Sit Properly

Spurting Ganesha Lingham Fountain Sends Shockwaves through ISKCON

NEW YORK – For years, resin figurines of Hindu deities have adorned the houses and even altars of ISKCON devotees. While these hand painted miniatures of Siva, Laxmi and baby Krishna go unnoticed, collecting dust upon countless whatnot shelves, the most recent edition from Hindu-Tacki Collectibles has stirred undeniable controversy and, according to some, has led the the degradation of the human race.

Click here to read on…

Yesterday, I went to New York City with Sarah and a bunch of folks from the Bloomsburg art program thing. While most of them checked out the museums, Sarah and I hit the lower east side in search of four things.

1) 26 2nd Ave
2) 25 1st Ave
3) The Hare Krishna Tree
4) Doughnut Connection

We also checked out a few galleries and walked WAY too far.

Well, I figured that 26 2nd Ave would be closed, but I wanted to at least see it. I’ve never been there before. Actually, I’ve never really been to the lower east side before. I don’t care for NYC. At all.

So we went around the block to see Radha-Murlidhara (spelling?), but that was all closed up. There were some buttons to push to ring someone, but I felt weird saying “Hey, um… Haribol… I want to see the temple room.”

I took a few pics and headed to Tompkins Square Park to see the Hare Krishna Tree. At first, we couldn’t find it, but we called Rati and wandered around the weird park – it’s all fenced in everywhere. Finally, we found it. I was pretty excited. There’s even a plaque put up by the city (at the request of IRM – SHAME on ISKCON for not doing this first!).

We hung out in the park and then walked a bit to the Doughnut Planet. Doughnut Planet is a devotee-run doughnut shop. I got a glazed doughnut and it was amazing. The devotee working there, a Trinidadian-bodied devotee whose name started with “Hari-” was great. He was encouraging and a bit pushy – just how I like my Trinidadians! He told me to always remember Krishna and to never forget Krishna. It’s not always easy to remember to remember Krishna. And it’s even harder to not forget to never forget Him. Thanks!

We had some time to kill, so Sarah thought it would be a good idea to walk from 4th Street to where we were being picked up… on 51st Street. Only 50 blocks away from where we were! I figured she was joking, so said ok. But she wasn’t joking. We walked 50 blocks. Around 34th Street, my left knee gave out on me. Around 40th, my right ankle was starting to not work. But by this time, it was a great contest of endurance. New York City was waging a war of attrition on me and I’ll be damned if I was going to let it win!

After nearly 90 minutes of walking, we made it to 51st Street. I was, of course, unable to walk. I was hardly able to stand – the boots I wore weren’t made for this amount of walking. I was dead.

Thankfully, the bus came and I was able to rest up on the way home.

Overall, it was a great day. Beautiful day. I was sad that I didn’t make a arrangements to see the temples. Mostly, I just don’t want to be a bother.

Click here for more pics…

And if you like, Sarah’s…

To me, this is the Holy Grail of Kusakratha books. And what’s best is that before last week, I didn’t even know it existed! Heck, I assumed it just didn’t exist.

Check it out!

That’s right, Caitanya-bhagavata translated by Kusakratha prabhu! I’ve got a ton of his books (close to all of them).

This one was released in 1994. I’ve not started to read it just yet, but I cannot wait to rip into it. 400 pages of nectar!

A HUGE thank you to Kdd and family. They were lucky enough to get two of them and merciful enough to send one of them to me. Thank you so so much!!

New Fired-up Bhaktas Must Wait to be Placed on Payroll

SAN JOSE – The newest influx of recruits to the area Hare Krishna temple are eager and willing to do any service at all for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and the devotees. However, they’re in a holding pattern until they can be placed on the temple’s payroll.

Click here to read on…

For only a very short time, the New Vrndavana Accordion Ensemble has given The Hing permission to sell limited edition NVAE tshirts (as pictured above).

They are available in sizes S, M and L (XL is sold out).

The shirts are hand-printed on black tshirts made in America. No sweatshop nonsense here, prabhus!

All shirts are $15 ppd (postage paid). And all purchases will go through paypal.

Haribol!!

Size SMLXL

New Vrndavana Accordion Ensemble Reunites for North American Tour

NEW VRNDAVANA, WV — The New Vrndavana Accordion Ensemble announced their first tour in decades Monday at a rehearsal in the Palace Lodge as a throng of fans crowded near the legendary Palace of Gold.

The group, which led the Sunday feast program with a live performance of its hit “In Vrndavana’s Fields and Groves,” officially broke up in 1992, most of the members pursuing solo careers.

Click here to read the exciting news.

A couple of days ago, I asked the greater Vaisnava community which book I should ride with on my trip.

The first comment was by Rasa: “Nectar of Devotion, 1970 edition”! And what a treat! I have it! Nectar of Instruction was mentioned a few times as well. One person mentioned Raja-Vidya; The King of Knowledge and I remembered when I first read that.

I think it was in 1994. I thought it was the most amazing thing ever. I’m not sure that I’ve read it since then. So that wins as well.

So instead of one book, I’m taking three. Nectar of Devotion, Raja Vidya and Nectar of Instruction.

Rati and Dwija both said that I should pick Krsna Book. However, my only copies of that are the HUGE reprint editions. I used to have an original paperback from the 70’s, but for some reason I now only have Volume III. Go figure.

Science of Self Realization was also suggested once and that really is an amazing book. But I’ve read it quite a lot and wanted to venture out to books I’ve not touched in a long time.

A few folks thought the First Canto of SB would be good. And they’re definitely right. Unfortunately, I haven’t yet purchased the tiny black editions. My only copy of SB (by Prabhupada) is HUGE. I *do* have the funky Gaudia Math Bhagavatams, but for now I wanted to stick with Srila Prabhupada.

Kdd mentioned Caitanya Bhagavata by Kusakratha. I got all excited because I didn’t know he did it. I have most of his books and, to my horrible memory, never knew he did it. But I figured that if he did it, I probably had it and just didn’t remember. So this morning I tore into my boxes all neatly stacked in a corner of the room I’m staying in and what to behold… NO Kusakratha Caitanya Bhagavata.

What’s even odder is that isn’t not even mentioned in the list on the back of his books. So now I’m really curious. Kdd offered me her extra copy and I would LOVE it. I would be forever indebted to you if you’d send it to me. I’d pay shipping and/or a small donation (she offered it for free). If I can take that along with me, I totally will.

I mentioned it in one of my comments, I was really surprised that nobody mentioned Teachings of Queen Kunti. That was another one that I read long, long ago. I only have it in hardback, so that’s out anyway. Though I’m hoping to place an order with krishnastore.com before I leave. I’ll be picking up the Bhagavatam set and the paperback Queen Kunti. I wish the original edition of Teachings of Lord Caitanya was still in print. It’s paperback. I have two different hardbacks of the later edition. Too big anyway.

So there you have it. RV, NoD & NoI.

Now hopefully I’ll have time to read.

ITV Announces New DVD Series: Memories of Memories of Srila Prabhupada

After 54 volumes of the well-received Memories of Srila Prabhupada series, ITV Productions has announced that it will immediately begin production on Memories of Memories of Srila Prabhupada, a new DVD series to preserve the memories of devotees as they recall their first viewings of the Memories of Srila Prabhupada series.

“We basically ran out of devotees to interview,” said Visnupriya devi dasi, spokesperson for ITV. “The first generation of Srila Prabhupada disciples have told their story. Now it’s time for the first generation of viewers to tell theirs.”

Click here to read on…

For the devotees that don’t know, I am going on a 66 day trip, riding across the US twice – on a Vespa scooter. (You can read about it here, if you like.)

I am packing very little, but would like to take a Srila Prabhupada book with me. One of the large books would be ok (though not as large as the gita).

So, if you had your druthers, which Srila Prabhupada book would you take with you for two months of travel?

Could be a single title or even a single volume of SB or CC. Help a brother out!

Haribol! Somewhere, in the bowels of my packed up boxes, I have the newest edition of the Higher Taste Cookbook. And in that new edition there is what seems to be a pretty fantastic pasta sauce recipe.

Could someone please do me a favor and post it? I know it’s asking a lot, but I would be very grateful.

And just so we’re on the same page, this sauce is made from cans of tomato chunks or whatever, not from actual whole tomatoes.

Please? Help!

ps – and yes, if you’re wondering, I tried to make pasta sauce today and.. no go.

pps – the “no go” comment was slightly premature. still, if anyone has the recipe, that would be great.