Newsletter Number #162  ( World Vegetarian Awareness Month issue 2005 A.D. Gaurabda 519 )
http://www.hknet.org.nz/index.htm
http://welcome.to/hknetworks

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ki jaya

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Please Accept My Respectful Obeisances (cyber pranams) & Best Wishes To All

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All Glories To Srila Prabhupad.

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

Welcome to the latest edition of the on-line HKSRNewsletter, and our humble attempt to render some service to the devotee community. The format of this newsletter is that of a continuous scroll, please see the table of contents where everything is hyper-linked on-line, we hope it's now easier for you all. This newsletter now goes out to way over 2508 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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"May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krishna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him."(Srimad Bhagavatam 5:18:9.)

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The Nectar in this Issue 

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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
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2004-2005.html

The present year's Vaishnava Calendar for 2005-2006
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html
(some selected locations are available already below)

...Download the Vaishnava Calendar software VCAL 4.01
...Ekadasi Information - fasting - breakfast times

Local temples
...Newsletters & Blogs

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
... Samskaras and Agama Tantra
... Articles - topical
... Other Topical links - etc
... Vedik revival - Vedik World Heritage

Advertisements - what's on where: check them out...
... Cyber Community Notice Board
...lastest important news items !!!!

... Hare Krishna School in Auckland
... Ayurvedic health - and seminars - Radiance Ayurved has new site
... Fire Safety - Water Safety - Internet Safety
... 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
... Seasonal Greetings...Happy 2005
... Have a Happy Year - Gaurabda 519

Prasadam Recipes: To slake the thirst of body, mind & soul
...Religious Stands on Vegetarianism (Vaishnava - Hindu - Buddhist - Jain - Islam - Christianity)
...World Vegetarian Day links
... 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
... Holiday Season & Xmas survival recipes

Krishna conscious - Vedikly acceptable jokes:
... cut loose have a laugh
... serious therapy in humour !!!
... did U ever wonder -  Ways of the world - Strange but true

Thanx 2 our sponsors and supporters:
... sponsorship and support
... add or remove - sub or unsub
... HELP !!!
... donations welcome

Now you can view the FULL years 1999-2000 & 2000-2001 & 2001-2002 & 2002-2003 & 2003-2004 & 2004-2005, and 2005-2006.
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
The present year's Vaishnava Calendar for 2005-2006
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html
(some selected locations are available already below)

(Chaturmasya is not observed during Purusottama Adhika Masa.)

Third month of Caturmasya begins.(Fast from milk for one month.)

Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the USA (24th September 2005 in NZ)

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Indira Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 29th September 2005  in NZ)

World Vegetarian Day (every year) - 1st October and World Vegetarian Awareness Month - October begins

1st Sunday in October - Day Light Savings begins NZ - See your location's DLS - http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/g.html

Amavasya 3rd October  - Annular Solar Eclipse  (do not cook, eat, etc. Only Chant Hare Krishna) see eclipses-page

Amavasya 3rd October - Mahalaya Amavasya and Pitri-paksha - oblations to departed forfathers concluded

Sri Durga Puja

Sri Ramacandra Vijayotsava (Vijay Dasami) (13th October 2005 in NZ)
Sripad Madhvacarya - Appearance

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Pasankusa Ekadasi.- (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 14th October 2005  in NZ)

Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sria Krsna Das Kaviraj Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Krsna Saradiya Rasayatra
Sri Murari Gupta - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Laksmi Puja

Purnima 17th October - Partial Lunar Eclipse (do not cook, eat, etc. Only Chant Hare Krishna) see eclipses-page

Fourth month of Caturmasya (Karttika mase) begins. (Fast from urad dahl for one month.)

Tula Sankranti (Sun enters Libra)

Srila Narottama Das Thakur - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Appearance of Radha Kunda prakat, snan dan
Sri Bahulastami

Sri Viracandra Prabhu (Virabhadra) - Appearance - Avirbhav

Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Ramaa Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 29th October 2005  in NZ)

Sri Dipa dan, Dipavali, Diwali (Kalipuja) Amavasya - 2nd November 2005 in NZ

Sri Govardhana Puja, Go Puja, Go krda (Worship of Govardhana Hill)
Sri Bali Daityaraja Puja
Sri Rasikananda - Appearance - Avirbhav

Sri Vasudeva Ghosa - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - Disappearance - Tirubhav (6th November - Fasting till noon)

Sri Gopastami, Gosthastami
Sri Gadadhara Das Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Dhananjaya Pandit - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Srinivasa Acarya - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Jagaddhatri Puja

Srila Gaura Kishora das babaji - Disappearance - Tirubhav
(Fasting till noon on the ekadasi - 12th November)
(Feasting is done tomorrow)

Sri Bhisma Pancaka
Fasting on Suddha Ekadasi for Utthana - Devotthani Ekadasi - (Fasting from Beans and Grains - 12th November 2005  in NZ)

Sri Bhugarbha Goswami - Disappearance - Tirubhav
Sri Kasisvara Pandit - Disappearance - Tirubhav

Sri Krsna Rasayatra
Sri Tulasi-Saligram Vivaha (marriage)
Sripad Nimbarkacarya – Appearance - Avirbhav
Caturmasya vrata ends.

Vrscika Sankranti (Sun enters Scorpio)

This year's also now available for viewing:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.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
All Vaishnava Calendar Information HERE (Downloads, Glossary, Calendars, Eclipses etc)
The present year's Vaishnava Calendar for 2005-2006
http://www.hknet.org.nz/Calendar2005-2006.html
(some selected locations are available already below)

or if you can't do that and you'd like a 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

Vaishnava Calendar Program Vcal 4.01 FREE Download, and make your own Calendar:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/vcal401.zip

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:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/vcal401.zip

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

Free Vaisnava Calendar Email Reminder Service
Website URL:  http://www.vaisnavacalendar.info

New service just launched - a Free Vaisnava Calendar Email Reminder Service (BETA) where devotees can sign up and receive automated location sensitive reminders of ekadasi's, festivals, appearance and disappearance days via email.

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/
Free Downloadable Vaishnava Reminder for your Desktop
This Vaishnava Calendar Reminder is so simple, so nice and so practical
It has a huge data base of Towns to choose from, and facility to add towns too.
This can be used in conjunction with all other software and URLs mentioned above.

"This software aimed to be a personal information manager of anyone in Krishna's devotee community. Did you ever miss Ekadasi? With Vaishnava Reminder it will not be so easy - it alerts you about fasting days. Also it has built-in vaishnava calendar generator, to-do tasks, custom events, diary and panchang. And it is 100% free - just visit http://www.vreminder.tk and download it. It quietly sits in the system tray and alerts you when needed."

Vaisnava Reminder v.0.501a setup - 520 kb
http://vreminder.gauranga.in/setup-vr0501a.zip

Once you've downloaded it and installed it, you'll never want to be without it.

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

Newsletters:
Do you get the Hare Krishna Newsletter from Auckland?
If not send a message to Mother Madri to add yourself to their list:
mailto:madri@pamho.net
mailto:harekrishnanews_auck-owner@yahoogroups.com

See Auckland's latest newsletter HERE:

Christchurch Temple Times:
mailto:nitail@zfree.co.nz

Wellington Temple Newsletter:
mailto:jagjeevandas.mvgm@paradise.net.nz

Gaura Yoga Centre (Wellington) newsletter:
mailto:gaurayoga-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

...and across the ditch in Aus': 
Brisbane temple newsletter
to subscribe - mailto:brisbane@pamho.net

Melbourne Temple F.O.L.K. News Daily Newsletter/diatrobe:
http://anitest.manilasites.com/

Melbourne - Hare Krishna movement:
http://www.iskcon.net.au/

Sydney Temple Newsletter:
http://www.iskcon.com.au/Mailing_list.html

Other Journals, Newsletters, & KC Blogs:
Aisvarya prabhu's blog:
http://www.livejournal.com/~icemonger/

Aniruddha's blog:
http://www.iskcon.net.au/aniruddha/

Aniruddha's blog: There's more comes out of the beadbag than just the finger...
http://www.iskcon.net.au/aniruddha/

Bala Gopala's Mrdanga (formerly Ekendra's Mrdanga)
http://www.gopala.org/
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.

Candidasa dasa' Deltaflow Blog
http://www.deltaflow.com/index.php

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.

Gauranga Sundara prabhu in Leicester (UK) Newsletter can be found at:
Current issue http://www.gauranga.org/files/newsletter_06.PDF
Back issues and all future issues can be found at: http://www.gauranga.org/newsletter_backissues.htm

Gopala Guru prabhu's blog on MSN - Religious Worship; Ever wonder what's it like to live the life of a Hare Krishna monk?
Visit this Space to find out.:
http://whatsyourstory.msn.com/
http://spaces.msn.com/members/gopalaguru/PersonalSpace.aspx

Indradyumna Swami's "Diary of a Travelling Preacher" blog:
http://blog.worldsankirtan.net/IDS/

Kavichandra Swami's Blog
http://www.kavicandraswami.info/

Kurma prabhu's Travel Diary Blog:
Hello there ! I have a new Blog (weblog) Travel Diary. Follow my very latest culinary travels: http://www.kurma.net and click on the blog link right side of page.
Hope all is well with you. Happy cooking, Kurma

Prahladananda Swami's Health blog: On the road, Journal, Audio, Health, Photos etc
http://prahladanandaswami.net/blogs/index.php

Rati Manjari mataji - Every Town & Village - newsletter, which consists of a collective contribution from preachers throughout the UK. To view or download it click the link below:
http://members.lycos.co.uk/etav/files/etav_01.PDF

Sit Properly dot com - go to extras 4 the blog - lots of useful info especially for new devotees throughout site
http://www.sitproperly.com/index2.html

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

Hare Krishna Cultural Journal - Krishna-Kirti dasa in USA - A commentary on the culture, views and progress of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
http://siddhanta.com/weblogs/culture/

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

News stories, articles, comment, insights, features, and Vaisnava perspectives available on-line from http://www.iskcon.com/new/

Vraj journal
http://www.vrajajournal.com/

Srimad Bhagavad Gita AS IT IS

Bhagavad Gita:  Chapter 9 - The Most Confidential Knowledge

TEXT 26
patraà puñpaà phalaà toyaà
yo me bhaktyä prayacchati
tad ahaà bhakty-upahåtam
açnämi prayatätmanaù

SYNONYMS
patram—a leaf; puñpam—a flower; phalam—a fruit; toyam—water; yaù—whoever; me—unto Me; bhaktyä—with devotion; prayacchati—offers; tat—that; aham—I; bhakti-upahåtam—offered in devotion; açnämi—accept; prayata-ätmanaù—from one in pure consciousness.

TRANSLATION
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.

PURPORT by HDG Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

For the intelligent person, it is essential to be in Kåñëa consciousness, engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, in order to achieve a permanent, blissful abode for eternal happiness. The process of achieving such a marvelous result is very easy and can be attempted even by the poorest of the poor, without any kind of qualification. The only qualification required in this connection is to be a pure devotee of the Lord. It does not matter what one is or where one is situated. The process is so easy that even a leaf or a little water or fruit can be offered to the Supreme Lord in genuine love and the Lord will be pleased to accept it. No one, therefore, can be barred from Kåñëa consciousness, because it is so easy and universal. Who is such a fool that he does not want to be Kåñëa conscious by this simple method and thus attain the highest perfectional life of eternity, bliss and knowledge? Kåñëa wants only loving service and nothing more. Kåñëa accepts even a little flower from His pure devotee. He does not want any kind of offering from a nondevotee. He is not in need of anything from anyone, because He is self-sufficient, and yet He accepts the offering of His devotee in an exchange of love and affection. To develop Kåñëa consciousness is the highest perfection of life. Bhakti is mentioned twice in this verse in order to declare more emphatically that bhakti, or devotional service, is the only means to approach Kåñëa. No other condition, such as becoming a brähmaëa, a learned scholar, a very rich man or a great philosopher, can induce Kåñëa to accept some offering. Without the basic principle of bhakti, nothing can induce the Lord to agree to accept anything from anyone. Bhakti is never causal. The process is eternal. It is direct action in service to the absolute whole.

Here Lord Kåñëa, having established that He is the only enjoyer, the primeval Lord and the real object of all sacrificial offerings, reveals what types of sacrifices He desires to be offered. If one wishes to engage in devotional service to the Supreme in order to be purified and to reach the goal of life—the transcendental loving service of God—then one should find out what the Lord desires of him. One who loves Kåñëa will give Him whatever He wants, and he avoids offering anything which is undesirable or unasked. Thus meat, fish and eggs should not be offered to Kåñëa. If He desired such things as offerings, He would have said so. Instead He clearly requests that a leaf, fruit, flowers and water be given to Him, and He says of this offering, "I will accept it." Therefore, we should understand that He will not accept meat, fish and eggs. Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk and water are the proper foods for human beings and are prescribed by Lord Kåñëa Himself. Whatever else we eat cannot be offered to Him, since He will not accept it. Thus we cannot be acting on the level of loving devotion if we offer such foods.

In the Third Chapter, verse thirteen, Çré Kåñëa explains that only the remains of sacrifice are purified and fit for consumption by those who are seeking advancement in life and release from the clutches of the material entanglement. Those who do not make an offering of their food, He says in the same verse, are eating only sin. In other words, their every mouthful is simply deepening their involvement in the complexities of material nature. But preparing nice, simple vegetable dishes, offering them before the picture or Deity of Lord Kåñëa and bowing down and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering enables one to advance steadily in life, to purify the body, and to create fine brain tissues which will lead to clear thinking. Above all, the offering should be made with an attitude of love. Kåñëa has no need of food, since He already possesses everything that be, yet He will accept the offering of one who desires to please Him in that way. The important element, in preparation, in serving and in offering, is to act with love for Kåñëa.

The impersonalist philosophers, who wish to maintain that the Absolute Truth is without senses, cannot comprehend this verse of Bhagavad-gétä. To them, it is either a metaphor or proof of the mundane character of Kåñëa, the speaker of the Bhagavad-gétä. But, in actuality, Kåñëa, the Supreme Godhead, has senses, and it is stated that His senses are interchangeable; in other words, one sense can perform the function of any other. This is what it means to say that Kåñëa is absolute. Lacking senses, He could hardly be considered full in all opulences. In the Seventh Chapter, Kåñëa has explained that He impregnates the living entities into material nature. This is done by His looking upon material nature. And so in this instance, Kåñëa's hearing the devotee's words of love in offering foodstuffs is wholly identical with His eating and actually tasting. This point should be emphasized: because of His absolute position, His hearing is wholly identical with His eating and tasting. Only the devotee, who accepts Kåñëa as He describes Himself, without interpretation, can understand that the Supreme Absolute Truth can eat food and enjoy it.

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

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

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

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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, Hari Sauri prabhu's Transcendental Diary, or sometimes from a letter, or other related source, but still nectar...)

Prabhupada's Prasadam

Palika-devi dasi regularly cooked for Srila Prabhupada and she recalls his favorite preparations.

A first favorite for Prabhupada was always kacauris, especially urad dal kacauris. In sweets he liked sandesa and rasagullas. Also, he liked a good, hot jallebi. With every meal there had to be a bitter vegetable made with karela (bitter melon) or nim leaves. He liked nim baigan very much, a preparation mentioned in the Caitanya-caritamrta. Prabhupada loved urad dal, and he taught me to make it with fennel, ginger, and asafetida -- all these must be in the chaunce. Actually, Srila Prabhupada enjoyed a wide variety of foods.

"Once, for weeks he would have kitchri daily with vegetables in it and lots of ghee, and hot puris and baigan bhagi (deep fried eggplant). That and nothing else. I would put the kitchri in his big rice bowl and sometimes he would ask for seconds. If Srila Prabhupada was hungry in the evening, he would take different things according to his taste -- many times a ghee vegetable and puris with hot milk. I would generally use misri (sugar candy or rock candy) rather than sugar. Sometimes he wanted milk only or a tangerine. Often he would have muri (puffed rice) with peanuts and milk. I remember a few times he would request me to leave a dish or two of sandesa on the bookshelf in case he became hungry while translating in the night. But always, except once or twice, however the sandesa would be there in the morning. Also, for months Srila Prabhupada had me prepare badas and coconut chutney for breakfast and dahi-badas for lunch. He liked these preparations and he remarked on them often. He had yogurt with his lunch every day. As time passed, it became a rule that whenever there was kitchri, there must be kadhi."

Madri dasi, who also cooked for Prabhupada, recalls the time she watched Prabhupada eating in Surat.

"One day, he finished his lunch and they gave him a whole banana. Prabhupada started to peel the banana, but I never saw anyone peel a banana like he did. He didn't touch it at all with his left hand. He picked it up in his right hand and started to peel it with his teeth, pulling the strips down with his teeth and then picking out the white part in the center. Then, pulling the white part away, he let the whole banana skin drop from his teeth. He did all this without touching it with his left hand."

Anirdesavapur dasa used to cook for Prabhupada in Mayapur and he noted Prabhupada's particular taste for golden raisins.

"We gave Prabhupada different kinds of dried fruit. He liked golden raisins from China. Aside from these golden raisins, of course, there are the regular black raisins, and also the common golden raisins from the West. In the West they take black raisins and put sulphur in them to turn them golden. Once, a devotee who knew about natural foods would not allow us to get the golden ones, because he said they had sulphur dioxide in them and were unnatural and not good. They gave Prabhupada the black raisins. Prabhupada looked at them, but he wasn't very happy. He said, 'These look like little black flies. You don't have the gold ones?'"

Palika-devi dasi, interview; Madri-devi dasi, interview; Anirdesavapur dasa, interview.

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.

"Hog Happiness"

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Pandal Speech and Question Session -- Delhi, November 10, 1973

Listen to the entire lecture on-line:
http://prabhupadavani.org/Lectures/RAMfiles/054LCT.ram

Prabhupada: Mr. High Commissioner and Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you very much for your coming here, taking so much trouble, to participate in this Krsna consciousness movement. And I shall simply try to draw your attention about the importance of this movement. Importance of this movement is this, that we do not know what is the aim of life. The modern civilization, all over the world, especially in the Western world -- nobody knows what is the actual problem and what is the aim of life. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. The Bhagavad-gita says, "The real problem is janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi-duhkha-dosanudarsanam [Bg. 13.9], that birth, death, old age and disease, these are the problems." If you take birth, then you will have to die. Anyone who takes birth, he must have to die. And so long, between birth and death, there is old age and disease. Actually, these are the problems. So far we are concerned, living entities, every one of us, that is described in the Bhagavad-gita. Na jayate na mriyate va kadacit: "The living entity is never born, never dies." Nityah sasvato 'yam purano na hanyate hanyamane sarire: [Bg. 2.20] "The living entity is eternal, ever-existing and very old, and," na hanyate hanyamane sarire, "it does not die after the annihilation of this body." But the modern civilization, they are thinking that "This body we have got somehow or other, a lump of matter, and so long we have got this body, let us enjoy life, sense gratification." This is atheistic theory.

In our country there were atheists also. Just like Carvaka Muni. According to his philosophy, he says, rnam krtva ghrtam pibet. Because in our country, India, life is enjoyable when we get to eat too much ghee. You see, pakhika anna (?). That is enjoyment. Just like in Western countries, if they can eat, they can drink more, that is life's enjoyment. In our country, of course. So rnam krtva ghrtam pibet. If somebody says that "I have no money," so Carvaka Muni says that "You take loan from your friend and purchase ghee and enjoy life." Rnam krtva ghrtam pibet yavaj jivet sukham jivet. "So long you will live, live happily. Why... Make beg, borrow, steal and live happily." "No. I shall be responsible. I shall have to pay next life." Carvaka Muni says, "No, no. Don't bother about next life." Bhasmi-bhutasya dehasya kuto punar agamano bhavet: "Your body will be burned in the crematorium. That finished. That's all." This foolishness is there, that this life... We do not know that this human form of life we have got by the evolutionary process, going through so many lives. Just like in our present life we can understand that I have come to this body, old body, through child's body, boy's body, youth's body, in this way. That is explained in the Bhagavad-gita. It is not manufactured.

dehino 'smin yatha dehe
kaumara yauvanam jara
tatha dehantara-praptir
dhiras tatra na muhyati
 [Bg. 2.13]

You have to accept this, dehantara-prapti, from one body to another. Where is my childhood body? That is gone. Where is my boyhood body? That is gone. Where is my youthhood body? That is gone. Not only for me, for everyone. There is past, present and future. Similarly, when this body will be gone, I will get another body. Where is the difficulty to understand? Tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati [Bg. 2.13]. Dhira. Because we are not sober... There are two classes of men: dhira and adhira. Dhira means sober, thinking, thoughtful, and adhira means restless. So with restless brain, it is difficult, but if you have got sober brain, then there is no difficulty to understand that "I am eternal. I was in the child's body, I was in the baby's body, I was in the boy's body, I was in a young man's body. Now I have got a different body. I am living asmin dehe." Dehino 'smin yatha dehe [Bg. 2.13]. It is very easy to understand, but Krsna says, dhiras tatra na muhyati: "Those who are sober, they can understand."

So people cannot understand. That means the modern civilization is not sober. It is just like cats and dogs. You cannot make a cat and dog sober to understand the philosophy of life. They have degraded so much. That is described in the sastra. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. Atma-buddhih, thinking "I am this body." "I am American," "I am Indian," "I am brahmana," "I am black," "I am white," "I am fat," "I am thin," "I am this." No, no. You are not this body at all. That is knowledge. That is knowledge. Knowledge begins when you understand that you are not this body. That is the beginning of knowledge. Otherwise, "I am this body," this knowledge is there in the cats and dogs also. The dog also jumping, because he is thinking, "I am very nice dog," or "Nice cat." So sastra therefore says, yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke [SB 10.84.13]. This body is a bag of three elements -- kapha, pitta, vayu -- according to Ayurveda system. This physiological condition, anatomical condition of this body, is made of kapha, pitta, vayu. So it is a bag of kapha, pitta, vayu, or flesh, bones, blood, urine, stool, and mucus. If you dissect this body, you will find. Do you mean to say combination of these things can make a life, so nice brain? If you are so competent, then take these ingredients, bones, flesh. They are easily available in the slaughterhouse. Make a good brain. But that is not possible. They simply speak, but it is not possible. Therefore this body is not the... Moving spirit soul, that is different. Therefore sastra says, yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih. And as soon as you take this body, that "I am this body," then, in bodily relation... Because a woman has got bodily relation, "She is my wife," and the children born out of the womb of that woman, "That is my children..." Sva-dhih kalatradisu.

Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih [SB 10.84.13]. Bhauma means the land where we live or where this body is produced. That is worshipable. That is called nationalism. Bhauma ijya-dhih. Yasyatma-buddhih kunape tri-dhatuke sva-dhih kalatradisu bhauma ijya-dhih, yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicit. And tirtha, holy place... Just like people go to Vrndavana, Hardwar. Salile. They take birth in the Ganges and the Yamuna, and they think that "Now we have finished our tirtha." No. Tirtha is not that. Tirtha means we have to find out sober person to take instruction from him. So people who are not interested to the sober man and lives like this, that "I am this body, and the bodily production or relation, they are my own men, and if I go to holy place, take bath and then come back..." No. Sastra says, "No." Yat-tirtha-buddhih salile na karhicij janesu abhijnesu. You must approach abhijnah person. That is the meaning of pilgrimage. As the Vedas says, tad-vijnanartham sa gurum eva abhigacchet, srotriyam brahma-nistham [MU 1.2.12]. You must find out a sober man or guru so that he can instruct you, he can deliver you from ignorance of life.

continued........

Kåñëa says in Bhagavad-gétä (9.27):

yat karoñi yad açnäsi
yaj juhoñi dadäsi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kuruñva mad-arpaëam

"O son of Kunté, all that you do, all that you eat, all that you offer and give away, as well as all austerities that you may perform, should be done as an offering unto Me."

patraà puñpaà phalaà toyaà
yo me bhaktyä prayacchati
tad ahaà bhakty-upahåtam
açnämi prayatätmanaù

SYNONYMS
patram—a leaf; puñpam—a flower; phalam—a fruit; toyam—water; yaù—whoever; me—unto Me; bhaktyä—with devotion; prayacchati—offers; tat—that; aham—I; bhakti-upahåtam—offered in devotion; açnämi—accept; prayata-ätmanaù—from one in pure consciousness.

TRANSLATION
If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.

PURPORT
For the intelligent person, it is essential to be in Kåñëa consciousness, engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, in order to achieve a permanent, blissful abode for eternal happiness. The process of achieving such a marvelous result is very easy and can be attempted even by the poorest of the poor, without any kind of qualification. The only qualification required in this connection is to be a pure devotee of the Lord. It does not matter what one is or where one is situated. The process is so easy that even a leaf or a little water or fruit can be offered to the Supreme Lord in genuine love and the Lord will be pleased to accept it. No one, therefore, can be barred from Kåñëa consciousness, because it is so easy and universal. Who is such a fool that he does not want to be Kåñëa conscious by this simple method and thus attain the highest perfectional life of eternity, bliss and knowledge? Kåñëa wants only loving service and nothing more. Kåñëa accepts even a little flower from His pure devotee. He does not want any kind of offering from a nondevotee. He is not in need of anything from anyone, because He is self-sufficient, and yet He accepts the offering of His devotee in an exchange of love and affection. To develop Kåñëa consciousness is the highest perfection of life. Bhakti is mentioned twice in this verse in order to declare more emphatically that bhakti, or devotional service, is the only means to approach Kåñëa. No other condition, such as becoming a brähmaëa, a learned scholar, a very rich man or a great philosopher, can induce Kåñëa to accept some offering. Without the basic principle of bhakti, nothing can induce the Lord to agree to accept anything from anyone. Bhakti is never causal. The process is eternal. It is direct action in service to the absolute whole.
Here Lord Kåñëa, having established that He is the only enjoyer, the primeval Lord and the real object of all sacrificial offerings, reveals what types of sacrifices He desires to be offered. If one wishes to engage in devotional service to the Supreme in order to be purified and to reach the goal of life—the transcendental loving service of God—then one should find out what the Lord desires of him. One who loves Kåñëa will give Him whatever He wants, and he avoids offering anything which is undesirable or unasked. Thus meat, fish and eggs should not be offered to Kåñëa. If He desired such things as offerings, He would have said so. Instead He clearly requests that a leaf, fruit, flowers and water be given to Him, and He says of this offering, "I will accept it." Therefore, we should understand that He will not accept meat, fish and eggs. Vegetables, grains, fruits, milk and water are the proper foods for human beings and are prescribed by Lord Kåñëa Himself. Whatever else we eat cannot be offered to Him, since He will not accept it. Thus we cannot be acting on the level of loving devotion if we offer such foods.
In the Third Chapter, verse thirteen, Çré Kåñëa explains that only the remains of sacrifice are purified and fit for consumption by those who are seeking advancement in life and release from the clutches of the material entanglement. Those who do not make an offering of their food, He says in the same verse, are eating only sin. In other words, their every mouthful is simply deepening their involvement in the complexities of material nature. But preparing nice, simple vegetable dishes, offering them before the picture or Deity of Lord Kåñëa and bowing down and praying for Him to accept such a humble offering enables one to advance steadily in life, to purify the body, and to create fine brain tissues which will lead to clear thinking. Above all, the offering should be made with an attitude of love. Kåñëa has no need of food, since He already possesses everything that be, yet He will accept the offering of one who desires to please Him in that way. The important element, in preparation, in serving and in offering, is to act with love for Kåñëa.

"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

New to Krishna Consciousness - these topics 4 you
http://harekrishnaworldnews.blogspot.com/2005/08/new-to-krishna-consciousness.html

For those who are new to the Krishna Conscious philosophy,
here are a series of FLASH presentations introducing the philosophy to beginners.

What is Krishna Consciousness? (172k)
How can we become Krishna Conscious? (144k)
What is the Soul? (412k)
What is Yoga? (396k)
What is the Maha mantra? (216k)
What is Sanskrit? (64k)
What is the syllable Om? (312k)
Who is the girl with Krishna? (200k)
What are the Incarnations of the Lord (1.2mb)

http://www.iskcon.com.au/New_to_Krishna.html

Are You Tired Of Suffering?

Unlimited Bliss Is Your
Constitutional Birthright.

Now You Can Regain It With
The Ultimate
Self-Realization Course

Enroll Today
For Your Free E-Course!

http://www.backtohome.com/

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

Vrindavan Art
http://www.vrindavanart.com/index.php?gallery=gal14

Mayapur Darshans

http://www.photo.net/photos/Vrindavan Lila
http://www.maphoto.tk
http://www.mayapur-katha.tk
http://www.dipika.org/mainpages/contributors/vrindavan.lila.dd.htm
http://www.geocities.com/mayapurkatha1

Radhastami photo-gallery:
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=528023

Nrisimha Deva's photo-gallery:
http://www.photo.net/photodb/folder?folder_id=500789

Also we are sending out mailing lists with regular postings of video clips,
photos and PDF jornals.

to SUBSCRIBE to our FREE MAILING LISTs:

- MAYAPUR KATHA for web-magazines (PDF) send request to
  "Mayapur Katha Magazine" <Mayapur.Katha.Magazine@pamho.net>

- MAYAPUR DARSAN, video clips of Mayapur, send reqest to
  "Mayapur Darshan" <Mayapur.Darshan@pamho.net>

- Second SUNDAY MAILING LIST - photos of Mayapur, send request to
  Padmalochan.ACBSP@pamho.net / vrindavanlila@photo.net

Iskcon Mayapur are looking at starting a new WWW web-site, and are looking for a sponsor
if you are interested is assisting this great project please contact
Padmalochan.ACBSP@pamho.net or his wife vrindavanlila@photo.net

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

Hare Krishna Media Library
http://www.harekrishna.org.au/

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

By popular demand - Looking for a devotee husband or wife?
&
Marriage Synastry

Devotee Meeting-Place Web site - FREE Service:
http://www.angelfire.com/ab7/devoteesmeet/home.html 

or HERE

BHAKTI YOGA SINGLES:
This list is for Bhakti Yoga singles. Those who practice Bhakti Yoga are known as Vaisnavas.
This list is therefore called Vaisnava Singles.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vaisnavasingles

Post a Message: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vaisnavasingles/post

Vegetarian Singles:
This list is for vegetarian singles. I know it can be difficult to get to know someone. There may not be anyone who can help us to get to know that special someone. We've got the computer now. So signup and start letting people know you're lonely.
Don't keep it a secret any longer.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vegetariansingles

Post a Message:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vegetariansingles/post

Post your singles ads here.
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/devoteesingles

.....think you've found someone special......
Marriage Compatibility Checking - Synastry

For marriage compatibility analysis bookings
http://www.hknet.org.nz/3-synastry.html

For more information about the system of analysis - the Vedik Kuta system
http://www.hknet.org.nz/synastry9page.htm

For more information about Vedik Marriage Compatibility
http://www.hknet.org.nz/MarriageSynastry4U.html

......and the process of Vaishnava Vivaha - sacred marriage

Gurukuli.com
A positive, safe environment to meet and chat
http://youth.rupa.com

BRITish CREW - Gurukuli forum
http://britcrew.com

Young F.O.L.K.
Young Friends Of Lord Krishna
 http://www.hknet.org.nz/YoungFOLK.htm

ete cäàça-kaläù puàsaù
kåñëas tu bhagavän svayam
indräri-vyäkulaà lokaà
måòayanti yuge yuge

“All the lists of the incarnations of Godhead submitted herewith are either plenary expansions or parts of the plenary expansions of the Supreme Godhead, but Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.3.28)

rämädi-mürtiñu kalä-niyamena tiñöhan
nänävatäram akarod bhuvaneñu kintu
kåñëaù svayaà samabhavat paramaù pumän yo
govindam ädi-puruñaà tam ahaà bhajämi

“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.)

Hindu Gods, Goddesses & Devas Wallpaper - 22 different ones, and screensavers too.
http://coolbuddy.com/wallpapers/Religious/hindu_god_home.htm

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...

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http://www.myownemail.com ........5 mb
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 http://www.softhome.net ................6 mb
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http://mail.uk2.net ...........................10 mb
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

Get a FREE Gmail account today
HERE  or HERE
Gmail give you 2000+ Mb of free space

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

Hare Krsna!

In the download section of my website  http://tinyurl.com/9er95 you will find a copy of Ganguly's complete English translation of the Mahabharata (originally in 13 hardback volumes) in HTML format. It is in a 7.5 MB zipped file.

The Mahabharata explains by example how Lord Krsna's Vedic culture and Varnashrama Dharma are meant to work. Where the Manu Smriti is a concise book of laws for Mankind the Mahabharata shows how those laws are applied. The Mahabharata along with the Ramayana have been the main foundation for the continuation of Vedic culture because they are easily accessible to the masses. The Mahabharata was actually written for the unfortunate people of the Kali Yuga to help uplift them. A close study of the Mahabharata and Ramayana in conjunction with the Manu Samhita would serve as a good guide on how to implement Varnashrama Dharma. And, in conjunction with the Srimad Bhagavatam, insight into Daivi Varnashrama Dharma. The Mahabharata is thus an essential text for anyone interested in implementing VAD.

The Mahabharata is a vast treasure house of Brahminical knowledge and as the Mahabharat itself says: "What is found in the Mahabharata may be found in other texts; whatever is not found in the Mahabharata is not found anywhere."

You will also find a PDF copy  of a canto of Agnivesa's Caraka Samhita (an Ayurvedic text) entitled Sarirasthana, a fascinating account of how the body is formed starting with philosophical details, conception, karmic details, embryology etc. I once gave this text to an obstetrician to read while she was waiting to see me and she was astounded at how much knowledge was contained in such an ancient text. Size 14 MB

Yours faithfully,

Shyamasundara Dasa

http://www.ShyamasundaraDasa.com
"krsnas tu bhagavan svayam"

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

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

The Peace Formula - (By HDG Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada) http://www.hknet.org.nz/PeaceFormula.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

Iskcon News Articles now available - many topical insights
http://www.iskcon.com/new/index.html

World vegetarian day has been observed since 1977 bringing together vegetarians from all over the world for a common cause. It brings awareness to the ethical, environmental, health and humanitarian benefits of a vegetarian lifestyle. We're observing growing trends, especially since Foot and Mouth and Mad Cow diseases, but about one million people a year become vegetarians in the US alone, and millions in Europe, Australasia too. Everything that we are doing is making a difference, and every little bit helps.

Where you find any group trying to promote this noble cause please give your support. Contact your local temple or community and find out how you can get involved this year.

Some ideas: stalls at stations, flyers on the street, radio programs, special programs at schools-colleges Uni-techs or Universities, Vegetarian Clubs/Socieities, invite family and friends to special dinners, programs at our temples, Massive prasadam (food) distribution everywhere possible, Harinam sankirtan (congregational chanting in the streets, with some prasadam distribution), (Cook) Book distribution (Kurma's cookbooks, Adiraj's cook books, Yamuna Devi's cookbooks, Higher Taste cook book etc), Food For Life food distribution outlets, Fact Sheet distribution, Flyers ( 1  - 2 ), Advertisements in local and national newspapers, Holmes show, Good Morning, Breakfast show TVOne, TV talk-back(s), Pacific  Radio, Access Community Radio into the various communities it targets all over the country (all over the world).......do you have any other avenues we can target, have a good think, brainstorm with some friends - send me what you come up with, let me know what your doing so we can enthuse others and do likewise 

Hare Krishna cooking: Secret recipes exposed!
http://www.yesweekly.com/main.asp?SectionID=3&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=225&TM=69283.97

 by Jordan Green

As the sole practitioner of Hare Krishna cuisine in Greensboro, Andrew Leese (left) serves homemade meals at the St. Mary’s House every Tuesday. Kelly Doss and Sam Tyler get their plates loaded with vegetarian chili, rice and salad. (photo by Jordan Green)
Where it's served:
Andrew Leese serves Hare Krishna food every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at St. Mary’s House, located at 930 Walker Ave. in Greensboro.
Andrew Leese, whose shaved head seems to project a fetal glow, hovers dotingly over the long, gangly carrots, peeler clenched in hand to strip them down to their naked essence.

Along with the carrots, giant heads of lettuce and cans of tomatoes and peaches clutter the counter space in Leese’s upscale home in Greensboro’s far northeastern exurbs off of Horse Pen Creek Road. Some of the cooking ingredients and utensils are also shoved in with bills and newsletters on the narrow divider between kitchen and living room. Relaxing new age vocal music plays from a portable CD player.

The carrots will be processed through a mechanical shredder and mixed with chopped lettuce to be served as a salad in two aluminum trays. A thick, tangy vegetarian chili is burbling in a pot on the stovetop. The pungent smell of whole wheat bread wafts from the oven as the yeast works its alchemy.

Leese, a 40-year-old Englishman, will throw together a quick peach cobbler before the afternoon is over. He’ll also whip up two homemade salad dressings — creamy almond and avocado — in his blender. To top it off, the meal will be served with cold wildberry zinger tea.

Once a cook at the now-closed Govinda’s restaurant on Tate Street, Leese is now the sole practitioner of Hare Krishna cuisine in Greensboro. Once a week, every Tuesday evening, he lays out a feast for anyone who wants to partake at St. Mary’s House, an Episcopal church on Walker Avenue that serves the UNCG college community and its surrounding neighborhoods.

Food plays a vital role in Hare Krishna, a religious movement founded in the United States by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966.

“All the food that is prepared is going to be offered to the deity Krishna,” Leese says. “Just as you would cook very special food for a loved one, this food is prepared with love and devotion. That’s what’s behind the whole philosophy of why we do food distribution: by eating this food, unknowingly their heart changes.”

Hare Krishnas never taste food before it’s offered to Krishna, he says. He will literally make up a plate of food and set it out for the deity before he carts the feast down to Walker Avenue.

“It’s not like we’re trying to convert people to be Hare Krishnas,” Leese adds. “We would like people to become more spiritually minded. Becoming a vegetarian would be a good first step.”

The fact that Hare Krishnas seek to distribute their food beyond the traditional social outreach target of street people and wayward youth has led some recipients to suspect a sinister hidden agenda advanced perhaps by the injection of a secret mind-control agent in the food.

Leese tackles the issue head-on without prompting.

“There was this lady one time who asked: ‘Do you put something special in your food? Because I feel so peaceful afterwards,’” he says. “She thought it was saltpeter.”

Saltpeter, a substance used to make gunpowder, is known to suppress the male sex drive if ingested. Soldiers, convicts and other inmates of all-male institutional settings have long alleged that the stuff was put in their food to keep them under control.

There are a few cooking practices particular to Hare Krishna, but it’s really the cook and not the cooking that matters in the equation.

The food is all vegetarian because Hare Krishnas don’t believe in killing animals. Hare Krishna cooking is often Indian, by virtue of the founder of the religion being born there and the fact that the Indian diet has a strong vegetarian base. But Leese’s standard fare of chili, salad and whole wheat bread also qualifies as Hare Krishna cooking.

One rule is no onions and garlic.

“Onions and garlic increase the passions,” Leese says. “If you notice, in countries where people eat a lot of onions and garlic, like the Latin countries, people are very passionate.”

Passion and desire are to be avoided because they lead to suffering, he explains in a somewhat dour but friendly voice. Hare Krishna emphasizes detachment from material reality to allow one to become closer to God.

As a substitute to onions and garlic, Leese sprinkles a little asoefetida powder in the chili. Asoefetida, or hing, comes from a the sap of a tropical tree in India, according to my friend Vimala, an excellent cook of Keralan cuisine in Chapel Hill.

Leese also uses textured vegetable protein, which gives the chili a little heft.

“This is karma-free food,” he says. “Karma is what’s keeping us in the world. Even if it’s good karma. There are people who do a lot of charity work so in the next life they come back very beautiful or very wealthy. If you have no karma you go to the spiritual realm. The only real suffering is to be separated from God.”

At 6 p.m. he’s beaming behind a table of food at St. Mary’s House as he loads up plates for a motley collection of street people, college students and punk rockers who accept the food with gratitude.

Merritt Basey, 51, a friend of Leese’s, expresses effusive praise.

“With Andrew’s food, because it’s been blessed and it’s been made with love and devotion, it’s had a profound effect on my health,” she says. “He would like to see a resurgence in cooking at home. Your emotional take on life while you’re cooking goes into the food.”

Around the tables of this chow hall there’s no squabbling or tension, no grumbling about the quality of the fare, just contented eating and light conversation.

The meal gives one a satisfied feeling of moderation. The food is pleasing, but not heavy. The chili is savory, but not spicy. The peach cobbler — a mixture of margarine, flour, oats, sugar and date syrup poured over canned peaches — has a dry kind of granola taste that is sweet without being extravagant. The food settles evenly in the stomach.

After the meal, Eugene Teague, a 39-year-old dishwasher by trade, nods off sitting upright on a couch. College students and thrift-store fashionistas flirt on the church’s porch or lay on the grassy slope of its front yard. Leese, his wife and two friends chat quietly at a table in the back of the sanctuary.

A pacific scene prevails, but the spiritual effects of the meal are difficult to ascertain.

“I like it. I always donate money,” says John Sanford, a UNCG student. “I feel bad because I suppose they want people to become more spiritual. It’s missionary work, but they don’t push it on you.”

His friend Samantha Murphy, also a student at UNCG, adds: “Which is appreciated.”

To comment on this story, e-mail Jordan Green at jordan@yesweekly.com

Food, kids and divinity
http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/jul192005/spectrum1410252005718.asp

Divinity isn't preaching god to men with empty stomachs, but showing god by serving them food. The International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKON) puts this philosophy into practice, Shakuntala G Soratur tells us.

Think of suffering and the first word that may come to your mind is hunger. Harder though it may seem, 60 million children across the country are left hungry, depriving them of childhood pleasures. In the age when they should be attending schools, fulfiling their hunger for knowledge, these children end up doing menial jobs for a square meal. The Akshaya Patra or prasadam distribution programme by ISKON, to provide food for children in government schools, is therefore an act beyond kindness and charity. It is taking god to those aching for a feel of him.

No wonder the programme -flagged off at Bangalore's Srirampuram Higher Primary School in 2000-opened the eyes of several state governments towards the sufferings of the 'future leaders.' The programme today is popular in three states and said to have inspired S M Krishna government to introduce the mid day meal scheme: Akshara Dasoha.

'Akshaya Patra,’ the container that never gets empty, is the vessel lord Krishna gave to Draupadi, before the Pandavas started their journey into the forest. The lord wanted his cousins to eat well and never struggle for food, which finds a parallel in ISKON's scheme.
 

Swami Madhu Pandit Das, chairman, Akshaya Patra programme, sees this as one way of putting the lord's teachings into practice. "Feeding hungry children is a service we render to the lord himself. Here, we offer food to all children, irrespective of their cast and creed."

Apart from the government's subsidy of Rs 1.30 and 100 grams of grain for each child in primary school, the temple provides a further Rs 6 to 7 per child all by itself. In total, it spends Rs 1,200 per child each year. For high school children however, there's no government contribution and the trust foots the bill fully. "We manage this from donations by individuals and corporates," points out Swami Madhu Pandit Das.

Fund raising

While schools are encouraged to raise funds in their neighbourhood, temple officials also do their bit through door to door collections. Support has also come from an IT company and a philanthropist, who have agreed to sponsor the Hubli branch where 55,000 children are fed every day.

Mechanised marvel

Food offered through the scheme is unlimited, contains plenty of curd and dal (grains), which, as coordinator of the programme, Swami Patitapavana Das acknowledges, "Is the only meal for many children and so, has to be nutritious."

Some sources reveal the temple's kitchen is upgraded with an expense of Rs 1 crore, leaving the task of cooking the meal to machines. Indeed, the kitchen is a mechanised wonder, where even thing as lifeless as they, join the noble service to god. Huge containers are literally the Akshaya Patras here, producing large quantities of rice and dal. Even vegetables are chopped by the tiny contraptions.

More than reducing manpower, the mechanised kitchen ensures hygiene. Swami Patitapavana Das points out the food are not touched from the preparation till it's served to the children. In Bangalore alone, 25 vehicles are at ISKON's disposal to distribute the food. Swami Madhu Pandit Das doesn't like calling this a mere charity work. "The programme is one way of balancing wealth and creating a hunger-free and healthy world."

ISKON has supplemented this effort with schemes to provide textbooks, uniforms and health check-ups for the children. Besides this, they are trained for a fortnight in arts, craft and singing, preparing them for competitions during the heritage festival. So, children at least in some government schools have something to cheer for, an event to look forward and a healthy mind that can focus only towards fulfiling their hunger for knowledge.

Programme

Akshaya Patra programme feeds 2,12,400 children in total: Bangalore- 1,02,000; Mysore- 2,600; Mangalore- 5,295; Hassan- 2,000; Hubli-Dharwad, Haveri & Bellary districts: 64,100.

In Rajasthan state - Jaipur: 17,910 and Saharia Tribe in Barah district 2,500 and Uttar Pradesh state - Vrindavan and Mathura - 16,000 children.

What Can Vegetarians Eat On Airline Flights?
http://www.vrg.org/travel/airtravel.htm

USA, August 25, 2005: Being an airline passenger has never been more challenging than it is now. This is even truer for vegetarians as many airlines have eliminated some or all meal options to cut costs in this extremely budget-focused environment. Thus, we called major airlines to determine which offer vegetarian meals.

The results were highly variable. In some cases, airlines only offer meals on long-distance flights or, in the case of Delta, on those flights to which the airline has applied some set of criteria. Passengers have to call the airline or log onto their website to determine if meals are offered on a particular flight. Some airlines charge meal fees while others don't. Some limit meals to their first-class cabins. One carrier, American Airlines, does not offer vegetarian meals but does serve slightly substantial snacks that may include vegetarian foods kept separate from pre-packaged animal products in the same box. To view the res t of this article click "source" above.

Also, here is some good news about vegetarian meals on airlines. Jyoti Indian Cuisine, including chickpea salads, couscous, bean and vegetable entrees, basmati rice, traditional breads, and breakfast items, is now available for vegetarian meal requests on several major airlines. Ask about them on all Continental Airlines and U.S. Airways flights offering hot meals, British Airways service originating in the U.S., and United Emirates Airlines flights from JFK to Dubai. Contact the individual airlines for more details. (HPI note: Our staff had one of these Jyoti meals on our return flight to Hawaii from the Dharma Summit 2005 in New Jersey and give it good marks.)

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

Jamie's School Dinners

See how school meals have changed from their humble beginnings, through well-funded years of freshly cooked, nutritious meals, to today's burger-and-chips disaster

http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/J/jamies_school_dinners/index.html

...recently we saw a thing on TV a documentary on a chef called Jamie Oliver ("the Naked Chef" - means raw or exposed not actually naked), he's been inflitrating school kitchens in the UK to get healthy meals served. Sure he's a meat eater, but what he exposed the abundance of ignorance toward food, that the children didn't even know how to identifiy veges or fruits. They simply lived on junk food.

When they finally stopped rebelling and followed his more veges, more fruits and whole grains diet (and some unmentionables) with less sugar, less high in fats fried and processed foods, all klinds of good things began to happen. Behaviour paterns became almost human, violence in the playgound lessened, kid's attention span improved, their attitudes to teachers improved, so many good things - then what to speak of vegetarian meals or even prasadam.

check out his short Flash movie http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/J/jamies_school_dinners/fowl/fowl.html and remember to click on the items radiating as you run the mouse over them and see what nutritional value they have, and what harm they cause.

Psychology of Food
http://www.ffl.org/html/psychology_of_food.html

The Bhagavad gita states that all foods can be classified  according to the three modes of material nature - goodness, passion, and ignorance. These modes (or characteristics of the material energy) directly influence our mind, body, and  intelligence. The subtle influence of these modes are sometimes compared to the strings of a pupeteer, and they bind and manipulate our senses, causing us to act in ways we sometimes later regret. The Bhagavad gita also states, however, that the soul is not completely helpless -- we do have a choice -- for we are eternally individual beings with a minute degree of independence. The quality of those choices, therefore, directly effects the manner in which the "strings" of the material energy manipulate our destiny. Here Lord Krishna describes the results of eating under the influence of the mode of goodness:

Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one's existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart. (Bhagavad gita 17.8)

The Bhagavad gita further states that vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains, sugar, and milk products are foods  in the mode of goodness and may be offered in sacrifice, or in other words: they can be transformed and purified of all karma.

yagya-sishtasinah santo
muchyante sarva-kilbishai
bhunjate te tv agham papa
ye pacanty atma-karanat

The devotees of the Lord are released from all kinds of sins because they eat food which is offered first  for sacrifice. Others, who prepare food for personal sense enjoyment, verily eat only sin.
(Bhagavad-gita 3.13)

 Foods that cannot be used in sacrifice, or as offerings to the Lord, are described thus:

 Foods that are too bitter, too sour, salty, hot, pungent, dry and burning are dear to those in the mode of passion. Such foods cause distress, misery and disease.
(Bhagavad-gita 17.9)

 Food prepared more than three hours before being eaten, food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.
( Bhagavad-gita 17.10)

Srila Prabhupada comments:

 Foods in the mode of passion, which are bitter, too salty, or too hot or overly mixed with red pepper, cause misery by reducing the mucus in the stomach, leading to disease. Foods in the mode of  ignorance or darkness are essentially those that are not fresh. Any food cooked more than three hours before it is eaten (except prasadam, food offered to the Lord) is considered to be in the mode of darkness. Because they are decomposing, such foods give a bad odor, which often attracts people in this mode but repulses those in the mode of goodness... The best food is the remnants of what is  offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead... Therefore to make food antiseptic, eatable and palatable for all persons, one should offer food to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

 As a general rule, foods in the modes of passion and ignorance are not offerable to God (Krishna), because such eatables "cause pain, distress and disease" and are "putrid, decomposed and unclean."  As may be guessed, meat, fish, and eggs are foods in the lower modes. But there are also a few vegetarian items that are classified in the lower modes - garlic and onions*, for example. They cannot  be offered in sacrifice, since these foods are sexually agitating and impure, and they directly interfere with the ultimate purpose of eating sanctified foods: to increase the duration of life, purify the mind, aid bodily strength and reestablish our union (yoga) with the supreme.

 * (Hing, sometimes called asafetida, is an acceptable substitute for them in cooking and is available in most Oriental or Indian specialty shops.)

Bhagavad gita quotations © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
 

Excerpt from Beyond Beef

The Psychology of Beef (Chapter 33):

"...Eating, more than any other single experience, brings us into a full relationship with the natural world. The act itself calls forth the full embodiment of our senses - taste, smell, touch, hearing, and sight. We know nature largely by the various ways we consume it. Eating establishes the most primordial of all human bonds with the environment, and that is why in most cultures the experience is celebrated as a sacred act and a communion as well as an act of survival and replenishment. Eating,  then, is the bridge that connects culture with nature, the social order with the natural order. Anne Murcott argues that "food is an especially appropriate 'mediator' because when we eat we establish, in  a literal sense, a direct identity between ourselves (culture) and our food (nature)."

See similar articles at Vegetarianism & beyond:
http://turn.to/Vegetarianism

Distribution of pure Vegetarian Spiritual Food (prasadam) gains recognition

Iskcon Akshaya Patra Food Distribution in Bangalore India  :http://www.hknet.org.nz/Veg-World2.html

Yamaduta Reflections
From: "Avadhut das" <avadhut@hotmail.com>

Sent: Friday, July 15, 2005 9:42 PM

Few weeks back as I was coming back from Delhi, my co-passenger informed me about some strange ghost like people coming to his father (age around 72) regularly.

He said since last 2 years, at their home near "Burrabazar area" in Kolkata, his father shouts in terror at night waking up saying four scary looking short height people with ropes on thier shoulders come near him.

They thought he is going senile. Some suggested it may be ghosts. So they shifted him to another room but no difference. They shifted him to another relative's house, but yet no difference. They shifted him to Kanpur for 6 months at their village home, no difference! They shifted him to Delhi for 2 months, and yet no difference.

So now they "knew" that he has gone senile (cranky) due to old age.

The moment I heard "4" people I knew they are our friends Yamadutas. And when he said they had ropes on their shoulders, I was sure.

I asked him to call me up to their home to meet his father. Two days later I was there. Spoke to his dad and he who has never read "Srimad Bhagavatam" and didn't belive much in God, demigods and religion was speaking the yamadutas part of it ditto! He was shivering as he recounted his almost daily encounters. He had come to a stage that even in broad daylight he could see them most of the time. His sleep had lost. He was too terrified.

Sat and chanted Brahma-samhita few verses. Sri Narasimhadeva prayers. Explained him the meanings. Then broke the news to him right in front of his family members.  All were stunned.  Then kept preaching for next 5 hours!!!

Taught him hare krishna mahamantra. He promised he will now regularly chant the mahamantra. I prayed to the yamadutas, prayed to Lord Yama, prayed to Srila Prabhupada, the six Goswamis, to Panchatattvas and to Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji, Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Kolkata's Sri Sri Radha Govinda.

Two days later his son (my train co-passenger who lives in Kanpur) called me up from Kanpur saying, the encounters have entirely stopped! :-) His father is happy and positive. Said, papa is no more afraid of death. He smiles and is peaceful. His fears have gone and he is fearless now. He chants the Hare Krishna mantra you taught him. Said, "Thanks".

Thanks to His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Don't know whats the status now. No contact with him.

But surely do trust that "Yamadutas" DO EXIST. They are there all around almost all the time. At night if you hear dogs howling (crying) know that they are there. (one of the external symptoms, though doesn't work always)

by Stephen Knapp

    This book provides evidence which makes it clear that most religious history is not what we think it is. It lets you see the true heritage that has been suppressed for centuries. It shows that there was once a greatly advanced and ancient culture that was a global society. This was the Vedic civilization. Even today we can see its influence in any part of the world, which makes it obvious that before the world became full of distinct and separate cultures, religions, and countries, it was once united in a common brotherhood of Vedic culture, with common standards, ideals, language, and representations of God.

    No matter what we may be in regard to our present religion, society, or country, we are all descendants of that ancient, global civilization. The Vedic tradition of India is the parent of humanity and the original ancestor of all religions. Through this book you will see:

How Vedic knowledge was given to humanity by the Supreme.

The history and traditional source of the Vedas and Vedic Aryan society.

Who were the original Vedic Aryans. How Vedic society was a global influence and what shattered this once world-wide society.

Many scientific discoveries over the past several centuries are only rediscoveries of what was already known in the Vedic literature.

How the origins of world language and literature are found in India and Sanskrit. How Sanskrit faded from being a global language.

The Vedic influence and proof of its ancient existence found in such countries as Britain, France, Russia, Greece, China, Japan, Egypt, and in areas of Scandinavia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas.

The links between the Vedic and other ancient cultures, such as the Sumerians, Persians, Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, etc.

How Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism were all influenced by the Vedic tradition and still contain many Vedic elements within them.

How many of the western holy sites, churches, and mosques were once the sites of Vedic holy places and sacred shrines.

Uncovering the truth of India's history: Powerful evidence that shows how many mosques and Muslim buildings were once opulent Vedic temples.

The need to recognize the real history of the world, and to protect what is left of Vedic culture, the roots of humanity.

    This book is offered as an attempt to allow humanity to see more clearly its universal origins. However, this book provides enough amazing if not startling facts and evidence about the truth of world history and the ancient, global Vedic culture, that it could quite possibly cause a major shift in the way we view religious history and the basis of world traditions. The book is 353 pages, and 6" x 9" trim size, with Glossary, References, and Index.

    "The missing link in our understanding of civilization is the Vedic Aryan culture which thrived on the Indian subcontinent in antiquity and which influenced subsequent civilizations in Sumeria, China, Egypt and the Middle East, Europe and Britain, Southeast Asia and as far away as the Americas. Stephen Knapp, in Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence, delves into the history and traditional sources of the Vedas--that ancient body of sacred literature which many regard as the fount of the world's spiritual and cultural heritage." Nexus Magazine, Nov-Dec, 2000.

   To order your copy, send $14.95, plus $2.50 for shipping and handling ($3.50 in Canada, $7.50 overseas surface mail) to: The World Relief Network, P. O. Box 15082, Detroit, Michigan 48215--0082  U.S.A.  Also available through your bookstore, ISBN: 0-9617410-6-6. For your convenience, you can download our Order Form

Proof of Vedic Culture's Global Existence Table of Contents

PREFACE * This book is Great Food for thought at the Very Least * About the Name "Hindu."

INTRODUCTION: WHAT IS THE VEDIC/ARYAN CULTURE

CHAPTER ONE: VEDIC CULTURE SINCE THE TIME OF CREATION * The Divinity of Sanskrit

CHAPTER TWO: THE HISTORY AND TRADITIONAL SOURCE OF THE VEDAS * The Compiling of the Vedic literature

CHAPTER THREE: REDISCOVERING THE ADVANCEMENTS OF VEDIC SCIENCE *     More ancient glories of Vedic Culture * The Vedic Ion Machine

CHAPTER FOUR: THE ORIGINS OF VEDIC SOCIETY: SOURCE OF THE WORLD'S SPIRITUAL HERITAGE * Theories of the Aryan origins * Was there ever an Aryan Invasion? * The Indus Valley Civilization was a part of the advanced Vedic Culture * The Vedic literature supplies no evidence of an Aryan invasion * More evidence for the original home of the Vedic Aryans * The Vedic explanation of the original Aryans and how their influence spread throughout the world * The chronology of events in the spread of Vedic culture * Conclusion.

CHAPTER FIVE: THE WHOLE WORLD WAS ONCE IN UNITED IN VEDIC CULTURE * The Vedic tradition is the parent of all humanity * India and Sanskrit: The source of world literature * Worldwide remnants of Sanskrit * How Sanskrit faded from being a global language and what shattered the global Vedic culture * Vedic culture is the original ancestor of all religions.

CHAPTER SIX: MORE SANSKRIT/VEDIC LINKS WITH ENGLISH WORDS AND WESTERN CULTURE

CHAPTER SEVEN: THE VEDIC INFLUENCE FOUND IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA *  The Hittites * The Mitanni * The Sumerians * Persia * Afghanistan * Iraq and Iran * The Kassites * Israel * Arabia * The Parsis * The Druze * Egypt * Africa.

CHAPTER EIGHT: ISLAM AND ITS LINKS WITH VEDIC CULTURE * The Basics of Islam * The Vedic connections in Islam * The Kaba was a Vedic shrine

CHAPTER NINE: THE PHILOSOPHICAL ORIGINS AND VEDIC LINKS IN JUDAISM * The History of Judaism * More Vedic links in Judaism

CHAPTER TEN: THE VEDIC INFLUENCE IN EUROPE AND RUSSIA * The Vedic influence in Britain * Stonehenge and the Druids * Ireland * France * Scandinavia * Lithuania * Germany * Central Europe * Spain * Italy * The Pope and the Vatican * Greece * Russia.

CHAPTER ELEVEN: CHRISTIANITY AND THE VEDIC TEACHINGS WITHIN IT * A brief look at Christianity's beginnings * Paganism in Christianity * The sectarian development of the Christian Scriptures * The Vedic influence on Christianity * The dark side of Christianity * The prison of religion * Jesus Taught Bhakti-yoga * Do all Christians go to heaven? * The Bible teaches the chanting of God's names * The names of God.

CHAPTER TWELVE: THE VEDIC INFLUENCE IN THE ORIENT * Java * Indonesia * Borneo * Malaysia and Singapore * Thailand * North and South Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos * Korea * Myanmar (Burma) * China * Buddhism * Japan * Reiki.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: THE VEDIC INFLUENCE IN THE ANCIENT AMERICAS * More Vedic links in the Inca language * Other cultures that came to America.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: UNCOVERING THE TRUTH ABOUT INDIA'S HISTORY * The plot to cover Vedic archeology in India * The Taj Mahal was a Hindu temple * The misidentified so-called Muslim buildings in Delhi * The Kutab Minar * Other buildings around Delhi * Ahmedabad * Bijapur * Misidentified Hindu buildings in other areas * Hindus constructed, Muslims destroyed * Time to plan the survival of Vedic culture * An action plan for the survival of Vedic Culture in India and elsewhere.

CONCLUSION

APPENDIX ONE: MORE INFORMATION ABOUT VIMANAS

APPENDIX TWO: REESTABLISHING THE DATE OF LORD BUDDHA

REFERENCES / GLOSSARY / INDEX

[From: http://www.stephen-knapp.com]

Vedic World Heritage links:

See our pages supporting these views HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/VWH.html (Vedik World Heritage)
Western Indologists been exposed page:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/WesternIndologists-page.htm
How British Misguided the World on Vedic History
http://www.hknet.org.nz/MotiveBritishRajMissionaries.html

Religious Stands on Vegetarianism

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Vaishnavism - Hinduism - Sanatan Dharma

What's in the Scriptures Against Killing and Meat-Eating
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Hindu scripture speaks clearly and forcefully on nonkilling and vegetarianism. In the ancient Rig Veda, we read: "O vegetable, be succulent, wholesome, strengthening; and thus, body, be fully grown." The Yajur Veda summarily dictates: "Do not injure the beings living on the earth, in the air and in the water." The beautiful Tirukural, a widely-read 2,000-year-old masterpiece of ethics, speaks of conscience: "When a man realizes that meat is the butchered flesh of another creature, he must abstain from eating it." The Manu Samhita advises: "Having well considered the origin of flesh and the cruelty of fettering and slaying of corporeal beings, let one entirely abstain from eating flesh." In the yoga-infused verses of the Tirumantiram, warning is given of how meat-eating holds the mind in gross, adharmic states: "The ignoble ones who eat flesh, death's agents bind them fast and push them quick into the fiery jaws of hell (Naraka, lower consciousness)." The roots of noninjury, nonkilling and nonconsumption of meat are found in the Vedas, agamas, Upanishads, Dharma Shastras, Tirumurai, Yoga Sutras and dozens of other sacred texts of Hinduism. Here is a select collection.

Vedas and agamas, Hinduism's Revealed Scriptures
LET YOUR AIMS BE COMMON, and your hearts be of one accord, and all of you be of one mind, so you may live well together.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.191

Protect both our species, two-legged and four-legged. Both food and water for their needs supply. May they with us increase in stature and strength. Save us from hurt all our days, O Powers!
Rig Veda Samhita 10.37.11. VE, 319

One who partakes of human flesh, the flesh of a horse or of another animal, and deprives others of milk by slaughtering cows, O King, if such a fiend does not desist by other means, then you should not hesitate to cut off his head.
Rig Veda Samhita, 10.87.16, FS 90

Peaceful be the earth, peaceful the ether, peaceful heaven, peaceful the waters, peaceful the herbs, peaceful the trees. May all Gods bring me peace. May there be peace through these invocations of peace. With these invocations of peace which appease everything, I render peaceful whatever here is terrible, whatever here is cruel, whatever here is sinful. Let it become auspicious, let everything be beneficial to us.
Atharva Veda Samhita 10. 191. 4

Those noble souls who practice meditation and other yogic ways, who are ever careful about all beings, who protect all animals, are the ones who are actually serious about spiritual practices.
Atharva Veda Samhita 19.48.5. FS, 90

If we have injured space, the earth or heaven, or if we have offended mother or father, from that may Agni, fire of the house, absolve us and guide us safely to the world of goodness.
Atharva Veda Samhita 6.120.1. VE, 636

You must not use your God-given body for killing God's creatures, whether they are human, animal or whatever.
Yajur Veda Samhita 12.32. FS, 90May all beings look at me with a friendly eye. May I do likewise, and may we all look on each other with the eyes of a friend.
Yajur Veda 36.18.

Nonviolence is all the offerings. Renunciation is the priestly honorarium. The final purification is death. Thus all the Divinities are established in this body.
Krishna Yajur Veda, Prana Upanishad 46-8. VE, 413-14

To the heavens be peace, to the sky and the earth; to the waters be peace, to plants and all trees; to the Gods be peace, to Brahman be peace, to all men be peace, again and again-peace also to me! O earthen vessel, strengthen me. May all beings regard me with friendly eyes! May I look upon all creatures with friendly eyes! With a friend's eye may we regard each other!
Shukla Yajur Veda Samhita 36.17-18. VE, 306; 342

No pain should be caused to any created being or thing.
Devikalottara agama, JAV 69-79. RM, 116

The Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita, Epic History
The very name of the cows is aghnya, indicating that they should never be slaughtered. Who, then could slay them? Surely, one who kills a cow or a bull commits the most heinous crime.
Mahabharata, Shantiparva 262.47. FS,pg. 94

The purchaser of flesh performs himsa (violence) by his wealth; he who eats flesh does so by enjoying its taste; the killer does himsa by actually tying and killing the animal. Thus, there are three forms of killing: he who brings flesh or sends for it, he who cuts off the limbs of an animal, and he who purchases, sells or cooks flesh and eats it -all of these are to be considered meat-eaters.
Mahabharata, Anu. 115.40. FS, pg 90

He who desires to augment his own flesh by eating the flesh of other creatures lives in misery in whatever species he may take his birth.
Mahabharata, Anu. 115.47. FS, pg. 90

One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one's own self. This, in brief, is the rule of dharma. Yielding to desire and acting differently, one becomes guilty of adharma.
Mahabharata 18.113.8.

Those high-souled persons who desire beauty, faultlessness of limbs, long life, understanding, mental and physical strength and memory should abstain from acts of injury.
Mahabharata 18.115.8.

Ahimsa is the highest dharma. Ahimsa is the best tapas. Ahimsa is the greatest gift. Ahimsa is the highest self-control. Ahimsa is the highest sacrifice. Ahimsa is the highest power. Ahimsa is the highest friend. Ahimsa is the highest truth. Ahimsa is the highest teaching.
Mahabharata 18.116.37-41.

He who sees that the Lord of all is ever the same in all that is-immortal in the field of mortality-he sees the truth. And when a man sees that the God in himself is the same God in all that is, he hurts not himself by hurting others. Then he goes, indeed, to the highest path.
Bhagavad Gita 13. 27-28. BgM, pg. 101

Nonviolence, truth, freedom from anger, renunciation, serenity, aversion to fault-finding, sympathy for all beings, peace from greedy cravings, gentleness, modesty, steadiness, energy, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, a good will, freedom from pride-these belong to a man who is born for heaven.
Bhagavad Gita 16.2-3. BGM, pg. 109

Tirumantiram and other Scriptures
Many are the lovely flowers of worship offered to the Guru, but none lovelier than non-killing. Respect for life is the highest worship, the bright lamp, the sweet garland and unwavering devotion.
Tirumantiram 197

SPIRITUAL MERIT and sin are our own making. The killer of other lives is an outcast. Match your words with your conduct. Steal not, kill not, indulge not in self-praise, condemn not others to their face.
Lingayat Vachanas

AHIMSA IS NOT CAUSING pain to any living being at any time through the actions of one's mind, speech or body. Sandilya UpanishadWhen mindstuff is firmly based in waves of ahimsa, all living beings cease their enmity in the presence of such a person.
Yoga Sutras 2.35. YP, pg. 205

Those who are ignorant of real dharma and, though wicked and haughty, account themselves virtuous, kill animals without any feeling of remorse or fear of punishment. Further, in their next lives, such sinful persons will be eaten by the same creatures they have killed in this world.
Shrimad Bhagavatam 11.5.4. FS, pg, 90

The Tirukural, Preeminent Ethical Scripture
Perhaps nowhere is the principle of nonmeat-eating so fully and eloquently expressed as in the Tirukural, written in the Tamil language by a simple weaver saint in a village near Madras over 2,000 years ago. Considered the world's greatest ethical scripture, it is sworn on in South Indian courts of law.It is the principle of the pure in heart never to injure others, even when they themselves have been hatefully injured. What is virtuous conduct? It is never destroying life, for killing leads to every other sin.
312; 321, TW

Harming others, even enemies who harmed you unprovoked, assures incessant sorrow. The supreme principle is this: never knowingly harm any one at any time in any way.
313; 317, TW

What is the good way? It is the path that reflects on how it may avoid killing any living creature. Refrain from taking precious life from any living being, even to save your own life.
324; 327, TW

How can he practice true compassion Who eats the flesh of an animal to fatten his own flesh?
TK 251, TW

Riches cannot be found in the hands of the thriftless. Nor can compassion be found in the hearts of those who eat meat.
TK 252, TW

Goodness is never one with the minds of these two: one who wields a weapon and one who feasts on a creature's flesh.
TK 253, TW

If you ask, "What is kindness and what is unkind?" it is not killing and killing. Thus, eating flesh is never virtuous.
TK 254, TW

Life is perpetuated by not eating meat.The clenched jaws of hell hold those who do.
TK 255, TW

If the world did not purchase and consume meat, there would be none to slaughter and offer meat for sale.
TK 256, TW

When a man realizes that meat is the butchered flesh of another creature, he must abstain from eating it.
TK 257, TW

Perceptive souls who have abandoned passion will not feed on flesh abandoned by life.
TK 258, TW

Greater than a thousand ghee offerings consumed in sacrificial fires is to not sacrifice and consume any living creature.
TK 259, TW

All that lives will press palms together in prayerful adoration of those who refuse to slaughter and savor meat.
TK 260, TW

The Hinduscriptures from the oldest Vedic to all the later layers in time all advocate vegetarianism and not killing animals and certainly never offer animals in their Yajnas!

The Vedic word frequantly mentioned is Aghnya = not to be killed. This word was in particular used for cows.

Aahavaniiye maamsapratishedha (Katyayana Sutra)

That which is used in Yajna (aahavaniiya) must be vegetarian

Maa himsyaat sarvabhuutaani. (RigVeda)

No creature/animal should be killed.

Yah paurusheyena kravishaa samankte yo ashvyena pashunaa yaatudhaanah,
Yo aghyaayaa bharati kshiiramagne teshaam shirshaani harasaapi vrshcha. (RV 10.87.16)

The evil person who kills or eats the meat of a horse or cow deserves to be terminated.

Dhaanaa dhenurabhavad, vatso’syaastilo’bhavat. (AtharvaVeda 18.4.32)
Rice is named as ‘cow’ and sesame as ‘calf’.
[Just like someone saying ‘I want the meat of hazel = I want the nut of hazel]

Maamsapaakapratishedhashcha tadvat. (MiimaamsaSuutra 10.3.65)

Killing and eating meat is totally prohibited.

Dhenuvachcha ashvadakshinaa. (MS 10.3.65)

Like a cow is given (in charity) so also a horse.

Suraam matsyaan madhu maamsamaasavam krsaraudanam,
Dhuurttaih pravartitam hyetannaitad vedeshu kalpitam. (Mahabharata, ShaantiParvan 265.9)
It is only the evil-minded hypocrites who started telling that Vedic Yajnas involve intoxicants and meat eating. It is not in the Vedas.
[This comment must have been around the time, far beyond the Bharata Battle and in post-Vedic times, when many customs arrived in the Vedic Heartland, which were totally foreign to its culture]

The full Anushaasana Parvan of the Mahaabhaaratam discusses the evils of meat eating:

Akhaadannanumodamshcha bhaavadoshena maanavah,
Yo’numodati hanyantam so’pi doshena lipyate. (MB, AnushaasanaParvan 115.39)

The one who himself doesn’t eat meat but even if he gives his consent to eat meat or to kill an animal, he becomes equally sinful as them.

Ijyaayajnashrutikrtairyaa maargairabudho’dhamah,
Hanyaajjantuun maamsagrdhnuh sa vai narakabhaangnarah. (MB, AP 115.43)

The meateater who kills an animal in the name of Vedic Yajna or tells that it is a requirement of the Yajna is a sinner and he will be a person who will dwell in hell.

Aahartaa chaanumantaa cha vishastaa krayavikrayii,
Samskartaa chopabhoktaa cha khaadakaah sarva eva te. (MB, AP 115.45)

The one who brings an animal to be killed, the one who buys an animal to be killed, the one who sells, buys, cooks and eats the meat are all sinners.

Na dadyaadaamisham shraaddhe na chaadyaad dharmatattvavit,
Munyannaih, syaatparaa priitiryathaa na pashuhimsayaa. (Bhaagavatam 7.15.7)

It is Dharma that in the Shraaddha feast he should never offer meat nor should eat meat. Only vegetarian food must be offered because meat is obtained by killing.
[One can understand that in the days of this particular verse, the mainstream Hindus were confronted with people starting to eat meat]

Naitaadrshah paro dharmo nrnaam saddharmaamichchhataam,
Nyaaso dandasya bhuuteshu manovaakkaayajasya yah. (Bhaagavatam 7.15.8)
This is the best Dharma to observe for everyone that one should not hurt other beings even in his thoughts.

ManuSmriti or ManavaDharmaShastra

Manu strongly admonishes that one should never drink and should never even smell any intoxicant like wine. (MS. 11.146-149)

Manu asserts that selling, buying, cooking and eating meat is a sin which is as great as killing an animal itself. (MS 5.15)

Gaudii Paishtii cha Maadhvii cha Vijneyaa trividhaa suraa.
Yathaivaika tathaa sarvaa na paatavyaa dvijottamaih. (MS 11.94)
Yaksharakshah pishaachaannam madyam maamsam suraasavam.
Tad braahmena naattavyam devaanaamashnataa havih. (MS 11.95)

Brahmans, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas should never drink wine, liquor or intoxicants of any kinds, because intoxicants, wine, liquor and meat of animals are the food of Yakshas, Rakshasas and Pishachas (all kind of non-Vedic people or even demons). So they mustn’t consumed.

Naakrtvaa praaninaam himsaam maamsamutpadyate kvachit.
Na cha praanivadhah svargyastamaanmaamsam vivarjayet. (MS 5.48)
Anumantaa vishasitaa nihantaa krayavikrayii.
Samskartaa chopahartaa cha khaadakashchetighaatakaah (MS 5.51)

Flesh of animals is obtained only after killing him, which is a sin, and the killer of animals never enters the celestial abode.
All those involved in killing, consenting the killing, helping the killing, carrying, selling, buying, cooking and eating the meat of an animal are equally sinful as the killing of that animal.

Incorrect view of Hindus (Shraaddha ritual)

Annam tu saadhikshiiram goghrtam sharkaraanvitam. (Maasam) priinaati vai sarvaanpitrnityaaha keshavah. (Matsya Purana 17.30)
Vegetarian food prepared with pure butter, milk, sugar and curd, etc. are most pleasing to the Pitr.

Dvau maasau matsyamaamsaena triinmaasaanhaarine tu.
Aurashnenaatha chaturah shaakunenaatha pancha vai. (MP 17.31)
Shanmaasam chhaagamaamsena trnyanti pitarastathaa.
Sapta paarshatamaamsena tathaashtavenajena tu. (MP 17.32)
Dasa maasaamstu trnyanti varaahamahishamishaih.
Shashakuurmajamaamsena maasaanekaadeshaiva. (MP 17.33)
Samvatsaram tu gavyena payasaa paayasena cha.
Rauravena cha trpyanti maasaanpanchadashaiya tu. (MP 17.34)
Vaardhranisasya maamsena trptirdvaadashavarshikii.
Kaalashaakena chaanantaa khadgamaamsena chaiva hi. (MP 17.35)

Verses 31 to 35 describe the acts of cooking and offering of all kinds of meat (fish, gazelle, sheep, special birds, goat, deer, black deer, pig, buffalo, rabbit, turtle, special deer, rhino) to Pitr, which is totally out of place and out of context, and it appears to have been deliberately interpolated. The 36th verse again goes like this:

Yatkimchinmadhusammishram gokshiiram ghrtapaayasam,
Dattamakshayamityaahuh pitarah puurvadevataah. (MP 17.36)
Apart from the cow’s milk, honey and the sweet pudding made of milk and rice and sugar with dry nuts satifies Pitr forever.

Interpolation in Aashvalayana GrhyaSutra 5 (Shraaddha)

In the end of this chapter there are 45 sutras on Shuulagava which is a ceremony to sacrifice a bull/ox for Shiva to appease him.
Everybody familiar with Shiva and Nandinii, knows that that is impossible. If Ashvalayana was a gotra of Vasishtha, as stated in the Sutras, then that is equally impossible, because Vasishtha owned Nandinii, and was famous for his protection of cows. And he was a Shaiva.

Note
It is very significant that most of the interpolated verses on eating of animal flesh is in relation to the Shraaddha ritual. The rest are in other Samskara ceremonies.
The Harivamsha an appendix to the Mahabharata describes in the Giri Utsava Varnana the sacrifice of bulls and buffaloes in the Govardhana worships. One familiar with the Krshna worship does understand the ridiculous statement.
In the Paraskara GrhyaSutra one comes across the description of a 6 month old baby who has to be fed with meat in the Annapraashana Samskara ceremony. How disgustful and obviously a horrid interpolation.

Source:
Swami Prakshananda: The True History and Religion of India
2001, Delhi. Motilal Banarsidass.
(additional remarks, changes and new order done by me)

Edited by Ishwa (09/20/02 04:15 PM)

Ashvamedha and Purushamedha are not sacrifices in the sense of killings of Ashva and Purusha, as wrongly translated by the first generations of indologists (who were missionaries), but is a ritual in which Ashva ad Purusha play the central role in establishing or knowing/understanding how the balance of power respectively the division in society is. Would the Rajasuya then mean the pressing=killing of the Raja?
        Medha is a word which has a cognate in Medha=Wisdom or Medhira, which means the same. (Medha comes from older obsolete mazdha, which is attested in Avestan (Ahura) Mazda, the Varuna of the ancient Iranis. No Varuna is associated with killing of animals.

The only time people are sacrificed is in the Antyeshti Yajna, or cremation ceremony.

Besides this, the understanding that the potency of the brahmanas was very much different in previous times, they were much stronger and more pure. The brahmanas would recite Vedic mantras and lead an animal to the sacrificial fire, however the animal wasn't just thrown into the fire and its body then eaten as the Christian missionaries presented "animal sacrifice of the pagan savages" to be. Rather prior to the Kali yuga an old animal was lead to the fire, and by the perfect recitation of sacred Vedic mantras when the animal was lead into the fire it's old body was rejuvenated by the flames rather than consumed and a young healthy body inherited.
        Due to the lack of potency of the brahmanas in the Kali yuga, it is condemned that one even try to perform such a sacrifice in this age. There were several advocates of Ahimsa in this regard; Lord Buddha and His doctrine of Ahimsa, the saint Madhwacharya (circa 13th centuary) who stopped animal sacrifice again in India and had Vedic brahmanas offer grain balis into the fire with the mantra idam krsnaya idan na mama, Chaitanya mahaprabhu is mentioned in the Pratisagar parva 19th Chapter of Kaliyuga khanda of Bhavishya purana as being the instigator for this.

Gomedha doesn't mean the killing of Go=cow, but it means agriculture. It is known in old Iran-Afghanistan as Gomez, which is only used in the sense of agriculture. Both cultures are cognate, so are their customs. Go-medha then is the proper sacrifice of the animals strength in using it in agriculture within the daivi varnashram system, that dedicates all of men's natural attributes and actions, as well as that of those animals in their care into the blissful service of Govinda (pleaser of the cows and the senses) - Gopala (He who looks after the cows).

And God said, behold I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree, in the which is the
fruit of a tree yeilding seed, to you it shall be for food. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing
that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat [=food]: and it was so.
Genesis 1, 29 & 30

Thou shalt not kill.
Exodus 20:13 (The Bible)

Speak to the Earth, and it shall teach thee.
Job 12:8 (The Bible)

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12:10 (The Bible)

Open thy mouth for the dumb, in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Proverbs 31:8 (The Bible)

Even one thing befalleth them: as the one dieth, so dieth the other; yea, they have all one breath, so that a man hath no pre-eminence
above a beast.
Ecclesiastes 3:19 (The Bible)

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together;
and a little child shall lead them ... They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Isaiah 11:6-9 (The Bible)

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he
offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth
in their abominations.
Isaiah 66:3 (The Bible)

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Matthew 5:7 (The Bible)

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans (The Bible)

Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees.
Revelation 7:3 (The Bible)

The unnatural eating of flesh-meats is as polluting as the heathen worship of devils, with its sacrifices and its unpure feasts, through
participation in which a man becomes a fellow-eater with devils.
Clementine Homilies (Second Century AD)

A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants
kindness gathers love.
St.Basil, Bishop of Caesarea (329-379 AD)

The saints are exceedingly loving and gentle to mankind, and even to brute beasts ... Surely we ought to show them [animals] great
kindness and gentleness for many reasons, but, above all, because they are of the same origin as ourselves.
St.John Chrysostom (c.347-407)

It should not be believed that all beings exist for the sake of the existence of man. On the contrary, all the other beings too have been
intended for their own sakes and not for the sake of anything else.
Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (1135-1204)

[Regarding animals and their offspring], there is no difference between the pain of humans and the pain of other living beings, since the
love and tenderness of the mother for the young are not produced by reasoning, but by feeling, and this faculty exists not only in
humans but in most living beings.
Rabbi Moses ben Maimon (1135-1204)

If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who deal likewise
with their fellow men.
St.Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission - to be of service to
them wherever they require it.
St.Francis of Assisi (1181-1226)

You, who are innocent, what have you done worthy of death! (On seeing animals being killed for food)
Richard of Wyche, Bishop of Chichester (1197-1253)

And if thy heart be straight with God, then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy doctrine, for there is no
creature so little or so vile, but that sheweth and representeth the goodness of God.
Thomas A Kempis (1379-1471)

Be careful that the love of gain draw us not into any business which may weaken our love of our Heavenly Father, or bring
unnecessary trouble to any of His creatures.
John Woolman (1720-1772)

I tremble for my species when I reflect that God is just.
Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

I am to ask your Lordships, in the name of that God who gave to man his dominion over the lower world, to acknowledge and
recognise that dominion to be a moral trust.
Lord (Thomas) Erskine (1750-1823)

...the primitve Christians, by laying so much stress upon a future life in contradiction to this life, and placing the lower creatures out of
the pale of sympathy, and thus had the foundation for this utter disregard of animals in the light of our fellow creatures.
Anna Bronwell Jameson (1794-1860)

It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain.
Cardinal Newman (1801-1890)

...and we have so far improved upon the custom of Adam and Eve, that we generally furnish forth our feasts with a portion of some
delicate calf or lamb, whose unspotted innocence entitles them to the happiness of becoming our sustenance.
Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

For fidelity, devotion, love, many a two-legged animal is below the dog and the horse. Happy would it be for thousands of people if
they could stand at last before the Judgement Seat and say "I have loved as truly and I have lived as decently as my dog." And yet we
call them "only brutes"!
Henry Ward Beecher (1813-1887)

Without the perfect sympathy with the animals around them, no gentleman's education, no Christian education, could be of any possible
use.
John Ruskin (1819-1900)

Love animals: God has given them the rudiments of thought and joy untroubled. Do not trouble their joy, don't harrass them, don't
deprive them of their happiness, don't work against God's intent. Man, do not pride yourself on superiority to animals; they are without
sin, and you, with your greatness, defile the earth by your apppearance on it, and leave the traces of your foulness after you - alas, it is
true of almost every one of us!
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881)

Love all God's creatures, the animals, the plants. Love everything to perceive the divine mystery in all.
Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-1881)

He who does evil that good may come, pays a toll to the devil to let him into heaven.
Hare and Charles (c. 1830)

Heaven is by favor; if it were by merit your dog would go in and you would stay out.
Mark Twain (1835-1910)

The animal world being altogether external to the scheme of redemption, was regarded as beyond the range of duty, and the belief that
we have any kind of obligation to its members has never been inculcated - has never, I believe, been even admitted - by Catholic
theologians.
W.E.H.Lecky (1838-1903)

Spain and southern Italy, in which Catholicism has most deeply implanted its roots, are even now, probably beyond all other countries
in Europe, those in which inhumanity to animals is most wanton and unrebuked.
W.E.H.Lecky (1838-1903)

...the atrocious doctrine that beast and birds were made solely for man's use and pleasure, and that he has no duties towards them.
Wilfrid Scawen Blunt (1840-1922)

It is a deplorable fact that many Christians are so accustomed to a certain creed and dogma of their own that they will adhere to it even
at the sacrifice of the great moral laws of love and mercy.
E.D.Buckner MD, AM, PhD (1843-1907)

Man should regard lower animals as being in the same dependent condition as minors under his government ... For a man to torture an
animal whose life God has put into his hands, is a disgrace to his species.
E.D.Buckner MD, AM, PhD (1843-1907)

You think those dogs will not be in heaven! I tell you they will be there long before any of us.
Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894)

The great discovery of the nineteenth century, that we are of one blood with the lower animals, has created new ethical obligations
which have not yet penetrated the public conscience. The clerical profession has been lamentably remiss in preaching this obvious duty.
William Ralph Inge (1860-1954)

God gave our first parents the food He designed that the race should eat. It was contrary to His plan to have the life of any creature
taken. There was to be no death in Eden. The fruit of the trees in the garden was the food man's wants required.
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists (1864)

Kindness to all God's creatures is an absolute rock-bottom necessity if peace and righteousness are to prevail.
Sir Wilfred Grenfell (1865-1940)

Cruelty to animals is the degrading attitude of paganism.
Cardinal Hinsley (1865-1943)

The infliction of cruelty with a clear conscience is a delight to moralists. That is why they invented hell.
Bertand Russell (1872-1970)

I hated the things they believe in, the things they so innocently and charmingly pretended. I hated the sanctimonious piety that let people
hurt helpless creatures. I hated the prayers and the hymns - the fountains and the red images that coloured their drab music, the
fountains filled with blood, the sacrifice of the lamb.
Ellen Glasgow (1874-1945)

Compared with that of Taoists and Far Eastern Buddhists, the Christian attitude toward Nature has been curiously insensitive and often
downright domineering and violent. Taking their cue from an unfortunate remark in Genesis, Catholic moralists have regarded animals
as mere things which men do right to regard for their own ends....
Aldous Huxley (1894-1963)

If we understand and feel that the greatest act of devotion and worship to God is not to harm any of His beings, we are loving God.
Meher Baba (1894-1969)

To love God in the most practical way is to love our fellow beings. If we feel for others in the same way as we feel for our own dear
ones, we love God.
Meher Baba (1894-1969)

If we suffer in the sufferings of others and feel happy in the happiness of others, we are loving God.
Meher Baba (1894-1969)

The diet of animals is vegetables and grains. Must the vegetables be animalized, must they be incorporated into the system of animals,
before we get them? Must we obtain our vegetable diet by eating the flesh of dead creatures? God provided fruit in its natural state for
our first parents. He gave to Adam charge over the garden, to dress it, and to care for it, saying, "To you it shall be for meat." One
animal was not to destroy another animal for food."
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists (1896)

Let our ministers and canvassers step under the banners of strict temperance. Never be ashamed to say, "No thank you; I do not eat
meat. I have conscientious scruples against eating the flesh of dead animals.
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists, 1901

Flesh was never the best food; but its use is now doubly objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing.
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists, 1902

Animals are becoming more diseased and it will not be long until animal food will be discarded by many besides Seventh-day
Adventists. Foods that are healthful and life sustaining are to be prepared, so that men and women will not need to eat meat.
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists, 1902

Vegetables, fruits, and grains should compose our diet. Not an ounce of flesh meat should enter our stomachs. The eating of flesh is
unnatural. We are to return to God's original purpose in the creation of man.
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists, 1903

The moral evils of a flesh diet are not less marked than are the physical ills. Flesh food is injurious to health, and whatever affects the
body has a corresponding effect on the mind and the soul. Think of the cruelty to animals meat-eating involves, and its effect on those
who inflict and those who behold it. How it destroys the tenderness with which we should regard those
creatures of God!
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists, 1905

Animals are often transported long distances and subjected to great suffering in reaching a market. Taken from the green pastures and
traveling for weary miles over the hot, dusty roads, or crowded into filthy cars, feverish and exhausted, often for many hours deprived
of food and water, the poor creatures are driven to their death, that human beings may feast on the carcasses.
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists, 1905

It is a mistake to suppose that muscular strength depends on the use of animal food. The needs of the system can be better supplied,
and more vigorous health can be enjoyed, without its use. The grains, with fruits, nuts, and vegetables, contain all the nutritive
properties necessary to make good blood. These elements are not so well or so fully supplied by a flesh diet. Had the use of flesh been
essential to health and strength, animal food would have been included in the diet appointed man in the beginning.
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists, 1905

Those who eat flesh are but eating grains and vegetables at second hand; for the animal receives from these things the nutrition that
produces growth. The life that was in the grains and the vegetables passes into the eater. We receive it by eating the flesh of the animal.
How much better to get it direct by eating the food that God provided for our use!
- Ellen White, founder Seventh Day Adventists, 1905

I write in sorrow [on vivisection]: as far as I can tell, no voice has been heard from the Church about this evil. The matter is forgotten
for another year. It should not be. It is one of the most appalling blots on our plentifully blotted civilisation.
Rev Geoffrey Mather (1910- )

It is man who has fallen, not the beasts: that is the message even for the irreligious, and to some extent salvation can be measured by his
very treatment of them.
Roy Fuller (1912- )

Let the law of kindness show no limits. Show a loving consideration for all God's creatures.
General Advices (1928) (Quakers)

We shall respect that of God in all creation. We shall live in loving harmony with the earth. Humankind shall be a joyful gardener of the
world given us by God, and shall use its fruits wisely and moderately.
Quakers (1979)

10/.     ...and again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man...
11/.     ...every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof, all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving...
12/.     ...Yea, flesh also of the beast and fowls of the air, I , the Lord have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving, nevertheless they are to be used sparingly...
13/.     ...and it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine...
14/.     ...All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of  heaven, and all wild animals that run or creed on the earth...
15/.     ...and all these that hath God made for use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger...
16/.     ...All grain for the food of man, as also the fruit of the vine, that which yeildeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground...
17/.     ...Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain...
18/.     ...and all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings walk in obeidience to the comandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow in their bones...
19/.     ...and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures.

* Winter, Cold and Famine. Jesus stipulated only in these times one may eat meat and then only to survive. It would seem that in these times vegetables and grain are hard to grow around Salt Lake City, maybe snow. So that it is understandable forthis order in 1833 (ie with a lacking of shops and superettes to bring in fresh produce or bags of processed grain from. But in today's age produce can be sourced and sent all over to towns and cities that are lacking there is no excuse for meat eating today - so the excuse of winter and cold is out. Famine does not or rarely applies in most countries that the Mormons preach in - NZ, AUS, USA, UK, etc.)
 
 

mustadrak-e hakîm kî kitâbuttibb men pahlî hadîs yeh hai kih rasûlullâh sallallâhu ‘alaihi va-sallam ne farmâyâ, "allâh ne ko’î bîmârî nahîn utârî jis kî davâ nah utârî ho, aur gâ’î ke dûdh men har bîmârî se shifâ kî tâsîr hai." us kitâb kî tîsrî hadîs men shifâ kî vajah yeh farmâ’î, "kyûnkih gâ’î har dirakht se cartî hai — fa-innahâ tarummu min kull shajar."

yeh ek haqîqat hai kih ûnT, bhens, bheR, bakrî, aur dusre tamâm janvaron ke muqâbalah men gâ’î kâ dûdh sab se a‘lá hai. tamâm mazarrat se pâk hai aur muta‘addid ‘avâriz ke liye shifâ bakhsh hai. gâ’î ke dûdh kâ makkhan aur ghî bhî kitnî hî bîmâriyon kâ mudâvâ hain. atibbâ’ ba-taur-i davâ tajvîz karte hain. dûsrî taraf gâ’î kâ gosht garm hai, aur apnî garm tâsîr ke bâ‘is ba‘z-i ‘avâriz paidâ kartâ hai. lekin hamain yeh bât hargiz farâmosh nah karnî câhi’e keh gâ’î halâl hai aur kisî halâl shai ko apne aur harâm qarâr dene kî hargiz ijâzat nahîn. tibbî nuktah-i nazar se isti‘mâl aur ‘adam-i isti‘mâl kî sûrat aur hai.

In the Book of Medicine of the Mustadrak al-Hakîm [a classical hadith commentary by al-Hakîm al-Nîsaburî], the first hadith is: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings upon him, said: "Allah did not create any disease without creating its cure; and in cows' milk is a cure for every disease." The third hadith in this book says on the subject of healing: "Because the cow grazes from every kind of plant."

It is a fact that, compared to that of camels, buffaloes, sheep, goats, and all other animals, cows' milk is superior. It is free from everything harmful and provides healing for various illnesses. The butter and ghee from cows' milk are a treatment for several more diseases. Physicians prescribe it as medicine. On the other hand, beef is hot in nature, and its heat causes some diseases to occur. But we should not neglect that beef is halâl and it is not permissible to declare that something halâl is harâm. From the medical point of view, the question of using it or not using it is another thing.

In view of the welcome news of a Muslim Vegetarian/Vegan Society and the recent contributions from other major religions to these pages, we reprint just a few of the following Islamic teachings on the duties of Muslims towards their fellow beings (with apologies for any orthographical inaccuracies).

STATUS OF ANIMALS

PHYSICAL INJURY

ANIMAL BAITING AND BLOOD SPORTS

"The Holy Prophet (S) condemned those who pinion or restrain animals in any other way for the purpose of target shooting. (Al-Masburah and Al-Mujaththamah)." (Muslim)

Understanding that you become what you eat, Islam Prohibits the eating of carnivorous animals like lion, tiger, leopard, etc. The consumption of the meat of such animals would probably make a person violent and ferocious. Therefore where Islam does condone as a concession to eat meat Islam only allows the eating of herbivorous animals like cow, goat, sheep, etc. that are peaceful and docile.

The glorious Qur’ân says in Surah A`raaf Chapter 7 Verse 157(7:157)

"Those who follow in the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet (PBUH), whom they find mentioned on their own (Scriptures), in the law and the Gospel - for he commands them what is just and forbids them What is evil; he allows them as lawful what is good (and pure) and prohibits them from what is bad (and impure); He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the yokes that are upon them. So it is those who believe in him, honour him, help him, and follow the Light which is sent down with him it is they who will prosper."

And in Surah Hashr Chapter 59 Verse 7(59:7)

"What Allah has bestowed on His Messenger (and taken away) from the people of the townships belongs to Allah, to His Messenger and to kindred and orphans, the needy and the wayfarer; In order that it may not (merely) make a circuit between the wealthy among you. So take what the Messenger assigns to you, and deny yourselves that which he withholds from you. And fear Allah; for Allah Is strict in Punishment."

Ahaadeeth Of Muhammad (Pbuh) prohibiting eating of carnivorous animals

According to a Ahaadeeth narrated by lbn Abbaas in Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim the Holy Prophet (PBUH) prohibited the eating of

i. Wild animals with canine teeth i.e. meat eating carnivorous animals. These are animals belonging to the cat families such as lion, tiger, cats, dogs, wolfs hyenas, etc

ii.     Certain rodents like mice, rats, rabbits with claws, etc.

iii.    Certain reptiles like Snakes, alligators etc.

iv.  Birds preying with talons or claws, like vultures, eagles, crows, owl, etc;

Thus for some Muslims, The Prophet’s (PBUH) statement is sufficient to convince him that Allah does not wish humans to eat meat, while some other Muslims suggest that he means that some kinds of meat are prohibited while allowing some other kinds.

 It is an established medical fact that eating meat of dead animals is detrimental to human beings. Besides causing diseases like  Anthrax bacillus. Brucellosis, parteurella multocida, hemorihagic septicunia, flesh of dead animals causes heptospirosis which can even cause death. The Glorious Qur’ân prohibits dead meat in no Less than 4 places.

In Surah Baqarah chapter 2 verse 173  (2:173)

In surah Ma’idah chapter 5 verse 8  (5:8)

In Surah A’naam chapter 6 verse 145  (6: 145)

In Surah Nahl chapter 16 verse 115  (16:115)

Islam's concession for meat eating:

Allah says in Surah Al- Baqarah Chapter no.2 verse no.173 (2:173)

"He has only forbidden you, dead meat, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that on which any other name has been invoked besides that of Allah.”

In Surah Al-Ma'idah Chapter no.5 verse 3(5:3)

“Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which has been invoked the name of other than Allah: That which has been killed by strangling, or by a violent blow or by a headlong fall, or by being gored to death; That which has been (partly) eaten by a wild animal; Unless you are able to slaughter it (in due form), that which is sacrificed on stone (altars); (Forbidden) also is the division (of meat) by raffling with arrows: that is impiety. This day have those who reject faith given up all hope of your religion: yet fear them not but fear Me. This day have I Perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But if any is forced by hunger, with no inclination to transgression, Allah is indeed Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful.”

In Surah Nahl Chapter no.76 verse 115 (16:115)

“He has only forbidden you dead meat and blood, and the flesh of swine, and any (food) over which the name of other than Allah has been invoked. But if one is forced by necessity, without willful disobedience, nor transgressing due limits - then Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

It is not necessary to sacrifice animals in the Hajj. When I did my Hajj, I did it the Maliki way. According to Maliki fiqh, ifrad is the most preferred format. With ifrad, there is no animal sacrifice. I completed a pilgrimage that was perfectly valid according to Maliki fiqh — and no animals were harmed in the making of my Hajj.

Vegetarianism is halal.
Meat is not compulsory.
Any food is permissible provided it is not harmful.
Muslims are free to eat whatever they want provided it is halal.

See more Islamic vegetarian links here:
http://www.islamveg.com/

The place for vegetarians in Egypt.
http://www.vegetarianegypt.com/index.pl/volume_one
 

The option to be vegetarian has always existed in Islam, whether or not it was actualized at any time or place. The great Sufi Râbi‘ah al-‘Adawîyah of Basrah was an early Muslim vegetarian; so were the famous poet Abû al-‘Alâ’ al-Ma‘arrî and the Ottoman sultan Bayezid II.  In recent times, the renowned Sufi shaykh Bawa Muhaiyaddeen was a notable vegetarian Muslim. Nowadays there are more and more Muslims in different countries choosing to be vegetarian, although they have mostly kept quiet about it.

Sometimes we get negative, hostile, indignant, or incredulous reactions from other Muslims who have never considered the possibility. One common line of attack goes, "You can't make harâm what Allah has made halâl! That is a sin!" Excuse me, but who ever said anything about making anything harâm? Why even bring that issue into it? Why do they have to think of everything in life in terms of force and compulsion and forbidding? In Islamic law there are more categories than just obligatory and harâm. There are various shadings of desirable and undesirable, and in the middle there is the neutral (al-mubâh). The choice of what halâl food to eat is a neutral one—-it doesn't have any direct bearing on what is forbidden or obligatory. I'm not making meat "harâm." I just don't wish for any, thank you.

Some Muslims will tell you that in Islamic law you are not allowed to refuse to eat meat. This is mere opinion unsupported by any evidence from the sources of the Sharî‘ah. Suppose they establish the "Islamic State," then how will they enforce this ruling? Hold me down, force my mouth open, and shove kebabs down my throat? Come on, I don't think so.

Others try to persuade you by saying that the Prophet, peace be upon him, ate meat, so you should too. Well, let's look closer at that argument. We all know that we should try to emulate the Prophet's sunnah. And what is more important in the Sunnah: to observe specific details of the Prophet's personal taste which others may or may not share? Or to abide by the great universal principles of behavior and character that he exemplified?

The Prophet recognized that each person is a unique autonomous individual with his or her own personality. When giving advice to individual Companions, he would specifically tailor the advice according to that person's own characteristics. He did not enforce any overbearing uniformity on the people. Especially when it came to eating, he recognized that different people have different tastes. And for that matter, not even the Prophet and his Companions ate meat all the time; it was only once in a while that they did, not every day. Some Muslims seem to be under the impression that eating meat is the sixth pillar of Islam or something, but clearly there is no reason for thinking so.

The one overall guideline on food that the Prophet gave was: Eat of what is halâl and what is agreeable to you. That says it all. Within the wide range of halâl food, each individual can choose to eat whatever suits him or her.

If people want to follow the Prophet's sunnah of eating, consider this: The Prophet ate what he liked and he left aside what he didn't like. That's all we vegetarians are doing! Furthermore, he never coerced anyone else into eating what they didn't like. How about imitating this sunnah?

There was a Bedouin tribe whose custom it was to eat lizards, and the Prophet never forbade them from doing so. But he himself would never eat a lizard. This shows that just because something is "halâl," that doesn't require you to eat it if you don't want to.

The bottom line is: no one has the authority to dictate to you what halâl food you can choose to put into your body. Islamic law is completely neutral on this issue; it is only a private matter for each individual to decide for his or her self.

Moreover, note that the Qur’ân does not simply say to eat halâl meat: it says to eat what is good and wholesome (tayyib), and what is halâl.  Therefore, if any food is not tayyib, the Qur’ân does not encourage us to eat it. Most of the microbes that reside in the gut of a cow and find their way into our food get killed off by the acids in our stomachs, since they originally adapted to live in a neutral-pH environment. But the digestive tract of the modern feedlot cow is closer in acidity to our own, and in this new, manmade environment acid-resistant strains of E. coli have developed that can survive our stomach acids — and go on to kill us. By acidifying a cow's gut with corn, we have broken down one of our food chain's barriers to infection. Considering the diseases linked with meat eating (hardening of the arteries, which causes circulatory failure and stroke, in addition to other ills; gout; E. coli infection; and Mad Cow Disease), the hormones artificially put into animals, the filthy conditions of feedlots and slaughterhouses, and the danger of meat going bad, I can only conclude that meat does not pass the test of being tayyib, so Muslims are better off without it.

Ever since I became vegetarian, I feel lighter, fresher, happier, healthier. I can think better. Now, who will argue with that? :-)

Lord Buddha taught that this material world is full of suffering, and he also taught that there is 'samudaya' or a cause (material), and that due to there being a cause there must be a way of removing the cause, so then one has to remove material existence. This is the teaching of Buddha and as far as I can see there is nothing wrong with this statement, as with many of the revealed statements of Buddha. Though he never really disclosed more than this. Still He had a function to perform and he did it well. It was not His purpose really to develop anything further, nor would the people of the time had been able to receive any more than this, it was a troubled time.
 Throughout Buddha's life he always acted in an exemplary way, His compassion was always very personal, despite his missions philosophy. In his life history there are many incidences recorded in which some details to his mission are brought out, but mostly the focus has been on His path of refutation of the deviant so-called Vedantists. However we have found one rare written poem reputed to be the only text actually written by the renounced Buddha :

           Creatures without feet my love ,
             and likewise those who have two feet ;
               and those, too who have many feet.
                  Let creatures all, all things that live,
                     all beings of whatever kind, see
                       nothing that will bode them ill.
                          May no evil come to them.

There in the Buddhist scripture Surangama sutra He is quoted as saying that, "The reason for developing detachment, performing meditation, and seeking enlightenment is to escape from the sufferings of life. But in seeking that escape ourselves why should we impose suffering upon others. So unless one can control the mind then the misdeeds of violence and brutal unkindness and killing will be prevalent, when one is abhorrent to such acts nurturing compassion to all who are naturally suffering, then one can escape from the bondage of mundane life."

This was the conclusion of Lord Buddha sitting for six years under the banyan ('Bodhi') tree performing austerity and meditation on the outskirts of the city of Gaya in Northern India.

It is even mentioned that Catur Mukha Lord Brahma the teacher of the sacred Vedas throughout the universe came, and hailed "The Buddha", and requested him to preach to save the fallen souls in this world, let them over come birth, death, old age and disease. Lord Buddhas' reply was, "That the door to the realm of the immortals is now wide open to all those who hear me."
 Lord Buddha himself in a hidden manner reveals Himself as the Personality of Godhead, but by default, in the Donasutta saying, "I am not a 'Deva', (demigod ), I am not a 'Gandharva' (celestial angel), nor 'Yaksa' (fierce guardian spirit), or human being." And in the Saddharma Punarika He announces to all :-

                      yam eva'ham lokapita swayambhu cikitsakah sarvaprajnan natah

"I am the self born, Father of all, the Lord of all beings and the remover of all ills."
 

Vegetarianism in Buddhism
http://www.hsuyun.com/vegetarian.html

Surangama Sutra (Mahayana)

In the Chapter entitled "The enlightenment of others" and the section Prohibition against Killing, page 154. The Buddha said:

"If a man can (control) his body and mind and thereby refrains from eating animal flesh and wearing animal products, I say he will really be liberated."

Also from the Surangama Sutra:

"The reason for practicing dhyana and seeking to attain Samadhi is to escape from the suffering of life, but in seeking to escape from the suffering ourselves why should we inflict it upon others? Unless you can so control your minds that even the thought of brutal unkindness and killing is abhorrent, you will never be able to escape from the bondage of the world’s life…After my Parinirvana in the last kalpa different kinds of ghosts will be encountered everywhere deceiving people and teaching them that they can eat meat and still attain enlightenment… How can a bhikshu, who hopes to become a deliverer of others, himself be living on the flesh of other sentient beings?"

Brahmajala Sutra, (What the Teaching is Not), from the Pali Canon; "Long Discourses of the Buddha", Sutta 1: Translation by Maurice Walshe pages 69 and 70.

"Whereas some ascetics and Brahmins, feeding on the food of the faithful, remain addicted to the enjoyment of stored-up goods such as food, drink, clothing, carriages, beds, perfumes and meat, the ascetic Gotama refrains from such enjoyment."

Lankavatara Sutra (Mahayana) translated from Sanskrit by D. T. Suzuki. This Sutra was a discussion of the fundamental concepts of Mahayana Buddhism. Chapter Eight is entirely devoted to the prohibition of meat eating.

"The Blessed One said this to him: For innumerable reasons, Mahamati, the Boddhisattva, whose nature is compassion, is not to eat any meat."

"Now, Mahamati, the food I have permitted (my disciples to take) is gratifying to all wise people but is avoided by the unwise; it is productive of many merits, it keeps away many evils; and it has been prescribed by the ancient Rishis. It comprises rice, barley, wheat, kidney beans, beans, lentils, etc., clarified butter, oil, honey, molasses, treacle, sugar cane, coarse sugar, etc.; food prepared with these is proper food."

"If, Mahamati, meat is not eaten by anybody for any reason, there will be no destroyer of life. Mahamati, in the majority of cases the slaughtering of innocent living beings is done for pride and very rarely for other causes."

"It is not true, Mahamati, that meat is proper food and permissible for the Sravaka ( a hearer, hence a pupil or beginner) when (the victim) was not killed by himself, when he did not order others to kill it. When it was not specially meant for him."

Scripture of Brahma’s Net translated from the Chinese by Rev. Hubert Nearman with Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett and Rev. Daizui MacPhillamy as consultants and editors. Page 138.

Third Less Grave Precept:

On eating meat.

"Disciples of the Buddha, should you willingly and knowingly eat flesh, you defile yourself by acting contrary to this less grave Precept. Pray, let us not eat any flesh or meat whatsoever coming from living beings."

    mohanartham danavanam balarupi pathisthitah
    putram tam kalpayamasa mudhabuddhih jinah svayam:
    tatah sammohayamasajinadyan asurantakan
    bhagavan vaghirygrabhina himsavacibhihhaririti: Brahmande:

 In the Bhaktivedanta purports to this Srimad Bhagavatam (1:3:24.) verse, Srila Prabhupada, in brief, portrays Lord Buddha. "Lord Buddha, a powerful incarnation of the Personality of Godhead, appeared in the province of Gaya (Bihar) as the son of Anjana, and He preached His own conception of non-violence and deprecated even the animal sacrifices sanctioned in the Vedas. At the time when Lord Buddha appeared, the people in general were atheistic and preferred animal flesh to anything else. On the plea of Vedic sacrifice, every place was practically turned into a slaughterhouse, and animal-killing was indulged in unrestrictedly. Lord Buddha preached non-violence, taking pity on the poor animals. He preached that He did not believe in the tenets of the Vedas and stressed the adverse psychological effects incurred by animal killing. Less intelligent men of the age of Kali, who had no faith in God, followed His principle, and for the time being they were trained in moral discipline and non-violence - the preliminary steps for proceeding further on the path of God realisation. He deluded the atheists because such atheists who followed his principles did not believe in God but they kept their absolute faith in Lord Buddha, who himself was in incarnation of God. Thus the faithless people were made to believe in God in the form of Lord Buddha. That was the mercy of Lord Buddha; he made the faithless faithful to him.

"Killing of animals before the advent of Lord Buddha was the most prominent feature of society. People claimed that these were Vedic sacrifices. When the Vedas are not accepted through the authoritative disciplic succession, the casual readers of the Vedas are misled by the flowery language of that system of knowledge. In the Bhagavad Gita, a comment has been made on such foolish scholars ('avipascitah'). The foolish scholars of Vedic knowledge who do not care to receive the transcendental message through the transcendental realised sources of disciplic succession are sure to be bewildered. To them, the ritualistic ceremonies are considered to be all in all. They have no depth of knowledge. According to the Bhagavad Gita (15:15.): 'vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyah' - the whole system of the Vedas is to lead one gradually to the path of the Supreme Lord. The whole theme of Vedic literature is to know the Supreme Lord, the individual soul, the cosmic situation and the relation between all these items. When the relation is known, the relative function begins, and as a result of such function the ultimate goal of life or going back to Godhead takes place in the easiest manner. Unfortunately, unauthorised scholars of the Vedas become captivated by the purificatory ceremonies only, and the natural progress is thereby checked."
 "To such bewildered persons of atheistic propensity, Lord Buddha is the emblem of theism. He therefore first of all wanted to check the habit of animal-killing. The animal killers are dangerous elements on the path going back to Godhead. There are two types of animal killers. The soul is also sometimes called the 'animal' or the living being. Therefore, both the slaughterer of animals and those who have lost their identity of soul are animal-killers. Maharaja Pariksit said that only the animal-killer cannot relish the transcendental message of the Supreme Lord. Therefore if people are to be educated to the path of Godhead, they must be taught first and foremost to stop the process of animal killing as above mentioned. It is nonsensical to say that animal-killing has nothing to do with spiritual realisation. By the dangerous theory many so-called 'sannyasis' have sprung up by the grace of 'Kali-yuga' who preach animal killing under the garb of the Vedas. The subject matter has already been discussed in the conversation between Lord Caitanya and Maulana Chand Kazi Shaheb. The animal sacrifice as stated in the Vedas is different from the unrestricted animal killing in the slaughterhouse. Because the asuras or the so-called scholars or Vedic literatures put forward the evidence of animal-killing in the Vedas, Lord Buddha superficially denied the authority of the Vedas. This rejection of the Vedas by Lord Buddha was adopted in order to save people from the vice of animal-killing as well as to save poor animals from the slaughtering process of their big brothers who clamour for universal brotherhood, peace, justice and equality . There is no justice when there is animal-killing. Lord Buddha wanted to stop it completely, and therefore his cult of 'ahimsa' (non-violence) was propagated not only in India but also outside the country."
 "Technically Lord Buddha's philosophy is called atheistic because there is no acceptance of the Supreme Lord because that system of philosophy denied the authority of the Vedas. But that is an act of camouflage by the Lord. Lord Buddha is the incarnation of Godhead and as such, He is the original propounder of Vedic knowledge. He therefore cannot reject Vedic philosophy, but He rejected it outwardly because the 'sura-dvisa', or the demons who are always envious of the devotees of Godhead, try to support cow-killing or animal-killing from the pages of the Vedas, and this is now being done by the modernised 'sannyasis'. Lord Buddha had to reject the authority of the Vedas altogether. This is simply technical, and had it not been so He would not have been so accepted as the incarnation of Godhead, nor would He have been worshiped in the transcendental songs of the poet Jayadeva, who is a 'Vaisnava acarya'. Lord Buddha preached the preliminary principles of the Vedas in a manner suitable for the time being (and so also did Sankaracarya) to establish the authority of the Vedas. Therefore both Lord Buddha and Acarya Sankara paved the path of theism, and 'Vaisnava acaryas', specifically Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, led the people on the path towards a realisation of going back home, back to Godhead.
 "We are glad that people are taking interest in the non-violent movement of Lord Buddha, but will they take the matter very seriously and close the animal slaughterhouses altogether? If not, there is no meaning to the ahimsa cult."(A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Srimad Bhagavatam 1:3:24. purport.)

The Torah is full of commandments demanding humane treatment of animals, yet the modern factory farms that produce over 90% of the animal products we consume today raise their animals in unconscionable conditions of abject misery. The Torah reflects great concern for the land, yet as the primary cause of water pollution, water use, topsoil erosion, destruction of the world's rainforest, and other environmental harms, animal agriculture takes a devastating toll on the planet. Jewish teachings emphasize the grave importance of protecting human health, yet the consumption of animal products in the United States is responsible for numerous diseases including heart disease, America's number one killer. Judaism places great concern on providing for the poor and the hungry, yet while 800 million people do not have enough food to sustain themselves, our carnivorous diets are at least ten times as wasteful of food resources as a vegetarian one.

Please read and learn about the growing Jewish vegetarian movement, and think about how Jewish teachings relate to decisions we make everyday as we sit down to eat. As Rabbi Isaac ha-Levi Herzog said, "Jews will move increasingly to vegetarianism out of their own deepening knowledge of what their tradition commands... A whole galaxy of central rabbinic and spiritual leaders...has been affirming vegetarianism as the ultimate meaning of Jewish moral teaching."

Jews believe that before the coming of the Messiah, man must demonstrate the utmost regard for all animals - as first seen in Eden. Therefore, vegetarianism is a Judaic ideal, and keeping kosher is a compromise between this ideal and the reality of life on Earth. The rules for keeping kosher are very complex; I have tried to summarize them here without losing site of the main point.

The Jewish Vegetarian Ideal

Jewish vegetarianism is a philosophy and lifestyle, based upon Jewish teachings and mandates, that prescribes a diet centered on grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds and that proscribes the consumption of all animal flesh, including that of fish and fowl. Many well known Jews have followed a Jewish vegetarian lifestyle. Rabbi Abraham Isaac Hakohen Kook, the first chief rabbi of modern Israel, considered vegetarianism to be the ideal, the ultimate peace between mankind and the rest of the animal kingdom. He felt that in the Messianic Age, as prophesied by Isaiah (XI:7), we would all be vegetarian again and the only sacrifices offered would be the mincha sacrifice, which was of vegetable origin. Although there is some debate regarding Rav Kook's consistency in following a vegetarian diet, Rabbi She'ar Yashuv Cohen, the current Chief Rabbi of Haifa, has written, "I myself, am a vegetarian, following in the footsteps of my late father, the saintly Nazir of Jerusalem [Rabbi David Cohen], and his teacher, the saintly first Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Avraham Isaac Hacohen Kook." Other well known Jewish vegetarians include Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, the late Rabbi Shlomo Goren z"l, Chief Rabbi of Israel, and Avraham Burg (vegan - strict vegetarian), the youngest and only religious person ever to be elected Knesset Speaker, whose diet reflects his respect for the sanctity of all life. Thus, Jewish vegetarianism has had many prominent adherents.

In the ideal state of Gan Eden (the Garden of Eden), mankind is described as being vegetarian, and this state persisted until after the Flood in the time of Noach. In Bereishit, perek aleph, pasuk kaf"tet (Genesis I:29), God told Adam and Chava (Eve) that He had given them all of the seed-bearing plants and fruits as food. The Gemara (Sanhedrin 59b) declares, "Rav Yehuda said in the name of Rav, 'Adam was not allowed to eat meat,'" citing the above pasuk (verse) from Bereishit. Almost all of the subsequent commentators agree with this assessment.

Vegetarianism can be considered the ideal from several perspectives. We will consider each of these in turn.

Health and Prevention

A plant-based diet is the ideal, as confirmed by medical scientists in recent years. A commentator has suggested that the prescription of a vegetarian diet in Gan Eden could not have been for health reasons because there are many poisonous plants that would be harmful if consumed. This objection does not make much sense, however. If a doctor tells a patient to eat more fruits and vegetables, he is giving a general recommendation for health reasons. Although there are some poisonous berries and plants, he assumes that the patient has the common sense to stay away from them. Similarly, the prescription of this type of diet by God can be considered a general recommendation for the healthiest type of diet.

Judaism stresses the importance of maintaining health and not harming oneself. We are commanded in Devarim, perek daled, pasuk tet"vav (Deuteronomy IV:15) "venishmartem me'od lenafshoteichem" --"you shall guard yourselves most diligently." This means that we must do everything possible to guard our health and not take unnecessary risks. We are also to "choose life above all" (Deuteronomy XXX:19). The well known talmudic principle "chamira sakkanta me'issura" (Chulin 10a) indicates that a danger to health takes precedence over ritual obligations, including Shabbat observance. The Torah also declares that prevention is the highest form of healing: "If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His eyes, and keep all of His commandments, I will put none of the diseases upon you that I have put upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord your physician." God is saying here that He is preventing disease. Since, in preventing disease, we are emulating God, prevention is the highest form of healing. With regard to vegetarianism, Rashi's midrashic explanation of this verse is very interesting: he states that God in this context is like a physician who says to a patient, "Do not eat this food or it will make you sick." Modern research has shown that there is indeed a great sakkana (danger) to health from consuming meat, and this by itself provides sufficient reason to require a vegetarian diet from a halachic (Jewish legal) perspective.

Medical Evidence Supporting a Vegetarian Diet

We have learned that nutrition is the primary determinant of health. Virtually all of our chronic diseases are linked to diet (references available on request).

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States. Risk factors include elevated blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, hypercoagulability of the blood, and presence of diabetes -- all of which can be prevented or alleviated by a high fiber, low fat vegetarian diet. The Lifestyle Heart Trial showed that adoption of a low fat vegetarian diet along with exercise and stress reduction can actually reverse the hardening of the arteries that leads to heart attacks. The implication is that 95% of all heart attacks are preventable. They are not something to be expected as a consequence of aging but rather are the result of an aberrant lifestyle.

All of the major causes of death due to cancer have been linked to diet. The risk of lung cancer, number one in both men and women because of the smoking epidemic, may be increased by animal fat consumption and is reduced by vegetable consumption. Meat consumption is a major risk factor for prostate cancer, number two in men, and fats increase its aggressiveness. Breast cancer, a hormonally dependent cancer, may be linked with higher estrogen levels in women and may reflect childhood dietary practices and even the diet of one's mother prenatally. Cancer of the colon and rectum, number three in both men and women, is strongly linked to both red and white meat consumption. Meat consumption is a risk factor for pancreatic cancer (number four in both men and women), whereas legumes and dried fruits appear to be protective. Ovarian cancer, number five in women, has been linked with dairy (including skim milk), egg, and meat consumption. Lymphoma, number five in men and six in women, has been linked with both beef and dairy consumption in various studies. And the risk of bladder cancer in non-vegetarians is twice that of vegetarians. The message is clear: we would prevent well over half of all deaths due to cancer if people increased their fruit and vegetable consumption and discarded the animal products.

The adult form of diabetes, common among overweight adults, can be prevented by a high fiber vegetarian diet. Seventh Day Adventists, about half of whom are vegetarian, have only half the death rate from diabetes as the rest of us. Vegetarian diets have also been found to lower blood pressure. Kidney stones occur in one out of every eight adults in the U.S., and meat consumption has been identified as a major risk factor. Gallstones are also much less prevalent in vegetarians. High intakes of animal protein increase the risk of osteoporosis. And obesity, which is an obvious sign of an inappropriate diet, speaks for itself.

Modern science has indeed confirmed the Torah's wisdom with regard to the ideal diet.

Ethics and Respect for Life

Judaism forbids the infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering, called tsa'ar ba'alei chayim, on nonhuman animals. This injunction is d'oreita, derived directly from the Torah. So strongly did Chazal (our Sages) feel about this matter that they included "eiver min hachai," the prohibition against removing the limb from a living animal (or more broadly, anything that causes unnecessary suffering to animals) among the seven Noachide commandments. These were the laws that they felt should be applicable to all of mankind and not just to Jews. Many of our commandments relate to the way animals should be treated.

Many traditional Jewish sources refer to nonhuman animals as creatures devoid of reasoning ability, imagination, and morality. Modern science has shown otherwise, and just as we disregard the medical remedies described by the Talmud, we should also discard these characterizations of animals because of their scientific invalidity. Anyone who has had companion animals is aware of their diverse personalities, their thinking abilities, and their capacity for unconditional love, a very positive trait. An article in the International Edition of the Jerusalem Post on August 10, 1996 described an amazing event. A British tourist was swimming in the Red Sea when he was attacked by sharks. He screamed and the water around him became stained with his own blood. As a crew in a boat sped to save him, they saw that he was being circled by three dolphins who had created a barrier between the sharks and him and had thereby saved his life.

Read the rest of this article HERE

TRIPLE FILTER:
In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me anything I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test.

The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"  (Sathyam?)

"No," the man said, "actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend something good?" (Priyam?)

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to be useful to me?" (Hitham?)

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither  true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

sent in by Jai Simman in Jakarta

See similar inspirational snippets HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/parables.htm

Dear Prabhus,

  Please accept our respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 With thankfulness to our Founder Acharya Srila Prabhupada, Sri Gaura-Nitai, and the inspiration of all of you, we announce the Grand Opening of "NECTARBOOKS.COM". This website contains rare, wonderful Krishna Literature by our Vaisnava Acharyas, beautifully and carefully translated by Dasaratha Suta Prabhu, a scholarly disciple of Srila Prabhupada, long known for his translation work.

It was a desire of Srila Prabhupada to give all of us, his children and grandchildren, the entire Vaisnava Library of devotional writings, and we are  blessed by His Divine Grace to recieve some of this literature with which to further water our creepers of devotion.

Please consider forwarding this email to your address list in the mood of going for the mercy of Lord Chaitanya by assisting His missionary desires.

http://www.nectarbooks.com

Your aspiring servants at NectarBooks.Com

Dasaratha-suta Dasa and Dina Sharana Dasa

********
Letter to: Hayagriva
Tokyo April 27, 1972

.. It is my serious desire to devote the fag end of my life to translating Srimad Bhagavatam and so many other Vaisnava literatures so by assisting me in this regards you will be performing the highest service to Krsna....

HH Bir-Krishna Goswami's site
http://www.bkgoswami.com/

HH Devamrita Swami
http://www.devaswami.com/main.php
http://www.devaswami.com/main.php?&displayPage=home

HH Gopal Krishna Goswami:
http://www.geocities.com/gopalkrsna/

HH Indradyumna Swami
http://www.traveling-preacher.com/
http://www.harekrishna.asn.au/speakers/indradyumna_swami/indradyumna_swami.htm

HH Jayapataka Swami
http://www.hearjps.com/
http://www.jpsoffice.com/
http://www.harekrishna.asn.au/speakers/jayapataka_swami/jayapataka_swami.htm
http://www.victoryflag.com/
Many lectures by HH Jayapataka Swami and HH Radhanath Swami
http://www.radiokrishna.com/rkc_archive_new/

HH Kadamba Kanana Swami
http://www.geocities.com/kksaudioministry/

HH Prabhavishnu Swami
http://home.iprimus.com.au/naractl/Biographys/ISKCON_Gurus/Srila_Prabhavisnu_Swami_Biography.html#Prabhu

HH Prahladananda Swami
http://home.iprimus.com.au/naractl/Biographys/ISKCON_Gurus/Prahladananda_Swami_Maharaja.html#mod

HH Romapada Swami
http://www.prastha.com/cgi-bin/uncgi/renderphilo.pl?ndx=2

HH Sacinandan Swami
http://www.saranagati.net/

HH Sivaram Swami:
http://www.sivaramaswami.com/

HH Sridhar Swami (the late Sridhar swami formerly in Bombay)
http://www.jollyswami.net/home.php

HH Suhotra dasa Tapa Vanacharin
http://www.suhotraprabhu.com/

HH Trivikram Swami
http://www.tvswami.sotiko.pl/

HG Vaiyasaki dasa Adhikari
http://www.kirtan.org/index.html

If you know of any other senior Iskcon devotee web-sites please send their URL to us to share with others through this media mailto:jtcd@xtra.co.nz

See the Blogs above also for some interesting reads:

Here's a short list with some links - sadhu sanga ki jaya
http://krisna-volgy.hu/sadhu/

What's Going On Where &Adds

FESTIVAL EVENTS AND VENUES:


The New Iskcon Auckland temple

.....now open one year.

for more information and some wonderfrul pictures of the event see our page:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/HKAuckland-page.htm

photos updated 12th March 2004

page updated September 2005

Hare KrishnaSchool & Playgroup

Krishna Conscious education for children
http://www.harekrishna.school.nz
http://hkschool.orcon.net.nz/

Hare Krishna School in Riverhead, Auckland is a government funded school that runs from 9am – 3pm five days a week. We cover all core subjects in the New Zealand Curriculum and in addition teach Sanskrit, Sastra and Vedic arts. Children who come to this school get everything that children at state schools get plus Vedic culture and values in a serene rural environment.

We also run a preschool program for children 3 and up.

A school bus service provides transport from Auckland suburbs.

For enrolment information please contact:- HKSchool@xtra.co.nz

admin@harekrishna.school.nz

Ph: 09-412-6325
Mob: 021-265-7587
Fax: 09-412-6325

Find out what the NZ Government Education Review Office thinks of the Hare Krishna School. Click the link below.
http://www.ero.govt.nz/publish/reppub.ns4/Institution/98CA326F2C53BF0CCC256B7500174198/$File/4204.htm?OpenElement

Balgopal Krishna Conscious Preschool in Henderson Auckland prepares children for school with a nurturing academic and character development program founded on Krishna consciousness.

 For details please contact-

Vishnupadi dasi Ph.836-1214

Gaura Yoga Centre
First floor
175, Vivian Street,
Wellington

Phone:  (04) 801-5500

Learn about the Krishna conscious life-style
Learn Yoga
Learn about Vegetarianism
...all in a non-threatening friendly atmosphere.

http://www.gaurayoga.co.nz

Contact us: mailto:info@gaurayoga.co.nz

Subscribe to newsletter: mailto:gaurayoga-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Sunday Love Feasts - contact your local temple, or community for details
http://www.hknet.org.nz/index-int.htm

http://www.hknet.org.nz/NZKiwi-yatra.htm

http://www.hknet.org.nz/aussie-yatra.htm

Harinaam Kirtan and Bhajans in Tauranga BOP.
Every Saturday in the Red Square by the Strand (or Mt. Maunganui)

Come and join the throng 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

...for more details contact Trivikrama dasa

mailto:touchstone@slingshot.co.nz (for Trivikram prabhu)

Vegetarian Clubs
Waikato University - Hamilton campus

2 days per week serving about 100 plates each day.

for more information contact Mangala Vaishnava dasa
mailto:bhaktamark@hotmail.com

Auckland Veda club.
Auckland University - Wellesley St. campus

Its a simple weekly program thats been running for a few years, at Clubspace,
where we have a vegetarian prasadam lunch and sometimes show a video.
Srila Prabhupada's books are available to browse or buy.

For more information contact Auckland temple:
mailto:radhik@e3.net.nz

Otago University - Dunedin - Vege Club
Room 2., Clubs & Societies Building
Albany St.,

contact Jambavati dasi (03) 477 8277
mailto:jambavati85@hotmail.com

http://www.hknet.org.nz/HKDunedin-page.htm


Auckland
http://www.hknet.org.nz/AuckFFL-page.htm

Christchurch
http://www.hknet.org.nz/CHCH-FFL-page.htm

See more about Food For Life and how you can help HERE:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/HKFood4Life-page.htm

 268., Karangahape Road., Auckland

Delicious hot inexpensive Vegetarian Meals !

Pure Vegetarian Restaurant

$5 Combo Meal

Open Mon-Fri 11am-7.30pm

Sat 11am-2.30pm

Phone (09) 300 7585

SPIRITUAL MASTER INSPIRES FOOD DISTRIBUTION

Seven hundred plates of free prasadam (food offered to the Lord) were distributed to an appreciative public and to 50 devotees who took part in a central city Harinam (chanting in the streets).

By the mercy of Guru, Gauranga and Radha Krishna, (after our first bhajan album Bhajanamrtam) we have managed to produce a new CD entitled "Bhaktivinoda", a collection of bhajans of Saccidananda Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur and other Vaisnava acaryas in Orissi classical ragas.

The CD includes 8 bhajans and a 12-page booklet with all lyrics and a translation of the songs:
Gurudeva! Kabe Mora Sei Din Habe
Hari Hari, Kabe More Hoibe Sudina
Kabe Sri Caitanya More
Radha-Kunda-Tata
Narada Muni
Janama Saphala Ta'ra
Brajendranadana, Bhaje Jei Jana
Kabe Ha'be Bolo

Price, inclusive of shipping, is 15 Euros per CD. If you want to order this CD, please transfer the amount to the following account (and send us your shipping address by mail or email):

Account number 3125628, Ashok Jagram, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Bank details: Postbank, Foreign operations, P.O. Box 1800, 1000 BV Amsterdam [Swiftcode: PSTB NL2]

- HEALTHY ISSUES - Ayurveda:-
Visit Vaidya Yolande Manson's Ayurvedic practice - in Hamilton:
http://www.hknet.org.nz/YM-Ayurved.html

dhanvantaris cha bhagavan svayam eva kirtir
namna nrnam pururujam ruja asu hanti
yajne cha bhagam amrtayur avavarundha
ayusya vedam anusasty avatirya loke

"The Lord in His incarnation of Dhanvantari very quickly cures the diseases of the ever diseased living entities simply by His fame personified and only because of Him do the demigods achieve long lives. Thus the Personality of Godhead becomes ever glorified. He also exacted a share from the sacrifices, and it is He only who inaugurated the medical science or the knowledge of medicine in the universe." (Srimad Bhagavata Purana 2.7.22 )

Sacred Vegetarian Recipes - Prasadam

World Vegetarian Day 1st October each year

World Vegetarian Awareness Month - October

http://www.hknet.org.nz/VegeWVD.html

see what's already happened last year http://www.hknet.org.nz/VegeWVD2004.html

see what we hear is to be happening this year

See our previous World Vegetarian Day issue of the newsletter for a wide range of Vegetarian issues

The Animal Spirit Newsletter - Issue #2 -  4/21/03-4/27/03

Paneer Mazedaar
Rich and creamy -- a reward for fasting !

Ingredients:
- 500 gms Paneer, cubed
- 3 tbsp Singhare ka atta (waterchestnut flour)
- 2 tbsp Magaz (melon seeds)
- 2 tsp Sendha namak (rock salt)
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 2 tsp Zeera (cumin seeds), roasted, powdered
- 2 tsp Dhania (coriander), powdered
- 2 tbsp Ghee (clarified)
- 1 tbsp (or to taste) Green chillies,  chopped
- 2 tbsp Hara dhania (green coriander), chopped
- ¼ cup (60 gms) Malai (fresh cream)

Mix together paneer, atta, magaz, namak, chilli powder, dhnia powder, well enough to coat the paneer.

Heat the ghee, add green chillies and ginger to it. Sauté till slightly coloured, then add paneer mix.

When the paneer is light brown, add enough water to cover the paneer and bring to a boil. Leave to simmer for 3-4 minutes, until well blended.

Add malai and half of the hara dhania and heat through. Serve hot, garnished with the remaining dhania.

http://www.niruskitchen.com/books/book_vrat.htm
 

PEANUT CURRY

Ingredients:
1-2 cups finely ground, roasted peanuts
2 green chilies
tamarind or kokum to taste
ghee (clarified butter)
3-4 cups water

For paste:
cumin seeds
coriander
fresh coconut
2 sticks of cinnamon
2 cloves
jaggery
salt to taste

What you do:
Boil water, add ground peanuts and ground paste of cumin seeds, green chilies, cloves, cinnamon, salt and jaggery .Add kokum or tamarind pulp to it according to taste. After the curry is well cooked, garnish with coriander leaves and coconut.

http://www.lifepositive.com/body/holistic-recipes/recipes/food-fast.asp

Sabudaana Vada

Most fattening, but delicious !
Ingredients:
- 1 kg Potatoes, boiled, peeled, mashed
- 1 cup (150 gms) Saboodana (sago)
- 2 tsp Sendha namak (rock salt)
- 1 tsp Chilli powder
- 1 tbsp (heaped) Hara dhania (green coriander), chopped
- 1 tsp Green chillies, chopped
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- Ghee (clarified butter)/*Oil for deep frying

*Peanut oil or Olive oil or Palm oil - not corn oils.

Wash saboodana till water clears. Soak in water, with level coming upto 3 cms / 1½" above the sanoodana, for about 1½ hours.

Drain in a colander and mix in potatoes, salt, chilli powder, hara dhania, green chillies and lemon juice.

Shape potato mixture into flat, round vadas 5 cms / 2" in diameter (grease hands if it sticks).

Heat ghee/oil for frying. Fry vadas golden and crisp on both sides and serve hot, with a chutney.

Venn Pongal

     Ingredients
     Rice 2 cups
     Moong dhall 1/2 cup
     Hing a small pinch
     Curry leaves
     Cashews - small handful
     Black Pepper crushed 1/2 t.spoon
     Cumin seeds 1/2 t.spoon
     Ginger a small piece finely chopped
     Ghee 1/2 t.spoon
     Salt 1 t.spoon

    Method
     Cook rice, moong dhall and turmeric powder with extra water and keep it aside.
     Fry pepper, cumin seeds, hing, curry leaves, and ginger in 2 t.spoons ghee, and add this to the above pongal.
     Fry cashews in 1 t.spoon ghee and add to the above.
     Add salt and remaining ghee and mix everything well.

Sambhar Spicey Dahl Soup

Ingredients:
3 cups mung beans soaked overnight
1 kg fresh tomatoes or 3 cans chopped pealed tomatoes
50 - 75 grms fresh seedless tamarind pulp (size of a small orange) or 1 tsp tamarind concentrate
1 cup raw sugar or gur
vegetables are optional - I use pumpkin, carrots, potatoe, slices of fried coconut, green runner beans.
grated coconut (or desecated coconut)
50 grams butter
2 table spoons Madras Sambhar powder (see that recipe just below) (or you can buy)
handful of whole green chillis
curry leaves
corriander leaves to garnish
salt

Method:
Soak mung beans over night and rinse. Bring to a rolling boil for two to three hours until soft and breaking up. Add tomatoes, tamarind pulp or concentrate, add sugar and any vegetables and coconut. Add salt and butter. Keep on boil, keep stiring the bottom to keep from burning.

Make it thin or thick.

Serve hot with rice or idlis or Venn pongal.

Sambhar Powder

     Ingredients
     Red chillies 1 cup (about 15-20 chillies)
     Corriander seeds 1.5 cups
     Channa dhall 1/4 cup
     Thuvar dhall 1/4 cup
     Methi (fenugreek seeds) 1 t.spoon
     Mustard seeds 1 t.spoon
     Curry leaves 1/4 cup
     Turmeric 1/2 t.spoon

     Method
     Dry roast every ingredient seperately without oil till the flavour comes out.  Fry methi until it turns dark brown.
     Grind the above with curry leaves, and turmeric into nice powder.

Fresh Crumpets with Fresh Berries

Start the day in style with fabulous fresh from the pan crumpets and warm summer berry compote. If you prefer savoury, use grated cheese and sliced tomatoes instead.

Serves 4 or 1 brahmacharin
Ingredients:
For the crumpets:
500g/1lb 2oz plain flour
15g/1/2oz Salt
15g/1/2oz fresh yeast
6 tbsp lukewarm water
1 portion of egg replacement powder
4 tbsp milk
4 tbsp butter
For the fresh berry compote:
250g/9oz strawberries
150g/5oz fresh raspberries
75ml/3fl oz orange juice

Method:
1. Sieve the flour and salt together into a bowl.

2. In a separate bowl mix together the yeast with about 5-6 tbsp of the warm water.

3. Add the yeast mixture to the flour and stir in the egg replacement powder. Stir in enough milk to make a thick batter mixture. Leave the mixture to rest for about 45 minutes. If the batter seems too thick, simply stir in a little extra warm water.

4. Melt a tablespoon of butter in a non-stick pan and lightly butter some crumpet rings or scone cutters.

5. Place the rings in the pan and pour in enough batter to half fill the rings.

6. Cook over a gentle heat until holes appear in the top of the crumpets and the mixture starts to dry slightly around the edge. Turn over, remove the ring and cook lightly on the other side.

7. For the compote, simply chop the strawberries and put them into a saucepan with the raspberries and orange juice. Heat gently and serve spooned over the crumpets.

Must be offered and served hot
 

7 Layer Mexican Dip - No Meat Version Recipe

Ingredients:
8 ounces Cream Cheese -- softened
1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning Mix
1 cup Guacamole (see recipe below)
1 cup Salsa (see recipe below)
1 cup Shredded Lettuce
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 tablespoons Sliced Ripe Black Olives

Directions:

Combine the cream cheese and taco seasoning until well blended. Evenly spread the mixture on the bottom of a pie plate. Evenly spread the guacamole over the cheese. Spread a layer of salsa over the guacamole. Evenly sprinkle the lettuce on top next; then the cheese, and olives. Refrigerate. Serve chilled with tortilla chips.

Guacamole
Ingredients:
3 Haas avocados, halved, seeded and peeled
1 lime, juiced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro (coriander leaves)
1 teaspoon hing

In a large bowl place the scooped avocado pulp and lime juice, toss to coat. Drain, and reserve the lime juice, after all of the avocados have been coated. Using a potato masher add the salt, cumin, and cayenne and mash. Then, fold in the tomatoes, cilantro, and hing. Add 1 tablespoon of the reserved lime juice. Let sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then use.

Salsa
Ingredients:
8 cups peeled, cored, chopped fresh tomatoes
1 to 2 cups seeded and chopped fresh jalapeno peppers; use more or less to taste
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon salt
3/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 tea spoon hing

Combine all ingredients in a large pot. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Reduce heat and simmer about 10 minutes. Pour hot salsa into hot pint jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal jars with two piece caps. Process in a boiling water bath for 15 minutes. Makes 4 to 5 pints which can be stored.
 

Zucchini Avocado Salsa

Ingredients:
2 small zucchini, diced (about 2 cups)
1 cup fresh or frozen corn
2 medium avocados, peeled, pitted, and diced
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon hing
3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro (coriander)
dash Tabasco sauce
salt and black pepper to taste

Steam zucchini and corn together just for 2 or 3 minutes until colours are  bright. Place in a bowl with remaining ingredients together and chill for at least one hour.

Yield: About 3 cups

Variation: Add 1 to 2 cups diced tomatoes
 

French Bread
Ingredients
1 tbsp. yeast
1 1/2 cups warm water
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 tbsp. oil
4 cups flour

Directions
Dissolve yeast in water. (You can add a pinch of sugar if you want to.)
Stir in salt, oil & half of flour.
Gradually add remaining flour, mixing well. Knead 8-10 minutes or until smooth & elastic. Place in greased bowl & let rise until doubled (1/2-1 hour).
Punch down & let rise again until doubled. Punch down & divide into 1-4 pieces. Roll into an oblong shape & then roll up & pinch to seal to form long thin loaves. Place on greased cookie sheet. Slash top of dough with knife 3-5 times diagonally down each loaf. Brush with water & let raise till doubled again (about 1 hour).

Bake at 375'F for 30 minutes.
Use within one day

Reincarnation Pumpkin and Pecan Tart
This spectacular spiced pumpkin and pecan tart makes a dessert to die for.

Serves 8  (hahaha, should be in the joke section - unless you didn't follow the recipe)
Ingredients:
500g/18oz raw pumpkin, peeled and diced
fresh cream, to serve

For the pastry:
125g/4oz plain flour
75g/3oz pecans, finely chopped
50g/2oz butter
50g/2oz caster (refined granulated) sugar

For the filling:
100g/3½oz sugar
pinch each of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves
2 tbsp plain flour
250ml/9fl oz single cream
75g/3oz pecan halves

Method:
1. In a large saucepan, boil the pumpkin until tender.

2. Meanwhile, make the pastry. Place the flour, nuts, butter and 50g/2oz of caster sugar into a food processor and whiz until the mixture has formed crumbly dough.

3. Resisting the temptation to knead it any more than you have to, press your dough into a spring form mould. Work it up the sides to make room for the filling.

4. Set the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas 4. Drain the cooked pumpkin and puree in a clean food processor.

5. Transfer it to a bowl, and then stir in the sugar. Add the spices and flour. Add the cream and beat until smooth.

6. Fill the pastry case with this mixture and scatter with the pecan halves.

7. Bake for 50 minutes or so, until the pie is set and golden.
Serve with plenty of cream.

Laddu  (Sweets)
(Makes 12-15 pieces)
Ingredients:
1 cup sifted chickpea flour (channa besan)
½ - ¾ cup butter
¾ cup sifted icing sugar
1/8 teaspoon cardamom powder

1. Melt the butter in a heavy frying pan over a medium heat.
2. Sprinkle in the chickpea flour while stirring with a wooden spoon. Continue to stir until the mixture turns golden brown and gives off a nutty aroma.
3. Remove from the heat, add the icing sugar and cardamom, and mix thoroughly, being careful to break up any lumps.
4. When cool enough to handle, roll the mixture into walnut-size balls. Cool thoroughly and offer to Krsna

from the Conch newsletter February 2005 edition

JAMAICAN FRUIT & ICE CREAM SUNDAE:

Ingredients:
4 large bananas
1 whole pineapple
250 grms brown sugar
100 grms butter
500 grms/ half litre cream
500 grms vanila ice cream

Method:
either on a BBQ grill or under the toaster grill of your oven, grill the 4 bananas with their skins on. While these are cooking (until bursting and bubbling) take the whole pineapple, take off the top, and while keeping the outter skin on cut it length ways in four and remove the central core.

Then still keeping the outer skin on, cut the pineapple into wedge like shapes by cutting across the length. Dip those wedges into the brown sugar and put the wedges also onto the grill to cook until looking golden brown.

While this is happening melt the 100 grms of butter into a saucepan add the remaining sugar to that when the butter has melted and stir this together until it has the unmistakeable aroma of caramel toffee - about five minutes on medium heat. When it is ready add the cream to it and stir in or whisk together.

On the offering plate place the bananas, if they are not already split, just cut them open with a knife. Place the golden brown sticky pineapple wedges either side of the bananas place a serving of the ice-cream on top of the banana and then drizzle over the entire preparation a thick coating of the caramel toffee cream sauce.
Stop lusting over it and offer it to Krishna, the Supreme Enjoyer - this one has been known to disappear off the offering plate, no remnants left by the Lord, it's that good.
 

The Animal Spirit Newsletter - Issue #2 -  4/21/03-4/27/03

The book "Living a Good Life" normally selling at $21.95 is now going at the $14.95 price, .http://vegsoc.wellington.net.nz/livingGd.htm

 Krishna Conscious - Vedikly acceptable Jokes

Healing with humour: Taking better care of ourselves  =>;-))
http://www.hknet.org.nz/healthNhumour.html
Visit our Hasya Rasa pages

Laughter Therapy - its no joke:
http://www.healthlibrary.com/reading/yod/march98/news.htm

"Govinda, why are you not putting your hand up?" asked the teacher.

"Because I don't eat meat, I'm a vegetarian." replied Govinda proudly.

"Why are you a vegetarian? You know there are less vegetarians in New Zealand than us carnivors, and you have to get your iron from somewhere......." she challenged.

"My parents are both vegetarians, their parents were vegetarians, all my other relatives are also vegetarian, we were brought up vegetarian and I like being a vegetarian !!!"

"Well," said the teacher in an obviously annoyed tone, "...that is no real reason for you to go against society and be a vegetarian. You don't have to be just like your parents all of the time. Why, what if your Mom was a moron and your dad was a moron, what would you be then?"

"Then," Little Govinda smiled and said with impunity, "We'd be meat eaters like you too."

The monks graciously accept him, feed him dinner, even fix his car. As the man tries to fall asleep, he hears a strange sound. The next morning, he asks the monks what the sound was, but they say, We can’t tell you. You’re not a monk. The man is disappointed but thanks them anyway and goes about his merry way.

Some years later, the same man’s car breaks down in front of the same monastery. The monks again accept him, feed him, even fix his car.  That night, he hears the same strange noise that he had heard years earlier. The next morning, he asks what it is, but the monks reply, We can’t tell you. You’re not a monk.

The man says, All right, all right. I’m dying to know. If the only way I can find out what that sound was is to become a monk, how do I become a monk?

The monks reply, You must travel the earth and tell us how many blades of grass there are and the exact number of sand pebbles. When you find these numbers, you will become a monk.

The man sets about his task. Some forty-five years later, he returns and knocks on the door of the monastery. He says, I have traveled the earth and have found what you have asked for. There are 145,236,284,232 blades of grass and 231,281,219,999,129,382 sand pebbles on the earth.

The monks reply, Congratulations. You are now a monk. We shall now show you the way to the sound.

The monks lead the man to a wooden door, where the head monk says, The sound is right behind that door. The man reaches for the knob, but the door is locked. He says, Real funny. May I have the key? The monks give him the key, and he opens the door.

Behind the wooden door is another door made of stone. The man demands the key to the stone door. The monks give him the key, and he opens it, only to find a door made of ruby. He demands another key from the monks, who provide it. Behind that door is another door, this one made of sapphire. So it went until the man had gone through doors of emerald, silver, topaz, and amethyst.

Finally, the monks say, This is the last key to the last door.

The man is relieved to no end. He unlocks the door, turns the knob, and behind that door he is amazed to find the source of that strange sound…

.......scroll down



 

…but I can’t tell you what it is because you’re not a monk.

DON’T TRY AN' HUNT ME DOWN, COS I’M STILL HUNTING THE PERSON WHO SENT ME THIS!

In the year 2005 the Lord came to Noah, who is now alive and well in Australia, and said, "Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see the end of all flesh before me. You need to build another Ark and save 2 of every living thing along with a few good humans.  You have 6 months to build the Ark before I start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights".

Six months later, the Lord looked down again and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark in sight.

 "Noah!" He roared, "I'm about to start the rain! Where's the Ark?

"Forgive me, Lord," begged Noah, "but things have changed. I need a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector about need for a sprinkler system. My neighbours claim that I've violated the neighbourhood zoning laws by building the Ark in the yard which exceeds the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.  Then the Department of Transport demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they wouldn't listen.

Then I had problems getting the wood.  There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save an endangered species, the spotted quoll.  I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the quolls - but no go!

When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me for confining wild animals against their will. They said it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.

Then the local council ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.

I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many indigenous people I'm supposed to hire for my building crew.

The Immigration department is checking the status of most of the people who want to work and I've even had a letter from Amanda Vanstone asking about my ethnic background!

The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only Union workers with Ark-building experience.

To make matters worse, the Taxation department has seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.

So, forgive me, Lord, but it would take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.

Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky.

Noah looked up in wonder and asked, "You mean you're not going to destroy the world?"

"No," said the Lord. "Your Governments have already beaten me to it!"

sent in by Prema Kumar in NZ

What a wonderful method to use on telemarketers!

The phone rang as I was setting down to my anticipated evening meal, and as I answered it I was greeted with, "Is this William Wagenhoss?"

This didn't sound anything like my name, so I asked, "Who is calling?" The telemarketer said he was with The Rubberband-Powered Freezer Company or something like that and then I asked him if he knew William personally and why was he was calling this number.  I then said off to the side, "Get really good pictures of the body and all the blood."  I then turned back to the phone and advised the caller that he had entered a murder scene and must stay on the line because we had already traced this call and he would be receiving a summons to appear in the local courthouse to testify in this murder case.

I then questioned the caller at great length as to his name, address, phone number at home, at work, who he worked for, how he knew the dead guy and could he prove where he had been about one hour before he made this call. The telemarketer was getting very concerned and his answers were given in a shaky voice.

I proceeded to tell him we had located his position at his work place and the police were entering the building to take him into custody.  At that point, I heard the phone fall and the scurrying of his running away.

My wife asked me as I returned to our table, why I had tears streaming down my face and so help me, I couldn't tell her for about fifteen minutes. My meal was cold, but oh-so-very enjoyable.

sent in by Christine in Perth

Wear Pants - Countless attempts to better oneself have been cut tragically short by leaving the house without proper attire.

Use Your Real Name - Sorry, but nobody will be impressed if you go by the name "2HOT4U", "Krishnadas108" or "SATAN666."   Names like "Sunil" or "Govinda" are just fine.

The Telephone is Your Friend - Hear that ringing sound? Pick up the phone. Now speak into it.

Incidently if Your Car Crashes, You Cannot Simply Reboot It.

That Red Stuff is Called Blood - Not to be confused with ketchup, blood is what keeps you alive. If you are leaking, the real world offers human tech support in the form of doctors and hospitals.

When the Police come you can't just go Ctrl-Alt-Del to get out of it......believe me I tried.

Ask the expert
http://www.veg.ca/events/ask-the-exp.html

by Dr. Frank Einstein, Ph.d. (Post Hole Digger)

Lacto-Boozo
As a lacto-boozo-vegetarian I am concerned about the amount of vitamin B-52 in my diet. I have been told that drinking two cups of Irish coffee each day will ensure I get an adequate amount of this important nutrient.
Is this true?
- Fred Tirebiter, Kingston, Ontario

First of all I would like to address the misconception, held throughout much of Canada but of greatest popularity in British California, that Irish coffee is a so-called "perfect" meal nutritionally; supplying ingredients from each of the basic four food groups. Contrary to popular belief, fat, sugar, alcohol and caffeine, all abundantly present in Irish coffee, are not the basic four food groups. Fruits, vegetables, grains and legumes, on the other hand, are the components that make up the real basic four. The lacto-boozo Vegetarian option is not a particularly healthy one. I recommend the restriction (if not out-and-out elimination) of both alcohol and milk in the diet. Alcohol does not provide much in the way of nutrition and has been associated with numerous health debilitations. And, after considering the increasing evidence linking milk to such diseases as osteoporosis, several cancers, heart disease and hypertension, and considering as well the abundance of alternative vegetable, grain and legume sources for such nutrients as calcium and B12, why bother with milk at all?

Spring Water
Doctor Einstein, I am a big fan of yours (6'4" and 220 pounds). I have read all your books and seen all your movies. My question concerns spring water. Is it really all it's cracked up to be?
- Pierre Leau, Montreal, Quebec

Thank you very much for your wonderful comments, Pierre. In my opinion spring water is highly overrated and my preference is for Fall and Summer water. Winter run-off adds decaying organic material, salts and other chemicals to Canadian water supplies in the spring, compromising the quality of water at
this time.

Xtra-cholesterols and Unidentified Fried Objects
Do extra-cholesterols really abduct people, take them to their far-off restaurants, forcefully impregnating them with body-parts from mutilated animals, and then leave them, days later, naked and constipated, in mysterious crop circles? Are there slaughterhouses elsewhere in the universe? There have been numerous sightings of Unidentified Fried Objects in my neighborhood over the past several weeks and I am definitely worried!
- Fox Muldar, Hongcouver, British California

The strongest evidence for the existence of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe is that they have wisely left us Earthlings alone! Most sightings of Unidentified Fried Objects turn out, upon carefully investigation, to be nothing more than bacon, hamburger or weather balloons - keep them out of your mouth and you have nothing to worry about. The real abductions to be concerned about on this planet are not of our bodies but of our minds. Advertising, government lobbying and other propaganda measures by terrestrials have been highly successful for decades, at the promotion of slaughterhouse industries. If extra-cholesterols actually exist and really wanted us eating carrion (dead animals), I think they would be more likely to invest their energies in brain-washing rather than kidnapping - perhaps they already have.

.......and always remember (don't forget...)

You might like to check out Krishna-conscious jokes - http://vedaveda.com/anglais/joke/deux.html
Also check out the Humour section of the Main Index: http://www.hknet.org.nz/index.htm

A Grateful Word to our Supporters

to all the readers who have one way or another subscribed to N.Z.H.K.S.R.Network.
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Thank you to The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International (BBTI) for allowing the kind use of their pictures found in this newsletter; Copyright ©2005 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, on the web at http://www.krishna.com. Used with permission.

A special thanx for the devotees who are sponsoring the site over 2004-2005, and to Yagnesh Rajani prabhu for taking it up to 2007

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