Sit Properly

I moved to New Vrndavana in 1995 and was introduced to the term “fringie.” I was a new bhakta then, all fired up and judgmental of anyone who wasn’t. We’d talk about the fringies out on the ridge with their TVs and kids in public schools – they were practically demonized!

That is, until I got a chance to actually know them. I’d sit and listen to their stories of Olde Vrndavana, their pastimes with Srila Prabhupada, their advice on being a new devotee and making it to being an older devotee.

For me, the term “fringie” stopped being an insult. It took on more of a Hall of Fame of great devotees. A fringie isn’t just someone on the outskirts of the movement. To me, a fringie is a real devotee. He put in his time at the temple, building it from nothing, building the community, sacrificing his health, wealth and life for Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON.

When I was a new bhakta I thought, “there is no way I would ever become a fringie!” But now I see the truth. I see that there is no way that I ever could become a fringie. I am no where near as advanced as they are. I haven’t done the service they have. I haven’t had the good times, the bad times and the transcendental times they’ve had. Simply put, I am not qualified to become a fringie.

But here I find myself, poised to move back to New Vrndavana. While I’m there I will most definitely take the association of the glorious fringies on the ridge. Once again, I’ll be able to sit and listen to their stories, their pastimes and their advice. All the while knowing that I’ll never attain the glorious level of “fringie.”

My humble obeisances to you, dear fringies. All glories to your lives given up for devotional service!

Not too long ago, a devotee who doesn’t allow commenting on his blog, posted a vague story about priests falling down with nuns. His point was that male and female interaction should be restricted, lest it would lead to complete degradation of our society. But, if you look at the way women, married couples and children are treated in our society, I’d say we’re already well entrenched in our degradation. I’d like to assume he meant that this restriction should be between folks practicing celibacy (institutionalized renunciates), but that very restrictive philosophy has far-reaching effects.

For example, 1995, a year when I was dating the girl who was to become my wife (and shortly thereafter, my ex-wife). We were known for our arguments and nearly constant fighting. Definitely not a situation where you’d expect a marriage to happen naturally. And most definitely not the situation where you’d literally force a marriage to take place. Yet, that was what happened. “What would the Indians think if they saw an unmarried couple working together?” they said. We were new and foolishly did it. If we had waited, we would have been able to tell it wasn’t good. But instead, because of these restrictions, we were forced to marry and got divorced less than a year later.

At that same time, New Vrndavana’s favorite guru was playing match maker, setting up four or five couples based on whimsy, even breaking up couples who were courting of their own freewill. He said, “This is not high school! There is no dating in Krishna consciousness!” He forced these marriages and all of them failed. Most very badly. Oddly enough, the only marriage to survive from that era was one that was not arranged or forced. It was forbidden and yet the couple is still together and very well respected today.

And even if a couple somehow manages to get themselves into a normal marriage, the pressure of these restrictions doesn’t vanish. For the men, social pressures dictate that we “have” to be the head of the house, that our women, now basically our pets, know their places. If there’s too much familiarity, we’re seen as weak or yoni-whipped. If we let on that we merely like our wives, we’re looked down upon. And for the women, they must put up with neglect, abuse (emotional, physical and sexual), harassment and basically being seen as a lower species all under the glorious banner of “subservience.” And if they speak up, they’re automatically branded a feminist, a term that is looked down upon even more than “abuser.”

So I must beg to ask this Bhakta, where is the proof that this restriction plan of ours works? Where is the proof that arranged and forced marriages is a good thing? Where is the proof that the wife being subservient isn’t completely dysfunctional?

The divorce rate in ISKCON is upwards of 90%! In the “karmi world,” it is around 50%. Also, in the “karmi world,” the karmis think 50% is staggeringly high! These people we see as malechas and yavanas are trying to find ways to bring their divorce rate down. But in ISKCON it seems we’re trying to find ways at keeping a system in place that has handed us our 90% divorce rate. Nine out of ten marriages fail in ISKCON and nobody seems to be questioning why.

These are the actual results of our “restricting of the sexes” idea. This is what that policy has wrought. We have a society full of devotees who are afraid to feel, afraid to love, afraid to speak their minds, afraid to take control of their own lives (no matter how abused they are) all because we’re taught that all of that is maya, that we all have our places and if we don’t remain in our places, we’re not following Srila Prabhupada, we’re ignoring Krishna and we’re not devotees.

So please, tell me how this is working. Show me. I’ve been through this. I have many friends who have been through this. Please, show us how this is a good idea.

He ends with the question: “Do we want this [the falling down of the celibate classes] to happen in ISKCON?” My answer is “yes.” If it puts an end to this vicious cycle of abuse and neglect, the sacrificing of a few brahmacaris/inis and sanyasis is well worth it. Maybe then we could stop being so debilitatingly repressed, get out of each others bedrooms and start being devotees again.

Harikesa: But if there is no definition of Hindu, how can you prove…
Prabhupada: There is no Hindu. It is not…. Therefore we are not Hindu.
Acyutananda: Well, they’ll say, “This is our definition. This is what we say a Hindu is.”
Prabhupada: Huh?
Acyutananda: The court says, “This is what we say a Hindu is. So you’re Hindus.”
Prabhupada: No, no. And court can say anything, but then why not put it into the judgment of many judges?
Harikesa: Then we have to establish what is Hinduism…
Prabhupada: Yes.
Harikesa: …and what is Krsna consciousness.
Acyutananda: It is already established.
Prabhupada: You can define anything. That does not mean that your definition is perfect. Actually we have to…. Who…? Suppose Hindu. So who is not accepting Bhagavad-gita? But where is…? In the Bhagavad-gita where is the mention of “Hindu”? Hm? Krsna says that “I am the father of all living entities.” So why do they say that this is Hindusim?
Acyutananda: “Well, all religions say that they are the best. Jesus Christ says, ‘Everyone who comes to me, they will get the grace of God.’ So the same thing. But still they are Christians and you are Hindus.”
Prabhupada: So this cannot stay in the court. Krsna’s instruction is not for the Hindus. Nowhere it is mentioned.
Tamala Krsna: The word “Hindu” doesn’t appear in the Vedas anywhere.
Acyutananda: Then why do you use in the Krsna consciousness the Hindu caste marks, Hindus caste marks and tilakas? This is all Hinduism.
Prabhupada: No, this is not Hinduism. Appears like Hindu. Just like you appear like an Indian sannyasi, but you are not Indian.
Acyutananda: The judge is wearing a white wig and a British suit. He’s not British either.
Prabhupada: No, we are clearly stating Krsna consciousness.
Harikesa: Yes, but Krsna is a Hindu god.
Prabhupada: That is your definition. Krsna doesn’t say.

[later]

Prabhupada: We are against all so-called cheating religion. The Hinduism is also a cheating religion.

Morning Walk — January 8, 1976, Nellore [Disciples playing Devil's Advocate with Srila Prabhupada.]

I’m writing this on Friday night, it’ll post Saturday morning. Right now, the power is off in my apartment. It’s been for a few hours now. I suppose I could come up with something extremely Krishna conscious to say about that, but really, I think my heater blew a fuse, but nobody seems to know where that specific fuse might live. Is there a lesson to be learned here? I don’t think so.

Lucky for me, they fixed the radiator in my apartment. Prior to that, I only had electric heat. If they had not fixed it, I’d be one cold lil penguin.

So since I’ve got this laptop and a neighbor who is kind enough to let me borrow his internet when mine goes down, I bring to you…

KT-07 – Hare Krsna Kirtans

I don’t have the track list, that’s on my other computer – no electricity. And I don’t have a picture of the cassette itself, same reason.

Sorry for such a post. But you can still download it and enjoy it. 93 people downloaded last week’s. That’s pretty cool. Thanks!

Edit: Power still out. Tofu outside window to prevent major international incident.

Edit part two: Super majorly huge problem – more on that tomorrow. Good grief, indeed.

More Edit -

Track Listing:
1. Hare Krsna
2. Gouranga
3. Ratha-Yatra Festival
4. Jaya Radhe
5. Pralaya Prayers
6. N.Y. Aratika

It’s not everyday you find a record you’ve been looking for for five years. Last week, I found one in the Netherlands. I knew it existed, but hadn’t seen it for sale in a long, long time.

What is this? Oh it’s the Krsna Meditations double LP – All Srila Prabhupada. Pretty cool, eh? [click on thumbnails to see full view]

Here you can see it setting next to another Krsna Meditations LP, also all Srila Prabhupada. Same picture. Same cover. But the one I got is a double LP, so twice the music.

Sort of.

Both records were released by Radha Govinda Productions. The single LP is RGP #1005 (their fifth release), the double LP is #1003 (their third release).

#1005 has only two songs, Prayers to the Six Goswamis on the first side and Yasomati-nandana and Cintamani on the second.

#1003′s track list is:

Disc One – Side One
1) Prayers to the Six Goswamis

Disc One – Side Two
1) Gaura Pranam
2) Sri Krsna Caitanya Prabhu

Disc Two – Side One
1) Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna

Disc Two – Side Two
1) Yasomati-nandana
2) Cintamani

The problem is that right now I don’t have a turn table, so I don’t know if Disc One Side One and Disc Two Side Two of #1003 is the same as Side One and Side Two of #1005. But I assume it is.

Both records have the same songs and same covers. But #1003 is a Double LP, having an extra two sides of Srila Prabhupada. Also a Gatefold Sleeve:

Ok guys, before I start this, I have to ask… 65 of you have downloaded the Hamsadutta double LP. That’s a LOT. I warned you… why didn’t you listen?!

Well clearly you like punishment, so let’s round out the Hamsadutta-centric Hare Krsna Records catalog with the final installment…

HKR #1003 – Hare Krsna Festival

This is, by far, the second most available ISKCON record on Ebay, etc. Radha Krsna Temple [produced by the famous George Harrison... he was in the Beatles, you know, he gave us a house!] being the first.

However, there is naturally some weirdness about this release. Hare Krsna Records wasn’t the only label to release this. Radha Krsna Productions, also out of Germany, also released this. Why? I have no idea.

Now, just who is Radha Krsna Productions? Again, no idea. Both covers are identical, save for the address in the bottom left corner.

Radha Krsna Productions clams this to be their 4th release (RKP #1004). I have three of their other releases (1001 and 1005… 1003, a possibly a Srila Prabhupada double LP, is on the way… I don’t have and can’t find #1002).

Anyway, back to HKR #1003/RKP #1004… The aptly titled Hare Krsna Festival. Germany, where all of the Hare Krsna Festival records come from, must have been a happening place around 1974. Clearly, they were always having festivals! Every single record released by them at that time was called Hare Krsna Festival!

And yes, this once again has Hamsadutta waling and moaning throughout it. Maybe you guys like that. Never heard it? Well, here’s a fine example… (it’s really short, so even Rati & Dwija can download it!)

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

But let’s get to the record.

Side One

1) Vande Ham – Fifteen or so minutes of a nice kirtan lead by Hamsadutta. Harmonium, mrdanga and kartals. The assembled devotees and Hamsadutta’s own improvisation accompany him.

Side Two

1) Tulasi Prayer – Led by a female, probably Hamsadutta’s wife, Himavati. This is the same exact recording that was on the Hare Krsna Festival 7″ HKR #2001.

2) Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna – Led by Hamsadutta. This is the same exact recording that was on the Hare Krsna Festival 7″ HKR #2003.

3) Vande Ham – Led by Hamsadutta. And this is the same exact recording that was on the Hare Krsna Festival 7″ HKR #2002.

Side two of this LP is just a rehashing of stuff that was released on 7″‘s. Side one, however, seems to be a new recording. You really have to question what was going through their bald little heads while releasing these records. Also notice, on the label, how Hamsadutta has credited himself with writing all of the songs. “Hans Kary”… pretty bold, eh?

Ok, So that does it for the entire Hare Krsna Records label. A label dedicated to preserving the moaning and waling of Hamsadutta das for generations to come.

If you’re curious (and I know you are), here’s a rundown of their catalog:

Hare Krsna Records
12″ LPs
- 1001 – Hare Krsna Festival
- 1002 – Hare Krsna Festival Part II
- 1003 – Hare Krsna Festival
- 1004 – The Beautiful Hare Krsna People Double LP (Rereleased #1001 & #1002)
7″ Singles
- 2001 – Hare Krsna Festival
- 2002 – Hare Krsna Festival
- 2003 – Hare Krsna Festival Amsterdam

You’ve made it this far, I guess I better give you the link so you can download it.

And for next Ekadasi, I promise, no more Hamsadutta, ok?

It’s the debate to end all debates! The dastardly clicker vs. beads argument. Sure, everyone agrees that chanting our rounds on a strand of 108 tulasi beads is the best, but what of the (much needed?) alternatives?

Most have turned to “the clicker.”

The Clicker is nothing more than an inventory counter. With each mantra chanted you “click” the button and it adds another number to the tally. It’s fairly controversial and many argue that it’s only used when you need to do other things while chanting, which makes the chanting pretty well pointless, so why bother anyway?

Recently, the Japa Group posted a piece about a clicker alternative. They suggest using a bracelet of 27 beads to “hide” your japa from the prying eyes of the abhorrent public.

These are available from Krishna.com and I’m sure would do the trick.

However, I’m bad with numbers and this method requires a LOT of keeping track. If only there was something small with 108 beads that I could shove in my pocket or wear as a bracelet! If only! But now, thanks to my wonderful friend, Ryan, there is!

Ryan makes Orthodox prayer ropes, a length of rope, where the knots form “beads.” He offered to make one that replicated a standard strand of 108 beads.

These “beads” are great!

Easily roll in a ball for quick hiding action!

And if you like…

It’s the perfect necklace!

…or bracelet!

So you can see, the Orthodox Prayer Rope is a wonderful addition to any japa chanter’s arsenal. And is it truly good for chanting? Boy howdy it is!

Big thanks to Ryan who thrilled the heck out of me with this gift. He’s a great guy.

We were standing in her kitchen when she offered me the choice of “teaspoon or tablespoon” with which to eat my chili. I really wanted a fork, but since it was not offered, I let her decide which spoon to give. I’ve never eaten chili with a spoon.

“They don’t really use forks in temples,” she said several days later. She was laughing at my near disdain of spoons.

“What do you mean they don’t use forks? I’ve been to festivals and feasts and lived in the ashram, we use forks,” I countered, not really sure if any of that was true. But it had to be true. I would have noticed if I hadn’t used forks, right?

But she said, “I’ve never seen forks at any temple or any festival.”

“Columbus had them. I remember that.” I wasn’t sure if it was a memory or if I was now injecting my own interpretation of truth onto the past.

“Well, maybe Columbus.” She conceded. But I still wasn’t sure. “When I first joined up, I was told that we didn’t use forks because forks were for stabbing meat.”

I wasn’t told anything of the sort when I first joined up. “I joined in Philly and we had forks. Or… at least, I don’t remember missing them.” I wasn’t sure now.

“Yeah, but Philly was always the cushy temple. They had everything.” At this point, she was chuckling over my ideas of austerity. She served three years in Vrndavana, India eating with her hands off leaves sewn together. Philly was Club Med to that.

“Hey now, we didn’t have hot water in the ashram in Philly…. What do you mean, we can’t have forks? I’ve seen forks all over the place!”

But then it occurred to me that I hadn’t. Somehow, I had never noticed that at festivals, we never handed out forks. I remember thinking that all the temples were too cheap to buy forks. I found it nearly impossible that I had missed this regulation. We have many, but wouldn’t this one stick out?

“Nobody ever told me about this!” We were both laughing at the sheer absurdity of it all. “Nobody ever took the opportunity to yell at me about using my fork. It’s not like devotee to pass up such a thing.”

“Oh Eric, you are so suburban.” She was practically choking on fits of giggles. We both were. But she meant it and was probably right. I am suburban. I never lived in a temple for very long. I have never been to India. She knows austerity and talked about trying to eat spaghetti with her fingers and ice cream without a spoon. I’ve always had it pretty good, what with the forks and all.

-

Curiosity gathered the best of me and finally, I looked it up. Was it really forbidden in Vaisnava etiquette to use forks?

No. Of course it isn’t. It’s a cultural thing. In India, forks are rarely needed. Most things can be eaten with a spoon or even a piece of bread used as a small shovel. Srila Prabhupada would joke about his godbrother, Bon Maharaja and how he wore a suit and could eat with a knife and fork. Prabhupada never did. Again, cultural.

He did, however, understand that westerners, though perhaps not devotees, commonly used forks, suggesting that the Mayor of Evanston be given a fork with which to something (July 4, 1975). It was mentioned as a courtesy in passing.

Generally, it seems, forks are not used. Probably not needed. It seems to be a cultural thing. I am fairly certain that my use of a fork to eat chili will not be a factor in determining my going back to Godhead.

-

Has anyone more information on this?

Hola, fellow Kritters! Welcome to Saturday.

Today is the day for KT-6.

Now, before I start in on this, I want to thank the devotees who have done some research on the subject of tapes. I’m interested in the tapes, but not as much as records, so I don’t really pay too much attention. It seems like the KT series extends to number 26. I thought it was only 20.

According to Atmananda prabhu, the KT series continues…
KT-21 Resevior of Pleasure – Rksaraja
KT-22 Nama Hatta Band
KT-23 Bhakti Rasa – Agnideva
KT-24 Ancient Hymns
KT-25 well we have 2 for this spot
KT-26 Tribute to Prabhupada – Agnideva

For KT-25, he’s got a Srila Prabhupada tape and something else, but I’m not quite sure what. There’s also a “Live at Sweetwaters” tape, but I don’t know what that’s from. Maybe KT-25? The tapes are confusing. There are other series as well. Why doesn’t the archives at least keep track of these? If you want them to copy them to CD for you, it’s $20 per hour of music. That’s a lot.

So here, I’ve done 1-20 for you. This is #6. If anyone else would like to do 21 – 26 or any of the other series, that would be great. Your only reward will be a pat on the back, which you will have to administer yourself, which is still better than a slap on the belly with a wet trout.

KT-6 Hare Krishna Kirtans – Baradraja dasa (New York)

Click here to download.

1) Hare Krishna Kirtan
2) Nrsimha Prayers
3) Nama-sankirtana
4) Hare Krishna Kirtan

Some caveats: The sound quality isn’t great. These are from old tapes recorded by devotees. Quality wasn’t a priority. Also, they’re MP3s encoded at 128kbs – not the highest quality. But listenable.

Here’s a list of all the tapes…