Chemical Life... Where is It?
BY: MAYESVARA DASA
Aug 26, 2010 — OJAI, CALIFORNIA (SUN) —
Prelude to This Month's Feature Article
Chemical Life? Where is it?
Atheists are very aggressive about asserting their opinions regarding how foolish they think the theists are. They bodaciously proclaim that the sentimental beliefs of those who believe in God are unfounded, irrational and just as childish as believing in the existence of the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.
Everyone has seen the charts and diagrams scientists use to promote "Evolution" as an accurate summary of what the biology and the fossil record tells us. Those diagrams give the average individual the impression that complex life we know of as a cognizant human being, "Evolved" up, all the way thru millions of permeations of species from a pool of stinking pond scum. Evolutionists and Atheists both think it is much more rational to "Believe" that this odorous primordial soup mutated into small enzymes and eventually became molecular forms of self reproducing "Living Cells" for no apparent reason other then random chance.
Hari Bolo Friends of the Vedas!
Please accept my respects. All glory to the transcendental light of the Bhagavad-Gita as It Is!
On Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 7:30 pm ...
TIME: 7:30pm
AT: American Vedic Association
STREET: 687 West Villanova Road
CITY: Ojai, California, 93023
PHONE: (805) 640-0405
C/O: mayesvara dasa ACBSP AKA: William Roberts MBA/MIS, CCP
...Come join this wonderful evening that includes:
Congregational Mantra Meditation
A short study in Sanskrit
A FREE Vegetarian Feast and
A Bona-fide Sat-sanga where we will discuss:
“Chemical Life?” Biologists can’t create even a simple seed in the laboratory and there is NO evidence of life coming from chemicals. Yet evolutionists assert life began in pond scum! Conversely there are millions of examples of chemicals coming from life. Appreciate the scientific origin of life explained in the Vedas at the next AVA meeting! - 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
Current Events
Special Edition of AVA Newsletter !
Normally the AVA Newsletter goes out on Wednesday the week before our normal Tuesday Evening Gathering. However due to the scheduling of Krishna Janmastami for this Saturday Evening, August 28, at 6:30pm this newsletter is going out one week ahead of schedule.
We hope all the local members of our congregation will be able to join us for this big wonderful annual event. Come meet some nice quality people who are serious about the pursuing the proper goals of human life.
Krishna Janmastami
6:30 pm Saturday Evening August 28, 2010
Sri Krishna appeared as the eighth avatar (incarnation) of the Supreme Lord on earth. He is accepted as the original Supreme personality of Godhead from where all other incarnations came from. His appearance day is celebrated with a lot of pageantry, splendor and delicious vegetarian food. Krishna particularly enjoyed butter and milk products so many sweets are made from that as well as a wide variety of fruits, nuts and whole grains,
Vaishnava devotees enjoy sharing stories about Lord Krishna’s extraordinarily pastimes at the Janmastami festival. The tale about how he outsmarted his demonic uncle Kamsa when he was first born is very endearing. Then as a youth he proceeded to relieve the earth from many types of irreligious demons. He was the unchallenged hero of his day both in terms of his bodily prowess and his intellectual brilliance. In fact he remains the most extraordinary personality to have ever graced the face of the earth. In Sanskrit the word Krishna literally means the “All Attractive One,” and that can be experienced by attending Krishna Janmastami and feeling the expression of His transcendental joy.
The actual lunar date for Krishna Janmastami is on September 2, but as a convenience to his devotees who have work obligations elsewhere, the American Vedic Association will hold Krishna Janmastami on the evening of August 28, at 6pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate in the setup, cooking and organization for this wonderful festival. Please contact mayesvara dasa at (805) 640-0405 for questions or to volunteer your services.
Thank you.
Prelude to This Month’s Feature Article
Chemical Life? Where is it?
Atheists are very aggressive about asserting their opinions regarding how foolish they think the theists are. They bodaciously proclaim that the sentimental beliefs of those who believe in God are unfounded, irrational and just as childish as believing in the existence of the Easter Bunny or the Tooth Fairy.
Everyone has seen the charts and diagrams scientists use to promote “Evolution” as an accurate summary of what the biology and the fossil record tells us. Those diagrams give the average individual the impression that complex life we know of as a cognizant human being, “Evolved” up, all the way thru millions of permeations of species from a pool of stinking pond scum. Evolutionists and Atheists both think it is much more rational to “Believe” that this odorous primordial soup mutated into small enzymes and eventually became molecular forms of self reproducing“Living Cells” for no apparent reason other then random chance.
The Atheists rely on the antics of the so called Evolutionary “Scientists” to support their self serving delusionary belief that we are all “FREE” to romp around and do whatever we like without suffering any consequences. But no matter how much they do that, they still have no answer for where all the building blocks for life came from or how the cosmic clock originally got wound up. This brings us to the concept of “Infinite Regression.” The term applies to a rigorous inquiry about where things ultimately came from.
At some point the Scientists simply say it’s ridiculous to attribute the origin of life to God, simply because they have already eliminated that answer as a legitimate possibility from their list of reasonably acceptable answers. But that approach violates the idealistic concept of letting pure SCIENCE lead the researcher where ever the truth takes it. In fact to rule out the possibility that the universe was created intentionally by something so great we can barely grasp what that source might be, is not only disingenuous, it’s pure prejudice.
Scientific Double Standards?
Even when theists play by the ground rules that were established by the scientists, still the pride of the atheist overrules consistent thinking. It is the ultra conservative secular rationalists (Scientists) who established core principals of logical thinking in regards to matter. Those guidelines are known as the “Conservation of Energy” and the laws of thermodynamics.
The first law of Thermodynamics clearly states that: “Matter can neither be created nor destroyed.” So based on the laws scientists claim to ardently adhere to; All the building blocks of this universe had to come from some supernatural power that operates outside of the boundaries of mundane scientific understanding. Theists simply acknowledge this fact and recognize that whatever cause created everything from nothing is a lot more capable and extraordinary then we can ever hope to understand. They call that force God and because His abilities are so far beyond what we can possibly comprehend they remind respectful and humbled by that force.
Atheists on the other hand arrogantly refuse to acknowledge the perplexing fact that everything originally DID have to come from SOMETHING very extraordinary to manifest it from absolutely nothing!. Instead, even though they can’t reasonably explain how that could be possible, they none the less still IRRATIONALLY conclude that whatever that something is, it couldn’t possibly be better, greater, more clever, or powerful then they are!
This type of belligerence is most commonly associated with snotty, bellicose teenagers. At the peak of their juvenile naivety they are simply too proud to realize how vulnerable, in-significant and conditioned by ignorance they are to possibly know everything about everything. Yet this is exactly what explains for their often foolish and dangerous behavior! Just as inexperienced proud youths are too stubborn to admit their precarious position due to their limited sensual experience, the scientists are equally stubborn and naive. They seem to think that whether they are peeking thru microscopes to study the tiny world or they reach out to the edges of the universe using high powered radio telescopes, still they are only able to catalogue and examine just a very small portion of this one vast galaxy. Some may worship this method and honor it with the label of the “Scientific Method,” but it amounts to nothing more then child’s play in relation to unraveling the mysteries of the very vast universe and it’s also very dishonest..
For the Hot Link of this issue, I have selected a short narration from Dr. Jobe Martin, a scientist who originally accepted the smoke and mirrors of Darwins Evolutionary theory. Dr. Martins students challenging questions was what pushed him to investigate past the fancy charts illustrating portions of the phylogenetic tree.
The phylogenetic tree is just an illustration giving the suggestion that all life is tied together with some type of consistent biological link. But the lines that connect all the branches of the tree together are intentionally draw as SOLID lines, when in fact it would be much more honest of they were drawn as very well interspersed DOTTED lines! They look like they represent real scientific knowledge but, in fact, they are just misleading lines drawn on a piece of paper based on a very bias interpretation of the limited controversial data that is available.
Unfounded Assumptions Scientists Rely On
As Doctor Martin researched the topic of evolution with the intent of “Putting his ignorant students in their place,” he slowly realize how poor and inconsistent the evidence was to support the theory of Evolution. It soon became obvious that for the theory to survive, some big assumptions had to be in place and not questioned.
The two biggest unfounded assumptions Science just skip right over and hope nobody will notice are:
1. Dead things can come to life. = Spontaneous Generation =Somehow dead matter gets mixed up and magically starts reproducing as life forms!
2. This phenomena only happened once, has never happened since the beginning of time and to this date has still not been duplicated in a laboratory anywhere. (Despite all the people who insist on running around claiming that “Life comes from Chemicals!”) Now how rational, honest and scientific is that?
When just these two points are considered, we can see how the so called highly rational scientists have their own believe bias which is no better then the theist’s concept of an intelligent creator. So it seems fair that we could toss their own challenge back at them and ask if they also believe in unicorns and flying horses?
HOT LINK for This Issue
Dr. Jobe Martin (Evolutionist Who Evolved to Become a Creationist)
This issue Hot link offers us a short presentation by Dr. Jobe Martin who converted from being an uninformed propaganda tinged Evolutionist to a well informed staunch Creationist. After objectively considering the facts he had to agree that it makes absolutely NO scientific fact to promote the concept that life just magically “Popped” into existence from NOTHING for NO apparent reason! We applaud Dr. Martin’s integrity and willingness to change his position on this important issue. Too many other people faced with similar evidence obstinately cling to their unfounded beliefs just like the obstinate “know-it-all-teenager.”
HOT LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x59wj05-i4
Main Article by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
"Chemical Life”
This is the continuation of a conversation between His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and a guest -- Dr. Christian Hauser, a psychiatrist -- which took place in Stockholm in September 1973.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: I am prescribing, "Chant Hare Krsna." If you say, "Hare Krsna," immediately the relief begins. And if you say, "No, no, I cannot chant this Hare Krsna mantra -- I don't believe in it," what can be done? That will prove to be a great misfortune. Just consider. Someone is being asked to chant two words: Hare Krsna. But he'll not agree to chant these two words and get relief. Instead, he'll chant ten or fifteen words: "No, no, I cannot chant this Hare Krsna mantra -- I don't believe in it." He won't chant the two words Hare Krsna and get relief. That is a great misfortune for the person.
Dr. Hauser: Yes. But isn't there something else beyond just the chanting? I mean ...
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: That is the beginning. It is like an ocean. Anandambudhi: an ocean of blissfulness. So first of all, come to the shore -- touch the water. It is like the Pacific Ocean, with all its vastness. But come to the shore and touch the water. Then gradually you'll understand. If you remain aloof -- "No, I shall not touch it" -- then how can you understand what the Pacific Ocean is?
Dr. Hauser: Yes, I can see that.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: Ambudhi means "the ocean"; ananda means "blissfulness." So anandambudhi means "the ocean of blissfulness." And anandambudhi-vardhanam: this ocean of blissfulness goes on increasing and increasing unlimitedly.
Now, how does this ocean of blissfulness go on increasing? Ceto-darpana marjanam: the more you chant the Lord's holy names, the more you cleanse your heart.
We all have got these unclean ideas, these dirty illusions -- "I am white," "I am black," "I am French," "I am Chinese" -- covering our heart. Fundamentally, our illusion is, "I am this body." But by chanting the Lord's names, we cleanse away our illusion and come to the reality: "I am a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Supreme Spirit. Now let me serve Him."
So our diseased condition in this world is due to our unclean heart. In fact, disease means uncleanliness. Is it not?
Dr. Hauser: Hmm.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: Yes. So our material disease -- our being in this material world to begin with -- is due to our unclean heart. Therefore to cure this disease, ceto-darpana-marjanam: we have to cleanse our heart. And this is the process: chant Hare Krsna; let the Lord's holy names cleanse our heart.
Dr. Hauser: When did this movement start in the Western hemisphere?
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: My spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, asked me to revive this traditional Vedic culture in the Western world. It is not actually a question of "starting." This is the world's traditional, original culture.
Dr. Hauser: For some people, it will be very difficult accepting this kind of thing as authoritative.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: Why? At every moment, everyone is accepting something or other as authoritative -- whether some scientific theory or some news report. And yet generally, whatever thing we are accepting was produced by some man's imperfect senses and imperfect mind -- so that thing is imperfect.
Dr. Hauser: Yes.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: But if we go to the all-perfect Supreme Personality of Godhead, then we get something perfect, something really authoritative. Take this traditional Vedic culture. It comes from the Vedic literature of Vyasadeva, the Lord's literary incarnation. You just test for yourself. For instance, several thousand years ago, the Bhagavata Purana foretold Lord Buddha's birth -- the place, the family, the date -- exactly. Perfect authoritativeness.
So this chanting of the Lord's names -- we are not concocting some idea. In the Vedic literature the Lord recommends this; this is authoritative. But instead you may want to accept some other pre-scription for relief -- something produced by some man's imperfect senses and mind. But that thing must be imperfect, because it is from someone imperfect.
Dr. Hauser: Yes.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: And yet, despite all this imperfection, still this man will put the thing forward as if it were perfect. So he is cheating. That is going on. Recently a big professor, a Nobel Prize winner, went to Los Angeles to tout his book on chemical evolution. His remedy for our darkness is that life begins from a certain four chemicals. And he has the effrontery to give lectures. So one of my disciples who has a doctorate in chemistry asked this professor, "If I give you these four chemicals, will you be able to produce life?" The professor replied, "That I cannot say." Remember, he had asserted that life begins from these four chemicals, and he had lectured for hours. And yet when he was asked, "When you actually have these four chemicals, will you be able to produce life?" he answered, "That I cannot say." Just see. He's not certain whether he'll be able to produce life. Is this not cheating?
Dr. Hauser: Yes.
HDG A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami: So we don't go to cheaters to get relief. We go to the Supreme Lord, and we continuously chant His holy names.
"Dirty Illusions"
(Back To Godhead Magazine #21-04 -1986)
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* End This Issue Feature Article *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
This Issue Thoughtful Vedic Quote(s)
1.
" My Lord, You are the origin of the creation by virtue of the lotus flower which sprouts from Your navel. You are the supreme controller of the senses and the sense objects, and You are also the all-pervading Vasudeva. You are most peaceful, and because of Your self-illuminated existence, You are not disturbed by the six kinds of transformations.”
-Srimad Bhagavat Purana, Canto 4, “The Creation of the Fourth Order,” Chapter 24 “Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Siva,” Text 34. LINK: LINK: http://vedabase.net/sp/4/24/34/en
This Issue Thoughtful Scholarly Quote(s)
2.
”After the conversations about Indian philosophy, some of the ideas of Quantum Physics that had seemed so crazy suddenly made much more sense.” - Werner Karl Heisenberg - (Dec. 1901 – Feb. 1976) German physicist who won 1932 Nobel Prize in physics. He studied sub-atomic processes and asserted the: “Uncertainty Principal”
Contents of the 2nd Half of the AVA newsletter.
(This portion of the AVA Newsletter does not change between issues. )
1. Jagannatha Enterprises Bazaar - Transcendental Books & More
2. Scheduled AVA Television Shows in Ojai & Ventura
3. Open Invitation
4. AVA MISSION
5. About the Author
6. Previous and Pending AVA Newsletters
Jagannatha Enterprises Bazaar - Transcendental Books & More
Many people who read the AVA newsletter have begun to inquire where they could purchase a copy of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is. After considering this we realized that our readers may also want to know how they can get a few other unique products that are available only from the commercial side of our efforts that operates under the name: Jagannatha Enterprises. We are happy to provide the following items for purchase at extraordinary prices. (Send your order with Check Payable to: Jagannatha Enterprises to: 687 Villanova Road, Ojai Ca. 93023 Thank you!)
Incident AtLotus Park
"Incident at Lotus Park"- DVD/BlueRay
Contemporary Rendition The Story about Ajamila
6th Canto – Srimad Bhagavat Purana – 35Minute Dramatic Performance
This is a memorial rendition of the classic story about Ajamila. Complete with special effects and an action packed script this show will help everyone better understand why it is important to practice the yuga dharma of always remembering the Supreme Personality Of Godhead by chanting his holy name. This short trailer provides a nice sample of what you can expect to see on this dramatic performance.
LINK: ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMyMDcXNP8E
Specify: Normal DVD or Blue Ray High Definition
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Bhagavad-gita As It Is, 1968 Paperback Edition with A Blue Cover
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Softbound, 318 pages.
The reprinting of the abridged version of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, as published by the Collier-Macmillan Company in 1968. This edition also includes "Who is Krishna?" by George Harrison, and appreciations by Allen Ginsberg and Thomas Merton.
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Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Hardbound Edition with Full Color Illustrations
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Hardbound, 924 pages 16 color plates, 5.5 by 9.5 inches.
This is the largest selling Gita in the world and you can have it for
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"God On Trial" – 45 Minute Audio Drama on CD
By: ISKCON's most prolific Playwright His Grace Anadi Dasa & the Vaikunta Players
Excellent high quality dramatic courtroom performance with sound effects exposing the flaws in the most popular arguments against the existence of God.
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Or you can purchase a bulk order of 10 CD's for $5 each!
Jagannatha Enterprises Products c/o Jagannatha (dot) Com
Please Visit Our Website: Jagannatha (dot) Com to See The Following Products
Umbrellas - Beautiful Full Color 3 ft Wide Rain Protection!
Available in both the collapsible pocket size model or the walking stick model.
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To see this fantastic product visit: http://jagannatha.com
Jagannatha Glow In The Dark Clock - Devotees Love this special timepiece!
Lord Jagannatha will peer out of the dark and will offer his soothing smile to you or your children all night long! Beautiful 12 peddle lotus clock face with special chakra, mace, and conch glow in the dark hands!
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Or you can purchase a case of 10 Jagannatha Clocks for $10 each!
Automobile Tilac - Brand your car with mark of Vishnu!
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Scheduled AVA Television Shows in Ojai & Ventura
Interesting & Educational!
All of our readers are encouraged to tune in and see as many of the following well produced television shows that are now being broadcast on local Public Access Television. It is easy to see by the listings provided below that we have a large catalogue of very interesting material that includes Serious Vedic Philosophy, Reincarnation, Vegetarian Lifestyle, Dharma, Meditation, Yoga, Contemporary events, Dance, Drama, Religion and very sacred places of pilgrimage in India.
Volunteer to Get AVA Shows Broadcast in Your City?
We are anxious to expand our viewing potential to the cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara, Santa Paula and Simi Valley! However in order to do that a local resident must make the request. If you live in one of these areas, understand the importance of this work, and are willing to assist in getting these shows broadcast on your local Public Access Station, the please contact AVA and let us know. AVA will assume all administration fees related to getting the shows aired. All we ask you to do is submit the paperwork which we will help you do, and spot check that the broadcasts are actually being made when scheduled
Purchase or Borrow Shows From AVA for Educational Purposes.
All of our shows are very educational and have been loaded to Educators, Yoga Teachers, Open Minded churches, or anyone who would like to show them to public audiences free of charge. All of these shows can also be purchased directly from the producers if one would like to do that. For further information about how you can borrow or purchase any program on VHS or DVD format please contact AVA directly. Thank you!
Ventura Cable Channel 6 CAPS Scheduled Broadcasts:
We are happy to announce that the AVA Shows will continue to be broadcast to the people of Ventura on Channel 6 via the CAPS television network. I would like to personally thank Donald McConnell and Kristen Snyder from CAPS for helping make this happen as well as Clint Bergan for being willing to sponsor the AVA shows in Ventura!
Ventura CAPS has informed me that they are committed to showing our one hour performances at least once a week with as many as four showing per week when space permits. Although the following time slots are not absolutely certain, CAPS has indicated these hours are the most likely time you can tune in to see one of our shows:
Mon: 10pm-11pm / Wed: 8am-9am / Thr: 2pm-3pm
Biography of Abhay Charan De Series
Week Of: August 29 - September 4, 2010
B9.1. ISKCON Goes to Bombay India
Week Of: September 5 - 11, 2010
B9.2. Conclusion of Bombay & Acquisition of Paris Temple
Week Of: September 12 - 18, 2010
B10.1. The Beatles Meet Bhaktivedanta Swami!
Ojai Time Warner Channel 10 Scheduled Broadcasts:
In December of 2008 the Time Warner contract for providing Public Access television to the people of the Ojai Valley expired. The city of Ojai has discussed a variety of alternative solutions to replace this important vehicle for expressing free speech and the broadcast of low budget local films.
Although many things have been discussed since then, there is still no venue for showing the AVA film series to the Ojai Public. If that changes we will make those shows available. If anyone has information relevant to this venue for sharing Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movment to the peple of Ojai, then please let me know. –Thank you. (805) 640-0405 c/o mayesvara dasa
* * * * * * * * *END OF Television Schedule * * * * * * * * * *
Open Invitation
Invitation to Everyone Who Receives This Newsletter!
The purpose of this newsletter is to seek out and invite anyone who is serious about real spiritual growth to come join us for a great evening of Krishna Katha, (Discussions about Krishna), Krishna Prasadam, (Wonderful Vegetarian Dinner first offered to Krishna with Love) and Krishna Nama-Bhajanas. (Glorification of Krishna's names and Pastimes in Sanskrit.) 1st & 3rd Tuesday of every month. Reservations are NOT required. (805) 640-0405
Invitation to Fellow Vaishnavas!
Vaishnavas who have experience speaking on the transcendental name, fame, and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna are invited to contact AVA if you would like to speak atone of our programs. The AVA congregation meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month with special events held to celebrate Janmastami and Gour Purnima. If you are in the area, or would like to visit with us for the evening, please let us know of that desire and we will schedule a date and work out the details for when you can speak.
This invitation is extended to any male of female initiated member of Lord Caitanya's Brahma-Madva Gaudia Sampraday Sankirtan tree. Our mood is that of transcendental collaboration for the glorification of Krishna sans niti-katha. Those who are interested in leading kirtan, or assisting in the preparation of the FREE Vegetarian feast are also invited to contact us so we can make the necessary arrangements to accommodate you.
Vegetarian Cooking!
We are happy to see how nicely the AVA congregational members are improving their Vegetarian culinary skills! Adopting a diet that allows other creatures to live their lives peacefully is a tradition that extends way back in both Vedic as well as Buddhist traditions. One would think that all serious transcendentalists would understand this simple principal, but unfortunately that does not appear to be true.
Educating people about the importance of a Vegetarian diet is essential for anyone who is serious about escaping the serious laws of karma delineated in the Vedas. Unfortunately there are many teachers who will compromise the importance of the Vegetarian diet in order to attract more followers and promote their own watered down ideas about what real spiritual maturity is all about.
AVA is committed to teaching the science of Self Realization the way it has been handed down and respected by the great sages for thousands of generations. That is why part of the service we offer is to teach anyone who is interested in this process how to eat properly.
Those who are raised in a carnivorous society but then want to convert to a Vegetarian diet often experience a lot of cognitive dissonance. On one hand, they are intellectually convinced that they ought to be a vegetarian, but they simply don't know how to convert their diet over to that lifestyle. Instead of postponing that on-going dilemma, why not consider learning how to cook wonderful Vegetarian foods using herbs and spices that not only taste good, but also make eating a tremendously fulfilling experience! You can do that prior to any AVA meeting where we always prepare a nice meal for all the guests who attend. Those who want to learn this tremendous skill are advised to contact us 36 hours prior to the AVA event so we can tell you what and when we will be cooking for that program. You can then join us at that time and start learning how to adopt the eating habits recommended in the Vedas for Human life, which is also the most beneficial for rapid spiritual maturity. :-)
Public Engagements?
As the AVA newsletter continues to find new audiences, some have asked about the possibility of bringing the subjects we discuss into other gatherings. If it is possible to schedule those requests we will be happy to do so as part of our service to the community. For this purpose AVA has compiled a list of contemporary subjects for which we have essays, books, charts, graphs, and in some cases, videos to augment our presentations. For more information about scheduling an engagement to learn more about the Vedic Siddhanta (conclusion) please contact us directly.
Suggest A Subject?
Many of the subjects we cover in the "AVA Newsletter" come from questions or topics that are only vaguely commented on by other sources. If you have a subject you would like us to address, please send the question in to us and we will consider it for a future AVA topic. Simple questions are also addressed during the "Bhagavad-Gita Fellowship" meetings for the benefit of all those who attend.
Vedic Authority
What makes the AVA program different from all other contemporary sources of transcendental learning? We rely on the methodical, thorough and scientific way the Vedas portray the world we live in. The Vedas are so vast, and unlike any other literature known to man, they are often criticized as confusing and esoteric. But this is because the secret of the Vedas can only be unlocked by one who has been properly trained how to "decode" them. Although that sounds like an exhausting study, it is actually quite easy if the candidate is willing to accept instruction from a good source. In fact, the path of Bhakti (Loving Devotion to the Supreme Lord in His Personal Form) is so powerful that the essences of all the Vedas become automatically realized to that soul who surrenders to the Personality of Godhead and engages in devotional service to Him.
"A person who accepts the path of devotional service is not bereft of the results derived from studying the Vedas, performing austere sacrifices, giving charity or perusing philosophical and furtive activities. Simply by performing devotional service he attains all these and at the end he reaches the supreme eternal abode." - Bhagavad-Gita Gita As It Is Chapter 8 "Attaining the Supreme" Text 28. LINK: http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/8/28/en
To grow transcendentally requires a reliable authority like the Bhagavad-Gita, (The torchlight of knowledge, Bg. 10.11) One is free to reject Vedic authority, but the consequences of doing so returns one to the words of speculation, conjecture, flawed empirical analysis, and a plethora of silly ideas about what spiritual life is from psycho-therapists, self declared gurus, charlatans, and carpetbag religionists, to name just a few.
Back Issues of AVA Newsletter
The subjects that we have already covered in 2005 are also included at the end of this newsletter. If you would like a digital copy of a past "AVA Newsletter," let us know and we will be happy to forward it to you for your further erudition.
AVA MISSION
Honor & Respect All the Magnanimous Souls
The American Vedic Association is an humble attempt to carry on with the mission of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. In the Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna unambiguously states:
udarah sarva evaite jnani tv atmaiva me matam
asthitah sa hi yuktatma mam evanuttamam gatim
"ALL these devotees are undoubtedly magnanimous souls, but he who is situated in knowledge of Me I consider to be just like My own Self. Being engaged in My transcendental service, he is sure to attain Me, the highest and most perfect goal." - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter7 “Knowledge of the Absolute’, Text 18. LINK: http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/7/18/en
This mood is further clearly confirmed by Krishnadasa Kaviraj Goswami in the Caitainya Caritamrita:
vande sri-krsna-caitanya- premamara-taroh priyan
sakha-rupan bhakta-ganan krsna-prema-phala-pradan
"I offer my obeisances to ALL the dear devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the eternal tree of love of Godhead. I offer my respects to ALL the branches of the tree, the devotees of the Lord who distribute the fruit of love of Krsna. ." - Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi Lila, Chapter 10. "The Trunk, Branches and Subbranches of the Caitanya Tree" Text 7" - LINK: http://caitanyacaritamrta.com/adi/10/7/en
It is therefore clear that anyone who is properly trained in the science of Self realization as handed down in the Gaudia Vaishnav tradition is a "Magnanimous Soul" and therefore deserves ALL respects. Based on this simple fact the American Vedic Association welcomes ALL Vaishnavas to participate in AVA events regardless of which branch on Lord Caitanya's sankirtan tree they may have studied with or current doctrinal disputes.
To any close observer it is evident that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami single handedly completely revolutionized the concept of yoga, meditation, Self Realization and religion in the Western world. He did this by introducing the Vedic Siddhanta which clearly delineates the three different levels of God Realization which culminates in Bhagavan Realization.
"Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute Truth call this nondual substance Brahman1, Paramatma2 or Bhagavatam3. -Srimad Bhagavat Purana Canto 1, "Creation" , Chapter 2, "Divinity & Divine Service", Text 11. LINK: http://vedabase.net/sp/1/2/11/en
The symptoms of Bhagavan Realization are evident when the aspiring transcendentalist finally understands, accepts, and surrenders to Krishna the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
"And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of ME within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me, He is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion. - Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Chapter 6 “Sankya Yoga’, Text 47. LINK: http://bhagavadgitaasitis.com/6/47/en
Expose the Shortcomings of Impersonalism and Voidism
Based on the strength of the Vedas, Bhaktivedanta Swami also taught that the greatest threat to the welfare of the world, society, economy and world peace etc, was the irrational self-centered sophistry of the Non-Dual and voidists schools of transcendence. This is further confirmed by Lord Caitanya Himself:
"Sripad Sankaracarya has described all the Vedic Literatures in terms of indirect meanings. One who hears such explanations is ruined." – Sri Caitanya Caritamrita Adi Lila, Chapter 7. "Lord Caitanya in Five Features" Text 109". LINK: http://caitanyacaritamrta.com/adi/7/109/en
"Sankaracarya, who is an incarnation of Lord Siva is faultless because he is a servant carrying out the orders of the Lord. But those who follow his Mayavadi Philosophy are doomed. They will lose all their advancement in spiritual knowledge." - Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi Lila, Chapter 7. "Lord Caitanya in Five Features" Text 114". LINK: http://caitanyacaritamrta.com/adi/7/114/en
The Non-Dual Advaita School was introduced by Sankaracarya and is also referred to as Mayavadi philosophy. The Voidist traditions are taught primarily by the followers of Lord Buddha. It is ironic that Sripad Sankaracarya is accepted as Lord Siva working under the instruction of Lord Krishna for the specific purpose of deluding those who are not willing to surrender. It is equally curious that Lord Buddha is also accepted as an incarnation of Lord Krishna. In both cases Krishna is tricking those who can not grasp his original form as the Surpreme Personalty of Godhead. By appearing in these forms he has made it possible every for the impersonalist to appreciate Him indirectly in a less personal way as one of his immediate expansions. Both of these points make for an interesting discussion but I will not elaborate on this any more here.
It is primarily because the followers of Christianity and Islam have failed so miserably to set a good example that the mass of the population is turning away from the classic "God"- centered religions and are now starting to adopt these atheistic faiths. The alternative to this dire scenario requires rethinking the prudence of embracing impersonalism and voidism but as stated above, once the mind has become contaminated with the word juggling rhetoric of the faithless it is very difficult to grasp the concept of God as a Person, ie: Bhagavan Realization.
Therefore out of all the numerous and extraordinary things that His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivanta Swami Prabhupada taught in the Western World, exposing the futility of these misguided traditions was arguably his foremost mission. This is clearly evident in the Sanskrit Pranama mantra which he was honored by during his physical presence and continues to be eulogized by to this day:
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine.
“We offer our respects unto you, the student of Sarasvati Gosvami. You are kindly teaching the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu for the purpose of delivering the Western World from impersonalism and voidism."
For this reason it is also the mission of the American Vedic Association to help the conditioned souls philosophically understand where and how these impersonal traditions fail to meet both the needs of the eternal soul, as well as why they can not possibly resolve the numerous social ills that plague the peace and solvency of all the worlds peoples. It is not our intention to offend any of our friends who may currently be involved with these other practices only inform them of a historical point of view they may not currently be familiar with. If anyone wishes to understand any of these points in greater detail you are encouraged to join us at one of our bi-monthly meetings where we will be happy to thoroughly answer all your questions based on the strength of Vedic Authority.
How to Contact
mayesvara dasa (md @ jagannatha (dot) com)
aka: William Roberts* Director
American Vedic Association
687 West Villanova Road
Ojai California, 93023
(805) 640-0405 AVA @ jagannatha (dot) com
About the Author
William Roberts is the founding director of The American Vedic Association, a legally independent but philosophically concurrent local branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. (ISKCON) He began studying Vedic philosophy in 1973 and assimilated the works of eminent Vaishnava saints while living in India for several years. He became an ordained Brahman priest under the tutelage of the world-class authority on Bhakti Yoga, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami. The American Vedic Association is currently sponsoring the Free Bhagavad-Gita Fellowship Gatherings held on the First and Third Tuesday of every month. The program includes a formal section which consists of congregational changing sacred mantras, a short lesson in the pronunciation and comprehension of Sanskrit, and a philosophical discussion. The informal part of the program includes a Free Vegetarian Dinner, open questions and answers, and when appropriate, an interesting subject related transcendental Video. For more information call, (805) 640-0405, or contact william.roberts @ jagannatha (dot) com.
Previous and Pending AVA Newsletters
"Dispel the Darkness of Ignorance With the Torchlight of Knowledge!" - Bg. 10.11
Bhagavad-Gita Gita As It Is Discussion Fellowship
Planned Gatherings & Topics
Every 1st & 3rd Tuesday of EACH Month
Sanskrit, Mantra, Kirtan, Prasadam!
AVA Topic Schedule 2008
Date/Event Meeting Subject
1st Tue: Jun 01, 2008 Purity & Freedom
2nd Tue: Jun 15, 2008 Artificial Intelligence
Sunday Aug 3, 2008 Rathayatra Festival at Venice Beach
1st Tue: Aug 5, 2008 Only Rare Individuals Transcend Economics
2nd Tue: Aug 19, 2008 Krishna Janmastami (Brigupati Dasa)
1st Tue: Sep 5, 2008 How Can There Be Peace?
2nd Tue: Sep 19, 2008
Live Naturally & Feed the People
1st Tue: Oct 7, 2008 Mundane Education?
2nd Tue: Oct 21, 2008 Spooky Karma (Bhakti Vichar Bishnu Swami)
1st Tue: Nov 4, 2008 Rascals Elect Rascals?
2nd Tue: Nov 18, 2008 Sixth Commandment & Cow Killing (Prem Preyojana)
1st Tue: Dec 2, 2008 There is Only One Religion
2nd Tue: Dec 16, 2008
The Tolerance of Lord Christ
1st Tue: Jan. 6, 2009 Absolute Authority (Bhagavat Maharaja)
2nd Tue: Jan 20, 2009 Be Good To Feel Good
1st Tue: Feb. 3, 2009 Leadership Means 'By Example'
2nd Tue: Feb 17, 2009 How to Respond to Crime & Conflict
1st Tue: Mar. 3, 2009 Don't Compromise Your Integrity
2nd Tue: Mar 17, 2009 Freedom to be a Fool
1st Tue: Apr. 7, 2009 Christ Never Justified Slaughter
2nd Tue: Apr. 21, 2009 Live Simple for Peace & Truth (Jai Balaram Dasa)
1st Tue: May. 5, 2009 Where Did the Chemicals Evolve From (Audaryalila Dasa)
2nd Tue: May. 19, 2009 Satisfaction is the Measure of Advancement
1st Tue: Jun. 2, 2009 Seeing God Inside & Outside – (md)
2nd Tue: Jun. 16, 2009 Gainsay Gushing Guru's Who Guess! – (md)
1st Tue: Jul. 7, 2009 Regenerative Body Machines-(Halayuda Dasa)
2nd Tue: Jul 28, 2008 Robust Kirtan, Play & Vaishnava Youth -Manu Das
Sunday
Aug 2, 2009 Los Angeles Rathayatra! Thousands took Prasadam!
1st Tue: Aug 4, 2009 Hard Work – Curse of Ignorance (Govinda Maharaja)
2 nd Tue: Aug 18, 2009 You Get What You Pray For (Halayuda Dasa)
Saturday Aug. 8th, 2009 Krishna Janmastami (6:30 pm) (Madan Mohan & Wife)
1st Tue: Sep 1, 2009 The Purpose of Education (md)
2nd Tue: Sep 15, 2009 "No Target?" No Score (md)
1st Tue: Oct 1, 2009 Self Manifesting Deception (Halayuda Dasa)
2nd Tue: Oct 20, 2009 Death; The final Frontier (Halayuda Dasa)
1st Tue: Nov 3, 2009 Who Do You Serve &Why (Halayuda Dasa)
2nd Tue: Nov 17, 2009 Cruelty Is Not Civilized - Veg-Thanksgiving (Padmanabha Maharaja)
1st Tue: Dec 1 2009
Talk & Do The Walk (md)
2nd Tue: Dec 15, 2009 Go & Sin No More (Bhagavat Maharaja)
1st Tue: Jan 5, 2010
No Process = No Progress (Halayuda Dasa)
2nd Tue: Jan 19, 2010 Displaced By Technology (md)
1st Tue: Feb 2, 2010 Science Misses The Point (Anadi Dasa)
2nd Tue: Feb 16, 2010 Don't Tell Me What To Do (md)
1st Tue: Mar 2, 2010 Awaken Sleeping Soul (Md)
2nd Tue: Mar 16, 2010 Let God Speak For Himself (AUDARYA LILA)
1st Tue: Apr 6, 2010 Earth Day – Nasty Improvements? (md)
2nd Tue: Apri 20, 2010 Spiritual But Not Religious (md)
1st Tue: May 4, 2010 Enlightenment Sale (Jaya Tirtha Maharaja)
2nd Tue: May 18, 2010 Which Word Was God's (md)
1st Tue: Jun 1, 2010 Distinguishing Goodness (md)
2nd Tue: Jun, 15, 2010 Cyclical Anarchy (md)
Thursday June, 24, 2010 Srila Narayana Maharaja Speaks at AVA!
Ojai Parade! Jul3, 2010 Independence Day Rathayatra (Congregation!)
1st Tue: Jul 6, 2010 All Paths = No Path (md)
2nd Tue: Jul, 20, 2010 Ideal Role Models (md)
1st Tue: Aug 3, 2010 Vaishnava Youth Play (manu etc. )
2nd Tue: Aug 17, 2010 Who’s The Boss, You or Your Body (md)
Janmastami
Saturday Evening 6:30pm - Aug. 28th , 2010
“Krishna Appearance Day” will be held at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: God excels in the following six oppulences: 1) Beauty 2)Renunciation 3) Strength 4)Wealth 5)Fame 6)Power. We may have some of these attributes, but only God is unsurpassed in all of them. Celebrate hearing about His extraordinary pastimes at this FREE festive celebration that includes culture, song, and a wonderful vegetarian feast! 6:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
1st Tue. Sep. 7th, 2010
“Chemical Life?” will be discussed at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: Biologists can’t create even a simple seed in the laboratory and there is NO evidence of life coming from chemicals. Yet evolutionists assert life began in pond scum! Conversely there are millions of examples of chemicals coming from life. Appreciate the scientific origin of life explained in the Vedas at the next AVA meeting! -7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
2nd Tue. Sep. 21th , 2010
“Less is More with Active Ignorance” will be discussed at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: Lazy Intelligence is best, followed by Active Intelligence then Lazy Ignorance. But Active Ignorance is the status quo currently escorting humanity into a future of scarcity, apathy, hubrus and strife! Break this ominous trend by cultivating wisdom at the next AVA meeting! 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
Living Peace Day Sept 21.
1st Tue. Oct. 5th, 2010
“Shuck-&-Jive vs. Train-&-Grow!” will be discussed at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: Word juggling New-Age Prophet$ imply no need to study, practice, or DO anything! Yet exalted yogis carefully trained their consciousness to benefit the rest of us with their time, realizations, and wise council. Replace Shuck-&-Jive rhetoric with the Train-&-Grow ecstasy of the sages at the next AVA meeting! 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
Ojai Valley Days October 16, 2010
2nd Tue. Oct. 19th , 2010
“Beware of Mad Scientists” will be discussed at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: Our tiny blue globe floats among trillions of other dots in our galaxy. From here we get a small peek at the universe which mad scientists then use to extrapolate conclusions about the whole cosmic creation! They constantly revise their theories but Vedic science never changes and you can learn about it at the next AVA meeting! 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
Halloween October 31, 2010
1st Tue. Nov. 2nd, 2010
“Step Up or Cop Out?” will be the topic of discussion at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: This temporary world is God’s inferior energy and we are is His marginal energy because we either His that His personna is the source, reason and goal of everything. Don’t dismiss the magician behind the illusion! Discover your eternal loving relationship with the original prestidigitator at the next AVA meeting. 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
2nd Tue. Nov. 16th , 2010
“Creating A Sane Social Thanksgiving” will be discussed at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: In the last 200 years we have nearly destroyed the very air, water, and land we require for survival! Our leaders are corrupt and the economy is in a crisis. Vedic culture was stable and thrived for thousands of years without creating the environmental holocaust we have today. Learn the sane way to eat, think and live at the annual AVA Tofu-Turkey Thanksgiving Fest! 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
Thanksgiving November 25, 2010
1st Tue. Dec. 7th, 2010
“Scientific Dogma?” will be discussed at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: Secularists fanatically worship the evolving conclusions of science even though they cannot explain the origin of consciousness. Speculative research fails to describe how a non-material soul got entrapped in a material covering; but you can understand how that happened if you attend the next AVA meeting! 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
2nd Tue. Dec. 21th , 2010
“Christ Is Our Guru” - will be discussed at the American Vedic Association Bhagavad Gita As It Is Fellowship: Vedic theology is an inclusive faith that measures a person according to how well they adhere to the four principls of dharma - not who they learned them from! Lord Christ taught how to love God with all thy heart by becoming: 1)Truthful 2)Clean 3)Austere and 4)Merciful. Jesus is therefore also our guru. Learn about it at the next AVA meeting! 7:30PM / 687 West Villanova Road - 640-0405 Always Free!
To Be Continued...
c/o William Roberts / mayesvara dasa: AVA Director (805) 640-0405
