QUESTION: “I HAVE THE TENDENCY TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME STUDYING, AND THEN FORGETTING ALL I’VE STUDIED. SAME GOES FOR HEARING CLASSES AND NOTETAKING. HOW TO STUDY SASTRA/HEAR CLASSES IN SUCH A WAY AS TO REMEMBER EVERYTHING, AND ESPECIALLY NOT LOOSE THE MESSAGE/OR ESSENCE IN THE PROCESS?

Budhi (intellect) has three functions:

(1) detecting patterns in the data it gets through the ears, eyes, etc.,

(2) comprehending those patterns by matching them with the fully or partially comprehended patterns it has stored in memory, and

(3) (a) filling up the “memory” with comprehended patterns through “education” and (b) keeping those patterns sharp and organized for efficient indexing and access.

When you study or listen to a teacher, you are doing “3.a.” You are asking about a “memory leak” – where the patterns seem to go in, but then leak back out.

Patterns leak out of memory when they are not frequently used.

Budhi is an organic, hyper-physical supercomputer. It keeps its “hard disk” (memory) efficient and organized. One way it does so is by deleting unimportant “files” (comprehended patterns). The deletion is gradual, just as modern computer OS’ first move the file to a “trash bin” and only later “empty the trash.” Similarly, memories “fade” as they get more and more flags from the budhi “OS” marking them as candidates for deletion.

The key to remembering what you learn is to use and interact with it regularly.

A “file” of information in your memory will be marked for deletion if it hasn’t been used in a while. So the key to remembering what you learn is to use it and interact with it regularly.

If you learn something from a book or a class, for example, you should immediately try to write it in your diary or notebook in your own words, and try to make it relevant and useful by linking it to other “patterns” in your life, investigating what it means in context of various things you believe or do or think. This will put a “useful” flag on the bit of info, which is very important.

If you want to remember something – ask questions about it! Ask the author, ask the speaker, ask your mother’s uncle, or even ask yourself – but ask! The more clearly you understand the relevance of information, the longer it will persist in your memory. Like Google, when things are related to other things, they are more “relevant,” and so come up more frequently in “searches” and thus get more “traffic.” The more traffic a bit of memory gets, the more important it must be, and thus the more carefully budhi keeps it stored.

Ask questions WHILE learning. Otherwise the info won’t get “written to the Hard Disk.”

Asking questions and writing the ideas out in your own words right away is very important for remembering things, because information has to be marked “useful” soon after we get it, otherwise it will not be transferred from short- to long- term memory, but will instead disappear when the short term memory is “refreshed” (which happens frequently). Just like a regular computer, buddhi has “RAM” (immediate, working memory), which it cleans much more frequently and than its “Hard Disk” (long term memory). So, if you immediately try to use the info you’ve learned by putting it in your own words or asking how it relates to other things that currently exist in your own life and outlook, then you mark the info as useful while it is in “RAM” short-term memory, and thus allow it to survive the dangerous and frequent “RAM refreshes” and get transitioned to the “Hard Disk” (long term memory).

APPLY the new information to how you live, how you act, and how you see the world. This will keep it relevant – and budhi will then make sure it remains sharp and clear at the top of your “memory stack.”

Once information is on memory’s “Hard Disk” you still have to utilize the pattern, or it will fade gradually. You do this by applying the pattern of information to how you live, act, and see the world. This keeps it relevant – and budhi will then make sure to keep it sharp and clear right at the top of your “memory stack.”

So, to reiterate, we remember useful things. So if we want to remember something from a book or a lecture, we have to make it useful to us – which means we need to incorporate it into our daily life – our conversations, our actions, and our way of looking at things.

Vraja Kishor

www.vrajakishor.com

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18759

An exceptional presence today in the subway :-)
Srila Prabhupada story: Srila Narada Muni came!!!
One night an extraordinary thing happened. Prabhupada led the first kirtan and then gave a lecture. I sat on the floor just to his right with the harmonium, and after the lecture, I began leading the second Hare Krishna kirtan. All of a sudden, Srila Prabhupada’s voice cut through the auditorium with the potency of Lord Nrisimha, right in the middle of my chanting. I had never heard Prabhupada do that, nor had I heard the words he chanted. ‘Narada Muni bhajaya vina radhika ramana namne,’ he sang. And then again he repeated it. I looked up, and he looked down at me, signaling me to carry on. So I continued chanting Hare Krishna, and he continued singing his prayer to Narada Muni into his microphone. I closed my eyes and carried on, not knowing what was happening. Then he started leading with me. We could all understand that something inexplicable but amazing was happening. Everyone was literally jumping off the ground, leaping in the air; even little baby Saraswati was two feet off the ground, and the audience was leaping into the air. We jumped off the stage and all of us began running around the perimeter of the auditorium with the audience. It was one of those Krishna magic moments. Just amazing! The next morning I asked what had happened the previous night. “Didn’t you see?” Srila Prabhupada said. “Narada Muni came to our kirtan.” “No, I didn’t see him,” I answered. “Yes, Narada Muni came.” ( Yamuna devi dasi – London 1969 )

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18757

By: Satsvarupa dasa Goswami for ISKCON News on Feb. 8, 2016

Dissolving the “Illusory Prabhupada” 

We have to be patient with ourselves as we serve Prabhupada.  It is natural to select certain instructions that we think fit our situations and our personalities.  When we try to relate to the spiritual master as preachers, we even encourage newcomers to find something in Prabhupada’s teachings which they can follow wholeheartedly.  We just have to be careful not to present a watered down version of what Prabhupada is teaching.  Until we are pure, there will always be some trace of compromise in our ability to follow, but we should always seek to increase our surrender and to know internally who our spiritual master is and what he wants from us.  Even if there is some trace of illusion in ourselves, ultimately, there is nothing illusory about Prabhupada. 

A duality can sometimes exist between Prabhupada as he is and one’s conception of Prabhupada as we want him to be.  (There are many “Prabhupada saids” floating around our movement – how often do we hear “Prabhupada said” offered by someone trying to end an argument?)  Therefore, it is good for us to expose ourselves to the “real” Prabhupada as he wrote letters to people, as long as we carefully understand the context from which he is speaking.  Exposing ourselves to Prabhupada’s books and letters replaces any imagined idea of Prabhupada with the real person.  A search for the real Prabhupada has to be in a sensitive and ongoing way. 

We should not be afraid of the possibility that we have created an “illusory Prabhupada” within our minds.  It’s not like the “illusory Vasudeva” which the demon Salva created to dishearten Krishna on the battlefield.  Salva said, “Krishna, I have Your father here, and I’m going to cut off his head.  There’s nothing You can do about it.”  Salva then cut off the head of his mystic illusion.  When Krishna saw it, He appeared to be unhappy for a moment.  But since Krishna is never overcome by illusion, He then grew more determined to fight.  Any service to Prabhupada is valid.  If we are determined, we will gradually work out our misconceptions of Prabhupada.  We are never cut off from the mercy.

The Prabhupada we worship and who appeals to us is our inspiration for devotional service.  Salva used the “illusory Vasudeva” in an attempt to harm Krishna.  But if we worship Prabhupada, we will always be benefited.  With confidence in Prabhupada’s mercy, we can strive to cut away too much compromise in our service and to respond to Prabhupada as he is.

Source: http://iskconnews.org/iskcon-50-meditations-february-8-2016,5369/

By N. Swaminathan, Ph.D.

A pilgrimage to ISKCON’s grand complex in Lord Chaitanya’s land provides indelible inspiration for an engineer and his family.

When I entered the spacious temple and looked to the right, I was stunned on seeing the huge and extremely beautiful deities of Radha-Madhava, with four sakhis on each side gazing at the perfect beauty of Lord Madhava and Srimati Radharani and very eager to serve Them. The temple was full of devotees offering ghee lamps, an act that symbolizes how our heart burns in separation from Krishna. My family and I also got ghee lamps and offered them to Radha-Madhava and the eight sakhis.

We then went to the adjoining hall, also spacious. When I saw the huge golden Panca Tattva deities, I couldn’t imagine ever having to leave Mayapur. The devotees’ graceful dancing and the beautiful kirtana enchanted me. And before I could recover, I was in front of the deity of Nrisimha. Dressed in silver, He looked like silver fire. He was so ferocious, and yet so assuring. I don’t remember how many times I offered obeisances to Him, or maybe I didn’t at all.

Thank you, Srila Prabhupada. Even though you were satisfied with whatever Krishna provided to you, you undertook great hardships to create such a beautiful place and a real society of devotees so that people like me would be attracted to spiritual life.

I work in an engineering software company, and I had been attending a Bhagavad-gita class conducted by ISKCON for four months when our teacher invited my family and me for a four-day pilgrimage to Mayapur during the auspicious month of Damodara (Karttika). Mayapur is the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who in the sixteenth century propagated the chanting of the holy names of Krishna, the recommended spiritual practice for Kali-yuga, the current age.

Our reception at ISKCON Mayapur’s Gada Bhavan was most magnificent. We were garlanded with flowers, and cool sandalwood paste was applied to our foreheads. This is how guests are received in the Vaishnava tradition, said our hosts.

The next day we got up really early and bathed in unheated water. We attended mangala-arati at Prabhupada’s Pushpa Samadhi and then at the Radha-Madhava temple. I completed sixteen rounds of chanting before 7:00 A.M., and I had a full day ahead of me.

While walking to the goshala, we were shown the grihastha quarters and a building that’s home to brahmacharis two months a year. The rest of the year they are out traveling in buses and distributing Prabhupada’s books. We also were told about four schools: one with the CBSE pattern, one with the Cambridge Board, one a girls’ school, and one a Vedic gurukula. The first three have a mixed curriculum, modern with Vedic, but the last is purely Vedic. We were surprised. What about the future of these boys? We learned the answer, a very instructive one, when we went to the gurukula in the evening.

The goshala has four sections: for old cows, younger cows, calves, and bulls. We had kirtana and a wonderful lesson on the importance of cow protection and cow’s milk. Bala Govinda Dasa, our guide and teacher, also told us that Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is not a great saint but the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. To make the best of this pilgrimage, he advised us to (a) abstain from prajalpa, or useless mundane talk, (b) chant as much as possible, (c) listen very carefully to the glories of this place, and (d) maximize our association with the devotees.

We felt great honor in feeding the calves with straw and date-sugar balls. The children enjoyed this a great deal. I was thankful to Lord Krishna for His being as accessible and loving to children as to adults. I remembered our visits to many South Indian temples when the children got bored and we couldn’t sustain their enthusiasm. But in Mayapur it was different. The children woke up the parents because they were eager to start the day early.

The evening took us to the Vedic gurukula. The students learn Vedic mathematics, English (and through it, other languages, including Sanskrit), music, martial arts, Vedic mantras, Vaishnava texts, and leadership and organizational skills. They do menial tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, and filling water containers. They use only oil lamps at night and cook with cow dung as fuel. We asked them if they worried about their future. They are completely cut off from current affairs and modern education. Even their Vedic degree is not recognized outside ISKCON. What if they decide to do something outside ISKCON?

The answers we got, in the form of rhetorical questions, were an eye-opener: What do we need to a job for? Do we trust our boss more or Krishna more? How did Prabhupada manage in the U.S. with no money? How does a dog survive without current affairs and degrees? How does an ant get its food? Are we worse than dogs or ants?

The answers showed us the depth of these boys’ faith and the shallowness of ours. How can Krishna reciprocate with us when we have no faith in Him? That made us worry. And indeed, by Krishna’s mercy these boys become gurukula teachers, run establishments, and assume important roles that require relational and managerial skills rather than academic degrees.

The next day, after mangala-arati we saw a diorama exhibition of Lord Chaitanya’s pastimes. Then we walked along the road outside the temple campus to board a boat to one of the islands in Navadvipa.

Out of respect for this holy land, I stopped carrying my mobile phone and started walking barefoot, feeling nourished by the cool Mayapur sand under my bare feet.

Godruma-dvipa

The boat glided on the whitish Ganga, which met the Jalangi, dark like the Yamuna. On the Jalangi shore we formed a sankirtana party as we walked to Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s house on the island of Godruma-dvipa. We learnt that he had started life in a modest manner and later rose from clerk to magistrate. He was extremely punctual and efficient and thus was respected by the British. To convince him to postpone his retirement, they built a railway line just to ferry him to and from his office. He was the father of ten children. He wrote prolifically in Bengali to bring people the rich Vedic texts in the form of poems and songs. He discovered the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya and built a temple there by collecting mostly small donations from the local people. He eventually organized two thousand village groups for practicing and spreading Krishna consciousness. He is an inspirational, ideal grihastha.

The name of this island (dvipa) comes from the words go (cow) and druma (tree). Long ago, Surabhi, the mother of all cows, performed austerities under a banyan tree here to please Lord Vishnu. In another incident associated with this sacred place, the sage Markandeya once wanted to see Lord Krishna’s maya, or illusory potency. Fulfilling the sage’s request, Krishna flooded the entire world. Markandeya was washed away but landed safely at Godruma-dvipa, the only place above water. There he saw a beautiful baby on a banyan leaf, sucking His own toe. The baby was Krishna, who wanted to experience the taste of His own lotus feet, a taste that steals the hearts of all devotees and great sages. Suddenly, the baby sucked the sage into His stomach, in which the entire universe was visible, and just as suddenly expelled him. Thus Markandeya saw how the entire universe is contained within Lord Krishna while He is simultaneously aloof from it.

We then returned by boat with a stopover for bathing in the Ganga. Mother Ganga flows from the feet of Krishna and is very sacred. People with material eyes cannot see the purity of the Ganga and the spiritual benefits she can provide. We prayed for Mother Ganga’s permission before entering, and while bathing we prayed that her pure water might cleanse our hearts of impurities, which stand in the way of reviving our original Krishna consciousness. The children had a wonderful time in the cool water, and we had tough time getting them out.

Prabhupada’s Samadhi

In the evening we visited Prabhupada’s samadhi. Its circular shape allows many people at once to view Prabhupada sitting majestically on his altar. Inside the dome, tile mosaics depict various landmark events in Prabhupada’s life. I was touched by the picture of him guiding an American child in writing a Sanskrit letter. On the first floor are dioramas depicting Prabhupada’s life-his own Rathayatra at age four, writing his heartfelt poem expressing his full surrender to Krishna as he reached America, his first public kirtana in the U.S., and so on. At an advanced age, in a foreign land, with almost no money or support, he transformed misguided American youth into spiritual practitioners and leaders, established more than a hundred temples all over the world, and produced dozens of books based on Vaishnava philosophy. How could he do all this? Because he had faith in his guru and Krishna.

After mangala-arati the next morning, we offered our obeisances to the Panca Tattva and thanked them for allowing us to enter the dhama. We prayed for their grace to help us steadily progress in Krishna consciousness. We begged forgiveness for any offenses we may have committed during our pilgrimage. And we requested their permission to leave the dhama.

Yoga-pitha

From the ISKCON complex, a bus took us a short distance to the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya, known as Yoga-pitha. The deities here are Radha-Madhava; Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with His consorts (Vishnupriya and Lakshmipriya); Sri Jagannatha Misra and Saci Devi, Lord Chaitanya’s parents; and the Adhokshaja (Vishnu) deity worshiped by Lord Chaitanya’s parents and discovered by Bhaktivinoda Thakura while the temple foundation was being dug.

After spending some time at Yoga-pitha, we prayed to Lord Chaitanya for love of Krishna and left for ISKCON’s Jagannatha temple in Simanta-dvipa, a little farther up the road. Before entering the temple we heard from Murari Dasa about the appearance of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra there, and how the temple came under the care of ISKCON. The place gives devotees the same spiritual benefit as visiting the Jagannatha temple in Puri. The island’s name refers to a time when Goddess Parvati prayed here to Lord Chaitanya. When the Lord appeared, she put the dust from under His feet on the part (simanta) of her hair.

Back in Kolkata, I realized that Mayapur is an example of how one can live a completely spiritual life right here in the material world. “O Lord!” I prayed. “When can I return to Mayapur?” And I recalled the caption I’d seen under a picture of ISKCON Mayapur’s Sri Radha-Madhava: “Meet your new boss.”

Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences?
Abstract: In the framework of materialism, the major attention is to find general organizational laws stimulated by physical sciences, ignoring the uniqueness of Life. The main goal of materialism is to reduce consciousness to natural processes, which in turn can be translated into the language of math, physics and chemistry. Following this approach, scientists have made several attempts to deny the living organism of its veracity as an immortal soul, in favor of genes, molecules, atoms and so on. However, advancement in various fields of biology has repeatedly given rise to questions against such a denial and has supplied more and more evidence against the completely misleading ideological imposition that living entities are particular states of matter. In the recent past, however, the realization has arisen that cognitive nature of life at all levels has begun presenting significant challenges to the views of materialism in biology and has created a more receptive environment for the soul hypothesis. Therefore, instead of adjudicating different aprioristic claims, the development of an authentic theory of biology needs both proper scientific knowledge and the appropriate tools of philosophical analysis of life. In a recently published paper the first author of present essay made an attempt to highlight a few relevant developments supporting a sentient view of life in scientific research, which has caused a paradigm shift in our understanding of life and its origin [1]. The present essay highlights the uniqueness of biological systems that offers a considerable challenge to the mainstream materialism in biology and proposes the Vedāntic philosophical view as a viable alternative for development of a biological theory worthy of life.
Recently our Institute scientists published a paper entitled Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences? in the Journal Advances in Life Sciences. This paper discusses some of the points that are under discussion in this group. Details of this paper are given below.
Cite: Bhakti Niskama Shanta and Bhakti Vijnana Muni (2016) Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences?, Advances in Life Sciences, Vol. 6(1), pp. 13-30. doi: 10.5923/j.als.20160601.03
Full-text HTML: http://dx.doi.org/10.5923/j.als.20160601.03
Full-Text PDF: http://www.sapub.org/global/showpaperpdf.aspx?doi=10.5923/j.als.20160601.03

Krishna Conscious HIP HOP ALBUM.
Milan Parmar is an individual who is part of the youth group ISKCON Pandava Sena. He has been practising Krishna Consciousness for over 5 years by reading and studying the Bhagavad Gita where he finds, what he likes to call - “every moment”, inspiration and in depth meaning to life. Milan became more involved with Pandava Sena late 2014 and found himself engaging in different services instantly such as, the Pandava Sena Janmashtami play and Something Spiritual (A creative arts group that aims to spread Krishna Consciousness in fun and dynamic ways). For over 10 years, he has been writing poetry and music lyrics where he finds he can express his inner thoughts and realisations to a wider crowd. He has released 3 Hip-Hop mixtapes over a 3 year period which were his experimental points to find himself within his musical field. On January 29th 2016, he released his first album called “When A Soul Acknowledges” through PandavaSena and aims to connect the World to Krsna Consciousness through Hip-Hop & music. When A Soul Acknowledges is a Hip-Hop album that portrays a story of an individual soul within a material lifetime. A journey that starts from birth into the material world, to growth of this body, experiencing the ‘pleasures’ of material life and finding no real essence in them, to becoming realised of the true self and finding a Guru who has shown this individual the truths of life, then taking on a spiritual life and finding the greatest love towards the Supreme and finally, the soul leaving the body and returning to the spiritual realm where the Supreme resides. This album is compiled of 10 tracks that allow you to immerse yourself in different stages of this individual’s lifetime and finding a deeper meaning through each chapter of their story. A symphonic book which many, if not all, can relate to and take on lessons that lie within each lyric, verse, song and the album as a whole. All proceeds for the album go to Pandava Sena. You can also view a video on the PandavaSena YouTube of the album highlights here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2co-8jHUllQ When A Soul Acknowledges is available to download/stream from all digital media formats iTunes: https://itun.es/gb/TIvuab Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Btlr3pwzqkq7lav2x3q4tyz25li Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7o3bYfrTHk3BPn6Czp1GGC Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01B6YOE7S?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Tulasi, or Tulsi, does not need any introduction in India for her magnanimous qualities. Ancient medical science, Ayurveda, has all praise for Tulasi and now even modern science also has come to learn about her unmatched health benefits.

Indian scientists have deciphered the entire genetic make-up of Tulsi, a herb widely used for therapeutic purposes. The genome map will help in making new medicines using the plant. A multi-institutional team led by Sowdhamini Ramanathan from the … Indian scientists decode Tulsi plant genome – The Hindu

The report says the plant synthesises a wide range of bioactive compounds, known for their anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-pyretic and anti-cancer properties. They found that these compounds are metabolites, compounds that are a by-product of plant metabolism, typically used for plant self-defence. However, these metabolites are very poorly understood because of lack of genomic information.

“Ayurveda mostly uses Rama and Krishna tulsi,” said Nitish Sathyanarayana of NCBS and a co-author of the paper. Of the various parts of the plant, the leaves were found to have the highest concentration of the metabolites; roots and stems contain only … Medicinal properties of tulsi unravelled – The Hindu

Did you know that just by being around Tulsi plants and simply by inhaling Tulasi leaves one can cure chronic diseases? However, one must not treat Tulasi leaves as ordinary. Tulasi leaves must be offered first to Lord Vishnu before they are used for any other purpose. Also any herbal products made out of Tulasi must not be applied below waist. This is the reason commercially produced soaps using Tulasi are not used by devotees.

In Vedic culture, Tulasi devi, or Goddess Tulasi, is worshiped along with Lord Vishnu or Krishna. As explained in this article, the reason devotees worship Tulasi devi, also known as Vrinda devi, is not because she possesses great medicinal value; it is the other way around, that is, because she is very dear to Lord Vishnu, she automatically is endowed with great qualities that benefit human beings.

Tulasi devi is not merely a herbal plant: she is an eternal associate of Lord Krishna in the spiritual world known as Goloka Vrindavan. Only out of her causeless mercy has she descended on this planet so that by serving her we can attain the supreme goal of life.

Krishna devotees around the world regularly worship Tulasi devi by watering her plant, by chanting prayers and by circumambulating her. Tulasi beads are used for chanting the holy names of Lord Krishna, and for making kanthi malas that devotes wear around the neck for invoking blessings.

We find the following on http://www.salagram.net/Tulasi.htm  in glorification of Tulasi devi.

“Vedic scriptures are full of pastimes that reveal the potency of Tulasi devi in developing devotion for the Lord. The Srimad Bhagavatam talks about this pastime with the four Kumaras, the sons of Lord Brahma who were very much attached to the impersonal aspect of Godhead.

‘When the breeze carrying the aroma of Tulasi leaves and saffron from the lotus feet of the lotus-eyed Personality of Godhead entered through the nostrils into the hearts of those sages [the Kumaras], they experienced a change in both body and mind, even though they were attached to the impersonal Brahman understanding.’

Thus by simply smelling the fragrance of the Tulasi leaves the four Kumaras became pure devotees of the Lord.

http://i2.wp.com/mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/krishna-and-tulasi.jpg?w=478 478w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src-orig="http://i2.wp.com/mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/krishna-and-tulasi.jpg?resize=300%2C217" scale="1.5" />

In Chaitanya lila Srila Advaita Acarya was very much disturbed to see the growth of irreligiosity. Therefore He decided to call for the Personality of Godhead Krishna to descend by worshiping the Lord with Tulasi leaves and the water of the Ganges. When Sri Krishna was pleased by this devotion He descended as Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Haridasa Thakura a great devotee of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu purified a prostitute, who had come with the intention of seducing him, with instructions to chant the holy name and worship Tulasi. She became so elevated by this service that even great Vaishnavas would come to get her mercy.

Quoting from the Gautamiya-tantra, the Hari-bhakti-vilasa states:

tulasi-dala-matrena jalasya culukena va 
vikrinite svam atmanam bhaktebhyo bhakta-vatsalah

‘Sri Krishna, who is very affectionate toward His devotees, sells Himself to a devotee who offers merely a Tulasi leaf and a palmful of water.’

In the Nectar of Devotion, service to Tulasi devi is glorified as one of items of devotional service. In the Srimad Bhagavatam (3.15.19) it is said that although flowering plants like the mandara, kunda, kurabaka, utpala, campaka, arna, punnaga, nagakesara, bakula, lily and parijata are full of transcendental fragrance, they are still conscious of the austerities performed by Tulasi, for Tulasi is given special preference by the Lord, who garlands Himself with Tulasi leaves.

In the Skanda Purana there is a statement praising the Tulasi tree as follows: ‘Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto the Tulasi tree, which can immediately vanquish volumes of sinful activities. Simply by seeing or touching this tree one can become relieved from all distresses and diseases. Simply by offering obeisances to and pouring water on the Tulasi tree, one can become freed from the fear of being sent to the court of Yamaraja [the King of death, who punishes the sinful]. If someone sows a Tulasi tree somewhere, certainly he becomes devoted to Lord Krishna. And when the Tulasi leaves are offered in devotion at the lotus feet of Krishna, there is the full development of love of Godhead.”

All glories to Srimati Tulasi devi..!

Source: http://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/scientists-astonished-by-tulasi-plants-medicinal-properties/

Dearest Srila Prabhupada

Please accept our most humble obeisances unto your lotus feet. All glories to your divine grace. All glories to your sincere followers, who are leading us forth, showing the way to please you and make you smile!

For your pleasure Srila Prabhupada, the Toronto chapter of your Sankirtan Army, had a glorious year 2015. We organized many sankirtan festivals, participated in several multicultural festivals in and around the city, knocked on thousands of doors, placed books in countless venues from hotels to homeless shelters. We distributed several thousands of books, distributed huge quantities of prasadam and reached out to many more souls, with a hope to connect them to you. The Toronto Sankirtan Family has grown beautifully in the past one year.

While book distribution continued throughout the year, our final push for your pleasure came towards the end of our annual book marathon. The goal seemed far and our options seemed few, but armed by the mantra “With blessings everything is possible”, we marched ahead determined to try our best – the worst we thought was that we’d fail, but you have assured us that simply by the attempt, we will attain all perfection! And the final push began… everyone stretched beyond their comfort zones – some headed out on the streets to distribute books in chilling winds, some knocked door to door for hours on end, others got on the phone and reached out to all their contacts with a plea to accept your books – everyone worked together for the one goal – to make Srila Prabhupada reach up the Jaladuta.

On December 27th, with 5 full days for the marathon, the Toronto Sankirtan Team smashed all its goals. This year for your pleasure Srila Prabhupada our total remittance to your BBT was 13% that of last year (supporting team North America in the goal of 10% increase), we distributed 108 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam and Sri Caitanya Caritamrita and raised Sastra Dana sponsorships for over 10,000 Bhagavad Gitas to be placed throughout the year.

Service to your sankirtan movement has created a flourishing family of devotees here in Toronto – all united under your umbrella. As we enter in to 2016,the 50th year of ISKCON, we humbly pray to be able to please you – by increasing our efforts to bring your books to more and more people. We pray to work inwards and share the overflow. We pray to remain grateful for the opportunity that we have been awarded and we pray for the maturity to serve with compassion all the devotees who you have kindly sent our way.

“Simply by this attempt you will get superior strength and knowledge about Krishna Consciousness. It doesn’t matter whether a man is convinced or not, but your sincere attempts to convince others will help you progress.”

Holding on to your word, falling and tripping, we, are trying to somehow stay afloat and carry the march forward. Please always keep us in your shelter

In your service
Toronto Sankirtan Team

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18777

The Yogi’s Wager.
A servant of a very rich man came before his master one day and told him of an interesting yogi he had seen in the river. The servant said that this yogi claimed he could stay in the water all night in the middle of the river without any outside heat. The yogi was willing t take a wager with anyone to prove that he could do it. When the rich man heard this, he decided to wager against the yogi. So the bet was made to see whether the yogi could stay in the water all night. The yogi went into the water, and the rich man and his servant went home. The next day word came that the yogi had successfully stayed in the water all night. The rich man went out to see the yogi, and indeed he was still standing in the water. Therefore by all rights the rich man had lost the wager. But then a friend of the rich man said, “Wait! See that light?” He pointed to a small flame far away in a temple. The rich man’s friend said, “By his mystic power, this yogi has been using the heat of that light to keep warm in the water. So he shouldn’t be paid, because the bet was that he would stay in the water without taking any heat.” Taking advantage of this word jugglery, the rich man said, “Yes I’m not going to pay you. You’ve tricked me.” Then the rich man and his servant went back to the house. The rich man asked his servant to quickly cook him a nice breakfast, but after waiting for some time, the servant had not produced anything. The rich man expressed his impatience, but the servant replied, “Please wait. I’m cooking.” The rich man waited, but it got later and later and no food was brought. When he demanded food from his servant, the servant only replied, “I’m cooking. It’s going to be ready soon.” Finally the rich man became angry and walked into the kitchen. “What is this cooking?” he demanded. And there he saw that the servant had a very strange arrangement for cooking. He had a very small fire on the ground an a tall bamboo tripod to hold the pot he was supposed to be heating high near the ceiling. Obviously, the small flame would never be able to reach the pot to heat it. “What do you think you’re doing?” demanded the rich man. “Well,” said the servant, if you claim that the yogi was keeping warm in
the water by that light, then I am also cooking.“ The man could understand that his servant was dissatisfied with the outcome of the wager with the yogi. And so he went and paid the yogi the wager.
MORAL: If you practice Krishna consciousness "part time” you can’t expect to be “completely cooked”. If the fire of purification you apply is too far and weak won’t be able to separate the impurities and create a nice ghee for Krishna :-)
To watch this parable in video: https://goo.gl/jzzZP3

Where did we begin our karma and when and why?
Answer by Radhanath Swami: I will answer briefly because this is the very long explanation but i.e. certain point in our existence as part and parcel of Lord Krsna. We have given free choice to either serve Krsna and love Krsna or to exploit what is the property of Krsna. When you made that choice you have given entrance into the material creation. And in the very beginning at the don of our existence in material creation we began to perform activities in the realm of exploitation and then our karma begins. Sometimes we exploit in a pious way and we get good karma. Sometimes we exploit in an impious way and we create bad karma. But Srila Prabhupada rarely would become very specific in regard to this question of our origin in this material creation. In fact generally when devotees would ask him he would very purposely answered in an indirect way. Generally when people would ask him this question he would say the problem is you are in Maya. Now how you got here its not so important what’s important is to get out. The Scriptures explain in specific detail how we come here. But Srila Prabhupada he would say if you are drowning in an ocean and someone comes to throw you a life preserver while sitting on the boat and says- come, I will pull you up to the boat and you say- wait! first I want to know when I fell on the ocean and why I fell on the ocean. Mean while there is sharks surrounding you ready to eat you alive. In the same way the shark of death is ready to devour us. It is not so important to understand why and how we came but it’s essential to hold on to the life raft and to get out. How our karma began through perhaps millions and millions and millions of births it has developed but the point i.e. of concern now is you have the opportunity to be free from all karma now. Krsna says in Gita- Abandon all varieties of religion, abandon all varieties of speculation and just surrender to Me. I shall protect you from all sinful reactions of whatever you have done, whenever you have done.
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. In this way you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this. So guru maharaj put all the emphasis on the here and now. Here is the life raft the association of devotees, the Holy Name, his transcendental books which teaches us how to live in such a way today by which can get out. And as far as he was concern the only real subject matter of any importance in regard to our origin in this material existence is that we misuse our independence exactly when, exactly how is not important. So what is important is we have misuse our independence? And why is it so important because we are still misusing our independence. So let us utilizes this independence for Krsna and become librated from the cycle of birth and death because you see theoretically we can explain these things but you will not understand it until you Back Home Back to Godhead. Ha… So therefore our concern is- you Back Home Back to Godhead and understand that realization and not put so much effort on trying to theoretically understand what we can’t understand. Is that answers question? So chant Hare Krsna Be Happy. Go Back Home Back to Godhead. You may have been worm, you may have been snake, you may have been reptile, a bird, a pig, a human being, a Mataji so many things. This is anything wrong with Mataji now you are brahmachari matajis are devotees you know all devotees we were so many things, we don’t care for any what we been we are concern with where we are going. Where been in this life. We are not concerned. Jagai and Madhai sinful didn’t matter when they took to Krishna Consciousness they became pure, pure than the pure. Doesn’t matter what we have done, where we come from all that matters is where we are going. So take Krsna. Lord Nityananda prayed in this way. Take Krsna. The only price is that you accepting with faith. Hare Krsna.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18779

By Jahnu Das

Hare Krishnas don’t have to believe in God. We know who God is, what He looks like, what He wants, why and how He created the world and who and what the soul is. This info is available in the Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita is the only book in the world in which someone claiming to be God, describes in detail about Himself, the soul and Nature and how they inter-relate.

Also, we don’t have to believe in Evolution or Darwin’s theory, as there is no empirical evidence to support that theory. In fact, Darwin’s theory is pure speculation and wishful thinking.

“We must concede that there are presently no detailed Darwinian accounts of the evolution of any biochemical or cellular system, only a variety of wishful speculations.” — Franklin Harold, Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Colorado State University, in an Oxford University Press text.

If someone came and told you that everything you hold dear, everything you believe in, everything you thought you knew, all your values, all you hopes and aspirations, all your love for wife, kids, family, friends, and society, in fact, the entire foundation of your life – it is all wrong, it is all an illusion – you’d probably think that that someone was on drugs or belonged in a mental institution.

In this modern day and age of relativism and liberalism, it is more or less a no-no to know the Absolute Truth. You are allowed to know with certainty such things as science and technology, but if you claim that you have ascertained the original, genuine knowledge of religion from God Himself, if you profess to know God and the real meaning of life, you are immediately dismissed as a deranged fanatic.

All religions claim the same thing, comes the invariable response.

Lets examine this typical response of modern man. You see, it is actually quite foolish. First it is asserted, that everyone says so. Then the fact that everyone says so, is used to negate what is being said.

If everyone says the same thing, the logical thing to assume is that there must be something to it. Not that everyone says the same thing, so therefore it must be false. How does that make sense? Where is the logic? In fact, you would expect all religions to say basically the same things, because all religions are different cultural expressions of the same Absolute Truth. Surely, the details may vary, but if all religions are differently conditioned expressions of the same truth, you’d expect they would mention the same basic principles.

And that’s what the Vedic version teaches us – that all religions are derived from the original religion from God Himself. If this is indeed so, it stands to reason that it can be investigated and verified. If it is a fact, it must be discernable. Otherwise it is just some belief, some speculation. And that is how religion is generally judged in modern society – some fanciful speculations and beliefs.

Then again, if there is a supreme entity – that which is known as God – it is a perfectly logical to assume that He has given a process by which He can be known. But in the climate of the contemporary culture that at present rules the world, it is very unpopular to claim to know the original explanation from the Supreme Himself. How can you make such an outrageous claim, comes the response… nobody knows the Absolute Truth. It cannot be known.

So where does this strange idea come from that the Truth cannot be known? It comes from people, of course. It is something the majority of the population is brought up to believe in. But it makes no sense. If there is an Absolute Truth, if there is a God, if there is an ultimate purpose to life, of course it can be known for certain. Why? Because God, being the almighty, omnipresent, all-knowing Supreme, surely He can verify Himself beyond doubt.

And if there is no God, if everything is indeed relative and material, then it cannot be verified. By definition, you can’t prove a negative. That’s the funny thing about life – if God exists, it can be known for sure, but if God does not exist, it is not possible to know for certain. Note, this is not my opinion, I’m merely stating a an indisputable fact – if God exists, it can be known, because then God can verify His own existence. And if He does not exist, then it cannot be known. It’s as simple as that.

Note how the propaganda-machine tells us the exact opposite. It calls religious people believers, and atheists are called unbelievers. How misleading is that? As an atheist you believe in something that cannot be verified. But as a theist you believe in something that, at least theoretically, has a chance of being verified.

Thus it can be concluded that it is a an intellectually superior position to believe in God, rather than the opposite. The first assumption, that there is a God, has a chance of verification, whereas the second position, that there is no God, cannot be verified.

But if you dare point out these things – even though they are indisputable facts – you are met with a wall of resistance – no, no, nobody knows the truth. God is merely a fairy tale. To believe in God is no more different than believing in tooth-fairies and Santa Claus. That’s what we are told.

What we can learn from this, is that society is not ruled by benevolent forces. What kind of society will educate it’s population in something so obviously false? So if you know the truth and you want to inform people about it, you are up against a massive wall of resistance.

Krishna says:

Now hear, O son of Prtha, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt. (Bg 7.1)

I shall now declare unto you in full this knowledge, both phenomenal and numinous. This being known, nothing further shall remain for you to know. (Bg. 7.2)

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18783

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 March 2009, Stockholm, Sweden, Lecture)

We encounter so much envy in the world. Envy is a major driving force which we really cannot ignore. We see different aspects of envy. There is the normal envy – the jealousy of a neighbour who wants what you have. But we also see a different kind of envy, like the example of a wolf and a lamb. It is not that the wolf wants anything that the lamb has. It is not like that! He is not envious of the possessions of the lamb at all, he simply does not want allow the lamb any existence because of his own feeling of dissatisfaction. The wolf takes it out on the weaker entity. The wolf has a feeling of hatred which comes from his own frustration, and he takes it out on someone else. People get married for similar reasons. Not all marriages are based on LOVE! Some marriages are simply there to take relieve frustration. Like that, envy exists in so many ways and in all kinds of relationships.

Source: https://www.kksblog.com/2016/02/envy-not/

Watch Video

When I first got introduced to Bhagavad Gita, I found some of the most amazing thought provoking ideas ever told. Immediately, I got attached to the beauty, poetic nature and above all the Supremacy of Krishna over all the be. I was taken aback by Krishna's Supreme position so much so I immediately gave up the idea of an independent life. It was amazing, it was powerful, a feeling I carry to this day.

God declaring He is God! Is there any other book where God declares Himself as God? So far I have not read or heard of any such book. Yet people say there is no God, something I can never understand. One can find man-made Gods but God revealing His identity and declaring His supreme position as God can be found only in the Bhagavad Gita, at least this has been my experience so far.

Anybody else who knows of any book were God declares Himself God, if so, please drop a comment here so I can learn about Him or Her.

Source: http://servantoftheservant-ananda.blogspot.in/2016/02/god-declaring-he-is-god.html

A poem in honor of ISKCON’s Golden Jubilee.
Samapriya Devi Dasi (ACBSP): There is a section written from the point of view of one who resides in New Ramanreti.

ISKCON’S GOLDEN JUBILEE

Srila Prabhupada built a house 
the whole world could live in,
welcoming melechas and yavanas
whose lives were degraded and covered in sin.

The vision of the pure devotee
is boundless and broad,
he sees within the hearts of men 
the undivided Lord.

Unleashing the value of each human birth
foretold in a divine prediction,
the Sankirtan Movement has come to the earth
bestowing the prime benediction.

Joyfully embracing the Holy Name
to establish religiosity
Prabhupada’s movement takes it’s place
attaching itself to the Caitanya tree.

The ultimate good for all the world
and essence of its divine teaching,
has now spread around to every country and town
all glories to Srila Prabhupada’s preaching!

And the Vedas deliver the Absolute Truth 
awakened throughout the ages,
of a spiritual realm within each heart
broadcast by self-realized sages.

To deliver the suffering souls of this world
Srila Prabhupada translated these books,
his purports composed, in crystal-like prose
get sweeter the deeper one looks.

We are living in Krsna’s abode 
Srila Prabhupada invited us here,
as we abide by his sacred words
our path Back to Godhead will remain clear.

ISKCON’S tenets are suited 
for men of all time
with no closed doors 
on this house of the sublime.

Never limited to a selected few 
no matter what you’re inclined to do 
variety includes both me and you
the desire of the Lord is ever fresh and new.

Everyone is equal in the eyes of God,
from His transcendental qualities we’re created,
though in this world where surrendering is odd
happiness is found when our pride is abated.
—
In one remote corner of great Mayadesh,
a faraway hamlet is surviving,
where generations of devotees are serving the Lord 
and bhakti is growing and thriving.

To this sacred place devotees have flocked
attracted to each other’s alliance,
seeking spiritual strength beyond worldly cares
in a fellowship of godly compliance.
Sri Sri Gaura Nitai are the Lords of our hearts
and we become ecstatic when the kirtan starts.
We chant the holy name, dance to transcendental sound 
easily renouncing what keeps us earthly bound.

Exquisite Radhe Shyama are the Lords of the land
They except loving service from each devotee’s hand,
who completely gives his heart to what the Lord commands
we are the loyal servants of New Ramanreti sands.

When we walk in the temple it’s a sight to behold
two divine brothers beautiful and bold.
They’ve stolen our hearts and won’t give them back
after all They are thieves who provide what we lack.

For 50 years ISKCON has steadily grown,
as we place Lord Caitanya in our hearts on a throne.
Praying to remain on the Lord’s sacred tree
and bloom in pure love for eternity.

In the service of Srila Prabhupada 
by Samapriya devi dasi

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18848

New York City Daily Harinam Ashram Wants You! Going on 4 years, the NYC Harinam ashram has performed the Yuga Dharma in NYC, and some of its regular 365 days a year 6 hours per day Sankirtan members are taking much needed pilgrimage to the holy dham to recharge. From March 5th to April 15th there is a critical need for kirtan leaders and or book distributors so the Harinam can continue on with full strength! If you or a devotee you know would like to perform the Yuga Dharma in the city where Prabhupada started ISKCON as well as help the devotees who serve there regularly, Please contact Bhakta John hnsa.inc@gmail.com.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18846

The nice thing about being ill, if their is such a thing is that it forces you to stop.

Ruchika Srivastava: “In the journey of life, allurements breeze in

Choice is given to us, we refrain or entertain

Pursuit of happiness in the wrong terrain,

Make results uncertain, for a person lamebrain.

On the boat of desires with mind as captain

We go with the flow, caught in illusion’s enchain.

Ups and downs on the way, send us the warning

Of dangers underlain

We feel the stress and strains

Of material nature uncertain.

Then one day finally comes the storm,

Our feelings of attachment twisted and torn

Create a pain, difficult to explain

Makes us realise, all our feelings were in vain

Lost and shattered we look for a guardian

Who then reminds us of Krishna’s divine game

We are not here for any material gain,

Serving the Lord, is our duty main

Served the senses time and again

Mind’s duty is to mistrain

His mercy is pouring like incessant rain,

But are we holding the umbrella

of selfish desires in brain.

Until we are totally purified, experiences are there to train,

Before the next storm comes, hope the lessons learnt retain

In the end, only Krishna will remain

Don’t forget to thank Him, be it pleasure or pain.”

Thank you

Your humble servant

Ruchika

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18852

Hare Krsna to all devotees, PAMHO, AGTSP.
I am getting regularly these interesting 'Science Religion' dialogue messages after publication of Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences? in Advances in Life Sciences journal by Dr.B.N.Shanta and Dr.B.V.Muni. It has aroused interest in eminent scientists worldwide to discuss about Consciousness,Evolution and Origin of Life once again.
This important service by Srila Prabhupada’s Scientific Sankirtan party must be very pleasing to Srila Prabhupada.I want to share responses for that article with you all for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. 

Reply By Dr.B.N.Shanta to Prof.T.V. Sreenivas 
==============================

Dear Prof. T.V. Sreenivas Ji

Namaskar. Here are our replies to your thoughts.

1. Human mind, behavior, psychology, ... functions are not easy to isolate, unlike some other studies of biology or nature. When we are looking at such a highly evolved system, cause-effects are the most difficult to resolve, and each assumption would lead to a different conclusion. We dont have to worry about narrow demarcations of certain scientific disciplines, but go by a overall scientific question of measurables, models, inferences. This approach itself may be considered a limitation, but otherwise we will be floating in subjective opinions and understandings. (meta-physical)
Reply: Materialistic theories in modern science speculate that our thoughts and feelings are (1) outcome of atomic activities in brain, (2) end product of chains of physical causation rooted in atomic motion, (3) electrical impulses somehow shaped by the human nervous system into coherent patterns and so on. Under this limited framework it is difficult to address the real nature of life. This framework insists on direct observation of nature and thus denies any understanding through abstract philosophical reasoning. As we have been stating repeatedly that a child cannot use the higher rational means to grasp the reality and thus he/she tries to know every object by putting those objects inside the mouth. It is only an attempt to imitate a childish mentality that is prevalent in modern science, where scientists try to know everything within their empirically based methodologies. Thus following this attitude modern science only gave importance to the external appearance of reality. However, Quantum Mechanics forced scientists to accept the limits of such a naive approach towards understanding the reality. Until we come out of this puerile way of knowing things we cannot understand properly the deeper aspects of reality like mind (manasā), intelligence (buddhi) and false ego (ahańkāra), consciousness (cit), soul (ātman) and God (Bhagavān).

2. It is clear in computer science that a program can rewrite upon itself; similarly a layered network of neurons can prune itself, thus giving some hints of how a "control system" (loosely speaking) can evolve (or control) itself. There is recent evidence that brain structures form and dissolve in v.short time, indicating the possibility of v.fast adaptations. 
Reply: Computer code, by its meaning, is a predetermined representation of information that is independent of the sender, receiver, and mechanisms of transmission {Kreiman G. Neural coding: computational and biophysical perspectives. Phys Life Rev 2004; 1:71-102}. We cannot reduce biological activities (which are driven by sentient principles) to such a simplistic reductionistic view that is commonly practiced in physical sciences. That is why all sincere scientists should know “Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences?” and thus they can also help others to overcome the dogmatic stand of materialistic view about living reality. 

3. Adaptation, learning, cognition, recognition, conceptualization, ... are all highly pursued technology topics, at least in limited domain problems, not just scientific or philosophical ideas.
Reply: We have not shown by technology how a piece of matter can acquire subjective qualities like adaptation, learning, cognition, recognition, and conceptualization. AI is nothing but a superficial comparison of computational machines with living organisms. 

4. Very very sophisticated coordination among various sub-systems of a biological system, seems apparent and necessary for any deeper understanding of behavior. So, there could be some basic schemas which will show a means to construct bigger structures and also adapt themselves in a 'safe and useful" manner. However, the concept of "purpose" hovers large in all biological evolution, which we are yet to pin down.
Reply: The main goal of materialism is to reduce mind to natural processes, which in turn can be translated into the language of math, physics and chemistry. Supporting a hedonic approach to enhance the quality of life, neuroscientists and psychologists believe that by understanding brain states they can enhance fulfillment and eliminate suffering. However, this intent to enhance fulfillment by brain manipulation does not have any available evidential support to link brain states with organism’s subjective behavior. It is difficult to separately understand brain functioning for different pleasures that are derived from basic needs (food, shelter, etc) and monetary, artistic, musical, altruistic, and transcendent pleasures. Materialism could not translate qualia (conscious experiences) into the terms of physical science. Even though it is bluntly presumed that our personality and experiences are outcomes of physical events in brain, materialism could not reduce one individual’s personality/experiences to the same series of physical events as that which underlay another individual’s personality/experiences. Our article “Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences?” also states:
“There were several repeated attempts to explain life materially and all of them have repeatedly come full circle, because, physical sciences mostly deal with questions that begin with “what?” and “how?” On the other hand, biological sciences will be incomplete without addressing the functional questions of purpose that begin with “why?””

For more discussions and responses: Please visit: https://goo.gl/ZBc6P3

Humbly in your Service,
Brajgopal Dasa.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18850