Aashishs Blog

In his lecture this morning Prabhupada vividly described how the covering power of maya (Illusion) influences a person's sense of enjoyment. He explained that in Burma they have a drink called naphi. People keep special pots into which they place dead bodies of animals, which are then left to decompose. Later, after some years, the fluids are drained and bottled to be drunk at festivals.

When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's men opened a center in Rangoon, they cooked puris in ghee. The neighboring people actually complained about the "horrible smell."

Source: A Transcendental Diary, Volume 1 - November 1975 - April 1976, TD 1-9: Sri Dhama Mayapur, February 29th, 1976

Today, I was at Soho Temple - it was Govardhana Puja today. The temple was very nicely decorated, and the deities were stunning in their beautiful outfits. As usual, the feast was really nice.....but it ended up too much! I had to stuff all the sweets in my cup and attempt to get up! His Grace Devadeva Prabhu sang the kirtans and I was literally swept away with his melody that I had never heard before. He is literally crying out for their Lordships in so much pain and separation.

For a fraction of a moment the holy names seemed to come alive and touch me a little bit with its transcendental attractiveness - it is beyond words! I just realised that nothing in the material world can ever compare to the Holy Names, and the Holy Names is like a never-ending ocean of bliss. You then start to wonder why souls deviate from Devotional Service, if it is so pleasurable. My mind is saying that it is all down to the origin of the soul, but that's another controversy that is not worth getting into! Silly Mind!

Below is a lovely video clip from my mobile phone. Please watch:

I am going through my Vedabase Bookmarks and adding them to my Google Notebook with its new Labels functionality. Its a million times more organised this way, I feel. Am a bit paraoid about storing all my KC Notes online though... anyways I thought that I would share with you guys some nectar that I found!!! More will follow later.

In the early morning Prabhupada took up the topic of cheating gurus again. He told us about some of the nefarious activities of a few so-called gurus. One well know Svami had been found in bed with his secretary. So his disciples sued him.

He also told us about a Sikh guru in America who enjoys his disciples' wives. And they consider this a "blessing."

In Bombay there is a deviant line of Vaishnavas who follow a similar procedure. When a couple gets married the girl spends her wedding night with the guru, so that she becomes "guru prasadam"!

Source: A Transcendental Diary, Volume 1 - November 1975 - April 1976, TD 1-9: Sri Dhama Mayapur, February 4th, 1976

Sorted out the Radhastami Videos I posted some time ago - for some reason, the videos were not showing. Just scroll down to see them.

It is stated numerous times throughout the Vedic Literatures that very sinful people would attain the form of Ghosts which, it is stated, is a very miserable existence because the ghosts have no gross body to enjoy (which is why they enter other peoples bodies). You can attain this form through suicide or excessive attachment or if you are very, very sinful.

My God, I found this amazing video of a GhOsT on the internet! Please put your volume up a bit higher than normal, as you will also hear a few quiet and spooky things and make sure that you watch very closely as you will see a mysterious ghostly figure - the video is very short anyways. Oh, and please leave some comments of what you think! Please don't be a wimp and avoid the full screen mode!

This video has been thoroughly analysed by experts but they have so far offered no explanation as to what it is.