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The Conch krishnafarm.com www.conch.org.au “Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna blew their celestial conches to rally and enthuse the devotees.” Newsletter New Govardhana Community Dec 15/Jan 16 Dec 15/Jan Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Bhaktisiddhanta Mukunda Sarasvati Thakura Goswami Disappearance Day On the Mend Sunday School Opera House Kids Love It! 50th Anniversary Update DOUBLE ISSUE DEC–JAN Keep The Conch in print! Donate a gold coin at the Temple Shop. Srila Prabhupada Uvaca + In Focus + Goshala GOss + Where are they Now? This is the true ‘spirit of Christmas’. Christmas and Our secular society is increasingly the devotees of taking this message away and replacing it with something that can Krishna be bought and sold. By Krishnarupa devi dasi (bkg) The commercialisation of Christmas The end of the year is upon us! For is not all bad. Though the rush in the most Australians, this time of year stores to buy gifts is a trait of the brings a focus on the celebration of materialistic lifestyle that Vaisnavas Christmas. What does this mean to try to avoid, everything can be used the devotees of Krishna? in Krishna’s service. The idea of gift giving is a wonderful opportunity for us to serve one another. In Nectar of Instruction, Text 4, Rupa Goswami www.facebook.com Photo: writes, and Srila Prabhupada ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace translates, “Offering gifts in charity, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada accepting charitable gifts, revealing one’s mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasad and Srila Prabhupada Uvaca offering prasad are the six symptoms Kardama Muni desired to beget of love shared by one devotee and a child who would be a ray of another”. It is a beautiful exchange the Supreme Personality of and a sweet ritual to wrap and offer Godhead. One should beget a other Vaisnavas a gift. child who can perform the duties of Vishnu; otherwise there is The holiday season brings us plenty no need to produce children. of free time, which is a blessing to Photos: googleimages.com Photos: There are two kinds of children devotees – time to visit the temple, to born of good fathers; one is Yama Niyama dasa roasts Christmas. increase our chanting and association. educated in Krsna consciousness It also brings many opportunities so that he can be delivered to share Krishna with other holiday from the clutches of Maya in “Christmas is not on the Vaisnava makers, such as the Woodford festival that very life, and the other is a calendar” is a phrase that has catering stalls, and performing ray of the Supreme Personality been coined by devotional singer/ harinama to Boxing Day and New of Godhead and teaches the songwriter Yama Niyama dasa in Year’s Eve crowds. There is also the world the ultimate goal of life. his satirical Christmas album* of wonderful December marathon, In the same order as Kardama the same name. Each hilarious where devotees take advantage Muni, about one hundred years track points out the nature of the of the many eager shoppers in ago, Thakur Bhaktivinoda also Christmas culture, with its jingle bells, busy stores by distributing Srila wanted to beget a child who Christmas lights and inflatable white- Prabhupada’s books. could preach the philosophy and bearded men in red suits. While All this gives us plenty to celebrate! teachings of Lord Chaitanya to using famous Christmas melodies to Have a wonderful Krishna conscious the fullest extent. By his prayers speak Krishna conscious philosophy, Christmas season! to the Lord he had as his child the listener is directed to seek a Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati deeper spirituality than the Christmas * Yama Niyama’s devotional Christmas album Goswami Maharaja, who at the madness of the material world (and can be downloaded online. present moment is preaching have a good laugh at the same time). the philosophy of Lord Chaitanya However, Christmas does have a throughout the entire world deeper spiritual meaning: it marks the through his bona-fide disciples.” birth of Jesus Christ, the empowered (SB, 3.22 pg.226) spiritual teacher, the son of God. Srila Prabhupada spoke highly of Jesus, “Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati yet encouraged us to fully develop Thakura used to say, “if I could our love of God by following strictly perfectly deliver even one soul His laws and increase our dedication. back home, back to Godhead, (See Science of Self-Realisation, Ch 4 I would think my mission, ‘Understanding Krishna and Christ’, propagating Krsna consciousness, by Srila Prabhupada). Practitioners to be successful” (SB 4.12.pg189) of Krsna consciousness can meditate (See page 12 for Disappearance Day date) on Prabhupada’s words: that there Srila Prabhupada Quotes compiled is no difference between the names from Ray of Vishnu-Biography of of Krishna and Christ. We have an Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, by opportunity in this lifetime to focus Rupa Vilas Dasa. our attention on glorifying the Lord. WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW? Baker Extraordinaire: Amber Borsotti By Mandakini devi dasi Sydney-born Amber Borsotti was two years old when she was first introduced to the Hare Krishna Vedic lifestyle. Three years later she was enrolled in New Govardhana gurukula where she remained for the next six years before relocating to New Nandagram, Victoria. Amber returned to Murwillumbah when she was 15, settling into facebook.com Photo: householder life by the time she was 16. A busy and dedicated mum, she When a retail opportunity opened has five children ranging in ages from up at Uki Farmers Market at the end four to 17. of September, Amber and Leonardo took the initiative, and on their first With the family growing up, Amber outing ended up selling their entire and her husband, Leonardo, stock. considered some working options. They finally agreed to venture into Production has since increased from the bread-making business. Amber 50 to 90 items twice a week, and still dasa Aravinda Photo: had entertained four passions in life: there is a demand for more. (L. to R.) Leonardo and Amber hard at architecture, psychology, fabrics and The bread is naturally leavened, work. food. Having produced quality bread requiring Amber and Leo to “rise” at on the farm in earlier years, friends 1.00 am on Wednesday and Saturday and family members had often urged mornings to prepare their batch. her to “go into food”. HOW TO ORDER Variety being the spice of life, Order by 6.00 pm on Months of hard work followed as alongside the basic loaves there is the couple researched equipment much to choose from. For example, Monday for collection on and painstakingly developed their savoury loaves like Olive, Rosemary Wednesday. Products also own special recipes. The result is and Pecorino; Dark Euro-style Rye an impressive home bakery and an with Caraway and Fennel; and Vegan available on Saturdays at outstanding product called ‘Levadura’, Fruitful Loaf and Sweet Spiced Rye Uki Farmers Market. which consists of organic, artisan and Fig, to name a few. Melt-in-the- sourdough (a much healthier and mouth croissants and chocolate Contact Leonardo/Amber tastier alternative to commercial scrolls, as sampled by the author, 0427 091 364 bread). must be tasted to be believed. SRI SRI RADHA- LONDONISVARA’S 46TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT By Damodara Pandit dasa The 46th Anniversary event of world famous Radha Londonisvara was recently celebrated in Bedford Way, London last month on 29 November. In theatre-style venue Logan Hall, the event was marked with a drama, kirtana, presentations and a delicious prasadam feast. His Holiness Radhanatha Swami and His Grace Shyamasundara dasa were special guest speakers. Photo: bingimages.com Photo: have become pregnant. Radhika and The message is simple yet profound Goshalla Goss Chintamani are Girs, and we eagerly and sublime: the urgent need to give By Urvasi devi dasi await the confirmation from the vet. total and absolute care, protection and maintenance to our Mother MILK FROM OUR OWN COWS Tulsi, one of our elder Friesians, Cow who supplies all of humanity’s miscarried a premature bull calf Ramesvara: Such a dramatic necessities of life. transformation of society. in mid-November. Dhruva was approximately four months in utero. The 12-year marathon aims at Prabhupada: Yes. Whatever it may Although perfectly formed and with providing total protection to all forms be... We should be satisfied locally no obvious signs of any illness his of life, beginning with our Mother by our food, by our cloth, by our sojourn at New Govardhana was cut Surabhi who is the emblem of peace, milk. That’s all … If you want to save short by the will of the Lord. (Dhruva prosperity and all auspiciousness. yourself also, you do this. is the name of the pole star and His Holiness RP Bhakti Rāghava means motionless.) Here is an example. If you want Swami, Minister for IDVM-India, artificial life, city life, and hellish life, invites you to become part of this you do. But we shall live like this. This noble effort. By serving our Mother is the ideal life. Surabhi we will bring happiness to (Room Conversation, 21 Jan 1977 the Lord and when Lord Krishna is Bhubanesvara, India) pleased the whole world becomes What if, just for one year, you put happy. Find out more at srisurabhi.org aside the money spent on commercial dairy products and sponsored the building of the new goshalla at New Govardhana? There are lots of offerable, nutritious and tasty alternatives to almost all commercial dairy products these days, so it won’t Photo: Urvasi devi dasi devi Urvasi Photo: be like the end of the world! Tulsi has been serving Sri Sri Radha This is an excellent way to assist us Govardhanadhari for many years.
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  • Srila Prabhupada Tributes 2012

    Srila Prabhupada Tributes 2012

    ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA Celebrating the appearance day of our 2012 TRIBUTES 11AUG beloved spiritual master TRIBUTES PRABHUPÄDA ÇRÉLA “I have started the Krsna consciousness movement in America. But actually the original father of this movement is Lord Krsna Himself, since it was started a very long time ago but is coming down to human society by disciplic succession. If I have any credit in this connection, it does not belong to me personally, but it is due to my eternal spiritual master, His Divine Grace Om Visnupada Paramahamsa Parivrajakacarya 108 Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Prabhupada.” — Çréla Prabhupäda, Preface, Bhagavad-gétä As It Is OÀ VIÑËUPÄDA ÇRÉ ÇRÉMAD FOUNDER-ÄCÄRYA 11AUG PARAMAHAÀSA A.C. OF THE INTERNATIONAL 2012 — ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA© 2011 — SRILA TRIBUTES PRABHUPADA TRIBUTES PARIVRÄJAKÄCÄRYA BHAKTIVEDANTA SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA Design & layout byDesign www.inajardesign.com & layout by www.inajardesign.com 2012 AÑÖOTARA-ÇÄTA SWAMI PRABHUPÄDA CONSCIOUSNESS ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA TRIBUTES ÇRÉLA PRABHUPÄDA Celebrating the appearance day of our 2012 TRIBUTES 11AUG beloved spiritual master First Printing, limited printing, 300 copies, 2012 The copyrights for the Tributes in this book remain with their respective authors. We wish to gratefully acknowledge the BBT for use of verses and purports from ®r…la Prabhup€da’s books. All such materials are © Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. www.sptributes.com Printed in England Design and layout by Jagannath Sharan das www.inajardesign.com 4 Credits CONTENTS The Tributes presented in this book are by devotees directly initi- ated by Srila Prabhupada. They are presented herein in a chrono- logical order by initiation date. Introduction ........................................................................