Newsletter Number #142 -  ( mid-December issue 2004 A.D. Gaurabda 518)
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ki jaya

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Please Accept My Respectful Obeisances & Best Wishes To All

_0____,

All Glories To Srila Prabhupad.

\o/
(_)
/ \ All Glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Welcome to the latest re-vamped edition of the on-line HKSRNewsletter, and our humble attempt to render some service to the devotee community. As you can see we've changed the format, and everything is here hyper-linked on-line, we hope it's now easier for you all. This newsletter now goes out to way over 2108 receivers. We trust that all is well with everyone by the Mercy of the Lord. However, if anyone would like to be removed please just send us a message requesting me to do so, and we will do it promptly. If you are receiving this from a friend, and would like to be added directly to the mailout please also let us know and we will do the needful there too. Removal and Subscription details at the very end of this newsletter.

Hare Krishna. =>B-) JTCd

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The Nectar in this Issue 

See the events on Interactive Calendar site for details:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2002-2003.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2003-2004.html
Have you got your Vaishnava Calendar for 2004-2005 ???
....ours is now on-line. http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html

http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html (Coming soon)
(some selected locations are available already below)

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Local temples

Words of Wisdom - Shastra & Shastrakaras speak:
... (Srila Prabhupad & the previous Acharyas)
... Coming Festivals
... Local temples
... Verses from Shastra
... Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
... Hare Krishna as ancient religion - NOT a cult
... Vaishnava Songs
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... Articles - Topical links
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... Hare Krishna School in Auckland
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... Singles - Hare Krishna Singles - Vegetarian Singles - Marriage Compatibility checking
... FREE CD Rom
... Sri Shalagram Tirtha Pradarshini web-site and new newsletter
... Vegetarianism and Beyond site gets re-vamped
... Gaura Yoga - Wellington
... The Loft Auckland
... The new Auckland Temple now open
... and much more

At Grass Roots: Topical stuff
... Have a Happy New Year - Gaurabda 518

Prasadam Recipes: To slake the thirst of body, mind & soul
... some really useful Vege links and support
... inspiring Vegetarian articles
... Eggless cooking - baking - cakes
... Vegetarian Cheeses - new page (try the Tuxford range...)(updated August 2004)
... Vegetarian clubs
... Hare Krishna Food For Life - local and international food relief
... check out the new Ekadasi recipes link
... 101 reasons to be a vegetarian
... Meat substitutes - Tofu - Soy - TVP - tempe recipes
... White Sugar free from bone char in NZ
... FREE Meet your Meat CDRoms
... How to offer your food to God
... You mean that's in the Bible?
... visit our Vegetarianism and Beyond Award winning web-site
... Kurma's new web-site
... The Meatrix

Krishna conscious - Vedikly acceptable jokes:
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... did U ever wonder -  Ways of the world - Strange but true

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Now you can view the FULL years 1999-2000 & 2000-2001 & 2001-2002 & 2002-2003 & 2003-2004 & 2004-2005.
All Calendar entries are explained - Appearance or Disappearance
days, festivals, fasts, feasts, etc.

View previous years festival dates on the Calendar:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2001-2002.htm
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2002-2003.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2003-2004.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html Coming soon
(some selected locations are available already below)

Now available 2004 - 2005 Vaishnava Calendar started March 2004
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html

Sri Katyayani vrata begins

Sri Narahari Sarkar Thakur - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Fasting for Utpanna Ekadasi- (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 8th December 2004  in NZ)

Sri Kaliya Krsna dasa - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Saranga Thakur - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Dhanus Sankranti (Sun enters Sagittarius)

Odan sasthi

Fasting for Mokshada Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 22nd December 2004  in NZ)

Gita Jayanti - Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita - The day Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna - This occurs on Mokshada ekadasi day

Sri Katyayani vrata ends

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada - Disappearance  - Tirubhav (Fasting till noon)

Sri Devananda Pandit - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Fasting for Saphala Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 7th January 2005  in NZ)

Sri Mahesa Pandit - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sri Uddharana Datta - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sri Locana Das Thakur - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Srila Jiva Goswami - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sri Jagadisa Pandit - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Makara Sankranti (Sun enters Capricorn)
Makara Sankranti all about Makara sankranti

Fasting for Putrada Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 21st January 2005  in NZ)

Sri Jagadisa Pandit - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Sri Krsna Pusya abhisheka

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Sri Jayadeva Goswami - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sri Locana Das Thakur - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Fasting for Sat-tila Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 5th February 2005  in NZ)

Sri Ganga Sagara Mela

Sri Vasanta Pancami

Srimati Visnupriya Devi - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Srimati Sarasvati Puja

Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sri Pundarika Vidyanidhi - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Sri Raghunandana Thakur - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Sri Raghunatha Das Goswami - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Kumbha Sankranti (Sun enters Aquarius)

Sri Advaita Acarya - Appearance  - Avirbhav (Fasting till noon)

Sri Bhismastami

Sripad Madhvacarya - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sripad Ramanujacarya - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Fasting for Bhaimi Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 20th February 2005  in NZ)

Sri Varaha Dvadasi - Appearance of Lord Varaha deva
(The fast is observed till noon on the Ekadasi)(Feasting is done today.)

Sri Nityananda Trayodasi - Appearance of Nityananda Prabhu (Fasting till noon - 22nd Feb in NZ)

Sri Krsna Madhura utsava

Srila Narottama Das Thakur - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Sri Purusottama Das Thakur - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Srila Gour Govinda Swami -- Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupad - Appearance  - Avirbhav (Fasting till noon)

Fasting for Vijaya Ekadasi- (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 7th March 2005  in NZ)

Sripad Isvara Puri - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sri Shiva Ratri - Appearance Day of Lord Shiva

Srila Jagannatha Das Babaji - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sri Rasikananda - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Sri Purusottama Das Thakur - Appearance  - Avirbhav

Mina Sankranti (Sun enters Pisces)

Fasting for Amalaki vrata Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 21st March 2005  in NZ)

Sripad Madhavendra Puri - Disappearance  - Tirubhav

Holi

Sri Krishna Chaitanya (Gauranga) Mahaprabhu - Appearance - ( 26th March 2005 in NZ )
Gaura Purnima - (Fasting Ekadasi style untill moonrise)

Jatakarma Festival of Srila Jagannatha Misra for Birth of Baby Lord Chaitanya

This year's also now available for viewing:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html

All Calender information HERE
http://www.hknet.org.nz/CalendarWhosWho-page.htm

http://panjika.pagehere.com/

Check out the Ekadasi pages with links to every Ekadasi:
(also find out from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada what is, and what constitutes a mahadwadasi)
Find out about Dwadasi and Mahadwadasi here:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/dvadasi.htm

NEW EKADASI RECIPES:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/ekadasi-page.htm

kasmad ekadasi jata tasyah ko va vidhir dvija
kada va kriyate kim va phalam kim va vadasva me

ka va pujyatama tatra devata sad-gunarnava
akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum arhasi

"Oh Gurudeva! When did Ekadasi take birth and from whom did she appear? What are the rules of fasting on the Ekadasi? Please describe the benefits of following this vow and when it should be followed. Who is the utmost worshippable presiding deity of Sri Ekadasi? What are the faults in not following Ekadasi properly? Please bestow your mercy upon me and tell about these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so."

Find out what was said HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/ekadasi-page.htm

Download yourVaishnava Calendar and make a hard copy for this
last year's ( 2003-2004 AD - 517 Gaurabda ) from our site:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2003-2004.html
This coming year ( 2004-2005 AD - 518 Gaurabda ) from our site:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html

Vaishnava Calendar Program Vcal 4.01 FREE Download, and make your own Calendar for 2004-2005:
http://www.iskcon.org/calendar/vcal401.zip

or if you can't do that and you'd like a 2004-2005 Calendar for your longitude, latitude and time zone ANYWHERE in the world I can do that for you and e-mail it to you - FREE    Vaishnava Calendar Software 4.01

MAKE YOUR OWN CALENDAR FOR YOUR LOCATION,
no more dodgy calendars/panchangas/panjikas from India

...some already made for you http://www.hknet.org.nz/Cals2005-2006-World.html

Vaishnava Calendar maker for your region - on-line:
http://www.iskcondc.org/cgi-bin/vcalndx.pl

Astrologically/Astronomically Accurate and FREE

Please download the software from:
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How to use the VCAL calendar program:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/VcalHow2use.html

mailto:jtcd@xtra.co.nz

Vaishnava Calendar maker for your region - on-line:
http://www.iskcondc.org/cgi-bin/vcalndx.pl

Festivals on the Vrindavan Calendar
http://www.naturalnirvana.com/Braja-Mandala/Braja-Mandal-Files/Braja-Vrindavan-Festivals.htm

Time Zones and Countries World-wide:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/
 

Here's a few Vaishnava Calendar locations around the World friends asked for us to post !!

Newsletters:
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Melbourne Temple F.O.L.K. News Daily Newsletter/diatrobe:
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Other Journals, Newsletters, & KC Blogs:
Aniruddha's blog:
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Ekendra's Mrdanga
http://www.gopinatha.net/journalKC/index.php
This is my new journal where I hope to contribute something worth reading to the world. The inspiration for this comes from Nectar of Devotion wherein it is stated that to reveal one's mind in confidence is one of the loving exchanges between Vaisnavas. Ekendra dasa.

The Conch newsletter - Radha Giridhari temple Auckland
http://www.hknet.org.nz/TheConch-newsletter.html
The Conch Newsletter is a subscription newsletter that is sent out in Word format either as a printable attached file through e-mail, or hard-copy by snail mail. The newsletter is monthly, and compiled by Amrita-pani devi dasi in conjunction with the editorial advisor HH Mukunda Goswami.

Atmarama.com - http://www.atmaram.com/
This is Sydney Temple president's site. This site is meant to assist and inspire individuals in their spiritual development by keeping them in touch with a bona-fide spiritual authority.As well as detailing current and upcoming discourses and workshops we provide a forum for you address your questions on spiritual development to Atmaram dasa, who will try to answer all queries efficiently.

From the virtual pen of Sita-pati dasa http://blog.worldsankirtan.net/sitapati/
News and views from Sita-pati dasa.

The International Society for Education in Krsna Consciousnesshttp://www.isekc.com/ has a Blog called Vaishnava Sanga which one can access from the ISEKC home page.

Srimad Bhagavad Gita AS IT IS

Bhagavad Gita:  Chapter 2 - Contents of the Gita Summarized

                                 TEXT 39

                         esa te 'bhihita sankhye
                        buddhir yoge tv imam srnu
                        buddhya yukto yaya partha
                        karma-bandham prahasyasi

                             WORD FOR WORD

   esa--all this; te--unto you; abhihita--described; sankhye--by analytical study; buddhih--intelligence; yoge--in work without fruitive result; tu--but; imam--this; srnu- just hear; buddhya--by intelligence; yuktah--dovetailed; yaya--by which; partha--O son of Prtha; karma-bandham--bondage of reaction; prahasyasi--you can be released from.

                               TRANSLATION

   Thus far I have described this knowledge to you through analytical study. Now listen as I explain it in terms of working without fruitive results. O son of Prtha, when you act in such knowledge you can free yourself from the bondage of works.

PURPORT by HDG Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:
   According to the Nirukti, or the Vedic dictionary, sankhya means that which describes things in detail, and sankhya refers to that philosophy which describes the real nature of the soul. And yoga involves controlling the senses. Arjuna's proposal not to fight was based on sense gratification. Forgetting his prime duty, he wanted to cease fighting, because he thought that by not killing his relatives and kinsmen he would be happier than by enjoying the kingdom after conquering his cousins and brothers, the sons of Dhrtarastra. In both ways, the basic principles were for sense gratification. Happiness derived from conquering them and happiness derived by seeing kinsmen alive are both on the basis of personal sense gratification, even at a sacrifice of wisdom and duty. Krsna, therefore, wanted to explain to Arjuna that by killing the body of his grandfather he would not be killing the soul proper, and He explained that all individual persons, including the Lord Himself, are eternal individuals; they were individuals in the past, they are individuals in the present, and they will continue to remain individuals in the future, because all of us are individual souls eternally. We simply change our bodily dress in different manners, but actually we keep our individuality even after liberation from the bondage of material dress. An analytical study of the soul and the body has been very graphically explained by Lord Krsna. And this descriptive knowledge of the soul and the body from different angles of vision has been described here as Sankhya, in terms of the Nirukti dictionary. This Sankhya has nothing to do with Sankhya philosophy of the atheist Kapila. Long before the imposter Kapila's Sankhya, the Sankhya philosophy was expounded in the Srimad-Bhagavatam by the true Lord Kapila, the incarnation of Lord Krsna, who explained it to His mother, Devahuti. It is clearly explained by Him that the purusa, or the Supreme Lord, is active and that He creates by looking over the prakrti. This is accepted in the Vedas and in the Gita. The description in the Vedas indicates that the Lord glanced over the prakrti, or nature, and impregnated it with atomic individual souls. All these individuals are working in the material world for sense gratification, and under the spell of material energy they are thinking of being enjoyers. This mentality is dragged to the last point of liberation when the living entity wants to become one with the Lord. This is the last snare of maya, or sense gratificatory illusion, and it is only after many, many births of such sense gratificatory activities that a great soul surrenders unto Vasudeva, Lord Krsna, thereby fulfilling the search after the ultimate truth.

   Arjuna has already accepted Krsna as his spiritual master by surrendering himself unto Him: sisyas te 'ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam. Consequently, Krsna will now tell him about the working process in buddhi-yoga, or karma-yoga, or in other words, the practice of devotional service only for the sense gratification of the Lord. This buddhi-yoga is clearly explained in Chapter Ten, verse ten, as being direct communion with the Lord, who is sitting as Paramatma in everyone's heart. But such communion does not take place without devotional service. One who is therefore situated in devotional or transcendental loving service to the Lord, or, in other words, in Krsna consciousness, attains to this stage of buddhi-yoga by the special grace of the Lord. The Lord says, therefore, that only to those who are always engaged in devotional service out of transcendental love does He award the pure knowledge of devotion in love. In that way the devotee can reach Him easily in the ever-blissful kingdom of God.

   Thus the buddhi-yoga mentioned in this verse is the devotional service of the Lord, and the word Sankhya mentioned herein has nothing to do with the atheistic sankhya-yoga enunciated by the imposter Kapila. One should not, therefore, misunderstand that the sankhya-yoga mentioned herein has any connection with the atheistic Sankhya. Nor did that philosophy have any influence during that time; nor would Lord Krsna care to mention such godless philosophical speculations. Real Sankhya philosophy is described by Lord Kapila in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, but even that Sankhya has nothing to do with the current topics. Here, Sankhya means analytical description of the body and the soul. Lord Krsna made an analytical description of the soul just to bring Arjuna to the point of buddhi-yoga, or bhakti-yoga. Therefore, Lord Krsna's Sankhya and Lord Kapila's Sankhya, as described in the Bhagavatam, are one and the same. They are all bhakti-yoga. Lord Krsna Said, therefore, that only the less intelligent class of men make a distinction between sankhya-yoga and bhakti-yoga (sankhya-yogau prthag balah pravadanti na panditah).

   Of course, atheistic sankhya-yoga has nothing to do with bhakti-yoga, yet the unintelligent claim that the atheistic sankhya-yoga is referred to in the Bhagavad-gita.

   One should therefore understand that buddhi-yoga means to work in Krsna consciousness, in the full bliss and knowledge of devotional service. One who works for the satisfaction of the Lord only, however difficult such work may be, is working under the principles of buddhi-yoga and finds himself always in transcendental bliss. By such transcendental engagement, one achieves all transcendental understanding automatically, by the grace of the Lord, and thus his liberation is complete in itself, without his making extraneous endeavors to acquire knowledge. There is much difference between work in Krsna consciousness and work for fruitive results, especially in the matter of sense gratification for achieving results in terms of family or material happiness. Buddhi-yoga is therefore the transcendental quality of the work that we perform.

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

 - His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Bhagavad Gita As It Is - http://www.asitis.com/

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Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.

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Prabhupada Uvacha:
(here's some nectar, sometimes it comes in the form of Srutakirti prabhu's diary, other times from Govinda dasi's diary, or sometimes from a letter, but still nectar...)

Sweet Grapes

One evening I came to Srila Prabhupada's room after a long day in Bombay. As usual, I had traveled to and from the city in the crowded trains, and to and from the train station in a crowded bus. And as usual, I had not taken any prasada from the morning until the time I returned. Srila Prabhupada looked at me and asked, "How are you feeling?" I then noticed how weak and sick I was. "Well, frankly speaking, Srila Prabhupada, I feel a little tired." Anyway, Srila Prabhupada already knew.
Immediately Srila Prabhupada ordered grapes for me. He said grapes are very good for strength and energy. Then he insisted I eat the grapes in his presence, and soon he asked if I was feeling stronger. And yes, I was.
Finally, he concluded: " To work very hard for Krsna for two days, and then to recuperate for three days - that is not a very good proposal."

- From the "Watering the Seed" by HH Giriraja Swami Maharaja

To receive little snippets of nectar like this on a daily basis subscribe HERE: or If you want to introduce anyone else in reading Srila Prabhupada Nectars, please send their eMail addresses to mailto:krpamaya_gauranga@hotmail.com

Please Chant:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Listen to Srila Prabhupad on-line
....a different lecture, morning walk, conversation or class daily.

"Actual Woman's Liberation"
July 9, 1975

Listen to the entire lecture on-line:
http://prabhupadavani.org/Conversations/RAMfiles_CNV/CNV009.ram

Woman reporter: When you came to Chicago last week you said you were going to tell us some of the solutions to our problems in this country. Can you tell me what some of those solutions are?
Prabhupada: Solution not only of your country or our country, it is the solution for the whole human society. I told that as there are different divisions in the same body, the head, the arms, the belly, and the leg... Although the body is one, but there are different parts for different function. Then the body is going nicely. The head is the most important part of the body. So if the head is not in order, then, in spite of presentation of other parts of the body, hands, leg, the body is useless. Just like a madman. Madman, this brain is not in order. Therefore despite the presentation of the hands, legs, and other things, it is useless. Similarly, the human society should be divided into four classes according to quality. Not everyone is on the same level. So for, even for material purposes there must be four divisions: first-class, second-class, third-class, fourth-class, means... The definition of the first-class, find out. This is the definition of the first-class man.
Nitai:
samo damas tapah saucam
ksantir arjavam eva ca
jnanam vijnanam astikyam
brahma-karma svabhava-jam
 [Bg. 18.42]
"Peacefulness, self-control, austerity, purity, tolerance, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, and religiousness -- these are the qualities by which the brahmanas work."
Prabhupada: This is first-class man. Then second-class man?
Nitai:
sauryam tejo dhrtir daksyam
yuddhe capy apalayanam
danam isvara-bhavas ca
ksatram karma svabhava-jam
 [Bg. 18.43]
"Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity, and leadership are the qualities of work for the ksatriyas."
Prabhupada: This is second-class. And then third-class?
Nitai:
krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam
vaisya-karma svabhava-jam
paricaryatmakam karma
sudrasyapi svabhava-jam
 [Bg. 18.44]
Prabhupada: That is fourth-class. First of all, third-class.
Nitai: Third-class: "Farming, cattle raising and business are the qualities of work for the vaisyas,..."
Prabhupada: Not cattle raising, cow protection.
Nitai: Cow protection.
Prabhupada: Yes. Farming and cow protection and trade, this is meant for the third-class division. And worker, fourth-class. These divisions must be there. Then the society will go on very nicely. Exactly the same example, that if the different parts of the body -- the brain, the arms, the belly and the legs -- all are in order, the bodily function will go on very nicely. This is natural.
Woman reporter: Where do women fit into these four classes?
Prabhupada: That I already explained. Women's position is subordinate to man. So if the man is first-class, the woman is first-class. If the man is second-class, the woman is second-class. If the man is third-class, the woman is third-class. In this... Because woman is meant for assisting man, so the woman becomes suitable according to the man, her husband.
Woman reporter: Would you say that women are inferior to men?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Woman reporter: Why?
Prabhupada: By physiological condition. Just like you are. Your bodily features are different from the man's features. You cannot deny it. So according to the bodily features, the psychological condition and everything is there. How you can deny it?
Woman reporter: Do you think that I am inferior to you?
Prabhupada: It is not the question of inferior or superior. Different. Now you take one inferior or superior. That is your calculation. But the bodily features are different. That is material. But spiritually, they are all one. Materially... Just like your bodily feature and a man's bodily feature is different. Now, so far question of inferior, superior, that is your calculation. But we say that by nature, a woman and man is different.
Woman reporter: What does this mean as far as whether women can do the same things that men can do, or whether women can lead people?
Prabhupada: Well, women can bear children, but the man cannot. Is it possible to bear children? A man can become pregnant? Is it possible?
Woman reporter: No.
Prabhupada: Physically... Therefore there are so many things which is possible in man and which is not possible in woman, by nature. How you can say that they are of the same nature?
Woman reporter: I'm not saying they're the same. What can...
Prabhupada: Then if you not saying that, then they are different in their physiological condition. So now this physiological condition, you may calculate, "This is better, this is better." That is your calculation. Our calculation is the man and woman are different in their physiological condition.
Woman reporter: But you say women are subordinate to men.
Prabhupada: Yes, that is also natural. Because when the husband and wife are there or the father and daughter is there, so the daughter is subordinate to the father and the wife is subordinate to the husband.
Woman reporter: What happens when women are not subordinate to men?
Prabhupada: Then there is disruption. There is disruption, social disruption. If the woman does not become subordinate to man, then there is social disruption. Therefore, in the western countries there are so many divorce cases because the woman does not agree to become subordinate to man. That is the cause.
Woman reporter: What advice do you have to women who do not want to be subordinate to men?
Prabhupada: It is not my advice, but it is the advice of the Vedic knowledge that woman should be chaste and faithful to man.

...............continued

What is called renunciation you should know to be the same as yoga, or linking oneself with the Supreme, O son of Pändu, for one can never become a yogi unless he renounces the desire for sense gratification.

For one who is a neophyte in the eightfold yoga system, work is said to be the means; and for one who is already elevated in yoga, cessation of all material activities is said to be the means.

A person is said to be elevated in yoga when, having renounced all material desires, he neither acts for sense gratification nor engages in fruitive activities. (Bhagavad Gita 6.2-4 )

There is no possibility of one’s becoming a yogi, O Arjuna, if one eats too much or eats too little, sleeps too much or does not sleep enough.

He who is regulated in his habits of eating, sleeping, recreation and work can mitigate all material pains by practicing the yoga system.

When the yogé, by practice of yoga, disciplines his mental activities and becomes situated in transcendence - devoid of all material desires - he is said to be well established in yoga. (Bhagavad Gita 6.16-18 )

In the stage of perfection called trance, or samädhi, one’s mind is completely restrained from material mental activities by practice of yoga. This perfection is characterized by one’s ability to see the self by the pure mind and to relish and rejoice in the self. In that joyous state, one is situated in boundless transcendental happiness, realized through transcendental senses. Established thus, one never departs from the truth, and upon gaining this he thinks there is no greater gain. Being situated in such a position, one is never shaken, even in the midst of greatest difficulty. This indeed is actual freedom from all miseries arising from material contact.

One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of mental speculation and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind. (Bhagavad Gita 6.20-24 )

Thus the self-controlled yogi, constantly engaged in yoga practice, becomes free from all material contamination and achieves the highest stage of perfect happiness in transcendental loving service to the Lord.

A true yogi observes Me in all beings and also sees every being in Me. Indeed, the self-realized person sees Me, the same Supreme Lord, everywhere. (Bhagavad Gita 6.28-29 )

He is a perfect yogi who, by comparison to his own self, sees the true equality of all beings, in both their happiness and their distress, O Arjuna! (Bhagavad Gita 6.31-32 )

The unsuccessful yogi, after many, many years of enjoyment on the planets of the pious living entities, is born into a family of righteous people, or into a family of rich aristocracy. (Bhagavad Gita 6.41 )

And when the yogi engages himself with sincere endeavor in making further progress, being washed of all contaminations, then ultimately, achieving perfection after many, many births of practice, he attains the supreme goal.

A yogé is greater than the ascetic, greater than the empiricist and greater than the fruitive worker. Therefore, O Arjuna, in all circumstances, be a yogi.

And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me - he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion. (Bhagavad Gita 6.45-47 )

The yogic situation is that of detachment from all sensual engagements. Closing all the doors of the senses and fixing the mind on the heart and the life air at the top of the head, one establishes himself in yoga.

After being situated in this yoga practice and vibrating the sacred syllable om, the supreme combination of letters, if one thinks of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and quits his body, he will certainly reach the spiritual planets. (Bhagavad Gita 8.12-13 )

"Glory to the Sri Krishna Samkirtan which cleanses the heart of all the dust accumulated for years together. Thus the fire of conditional life, of repeated birth and death, is extinguished. The Samkirtan Movement is the prime benediction for humanity at large because it spreads the rays of the benediction Moon. It is the life of all transcendental knowledge, it increases the ocean of transcendental bliss, and it helps us to have a taste of the full nectar for which we are always anxious."

(Every Town & Village, album cover)

On-line Virtual Arati to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai - check it out
http://www.in2-mec.com/GNpuja.html

http://www.hknet.org.nz/harernam-page.htm
http://Harinam/rulestheweb.com

What's So Special About Chanting Hare Krishna?
By Stephen Knapp (Sri Nandanandan dasa ACBSP):
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/chanting_hare_krishna.htm

Hare Krishna is NOT "a Cult":
Is ISKCON a Cult or part of the "Hindu Culture" or Something Else?
http://www.hknet.org.nz/not-a-cult.html

Hare Krishna is NOT a Cult letter by Kunti dd editor of Hare Krishna World:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/HK-no-cult.html

38 Years of Krishna Consciousness through Iskcon.........
http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/aa081201a.htm

Very nice articles and numerous links on the About Hinduism web-site.

What is ISKCON ???
http://www.iskcon.org/main/twohk/iskcon/what.htm

Is Iskcon a Cult?
http://www.hknet.org.nz/not-a-cult.html

Iskcon and Hinduism
http://www.hknet.org.nz/IskconHinduism.html

SONGS AND MANTRAS by Vaishnava spiritual masters:
http://web.tiscali.it/no-redirect-tiscali/gopala/Vaishnava-Songs/index.html

Vaishnava Song Book:
http://www.iskcon.org/sastra/f_vs.html
http://www.iskcon.org/sastra/vs_other.html

Vedic Art Publications
http://www.vedicarts.net/catalogmain.html

.........this library is temporarily not working

Listen to or download Prabhupad lectures and bhajans
http://chantandbehappy.com/prabhupada/index.html

Devotional Bhajans and kirtans
http://chantandbehappy.com/bhajans/index.html

Hundreds of devotional songs by various artists - singers - performers - and many more coming soon:
http://www.radiokrishna.com/modules.php?name=NukeView&file=index&query=http://www.radiokrishna.com/rkc_archive_new/index2.php

Download songs
http://www.harekrsna.cz/mp3/folk/

Krishna Vision of Krishna Prema dasa ACBSP Sound Track Vol. 4 samples:
http://www.krisnavision.narod.ru/

Sydney temple Audio page
http://www.iskcon.com.au/Audio.html

Leicester Temple UK Audio page - many bhajans and kirtans
http://www.gauranga.org/audio_page.htm

Listen to Krishna Radio on various subjects on-line:
http://www.krishna.com/newsite/main.php?id=260

Agama Tantra and the Vaishnava Samskaras as a way of life:

Recently I was asked, "Don't you find it an inconvenience to always be checking to see when is the right time to do this or the best time for that?"

In simple terms my answer was and still is; if you go to the bus or railway station or airport it is probably an intelligent venture to enquire about the times and routes of vehicles than to just hope that one will be along soon, or one is going in your direction.

There are subtle influences in the Universe that, for thousands of years gone by, advanced cultures have honoured, respected and utilised. Before the corruption of the Vedik literatures by the Christian and Moslem invaders to India all these things were used; Ayurvedik Medicine; Vedik Astrology; etc. Today there's a rennaisance among many to revive these arts.

We have been trained and studied to be able to provide these services. See some of my sites:

http://www.hknet.org.nz/jtcd-samskaras.html
http://www.iskcon.net/nz-namahatta/jtcd/1-homepage.html

or contact me directly: mailto:jtcd@xtra.co.nz

aham kratur aham yajnah
svadhaham aham ausadham
mantro 'ham aham evajyam
aham agnir aham hutam

"But it is I who am the ritual, I the sacrifice, the offering to the ancestors, the healing herb,
the transcendental chant. I am the butter and the fire and the offering."(Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita 9.16)

Krishna conscious affirmations:

 Always remember Krishna and never forget Him

Join and receive Krishna conscious affirmations:
mailto:Sravana.SPGTSI@pamho.net

Topical Articles:
Abortion - http://www.hknet.org.nz/index-abortion.htm
Genetic Engineering ( GE or GM ) - http://www.hknet.org.nz/GE.html
Environment - http://www.hknet.org.nz/Environment.htm
Encroachment - http://www.hknet.org.nz/WE-Day2004.html
Cloning - http://www.hknet.org.nz/cloning.htm
Science - http://www.hknet.org.nz/science2KC.html
Cow Protection - http://www.hknet.org.nz/Cow-protection.htm
The Four Regulative Principles of Freedom - http://www.hknet.org.nz/Regs-4page.htm
seX-files - http://www.hknet.org.nz/seX-files.htm
Mundane Knowledge - http://www.hknet.org.nz/mundaneknowledge.html
Death (Yamaduttas - Terminal Restlessness etc)- http://www.hknet.org.nz/death.html
Near Death Experience - http://www.hknet.org.nz/NDE.htm
Ghosts - http://www.hknet.org.nz/ghosts.htm
Reincarnation again here - http://www.hknet.org.nz/Reincarnation-page.htm
Gain some insights in the TV culture  - http://www.hknet.org.nz/television.html
The aweful Truth about softdrinks - http://www.hknet.org.nz/theREALthing.html
Changing the face of the Earth - http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/1390/index.html
UFOs - http://www.hknet.org.nz/UFOs.html
Vegetarianism & Beyond - http://turn.to/Vegetarianism
Articles for newcomers to Krishna consciousness - http://www.krishna.com/newsite/main.php?id=87
Self Help and Motivational pages - Deals and Affiliate programs: - http://www.hknet.org.nz/index-selfhelp.html
Myth of the Aryan invasion by Dr. David Frawley: - http://www.hknet.org.nz/Aryan-invasion-mythDF.html

.........many other articles - http://www.hknet.org.nz/index-articles.htm

and from there go to the Main Index http://www.hknet.org.nz/index.htm

“I worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Govinda [Kåñëa], who is always situated in various incarnations such as Räma, Nåsiàha and many subincarnations as well, but who is the original Personality of Godhead known as Kåñëa, and who incarnates personally also.” (Brahma samhita 5:39.)

The Devotee List - Iskcon and Gaudiya math(s):
(It's still being developed, and a lot of devotees are not here......)
http://devotee.s5.com/index.html

Mail box full - over quota - newsletters bouncing.......

Still waiting for an internet company to come forward
and give you a massive mailbox for FREE like it's been rumoured for months.

HELP IS HERE AT LAST.

Tired of that wimpy 2mb mailboxs?  rejecting important emails cause
its always overflowing but still too cheap to spring for a "real" ISP..
No computer but need an email address? Need a stealth email address? Got
a friend who fits that description?... Well here are some other free
options for you. Note that a couple of these offer HUGE 100-200mb mail boxes...

http://www.hotmail.com   ..................2 mb
http://www.yahoo.com ....................4 mb
http://www.freeserve.com ..............5 mb
http://www.myownemail.com ........5 mb
http://www.lycos.com ......................5 mb
 http://www.softhome.net ................6 mb
http://www.bigmailbox.com ...........7 mb
http://mail.uk2.net ...........................10 mb
 http://www.gmx.net
http://www.graffiti.net
http://www.hotpop.com
http://www.mail2world
http://www.mail.com
http://www.mailandnews.com
http://www.mail15.com .................15 mb
http://macnews.de .........................20 mb
http://xms.ms ..................................20 mb
http://balls.com ............................100 mb
http://ukonline.net .......................200 mb

Vedik World Heritage pages

Read enlivening articles
See pictures of exhumed relics
Understand conspirital deceptions...
Join the renaissance to rebuild the Golden Age in the Kali-yuga
Find out about Vedik heritage items all around the world.....

Send in your articles and news:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/VWH.html

See more similar pages and links http://www.hknet.org.nz/VWH.html and http://www.hknet.org.nz/index-Vedik.htm

Vedik Culture list
 mailto:vediculture-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

A selection of interesting Krishna conscious articles from New Panihati - Atlanta temple USA:
http://newpanihati.tripod.com/NewsGroup/KCNectar/KCNectarMain.htm

Paradigms - where things are not all they seem

Krishna conscious Dramas and plays:
A collection of 88 transcendental dramas assembled and presented for the pleasure of
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
http://www.cedarpost.com/krsnaconsciousplays/default.htm

Wonderful modern Krishna conscious plays:
http://www.cedarpost.com/krsnaconsciousplays/TableOfContents.htm

These are great for Sunday feasts, or school programs or street presentations, or just for our own understanding.

Read here what Prabhupad says about such plays and dramas:
http://www.cedarpost.com/krsnaconsciousplays/PlaysP2SPquotes.htm

The Formidable Audio page - Bhajans, Kirtans, Lectures many Iskcon devotees:
http://www.iskcon.com.au/Audio.html

and

Bhajans and Kirtans
http://chantandbehappy.com/bhajans/index.html

and

Download latest Real Player for Free:
http://software-dl.real.com/22e4968a89f121132020/windows/mrkt/AUN03D/RealOnePlayerV2GOLD.exe

Listen to audio and view videos on-line here:
http://www.prabhupada.org/prabhupadadesh/a_deposito_oggetti/Archivio_Audio-Video/index.php?q=t&t=EN
http://www.prabhupada.org/prabhupadadesh/a_deposito_oggetti/Archivio_Audio-Video/index.php?q=f&f=%2FAudio
There's literally hundreds of bhajans, kirtans and videos segments to check out.............try all the folders too.......

Nectar for kids and adults alike:
http://www.rasa-music.com/Bodies/body-shop.html

...........more Audio sites linked HERE

Bhutan: 1st Nation to ban Tobacco

Tobacco ban from December 17th http://kuenselonline.com/article.php?sid=4695

13 November 2004 - The nationwide ban on the sale of tobacco products has been postponed to December 17 according to a notification from the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

  The notification which was issued on November 8 states that all shops, hotels, restaurants, and bars selling tobacco products should dispose existing tobacco stocks before the ban is enforced.The ministry has warned of severe penalties if any person, groups or firm is found selling tobacco products after the ban. Ban breakers will be fined Nu. 10,000 and owners of shops and hotels will lose their business licenses.

The decision follows the resolution of this year's National Assembly where it was decided that the ban on the sale of tobacco products be made nationwide. The Assembly also decided to levy a 100 percent tax on all the tobacco products brought into the country for personal consumption.

At present 18 of Bhutan's 20 districts have banned the sale of tobacco products. Thimphu and Samdrup Jongkhar have yet to impose such a ban.

After the National Assembly resolution on the ban was passed in July, Thimphu community leaders had agreed to ban sale of tobacco products in the capital on November 11.

Meanwhile in Thimphu the cost of the popular Indian manufactured Wills cigarette has increased from Nu. 30 to Nu. 40 or Nu. 50 a packet depending from which shop one buys. Its maximum retail price is Nu. 23 a packet.

In places like Mewang geog in Thimphu, the ban is already being enforced. Community leaders, gups, mangmis and tshogpas are involved in making the ban effective.
 
 

Auspicious Wedding Day Leads to Priest Shortage
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/929881.cms

NEW DELHI, INDIA, November 21, 2004: There will be no dearth of anxious couples November 28, but there sure will be a shortage of priests as some 14,000 weddings are expected to be solemnized in the capital on what is an auspicious day for Hindus. Not just priests, even services of marriage contractors, caterers and florists will be available at a premium November 28, thanks to the rush of couples who have chosen to get married that day. With each wedding expected to cost an average Rs.1 million (US$22,727), inclusive of rent for marriage halls and food, the total cost of the weddings is likely to touch Rs.14 billion (US$318 million). (HPI adds: For comparison, the average wedding in the UK is $28,000, Bride's Magazine gave an average of $21,000 for the US in the year 2003 -- enough for a college education. There were 2.3 million weddings in the US in 2003, a $50 billion business.)

Among the thousands, who would tie the nuptial knot that day include Minister of State for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal's son Amit and London-based lawyer Pallavi. Of the six auspicious days that fall this month, November 28 is supposed to be the most propitious, said renowned astrologer Ajay Gautam, who also hosts the website. The auspicious day is decided by five components of the Hindu almanac - including day and star of the bride and groom. If those match with the date, it is considered to be auspicious, said Gautam.

Courtesy of http://www.HinduismToday.com/

Vegetarianism Gains in Russia
http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/90/360/14560_veganism.html

RUSSIA, November 11, 2004: (HPI note: This article is translated from the Russian newspaper Pravda.) Vegetarians of the planet have recently celebrated the day of Vegans - the most radical group of the movement. Vegetarianism is gathering pace in the world again, although the peak of the movement occurred in Europe in the beginning of the last century. The idea of the meat-free nourishment has changed a lot since that time, though.

The international statistics does not have any information about the number of people who do not eat meat because of their moral beliefs, not poverty. The percentage of vegetarians in Great Britain is rather low: only seven percent, or 4.2 million people. The number of Russian vegetarians is not known at all. The center of the vegetarian association told the Izvestia newspaper that about ten thousand Muscovites do not have meat dishes on their daily menus. However, only 264 vegetarians are registered on the website of the association.

The roots of the Russian vegetarianism of the XX century are clear. Peasants used to constitute the vast majority of the Russian population. They ate meat only on Sundays or on holidays. Russian fighters for people's happiness used to associate meat with easy life, satiety and over-indulgence. Leo Tolstoy propagandized the idea of self-restraint, which implied vegetarianism too. Vegetarian restaurants and hospitals used to be very popular in Russia in those years. Nowadays Russians become vegetarians for two reasons: they either believe that eating meat is bad for health or they wish to express their outlook.

"Young people become more attracted to ideas of vegetarianism and veganism in particular," Elena Marueva, the director of the center for protection of animals' rights, said in an interview with the Izvestia. "We are moved with the idea of life without violence, without slaughtering animals and treating them brutally," said she.

Courtesy of http://www.HinduismToday.com/

Professor: How many levels of initiation do you have?
Prabhupada: Two.
Professor: Two. The first...
Prabhupada: First initiation, experimental...
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: Chanting Hare Krsna maha-mantra. Then, as he practices, becomes more purified, then second initiation. Gayatri. Gayatri-mantra. But the first initiation, according to Jiva Gosvami, that is sufficient. Chanting Hare Krsna mantra, that is sufficient. But still, to purify them more, the second initiation, Gayatri, is given. So we are creating brahmanas in the western countries. Yes.
Professor: Yes. I know. Don't you think it's against the dharma-sastra?
Prabhupada: No.
Professor: No. Tell me why?
Prabhupada: Because in the Bhagavad-gita it is said, catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah [Bg. 4.13]. There is nothing, such thing as janma.
Professor: Oh. Very nice.
Prabhupada: And another place, Bhagavatam, there is statement of Narada, advising Maharaja Yudhisthira that yasya yal laksanam proktam pumso varnabhivyanjakam. There are symptoms, brahmana system, samo damas tapah saucam ksantir arjavam [Bg. 18.42]. It is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Yasya yal laksanam proktam pumso varnabhivyanjakam, abhivyanjakam varna. Yad anyatrapi drsyeta tat tenaiva vinirdiset [SB 7.11.35]. This is the injunction of Narada, "The symptoms, brahminical symptoms, if it is found in the person who is born in a sudra family, he should be accepted as brahmana. And if the sudra symptoms are visible in a person born in a brahmana family, he should be accepted as sudra." And in the Jabala Upanisad, the Satyakama Jabala... So Satyakama was born of a maidservant, but he wanted to become brahmana. So he went to Gautama Muni: "Sir, make your disciple." In those days, Vaidic brahminical culture, without becoming brahmana, he cannot be initiated. Initiation means to make one brahmana. So, according to our Gosvami process, Sanatana Gosvami, he has given us the book, Hari-bhakti-vilasa. In that book he has written,
yatha kancanatam yati
kamsyam rasa-vidhanatah
tatha diksa-vidhanena
dvijatvam jayate nrnam
Nrnam: "Of all human beings, by initiation, he becomes a dvija." So we follow that principle. And besides that, Caitanya Mahaprabhu ordered that bharata-bhumite... You understand little Bengali?
Professor: No, Bengali, no, I don't. But it doesn't matter.
Prabhupada: Bharata-bhumite manusya-janma haila yara [Cc. Adi 9.41]. It is almost Sanskrit. "Anyone who has taken birth as human being in the land of Bharatavarsa," janma sarthaka kari, "making his life successful," kara para-upakara. Para-upakara. Para-upakara means everyone is in slumber and considering himself that he is body, like cats and dogs. Therefore, they should be raised to the spiritual consciousness that "You are not cats and dogs. You are Brahman." Just realize "aham brahmasmi." This is para-upakara. So we are doing that. We are awakening everyone. Uttisthatah jagratah prapta-varam nibodhata: "You have got now human being form of life. Now get up and make your life successful by spiritual realization." This is our message. Sarve sukhino bhavantu. By spiritual realization everyone will become happy. Without spiritual realization, nobody can become happy. This is our mission.
Professor: Thank you.
Prabhupada: So Indian caste brahmanas, they are against me, against me. They come to fight with me that I am spoiling Hindu religion.
Professor: (laughs) Well, you are a brahmana yourself.
Prabhupada: Yes. I am now sannyasi.
Hamsaduta: This is a statement of account from the Central Bank of India. It just arrived from London.
Prabhupada: Oh. (pause, opens letter) Any other letter? No.
Hamsaduta: That's all. No.
Prabhupada: So just see how we have translated. You are Sanskrit scholar.
Professor: You know the Kali-santarana Upanisad?
Prabhupada: Kali-santarana Upanisad. Yes.
Professor: Yes, I have made a translation of it into French. It's under print now at the present.
Prabhupada: Kali-santarana Upanisad? That is Hare Krsna mantra.
Professor: Yeah, that the Hare Krsna mantra. That's the...
Yogesvara: You mentioned that to Professor Stahl in your correspondences.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Yogesvara: You mentioned that in the Kali-santarana Upanisad the Hare Krsna mantra is specifically recommended to counteract the contamination.
Prabhupada: Now it is translated by you.
Professor: Yeah.
Yogesvara: In French?
Professor: In French, yes. I'll send you a copy when, when it's out of the press. It is not a fact at present. Well, I thank you very much for being kind enough...
Yogesvara: If you have questions, you shouldn't feel shy. You can ask whatever you want.
Professor: No, why not?
Prabhupada: No. He has already questioned once, that I am making brahmana -- whether it is according to sastra?
Professor: That's the usual question. That's not the first time this question has been asked to you.
Prabhupada: No, it is... We do not do anything which is not in sastra. So this Jabala Upanisad, this Satyakama Jabala, he went to Gautama Muni for initiation. So Gautama Muni asked him, "Who is your father?" He replied that he did not know. "So ask your mother." The mother was asked also. She said, "No, I do not know." He came to Gautama Muni and said that, "My father's name is neither known to my mother nor to me."
Professor: Yes, yes. I know this story.
Prabhupada: Then he accepted that "You are a brahmana," because he is talking truth.
Professor: The truth, satyam.
Prabhupada: That is the sign.
Professor: The sign. It's a well-known story.
Prabhupada: Therefore, by birth, a brahmana is not made. By character.
Professor: Yes, I agree with that. And what about girls? Do you initiate girls? Or not?
Prabhupada: Eh?
Professor: Do you initiate girls?
Prabhupada: Oh, yes. So many girls. Striyo vaisyas tatha sudras te 'pi yanti param gatim.
Professor: That's...
Prabhupada: Find out this verse, mam hi partha vyapasritya. Give him, Pandita Mahasaya.
mam hi partha vyapasritya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim
 [Bg. 9.32]
Professor: Just like Gargi and... Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. Gargi. Etad viditva yah prayati sa brahmanah.
Yogesvara: It's rather remarkable if one takes into account the fact that most of us come from backgrounds which had nothing whatsoever to do with the standards of brahminical culture.
Professor: That's right. Yes, that's...
Yogesvara: We were, we were steeped in all kinds of bad habits.
Prabhupada: No, according to Vedic injunction, the Westerners are mlecchas, yavanas. You know better than me.
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: So papa-yoni. And therefore, Krsna says... What does He say?
Pradyumna:
mam hi partha vyapasritya
ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah
striyo vaisyas tatha sudras
te 'pi yanti param gatim
 [Bg. 9.32]
"O son of Prtha, those who take shelter in Me, although they be of lower birth, women, vaisyas, merchants, as well as sudras, or workers, can approach the supreme destination."
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: In another place, in Srimad-Bhagavatam, I think Second, Second Canto... Find out this verse: kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa yad-apasrayasrayah [SB 2.4.18].
Professor: This one?
Devotee: Yes.
Prabhupada: Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa...
Pradyumna: We publish these with nice indices.
Professor: Oh, yes, yes. It is so strange to have an index. Yes.
Prabhupada: Index, there is.
Professor: Sloka-suci. Yes, there is index. Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Pradyumna: Kirata-hunandhra-pulinda-pulkasa abhira-sumbha yavanah khasadayah ye 'nye ca papa...
Prabhupada: The name, yavana, is there.
Pradyumna: ...yad-apasrayasrayah sudhyanti tasmai prabhavisnave namah. Translation: "Kirata, Huna, Andhra, Pulinda, Pulkasa, Abhira, Sumbha, Yavana, and the Khasa races, and even others, who are addicted to sinful acts, can be purified by taking shelter of the devotees of the Lord due to His being the Supreme Power. I beg to offer my respectful obeisances unto Him."
Prabhupada: What is the purport?
Pradyumna: Uh. "Kirata. A province of old Bharatavarsa mentioned in the Bhisma-parva of the Mahabharata. Generally the Kiratas are known as the aboriginal tribes of India. And in modern days the Santal Parganas in Bihar and Chota Nagpur might comprise the old province named Kirata."
Prabhupada: They're black.
Pradyumna: "Huna. The area of East Germany and part of Russia is known as the province of the Hunas. Accordingly, sometimes a kind of hill tribe is known as the Hunas, the Huns."
Prabhupada: Hoons.
Pradyumna: "Andhra. A province in Southern India mentioned in the Bhisma-parva of Mahabharata. It is still extant under the same name. Pulinda. It is mentioned in Mahabharata, Adi 174.38, that is the inhabitants of the province of the name, Pulinda. This country was conquered by Bhimasena and Sahadeva. The Greeks are known as Pulindas, and it is mentioned in the Vana-parva of the Mahabharata that the non-Vedic race of this part of the world would rule over the world. This Pulinda province was also one of the provinces of Bharata, and the inhabitants were classified amongst the ksatriya kings. But later on, due to their giving up the brahminical culture, they were mentioned as mlecchas, just as those who are not followers of the Islamic culture are called kafirs, and those who are not followers of the Christian culture are called heathens. Abhira. This name also appears in Mahabharata, both in the Sabha-parva and the Bhisma-parva. It is mentioned that this province was situated on the River Sarasvati in Sind. The modern Sind province formerly extended on the other side of the Arabian Sea. All the inhabitants of that province were known as the Abhiras. They were under the domination of Maharaja Yudhisthira and, according to the statements of Markandeya, the mlecchas of this part of the world would also rule over Bharata. Later on, this proved to be true, as it was proved in the case of the Pulindas. On behalf of the Pulindas, Alexander the Great conquered India, and on behalf of the Abhiras, Muhammad Ghori conquered India. These Abhiras were also formerly ksatriyas within the brahminical culture, but they gave up the connection. But the ksatriyas who were afraid of Parasurama and had hidden themselves in the Caucasian hilly regions later on became known as the Abhiras, and the place they inhabited was known as Abhiradesa. Sumbha, or the..." [break]
Prabhupada: One Yavana fought with him, Kalayavana.
Professor: Because usually the Yavanas is considered as being Greeks.
Prabhupada: Greeks.
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Professor: Not Turks.
Prabhupada: Turks and Greeks...
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: What is the mention there?
Pradyumna: Turkey.
Prabhupada: Hm. Then?
Pradyumna: Then... "Another ..."
Prabhupada: As far as I have searched out from Mahabharata... Yes.
Pradyumna: "The western Yavana joined with Duryodhana in the Battle of Kuruksetra under the pressure of Karna. It is also foretold that these Yavanas, that these Yavanas also would conquer India, and it proved to be true. Khasa..." [break]
Professor: Now I understand exactly what the purpose of your movement is. I just wonder if you think the Western world is ready for this message?
Prabhupada: Yes, why not ready? So many young men are coming.
Professor: So many, O.K., yes, but consideration of so many other people outside this temple...
Prabhupada: No, any sane man will accept. This cult will not be accepted by the insane. One who is in quite order of the brain, he'll accept it. Only mudhas. That is stated in the Bhagavad-gita. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah [Bg. 7.15].
Professor: And in India where is your asrama or something like that?
Prabhupada: My main asrama is in Vrndavana.
Professor: Where?
Prabhupada: Vrndavana.
Professor: Oh, in Vrndavana, itself.
Prabhupada: Yes. Mayapura. Lord Caitanya. And we have got branch in Calcutta, Bombay, Hyderabad. Mayapura and Vrndavana. Five, six... [break] I, I brought with me forty rupees and books. That's all.
Professor: Forty rupees! That was not enough to live in Boston or in New York.
Prabhupada: Yes. And now we are spending about eighty thousand dollars per month.
Professor: Per month.
Prabhupada: Throughout the whole world. But we are selling our books very nicely, about... How many, how much dollars?
Yogesvara: How many, how many lakhs of rupees of books per month, Pradyumna?
Prabhupada: No, no, daily...
Professor: Lakhs of...
Prabhupada: Daily we are collecting about thirty, eight hundred... In, in, in Los Angeles we collect about eight hundred dollars daily.
Yogesvara: More than that.
Prabhupada: More than that. Eh?
Hamsaduta: I think it must be about two thousand, about twenty thousand dollars a day, through the society.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Professor: Just by selling books or...?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Yogesvara: Just by selling books.
Professor: You must receive gifts as well.
Prabhupada: No gifts. By selling books.
Professor: Why not?
Prabhupada: There are sometimes gifts.
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: Just like George Harrison has given us a house in London, Letchmore Heath. It is worth 220,000 pounds.
Hamsaduta: Over a half million dollars.
Professor: Accha.
Prabhupada: So you can come sometimes. No you can stay there. It is very nice place. We have 17 acres of land, open, with a lake. It is a royal palace.
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. We are installing our Deity next 21st. So if you have time, I invite you. It is not far, London.
Professor: London is not far. Yes.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Professor: The 21st of September?
Prabhupada: Twenty-first of August.
Professor: Oh, I see.
Yogesvara: In a few days.
Professor: It's a big feast.
Prabhupada: So you are Sanskrit scholar. You can join with this movement and help us.
Professor: Thank you.
Prabhupada: Yes. Because it is worldwide movement.
Professor: I cannot help you. That's, that's...
Prabhupada: No, you can help us.
Professor: That's very strange.
Prabhupada: Some of our students are trying to learn Sanskrit. You can help them.
Professor: Well, he knows very well Sanskrit. He pronounce it very well.
Prabhupada: Yes. He has learned out of his own accord, without taking help from anybody.
Professor: Really?
Prabhupada: Yes. Whatever little help I give, that's all.
Professor: He knows how to chant the Sanskrit...
Prabhupada: Oh, yes.
Professor: ...verse.
Prabhupada: Ah, yes.
Professor: So probably this comes from you.
Yogesvara: But here in Paris we are also translating these books now into French.
Professor: Into French?
Yogesvara: Yes.
Professor: Many people are able to read it in English.
Yogesvara: Oh, but for those who cannot read the English, there's necessity in French.
Professor: Quite. Oh, yes.
Yogesvara: For example, Bhagavad-gita, we're preparing now in French.
Professor: Oh? Yes.
Prabhupada: Give him some prasadam.
Yogesvara: In France, I believe, the only version of Bhagavad-gita that people know is Aurobindo's translation.
Professor: No, there are many others.
Yogesvara: Many?
Professor: There are many others.
Prabhupada: English?
Professor: No, no. In French.
Prabhupada: In French.
Professor: Bhagavad-gita? Yes. I think translated I think something like ten or twelve times.
Yogesvara: Ten or twelve times in French?
Professor: Oh, yes.
Yogesvara: He says there are ten or twelve different French translations of the Gita.
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: In English also there are...
Professor: Oh, English, more than that.
Prabhupada: Yes.
Professor: English, more than that.
Yogesvara: So now we wish to present the Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Professor: As It Is.
Prabhupada: Without interpretation. And, according to the trades manager of MacMillan Company, our book is topmost selling.
Professor: I see.
Prabhupada: Yes. Than all other editions. Their report is. They, they print at a time fifty thousand copies. So three or four times they have already printed.
Professor: Really?
Prabhupada: Yes. Since last August, within one year.
Professor: Wow. That's a great success.
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes.
Professor: That's good.
Prabhupada: Now they are out of stock.
Professor: Out of stock?
Prabhupada: Yes.
Professor: So they will print it again, no?
Prabhupada: They will print it. They will supply in August or July, they said. They'll supply. So it has come out very successful. Just imagine, 200,000 copies distributed within one year.
Professor: In one year. That's very good.
Prabhupada: And in America, our people go to sankirtana. Many gentlemen comes down, gets down from the car, inquires, "You have got Bhaktivedanta's Bhagavad-gita As It Is?" They purchase like that. Yes. At least, they have become inquisitive on account of the word "As It Is."
Professor: What?
Prabhupada: "As It Is."
Professor: Oh, As It Is, yes.
Yogesvara: Because of the fact that our title is "Bhagavad-gita As It Is."
Professor: "As It Is."
Yogesvara: "As It Is." Yes.
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: Because they have read different interpretations. Now they want to read as it is.
Professor: That's fine. That is fine.
Prabhupada: What, what is your opinion about interpretation?
Professor: Well, it's much better to have a commentary separated, not an interpretation given mixed with the translation. It is not to be...
Prabhupada: It is not good. No. Yes. We cite them...
Professor: It has to be different.
Prabhupada: No, if you have got your own opinion, you can write your own book. But you cannot interpret on the Bhagavad-gita.
Professor: Yes, that's right. You are right.
Prabhupada: Then the authority of Bhagavad-gita is gone. But everyone is doing like that, even Dr. Radhakrishnan and others.
Professor: Yes. I already know...
Prabhupada: Yes. Even Gandhi has done.
Professor: Gandhi also?
Prabhupada: Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi. He has also interpreted. He has interpreted, "This body... Kuruksetra means this body."
Professor: But he didn't write it...
Prabhupada: Well, it is not widely read, but this has become a fashion, to give his own interpretation. Yes.
Professor: Yeah, that's right, the fashion. That's the word. That's right.
Prabhupada: But Krsna was not a so, I mean to say, ignorant, that He left something to be interpreted later on by another rascal. No. That was not Krsna's intention. What Krsna says, that is final. So we accept in that way. Krsna says, man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji mam namaskuru [Bg. 18.65]. So we appeal to the people that "You think of Krsna. You become a devotee of Krsna." All these disciples, they have been taught like that. "You offer obeisances to Krsna." Man-mana bhava mad-bhakto mad-yaji. "You worship Krsna." That's it. And by doing that, they are advancing. Advancing. And before me, for hundreds of years or more than that, the Bhagavad-gita was known to the European and American countries. As you say, there are so many trans...
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: But not a single soul became a devotee of Krsna. There is no history. Yes. So far we know, that by reading Bhagavad-gita, it is meant for making a person devotee of Krsna. Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja [Bg. 18.66]. But before my coming here, so many swamis came, and they preached on Bhagavad-gita, so many scholars came, but not a single soul became a pure devotee of Krsna.
Professor: Yes, because other... So, for instance, you have the Ramakrishna Mission...
Prabhupada: What the Ramakrishna mission has done?
Professor: Yes.
Prabhupada: Ramakrishna mission has done this, that they have learned to drink wine and eat meat, that's all, from the Western countries. That's all.
Professor: Yes. This is so.
Prabhupada: Yes. That is their contribution. And they have spoiled the Hindu culture.
Professor: Oh. Yes?
Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. Because Vivekananda said, "Oh, what is the harm there, in eating? You can eat whatever you like. It doesn't matter in religion." It was the first. And he himself was eating anything. So all the Ramakrishna mission sannyasis still, they are eating meat, egg and everything, especially in America. Yes. Fish is no consideration. That is daily affair. And the turkey,... Yes. Instead of preaching here, they have taken the Western method. And Vivekananda's preaching is like Western missionaries-open hospitals, school...
Professor: You are right, yes.
Prabhupada: Yes. He had no spiritual knowledge. So therefore it has not been successful. They are preaching in the Western countries... As far I know, in America they have got ten or twelve branches. I am working for the last six years only. I have got already fifty branches. And each branch, there are devotees like them, not less than twenty-five, up to two hundred, three hundred, all dedicated souls.
Professor: And what about Maharishi Mahesh Yogi?
Prabhupada: I don't take account of these because they are not standard.
Professor: Oh, I see.
Prabhupada: They are not standard. We are following Bhagavad-gita As It Is, standard, and they have got their own manufactured way. So we don't recognize them. Our process is evam parampara praptam imam rajarsayo viduh [Bg. 4.2]. Parampara. What Krsna said, the disciplic succession will say the same thing. But they are speaking differently. So therefore we don't take them as bona fide. They are not bona fide. And from external point of view, we have got so many literatures, so many branches, so many devotees, within six years. But they haven't got such thing. Even Ramakrishna Mission. They are working for the last eighty years. And I have worked only for six years. And my result is eighty times more than them. They also acknowledge.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation with Sanskrit Professor -- August 13, 1973, Paris

"Here in this world there are thousands of newspapers and magazines reporting the stale, repetitious happenings of this limited space. So for reporting the news of the unlimited spiritual realm, concerning the eternal, ever-fresh Supreme Personality of Godhead, we could publish a newspaper at every second, what to speak of daily."

- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad.

Courtesy of Ekendra's Mridanga:
http://www.gopinatha.net/journalKC/

Vedic Culture Predates Christianity: Archeological Proof

Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 20:07:50 EST
   From: Srinandan@aol.com
Subject: Vedic Culture Predates Christianity: Archeological Proof

Dear Friends,
    As many of you may have heard, there is a planned conference in August of 2005 for a massive organized and well funded program to rewrite history, so as to show that Hinduism was derived from earlyChristianity, and that the devotional aspect of Vaishnavism actually came from Islam and Christianity. The conference is called FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE / SEMINAR ON THE HISTORY OF EARLY CHRISTIANITY IN INDIA
Part of the aggenda includes:
    Stage 1: making Hinduism illegitimate was to show that Hinduism originated in British colonial times. But many items could not be explained as they were earlier.
    Stage 2: show that these came from islam - such as bhakti.
    Stage 3: now to go even deeper and show how early Christianity brought even those aspects into Vedic culture that Muslims or British did not.
    The institute which is doing this is The Institute of Asian Studies. It is affiliated to the University of Madras and to Pondicherry University for conducting research programmes leading to Ph.D. degrees and is recognized by the University Grants Commission of the Government of India.
    There is no integrated set up to defend Vedic culture at the level ofconferences, seminars and proceedings, where much is done by the enemies of Hinduism.
    Please visit www hamsa.org first - to have full grasp of the subject and http://www.xlweb.com/heritage/asian/christianity-conference.htm

    In response to the topics proprosed at this conference, I have written a few articles that can be used for the defense of the antiquity and timeless nature of the Vedic culture and its origins, and to show that much of what is positive in Christianity is merely a less developed rendition of what has been much more deeply and elaborated presentation of the spiritual knoweldge that was already available in the Vedic philosophy and Sanatana-dharma. The first article is as follows:

       Hinduism Predates Christianity: The Archeological Proof by Stephen Knapp

     Sometimes there are comments and even controversies amongst those who are less informed regarding whether Christianity or Hinduism came first. Some people point out that the devotional elements within the Vedic tradition, especially in regard to the Bhakti movements, that such devotion must have come from Christianity first and then appeared in the Vedic Vaishnava tradition, the followers of which exhibit much love and devotion to Lord Krishna and Vishnu and His other incarnations. But there is an archeological proof that the Vaishnava tradition of devotion to Lord Vishnu existed many years prior to the appearance of Christianity.      Not far from the Buddhist site of Sanchi in Central India, we take a 45- minute ride on the very bumpy road to Vidisha or Besnagar where we find the Heliodorus column, locally known as the Khamb Baba pillar. This was erected by Heliodorus, the Greek ambassador to India in 113 B.C. He writes on the stone pillar the time it was erected and the fact that he had converted to Vaishnavism, or the worship of Lord Vishnu.The inscription on the column, as published in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, says:

  This Garuda column of Vasudeva (Vishnu), the god of gods, was erected here by Heliodorus, a worshiper of Vishnu, the son of Dion, and an inhabitant of Taxila, who came as Greek ambassador from the Great King Antialkidas to King Kasiputra Bhagabhadra, the Savior, then reigning prosperously in the fourteenth year of his kingship. Three important precepts when practiced lead to heaven: self-restraint, charity, conscientiousness.