1973 October 13: "Regarding reading other books, I request you to stop this practice. Our students have no time to read our own books, but they have time to read other's books? You have correctly found the defect in these books. We don't want babaji class. We want active preachers."

We want active preachers, not overly scholarly theoreticians.

Mark and the doughnuts

What do you think of when someone says the word, “Doughnut”? Fast food chains? Cops in a car pretending to “stake out a joint” while guiltily putting on the pounds? Perhaps Homer from the Simpsons saying, “Mmmm… sugary, fried, greasy treats…”

Whatever your thoughts are, the words “healthy” and “spiritual” probably aren’t amongst them.

Yet Doughnut Plant, one of the trendiest and most popular doughnut shops in New York City, has managed to make these words synonymous with its fare.

I'm glad to hear that this place is still going strong. I have fond memories of their fare from my last visit in 2007. Its one place I am looking forward to when we arrive later this week. The doughnuts are huge and delicious. Your stomach will hurt because you ate too many!

With some further research and help from His Holiness Bhanu Swami, we have concluded that there is really no basis in either 1) the scripture, specifically the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, the guidebook for devotional practices compiled by Sanatana Gosvami, or 2) Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, for the idea that if one performs a full nirjala fast on Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi, that will negate any ill effects from having broken Ekadasi over the previous year.

I was contemplating fasting all day on Tuesday. After reading this article by Dravida Prabhu I've decided to just steer myself towards my service and fasting from grains and beans, the usual. If I fast all day I won't get much service done and will spend at least half the next day recovering.

In their most concentrated organizing effort, Panchajanya Project representatives took a booth at the national Asian American Hotel Owners Association last year to promote their efforts. They received more than 12,000 confirmed orders.

Part of the acceptance of the Gita by the motel industry could be attributed to the fact that so many motel owners may already be familiar with the text -- an estimated 60 percent of the economy lodgings in the United States are owned by Indian Americans, primarily Gujarati Patels.

Gideon checked out! Book distribution takes a turn - seeking the attention of the traveller.

Paramedics tend to the cyclist hit by a tram in St Kilda East. Photo: David Pavlich

Cyclists who wear headphones while riding are increasing their risk of being involved in a serious crash, according to a transport safety expert.

As far as I am concerned listening to anything other than what is going on around you is essential when riding a bike. Not only that one has to be especially diligent when on or near tram tracks. You can come a cropper just left up to your own devices what to speak of what others are doing!

This week at Hare Krishna Valley we continued with our planting of the broccoli and cauliflower crop. This now brings the total to 5,500 seedlings in the ground. We will begin picking the vegetables in the beginning of August, and will continue right through until the end of September.

I popped into the farm today dropping off Virabhadra Prabhu after a meeting at the Surf Coast Shire with the local strategic planning coordinator. We are working on our future plans and permits with them. On my way out Manigriva gave me a quick tour of the new plantings of cauliflower and broccholi. Last week they had planted 5,500 seedlings and I think now they have close to 7,000. We are going to be inundated with the vegetables in August and September. Wonderful.

You can see some really great shots of the market garden at the farm blog. Follow the link.

Priests trained their guns on the police manning the entrance point. “This is gross negligence on the part of the men in uniform. How could the police fail to trace him, who was clearly looking like a foreigner?” asked Bimbadhar Khuntia, a priest.

Welcome to the Jagannatha Mandir where the priests have to point their guns at the police to ensure they do their job in protecting Lord Jagannatha from the non-Hindus!

AUSTRALIA has more Indians than Italians. The Indian community in this country has doubled in just six years, becoming our fastest-growing minority, new figures show.

The Indian community are our natural customers. That is why we should look after them. Why shouldn't we? Obviously we shouldn't cultivate anyone just to make money. Rather we should make friends with anyone who visits the temple. So inspired they will reciprocate.

My point in highlighting this article is to show that it is natural for ISKCON to attract more Indian bodied devotees. They are our natural customers and there are more of them living in our country now.

They are easier to cultivate than non-Indians. Why? Because they have a natural aptitude and inclination to devotional service. So it is natural for us to find them participating. They already have a stock of ajnata-sukrti.

If they are seen only as a source of income then one is missing the point. They may give but so will anyone who participates in the process of bhakti.

We are sometimes criticised for having too many Indians in our community. That we are neglecting the non-Indian audience.

Those who criticise don't know or choose not to see the other side of the story. They don't see the thousands of persons taking prasada at our restaurants and catering events, the yogis at the yoga studio, the jnanis who attend our Gita Workshops at Krsnafest and the people who hear the hari-nama of the sankirtana party. They might take longer to come to Krsna via their ajnata-sukrti but come they will and they are, in the thousands.

Like wet grass that needs to dry out a bit before we can ignite the full flame of Krsna consciousness. We give them the same thing. Krsna kirtana, katha and prasada and the end result is the same. One might take a little longer than the other.

We are making devotees in both audiences, if we can make such a distinction. My realisation of late is there are so many people interested in Krsna. We just have to look after their needs and they will come.

Bhakta Prabhu went to visit some of our neighbours this week. We want to know what their interests, needs and concerns are. One of the things they want is an opportunity to visit the temple to see what we are up to. They feel intimidated because they aren't Indian or Hindu. We will create an event for them specifically; arrange for some kirtana and a discussion, cook a feast and feed them. Same process. Slightly different application.

In conclusion what should we be doing? Look after everyone. Don't be surprised if everyone is interested in Krsna. Don't be surprised at the fact that the Indian community is attracted and don't be fooled into thinking they won't change their ways. They are. We have over 250 devotees chanting sixteen rounds in our community. Ninety percent plus are of Indian origin. They are regular ISKCON devotees. We also have our non-Indian participants as well.

They go well together.