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Photo Tour Report - Hong Kong - April 8-13

Srila Narayana Gosvami Maharaja arrived in Hong Kong on April 7th and stayed until April 16th, after which he flew to Vancouver, Canada. The six-day Hong Kong Harikatha festival began on April 8th on Lantau Island, in a village called Pui’O, which is a one-hour ferry-ride from the city.

A house was rented for Srila Maharaja and his traveling party. The rest of the one-hundred-fifty devotees, from mainland China and other countries like Philippines and Malaysia, stayed in guest houses and camped on the beach. The festival site was at a devotee’s property in Pui’O, where the festival organizers put up a large tent and transformed it into a beautiful temple.

On the first evening, Srila Narayana Maharaja introduced the audience to the opening chapter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, wherein eighty-eight thousand sages headed by Saunaka Rsi inquired from Srila Suta Gosvami about how one’s soul can be happy. Srila Maharaja then discussed the importance of pure bhakti, unalloyed devotion to Sri Krsna performed exclusively to please Him.

He spoke in English, and every few minutes his words were translated into Chinese by his disciple Jamuna devi dasi. He told the devotees and guests, “Srila Suta Gosvami says that if anyone wants to be happy, he should follow the principles of bhakti-yoga. Only bhakti-yoga, service to the transcendental Supreme Lord Krsna, can give happiness – nothing else can do so. Bhakti-yoga is very easy. Simply chant: ‘Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.’

“If you are working, if you are walking, or if you are cooking – at any time you can chant. In daytime, night-time, or morning-time, even if you are sick or not pure, you can chant these holy names of Krsna.

“Srila Suta Gosvami is telling us that we should hear the glorification of the Supreme Lord Krsna, we should meditate on Him, and we should glorify His good qualities and activities. This is bhakti-yoga. In this way we can be happy – not by any other means.”

Throughout the week, Srila Maharaja, and under his direction his representative speakers, related many histories from the Bhagavatam. They spoke about the teachings of Sri Kapiladeva to His mother Devahuti, and about the history and character of Jada Bharata, King Citraketu, Ajamila, and Prahlada Maharaja. They also spoke about Sri Krsna’s sweet pastimes in Vrndavana. Srila Narayana Maharaja then briefly discussed the Lord’s pastimes in Mathura and Dvaraka, up to His concluding pastime of returning to His transcendental abode in Goloka Vrndavana.

The last evening of the festival was April 13th, and the divine appearance day of Lord Sri Krsna in the form of Lord Ramacandra was April 14th. Because most of the Chinese devotees would be leaving on the morning of the 14th, Srila Narayana Maharaja was kind enough to give a beautiful discourse on the heart-rending pastimes of Lord Sri Rama on that last evening.

Initiation was held on April 10th at Srila Maharaja’s residence, where over fifty devotees from mainland China, Hong Kong, and the Philippines received their second birth.


Devotees from Hong Kong receiving his new name – Johnson became Jayadeva dasa, Varva became Visakha dasi, Michael became Madhusudana dasa, and so on.

Srila Maharaja mercifully gave darsana every morning, at which time groups of devotees from different countries and cities would come to meet him and ask him questions. He said to a new devotee, “If you want to be happy in this world and the transcendental world, you must chant ‘Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.’ Otherwise in future births, you may become a donkey, a dog, a cat, a pig, or any other animal. Be happy forever. Do not fear – there is no need to fear.

“You see that there are hundreds of thousands of devotees in Canada, America, Europe, and here also. So many beautiful young girls and boys are taking initiation. So don’t fear; your life will be happy.

“Wearing the three strands of tulasi neck-beads is very powerful. You will have no problems with blood pressure if you wear this. By wearing tulasi, whatever you will tell will be true, and you will always be healthy and wealthy.”

Srila Narayan Maharaja left Hong Kong on April 16th, en route for Vancouver, Canada. About fifty devotees met him at the airport to see him off, and they were all happy to receive his invitation to come to India for this year’s one-month-long Vrndavana Kartika parikrama in October. We will send you that airport darsana soon.

Editorial Advisors:
Pujyapad Madhava Maharaja, Sriman Brajanath dasa, and Sri Prema-prayojana dasa

Assistant Editor:
Hariballabha dasi

Report written by:
Vasanti dasi

Proofreader:
Krsna-kamini dasi

Editor:
Syamarani dasi

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Srila Prabhupada Quote: "I am so glad to hear that you are now married"

I am so glad to hear that you are now married. I pray Krishna that you may live henceforward happily as a householder, without thinking of a separation from your wife. According to Vedic wisdom, a good wife is a great assistant for material and spiritual prosperity. Even if there is some deficiency, you should try to correct it without thinking in the Westernized way.

I hope your wife may be taking interest in your chanting Sankirtana and reading Srimad-Bhagavatam. As she has become your life’s companion, it is your duty to induce her, peacefully, in the matter of spiritual advancement of life.

Bhaktispot

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Srila Prabhupada Quote: In the Bhagavad-gita, it is stated that for the fixed up devotee there is one duty.

Saturday, December 30, 1967

San Francisco, Calif.

My Dear Madhusudana,

Please accept my blessings. I am so happy to read your letter dated Dec. 28, 1967. And I am very concerned that due to your sincerity and service mood you have improved in Krishna Consciousness excellently. Whatever allocation of duty there may be, if we try to execute such specific duty sincerely, that alone can make us much more advanced in Krishna Consciousness.

In the Bhagavad-gita, it is stated that for the fixed up devotee there is one duty. This duty is understood through the transparent medium via media of the Spiritual Master. It is better service to Krishna and Spiritual Master in a feeling of separation; sometimes there is risk in the matter of direct service.

For example, Kirtanananda was giving me direct service by massaging, cooking for me, and so many other things; but later on by dictation of Maya, he became puffed up, so much so that he thought his Spiritual Master a common man, and was existing only on account of his service.

This mentality at once pushed him down. Of course, those who are sincere devotee, they take direct service as an opportunity, but the illusory energy is so strong that it acts on this doctrine of familiarity breeds contempt. Kirtanananda was thinking I was existing on his service, instead of realizing I was giving him opportunity to do me some service.

www.bhaktispot.com

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Srila Prabhupada Quote: I had very little hope to come back again

Saturday, December 16, 1967

San Francisco, Calif.

When I left your country on the 22nd of July, I had very little hope to  come back again. But Krishna informed me that I’m not going to die immediately; therefore, I have come back again to get inspiration of Krishna Consciousness from you all good souls. Although officially I am your Spiritual Master, I consider you all students as my Spiritual Master because your love for Krishna and service for Krishna teach me how to become a sincere Krishna Conscious person.

www.bhaktispot.com

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Tour Report - Navadvipa

Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha, Navadvipa

November 17-21, 2008

Article from: harikatha@harikatha.info


Attended by over 1,500 faithful devotees, Sri Vraja Mandala Parikrama was successfully completed under the expert guidance of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja. After two days of rest, on November 15, 2008, Srila Maharaja departed from his bhajana kutir in Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Math, Govardhana, bound for Delhi. A two-day program was then held in Sri Ramana-Bihari Gaudiya Matha in Delhi, to commemorate the installation of the Deities there a few years before.

Early on the morning of the 17th, Srila Maharaja left Delhi and flew to Calcutta on his way to Sri  Navadvipa Dhama. He arrived at Sri Kesavaji Gaudiya Matha in Navadvipa on the morning of the 18th and at his own request took up residence in the newly completed guest house instead of his usual off-site accommodation.

Srila Maharaja’s room had the advantage of a small balcony providing an excellent vantage point from which to view the entire construction site, from which he happily observed his temple slowly  manifesting.

He spent time touring the construction site and discussing with the architects, developers, sannyasis, and senior devotees. He was shown the massive temple and its partially built domes, the new kitchen
located behind the temple, the site for his own bhajana kutir which will be built on part of the adjacent lake, the third phase of the guest house development, and a new level currently being built on top of the first guest house.

Sripad Madhava Maharaja commented that Srila Maharaja was so happily absorbed in the  manifestation of his Navadvipa project that he even left aside his writing.

On the morning of the 20th Srila Maharaja walked to the Ganga at Panca-veni, and offered arati and prayers to Ganga-devi. He recited Sri Yamunastakam, thus reminding the devotees present that at this holy place the Ganga flows on one bank and the Yamuna at the other.

During the day he met with numerous disciples, guests, and well wishers, and that evening he gave class in the temple-room, in Bengali, to around 80 devotees. He spoke about the definition of pure bhakti, the glories of the holy name, and how by chanting in the association of pure devotees (sadhu-sanga) seven results are achieved as described in the verse:

ceto-darpana-marjanam bhava-maha-davagni-nirvapanam
sreyah-kairava-candrika-vitaranam vidya-vadhu-jivanam
anandambudhi-vardhanam prati-padam purnamrtasvadanam
sarvatma-snapanam param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam

[“Let there be supreme victory for the chanting of the holy name of Sri Krsna alone, which cleanses the mirror of the heart and completely extinguishes the blazing forest fire of material existence. Sri-krsna-sankirtana diffuses the soothing moon rays of spiritual ecstasy (bhava) that cause the living entity’s white lotus of good fortune to bloom. The holy name is the life and soul of transcendental knowledge, which is here compared to a wife. It continuously expands the ocean of transcendental bliss, enabling one to taste complete nectar at every step. The holy name of Sri Krsna thoroughly cleanses and cools the self, one’s nature and one’s determination, as well as the body, both internally and externally.” (Sri Siksastakam verse 1).]

He also stressed the importance of following very closely the order of Sri Guru and completely avoiding independent activity.

He also gave Harikatha on the evening of the 21st, again glorifying the holy name. At that time he explained that Sri Nama (the holy name) is extremely powerful, but that, in general, neophyte devotees have no faith in its potency. He said that Sri Nama can destroy more sins than it is possible to commit, and that Krsna’s name and Krsna Himself are non-different. He quoted this verse:

nama cintamanih krsnas
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
'bhinnatvan-nama-naminoh

["The holy name of Sri Krsna awards all benedictions just like the cintamani stone. It is Krsna Himself, the embodiment of all transcendental mellows (caitanya rasa vigraha). The holy name is complete, beyond the influence of maya, and eternally liberated, since Sri Krsna nama and Sri Krsna Himself, the  possessor of the name (Sri nami), are non-different." (Sri Padma Purana)]

And the following verse:

madhura-madhuram etan mangalam mangalanam
sakala-nigama-valli-sat-phalam cit-svarupam
sakrd api parigitam sraddhaya helaya va
bhrguvara nara-matram tarayet krsna-nama

["Lord Krsna's holy name, which is the sweetest of sweet things, the most auspicious of auspicious things, and the transcendental fruit of the vine of all Vedic literature, delivers, O best of the Bhrgus,
anyone who, either with faith or contempt, chants it even once."
(Sri Skanda Purana)]

Srila Maharaja mentioned that although we cannot see Krsna, we can chant His name, which has the power to attract Him directly into the heart. He said that Ajamila chanted the name of Narayana at the time of death, and due to the name’s independent and transcendental nature, it delivered him from the clutches of the constables of death (the Yamadutas).

Srila Maharaja’s visit to Navadvipa coincided with the beginning of his Bengal preaching, headed by Sripad Tirtha Maharaja. After receiving his kind instructions, around fifty brahmacaris and several  sannyasis divided into groups and began preaching in the West Bengal area – their mission being to attract thousands of pilgrims to attend the Navadvipa Parikrama in March and to simultaneously collect thousands of kilos of rice, vegetables, and dahl for the Parikrama. He gave his blessings as each
party left for their assigned areas.

On the 22nd morning, Srila Maharaja departed for Calcutta. There he began the construction of a new building on the site of Srila Vamana Gosvami Gaudiya Matha, by performing vitti-sthapan or laying of the corner stone. That evening he left Calcutta on his way to the Philippines for a two month writing retreat.

After leaving the Philippines, Srila Maharaja will be holding a one-week hari-katha festival in Malaysia,  from January 22rd-28th. His grand Vyasa-puja festival will be celebrated on January 26th. Every one in the world is invited. For details please logon to: www.gaudiyamathmy.com

Editorial Advisors:
Pujyapada Madhava Maharaja, Sripad Brajanath dasa and Sri Prema-prayojana dasa.

Report written by:
Madhuvrata dasa brahmacari

Editor:
Syamarani dasi

Proof-reader:
Krsna-kamini dasi

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Lesson of life

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw. With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

MORAL :

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.

2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happens.

3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less from people but more from God.

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BOTTLE OPENERS

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MURAL PICTURES ... ....Worth Looking

  

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Pantene Commercial...

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Hare Krishna

From the administrator and the contributors to Just Like That Blog wishing all readers greetings to New Year 2009.

Hope GOD bless us in providing better and inquisitive information in the New Year.


Hare Krishna.
Administrator
 

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Term of the Day - Nasdaq Composite Index

A market-value weighted index of all common stocks listed on Nasdaq. The Nasdaq Composite dates back to 1971, which is when the Nasdaq exchange was first formalized. The index is used mainly to track technology stocks, and thus it is not a good indicator of the market as a whole. Unlike the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), the Nasdaq is market value-weighted, so it takes into account the total market capitalization of the companies it tracks and not just their share prices.

Term of the Day - Bill

A negotiable debt obligation issued by the U.S. government and backed by its full faith and credit, having a maturity of one year or less. Exempt from state and local taxes. also called T-Bill or U.S. Treasury Bill or Treasury Bill.
Paper currency.
An invoice of charges for products and services.

Verse of the Week: Everyone follows My Path

As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pr?tha

Lord Sri Krishna




Bhagavad Gita 4:11

Term of the Day - non-qualified retirement plan

A retirement plan that does not meet the IRS (or ERISA) requirements for favorable taxretirement plans are funded by employers and are more flexible than, but do not have the tax benefits of, qualified retirement plans. Benefits are paid at the retirement age in the form of annuities, which are taxed as ordinary income tax, or in lump sum payments, which can be transferred into an IRA to defer taxes. opposite of qualified retirement plan.

Clean Vrindavan project to promote spiritual tourism

VRINDAVAN: Noted for its numerous temples, the holy land of Vrindavan in Mathura district, where Lord Krishna spent his childhood, has seen a huge increase in pilgrims and tourists in recent years.

However, over-flowing drains, strewn garbage and crowded, littered streets is what greets the thousands of pilgrims who visit this historic place every year. Locals rue that Vrindavan's religious and historical relevance is slowly being taken over by urbanisation and congestion.

In an attempt to revive Vrindavan's lost glory, Times Foundation has joined hands with local bodies to create a system level change in this historic town. The Clean Vrindavan project has been started in association with ISKCON (Vrindavan and Mumbai) and NGO — Friends of Vrindavan — as a social intiative to promote spiritual tourism at large. Times Foundation is supporting the initative to clean the town with a long term vision of improving sanitation, hygiene and living conditions here.

The initiative was launched a year ago and has already made a huge difference in the town. Jagannath Poddar, director, Friends of Vrindavan said: "Keeping Vrindavan clean is not a one man-job. It requires the support and cooperation of all the people who live here and the numerous tourists who visit the town. Unfortunately, hygiene was never a priority with locals for a long time and with time, Vrindavan's streets began to resemble a dump yard."

The Clean Vrindavan project involves local government bodies, ashrams, temple trusts, shops and other establishments. Dustbins have been placed and handcarts and rickshaws have been deployed to clean the streets twice a day.

Sanitation services like house-to-house segregated waste collection has reduced the quantum of garbage at landfill sites. Work will be undertaken in three phases and is expected to be complete in the next one or two years. Phase-I leans more towards creating awareness, planting trees and placing dustbins all over Vrindavan while Phase-II will involve cleaning and covering drains and making satellite dumping grounds for garbage disposal. The final phase will see construction of more toilets in the town.

Head priests of the various temples in Vrindavan have also pledged their support. The town has over 50 big temples including the ISKCON temple, which is a partner in the Clean Vrindavan project. Devamitra Prabhuji, head of ISKCON temple, Vrindavan said: "One of the most important things to keep the town clean is to educate people on the need for hygiene. People come hear from far-off places to purify their soul and they need to be taught to keep their surroundings clean as well."

According to residents, the explosive population growth, increase in pilgrimage activity, congestion due to commercial activities, traffic movement, unplanned construction of hotels, ashrams and residential colonies have exerted increasing demands on the infrastructure of the town. This has lead to allied problems such as water shortage, air, water pollution and an unchecked felling of indigenous trees.

Spread over an area of 2.5 sqkm, Vrindavan had a population of 47,746 people (as per the 1991 census). The town, a short drive from Delhi, is visited by more than 500,000 thousand pilgrims both from India and abroad annually.

Srila Prabhupada Quote Of The Day: AN APPEAL TO THE VAISNAVA SECT AND SPECIALLY TO THE VALLABHA SAMPRADAYA OF BOMBAY AND GUJARAT.

1964: March, 13

Delhi

AN APPEAL TO THE VAISNAVA SECT AND SPECIALLY TO THE VALLABHA SAMPRADAYA OF BOMBAY AND GUJARAT.

SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM is very dear to all Vaisnavites and especially to the Vallabha and the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. The glories of Vrindaban and Mathura are magnified by these two Sampradayas and the undersigned as an humble servant of all Vaisnavas, has tried his best to render it into elaborate English version for its publicity all over the world.

The first and second volumes of the publication are already out and there are still 58 fifty eight parts to be published to finish this mighty project.

I am therefore appealing to the Vallabha Vaisnavites specifically to help me in this mighty project. I am a Sannyasi and as duty bound I have attempted this heavy task for benefit of all human beings and I am seeking your valued cooperation.

A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Term of the Day - Margin Call

A call from a broker to a customer (called a maintenance margin call) or from a clearinghouse to a clearing member (called a variation margin call) demanding the depositcash or marginable securities to satisfy the Regulation T requirements and the house maintenance requirement for the purchase or short sale of securities or to cover an adverse price movement. also called federal margin call or Reg. T Call (for NASD requirements) or house call (for brokerage requirements).

Panasonic launches New 2008 VIERA range of Plasma’s and LCD’s

- Superior performance features, stunning aesthetics and eco-friendly technology straight from Japan.

New Delhi, July 13, 2008 - Panasonic, a leading Japanese manufacturer of electronic and electrical products for consumer, business and industrial use, has announced the launch and availability of its 2008 Viera range of plasma and LCD televisions in India. The 2008 Viera models are available with four major features, which include outstanding picture quality, exceptional ease of operation, enhanced sound effects and environment friendly plasma display panels with an improved panel life of up to 100,000-hours. In terms of both features and performance, this impressive new line-up reflects Panasonic’s quest to continually improve viewing quality, networking and environmentally conscious manufacturing, All the Panels are made in Japan.

Currently, Panasonic’s provides plasma screens in the Indian market ranging from 42-inch to 103-inch . For this year, Panasonic has introduced 3 new plasma variants, namely, TH-50PV80 (50 inch HD ready), TH-42PV80 (42 inch HD ready), TH-42PV8 (42 inch HD ready). In addition Panasonic will also be introducing shortly this year, 2 full high definition models, namely, TH-50PY850 (50 inches) and TH-65PY850 [65 inches]. All the 2008 models contain the TUF (Tough Under Force) glass panel that covers the front glass of the plasma TV screen providing protection against impacts (upto 4 joules). These models also feature over 900 moving line picture resolution, dynamic contrast of 1,000,000:1; and an extended panel life of up to 100,000 hours.

On the other hand, the 4 new Viera LCD variants are TX-32LX800 (800 series, 32 inch), TX-37LX80 (80 series, 37 inch), TX-32LX80 (80 series, 32 inch); and TX-32LE8 (8 series, 32 inch). The Viera LCD panel incorporate IPS Alpha technology with 178º wide viewing angle, contrast ratio of 10,000:1, energy-saving backlight, and Viera link for simple networking [Ease of Use]. In addition 2 more new models are expected to be launched shortly in the 37 inch [full HD] and the 26 inch category.

This year’s line-up of VIERA flat-panel TVs has been greatly strengthened with the addition of full HD plasma TVs with contrast ratio of 1000,000:1, a 100Hz double speed full HD LCD TV, SD card slot and Viera link options rounds out the line-up with high-quality images and extra versatility that draws on Panasonic’s own V-real 3 and V-real PRO 3 Technology.

V-real is the collective name for Panasonic’s black-box imaging technologies, which have now evolved into the V-real 3 and V-real PRO 3 of the 2008 VIERA models. In the process, Panasonic has redesigned every V-real device. The advanced V-real technologies owes its origins to the combination of fast action relay HD camcorder technology and moviemaking technologies developed in Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory [PHL]. Image quality has been scrutinized from every angle to give VIERA its deeply moving impact.

VIERA V-real 3 /V-real PRO 3 Processor is the key device that processes the video signal it receives and outputs the same as an extremely high-quality refined signal that helps create the beautiful, high-definition images that distinguish the VIERA range of Televisions. The VIERA V-real 3 /V-real PRO 3 Driver is the high-performance driver that controls the drive power to optimize panel performance in the new VIERA range. The resulting images show every motion clearly and express each step of gradation in delicate detail.

Impressive Picture Quality:

The wide-ranging colour reproduction of the new VIERA models lends rich expression to movie colours, while their high contrast ratios create deep, life-like blacks. Picture quality at this level stirs the emotions and adds to the excitement of watching sports, breathtaking landscapes, and beautiful flora and fauna. The VIERA range also features an advanced Anti-Reflection Filter provides pure,clear, colour range and crisp images while dramatically reducing reflections from external light.

A still image with 1080 lines resolution always looks brilliant when displayed on a large screen, but as soon as the picture starts to move, the picture resolution can decrease to a minimum of 300 lines. By using Intelligent Scene controller, VIERA Plasma’s accomplishes over 900 lines of moving picture resolution.

Ease of Operation:

In addition to brilliant picture quality, VIERA models offer ease of operation made possible by VIERA Link and the SD card slot. VIERA Link lets you operate other connected Panasonic AV components using only the VIERA TV’s remote control unit. The majority of the VIERA line-up is equipped with a slot for large-capacity SDHC Cards. Remove the SD Memory Card from your digital still camera, slip it in the slot, and you can view a slideshow of your photos on VIERA’s big, beautiful screen.

Environmentally Conscious Products:

Environmental consideration starts with the design stage, because Panasonic cares about the future of our earth. Lead-free plasma display panels and an improved panel life of up to 100,000-hours are examples of how VIERA production helps to conserve the earth and its resources. What’s more, functions now include a new ECO mode to help lower power consumption. The VIERA range of TVs adjusts the picture settings automatically depending on the ambient lighting conditions. The image brightness changes according to the level of room lighting to achieve an optimal energy-saving operation.

Price & availability:
Panasonic Plasma TH-42PV80 (42 inch HD ready) and TH-42PV8 (42 inch HD ready) are available at MRP Rs.74,990 & Rs.69,990 and Panasonic Viera LCD TX-32LX800 (800 series, 32 inch), TX-37LX80 (80 series, 37 inch), TX-32LX80 (80 series, 32 inch) and TX-32LE8 (8 series, 32 inch) are available at MRP Rs.54,900, Rs.59,900, Rs.46,900 and Rs.44,900 through all authorized Panasonic channel partners in India.

Photo Caption :
The man-sized plasma: Mr. Daizo Ito, Head of India Division, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd (Left) and Mr. Hidenori Aso, Chairman - Panasonic Sales & Services India Pvt. Ltd. (Right) unveiled the 103 inch man-sized plasma at a gala launch ceremony on Sunday at New Delhi.

About Panasonic:

Panasonic is a leading manufacturer of electronic and electrical products for consumer, business and industrial use. MEI is ranked 4th in Fortune 500 index for ‘Electronics and Electrical Equipments’ and ranked as a ‘World Super 50′ in Forbes. It is the world’s largest producer of consumer electronics and 34th largest company in the world with an annual spend exceeding US$5 billion on research and development. Panasonic has been delivering superior products and services in India since 1994. It has five manufacturing establishments and four sales companies in India. It currently provides consumer products, household & home Appliances, office automation products and electronic products. The focus of the Company is on making everyday office tasks simpler, convenient and more energy efficient.

Hindus, Sikhs Join Catholics to sing for peace

NEW
DELHI (ICNS): Hindus, Sikhs and Christians will sing devotional songs
together this Sunday evening in the premises of Sacred Heart Cathedral
in New Delhi in their efforts to promote inter-religious peace.










Music group of ISKCON temple in the city and that of Bangla Sahib
Gurudwara, the Sikh temple near the Cathedral, will join Catholics in
singing praises to God, said a press release from the media commission
of Delhi archdiocese. The
music program is second such event that Catholics organize. The first
of its kind was done at the Church of the Transfiguration, East of
Kailash, where the parishioners together with devotees of ISKCON temple
witnessed their Gurus singing on the same platform on June 29. These
two groups came together first time for a purpose though the ISKCON
temple and the Church of Transfiguration existed on the same road for
years. According to Shree Satnam Singh Uppal, manager of
Bangla Sahib gurudwara, “music in Sikh religion existed form the
beginning and it is the part of our worship. We would be happy to join
in this concert for bringing people together.” “Music has the
power to unite people and rise above the barriers. And what better
cause can be than transcending the boundaries of religion and singing
for humanity, for peace and harmony?” he asked. Swami Radha Das of ISKCON temple has agreed to join with his team once again gladly to sing for peace and harmony. Fr.
Norbert SVD, a trained musician will keep lead the program. Fr. Jas,
the assistant Parish Priest of Defence Colony and a Tabla player would
accompany him in this concert. “There will also be some youth
participation in the concert,” the release said.

Microsoft's Crazy Facts

MAGIC #1

Nobody can create a FOLDER anywhere on the computer which can be
named as "CON". This is something pretty cool...and unbelievable. .. At
Microsoft the whole Team, couldn't answer why this happened! TRY IT
NOW, IT WILL NOT CREATE "CON" FOLDER


MAGIC #2


This is something pretty cool and neat...and unbelievable. .. At
Microsoft the whole Team, including Bill Gates, couldn't answer why
this happened! Try it out yourself...


Open Microsoft Word and type"
=rand (200, 99)
And then press ENTER


MAGIC #3


For those of you using Windows, do the following:


1. Open an empty notepad file

2. Type "Bush hid the facts" (without the quotes)

3. Save it as whatever you want.

4. Close it, and re-open it.
Is it just a really weird bug?

HariKatha: A Fact of Wonder

[Respected Harikatha Readers,


Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Sri Guru and Sri
Gauranga. On the request of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami
Maharaja, we are in the process of producing a book composed of his
lectures regarding the origin of the living entity (jiva-tattva).
Because he also regularly discusses these same points during his world
tours, we are sending you each lecture as it becomes ready. The
following lecture was given on June 14, 2005 in Badger, California. We
hope you enjoy it, and we always appreciate your feedback.


Your aspiring servants, the Harikatha team]



I am explaining to you the commentary of the first verse of
Srimad-Bhagavatam, as Sri Svarupa Damodara explained it to Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura. That verse is as follows:

janmady asya yato 'nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah svarat

tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye muhyanti yat surayah

tejo-vari-mrdam yatha vinimayo yatra tri-sargo 'mrsa

dhamna svena sada nirasta-kuhakam satyam param dhimahi

["O my Lord, Sri Krsna, son of Vasudeva, O all-pervading Personality of
Godhead, I offer my respectful obeisances unto You. I meditate upon
Lord Sri Krsna because He is the Absolute Truth and the primeval cause
of all causes of the creation, sustenance, and destruction of the
manifested universes. He is directly and indirectly conscious of all
manifestations, and He is independent because there is no other cause
beyond Him.



“It is He only who first imparted the Vedic knowledge unto the heart of
Brahmaji, the original living being. By Him even the great sages and
demigods are placed into illusion, as one is bewildered by the illusory
representations of water seen in fire, or land seen on water. Only
because of Him do the material universes, temporarily manifested by the
reactions of the three modes of nature, appear factual, although they
are unreal.



“I therefore meditate upon Him, Lord Sri Krsna, who is eternally
existent in the transcendental abode, which is forever free from the
illusory representations of the material world. I meditate upon Him,
for He is the Absolute Truth."]



This subject is very deep. Still, you should know something of it.



How did this world come to be? The answer is given in this first verse,
beginning "janmady asya." There are many meanings to this verse, and
Sri Svarupa Damodara is giving the general meaning here.



One Without a Second



In this world, there are unlimited living entities in 8,400,000 species
of life. You are not able to count the living entities, nor can you
imagine the extent of the varieties of their natures, qualities, and so
on. In the transcendental world, Sri Krsna has so many associates. His
parents, Nanda Baba and Mother Yasoda, are present there. His cowherd
friends, Dama, Sridama, Subala, Madhumangala, and so many others are
there, and billions of gopis are there. Still, it is stated in
Srimad-Bhagavatam that the Absolute Truth is one without a second. Why
has this been told here?



The reason is that nothing, and no one, has any separate or independent
existence from that Absolute Truth, Sri Krsna. Everything and everyone
depends upon Him. In the transcendental world He expands and manifests
as His own power (svarupa-sakti), also known as cit-sakti, (His
transcendental power) and antaranga-sakti (His internal power.) The
living entities come from His jiva-sakti, the marginal energy, situated
just between the transcendental and material worlds. Finally, in this
material world, maya manifests the so many varieties of inert matter
that we see. None of these powers or potencies has any independent
existence, and therefore the Absolute Truth is called advaya-jnana, one
without a second.







In his book Sri Bhagavata-arka-marici-mala, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
offers his obeisances: “I pray to Sri Svarupa Damodara, the associate
of Lord Gauranga, who has inspired me to write about this topic, and in
that regard to make a garland of verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam.” Srila
Bhaktivinoda Thakura stated that Sri Svarupa Damodara personally
explained to him the first verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam. He explained how
Sri Krsna is one without a second, and how His power is also
one-without-a-second. Although one, His power is known by various
terms, such as antaranga-sakti (the internal potency), hladini-sakti
(the pleasure potency) and cit-sakti (the transcendental potency).
There are different names for that potency, but there is ultimately
only one potency.



Tatastha-sakti (the living entities situated on the marginal line,
between the material and spiritual and material worlds) and maya-sakti
(this inert world) are not different from the spiritual cit-sakti, in
the sense that they have no independent existence from it. When the
internal spiritual potency manifests the millions of infinitesimal
jivas, then, according to its function, it is called tatastha-sakti.
When the shadow of that same internal potency manifests this material
world and its varieties of inert matter, then, according to its
function, it is called bahiranga-sakti (the external energy) or
maya-sakti (the deluding material energy), or maya. The marginal energy
(the living entities) comes in contact with the maya-sakti, the
external energy, and manifests as the world of the living entities.
Maya-sakti has manifested this inert world, with its varieties of
bodies, minds, natures and so many other things.



In this world we are in maya and there is a prominence of maya, so we
consider that maya-sakti is here. Ultimately maya is svarupa-sakti or
antaranga-sakti (whose embodiment is Srimati Radhika), because maya is
a power, or sakti. However, if we say that maya-sakti refers to Srimati
Radhika, there will be some misunderstanding.



Does this mean there are many saktis or energies? No, there is only one
energy, but it has many names. This energy is named differently,
according to its different functions. Moerover, there is no duality in
sakti (the power) and saktiman (the powerful, or the possessor of the
power). In other words, Lord Sri Krsna and His power are non-different.
They are non-dual. They are one.



The word ‘anvayad’ in this first verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam means
‘direct’, and it indicates that these potencies manifest directly from
Sri Krsna. The word ‘itaratas’, meaning ‘indirect’, indicates the
existence of a very strange thing – a fact of wonder: The jiva is part
and parcel of Krsna. He is spiritual, or conscious. How is it possible
that he can be bound by maya, which is inert? Consciousness is superior
to dull matter. Although it is not possible for him to be bound by the
inferior material energy, it never-the-less takes place. This is a fact
of wonder.



By the influence of Sri Krsna’s deluding potency, even great demigods
like Brahma and Sankara can become bewildered. No one can measure the
depth of power of Sri Krsna's energy. Maya has covered the soul with
its gross and subtle body. Though we are not this body, now we think,
"I am this body." This situation is a fact of wonder, and it is due to
the influence of Krsna’s potency.



How has this occurred? When Sri Krsna created the jivas, He gave them a
very valuable thing called independence. He told them, "If you properly
use this independence, you will come to Me, and serve Me, and be happy.
If you misuse it, however, I will give you punishment.” We should try
not to misuse our independence. We did so, and now we are in the prison
of this world.



There are twenty-eight principles in the manifestation of this world
(such as the false ego, the intelligence, the mind, material nature,
the five gross elements, the five perceptive sense organs, the five
working sense organs, and the five sense objects) and none of them have
any separate existence from the Lord. The jiva does not know how this
world was created and how he was covered by maya. Krsna knows
everything, however. He knows everything that even Brahma, Sankara and
others like them do not know.



Krsna is served by His svarupa-sakti, Srimati Radhika, and therefore He
is complete. It is stated in Sri Isopanisad: "The Personality of
Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect,
all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly
equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced from the Complete
Whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the Complete Whole,
even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the
complete balance."



He is always complete, infinite, and quite independent. No one can
control Him. As stated in this first verse, He has mercifully inspired
the original Vedic scholar (adi-kavi), Lord Brahma.
It may also be said that the word adi-kavi refers to Sri Sukadeva
Gosvami or Srila Rupa Gosvami, but here it refers to Brahma. In his
form as Lord Narayana, Sri Krsna instructed Brahma in the four
‘nutshell’ verses (Catur-sloki) of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Thus, by the
Lord’s mercy, Brahma realized the glories of the Lord and then
manifested the Vedas with its unlimited knowledge. Even very learned
persons become bewildered in regard to this Vedic knowledge. They
cannot understand it.



Three Worlds

The word tri-sarga in this verse
means that there are three kinds of creation: cit-sarga (the
transcendental realm), jiva-sarga (the realm of the living entities)
and jada-sarga (the material realm, the realm of inert matter).
Cit-sarga is the transcendental world, beginning from Vaikuntha and
going up to Goloka Vrndavana. There in Vrndavana, Nanda Baba, Mother
Yasoda, the cowherd boys, the gopis, the trees, creepers, rivers,
mountains, and everything else are transcendental. They are full with
eternity, unending bliss, and unfathomable knowledge.



Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura gives an analogy to help us understand the
transcendental world. In this world there is no example of that realm
of transcendence. Still, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura is giving a hint by
the following analogy.



Have you seen fire? I have not seen fire. By striking a match, flames
and some dark smoke are seen. Is the smoke fire, or is the wood fire,
or are the flames fire? What is fire? Fire is a sakti, power. You
cannot see it. By striking matches or rubbing two stones or two pieces
of wood together, fire will manifest. It is generally not seen, but
sometimes, when there is a cause for it to be seen, it is seen. When
there is an appropriate or special cause or reason, it manifests.



Similarly, the Lord's spiritual potency is transcendental. His
spiritual abode, Goloka Vrndavana, is always present in the
transcendental realm. As in this world there is sometimes a
manifestation of fire, so Lord Krsna, Lord Ramacandra, and Lord
Nrsmhadeva come here from time to time. Krsna especially comes to show
favor to His devotees. He comes and performs many activities to please
His devotees. The example of fire is given to show that although we
generally cannot see the transcendental world or transcendental
personalities, at certain times and for certain reasons, they manifest
here.



Regarding jiva-sarga, the world of the living entities, the example of
water is given in this verse. The living entities are compared to
water. If an environment is too cold, the water will freeze and become
hard ice. If you throw that ice, it may injure someone or fracture
someone's bones. Otherwise, if you are very thirsty, you can suck it
and find it very sweet. When it is hard, its nature is covered; but
when it is in its own nature, it is liquid.



Similarly, the jiva is the eternal servant of Krsna. By nature or
constitution, he is always serving Krsna and is happy in that service.
However, when he misuses the independence given to him by Krsna, maya
throws him very far away from Krsna and gives him two bodies – gross
and subtle. Then he thinks, "I am this body, and the happiness and
suffering of this body is mine." Actually, when we will advance
somewhat in spiritual life, we will see that there is no bondage and no
liberation from that bondage. We are always liberated, but we think
that we are bound. Without the mercy of Krsna – and first the mercy of
Guru – we cannot come out of this bodily conception of bondage.



Regarding the three types of creation, first the analogy of fire was
given, then the analogy of water, and now the analogy of earth will be
given. Jada-sarga means the creation of this material world, and the
analogy of earth is given to understand it.



In this material world there is earth, and if you make a pot from that
earth, you can carry water in it. However, if that pot has not been
first placed in fire (baked in a kiln), it will melt and break and the
water will gush out. The pot is raw until the potter bakes it in the
kiln, at which time it becomes reddish and it can hold water. Actually
that pot is nothing but earth. So many things in this world manifest
from earth. Although there are also fire and water and all the other
elements in this world, they are less. Earth is prominent. Almost
everything is made of earth.



You can make a variety of products with a variety of functions, but
these products are still earth. Gold, copper, coal, and diamonds are
all actually manifestations of the element earth. This analogy is given
as an expression of maya-sakti, the maya creation. Although all those
products of earth are perishable, by the influence of Sri Krsna’s
acintya-sakti (His inconceivable power) they appear to be permanent
truth.



His Own Existence



By His power, Sri Krsna is manifesting everything in the transcendental
world, in the world of jivas, and also here in this world – but He
maintains His own separate or independent existence. He is very lovely
and very sweet. He has an beautiful form in Goloka Vrndavana. Satyam
param dimahi – That Supreme Absolute Truth Sri Krsna, along with His
svarupa-sakti (embodied in Srimati Radhika) and kaya-vyuha of that
sakti (Radhika's bodily expansions, the gopis), is eternally present;
and sometimes He manifests in this world. Srila Vyasadeva, the author
of this Srimad-Bhagavatam verse, is offering obeisances to that
Absolute Truth.



Though this subject is very deep, you should try to hear. When you take
a bath, most of the water disappears from the body and goes down the
drain. However, something stays on the body, and that will be enough
for you.

Srila Prabhupada Quote Of The Day: If She is pleased, then Krsna is pleased, and all living entities are pleased.

Sunday, November 11, 1973

New Delhi

My Dear Bhakta dasa:



Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 17, 1973 and have noted the contents.



I thank you very much for your invitation for your Govardhana
celebration. I would have come, but I received your letter late, but I
hope anyway that you have enjoyed Govardhana-Puja. The photos are very
nice, and Radharani looks very satisfied, as I see in the features of
Her face in the photo. If She is pleased, then Krsna is pleased, and
all living entities are pleased.



I thank you very much for installing Radha-Giridhari. From my childhood
I was very much fond of Radha-Krsna, and now my good disciples are
helping me to open so many Radha-Krsna temples all over the world. It
gives me so much pleasure. Now introduce Ratha Yatra. That was my
childhood activity. I want to see my disciples all over the world
introduce two items, opening Radha-Krsna temples and Ratha-yatra
festivals. Do this under the protection of Guru-Gauranga.



Please do everything cooperatively for you will be happy, your
countrymen will be happy, and all living entities will be happy. If one
waters the root, then all the branches, twigs, and leaves are
automatically nourished. That is the philosophy of Krsna consciousness.

Term of the Day - Exchange Rate Risk

The risk that a business' operations or an investment's value will be affected by changes in exchange rates. For example, if money must be converted into a different currency to make a certain investment, changes in the value of the currency relative to the American dollar will affect the total loss or gain on the investment when the money is converted back. This risk usually affects businesses, but it can also affect individual investors who make international investments. also called currency risk.

Term of the Day - Bank

An organization, usually a corporation, chartered by a state or federal government, which does most or all of the following: receives demand deposits and time deposits, honors instruments drawn on them, and pays interest on them; discounts notes, makes loans, and invests in securities; collects checks, drafts, and notes; certifies depositor's checks; and issues drafts and cashier's checks.

Srila Prabhupada Quote Of The Day

Immediately return and live with devotees and take care of the Deities and tulsi. That is our main business.

My Guru Maharaja condemned living alone in a lonely place. He wrote as follows:

dusta mana, tumi kisera Vaisnava
pratisthara tare, nirjanera ghare,
tavra hari-nama kevala kaitava

"O rascal mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you. In a lonely place your chanting of Hare Krishna is simply cheating."

And, Narottama Das Thakura says:

tandera carana sevi bhakta-sane vasa
janame janame haya, ei abhilasa

"To serve the feet of the acaryas in association of the devotees is my desire birth after birth."

Why I have opened this Society? I was living with four children, and now I have 4,000. There is no good in living alone.

I hope this meets you in better health.

Your ever well wisher,
A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

NICE TO KNOW THIS

1. Chewing on gum while cutting onions can help a Person from stop producing tears. Try it next time you chop onions!!!!!! !!!!
2. Until babies are six months old, they can breathe and swallow at the same time. Indeed convenient!
3. Offered a new pen to write with, 97% of all people will write their own name.
4. Male mosquitoes are vegetarians. Only females bite.
5. The average person's field of vision encompasses a 200-degree wide angle.
6. To find out if a watermelon is ripe, knock it, and if it sounds hollow Then it is ripe.
7. Canadians can send letters with personalized postage stamps showing their own photos on each stamp.
8. Babies' eyes do not produce tears until the baby is approximately six to eight weeks old.
9. It snowed in the Sahara Desert in February of 1979.
10. Plants watered with warm water grow larger and more quickly than plants watered with cold water.
11. Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.
12. Grapes explode when you put them in the microwave.
13. Those stars and colours you see when you rub your eyes are called phosphenes.
14. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears Never stop growing.
15. Everyone's tongue print is different, like fingerprints.
16. Contrary to popular belief, a swallowed chewing gum doesn't stay in the gut. It will pass through the system and be excreted.
17. At 40 Centigrade a person loses about 14. 4 calories per hour by Breathing.
18. There is a hotel in Sweden built entirely out of ice; it is rebuilt Every year.
19. Cats, camels and giraffes are the only animals in the world that walk Rightfoot, right foot, left foot, left foot, rather than right foot,left Foot...Onions help reduce cholesterol if eaten after a fatty meal..
20. The sound you hear when you crack your knuckles is actually the sound of nitrogen gas bubbles bursting.
21. In most watch advertisements the time displayed on the watch is 10:10 because then the arms frame the brand of the watch And make it look like it's smiling.The color blue can have a calming affect on people.
22. Depending upon the shade, the brain may send up to 11 tranquilizing Chemicals to calm the body.
23. Leonardo DA Vinci could write with the one hand and draw with the other simultaneously. Now we know why his pictures were exquisite! Names of the three wise monkeys are: Mizaru (See no evil), Mikazaru(Hear no evil), and Mazaru (Speak no evil).
24. The only 2 animals that can see behind itself without turning it's head are the rabbit and parrot.
25. The only 15 letter word that can be spelled without repeating a letter is uncopyrightable.
26. Babies are born without knee caps.
27. They don't appear until the child Reaches 2-6 years of age.
28. The names of the continents all end with the same letter with which they start.
29. Electricity doesn't move through a wire but through a field around the wire.
30. All U.S. Presidents have worn glasses; some of them just didn't like to be seen wearing them in public.
31. No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, and purple.
32. Raw cashews are poisonous and must be roasted before.

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Term of the Day: Debt/Asset Ratio

Total liabilities divided by total assets. The debt/asset ratio shows the proportion of a company's assets which are financed through debt. If the ratio is less than one, most of the company's assets are financed through equity. If the ratio is greater than one, most of the company's assets are financed through debt. Companies with high debt/asset ratios are said to be "highly leveraged," and could be in danger if creditors start to demand repayment of debt.