Welcome to TiddlyWiki created by Jeremy Ruston, Copyright © 2007 UnaMesa Association
Prabhupada advised that those who are leaders in ISKCON have to know how to bend men without breaking them or making them angry. After all, he said, it is all voluntary service.\n\n* SiteTitle & SiteSubtitle\n* MainMenu\n* DefaultTiddlers\n\nFAST GO TO\n<<gotoTiddler>>\n<<tabs txtFavourite\n"Tab #1" "Priority 1" "On Health"\n"Tab #2" "Priority 2" "On Reading"\n"Tab #3" "Priority 3" "On Flying"\n>>\n\n\n\n
version.extensions.tagCloud = {major: 1, minor: 0 , revision: 1, date: new Date(2005,8,16)};\n//Created by Clint Checketts, contributions by Jonny Leroy and Eric Shulman\n\nconfig.macros.tagCloud = {\n noTags: "No tag cloud created because there are no tags.",\n tooltip: "%1 tiddlers tagged with '%0'"\n};\n\nconfig.macros.tagCloud.handler = function(place,macroName,params) {\n \nvar tagCloudWrapper = createTiddlyElement(place,"div",null,"tagCloud",null);\n\nvar tags = store.getTags();\nfor (t=0; t<tags.length; t++) {\n for (p=0;p<params.length; p++) if (tags[t][0] == params[p]) tags[t][0] = "";\n}\n\n if(tags.length == 0) \n createTiddlyElement(tagCloudWrapper,"span",null,null,this.noTags);\n //Findout the maximum number of tags\n var mostTags = 0;\n for (t=0; t<tags.length; t++) if (tags[t][0].length > 0){\n if (tags[t][1] > mostTags) mostTags = tags[t][1];\n }\n //divide the mostTags into 4 segments for the 4 different tagCloud sizes\n var tagSegment = mostTags / 4;\n\n for (t=0; t<tags.length; t++) if (tags[t][0].length > 0){\n var tagCloudElement = createTiddlyElement(tagCloudWrapper,"span",null,null,null);\n tagCloudWrapper.appendChild(document.createTextNode(" "));\n var theTag = createTiddlyButton(tagCloudElement,tags[t][0],this.tooltip.format(tags[t]),onClickTag,"tagCloudtag tagCloud" + (Math.round(tags[t][1]/tagSegment)+1));\n theTag.setAttribute("tag",tags[t][0]);\n }\n\n};\n\nsetStylesheet(".tagCloud span{height: 1.8em;margin: 3px;}.tagCloud1{font-size: 1.2em;}.tagCloud2{font-size: 1.4em;}.tagCloud3{font-size: 1.6em;}.tagCloud4{font-size: 1.8em;}.tagCloud5{font-size: 1.8em;font-weight: bold;}","tagCloudsStyles");
Type the text for 'New Tiddler'
Welcome
<<tagCloud>>
Q: In term so modern scientific reasoning, it can be explained that matter or substance is essentially mankind and all the material worlds. Gravity, which is related to matter is essentially the power of God. Gravity is omnipotent, omnipresent and omnivalent. So in my scientific opinion, I believe, that God and gravitation are synonymous. Could you comment?\n\nA: The Vedic opinion, although also scientific, is slightly different. The Vedic science operates under opposite paradigm from the modern science: it is God-centered, whereas the modern science tries to explain away God. If we are to judge by the results, the modern science tends to aggravate the problems rather than to solve them.\n\nMankind, or human being, is composed not only of matter (body) as you say but also of an immaterial substance (jiva, sometimes called "soul", but this term is not precisely defined in Western philosophies/theologies). This substance is us, or "I", whereas the material body we call "ours". To understand their difference is the first step in Vedic education.\n\nYes, gravitation is a power of God and thus it is different from God. According to the Vedic view, sakti (energy) and saktiman (source of energy) are both different and non-different. Example often given is that of milk: milk is the energy of cow, thus in one sense it is non-different from cow; in other sense it is not the cow. Milk depends on the cow - there is no milk without a cow but there are cows without milk. So shakti is subordinate to its source.\n\nGravitation is one of the energies of God. If we speak about the law of gravitation, then there must naturally be a lawmaker. To claim that something appears by chance or out of nothing is unscientific. It cannot be demonstrated or proven. In this case the lawmaker is God Himself, the Supreme Person (Purusottama).\n\nBhagavata Purana (Srimad Bhagavatam) 3.13.42:\n\nO Lord, for the residential purposes of all inhabitants, both moving and nonmoving, this earth is Your wife, and You are the supreme father. We offer our respectful obeisances unto You, along with mother earth, in whom You have invested Your own potency, just as an expert sacrificer puts fire in the arani wood.\n\nPurport:\n\nThe so-called law of gravitation which sustains the planets is described herein as the potency of the Lord. This potency is invested by the Lord in the way that an expert sacrificial brahmana puts fire in the arani wood by the potency of Vedic mantras. By this arrangement the world becomes habitable for both the moving and nonmoving creatures. The conditioned souls, who are residents of the material world, are put in the womb of mother earth in the same way the seed of a child is put by the father in the womb of the mother. This conception of the Lord and the earth as father and mother is explained in Bhagavad-gita (14.4). Conditioned souls are devoted to the motherland in which they take their birth, but they do not know their father. The mother is not independent in producing children. Similarly, material nature cannot produce living creatures unless in contact with the supreme father, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Srimad-Bhagavatam teaches us to offer obeisances unto the mother along with the Father, the Supreme Lord, because it is the Father only who impregnates the mother with all energies for the sustenance and maintenance of all living beings, both moving and nonmoving.
5. Madhvacarya\n\nHe was born in a Sivanni brahmana class family in the Pajakaksetra of Udupi village in the year 1040 Saka. His parents were Sri Madhyageha Bhatta and Srimati Vedavidya. His childhood name was Vasudeva. At the age of twelve he was initiated by Acyutapreksa. His sannyasa name was Purnaprajna.\n\nHe obtained the Deity of Udupi Krsna (Nrtya Gopala) from a boat full of gopi-candana. The Deity is holding a curd-making stick in one hand and a string, used for pasting curd, in the other hand. Though the Deity was very heavy, Madhvacarya carried it alone from Vadabhandesvara.\n\nThe following are the names\nof the eight Udupi Mathas and their main heads:\n\n 1. Palimara - Sri Hrsikesa Tirtha\n 2. Adamara - Narahari\n 3. Krsnapura - Janardana\n 4. Puttige - Upendra\n 5. Siruru - Vamana\n 6. Sode - Visnu\n 7. Kanuru - Srirama\n 8. Pejavara - Adhoksaja\n\nThe following are the names of the Deities in the above mentioned maths respectively: Sri Ramacandra, Sri Krsna, Caturbhuja Kaliya-mardana Sri Krsna, Vitthaladeva, Vitthaladeva, Bhuvaraha deva, Nrsimha deva, and Vitthala deva. In the Sri Krsna matha there is a Deity of Balakrsna, installed by Madhvacarya.\n\nThe following are books written by Madhvacarya:\n\n 1. Gitabhasya\n 2. Brahma Sutrabhasya\n 3. Anubhasya 4. Pramana-laksana\n 5. Tattva-viveka 6. Rigbhasya\n 7. Upanisada bhasya\n 8. Gita Tatparya Nirnaya\n 9. Dvadasa Stotryas\n 10. Sri Krsnamaharnava\n 11. Srimadbhagavata Tatparya\n 12. Sri Mahabharata Tatparyanirnaya\n 13. Sri Krsna Stuti\n\nThe major works of Madhvacarya are his commentaries on the Brahmasutras, Upanisads, and the Bhagavad-gita. Most of his thirty-four works are philosophical, although there are a few poems and devotional compositions. Yamaka Bharata is a poem narrating the story of Mahabharata in Yamaka verse. Bharata Tatparya Nirnaya are his learned critiques on the Bhagavata and the Mahabharata. He was also wrote commentaries on some hymns in the Rg Veda. He relied heavily on evidence from the Puranas, rather than on the Vedic texts or logic. (An Encyclopedia of South Indian Culture, pp. 278-279)
Sri Raghunatha dasa took his birth in the village of Sri Krsnapura in the district of Hooghly. His father's name was Sri Govardhana, whose elder brother was Sri Hiranya dasa. Both of them were respectable wealthy land-holders belonging to the Kayastha caste. Their title, which was given by the King, was "Majumdar".\n\nIn his childhood Sri Raghunatha dasa studied at the house of the priest, Acarya Sri Balarama dasa. Haridasa Thakura was very merciful to Balarama dasa and occasionally visited his house. At these times Raghunatha dasa had the good fortune of relishing Thakura Haridasa's association and listened to philosophical discourses from him.\n\nSri Raghunatha dasa was the only son in the family of Hiranya and Govardhana and there was no limit to the care and affection which was showered upon him. Though he was brought up just like the son of a king, by the powerful influence of saintly devotees, he realized at a very young age that material existence is temporary and a mood of detachment towards wealth, parents and relatives began to grow within him.\n\nUpon hearing the glories of Sri Gauranga and Nityananda, he became extremely eager to have darsana of Their lotus feet. When he heard that Sri Gaurasundara had taken sannyasa and was leaving Nadia forever, he rushed madly to the home of Advaita Acarya in Santipura to meet the Lord. Seeing Raghunatha fall at His feet, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu could understand that this was His dearmost eternal associate, and He embraced Raghunatha firmly. Crying, Sri Raghunatha appealed to the Lord, "I will also go with you." But the Lord replied that He would not take him along at that time, yet upon His return from Vrndavana, Raghunatha should, under any pretext, come to Nilacala to see Him.\n\nIn CC Antya lila, Sixth Chapter, there is a narration of how Sri Raghunatha dasa was arrested by the Nawab's men and his subsequent release from the bondage of family life. In that chapter there is also a description of the Panihati festival, as well as Raghunatha's pastimes in Jagannatha Puri with Sri Gaurasundara.\n\nSri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami passed his days in the highest happiness, continually bathing in the shower of Mahaprabhu's mercy. But upon the disappearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Raghunatha's world grew dark. In separation from their Lord, the devotees' hearts burned with anguish. Raghunatha dasa also burned in that fire of separation, but taking the order of Mahaprabhu on his head, he went to Sri Vrndavana. Previously Sri Sanatana, Sri Rupa, Sri Gopala Bhatta, Sri Raghunatha Bhatta, Sri Lokanatha, Sri Kasisvara, and Sri Bhugarbha Gosvami had already gone to Vrndavana and were living there by the order of the Lord. Though they all burned in the fire of separation, they pacified themselves by gathering together and discussing and writing the conclusions of the teaching of Mahaprabhu. It was the dawn of a golden age in Vraja. Sri Vallabha Acarya also visited Vrndavana at that time.\n\nSri Raghunatha used to reside at Sri Radhakunda. At that time Radhakunda had not yet been excavated, though Raghunatha often meditated upon how to beautify the kunda. Once a wealthy merchant walked the long, difficult road to Sri Badarikasrama. With great devotion he worshiped Sri Badarinarayana and offered a large portion of his wealth in charity. That night Sri Badarinarayana appeared to him in a dream and said, "You should go to the village near Vraja named Arit-grama where you will find my devotee, Sri Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. To him you should deliver all your wealth. If he refuses to accept it, tell him I sent you and remind him about restoring Radhakunda." The merchant happily returned to his home and then went on to Vraja where he met Sri Raghunatha and explained everything to him. Astonished, Raghunatha gave him permission to restore both Radhakunda and Syamakunda.\n\nOn the banks of the kunda grew five trees, which were actually the five Pandavas. Once there was some talk of cutting the trees down, but that night the Pandavas appeared to Raghunatha and forbade the trees to be cut. To this day the trees still grow there. The devotees were overwhelmed with happiness to see the restoration of Sri Radhakunda and Sri Syamakunda. On the outskirts of these two ponds, groves of the Asta-sakhis were planted.\n\nRaghunatha did not have a fixed residence, but stayed either on the banks of Sri Radhakunda or on the banks of the Manasa Ganga. At that time both places were surrounded by a fearful jungle inhabited by ferocious tigers and other wild beasts. One day Sri Sanatana Gosvami arrived at the bhajan kutir of Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami on the banks of the Manasa Ganga where he would take his midday meal. When going for a bath at Pavan Ghat he saw a tiger very nearby who had just drunk water in the ghat. Just a little further on, Raghunatha dasa sat at the base of a tree deeply absorbed in his bhajan. Sanatana Gosvami was alarmed and requested Raghunatha to practice bhajan in a cottage or hut. From that day on Raghunatha performed his bhajan in his hut.\n\nRaghunatha dasa Gosvami was always engaged in worshiping Sri Radha-Govinda within his mind. One day, in his meditation he prepared and offered sweet-rice to Sri Radha and Krsna. In great happiness They and the gopis ate the sweet rice, and he accepted Their remnants. While he was honoring their Lordship's prasada, he was filled with intense love and ate slightly more than what he was accustomed to. The next day, from morning until late afternoon his door remained closed, causing the devotees some concern. After they knocked repeatedly on his door, it finally opened and they saw him lying down. "My health is not good," he explained to Sridasa. The devotees were unhappy and immediately sent word to Sanatana Gosvami in Mathura. At that time Sri Sanatana was staying at the house of Vallabha Acarya. Upon hearing the news, Vallabhacarya's son, Sri Viththal, sent two doctors to see Raghunatha dasa at Radha-kunda.\n\nSeeing his condition the physicians insisted that Raghunatha's illness was the result of eating too much sweet rice. The devotee were dumbfounded by such a suggestion, but eventually understood the mystery. The worship of Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was very wonderful.\n\nKavi Karnapura has written in Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (186) that Sri Raghunatha was Rasamanjari in Krsna lila. According to some other persons he was Ratimanjari or Bhanumati.\n\nRaghunatha dasa wrote many books such as: Stavavali, Danacarita, Muktacarita, etc. He also composed many padas. He was born in the Saka era of 1428 and left the world in the Saka era of 1504, on the twelfth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Asvina. (CC 1.10.91-102, 3.6.35-154, Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika 186, Premavilasa 16.127)\n\nHis name has been mentioned in the following texts: Vaisnava Vandana of Jiva Gosvami (149-150), of Devakinandana (55), and of Vrndavanadasa (49); Krsnacaitanyacaritam of Murari Gupta 4.17.21; Karnapura's Caitanya Candrodaya Nataka 10.3.; CC (R.G. Nath ed.) 2.1.269.
/***\n\n''Inspired by [[TiddlyPom|http://www.warwick.ac.uk/~tuspam/tiddlypom.html]]''\n\n|Name|SplashScreenPlugin|\n|Created by|SaqImtiaz|\n|Location|http://lewcid.googlepages.com/lewcid.html#SplashScreenPlugin|\n|Version|0.21 |\n|Requires|~TW2.08+|\n!Description:\nProvides a simple splash screen that is visible while the TW is loading.\n\n!Installation\nCopy the source text of this tiddler to your TW in a new tiddler, tag it with systemConfig and save and reload. The SplashScreen will now be installed and will be visible the next time you reload your TW.\n\n!Customizing\nOnce the SplashScreen has been installed and you have reloaded your TW, the splash screen html will be present in the MarkupPreHead tiddler. You can edit it and customize to your needs.\n\n!History\n* 20-07-06 : version 0.21, modified to hide contentWrapper while SplashScreen is displayed.\n* 26-06-06 : version 0.2, first release\n\n!Code\n***/\n//{{{\nvar old_lewcid_splash_restart=restart;\n\nrestart = function()\n{ if (document.getElementById("SplashScreen"))\n document.getElementById("SplashScreen").style.display = "none";\n if (document.getElementById("contentWrapper"))\n document.getElementById("contentWrapper").style.display = "block";\n \n old_lewcid_splash_restart();\n \n if (splashScreenInstall)\n {if(config.options.chkAutoSave)\n {saveChanges();}\n displayMessage("TW SplashScreen has been installed, please save and refresh your TW.");\n }\n}\n\n\nvar oldText = store.getTiddlerText("MarkupPreHead");\nif (oldText.indexOf("SplashScreen")==-1)\n {var siteTitle = store.getTiddlerText("SiteTitle");\n var splasher='\sn\sn<style type="text/css">#contentWrapper {display:none;}</style><div id="SplashScreen" style="border: 3px solid #ccc; display: block; text-align: center; width: 320px; margin: 100px auto; padding: 50px; color:#000; font-size: 28px; font-family:Tahoma; background-color:#eee;"><b>'+siteTitle +'</b> is loading<blink> ...</blink><br><br><span style="font-size: 14px; color:red;">Requires Javascript.</span></div>';\n if (! store.tiddlerExists("MarkupPreHead"))\n {var myTiddler = store.createTiddler("MarkupPreHead");}\n else\n {var myTiddler = store.getTiddler("MarkupPreHead");}\n myTiddler.set(myTiddler.title,oldText+splasher,config.options.txtUserName,null,null);\n store.setDirty(true);\n var splashScreenInstall = true;\n}\n//}}}
Modern materialistic science is not sure about the origin and nature of most psychic phenomena including dreams. This information can be found in Vedic scriptures.\n\nSrimad Bhagavatam 6.16.53-54, 7.7.25 or 7.15.61 describes three material states of consciousness:\n\n 1. jagrata, awakened state (beta, 14 - 20 Hz)\n 2. svapna, dreaming state (alfa, 7 - 14 Hz)\n 3. susupti, deep sleep (theta, 4 - 7 Hz)\n\nBeyond them is the fourth state (turya) which is non-material (SB 6.5.12, 7.9.32, 7,15.54). On this level the Supreme Lord can be perceived. Gaudiya Vaisnavas describe another, fifth state (turyatitah), dimension of love between the jiva and Krsna.\n\nWhat follows are paraphrases of Vedanta-sutra (by Suhotra Prabhu) and corresponding Srimad Bhagavatam verses:\n\nDreams are created by the Supersoul to award the living entity with the results of insignificant karma. (Vs 3.2.1) SB 6.16.55\n\nThe Supersoul causes objects of desire to appear in dreams as they do in other situations (e.g. the waking state). (Vs 3.2.2) SB 11.13.32\n\nDreams are features of the Supreme Lord's maya. (Vs 3.2.3) SB 11.13.33\n\nSome dreams are omens; sastra and experts so declare. (Vs 3.2.4) SB 10.42.26-27\n\nObjection: When one awakes from dreaming, he knows that his dreams were unreal. Therefore no value should be imparted to dreams.\n\nReply: The manifestation and the withdrawal of the dream world within the consciousness of the living entity is effected by the Lord. In the same way, bondage and liberation proceed from him also. (Vs 3.2.5) SB 3.7.10-12\n\nThe state in which consciousness is focused on the physical body (the waking state) is created by the Supreme Lord. (Vs 3.2.6) SB 6.16.53-54\n\nDifferent statements in the Upanisads indicate that deep sleep is the result of the soul entering 1) the nadis (subtle channels that pervade the body from the center of the heart), 2) the pericardium, or 3) the Supersoul. The resolution is that the soul sleeps within the bed of the Supersoul, after having entered the palace (the pericardium) through the door of the nadis. (Vs 3.2.7) SB 11.3.35, 1.10.21\n\nBecause the Supersoul is the resting place of the soul in deep sleep, it is the Supersoul alone who awakens the sleeping soul. (Vs 3.2.8) SB 3.26.71\n\n[Koran 6.60: "And He is it who takes your souls at night (in sleep), and He who knows what you acquire in the day (...)."]\n\nWhen the living entity awakes from deep sleep, he is the same person. This is certain because of four proofs: 1) the living entity continues his unfinished karma, 2) he retains memory of his identity, 3) the scriptures so describe him as returning to the same body, and 4) he is bound by the scriptural injunctions (i.e. it is enjoined that the jiva cannot attain liberation while in the state of deep sleep, so he is obliged by sastra to return to the body from that state). (Vs 3.2.9) SB 11.3.39, 11.13.27,28\n\nThe state of swoon (mugdha) is midway between deep sleep and wakefulness. That is to say, the soul partially attains rest in the Supersoul. (Vs 3.2.10) SB 7.13.5\n\nInterpretation of dreams can be found for example in Agni Purana, ch. 229.\n\nSome dreams are produced by ghosts (Garuda Purana 2.23.1-12):\n\nGaruda said:\n\n 1. What do the ghosts do in their ghosthood? When do they speak sometime? Please tell me, o Lord of gods!\n\nThe Lord said:\n\n 2. I shall tell you about their form, signs and dreams. Being oppressed by hunger and thirst they enter their former home.\n 3. Though possessed of airy forms, they give signs to their sleeping descendants, o bird.\n 4. They visit the place where their sons, wives and relatives sleep.\n 5. If a person dreams of a horse, an elephant, a bull, or a man with deformed\n face, if a person awakened from sleep sees himself in the opposite side of the bed, this is all due to the workings of a ghost.\n 6. If a man is fastened with chains in dream, if his dead ancestors demand food in dream,\n 7. If one snatches the food from him while he is eating in dream, if thirsty, one drinks water,\n 8. If in dream one rides a bull or moves with bulls or if one springs up in the sky or goes to a holy place hungry,\n 9.-10. If one speaks aloud among cows, bulls, brahmanas, horses, elephants, deities, ghosts and demons - this is due to the working of a ghosts. Many are the signs of ghosts in dream, o bird. It is due to a ghost if one sees his wife, relative, son or husband as dead.\n 11. He who begs in dream oppressed by hunger or thirst should give pindas to the manes to ward off coming distress.\n 12. If one sees in dream his son, cattle, father, brother, wife, getting out of house, it is due to the working of a ghost.\n
/***\n|Name|GotoPlugin|\n|Source|http://www.TiddlyTools.com/#GotoPlugin|\n|Version|1.4.0|\n|Author|Eric Shulman - ELS Design Studios|\n|License|http://www.TiddlyTools.com/#LegalStatements <<br>>and [[Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License|http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/]]|\n|~CoreVersion|2.1|\n|Type|plugin|\n|Requires||\n|Overrides||\n|Description|view any tiddler by entering it's title - displays list of possible matches|\n\n''View a tiddler by typing its title and pressing //enter//.'' Input just enough to uniquely match a single tiddler title and ''press //enter// to auto-complete the title for you!!'' If multiple titles match your input, a list is displayed. You can scroll-and-click (or use arrows+enter) to select/view a tiddler, or press //escape// to close the listbox to resume typing. When the listbox is ''//not//'' being displayed, press //escape// to clear the current text input and start over.\n\nNote: ''At any time, you can move the focus directly to the text input field by using the ~ALT-G keyboard shortcut.''\n!!!!!Examples\n<<<\n| //IMPORTANT NOTE:// ''As of version 1.4.0 (2007.04.25), the {{{<<goto>>}}} macro has been renamed to {{{<<gotoTiddler>>}}}'' |\nsyntax: {{{<<gotoTiddler quiet insert inputstyle liststyle>>}}}\nAll parameters are optional.\n* ''quiet'' prevents //automatic// display of the list as each character is typed. To view the list when ''quiet'', use //down// or //enter//.\n* ''insert'' causes the selected tiddler title to be inserted into the tiddler source currently being edited (use with EditTemplate)\n* ''inputstyle'' and ''liststyle'' are CSS declarations that modify the default input and listbox styles. Note: styles containing spaces must be surrounded by ({{{"..."}}} or {{{'...'}}}) or ({{{[[...]]}}}).\n{{{<<gotoTiddler>>}}}\n<<gotoTiddler>>\n{{{<<gotoTiddler quiet>>}}}\n<<gotoTiddler quiet>>\n{{{<<goto width:20em width:20em>>}}}\n<<gotoTiddler width:20em width:20em>>\n\nYou can also invoke the macro with the "insert" keyword. When used in the [[EditTemplate]], like this:\n{{{\n<span macro="gotoTiddler insert"></span>\n}}}\nit allows you to type/select a tiddler title, and instantly insert a link to that title (e.g. {{{[[TiddlerName]]}}}) into the tiddler source being edited.\n<<<\n!!!!!Configuration\n<<<\nThe following ~TiddlyWiki search options (see AdvancedOptions) are applied when matching tiddler titles:\n><<option chkRegExpSearch>> use regular expressions (text patterns)\n><<option chkCaseSensitiveSearch>> use case sensitive matching\nYou can also create a tiddler tagged with <<tag systemConfig>> to control listing of tiddlers/shadows/tags, as well as the maximum height of the listbox. //The default values are shown below://\n//{{{\nconfig.macros.gotoTiddler.includeTiddlers=true;\nconfig.macros.gotoTiddler.includeShadows=true;\nconfig.macros.gotoTiddler.includeTags=true;\nconfig.macros.gotoTiddler.listMaxSize=10;\n//}}}\n<<<\n!!!!!Installation\n<<<\nimport (or copy/paste) the following tiddlers into your document:\n''GotoPlugin'' (tagged with <<tag systemConfig>>)\n<<<\n!!!!!Revisions\n<<<\n''2007.04.25 [1.4.0]'' renamed macro from "goto" to "gotoTiddler". This was necessary to avoid a fatal syntax error in Opera (and other browsers) that require strict adherence to ECMAScript 1.5 standards which defines the identifier "goto" as "reserved for FUTURE USE"... *sigh*\n''2007.04.21 [1.3.2]'' in html definition, removed DIV around droplist (see 1.2.6 below). It created more layout problems then it solved. :-(\n''2007.04.01 [1.3.1]'' in processItem(), ensure that correct textarea field is found by checking for edit=="text" attribute\n''2007.03.30 [1.3.0]'' tweak SideBarOptions shadow to automatically add {{{<<goto>>}}} when using default sidebar content\n''2007.03.30 [1.2.6]'' in html definition, added DIV around droplist to fix IE problem where list appears next to input field instead of below it. \n''2007.03.28 [1.2.5]'' in processItem(), set focus to text area before setting selection (needed for IE to get correct selection 'range')\n''2007.03.28 [1.2.4]'' added prompt for 'pretty text' when inserting a link into tiddler content\n''2007.03.28 [1.2.3]'' added local copy of core replaceSelection() and modified for different replace logic\n''2007.03.27 [1.2.2]'' in processItem(), use story.getTiddlerField() to retrieve textarea control\n''2007.03.26 [1.2.1]'' in html, use either 'onkeydown' (IE) or 'onkeypress' (Moz) event to process <esc> key sooner, to prevent <esc> from 'bubbling up' to the tiddler (which will close the current editor).\n''2007.03.26 [1.2.0]'' added support for optional "insert" keyword param. When used in [[EditTemplate]], (e.g. {{{<span macro="goto insert"></span>}}}) it triggers alternative processing: instead of displaying the selected tiddler, that tiddler's title is inserted into a tiddler's textarea edit field surrounded by {{{[[...]]}}}.\n''2006.05.10 [1.1.2]'' when filling listbox, set selection to 'heading' item... auto-select first tiddler title when down/enter moves focus into listbox\n''2006.05.08 [1.1.1]'' added accesskey ("G") to input field html (also set when field gets focus). Also, inputKeyHandler() skips non-printing/non-editing keys. \n''2006.05.08 [1.1.0]'' added heading to listbox for better feedback (also avoids problems with 1-line droplist)\n''2006.05.07 [1.0.0]'' list matches against tiddlers/shadows/tags. input field auto-completion... 1st enter=complete matching input (or show list)... 2nd enter=view tiddler. optional "quiet" param controls when listbox appears.\n''2006.05.06 [0.5.0]'' added handling for enter (13), escape(27), and down(40) keys. Change 'ondblclick' to 'onclick' for list handler to view tiddlers (suggested by Florian Cauvin - prevents unintended trigger of tiddler editor). shadow titles inserted into list instead of appended to the end.\n''2006.05.05 [0.0.0]'' started\n<<<\n!!!!!Credits\n>This feature was developed by EricShulman from [[ELS Design Studios|http:/www.elsdesign.com]]\n!!!!!Code\n***/\n//{{{\nversion.extensions.gotoTiddler = {major: 1, minor: 4, revision: 0, date: new Date(2007,4,25)};\n\n// automatically tweak shadow SideBarOptions to add "sendTiddler" toolbar command (following "editTiddler")\nconfig.shadowTiddlers.SideBarOptions=config.shadowTiddlers.SideBarOptions.replace(/<<search>>/,"{{button{goto}}}\sn<<gotoTiddler>><<search>>");\n\nconfig.macros.gotoTiddler= { \n handler:\n function(place,macroName,params) {\n var quiet=(params[0] && params[0]=="quiet"); if (quiet) params.shift();\n var insert=(params[0] && params[0]=="insert"); if (insert) params.shift();\n var instyle=params.shift(); if (!instyle) instyle="";\n var liststyle=params.shift(); if (!liststyle) liststyle="";\n var keyevent=window.event?"onkeydown":"onkeypress";\n createTiddlyElement(place,"span").innerHTML\n =this.html.replace(/%keyevent%/g,keyevent).replace(/%insert%/g,insert).replace(/%quiet%/g,quiet).replace(/%instyle%/g,instyle).replace(/%liststyle%/g,liststyle);\n },\n\n html:\n '<form onsubmit="return false" style="display:inline;margin:0;padding:0">\s\n <input name=gotoTiddler type=text autocomplete="off" accesskey="G" style="%instyle%"\s\n title="enter a tiddler title"\s\n onfocus="this.select(); this.setAttribute(\s'accesskey\s',\s'G\s');"\s\n %keyevent%="return config.macros.gotoTiddler.inputEscKeyHandler(event,this,this.form.list);"\s\n onkeyup="return config.macros.gotoTiddler.inputKeyHandler(event,this,this.form.list,%quiet%,%insert%);">\s\n <select name=list style="%liststyle%;display:none;position:absolute"\s\n onchange="if (!this.selectedIndex) this.selectedIndex=1;"\s\n onblur="this.style.display=\s'none\s';"\s\n %keyevent%="return config.macros.gotoTiddler.selectKeyHandler(event,this,this.form.gotoTiddler,%insert%);"\s\n onclick="return config.macros.gotoTiddler.processItem(this.value,this.form.gotoTiddler,this,%insert%);">\s\n </select>\s\n </form>',\n \n getItems:\n function() {\n var items=[];\n var tiddlers=store.reverseLookup("tags","excludeSearch",false,"title");\n if (this.includeTiddlers) for(var t=0; t<tiddlers.length; t++) items.push(tiddlers[t].title);\n if (this.includeShadows) for (var t in config.shadowTiddlers) items.pushUnique(t);\n if (this.includeTags) { var tags=store.getTags(); for(var t=0; t<tags.length; t++) items.pushUnique(tags[t][0]); }\n return items;\n },\n includeTiddlers: true, includeShadows: true, includeTags: true,\n\n getItemSuffix:\n function(t) {\n if (store.tiddlerExists(t)) return ""; // tiddler\n if (store.isShadowTiddler(t)) return " (shadow)"; // shadow\n return " (tag)"; // tag \n },\n\n keyProcessed:\n function(ev) { // utility function: exits handler and prevents browser from processing the keystroke\n ev.cancelBubble=true; // IE4+\n try{event.keyCode=0;}catch(e){}; // IE5\n if (window.event) ev.returnValue=false; // IE6\n if (ev.preventDefault) ev.preventDefault(); // moz/opera/konqueror\n if (ev.stopPropagation) ev.stopPropagation(); // all\n return false;\n },\n\n inputEscKeyHandler:\n function(event,here,list) {\n var key=event.keyCode;\n // escape... hide list (2nd esc=clears input)\n if (key==27) {\n if (list.style.display=="none")\n here.value=here.defaultValue;\n list.style.display="none";\n return this.keyProcessed(event);\n }\n return true; // key bubbles up\n },\n\n inputKeyHandler:\n function(event,here,list,quiet,insert) {\n var key=event.keyCode;\n // non-printing chars... bubble up, except: backspace=8, enter=13, space=32, down=40, delete=46\n if (key<48) switch(key) { case 8: case 13: case 32: case 40: case 46: break; default: return true; }\n // blank input... if down/enter... fall through (list all)... else, hide list\n if (!here.value.length && !(key==40 || key==13))\n { list.style.display="none"; return this.keyProcessed(event); }\n // find matching items...\n var pattern=config.options.chkRegExpSearch?here.value:here.value.escapeRegExp();\n var re=new RegExp(pattern,config.options.chkCaseSensitiveSearch?"mg":"img");\n var found = []; var items=this.getItems();\n for(var t=0; t<items.length; t++) if(items[t].search(re)!=-1) found.push(items[t]);\n // matched one item... enter... not *exact* match... autocomplete input field\n if (found.length==1 && quiet && key==13 && here.value!=found[0])\n { list.style.display="none"; here.value=found[0]; return this.keyProcessed(event); }\n // no match/exact match... enter... create/show it\n if (found.length<2 && key==13)\n return this.processItem(found.length?found[0]:here.value,here,list,insert);\n // quiet/no match... hide list...\n list.style.display=(!quiet && found.length)?"block":"none";\n // no matches... key bubbles up\n if (!found.length) return true;\n // down/enter... show/move to list...\n if (key==40 || key==13) { list.style.display="block"; list.focus(); }\n // list is showing... fill list...\n if (list.style.display!="none") {\n while (list.length > 0) list.options[0]=null; // clear list...\n found.sort();\n list.options[0]=new Option(found.length==1?this.listMatchMsg:this.listHeading.format([found.length]),"",false,false);\n for (var t=0; t<found.length; t++) // fill list...\n list.options[t+1]=new Option(found[t]+this.getItemSuffix(found[t]),found[t],false,false);\n list.size=(found.length<this.listMaxSize?found.length:this.listMaxSize)+1; // resize list...\n list.selectedIndex=(key==40 || key==13)?1:0;\n }\n return true; // key bubbles up\n },\n listMaxSize: 10,\n listHeading: 'Found %0 matching titles:',\n listMatchMsg: 'Press enter to open tiddler...',\n\n selectKeyHandler:\n function(event,list,editfield,insert) {\n if (event.keyCode==27) // escape... hide list, move to edit field\n { editfield.focus(); list.style.display="none"; return this.keyProcessed(event); }\n if (event.keyCode==13 && list.value.length) // enter... view selected item\n { this.processItem(list.value,editfield,list,insert); return this.keyProcessed(event); }\n return true; // key bubbles up\n },\n\n askForText: "Enter the text to display for this link",\n\n processItem:\n function(title,here,list,insert) {\n if (!title.length) return; here.value=title; list.style.display='none';\n if (insert) {\n var tidElem=story.findContainingTiddler(here); if (!tidElem) { here.focus(); return false; }\n var e=story.getTiddlerField(tidElem.getAttribute("tiddler"),"text");\n if (!e||e.getAttribute("edit")!="text") return false;\n var txt=prompt(this.askForText,title); if (!txt||!txt.length) { here.focus(); return false; }\n e.focus(); // put focus on target field before setting selection\n this.replaceSelection(e,"[["+txt+"|"+title+"]]"); // insert selected tiddler as a PrettyLink\n }\n else\n story.displayTiddler(null,title); // show selected tiddler\n return false;\n },\n\n replaceSelection:\n function (e,text) { // copied from 2.1.3 core and then tweaked\n if (e.setSelectionRange) {\n var oldpos = e.selectionStart;\n var isRange=e.selectionEnd-e.selectionStart;\n e.value = e.value.substr(0,e.selectionStart) + text + e.value.substr(e.selectionEnd);\n e.setSelectionRange( isRange?oldpos:oldpos+text.length, oldpos+text.length);\n var linecount = e.value.split('\sn').length;\n var thisline = e.value.substr(0,e.selectionStart).split('\sn').length-1;\n e.scrollTop = Math.floor((thisline-e.rows/2)*e.scrollHeight/linecount);\n }\n else if (document.selection) {\n var range = document.selection.createRange();\n if (range.parentElement() == e) {\n var isCollapsed = range.text == "";\n range.text = text;\n if (!isCollapsed) {\n range.moveStart('character', -text.length);\n range.select();\n }\n }\n }\n }\n}\n//}}}
/***\n|Name|SinglePageModePlugin|\n|Source|http://www.TiddlyTools.com/#SinglePageModePlugin|\n|Version|2.5.1|\n|Author|Eric Shulman - ELS Design Studios|\n|License|http://www.TiddlyTools.com/#LegalStatements <<br>>and [[Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 License|http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/]]|\n|~CoreVersion|2.1|\n|Type|plugin|\n|Requires||\n|Overrides|Story.prototype.displayTiddler(), Story.prototype.displayTiddlers()|\n|Description|Display tiddlers one at a time with automatic update of URL (permalink). Also, options to always open tiddlers at top/bottom of page|\n\nNormally, as you click on the links in TiddlyWiki, more and more tiddlers are displayed on the page. The order of this tiddler display depends upon when and where you have clicked. Some people like this non-linear method of reading the document, while others have reported that when many tiddlers have been opened, it can get somewhat confusing.\n\n!!!!!Usage\n<<<\nSinglePageMode allows you to configure TiddlyWiki to navigate more like a traditional multipage web site with only one item displayed at a time. When SinglePageMode is enabled, the title of the current tiddler is automatically displayed in the browser window's titlebar. In addition, the browser's location URL is updated with a 'permalink' for the current tiddler so that it is easier to create a browser 'bookmark' for the current tiddler. You can disable the URL update action\n\nEven when SinglePageMode is disabled (i.e., displaying multiple tiddlers is permitted), you can reduce the potential for confusion by enable TopOfPageMode (or BottomOfPageMode), which forces tiddlers to always open at the top (or bottom) of the page instead of being displayed following the tiddler containing the link that was clicked.\n\nnote: when used on the Safari browser, adding the permalink to the URL seems to create a problem whereby tiddlers cannot be properly displayed. In the short-term, to avoid this problem, this feature is disabled when using Safari. This does not affect usage under other browsers, and other plugin options will still be applied as configured below...\n<<<\n!!!!!Configuration\n<<<\nWhen installed, this plugin automatically adds checkboxes in the AdvancedOptions tiddler so you can enable/disable the plugin behavior. For convenience, these checkboxes are also included here:\n\n<<option chkSinglePageMode>> Display one tiddler at a time\n<<option chkSinglePagePermalink>> Automatically permalink current tiddler\n<<option chkTopOfPageMode>> Always open tiddlers at the top of the page\n<<option chkBottomOfPageMode>> Always open tiddlers at the bottom of the page\n//(note: if both 'top' and 'bottom' settings are selected, "top of page" is used)//\n<<<\n!!!!!Installation\n<<<\nimport (or copy/paste) the following tiddlers into your document:\n''SinglePageModePlugin'' (tagged with <<tag systemConfig>>)\n\nWhen installed, this plugin automatically adds checkboxes in the ''shadow'' AdvancedOptions tiddler so you can enable/disable this behavior. However, if you have customized your AdvancedOptions, you may need to ''manually add these checkboxes to your customized tiddler.''\n<<<\n!!!!!Revision History\n<<<\n2007.10.08 [2.5.1] in displayTiddler(), when using single-page or top-of-page mode, scrollTo(0,0) to ensure that page header is in view.\n2007.09.13 [2.5.0] for TPM/BPM modes, don't force tiddler to redisplay if already shown. Allows transition between view/edit or collapsed/view templates, without repositioning displayed tiddler.\n2007.09.12 [2.4.0] added option to disable automatic permalink feature. Also, Safari is now excluded from permalinking action to avoid bug where tiddlers don't display after hash is updated.\n2007.03.03 [2.3.1] fix typo when adding BPM option to AdvancedOptions (prevented checkbox from appearing)\n2007.03.03 [2.3.0] added support for BottomOfPageMode (BPM) based on request from DaveGarbutt\n2007.02.06 [2.2.3] in Story.prototype.displayTiddler(), use convertUnicodeToUTF8() for correct I18N string handling when creating URL hash string from tiddler title (based on bug report from BidiX)\n2007.01.08 [2.2.2] use apply() to invoke hijacked core functions\n2006.07.04 [2.2.1] in hijack for displayTiddlers(), suspend TPM as well as SPM so that DefaultTiddlers displays in the correct order.\n2006.06.01 [2.2.0] added chkTopOfPageMode (TPM) handling\n2006.02.04 [2.1.1] moved global variable declarations to config.* to avoid FireFox 1.5.0.1 crash bug when assigning to globals\n2005.12.27 [2.1.0] hijack displayTiddlers() so that SPM can be suspended during startup while displaying the DefaultTiddlers (or #hash list). Also, corrected initialization for undefined SPM flag to "false", so default behavior is to display multiple tiddlers\n2005.12.27 [2.0.0] Update for TW2.0\n2005.11.24 [1.1.2] When the back and forward buttons are used, the page now changes to match the URL. Based on code added by Clint Checketts\n2005.10.14 [1.1.1] permalink creation now calls encodeTiddlyLink() to handle tiddler titles with spaces in them\n2005.10.14 [1.1.0] added automatic setting of window title and location bar ('auto-permalink'). feature suggestion by David Dickens.\n2005.10.09 [1.0.1] combined documentation and code in a single tiddler\n2005.08.15 [1.0.0] Initial Release\n<<<\n!!!!!Credits\n<<<\nThis feature was developed by EricShulman from [[ELS Design Studios|http:/www.elsdesign.com]].\nSupport for BACK/FORWARD buttons adapted from code developed by Clint Checketts\n<<<\n!!!!!Code\n***/\n//{{{\nversion.extensions.SinglePageMode= {major: 2, minor: 5, revision: 1, date: new Date(2007,10,8)};\n\nif (config.options.chkSinglePageMode==undefined) config.options.chkSinglePageMode=false;\nif (config.options.chkSinglePagePermalink==undefined) config.options.chkSinglePagePermalink=true;\nif (config.options.chkTopOfPageMode==undefined) config.options.chkTopOfPageMode=false;\nif (config.options.chkBottomOfPageMode==undefined) config.options.chkBottomOfPageMode=false;\n\nif (config.optionsDesc) {\n config.optionsDesc.chkSinglePageMode="Display one tiddler at a time";\n config.optionsDesc.chkSinglePagePermalink="Automatically permalink current tiddler";\n config.optionsDesc.chkTopOfPageMode="Always open tiddlers at the top of the page";\n config.optionsDesc.chkBottomOfPageMode="Always open tiddlers at the bottom of the page";\n} else {\n config.shadowTiddlers.AdvancedOptions += "\s\n \sn<<option chkSinglePageMode>> Display one tiddler at a time \s\n \sn<<option chkSinglePagePermalink>> Automatically permalink current tiddler \s\n \sn<<option chkTopOfPageMode>> Always open tiddlers at the top of the page \s\n \sn<<option chkBottomOfPageMode>> Always open tiddlers at the bottom of the page";\n}\n\nconfig.SPMTimer = 0;\nconfig.lastURL = window.location.hash;\nfunction checkLastURL()\n{\n if (!config.options.chkSinglePageMode)\n { window.clearInterval(config.SPMTimer); config.SPMTimer=0; return; }\n if (config.lastURL == window.location.hash)\n return;\n var tiddlerName = convertUTF8ToUnicode(decodeURI(window.location.hash.substr(1)));\n tiddlerName=tiddlerName.replace(/\s[\s[/,"").replace(/\s]\s]/,""); // strip any [[ ]] bracketing\n if (tiddlerName.length) story.displayTiddler(null,tiddlerName,1,null,null);\n}\n\nif (Story.prototype.SPM_coreDisplayTiddler==undefined) Story.prototype.SPM_coreDisplayTiddler=Story.prototype.displayTiddler;\nStory.prototype.displayTiddler = function(srcElement,title,template,animate,slowly)\n{\n if (config.options.chkSinglePageMode)\n story.closeAllTiddlers();\n else if (config.options.chkTopOfPageMode)\n arguments[0]=null;\n else if (config.options.chkBottomOfPageMode)\n arguments[0]="bottom";\n if (config.options.chkSinglePageMode && config.options.chkSinglePagePermalink && !config.browser.isSafari) {\n window.location.hash = encodeURIComponent(convertUnicodeToUTF8(String.encodeTiddlyLink(title)));\n config.lastURL = window.location.hash;\n document.title = wikifyPlain("SiteTitle") + " - " + title;\n if (!config.SPMTimer) config.SPMTimer=window.setInterval(function() {checkLastURL();},1000);\n }\n this.SPM_coreDisplayTiddler.apply(this,arguments); // let CORE render tiddler\n var tiddlerElem=document.getElementById(story.idPrefix+title);\n if (tiddlerElem) {\n var yPos=ensureVisible(tiddlerElem); // scroll to top of tiddler\n if (config.options.chkSinglePageMode||config.options.chkTopOfPageMode)\n yPos=0; // scroll to top of page instead of top of tiddler\n if (config.options.chkAnimate) // defer scroll until 200ms after animation completes\n setTimeout("window.scrollTo(0,"+yPos+")",config.animDuration+200); \n else\n window.scrollTo(0,yPos); // scroll immediately\n }\n}\n\nif (Story.prototype.SPM_coreDisplayTiddlers==undefined) Story.prototype.SPM_coreDisplayTiddlers=Story.prototype.displayTiddlers;\nStory.prototype.displayTiddlers = function(srcElement,titles,template,unused1,unused2,animate,slowly)\n{\n // suspend single-page mode (and/or top/bottom display options) when showing multiple tiddlers\n var saveSPM=config.options.chkSinglePageMode; config.options.chkSinglePageMode=false;\n var saveTPM=config.options.chkTopOfPageMode; config.options.chkTopOfPageMode=false;\n var saveBPM=config.options.chkBottomOfPageMode; config.options.chkBottomOfPageMode=false;\n this.SPM_coreDisplayTiddlers.apply(this,arguments);\n config.options.chkBottomOfPageMode=saveBPM;\n config.options.chkTopOfPageMode=saveTPM;\n config.options.chkSinglePageMode=saveSPM;\n}\n//}}}
Actually, when one mistakes a rope for a snake, the existence of the snake is only within the mind. The existence of maya, similarly, is only within the mind. Maya is nothing but ignorance of Your personality. When one forgets Your personality, that is the conditioned state of maya. Therefore one who is fixed upon You both internally and externally is not illusioned.
Yggdrasil as a cosmic tree is sometimes called an ash and sometimes a yew. Yggdrasil, otherwise known as the World tree, grows out of the past, lives in the present and reaches toward the future. It nourishes all spiritual life and physical life. Its roots reach into all the worlds; its boughs hang above Asgard. Yggdrasil has three main roots which hold everything together. One root reaches into the well of Urd in Asgard, another into the Mimir of Midgard, and the third into the Spring of Hvelgelmir in Hel. ...\n\nThe World Tree is constantly under attack by evil creatures. ...\n\nOf the nine worlds in the Norse Mythology, Asgard is on the highest level, with Alfheim to the east and Vanaheim to the west. The Prose Edda states that Midgard is in the center of Ginnungagap, an area of 11 rivers and frozen wasteland. It is Midgard that ties together all the other worlds. On the same level as Midgard is Svartalfheim to the south, Nidavellir to the east, and Jotunheim to the west. Below Midgard lie Hel and Nilfheim. The Aesir gods live in Asgard, the Vanir in Vanaheim, and the Light Elves in Alfheim or Ljossalfheim. ...\n\nNiflheim is the world of the dead, ruled by the goddess Hel, while the kingdom Hel is realm of the dead, ruled by Urd. ...\n\nNiflheim or Niflhel lies south of Midgard. It is an immense land of darkness and great cold, an area of torture for evil souls. To reach Niflheim, one has to travel downwards for nine days from Midgard on the Helway. This road goes through great forests and deep dark valleys, over high mountains. There is a deep black cave between the two levels of Midgard and Hel. Near the end of the Helway, the maiden Modgud guards the Gjallarbru or Gjoll. Beyond the bridge are the Hel gates (Helgrind) and behind them the Hall of Death. The Goddess Hel s palace is called Sleetcold or Sleet-Den. ...\n\nHel is the lower world Thingstead of the Gods. There the souls of the dead are judged by Odhinn, and rewards or punishments handed out. Even the Valkyries must first bring their chosen warriors to this Thingstead where they are accepted or rejected as unworthy.\n\nAt the lower world Thingstead, the Hamingjur (individual guarding spirits) can speak for an individual during judgement. If the person is evil he or she is deserted by his/her Hamingjur. Those souls judged good go to Hel where they live in eternal joy. Those condemned as evil are shackled and driven to Niflhel by the Dark Elves. They must drink burning venom and are subjected to the nine realms of torture.\n\nOut of Norse Magick; By Rev. D.J. Conway. Llewllyn, ISBN 0-87542-137-7
By Anand Parthasarathy, KOCHI 6-14-2\n\nA gruelling nine-year-long international archaeological expedition in Egypt, has unearthed the most extensive evidence so far, of vigorous trade between India and the Roman Empire " 2000 years ago.\n\nThe project funded by Dutch and American agencies, at Berenike, on the Sudan-Egypt border along the shores of the Red Sea, has revealed that the location was the southern-most, military sea port of the Roman Empire in the first century A.D. and the key transfer point for a flourishing trade with India, whose magnitude was hitherto not known.\n\nIn major findings to be published in the July issue of the monthly scientific journal Sahara and announced today at the archaeological database website of the expedition, researchers report having unearthed the largest single cache of black pepper "about 8 kg" ever excavated from a Roman dig. They were able to establish that this variety was only grown in antiquity in South India.\n\nBecause of the drier weather of Egypt, the Berenike site preserved organic substances from India, like sail cloth, matting and baskets dating to AD 30-AD 70, all traces of which were destroyed in the more humid climate of the subcontinent.\n\nIn one of the surprise findings, the archaeologists also report stumbling on a Roman "trash dump" containing well-preserved evidence of Indian `batik' work and ancient printed textiles as well as ceramics.\n\nAll this leads archaeologists, Willeke Wendrich of the University of California, and Steven Sidebotham of the Delaware University to conclude in next month's paper that a "Spice Route" from India to Rome, existed long before the better known "Silk Route" to China.\n\nThey suggest that the goods traveled from the west coast Indian ports to Berenike by ships in the monsoon months, and were then transported by camel and Nile river boats, to the Mediterranean port of Alexandria, from where ships conveyed the cargo to Rome by sea.\n\nThis route was preferred for almost 50 years because the alternative land route through what is today Pakistan and Iran, passed through countries hostile to the Roman Empire.\n\n"We talk about globalism as if it were the latest thing", Wendrich is quoted by the Associated Press as saying, but trade was going on in antiquity on a scale that is truly impressive".\n\nThe Berenike route was finally abandoned in AD 500 probably after a plague epidemic.\n\nThe new findings are said to establish what was long suspected - the central role that India played in the maritime trade 2000 years ago.\n\n * www.rense.com/general26/trade.htm\n * Berenike Project\n
Who is Ekadasi?\n\n(based on book "Ekadasi" by Krishna-Balaram Swami)\n\nIn the Satya-yuga there once lived an amazing fearsome demon called Mura. Always very angry, he terrified all the demigods, defeating even Indra, the king of heaven; Vivasvan, the sun-god; the eight Vasus; Lord Brahma; Vayu, the wind-god; and Agni, the fire-god. With his terrible power he brought them all under his control.\n\nThen the demigods approached Lord Visnu,\nand prayed to Him for help.\n\nHearing the prayers and request from Indra, Lord Visnu became very angry and said: "O powerful demigods, all together you may now advance on Mura's capital city of Candravati." Encouraged thus, the assembled demigods proceeded to Candravati with Lord Hari leading the way.\n\nThen there was a big fight between the soldiers of Mura and the demigods. Many hundreds of demons were killed by the Lord's hand. At last the chief demon, Mura, began fighting with the Lord, first with weapons, then with bare hands. The Lord wrested with Mura for one thousand celestial years and then, apparently fatigued, left for Badarika-asrama. There He entered a very beautiful cave, named Himavati, to rest. The demon followed Him into the cave, and, seeing Him asleep, started thinking within his heart: "Today I will kill this slayer of all demons, Hari."\n\nWhile the wicked demon Mura was making plans in this way, from Lord Visnu's body there manifested a young girl who had a very bright complexion. Mura saw that she was equipped with various brilliant weapons and was ready to fight. Challenged by that female to do battle, Mura prepared himself and then fought with her, but he became very astonished when he saw that she fought with him without cessation. The king of demons then said: "Who has created this angry, fearsome girl who is fighting me so powerfully, just like a thunderbolt falling upon me?" After saying this, the demon continued to fight with the girl.\n\nSuddenly that effulgent goddess shattered all of Mura's weapons and in a moment deprived him of his chariot. He ran toward her to attack her with his bare hands, but when she saw him coming she angrily cut off his head. Thus the demon at once fell to the ground and went to the abode of Yamaraja.\n\nThen the Supreme Lord woke up and saw the dead demon before Him, as well as the maiden bowing down to Him with joined palms.\n\nThe Lord, being pleased with the girl, offered to give her a boon.\n\nThe maiden said: "O Lord, if You are pleased with me and wish to give me a boon, then give me the power to deliver from the greatest sins that person who fasts on this day. I wish that half the pious credit obtained by one who fasts will accrue to one who eats only in the evening [abstaining from grains and beans], and that half of *this* pious credit will be earned by one who eats only at midday. Also, one who strictly observes a complete fast on my appearance day, with controlled senses, goes to the abode of Lord Visnu for one billion kalpas after he has enjoyed all kinds of pleasures in this world. This is the boon I desire to attain by Your mercy, my Lord. O Lord, whether a person observes complete fasting, eats only in the evening, or eats only at midday, please grant him a religious attitude, wealth, and at last liberation."\n\nThe Supreme Personality of Godhead said: "O most pious lady, what you have requested is granted. All My devotees in this world will surely fast on your day, and thus they will become famous throughout the three worlds and finally come and stay with Me in My abode. Because you, My transcendental potency, have appeared on the eleventh day of the waning moon, let your name be Ekadasi. If a person fasts on Ekadasi, I will burn up all his sins and bestow upon him My transcendental abode."
The Story of Ekadasi\n\n(This article was originally written in 1956 by Sri Navincandra Cakravarti, a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and in 1979 translated into English by Vyenkata dasa Brahmacari.)\n\nMany devotees are very inquisitive about the appearance of Sri Ekadasi and about her special characteristics. Therefore I am presenting this description from the fourteenth chapter of the Padma Purana, from the section entitled "Kriya-sagara-sara."\n\nOnce the great sage Jaimini Rsi said to his spiritual master Srila Vyasadeva, "Oh Gurudeva! Previously, by your mercy, you described to me the history of the glories of the Ganga river, the benefits of worshiping Visnu, the giving of grains in charity, the giving of water in charity, and the magnanimity of drinking the water that has washed the feet of the brahmanas. O best of the sages, Sri Gurudeva, now, with great enthusiasm, I desire to hear the benefits of fasting on Ekadasi and the appearance of Ekadasi.\n\nkasmad ekadasi jata tasyah ko va vidhir dvija kada va kriyate kim va phalam kim va vadasva me ka va pujyatama tatra devata sad-gunarnava akurvatah syat ko dosa etan me vaktum arhasi\n\n"Oh Gurudeva! When did Ekadasi take birth and from whom did she appear? What are the rules of fasting on the Ekadasi? Please describe the benefits of following this vow and when it should be followed. Who is the utmost worshippable presiding deity of Sri Ekadasi? What are the faults in not following Ekadasi properly? Please bestow your mercy upon me and tell about these subjects, as you are the only personality able to do so."\n\nSrila Vyasadeva, upon hearing this inquiry of Jaimini Rsi, became situated in transcendental bliss. "Oh brahmana sage Jaimini! The results of following Ekadasi can only be perfectly described by the Supreme Lord, Narayana, because Sri Narayana is the only personality capable of describing them in full. But I will give a very brief description in answer to your question."\n\n"At the beginning of the material creation, the Supreme Lord created the moving and non-moving living entities within this world made of five gross material elements. Simultaneously, for the purpose of punishing the humans beings, He created a personality whose form was the embodiment of sin (Papapurusa). The different limbs of this personality were constructed of the various sinful activities. His head was made of the sin of murdering a brahmana, his two eyes were the form of the sin of drinking intoxicants, his mouth was made of the sin of stealing gold, his ears were the form of the sin of having illicit connection with the spiritual master's wife, his nose of the sin of killing one's wife, his arms the form of the sin of killing a cow, his neck made of the sin of stealing accumulated wealth, his chest of the sin of abortion, his lower chest of the sin of having sex with another's wife, his stomach of the sin of killing one's relatives, his navel of the sin of killing those who are dependent on him, his waist of the sin of self appraisal, his thighs of the sin of offending the guru, his genital of the sin of selling one's daughter, his buttocks of the sin of telling confidential matters, his feet of the sin of killing one's father, and his hair the form of lesser, less severe sinful activities. In this way, a horrible personality embodying all the sinful activities and vices was created. His bodily colour is black, and his eyes are yellow. He inflicts extreme misery upon sinful persons."\n\n"The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Visnu, upon seeing this personality of sin, began to think to Himself as follows: 'I am the creator of the miseries and happiness for the living entities. I am their master because I have created this personality of sin, who gives distress to all dishonest, deceitful, and sinful persons. Now I must create someone who will control this personality.' At this time Sri Bhagavan created the personality known as Yamaraja and the different hellish planetary systems. Those living entities who are very sinful will be sent after death to Yamaraja, who will in turn, according to their sins, send them to a hellish region to suffer.\n\n"After these adjustments had been made, the Supreme Lord, who is the giver of distress and happiness to the living entities, went to the house of Yamaraja with the help of Garuda, the king of birds. When Yamaraja saw that Lord Visnu had arrived, he immediately washed His feet and made an offering unto Him. He then had Him sit upon a golden throne. The Supreme Lord, Visnu, became seated on the throne, whereupon He heard very loud crying sounds coming from the southern direction. He became surprised by this and thus inquired from Yamaraja, 'From where is this loud crying coming?'\n\n"Yamaraja in reply said, 'Oh Deva! The different living entities of the earthly planetary systems have fallen into the hellish regions. They are suffering extremely for their misdeeds. The horrible crying is because of suffering from the inflictions of their past bad karma (actions).'\n\n"After hearing this the Supreme Lord, Visnu, went to the hellish region to the south. When the inhabitants saw who had come they began to cry even louder. The heart of the Supreme Lord, Visnu, became filled with compassion. Lord Visnu thought to Himself, 'I have created all this progeny, and it is because of Me that they are suffering.'"\n\nSrila Vyasadeva continued: "Oh Jaimini, just listen to what the Supreme Lord did next.\n\netac canyac ca viprarse\nvicintya karunamayah\nbabhuva sahasa tatra\nsvayam ekadasi tithih\n\n'After the merciful Supreme Lord thought over what He had previously considered, He suddenly manifested from His own form the deity of the lunar day Ekadasi.' Afterwards the different sinful living entities began to follow the vow of Ekadasi and were then elevated quickly to the abode of Vaikuntha. Oh my child Jaimini, therefore the lunar day of Ekadasi is the self-same form of the Supreme Lord, Visnu, and the Supersoul within the heart of the living entities. Sri Ekadasi is the utmost pious activity and is situated as the head among all vows.\n\n"Following the ascension of Sri Ekadasi, that personality who is the form of the sinful activity gradually saw the influence she had. He approached Lord Visnu with doubts in his heart and began offering many prayers, whereupon Lord Visnu became very pleased and said, 'I have become very pleased by your nice offerings. What boon is it that you want?'\n\n"The Papapurusa replied, 'I am your created progeny, and it is through me that you wanted distress given to the living entities who are very sinful. But now, by the influence of Sri Ekadasi, I have become all but destroyed. Oh Prabhu! After I die all of Your parts and parcels who have accepted material bodies will become liberated and therefore return to the abode of Vaikuntha. If this liberation of all living entities takes place, then who will carry on Your activities? There will be no one to enact the pastimes in the earthly planetary systems! Oh Kesava! If You want these eternal pastimes to carry on, then You please save me from the fear of Ekadasi. No type of pious activity can bind me. But Ekadasi only, being Your own manifested form, can impede me. Out of fear of Sri Ekadasi I have fled and taken shelter of men; animals; insects; hills; trees; moving and non-moving living entities; rivers; oceans; forests; heavenly, earthly, and hellish planetary systems; demigods; and the gandharvas. I cannot find a place where I can be free from fear of Sri Ekadasi. Oh my Master! I am a product of Your creation, so therefore very mercifully direct me to a place where I can reside fearlessly.'"\n\nSrila Vyasadeva then said to Jaimini, "After saying this, the embodiment of all sinful activities (Papapurusa) fell down at the feet of the Supreme Lord, Visnu, who is the destroyer of all miseries, and began to cry.\n\n"After this, Lord Visnu, observing the condition of the Papapurusa with laughter, began to speak thus: 'Oh Papapurusa! Rise up! Don't lament any longer. Just listen, and I'll tell you where you can stay on the auspicious lunar day of Ekadasi. On the day of Ekadasi, which is the benefactor of the three worlds, you can take shelter of foodstuff in the form of grains. There is no reason to worry about this any more, because My form as Sri Ekadasi Devi will no longer impede you.' After giving direction to the Papapurusa, the Supreme Lord, Visnu, disappeared and the Papapurusa returned to the performance of his own activities.\n\n"Therefore those persons who are serious about the ultimate benefit for the soul will never eat grains on the Ekadasi tithi. According to the instructions of Lord Visnu, every kind of sinful activity that can be found in the material world takes its residence in this place of foodstuff (grain). Whoever follows Ekadasi is freed from all sins and never enters into hellish regions. If one doesn't follow Ekadasi because of illusion, he is still considered the utmost sinner. For every mouthful of grain that is eaten by a resident of the earthly region, one receives the effect of killing millions of brahmanas. It is definitely necessary that one give up eating grains on Ekadasi. I very strongly say again and again, 'On Ekadasi, don't eat grains, don't eat grains, don't eat grains!' Whether one be a ksatriya, vaisya, sudra, or of any family, he should follow the lunar day of Ekadasi. From this the perfection of varna and ashram will be attained. Especially since even if one by trickery follows Ekadasi, all of his sin become destroyed and he very easily attains the supreme goal, the abode of Vaikuntha."\n\nSri Caitanya on Ekadasi\n\n"You should recommend the avoidance of mixed Ekadasi and the performance of pure Ekadasi. You should also describe the fault in not observing this. One should be very careful as far as these items are concerned. If one is not careful, one will be negligent in executing devotional service." (Sri Caitanya to Sanatana Gosvami, CC Madhya-lila 24.342)\n\nPurpose of fasting on Ekadasi\n\nekadasyam samayantyam prapunantyam jagattrayam\nsthatavyam annamasritya bhavata papa purusa\n\nsansare yani papani tany eva ekadasi dine\nannam asritya tisthanti sriman narayana ajnaya\n\n(Padma Purana, Kriya Yogasara 22.46,50)\n\nWhen Ekadasi arrives, at that time, all of the sins from the three worlds reside in grains in the form of a sinful person.\n\nWhatever sins are available in this world, they all together reside in grains on Ekadasi day by the order of Lord Sri Narayana.\n\nThe 9th anga of sadhana is harivas-sammano "Respecting the days of Hari". In illustration, Rupa Goswami quotes in BRS 1.2.109:\n\nhari-vasara-sammano yatha brahma-vaivarte -\nsarva-papa-prasamanam punyam atyantikam tatha |\ngovinda-smaranam nrnam ekadasy amuposanam ||\n\nRespecting the Holy Days of Hari\n\nBrahma-vaivarta Purana: "Ekadasi destroys all a person's sin, bestows limitless piety, and causes them to remember Govinda."\n\nThus, there are three aspects mentioned here to following Ekadasi (1) removal of bad karma, (2) gain of good karma, and (3) remembrance of Govinda.\n\nekadasi vrata samam vrata nasti jagattraye\nanicchaya'pi yat krtva gatir evam vidha'vayoh\nekadasi vratam ye tu bhakti bhavena kurvate\nna jane kim bhavet tesam vasudeva anukampaya\n\n(Padma Purana, Kriya Yogasara 23.172,173)\n\nIn the three worlds, there is no kind of fasting which is even comparable to the Ekadasi fast. Even if one performs this fast without a proper attitude, he achieves the Supreme Abode. Anyone who fasts on Ekadasi day, with full devotion, what happens to him by the mercy of the Supreme Lord, I can not say (how much merit gets cannot be described).\n\nEngagement during Ekadasi\n\nramayanam bhagavatam bharatam vyasa bhasitam\nanyani ca puranani pathyani harivasare\n\n(Padma Purana, Kriya Yogasara 22.137)\n\nOn the day of Lord Hari (Ekadasi, etc.), one should study Ramayana, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Mahabharata, and other Puranas which are written by Srila Vyasadeva.\n\nBasic Rules for Determining Ekadasi and Mahadvadasi\n\nSP Letter to Madhudvisa 69-09-30 England:\n\n"Regarding you first question, we observe Ekadasi from sunrise to sunrise. The 12 midnight is western astronomical calculation, but the Vedic astronomical calculation begins either from the sunrise or the moonrise. Generally it is sunrise. Our calculation is like this: when the sunrise is there, Ekadasi tithi (date) must be there. If Ekadasi tithi is not in the sunrise and the tithi begins, say after a few minutes after the sunrise, then we accept that day as previous to Ekadasi. All our ceremonies are calculated in that way. This means we must see the tithi during sunrise. Therefore, sometimes our dates of ceremonies do not exactly coincide like the western calculations. Just like Christmas Day they have fixed up on the 25th December, but our Janmastami tithi is not fixed up like that. My birthday is on the 1st September, 1896, but this year the tithi of my birthday was fixed for the 4th September. So it is very difficult to calculate, therefore we have to take help from the Indian expert almanac astronomers."\n\nThe tithi at sunrise rules the day\n\n- If the tithi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise of the next day (lost) it is combined with the next tithi.\n\n- If the same tithi falls on sunrise two days in a row, observances are scheduled on the first day; except Ekadasi, Amavasya, or Purnima tithis which are scheduled for the second day.\n\n- Ekadasi must come in prior to the brahma muhurta (1 hour 36 min before sunrise). When it does so it is called Suddha Ekadasi, pure Ekadasi. If it begins after that, it is considered impure and is therefore to be observed on the Dvadasi (making Mahadvadasi or compounded) on the next day.\n\n- If Ekadasi falls on sunrise two days in a row, fasting is observed on the second day.\n\n- If Ekadasi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise the next day it is considered Lost, too short, thus not full, and impure. Therefore the next day is called Unmillani Mahadvadasi.\n\n- If Dvadasi begins after sunrise and ends before sunrise on the next day (Trayodasi), it is also lost, and is to be observed as Trisprsa Mahadvadasi.\n\n- If Dvadasi falls on the sunrise two days in a row the first Dvadasi becomes Vyanjuli Mahadvadasi.\n\n- When the following Amavasya or Purnima falls on sunrise two days in a row the preceding Dvadasi becomes Paksa-Vardhini-Mahadvadasi, Paksa based. Parama Ekadasi in the month of Purusottama.\n\n- For more details see Navadvip Panjika intro of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.\n\nBreaking Time\n\nQ: If one was fasting on Ekadasi and breaks the fast too early by eating grains at let's say six o'clock instead of eight o'clock the next morning, did one actually break the Ekadasi, or does one just lose the results of having observed the complete fast? In other words, when does the grain fasting start and stop?\n\nA: (Bhanu Swami) Technically speaking a day begins at sunrise. That means that before sunrise is a part of the previous day. So the Ekadasi vrata starts at sunrise and lasts until the next sunrise. If one eats grains during this period, one breaks the fast and the vrata and the results, and gets bad results as well. This also does not allow one to get up and eat grains before the sunrise of the day on which the Ekadasi vrata begins, for those early hours are meant for japa and prayer, not for eating.\n\nA: (Krsna Ksetra Das, ISKCON monitor for Deity worship): Ekadasi bhoga should be offered up until the time the fast is to be broken.\n\nNote: The time given in the calendar is the time up to which the fast should be broken, after sunrise. In other words, between sunrise and the time given in the calendar - within that interval the fast should be broken. Therefore in most cases only the balya-bhoga offering would come into consideration: no sweet rice for Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai!\n\nA: (Bhakticaru Swami) Ekadasi begins/ends at the sunrise according to smartas but according to Gosvamis at the beginning of brahma-muhurta (two muhurtas, i.e. 96 min before the sunrise):\n\nudayat prak yada vipra muhurta dvaya samyuta\nsampurna ekadasi nama tatraiva upasaved grhi\n\n(Hari Bhakti Vilasa 12.316, quote from Garuda Purana, Bhavisya Purana and Siva Rahasya)\n\nOh brahmana, two muhurtas before sunrise, if there is an Ekadasi available, it is called a complete and pure Ekadasi. On this Ekadasi, even every householder should fast.\n\nVratas (austerities)\n\n(from Pancaratra Pradipa - Appendix 3)\n\nNotes on Ekadasi\n\nThe Hari-bhakti-vilasa gives many rules for observing Ekadasi..., and these are discussed at length in Volume II of Pancaratra-Pradipa. Here, however, we will mention only a few points concerning Ekadasi in relation to general standards of Deity worship in ISKCON:\n\nWhat Constitutes "Grains" on Ekadasi?\n\nSrila Prabhupada specified foodgrains and beans (pulses) as foods that must be avoided on Ekadasi. One may use spices for cooking, although mustard seeds should be avoided.* You should not use powdered asafetida (hing), since it (generally) contains grains. Sesame seeds are also to be avoided, except on Satila Ekadasi, when they may be offered and eaten. Do not use any cooking ingredients that might be mixed with grains, such as ghee that has been used to fry puris, or spices touched by hands dusted with capati flour.\n\n* Someone who is very strictly observing Ekadasi should avoid all spices except pepper, rock salt and cumin. He should also eschew certain vegetables, such as tomatoes, cauliflower, eggplant, and leafy vegetables. ISKCON temple kitchens need not follow these strictures, since Srila Prabhupada did not establish them. Individual devotees may observe these rules if they choose, either making their own arrangements for cooking on Ekadasi, eating uncooked foods such as fruit, or observing full fasting. These arrangements should not interfere with the temple cooking schedule.\n\nOffering Grains to the Spiritual Master and Lord Caitanya\n\nIn a conversation, Srila Prabhupada said that grains should not be offered to either the spiritual master or Lord Caitanya and His associates on Ekadasi.\n\nDevotee: On Ekadasi, we can offer the Deity grains?\n\nPrabhupada: Oh, yes. But not guru. Ekadasi observed by jiva-tattva, not by Visnu. We are fasting for clearing our material disease, but Radha-Krsna, Caitanya Mahaprabhu... Caitanya Mahaprabhu also may not be offered grains because He is playing the part of a devotee. Only Radha-Krsna, Jagannatha can be offered grains. Otherwise, Guru-Gauranga, no. And the prasadam should not be taken by anyone. It should be kept for the next day. [Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation, Tokyo, April 22, 1972]\n\nIf there is only one plate for all Deities and the main Deity is Krsna or Jagannatha, grains should be offered as on normal days. If the main Deities are Gaura-Nitai, offer only non-grain preparations.* It is best to replace the normally offered grain preparations with non-grain preparations so that there are the same number of preparations as on normal days. If, however, grain preparations are being cooked for Krsna or Jagannatha, it may be difficult to cook additional non-grain preparations for the spiritual master and Gaura-Nitai. In that case serve larger quantities of the non-grain preparations to the spiritual master and Gaura-Nitai, and prepare the offering plate for Krsna or Jagannatha as on normal days.\n\n* If you are cooking for a restaurant where grains will be served on Ekadasi, you may offer the grains to Gaura-Nitai with the understanding that They will offer the bhoga to Krsna.\n\nMahaprasadam on Ekadasi\n\nOn Ekadasi, strict followers of Vaisnava regulations avoid eating any mahaprasada from an offering that includes grains. The sastra explains that the papa-purusa (sin personified) takes shelter in grains on Ekadasi, and therefore we avoid grains at all cost on that day, not even taking non-grain preparations of mahaprasada from an offering plate. Ekadasi mahaprasada should be stored until the next day; if that is not possible it can be distributed to persons not strictly following Vaisnava regulations or to animals. In fact, mahaprasada maintains its purity on Ekadasi despite the presence of the papa-purusa, and therefore it will purify anyone who eats it. Nevertheless, the followers of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, being strict followers of Vaisnava regulations, avoid mahaprasada on that day because their strict sadhana will be hampered by the presence of the papa-purusa.\n\nSri Jagadananda Pandita in his Prema Vivarta, ch. 18, writes:\n\nOne day, Lord Gaurahari went from Gundica mandira to the Jagannatha-vallabha gardens and sat amongst the flowers. The day was ekadasi. He celebrated this auspicious occasion by chanting the holy name incessantly, day and night. Present with Him were Svarupa Damodara, Ramananda Raya, Vakresvara Pandita and the other resident Vaisnavas of Sri Purusottama-ksetra, Puri.\n\nThe Lord said, "Today, all of you should refrain from eating and sleeping, and constantly chant Krsna's name. Some of you should chant japa, some of you should circumambulate the temple with prostrated obeisances and others should discuss the pastimes of Lord Balarama and Lord Krsna." Everyone became spiritually surcharged by the Lord' instructions and busied themselves with different activities, chanting, "Govinda, Govinda!" They felt intoxicated with prema.\n\nSuddenly, Sri Gopinatha arrived from Gundica, accompanied by Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya. They were laden with Lord Jagannatha's maha-prasadam! They placed the prasadam of cooked rice, a variety of vegetables, pitha, pana, sweet rice, curd and yoghurt before the Lord. At the Lord's bidding, devotees offered respectful obeisances to the prasadam and then continued chanting the Lord's name deep into the night in an ecstatic mood of devotion , free from all material desires.\n\nEarly next morning, the devotees, begged permission from Sri Gaurahari and, went to take bath. On returning, they sat down and respectfully honoured maha-prasadam, breaking their ekadasi fast. They experienced ineffable bliss, and falling to the ground they offered obeisances to the Lord and spoke to Him in great earnestness with folded hands:\n\nEkadasi in Puri\n\n"Sri Harivasara (ekadasi), is considered to be the most important vrata (vow of fasting). It is to be observed by maintaining complete fast and without sleeping at night. We also know that Lord Jagannatha's maha-prasadam must be respected at all times in Purusottama-ksetra. It should be honoured by eating it immediately upon receiving it. Therefore, we find ourselves in a dilemma as to how to honour prasadam on ekadasi. Please tell us unequivocally the conclusions of the scriptures on this subject in a manner that would convince even spiritual stalwarts like Lord Siva and Lord Brahma. This will dispel our disquietude."\n\nLord Caitanya's conclusion\n\nLord Caitanya replied, "To not observe complete fasting on ekadasi will greatly endanger one's spiritual life. Honour prasadam on ekadasi only by offering it obeisances and eating it the next day. In this way, one can easily cross this material ocean. The fast is any way over on the following day.\n\n"All Vaisnavas, beloved associates of the Supreme Lord, are very pleased when ekadasi is properly observed by simply relishing the nectar of Lord Krsna's holy name. One should not taste anything nor should any mundane topics be discussed on Ekadasi. All physical pleasures should be proscribed. It is a Vaisnava's duty to daily honour and eat only prasadam, for he never consumes unoffered food. On ekadasi he observes complete fasting, and the next day he breaks his fast with maha-prasadam. and if, for some reason, one has to eat on ekadasi, then let the Vaisnavas take anukalpa, a light meal consisting of merely fruits, roots and milk, without grains or beans or other prohibited vegetables.\n\n"The non-Vaisnavas gormandise without control, offering only lame excuses that they are honouring maha-prasadam. They do this on ekadasi, because they are engrossed day and night in sense enjoyment. They enjoy grains and rice on ekadasi and thereby eat the sins that enter grains on such days, disregarding the sanctity of ekadasi-vrata. You must diligently execute devotional service and respect the process of devotion. You will then surely receive the blessings of Bhakti-devi Herself. Avoid the association of non-devotees and properly observe the ekadasi-vrata by constantly chanting the holy name.\n\n"Try to realise in your heart that there is no offence or contradiction in refusing maha-prasadam on ekadasi or any other important fast day. It is inane to observe certain spiritual disciplines and vows while neglecting others. Earnestly observe prescribed vows on designated days and timings and in an appropriate devotional manner. Sri Vrajendra-nandana, Krsna, is the Lord and ultimate goal of all vows and devotional activities, so observe all spiritual vows for His pleasure and satisfaction alone. Therefore, remember to abstain from eating, drinking and sleeping on ekadasi, and so the next day honour prasadam with full relish."\n\nEkadasi Feast on Holidays other than Ekadasi\n\nQ: When we have a feast after a fast, like the Janmastami feast, Nrsimhacaturdasi feast or Gaurapurnima feast, it's said that that feast should be an "Ekadasi feast". However, considering that the papapurusa only enters grains and beans on Ekadasi days, there seems to be no logical reason for this. Or is there?\n\nA: (B.V. Tripurari Swami) Actually the tithis (astrologically calculated times) commemorating the appearance of God are to be observed by worship and worship is to be done before eating. Therefore eating, which principally involves taking grains, should be done following the tithi and usually this means on the following day. Taking food or honoring prasada that does not consist of grains is somewhat of a concession and perhaps a practical consideration as well, as feasting directly following fasting is not the best practice. You may find more information in Hari-bhakti-vilasa, and the method for observing Krsna Janmastami is discussed in Sat-sandarbha.\n\nA: (Dhyanakunda dd) Krsna-ksetra Prabhu explained that to the Indian mind "feast" MEANS grains. There is no question of a non-grain feast. Rice and bread are essential ingredients of any full meal, what to speak of a feast. Therefore "Ekadasi feast" is an oxymoron, something that was invented by ISKCON in the West.\n\nQ: If the reason is that the feast should be light (considering that usually these feasts are taken between 18:00 and midnight) then it also doesn't make that much sense, because potatoes and cheese (especially when combined) are much more difficult to digest than rice and corn for example. And considering how many sweets are taken during these feasts and the quantity of these feasts in general, is this really a rational reason?\n\nA: (Dhyanakunda dd) You are completely right. The original standard (and the one SP taught - there are some letters to this effect) is: you fast the whole day, take a *light meal* at night to break the fast ("Ekadasi meal" is synonymous to "light meal"), and you have the real feast, with grains etc., the day after. It has nothing to do with the papapurusa.\n\nThe feast the day after Gaura Purnima is called Jagannatha Misra feast. The feast the day after Janmastami, in our case, happens to be Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja feast. You have certainly noticed there is a belief the more we eat on that feast, the more advancement we make... :-) It is not really because it is the Vyasa-puja feast, it is because it is the real Janmastami feast.\n\nKrsna-ksetra Prabhu explained that we Westerners made the "Ekadasi break-fast" into the feast because it was impractical for us, and required too much patience to wait until the next day.\n\nRead the Lilamrta, the first Janmastami SP made in New York in 1966: at midnight, the disciples expected a real meal, when he entered with a tray of apple slices! The real feast was on the next day.\n\nThe "Ekadasi feast" injunction has nothing to do with the papapurusa. BTW, did SP teach anywhere about the papapurusa entering grains on Ekadasi? [No mention in the Vedabase.] If not, I would be inclined to assume that Padma Purana taught people in this way to make the prohibition more effective, while the real point was simply to make them eat less. Grains and beans are among the most nutritious foodstuffs. Milk they anyway drink mixed with water, half by half.\n\nBut we the Westerners have missed the point and invented all kinds of Ekadasi foodstuffs which are actually defying the goal of Ekadasi. I have heard potatoes are not indigenous to India - this is why they are not used in Jagannatha offerings at Puri.\n\nPrasadam Prayer on Ekadasi\n\nQ: If you accidentally start singing "sarira avidya-jal" on Ekadasi it's likely that some devotees start screaming: "No! No! It's Ekadasi!" The reason is that in this prayer the word "grains" is there (anna). But then I wonder about the Gurvastaka: catur-vidha-sri- bhagavat-prasada-svadvANNA-trptan... And besides that, many times anna is translated as "food", "foodgrains", etc. Monier-Williams translates anna as that which is "eaten". Thus I wonder where the tradition not to sing this song exactly comes from, and whether it's necessary to skip this prayer on this day.\n\nA: (Dhyanakunda dd) I have heard it first from Kurma Prabhu. I speculate it is the same as with the word "meat" in English. Originally, it meant "any food," but later it came to mean that food which was regarded as most essential, namely flesh. I guess the word anna also initially meant 'any food' (like in 'annamaya stage', which is basically milk), but then it came to mean the essential food, i.e. grains. The role of rice in the tropical cultures is much greater than in ours. So, theoretically, you could persist in chanting the song on Ekadasis, but it would make a really strange impression.\n\nNon-observance of Ekadasi\n\nGaura Keshava das: According to Gaudiya Vaisnava sastras non- observance of Ekadasi Vrata is a sin equal to killing one's guru. (Different sampradayas have different ways of dealing with sins that are committed. Some advocate prayascitta. In general though Gaudiya Vaisnavas tend towards not performing specific prayascittas but simply continuing with their main form of sadhana i.e. chanting the holy name of the Lord. Of course, one also has to remember not to committed sins on the strength of chanting. Therefore no one should think that "because I am chanting therefore I will be forgiven for breaking Ekadasi, etc." The proper attitude if or when one commits a sin like "breaking" Ekadasi, it to think of oneself as a sinner.)\nI have never seen anything in sastra that states that "if one breaks Ekadasi one can do such and such and be relieved of that sin". However in Deity worship we often advise people to do some form of atonement for offenses. Normally a devotee will fast for one day in atonement. That fasting should not be done on the Dvadasi (12th) day (the next day to Ekadasi when one is supposed to break the fast) but usually on the next day, on Trayodasi (13th day).
uestions about suffering\n\nQ: Why is there sorrow, pain and death? Why is not there peace? It would be so much better if there was only happiness.\n\nA: Yes, this is an intelligent observation. The Vedic scriptures say that duhkha, suffering, is an inherent part of this material world. In different places there are different grades of it but one can't avoid it completely. Why? Because this world is not (and will not be) a place meant for enjoyment as we would wish and as some philosophies and religions suggest.\n\n"Out of so many human beings who are suffering, there are a few who are actually inquiring about their position, as to what they are, why they are put into this awkward position and so on. Unless one is awakened to this position of questioning his suffering, unless he realizes that he doesn't want suffering but rather wants to make a solution to all suffering, then one is not to be considered a perfect human being." (BG Introduction)\n\nThe Vedas teach that there is another, superior realm (apareyam itas tv anyam, Bhagavad-gita 7.5) which is qualitatively different - eternal, full of knowledge and bliss. This is our real home where we belong. There are many descriptions of this world available in the scriptures. When we get rid of our present material contamination (desires to control and enjoy matter) we can return there. The best way of purification is to chant the Hare Krishna mahamantra.\n\nMore about this topic you can learn from our site. Bhagavad-gita is an excellent book which answers this kind of essential questions.\n\nIf you have more questions, don't hesitate to write. You are also welcome to visit any of our centers which are like embassies of the spiritual world.\n\nQ: Why has God created people who do bad things in life (i.e. murder, looting etc.)? What is the use of such people? Can all the human beings not be purified so that the world becomes a peaceful place?\n\nA: We are eternal living beings who belong to the spiritual world. There we live in a company of God serving Him with love. But love must be voluntary, therefore we have also a possibility to choose not to love Him and leave Him. Then we live in a material world with all those defects you describe. When we after many lifetimes realize this is not our real home we start a purification process, the way back to Godhead. If there wouldn't be the chance to return there wouldn't be any choice again.\n\nThe purification process is called bhakti-yoga. It begins with chanting the holy names of the Lord, serving Him in an association of devotees, reading about Him, eating food offered to Him etc. More about this process you can find in our site.\n\nQ: I feel lost and can see nothing good in life. What is wrong with me?\n\nA: If you feel lost you have come to the right place. Actually everyone feels lost in the material world, but very few have the guts to admit it. Why? Because the propaganda is such that if you don't get ahead in society, by getting an education, a job, a car, a wife and a dog and so on, you are considered a loser. And who wants to be a loser, right?\n\nBut actually we are all loosers. Why? Because we will die. It doesn't matter how much money you have, or how beautiful your girlfriend is, the bottom line is death.\n\nVedic scriptures, however, have a solution to the death problem:\n\n"Due to this external energy, the living entity, although transcendental to the three modes of material nature, thinks of himself as a material product and thus undergoes the reactions of material miseries." (SB 1.7.5, Vyasa's vision)\n\n"The material miseries of the living entity, which are superfluous to him, can be directly mitigated by the linking process of devotional service. But the mass of people do not know this, and therefore the learned Vyasadeva compiled this Vedic literature, which is in relation to the Supreme Truth. (SB 1.7.6)\n\n"Simply by giving aural reception to this Vedic literature, the feeling for loving devotional service to Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, sprouts up at once to extinguish the fire of lamentation, illusion and fearfulness." (SB 1.7.7)\n\nQ: Your teachings seem to me very pertinent on exposing the negative side of this world. Could you give a short overview of comparing this life to a dream?\n\nA: Krishna consciousness is so clear. When we become introduced to KC it is like waking up from a bad dream. This life is actually like a dream.\n\nAllow me to quote from the Gita: "When, however, one is enlightened with the knowledge by which nescience is destroyed, then this knowledge reveals everything, as the sun lights everything up in the day time." (BG 5.16)\n\nJust like imagine you dream something very nice, say, you dream that you have won the big price... millions of dollars, so in your dream you are enjoying like anything. There is just one problem... you have to wake up.\n\nOr you dream that you have just managed to seduce a beautiful girl and then you wake up. Is not that a frustrating experience? Why you cannot enjoy a dream? Because it ends.\n\nSo this life is just like that. Remember e.g. the happiest moments in your life. Can you enjoy these moments now in the present? No you cannot. Often we hear this sentimental claim, "I have my nice memories." But what good are nice memories to us now? Can we enjoy our memories? In fact we cannot. Can you enjoy memories of a nice relationship, nice food, a nice journey, a love affair...?\n\nOf course we may sentimentally think of something nice, but there is no way we will actually be satisfied just be remembering something nice.\n\nSo life is like a dream. We may enjoy some sense gratification for a short while, but it always ends and leaves us with frustration and dissatisfaction. Since no situation, however enjoyable and ideal, will last in this world, material life can be compared to a dream. This life is like a day dream, as insubstantial and flickering as the dreams we dream at night. The only reason we do not think of life as a dream, but think of it as very real, is the fact that we have not woke up to reality yet.\n\nTo do that takes a lot of guts ("red or blue pill?"). That is what the process of Krishna consciousness is all about. It is a scientific process to help us gradually wake up again to reality - the reality of our eternal life with Krishna.\n\nSo an intelligent person will naturally wonder if this is really all there is to life. What's the use of all this struggle to get ahead when I anyway have to leave it all behind? What's the use of struggling so hard for pleasure, when in the end it will turn to misery? Because pleasure always turns to sorrow. It doesn't matter how much pleasure we are experiencing, it is bound to end, and when it ends we lament.\n\nThe cause of our predicament is that we seek pleasure in the wrong place. We try to become happy by making this body happy. This is the real problem. Why? Because we are not this body. We are the observer within the body. Everyone who does not know that will simply suffer or enjoy life after life in the material world.\n\nWe are not this body. This is the main message we learn from the Vedas. And therefore we will never become happy just by trying to satisfy this body. The proof is that even people who have everything they could possible want, like movie stars and rock stars, are still frustrated and unhappy.\n\nTherefore the first thing to learn is that we are not this material body but the person within the body. The body will die but you will live on. You might ask why are we here then. Well, we are here because we have wanted to take the position of God as the supreme controller and enjoyer. Instead of serving God, in pure bliss, we are now serving a material body which is destined to rot and die. And we think this body is us.\n\nTo become really happy, we have to give up this false identification of ourselves in terms of our material body, and become reinstated in our original position as eternal spirit souls, parts and parcels of God - Krishna.\n\n"Please, therefore, describe the Almighty Lord's activities which you have learned by your vast knowledge of the Vedas, for that will satisfy the hankerings of great learned men and at the same time mitigate the miseries of the masses of common people who are always suffering from material pangs. Indeed, there is no other way to get out of such miseries." (SB 1.5.40)\n\n"Arjuna said: 'O my Lord Sri Krsna, You are the almighty Personality of Godhead. There is no limit to Your different energies. Therefore only You are competent to instill fearlessness in the hearts of Your devotees. Everyone in the flames of material miseries can find the path of liberation in You only.'" (SB 1.7.22)\n\n"Engaged constantly in chanting and hearing about Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the sadhus do not suffer from material miseries because they are always filled with thoughts of My pastimes and activities." (SB 3.25.23)\n\nThis can be done in this day and age by repeating the names of God on a regular basis. In other words, the method of self realization for this particular time we live in, is the meditation on the Hare Krishna mantra. So this is my recommendation to you. You simply chant:\n\nHare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare...\n\nand your life will be sublime. It doesn't cost you anything so what have you got to lose? If you have any further questions or comments please feel free to write.\n\n"A Krsna conscious person knows that if a man is suffering it is due to his forgetfulness of his eternal relationship with Krsna. Therefore, the highest benefit one can render to human society is relieving one's neighbor from all material problems. In such a way, a pure devotee is engaged in the service of the Lord." (BG 11.55 p.)\n\nIllusion of "I want to be independent"\n\n(from a debate with a New Age follower)\n\nC: Human beings are herding animals. Like sheep, w