Saigon Execution

You see the above picture...it is the famous "shot" taken by Eddie Adams during the Vietnam war. It is called the "Saigon Execution".

Apparently, it took 1/500th of a second speed to capture the photographic still. It takes that much amount of time for our life to flash in front of us...literally speaking for the poor Vietnamese who was executed. His life was captured in that 1/500th of a second.

All our lives are worth that much amount of time 1/500th of a second - a flash. If we live for 100 years, from the perspective of Brahma (secondary creator), we are like his saigon execution. Thats right...our 100 years is equivalent to 1/500th of Lord Brahma's second - has no meaning!!

Please make it meaningful - chant Hare Krishna!

Hare Krishna

Please Sign to Stop Slaughter!

Please go to the online site and sign a petitiion against modernization of a slaughterhouse in Mumbai, India.

Thank you.

The link - http://www.petitiononline.com/prtst12d/

Hare Krishna

Vaishnava Sanga

Once the great sage Narada was intrigued by a doubt. He was sure that Lord Vishnu would clear it for him. He proceeded to the Ocean of Milk and found his Lord reclining on the giant hooded serpent-bed Shankarshana, His beautiful consort, Lakshmi devi beside Him.Sage Narada made his obeisance to Lord Vishnu and put his question to Him.“Oh Lord, what is the value of Vaishnava Satsang, the Association of Vaishnava Devotees?”

Lord Vishnu smiled charmingly and said, “I will answer your question. But first you must do something for me. Look at that village on planet Earth. Can you see a small worm crawling on the ground over there?”With his yogic vision, Sage Narada perceived it and nodded.“Go over there and ask your question of that worm. I’m sure you’ll get your answer.” Sage Narada was puzzled, but he nevertheless did as instructed. In response, the worm looked up at him, promptly rolled over and died.

Sage Narada was shocked. He hurried back to Lord Vishnu and told Him what had happened.Lord Vishnu merely smiled and told him, “Oh, is that so? Never mind. Now do one more thing. Go over to that cow-shed you see over there, in that town. A calf was born there a while ago. Please ask the same question of that calf.”Sage Narada was still recovering from what had happened earlier.“Oh no, my Lord! What if that calf dies as well? I cannot risk committing the unforgivable crime of ‘go-hatya’!”Lord Vishnu however, was able to persuade him and sage Narada left on his new mission. Warily, he made his way into the cow-shed. It was in the middle of the night and he approached the calf unnoticed. He put the same question to the calf. In response, the calf looked at him with its large brown eyes. And then rolled over and died!Sage Narada was horrified.

Using all the yogic powers at his disposal, he fled the scene and arrived at the abode of Lord Vishnu, shaking with fear.“Oh my Lord! What have I done! The worst sin expected of anyone; the killing of the animal most dear to you!”Lord Vishnu pacified the trembling sage and assured him that no sin would accrue to him.“And in the bargain, my Lord, I haven’t even got the answer to my question?!” sage Narada complained.Lord Vishnu smiled and told him that he would have to do just one last thing for him.“You see that vast kingdom over there? The Queen has just given birth to her first child. All you have to do is ask that child your question and you will get your answer.”“No, my Lord! Please don’t ask me to go there. I have no doubt that some harm will befall that child as well. I simply cannot take that chance.”But Lord Vishnu remained adamant. What could the sage do?

Nervously, he set forth towards planet Earth.Arriving on the balcony where the young prince was lying unattended, sage Narada cautiously approached him. The baby looked at him and gurgled with joy.Hesitatingly, the great sage asked the child, “What is the value of Vaishnava Satsang?’The child looked at sage Narada, and to his surprise, began to speak.“O great Sage. Your question has already been answered. When you, the greatest of Vaishnavas, had first granted me your association, I was an insignificant worm. As a result of my contact with you, I left that body and was awarded the body of the most pious animal, the calf.You graced me with your association once more, and I left that body to gain the birth of the prince and heir of this vast kingdom. And by your causeless mercy, you have granted me your exalted association yet again.Now I have no doubt that this is my last birth on this Earth. Your association will help me attain that Supreme Destination; the abode of Lord Hari Himself!”

And this is the value of Vaishnava Association. We develop in all ways; spiritual as well as material.

Hare Krishna

Krishna - a safe haven

The greatness about Krishna Consciousness is, if practiced properly, removes all anxieties from work and life. It gives one a true sense of assurance, safety, peace and ultimately happiness. After all, we are searching for a safe haven in all our activities. A place we can call home and people to share our feelings and emotions. Krishna Consciousness provides such a haven. The simple truths, simple thoughts and ultimately simple living provide a safe haven. The simple truth that we are not matter. The simple thought that we are servants of sweet Krishna. The simple life that we collect enough to maintain the body and soul and distribute the sumptuous.

If we think about it, all our daily activities are performed with one motivation – to be happy. Happiness can come when there is peace of mind. But how can there be peace if everything is constantly changing from good to bad to good? Therefore peace can be attributed to stillness or lack of change. This material world, however, is founded upon constant change thus making all our experience (good or bad), and knowledge temporary. In this temporary setting, trying to find permanent peace and happiness is akin to Fool’s Paradise.

Krishna Consciousness is permanent beyond the waves of time. It gives us a peace of mind leading to happiness. In Krishna Consciousness, we can find the eternal home and eternal relationships where we can share our emotions.

Find your eternal place in Krishna.

Chant Hare Krishna and be happy

Hare Krishna

A Beautiful Prayer by Takurji

The human form of life is the rarest opportunity for attaining spiritual perfection. But now I am lamenting, because I've somehow or other been born with such an opportunity, and I wasted it by never worshiping Lord Krsna. Oh, to whom shall I tell the tale of this misery?

Having married and entered into the entanglements of materialistic family life, I passed my time in vain. I never got any tangible gain or permanent benefit, only trouble and botheration.

What kind of world is this anyway? It seems to be just like a magic lantern show that I saw at a carnival, wherein so many shadows and optical illusions dance magically before my eyes. I feel great attachment and identification with such a world, and thus day after day passes by fruitlessly, without any purpose whatsoever.

When this body drops dead on the ground then what will remain mine? At that moment, all of my sons and dearest loved ones will not be able to give me any happiness.

I work hard just like an ass every day, and now I am wondering for whom am I working so hard? I am still surrounded by so many illusions.

I waste every day in useless, insignificant work, and I waste every night controlled by sleep. And in every 24 hours I never for one second consider that cruel death is sitting very close by my side.

I live a very carefree life-style, sometimes eating a lot, or eating a little if I feel like it, sometimes I see nice things around the town, or sometimes I do not go out at all, sometimes I wear opulent clothing, or if I'm in the mood, I'll wear something simple. I live so carefree that I never consider that one day I will have to give up this body.

My poor heart is plagued by constant anxieties about the maintenance and daily turmoils created by my body, my house, my wife, my family members and my social obligations. All these anxieties are pinching me and destroying all my intelligence.

Alas, alas! What a remorseful situation has arisen! I am absorbed in all this trouble, but I never consider that all these things are temporary and subject to perish very soon. After I'm dead and gone, where will all of my material opulences remain?

When my body will be thrown int the pit at the cremation grounds, it will simply lie there motionlessly. Then many crows, vultures, ants, and worms will come and playfully sport there.

All the stray dogs and jackals will then become very much delighted, and in great ecstasy they will make a festival ground out of my body and will have a huge celebration and feast.

Just see, this is the ultimate destination of this material body. And the most amazing thing is that all of my material opulences, house, family and friends have exactly the same destination.

Therefore I ask of anyone who has any sharp intelligence: please give up all of these temporary illusions presented by maya, and kindly search after the means to get pure devotion to Lord Krsna, for this is the only really tangible eternal truth.

By Srila Bhaktivinod Takur

acknowledging false-ego

The concept of false-ego and sense of doership is a major obstacle to self-realization.

Although we are not these bodies, yet we occupy these bodies. All of us have certain bodies with certain minds and background. The body and mind have demands and we relent to its needs. At this juncture, we (the real self) are dictated by the modes of material nature. Depending on the mode, our sense of false ego is determined. The conundrum I face is how to deal with not only my false-ego but with the false-ego of others. This is an issue that puts me in difficulty many times and in relationships personal or professional.

The golden question is – do I have to worry about other people’s false ego in my interaction with them? Even if I am sincere, due to lack of acknowledging other people’s false-ego, there is misunderstanding leading to varying degrees of separation. How to deal with this?

As long as we don’t compromise on our Krishna Conscious principles, I think it is important to satisfy other people’s false ego. How else can we show other people that we care about them? It is by acknowledging their pains and pleasures which of course is arising from a false sense of ownership or doership.

I guess I am confused as to where we should draw the line on satisfying other people’s false-ego and call a spade for a spade. Perhaps it depends on the circumstance??

Why should it be so hard??

Hare Krishna

Jim Kohr remembered

Today is Balaram Jayanti. My wishes to everyone. I want to be a sincere and serious devotee. Time will tell if I ever become serious or sincere.

Meanwhile…here is a true story or rather brief biography of a person that touched my heart. It is Jim Kohr…oh well…I am sure you will know him if you know his real name.

On this auspicious day, let us remember what it means to be sincere and serious thus pleasing Lord Balaram!

Read on!!!

Hare Krishna

San Francisco January 16, 1967

The rest of San Francisco doesn't give it a second thought, however, except for a young man leafing through the evening paper. He's frustrated with his life simply driving a taxicab. Nothing seems fulfilling or satisfying. "A holy man from India opens temple." Maybe?

Back in June of '62, after accepting his degree in Mechanical Engineering at Ohio State University, Jim Kohr had immediately jumped into his MG and left for the West Coast. All he had room for was his stereo and a few clothes as he drove out to San Francisco to take up a job offer. This was years before the hippie scene arrived. But he didn't like the job and soon resigned, having no interest in joining the rat race of corporate life. Instead, he took to driving a cab -- even though he had an engineering degree -- to gain a little independence and time to think about his life.

Occasionally a passenger will ask, "Why don't you get a better paying job? You're an educated man. You could do far better than drive a cab."

"Oh, well, I just don't fit in with the upper-class crowd," is his reply.

He still feels hopeless and totally lost. Sometimes he opens a bottle to try and drown the loneliness. Out of despair, he once tried LSD to see what the fuss was all about. Years later he recalled, "It made me more aware that there were a lot of different levels of consciousness."

Mrs. Kohr: At the age of four he was taken to a service in what we call the big church in Dayton, Ohio. He was very restless, standing up in the sanctuary and looking around. His grandmother inquired, "Jimmy, what's wrong? What are you doing? What are you looking for?"
"Where's God?" he replied.

Born in 1939, he was raised in the mid-western town of Dayton. His sister was two years younger. The family was very close, but not regular church-goers. He had a lot of friends through his school years and took his first job working in the local grocery store while still in high school. As a high school senior he was hired as a part time mechanic in a garage and just loved it.

He couldn't get too involved in sports because he suffered from asthma. He had tried desperately to join the football team but just couldn't do it because of his difficulty in breathing. During his senior year the family moved to Cleveland and he had to leave all his friends. Leaving friends behind was devastating for him. According to his mother, "he closed up."

That year he suffered through a lot of disappointments. An asthma attack in the middle of an interview cost him a position at General Motors. At Ohio State he wanted to join the Peace Corps but his professors discouraged him, feeling it would be deadly if he was in some remote corner of the world with his asthmatic condition. In spite of the setbacks, he was very kind, caring, and friendly to everyone.

One time, while flying back to Cleveland from New York, he and his mother met a young man from Germany who was coming to America for the first time. They started talking and quickly struck up a friendship. After landing at Cleveland airport, Jim said, "We'll wait with you until your friends come to meet you." They waited a long time but nobody came. Finally Jim suggested, "I'll tell you what, you come home with us. You have the telephone number of the people who are supposed to meet you, so we'll call them from my house. I'm not going to leave you here alone." They bundled up the young man and took him home.

At Ohio State, he initially joined a fraternity, but it was too wild. He couldn't study with all the activity and noise, so he left and got a quiet place on his own. His one friend in college was Gurdeep Singh Chawla, a Sikh foreign exchange student from India, alone without any family in America. This was Jim's first exposure to Indian culture. Every year he brought his Sikh friend home for Christmas holidays.

Mr. Chawla: I had association with him at college when we roomed together. I always wondered, you see, he was more into spiritualism, not materialism. He always asked about the Indian culture, so he was looking for something beyond the meaning of the mundane, something to grasp the real meaning of life.

Now at 28, he stands six feet two inches tall with a strong build, but a gentle demeanor. He is neither a hippie nor into drugs. Rather he's a straight, clean-cut guy with short hair. After driving a cab for years, he worries, "Where is my life going? What am I doing? I'm miserable. Life has no purpose, no meaning. I need something else in my life." He can't understand what is wrong, why he can't enjoy life as other people do.

He gazes intently at the Swami's photograph in the newspaper. It brings to mind the face of a very ancient personality -- a wise man. "The Swami will be giving lectures on the science of God," the article states. Pondering the significance of the Swami's arrival he puts the paper aside and scoops another helping of ice cream into his bowl.

Jambavan: When he read that he felt a ray of hope. He said, "I felt a little ray of hope, and I remember a tear came from my eye. I thought, maybe this man can help me, because I wanted to find happiness." He wanted to be happy, but he was miserable. Jayananda felt like a misfit in the material world. He was a devotee and he was living with non-devotees. He didn't know what the problem was, but he knew he wasn't happy.

One of the few things he enjoys doing in the evening after driving the cab all day is to eat ice cream. He comes home and makes big ice cream sundaes with whipped cream, chocolate sauce, cherries, and different flavors of ice cream. This is his only pleasure -- to have his fancy ice cream sundaes.

Finishing up his ice cream, he makes a promise to attend the Swami's lecture on Frederick Street. He's been driving a taxi far too long, going nowhere down a dead-end street.

The following evening he arrives at the temple to find he is at least ten years older than the rest of the gathering, comprised mainly of hippies dressed to announce their rejection of establishment values. He appears conventional and immediately stands out, but he is also a seeker. His situation is more desperate than theirs.

Mukunda: The first time I saw him on Frederick Street, I asked who he was, and he said he was a taxi driver. We were all hippies and here was an older person, part of the establishment, short hair, just super straight. He'd wear a suit and tie sometimes, always neat and smart -- quite a contrast from everyone else.

He is instantly impressed at this first meeting with the Swami and purchases the three-volume set of Srimad-Bhagavatam. Prabhupada autographs them: "To Sriman Jim Kohr." With tremendous faith and anticipation, he pours over the books at home, unable to put them down. Never has he read anything like this before.

Taking up the serious study of this mature fruit of Vedic knowledge, he has a deep realization that this is what he had been searching for his whole life. The eternal truths enter into the core of his being. As revelation upon revelation fills his lonely heart, washing away years of emptiness and dissatisfaction with life, he is filled with joy.

Feeling enlivened, he becomes a regular at all the classes. He sees in Srila Prabhupada the embodiment of the Bhagavatam verses. He has another deep realization that this saintly person is actually the living truth, the personified Bhagavatam, to whom he should surrender and dedicate the rest of his life.

- From the "Radha-Damodara Vilasa" by HG Vaiyasaki dasa