningful statement was spoken by Prabhupada himself.
  
  
  43. Give up your wealth for preaching. Sit down together and make a special effort to come to a decision.
  
  
  44. The Supreme Lord says that everything is His. Don't protest. Just unite and preach.
  
  
  45. Srila Prabhupada gave this final message himself. Jake great care to do that completely and in all respects.
  
  
  46. Otherwise your sannyasa will be wasted and useless. O saintly ones, be careful; otherwise afterward you will regret.
  
  
  47. So what is the difficulty for all of us to come together in this way? And why do all these things even have to be said to you?
  
  
  48. Give up your stubbornness; there is no time! Come, all my brothers, on this auspicious holy occasion.
  
  
  (6) 49. When will that day come when there will be a temple established in every house in every corner of the world?
  
  
  50. When the high court judge will be a Gaudiya Vaisnava with tilaka beautifully decorating his forehead.
  
  
  51. When a Vaisnava winning votes will be elected president of the land, and preaching will be spread everywhere.
  
  
  52. The demons simply plunder the Lord's wealth. The helpless populace cries "hey, hey" in distress.
  
  
  53. The demons want so many plans just to cheat the people. They sell sheat flour at thirty-two rupees a mound.
  
  
  54. Will opening a factory fill a hungry man's belly? Being oppressed by starvation, they will eat grass and mango pits.
  
  
  55. Wearing a two paisa string, a man is called a brahmana. Wearing a saffron cloth, he has become a sannyasi.
  
  
  56. The householders beg from the sannyasis and why not? The sannyasis have tens of millions of rupees in the bank.
  
  
  57. As the days pass, the influence of Kali-yuga increases and the poor jivas are all crying in distress.
  
  
  58. Ten thousand cows are killed daily, and the nation's expert leaders are all eating untouchable foodstuffs.
  
  
  59. People of muddy intelligence increase day by day. A man and his wife separate simply on a mere word.
  
  
  60. Everyone has become a witch by the influence of the age. Everyone is unhappy due to the absence of the mercy of the Vaisnavas.
  
  

• Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.2.37:
  pibanti ye bhagavata atmanah satam
  
  
  kathamrtam sravana-putesu sambhrtam
  
  
  punanti te visaya-vidusitasayam
  
  
  vrajanti tac-carana-saroruhantikam
  
  
  TRANSLATION
  
  
  Those who drink through aural reception, fully filled with the nectarean message of Lord Krsna, the beloved of the devotees, purify the polluted aim of life known as material enjoyment and thus go back to Godhead, to the lotus feet of Him [the Personality of Godhead].
  
  
  PURPORT
  
  
  The sufferings of human society are due to a polluted aim of life, namely lording it over the material resources. The more human society engages in the exploitation of undeveloped material resources for sense gratification, the more it will be entrapped by the illusory, material energy of the Lord, and thus the distress of the world will be intensified instead of diminished. The human necessities of life are fully supplied by the Lord in the shape of food grains, milk, fruit, wood, stone, sugar, silk, jewels, cotton, salt, water, vegetables, etc., in sufficient quantity to feed and care for the human race of the world as well as the living beings on each and every planet within the universe. The supply source is complete, and only a little energy by the human being is required to get his necessities into the proper channel. There is no need of machines and tools or huge steel plants for artificially creating comforts of life. Life is never made comfortable by artificial needs, but by plain living and high thinking. The highest perfectional thinking for human society is suggested here by Sukadeva Gosvami, namely, sufficiently hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam. For men in this age of Kali, when they have lost the perfect vision of life, this Srimad-Bhagavatam is the torchlight by which to see the real path. Srila Jiva Gosvami Prabhupada has commented on the kathamrtam mentioned in this verse and has indicated Srimad-Bhagavatam to be the nectarean message of the Personality of Godhead. By sufficient hearing of Srimad-Bhagavatam, the polluted aim of life, namely lording it over matter, will subside, and the people in general in all parts of the world will be able to live a peaceful life of knowledge and bliss.
  
  
  For a pure devotee of the Lord, any topics in relation with His name, fame, quality, entourage, etc., are all pleasing, and because such topics have been approved by great devotees like Narada, Hanuman, Nanda Maharaja and other inhabitants of Vrndavana, certainly such messages are transcendental and pleasing to the heart and soul.
  
  
  And by the constant hearing of the messages of the Bhagavad-gita, and later of Srimad-Bhagavatam, one is assured herein by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami that he will reach the Personality of Godhead and render Him transcendental loving service in the spiritual planet of the name Goloka Vrndavana, which resembles a huge lotus flower.
  
  
  Thus by the process of bhakti-yoga, directly accepted, as suggested in this verse, by sufficient hearing of the transcendental message of the Lord, the material contamination is directly eliminated without one's attempting to contemplate the impersonal virat conception of the Lord. And by practicing bhakti-yoga, if the performer is not purified from the material contamination, he must be a pseudodevotee. For such an imposter there is no remedy for being freed from material entanglement.

Strong words by Prabhupada in letter below: "..you should take your responsibility very, very seriously as being the representative of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who is God Himself. Always remember that you are one of the few men I have appointed to carry on my work throughout the world and your mission before you is huge."

And:

"I act like a king because no one can defeat me."

16 June, 1972 Los Angeles

My Dear Satsvarupa,

Please accept my blessings. I received your letter dated June 15, 1972, and have noted the contents carefully regarding your sannyasi travels.

If you require more men and women to teach there at Gurukula, you can send from your jurisdiction as GBC man Central USA zone. You will not be too much involved with local temple management, but for management which will require the larger interests, that will be your responsibility as GBC.

So you find out some teachers from your zone and send there. The women are best for teaching small children, especially if they are themselves mothers, and when they become brahmacaris at 5 or 6 years old then they may be instructed by the men.

If Stoka Krsna is finding difficulty to manage things then you find out some men to help him from your zone. Let him do all of the organizing and be the authority in charge how everything is running, and let others follow his direction and free him to supervise.

You mention you like to speak now very often, but the first business should be to preach to the devotees. It is better to maintain a devotee than to try to convince others to become devotees. It is the duty of the GBC to maintain the devotees, keep them in the highest standard of Krishna Consciousness, and give them all good instruction, and let them go out and preach for making more devotees.

Your first job should be to make sure that every one of the devotees in your zone of management is reading regularly our literatures and discussing the subject matter seriously from different angles of seeing, and that they are somehow or other absorbing the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness philosophy.

If they are fully educated in our philosophy and if they can get all of the knowledge and study it from every viewpoint, then very easily they will perform tapasya or renunciation and that will be their advancement in Krishna Consciousness.

So first thing is to instruct all of your temple presidents and the other devotees to read daily, just as we have done in our morning class in Los Angeles. You may remember that we were reading one sloka each morning in Sanskrit and reciting it altogether and then discussing it thoroughly by seeing different new things.

So you introduce this system and train the devotees first. Don't be too much concerned for the time being with nondevotees, now we must fix-up what devotees we have got in the knowledge of Krishna Consciousness, then we will succeed. What good are many, many devotees if none of them are knowledgeable?

You mentioned that you are not yet a very bold preacher, but you will become bold, if you have got sincerity. In the beginning also I could not speak. But Krishna is within you, and when you are serving Him sincerely He will give you courage, boldness, everything.

We are not going to bluff anyone or cheat others, and we are delivering the message on behalf of the Supreme Lord, so we haven't got anything to fear and we should be always mindful of our topmost position of occupation of life. To be the messenger of the king is practically as good as to be the king, so the king is the most exalted position.

I act like a king because no one can defeat me, and similarly, you should take your responsibility very, very seriously as being the representative of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Who is God Himself. Always remember that you are one of the few men I have appointed to carry on my work throughout the world and your mission before you is huge.

Therefore, always pray to Krishna to give you strength for accomplishing this mission by doing what I am doing. My first business is to give the devotees the proper knowledge and engage them in devotional service, so that is not very difficult task for you.

I have given you everything, so read and speak from the books and so many new lights will come out. We have got so many books, so if we go on preaching from them for the next 1,000 years, there is enough stock. Just like we have spent one day discussing one sloka, so you introduce this system in all of the temples, and very quickly the devotees will make spiritual progress by getting knowledge.

So far the children are concerned they should know simply four things: 1. Simply think of Krishna always, 2. become Krishna's devotee, 3. offer Krishna worship, 4. offer Krishna obeisances. These four things should be taught and everything else will follow nicely and they will be learned persons.

Give them nice food, let them play. Some can be cowherd boys, some can be cows, like that. Play and take food and be Krishna Conscious. As soon as they begin playing they will be inspired, only one has to direct how to play, that's all.

They should attend the regular aratis and dance before the Deities, just like the children are doing in Los Angeles, and there should not be separate special aratis for the children, although they may also learn how to do arati in the class before one picture. They must all go to bed by nine pm and arise at four am for mangala arati, and in day-time a little rest.

As for the GBC members, if we study one sloka daily in our classes it will take you more than 50 years to finish Srimad-Bhagavatam alone, so at least 50 years matter is already there minimum. So we can finish Bhagavatam once in our lifetime and the next generation can begin again, like that.

From a practical point of view, as I have not yet finished Srimad-Bhagavatam and we have got now 100 branches, so by the time I am finished with Bhagavatam there must be at least 1000 branches.

I have worked alone, now you are so many. Our scope is unlimited, resources unlimited, so we must be exceptionally enthusiastic and sober-minded and responsible for working in that spirit.

I hope this will meet you in good health,

Your ever well-wisher,

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/sda

Just read at Srila Prabhupada's personified astrology about the myths of doomsday - is it realy such a widespread understanding?

Preaching will be very nice after the war when both of them, especially Russia, will be finished....... ( S.P. Morning Walk Conversation (World War III) April 4, 1975, Mayapur)

 

MYTHS

http://personifiedastrology.org/myths.htm

Here are twenty-three myths that are repeatedly heard (some much more often than others) that this document tries to dispel.

• MYTH #01: Almost everyone will suddenly be killed on doomsday.
  
• MYTH #02: Most people would be quickly killed by the bomb blasts, thermal radiation, or radioactivity.
  
• MYTH #03: You can build an adequate shelter in your basement.
  
• MYTH #04: You must filter the air coming into a shelter to remove the fallout.
  
• MYTH #05: Water would become radioactive.
  
• MYTH #06: There would be no dangerous radioactivity after a couple of weeks.
  
• MYTH #07: Radiation sickness is not contagious so there is no danger in assisting those affected.
  
• MYTH #08: Food exposed to radiation becomes radioactive and is therefore not edible.
  
• MYTH #09: If you have a special radiation suit (like you see in the movies and on TV) you will be protected from the radiation.
  
• MYTH #10: New crops of food grown in future years will not be radioactive.
  
• MYTH #11: There is no such thing as a fallout pill.
  
• MYTH #12: There is a fallout pill that will protect you from all radioactivity.
  
• MYTH #13: There would be dangerous radioactivity for thousands of years.
  
• MYTH #14: There would be no dangerous radioactivity after a couple of years.
  
• MYTH #15: You are prepared if you have a two weeks emergency supply of food stored.
  
• MYTH #16: You should be prepared to be self-sufficient and be able to survive on your own.
  
• MYTH #17: Any survivors would have to live the rest of their lives underground.
  
• MYTH #18: Life after doomsday won't be worth living.
  
• MYTH #19: You need not make any preparation because you are either going to die in the holocaust or be saved (religious connotation).
  
• MYTH #20: The bombs today are so large and there are so many they will destroy the world.
  
• MYTH #21: You will receive adequate warning from your government.
  
• MYTH #22: You will receive no warning, and there is no hope if you do.
  
• MYTH #23: One of the primary targets will be nuclear power plants.

Fastfood somehow became a bad word due different reasons so much so that a new word was invented "slowfood", indicating that this is something of better quality. Now there're preparations which can be done very quickly and offered to the Lord, but can they be called fastfood?

From slowfood.com,

http://www.slowfood.com/about_us/eng/philosophy.lasso

Our philosophy

We believe that everyone has a fundamental right to pleasure and consequently the responsibility to protect the heritage of food, tradition and culture that make this pleasure possible. Our movement is founded upon this concept of eco-gastronomy – a recognition of the strong connections between plate and planet.

 

 

 

 

 

Slow Food is good, clean and fair food. We believe that the food we eat should taste good; that it should be produced in a clean way that does not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health; and that food producers should receive fair compensation for their work.

We consider ourselves co-producers, not consumers, because by being informed about how our food is produced and actively supporting those who produce it, we become a part of and a partner in the production process.

At least ISKCON doesnt stop to disappear from the headlines, although almost all temples were closed in Europe.

ISKCON to feed more prisoners

Thursday June 14 2007 12:13 IST

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20070614015148&Page=K&Title=Southern+News+-+Karnataka&Topic=0

<small>MYSORE: To focus more on security and safety measures of jail inmates, the Department of Prisons will hand over food supply contract to the ISKCON, which is successfully supplying meals to Bangalore Central Jail since the last one month.

In May, the Prisons Department and ISKCON's Akshayapatra division signed an agreement to supply breakfast, tea and snacks to Bellary, Mysore, Dharwad and Hubli prisons.</small>

"Iskcon has embarked on a $61 Million Jagannath Cultural Project in Sedona, Arizona. Some time in the next few weeks, a grand Swaminarayan temple in Atlanta is scheduled to be inaugurated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, head of the Gujarat-based Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swami-narayan Sanstha (BAPS)." <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="padding-top: 5px;">

</td> </tr> </tbody></table><arttitle>'US denies visas to Hindu priests, artisans'</arttitle>

14 Jun, 2007 l 0259 hrs ISTlChidanand Rajghatta/TIMES NEWS NETWORK

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2" style="padding-top: 5px;">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/The_United_States/US_denies_visas_to_Hindu_priests_artisans/articleshow/2121339.cms

</td> </tr> </tbody></table> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><!--google_ad_region_start=article-->WASHINGTON: Hindu temples and religious groups in the US are ‘‘reeling from visa denials’’ resulting in shortage of temple priests and stalled temple construction projects, a Hindu group has said in an affidavit seeking changes to US immigration rules.

In a submission to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a legal team for the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said Hindu priests, temple artisans and traditional temple architects are increasingly being denied the R-1 religious worker visa because of US regulations weighed in favour of Judeo-Christian terminology.

The brief maintains that defining eligibility for R-1 status using terms such as ‘‘liturgical workers, catechists, cantors, missionaries, and ritual slaughter supervisors... may potentially serve to discriminate against those organisations that differ from the practice, structure and function of the Judeo-Christian guidelines upon which the regulations are based.’’

‘‘From what defines a Hindu religious occupation, to whether a temple shilpi (Hindu temple stone sculptor) belongs to a particular denomination, the current terminology proposed by the USCIS is absolutely foreign to the Hindu tradition,’’ said Suhag Shukla, the foundations legal counsel.

‘‘As religious worker visas become more difficult to obtain for Hindus, Hindu Americans must insist that their voice is heard in this process no less than the fundamental right to a free exercise of religion is at stake.’’

Scores of Hindu temples have come up across the United States in recent years, including some of the biggest and grandest outside India, resulting in a steep hike in demand for the so-called R1 religious worker visas.

Some 10,000 such visas were granted last year, but US officials, saying the visas are being misused, have sought to tighten regulations. The HAF says it supports US efforts to combat immigration fraud, but USCIS should alter current definitions and regulations to encompass the diversity Hindu traditions and Hindu religious occupations.

The HAF brief also expresses concern that the visa application backlog combined with a proposed initial one-year limit on R-1 visas places a substantial administrative burden on community run Hindu temples throughout the US.

There are an estimated 60 major Hindu temples across US and scores of smaller ones. Many of the temples are multi-million dollar structures that have been designed and built by shilpis flown in from India. Large temples such as Chicago’s Venkateshwara Temple, Pittsburg’s Balaji Temple and Flushing, New York’s Mahavallabha Ganapati Temple, Flushing are now part of the Indian-American pilgrim circuit.

Grander ones are being built all the time, especially by large well-funded organisations. Iskcon has embarked on a $61 Million Jagannath Cultural Project in Sedona, Arizona. Some time in the next few weeks, a grand Swaminarayan temple in Atlanta is scheduled to be inaugurated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, head of the Gujarat-based Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swami-narayan Sanstha (BAPS).

Such intense activity has greatly increased the demand for R-1 visas even as US immigration authorities have detected increasing irregularity, including false documentation and overstays.

</td></tr></tbody></table>

"Tears of Trees", a new movement in India started , http://www.mokshda.org/ , to stop people using insted of 20 kg wood more than usually 400 kg to perform a cremation ceremony.

Forests play an important role in maintaining environmental stability and ecological balance. Forest policy of Government of India envisages a forests and tree cover of 33% of the geographical area by 2012. This can be achieved only by (a) putting in place an effective forest regeneration plan and (b) conserving the existing cover in every possible manner.

Bush's watch being stolen?:crying2:

Bush in Albania 2007 - Did a Cheering Crowd Steal His Watch?

One moment President Bush was glad-handing Albanians on Sunday, proudly sporting a watch with a dark strap on his left wrist. Moments later however, it was gone.

Did it fall off? Did one of his bodyguards remove it, as has been claimed? Or did a thief in the crowd deftly slip it off the president’s wrist?

The United States Embassy in Albania emphatically denied that Bush's watch was stolen while he greeted crowds on Sunday.

However, the Internet is buzzing with a

"What the local media is saying is absolutely not true," an embassy official, who declined to be named, told the Associated Press.

Crowds thronged the sidewalks on Sunday to give the U.S president a rapturous welcome, shaking his hands, grabbing his arms and wrists and even ruffling his hair.

Did a skilful thief take the opportunity to deftly relieve Bush of his wrist watch?

Bush was clearly delighted by the attention and plunged back into the crowd for more hand shaking.

Nonetheless, an Albanian bodyguard who accompanied Bush in the town told The Associated Press he had seen one of his U.S. colleagues close to Bush bend down and pick up the watch.

Did he? Or was that simply a story concocted to cover a potentially embarrassing incident. Take a

Wonder if this is mentioned in the Ayurveda, today on tv, disgusting view but for many people the only working remedy: Maggot and leech therapies. About 30 million people in the European Union suffer now from diabetes. When they have an injury at the leg the wound often gets so badly infected and doesnt heal anymore that the only solution was amputation. But this is past - now they discovered maggot therapy, maggots directly applied on the wound render 1000 active components and a strong antibacterial effect which always ended up the patient being healed. Started to get a huge business since it became recognized medical treatment around 2003. Similiar leech therapy, people with neck pains, arthritis are getting healed very quickly. There is lots of research going on since they found about 30 different species of leech in the Congo which all have thousands of different active components that are helpful for patients of cardiovascular disease.

Why are there so many hogs, monkeys and dogs in Vrindavan?

Prabhupada: That is why in Vṛndāvana there are so many hogs and monkeys and dogs. This is very mysterious thing. The siddhānta, the conclusion is, we get it, information from Bhāgavatam…..those who are executing devotional service, but at the same time cheating… Cheating means outwardly very devotional, inwardly doing all sinful activities. Such living entity is given the chance to become a hog and dog in Vṛndāvana so that the reaction of the sinful activities, they get this body; at the same time, due to their touch with the dust of Vṛndāvana, they become eliminated of all sinful activities and liberated. So these hogs and dogs, they’re also very important. They are not ordinary thing. But this is the

explanation. The tortoise, the… They have, they have got…

Therefore a devotee, when he’s punished in that way for the short

time, they’ll be liberated. Undoubtedly.

There is a statement in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam:

tyaktvā sva-dharmaṁ caraṇāmbujaṁ harer

bhajann apakvo ’tha patet tato yadi…

[bhāg. 1.5.17]

Even one falls down, still, there is no loss. Because he’ll get the

chance. Kṛṣṇa will arrange in such a way. They’ll get the chance. So

actually, there is no loss. But one must be purified completely. So to

get this hog’s and dog’s life means they are being purified. They are

being purified. But without being completely purified, nobody can

enter into the kingdom of God. That is not possible. Yeṣām anta-

gataṁ pāpam. So there is another version in Caitanya-caritāmṛta:

anivijñā tare viṣaye khana diba

sa caraṇāmṛtam diye visa bhula iva

If one, by mistake, while executing devotional service, at the same

time, keeping his propensity for sense gratification, material

enjoyment, then he is rectified in that way.

So we should be very much careful. Careful… It is said, kṣurasya

dhārā niśitā duratyayā. The spiritual path, Kṛṣṇa consciousness

path, is just like sharpened razor. You take your sharpened razor

and shave your cheek. If you are expert, it will be very clean-shaved.

But if you are not expert, there is little inattention, immediately cut

and blood. Kṣurasya dhārā. This is an example. Durgaṁ pathas tat

kavayo vadanti. But the safest way… Here it is stated in the Śrīmad-

Bhāgavatam, śṛṇvatām sva-kathāḥ kṛṣṇaḥ [bhāg. 1.2.17] If we

attentively hear about Kṛṣṇa, puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanaḥ, if we hear

about Kṛṣṇa, it doesn’t matter what I am, but simply by hearing

Kṛṣṇa, about Kṛṣṇa, I shall acquire some resultant action of pious

activities. Just like there is the Bhāgavata-saptāha. You, within a

week, nobody can understand what is Bhāgavata. And the speaker

also does not know what he’s speaking. But because somehow or

other, they’re hearing about Kṛṣṇa, there is some pious resultant

action. That’s a fact.

Full lecture:

http://causelessmercy.com/t/t/721028SB.VRN.htm?i=1972

and you attribute that to Sri Vaishnavism????

 

I had in mind the need for more LOCAL structure and general adherence to tradition which Iskcon could learn from Sri Vaishnavas. Iskcon clearly emulates the centarlisation and totalitarian control characteristic to the Bengali Kartabhaja movement of Aul Chand followers, as well as their whimsical philosophical justification for breaking social norms and scriptural injunctions ("end justifies the means" philosophy).

No, this is not to be attributed to Sri Vaishnavism but to be attributed to a strategic withdrawal from being a powerful preaching movement in the West and instead opening temples in the Tirupati style http://iskcontirupati.org/templeconstruction.html at places where people come on their own to see the Deities. A home match.

Why attribute ISKCON to Sri Vaishnavism when conspicuous by absence? They have for example officially some 30 million jobless people all over the European Union and according repeated solemn assertion by the ISKCON EUGBC office it is totally fully impossible to open one by one examplary vedic farm projects. Is this a preaching movement or something like a church focusing to collect funds with palatial temple buildings from the Hindus in India?

Yes, Iskcon could use some more of Sri Vaishnava influences

The actual influence presently visible within the ISKCON movement as a global org is rather that ISKCON seems to devotedly abide to special agreement with the bigger players of the globalization movement to withdraw its preaching activities in those places where the population is not familiar with the vedic tradition and "disturbs" so to speak the intensification of kali-yuga to enslave people into material bondage. "Hindu religions please stay in your territory." And ISKCON leaders are following that parameter.

Last night I had a dream that I was standing on the bank of the Ganges river and seeing it's great and powerful current.

 

There was some holy man there and I asked him for permission to take some Ganges water on my head.

 

He approved.

 

However, when I went to take some Ganges water on my head I couldn't help but resist the temptation to jump in.

 

When I jumped in the powerful currents were too strong and I could not swim back to shore, but I did manage to find a small island in the middle of the river to take shelter on.

 

Then from there I was searching for a narrow place in the river where I thought I might be able to fight the current long enough to get back to the shore where I came from.

 

I remember that I found a narrow part where I thought I might be able to fight the current with enough strenth to get back to shore.

 

I don't remember what happened after that.

 

does anyone have any explanation of what this dream might mean?

narmade sindho kaveri jale ’smin sannidhim kuru

May water from the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Sarasvati, Narmada, Sindhu, and Kaveri kindly be present.

Such dreams usually say, because it happened in the dream it won't happen in real live.

» 06/09/2007 12:26

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=9506&size=A

KAZAKHSTAN

“Soviet methods” used on religious minorities

At an Osce conference, the countries religious authorities vaunt Astana’s religious freedom and tolerance. At the same time Jehovah Witnesses are sentenced for having gathered in prayer and the temple of the Hare Krishna is demolished. The systematic persecution of religious minorities.

Astana (AsiaNews/F18) – In a conference in Romania against religious discrimination, the Kazak delegate vaunted his countries promotion of religious freedom and tolerance. At the same time in the homeland the Hare Krishna are ordered to tear down their temple and the Jehovah’s witnesses are sentenced for having held a prayer meeting.

June 7th in Bucharest, at a conference sponsored by the Organisation for security and cooperation in Europe, Yeraly Tugzhanov, Chief of the Kazk Committee for religious affairs, said that his country is “an oasis of stability and religious harmony” and that religious discrimination does not exist.

But Forum 18 reveals that on June 5th the Hare Krishna in Seleksia village, Karasai district, was ordered to demolish their temple and dwellings by Sri Vrindavan Dham twon council, as they were deemed to have been illegally built. The commune originally had 66 Hare Krishna-owned homes, plus the 47.7-hectare (118 acre) farm. Amid an international outcry, the authorities bulldozed 13 of the 66 homes in November 2006 and have repeatedly threatened to resume demolitions, most recently in early May. The faithful protest that the temple and homes are not illegal, and the arbitrary treatment at the hands of the authorities who have cut off water and electricity supplies.

On 4 June, six Jehovah's Witnesses in the Caspian Sea port of Atyrau were given huge fines – between 50 and 100 times an average salary - to punish them for their community's unregistered religious activity.

In Kazakistan non registered religious groups are forbidden to meet or hold religious activities. But the Jehovah’s witnesses requested to be registered in 2001 and have so far received no response, even if a January 30th law sets down that all request must be processed within 60 days.

The Osce does not allow limitations on religious freedom and Tughzhanov says his country wants to change the law but has neither said when or how. Since 1992 religious legislation has been amended on various occasions, but always in a more restrictive sense. In the interim there is a rising tide of intolerance towards religious minorities in Kazakhstan, comprising Protestants and Armadi Muslims, to which state media contributes with damaging propaganda.

The Council of Baptist Churches refuses to register, a move it sees as being against the concept of religious freedom and merely a means for the government to gain control. The government sentences faithful who meet to heavy fines. Aleksandr Rozinov, leader of Atyrau’s Jehovah’s witnesses tells F18 that “public official’s mentality is still that of the soviet regime”.

Amnesty International UK - UK

... the religious freedom guarantees of Article 18 of the ICCPR, because it

had refused to give legal status to a nation-wide Hare Krishna association.

http://www.amnesty.org.uk/news_details.asp?NewsID=17370