Union city door to door interesting experiences

Myself and Kamesvari went door-door in Union City, Parkside apartments. It was very cold outside but we were bundled up and was nice. It was gated community, so we were waiting for someone to go and we just tagged along. I saw the apartments and remembered that we have been there before, but we did not meet anyone who met us before.

It was a very interesting experience and we met lots of interested people. We did couple of books from the parking lot when we were filling our bags.

I heard some music from an apartment upstairs and I thought someone was playing a record, but turns out Abhinav was singing with his Guitar. He sings mostly movie songs and never sang any devotional songs. I asked if he can sing the maha-mantra for us and he agreed. He did not know which tune to sing, so Kamesvari came and helped him with some tunes and he got one tune. He sang the Maha mantra on guitar. I am attaching the song with this email in m4a format. It is a short one but fun to hear.

I met Manas from Assam who was very interested in giving dharmic education to children. So he wants to be involved with ISV school and teach them sanskrit. He donated $50 also for book distribution.

I saw a door which had a sign " No soliciting and pls do not disturb". So I left a book pack at their door :)

Later Kamesvari met someone from Pakistan and they took the book. She also gave a book to Chinese couple and they actually understood our Chinese lines and gave a donation!

We met someone from Nepal, Philippines, Albany different parts of India, Korea who all took books.

Towards the end Kamesvari met Ambarish Kumar who studied in a vedic school till 10th grade in Kasi (Benaras). He also knew the story of Ambarish Maharaj from Srimad Bhagavatam.He studied sanskrit, various scriptures, vedic math etc. He was very happy to have that kind of background and he looked very happy and satisfied. He was pious and he took Krishna book, book packs, Bhagavad Gita and donated $40.

In the end we both were happy and satisfied too!! All glories to Lord Gauranga!!

Book scores:

book packs -- 17 * 3 = 81
Bhagavad Gita hard = 1
BG soft = 12
Krishna Book = 4
Chinese book --1 = 10 (points)
Korean book -- 1 = 10 (points ?)

total number of books: 118
Lakshmi collected: $208 + change

Thank you very much.

ys,
Kamesvari devi dasi
Malini devi dasi

Srila BhaktiSiddhanta Sarasvati Goswami Appearance Day Celebrations at ISV

"So try to receive Krishna's grace through the disciplic succession, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Then you will understand everything.... This is the process, Vedic process. One should have unflinching faith in God and spiritual master. Don't jump over God, crossing the spiritual master. Then it will be failure. You must go through. We are observing Vyasa-puja ceremony, the birth anniversary of our Guru Maharaja. Why? We cannot understand Krishna without spiritual master. That is bogus. If anyone wants to understand Krishna, jumping over the spiritual master, then immediately he becomes a bogus. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu says, guru-Krishna-krpaya paya bhakti-lata-bija [Cc. Madhya 19.151]. That is Vedic injunction. Tad viddhi pranipatena pariprashnena sevaya [Bg. 4.34]. Nobody can understand Krishna without going through His most confidential servant. This is the meaning of this Vyasa-puja. You cannot surpass. If you think that you have become very learned and very advanced, now you can avoid the spiritual master and you understand Krishna, that is the bogus. That is the meaning of this Vyasa-püja ceremony. We should always pray, yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadau. Yasya prasadad, only by the grace of spiritual master we can achieve the grace or mercy of Krishna. This is the meaning of this Vyasa-puja, offering obeisances by parampara system."-His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada's Appearance Day Lecture by Srila Prabhupad in Atlanta, March 2, 1975

This evening there will be celebrations at ISV Celebrations.Please join us with your family and friends.

6:00 PM : Bhajan
6:30 PM : Glorification of Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Goswami and lecture
7:45 PM : Puspanjali
8:00 PM : Aarti
8:30 PM : Prasadam

Weekly Deity Photos #1

Dear Devotees,

There will be weekly photo updates of our most beautiful Deities. Please stay tuned for more.

Ys,

Bhakta Jorge

"Bringing back old friends" MSF results

Highlights
The first Monthly Sankirtana Festival of 2011 entitled "Bringing back old friends" was concluded yesterday and the final results offered to Lord Nityananda at a celebration honoring His divine appearance day held at the ISV temple in San Jose, CA.

In the spirit of Nityananda Prabhu's unlimited compassion, ISV devotees held their first Hari Nama performance of the year in Palo Alto, CA on Friday, February 10 and conducted massive book distribution throughout that weekend.

The MotelGita team (including devotees from Houston and Boston) and our Smartbox team also participated in book distribution.

In keeping with the theme of this MSF, everyone was asked to reach out to at least one old friend during this MSF. Members of team ISV renewed old contacts by giving special attention to their friends. In addition, ISV welcomed and hosted guests from Hungary who had flown here to see ISV devotees participate in the Sankirtana festival.

Summary of Scores
Here is a summary of the results from book distribution:

• More than 40 devotees participated in book distribution
• They distributed 2,842 books, which include 1,497 Bhagavad Gitas placed in motels nationwide
• They collected $13,097 in Laxmi points, which include $10,343 raised by team MotelGita

On behalf of team ISV, we thank all participants and donors.

MSF for Lord Nityananda ki Jaya!

Ys
Raxit

Knocking the doors like Nityananda Prabhu did .

I distributed books for 3-4 hrs only, and did not get a chance to interact much with others. But the Lord was merciful, and I had the glorious chance to shadow Sri Krsna Purushottama Prabhu at some doors, and also have him come to my rescue. at one. It was also very interesting to hear from his brother Sri-Ram Prabhu on how book distribution is done at his place back in India, and how he maintains a work/spiritual-life balance.

GNABs:

When my knock was answered by an Indian couple, I thought this would be an easy one. But it was not. After listening for a bit, they said they were Muslims. As I explained to them how the ISKCON philosophy was independent of religion, I was also mentally prepared not to ask them for a donation. And then, Sri Krsn Purushottam prabhu who was at the next door listening to all this, came over and charmed the couple into donating for our cause!

At another building, there were two doors side by side. Upon not getting a response from the first one, I knocked at the other. We had some luck there where our knock was answered and we started out with our little speech. I thought our luck doubled when the first door opened just a crack, but to my dismay a very grumpy lady inside told me that it was not a good time at all. I smiled and apologized, and thought I was ‘leaving with a good impression.’ But that was not so. Someone else was making the good impression, and of course it was Sri Krsn Purushottam Prabhu who was having so much fun at the second door, that the loud laughter seeped into the house of the old lady who opened the door one more time, very wide this time, and could not resist asking me what it was all about! She was very impressed with the philosophy and agreed to what we had to say. She could not believe that people would want to give classes and prasadam for free. She kept insisting that there was a catch somewhere. She took it well when we explained ‘overflow’. She is out of job right now but no one says no to Sri Krsn Purushottam’s sweet request for donation.

Ys

Shraddha devi dasi.

For the MSF, Khyati brought one friend Pompiya B. to temple last week and I had opportunity to talk to my old friend Amit, due to whose association I was blessed with the acquaintance of ISKCON in Boston, 7 years back.

We went to this Ashram out of curiosity to find a temple near Stockton. While we were talking to the priest,
he said that he did have some students from nearby universities come and that he had some challenges explaining.
We were able to provide the Bhagavad Gitas to the temple priest, who will probably use it for reference and possibly give it to devotees as needed.
We have placed fliers in the BG and around 7 small books placed in temple, hoping devotees get aware of our temple and possibly join us.
He was very happy to receive books and was also praising Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!
MSF for Lord Nityanand ki Jai!

ys
niral & khyati

Today is Lord Nityananda's Appearance Day!!!

Today is the appearance day of all-merciful Lord Nityananda. LocanadAsa writes, "Lord NityAnanda is full of good qualities.On account of His spiritual qualities, He has inundated the whole world with the flood of love of Godhead. It is by His kindness that people can experience what is love of God.As far as Lord NityAnanda is concerned,he does not make any discrimination between devotees and nondevotees".

Exemplifying the necessity to take the association of Lord Nityananda & his dear servants, Srila Prabhupad says, ".... Nityananda means always. Nitya means always, ananda means pleasure. This is another meaning you can draw. So therefore, if you have no connection with Nityananda Prabhu... "He’s simply wasting time."..Uselessly, he’s wasting time. And Narottama dasa Thakura has used very strong word - anyone who has no connection with Nityananda Prabhu, he’s a pashu. He’s a pashu, means animal. So animal, how one animal can get happiness? That is not possible. The dog, from the childhood he’s searching after food, searching after food and cannot get food. Unless a dog has got a master, he’s street dog and he’s always unhappy. So better to become a dog of Nityananda Prabhu. Then we shall be happy. Instead of becoming dog of so many other people... Everyone is dog. Everyone is searching after to serve a master. But none of them are satisfied because that is false master. You take real master, Nityananda Prabhu. You’ll be happy.... "

There will be huge celebrations at ISV this evening, we invite everyone to come and get the mercy of Lord Nitai.

6:00 PM: Kirtan and Abhishek
6:45 PM: Lecture by HG Vaisesika Prabhu
7:45 PM: Offering of MSF Results
8:00 PM: Aarti
8:30 PM: Prasadam

Click here to read more about Lord Nityananda's pastimes and prayers.

Today is Lord Varaha's Appearance Day!!!

Today is Lord Varaha's Appearance Day!!!

Lord Brahma said: "When the unlimitedly powerful Lord assumed the form of a boar as a pastime, just to lift the planet earth, which was drowned in the great ocean of the universe called the Garbhodaka, the first demon [Hiranyaksha] appeared, and the Lord pierced him with His tusk." (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.1)

Let us pray to Lord Varahadeva to pull us out of the material ocean in the same way that he lifted up Mother Earth!

Here is an opportunity to hear more on the transcedental pastimes of Lord Varaha from Lord's very dear servant - HG Vaisesika Prabhu, starting tonight at 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

Dial in # (760) 569-7676 access code: 701087#
Press *6 to mute or unmute.
Backup number: (559) 546-1400

Today is the all-auspiscious Ekadasi day!

Today is the all-auspiscious ekadasi day!

"In devotional service there are certain activities which are called determined, such as fasting on certain days, like the eleventh day of the moon, Ekadasi, and on the appearance day of the Lord. All these rules and regulations are offered by the great acaryas for those who are actually interested in getting admission into the association of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the transcendental world. The mahatmas, great souls, strictly observe all these rules and regulations, and therefore they are sure to achieve the desired result." (Srila Prabhupad – BG 9.12 purport)

Bhaimi or Jayaa Ekaadasii: It is said that if one observes upavasa on this day then one receives entrance to Visnu's abode….

NOTE: The half day fast (vrata) for the appearance of Lord Varahadev is also observed on this Ekaadasii day, and the utsav (festival celebration - pujas and feasting, etc.) is oserved on the Dvaadasii, which is when He appeared.
Glories of JayA EkAdasii from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana

14 Feb 2011 Mo Bhaimi Ekadasi - Fast today for Varahadeva
15 Feb 2011 Tu Break fast 06:56 - 09:41am (LT)

Read on the Glories of JayA EkAdasii from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana here.

Attend Morning Reading and Chanting Program by Phone

By Damodar Vamsidhara Das (republished from Dandavats.com)

Dear Devotees,

Please accept our most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad!

Out of compassion to the suffering souls, our CHAD founder HG Vaisheshika Prabhu writes “Bhagavad-gita is our wake up call. But, we must be ready to hear it. Everyone in the material world is in a precarious and hopeless situation. However, in Maya’s warm embrace, I think that I am Okay. But I am not. The forceful wheel of time will soon loosen my grip on all that I now possess. My cherished hopes for comfort, permanency and happiness in the material world will slip away.

In his introduction to Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srila Prabhupada writes: “Actually we are all swallowed by the tigress of nescience, but the Lord is very merciful upon living entities, especially human beings. To this end He spoke the Bhagavad-gita, making His friend Arjuna His student.” Like Arjuna, are we also not helpless and lost without hearing and surrendering to Krsna’s sweet words? As Arjuna set aside his bow and arrows, let us set aside any sense of confidence in our own abilities so that we may hear Krsna’s words with full heart and attention. This kind of submissive hearing is the primary requirement for advancement in spiritual life. The devotee who hears Krsna’s words with a submissive heart immediately feels an ingress of causeless knowledge and detachment. Krsna is attentively watching us at every second and is ready to guide and shelter us. Therefore, today, and everyday, may we recite the divine slokas in Bhagavad-gita not by rote. Rather, with the urgency of a man or woman trapped in a burning house, let sing them aloud, calling for Krsna’s protection.”

Exemplifying the importance of reading transcendental literatures, Srila Prabhupad writes “In many countries there are bodies appointed by the state to detect and censor obscene literature. This means that neither the government nor the responsible leaders of the public want such literature, yet it is in the marketplace because the people want it for sense gratification. The people in general want to read (that is a natural instinct), but because their minds are polluted they want such literatures. Under the circumstances, transcendental literature like Srimad Bhagavatam will not only diminish the activities of the corrupt mind of the people in general, but also it will supply food for their hankering after reading some interesting literature. In the beginning they may not like it because one suffering from jaundice is reluctant to take sugar candy, but we should know that sugar candy is the only remedy for jaundice. Similarly, let there be systematic propaganda for popularizing reading of the Bhagavad-Gita and the Srimad Bhagavatam, which will act like sugar candy for the jaundicelike condition of sense gratification. When men have a taste for this literature, the other literatures, which are catering poison to society, will then automatically cease.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 1.5.11 purport)

Hope you are all experiencing the transcendental bliss of CHAD. Below are some CHAD updates for your pleasure.

Following the Instruction of Lord Siva

In the Gita Mahatmya Lord Siva tells Parvati, “Anyone who chants the Sixteenth Chapter of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, however sinful he is, very quickly attains.., the lotus-feet of Lord Krishna.” Per our original plan, we will start reciting the 16th chapter of Bhagavad-Gita from Sat. Jan 29, 2011 (Sat-Tila Ekadasi) to Sat. Feb 27,

2010 (Vijaya Ekadasi). Attached is the chapter in CHAD format.

CHAD with us daily!

ISV CHAD members are relishing the transcendental nectar of reciting Bhagavad-Gita everyday @5am during our CHAD teleconference calls. This method of tele-reading Srila Prabhupad’s books is the very best way to show our love to HIS Divine Grace & it has been a proven success @ ISV. Just within the last one year, we have grown from 0 to 3 groups. In many of ISV families, though both the husband & wife work & they have kids & more importantly, they do not have servants come to thier home every day to assist with the daily chores, they still manage to join the call and listen to the Prabhupad’s books! Hare Krishna! All of these dedicated souls have gained tremendous enthusiam to serve Srila Prabhupad and his movement.

Everyone is welcome to join any of our teleconference groups. Below is Audio conference details of one of our group. If you are outside USA, let us know your number and we will dial you in. We also encourage everyone to proactively start one in your own place! For more details, email usatchad.isv@gmail.com.

Audio Conference Details for USA Dial In

1-858-400-8059

Participant Access Code 1008#

Time Daily Schedule in PST:

5:00 - 5:10 am :Bhagavad-gita CHAD: Reading full chapter alternating between Sanskrit and English

5:10 - 6:15 am :Group Japa - Prabhupada Japa will be played. You can either chant with Prabhupad or do the Japa according to your own pace, keeping their phones on mute.

6:15 - 6:30 am :Reading/discussing one verse from Srimad Bhagavatam

6:30 - 7:00 am :Reading/discussing two verses from the Bhagavad-gita Chapter of the day

‘Facebook’ us!

Our CHAD group has a facebook! Page (http://www.facebook.com/chad.isv). We request everyone to “facebook” us and energize others. We offer our heartfelt gratitude to Bharani Mathaji for all her assistance in making this happen. We will continue to feed our facebook page with divine messages of CHAD. Your suggestions are always welcome!

Welcome New CHAD Enthusiasts!! Please join us in welcoming following souls to our global CHAD family of approximately 200 members!. Haribol! Haribol! Haribol!

Kiran Adhikarla , Sangini Visakha DD (JPS)_ Coimbatore, Divyangi Lalita Devi das, NY, Amrutha - Bangalore, Mayur

Happy CHAD!!

With Gratitude, Your servants, The CHAD staff © chad.isv@gmail.com

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http://www.facebook.com/chad.isv