Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!
Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day, 2002

Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON Los Angeles
large photo inside

ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications is pleased to announce the release of Sri Krishna Kathamrita magazine issue 6: "Vaishnava Aparadha, The Mad Elephant Offense." This long-awaited issue provides an in-depth look at this serious obstacle on the devotional path through stories from the lives of Sachi-mata, Devakinandan Das, Jahnava Devi, Srila Rupa Goswami, and Krishna-priya Thakurani; special artwork; and several never-before-seen translations. As in every issue of Sri Krishna Kathamrita magazine, one will find articles by Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode, Prabhupada Srila Saraswati Thakur, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and other previous acaryas, as well as articles by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami and other contemporary Vaishnavas.

A few comments:

Hare Krsna.

Dear devotees,

I'm sorry that Ms. Mishra feels that Prabhupada gave wrong instructions about women. Actually, since I had my letter posted on CHAKRA, I have received many emails of differing opinions, but one thing that has been consistent through most of them is that the ideals of women described by Prabhupada are just that: ideals. And ideals in Vedic Society at that. We are by no means anywhere close to being a Vedic society. This is Kali yuga, after all.

And just because we have not been successful in becoming the Vedic society Prabhupada envisioned does not fault him. Maybe we should be looking at why it is we are not able to follow his simple instructions.

Dear Prabhu,

I just read your post on Chakra. I can say that I deeply regret not finishing school to join the temple because life can give you things that you may never expect. I lived in the temple for nine years before I married, and I never expected that my marriage would be what it was, with the result that I packed up and left being six weeks pregnant.

And now? I'm a single mum without a degree, on welfare. I started going to school again last year, but my baby ended up in the hospital over and over again because every little cold he got from other children turned really bad. Now he can soon go to school, and hopefully, my school will work out this time and we will get out of this situation, a situation that wouldn't have been like this if I had a degree.

Preaching Center in Blacksburg, Virginia
By Bhava-sindhu das

Dear Vaisnavas,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I would like to invite all Vaisnavas to visit our small preaching center in Blacksburg, in southwest Virginia. We have recently decided to move our weekly meeting day to Saturdays (instead of Tuesdays), hoping that the weekends are more convenient for you to come and visit us.

Sri Govardhana Lila Ki Jaya!

Sri Nathaji, ISKCON New Vrindaban
large size inside

Prasadam for India’s Prime Minister
By Deena Bandhu dasa

On the 2nd of September, the day after Nandotsava and Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja, devotees from Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan gave Chappan Bhog Janmastami Prasada to the Honorable Prime Minister, the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister, the Honorable President, and the Honorable Vice President of India.

Sarvabhauma Prabhu, co-director of Indian Communications, along with Rupa Raghunatha, director of Vrindavan Food for Life, presented the Indian Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, with a specially designed metal container with five kilos of Vrindavan Janmastami Prasad with Tulasi on top. This meeting was organized by Sri Col. R. C. Ravat, the secretary of the Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Committee, an advisory committee, formed by co-president Devakinandan Prabhu, of prominent well-wishers among local industrialists and professionals.

ISKCON’s First Mediation Training Course
By Braja Bihari dasa

The first ISKCON ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) mediator’s training course was recently completed in Towaco, New Jersey. (The next course will be in late December in Radhadesh, Belgium—see below). The course was taught by Krsnalila-devi dasi, a seasoned mediator and mediation instructor for the New York City Board of Education. She was assisted by her colleague Dan Goodman, another expert in the field of mediation.

Students completed a forty-hour seminar—beyond the hours required by most states for a standard professional mediation course. The seminar covered the spectrum of skills needed to be a successful mediator. 

Lovisha: Is Mahabharata 
Sensationalistic Too?
By Niscala devi dasi

Dear Rahul,

First, I was not angry, just disgusted that you have such a cold-hearted reaction to disaster. And yet devotees are softhearted and this is supposed to be a site for devotees.

So your mention of anger is not only missing the point of my article, but is irrelevant to me as well. Sorry to disappoint you, but I was not angry.

But even if I was angry, that is my concern not yours. Your concern should be to assess a criticism for accuracy, dispassionately. Remember that the critic, if accurate, is your best friend.

Universities: What’s Your Major?
By Bhaktin Christi

Please accept my humble obeisances.

When reading these interesting viewpoints on obtaining university level education, the thought that ran through my mind was "Well, what’s your major?"

Everyone knows someone who went to some college somewhere and got a degree in something that’s absolutely useless. It happens. Some people, I think, plan it that way, so they can go back to school again for something else.

Universities: A Challenging Frontier
By Yashoda Dulal das

Dear Chakra,

Dandavat. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

I would like to thank Madhusudani Mataji for her reply to Jagannidhi Prabhu's posting.

Devotees need qualifications — Gurus need to be qualified, and disciples too. Similarly, doctors, lawyers, engineers, and so many people whom I'm sure devotees do consult need qualifications to be able to do their jobs responsibly.

New York: Sri Govardhana Puja Festival and Annakuta Mahotsava

Tuesday November 5, 2002

You are cordially invited to celebrate the festivals of Diwali and Govardhana Puja on Tuesday November 5, 2002, at Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir.

We will be offering a mountain of foodstuffs to Sri Sri Radha Govinda, and Giri-Govardhan.

Festivities are as follows:

6:30pm _ Bhajans

more ....

Sri Bhaktivinoda Vani Vaibhava
By Isvara dasa

Sri Bhaktivinoda Vani Vaibhava, Divine Opulence of the Teachings of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (Volume One)

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (1838-1914) was one of the foremost acaryas of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas and the original pioneer of the modern day Hare Krishna movement. The essence of his teachings has been presented in question-and-answer format in this new book. The answers are directly quoted from his writings.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada said:

"Srila Thakura Bhaktivinoda has taken the trouble of meeting the perverse arguments of mental speculators by the superior transcendental logic of the Absolute Truth. It is thus possible for the average modern readers to profit by the perusal of his writings. That day is not far distant when the priceless volumes penned by Thakura Bhaktivinoda will be reverently translated, by the recipients of his grace, into all the languages of the world."

Lovisha: I Only Objected 
to the Language
By Rahul Siotia

Hare Krishna, All glories to Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, and Sri Sri Radha Madhava. Pranams to all Vaishnava devotees.

First of all, I would point out to Niscala Devi Dasi that the girl in question was not the niece of the prabhu who wrote the article.

Second, I have repeatedly mentioned in all my postings that the incident is indeed very tragic. I only mentioned that it would be better if the language could be more refined. I have received support for this. I need not make it clearer.

Great Deals on 
Sudarshan Chakras
From Sarvabhavana das

Incredible low prices for any size Sudarshan Chakras plus free one 6"X 6" Stainless Steel Chakra with any order of $50 or more— a $20 value Chakra.

Now available also, 4.5" X 4.5" stainless steel Chakra for your car’s hood. It looks great! Just remove your Dodge, Buick, Mercedes or any other hood logo and replace it with the Sudarshan Chakra…

Available in three sizes — 1 foot, 2 feet, and 3 feet from three different materials: aluminum, copper, or brass.

Hurry up! We never had such a low prices before. Call or email me for your prices.

Women: Education 
or Marriage?
Name withheld

Hare Krsna.

I have heard and read Srila Prabhupada's statements about karmi education (mainstream society's universities and colleges), both in terms of devotees generally receiving education from these institutions and also in terms of females being highly educated.

I accept that in Vedic culture, there is no need for women to have a high education because their main roles are as wife, mother, and servant of Krsna. But....

Varnasrama College for Los Angeles
By Rabindranatha Dasa Adhikari

Srila Prabhupada said that a varnasrama college has to be established immediately, in all our centers,* and specifically in a place where we can grow our own food.** He said that this would make the whole world Krsna conscious*** and that if this was done in America, then the whole world would follow.

Here in New Dvaraka [ISKCON of Los Angeles] some devotees want to establish such a college in America. If you are interested in joining us or helping out in any way please contact me.

Matrimonial Web Site for India
From Jivan Das

Dear Prabhus

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna.

For the benefit of devotees of ISKCON, India, we are starting a web site for matrimonial services, where devotees can place their ads. Please make use of this web site: http://www.geocities.com
/vmarriage/ 

Thanks and Hare Krishna.

Your servant
Jivan Das (vmarriage@yahoo.com)
(VedicMarriage@india.com)