Hydro-electric power is what keeps most of Western civilization going. In recent times books have been written that say when the earth runs out of oil, people will have to turn to alternative methods for transportation, and that the hydrogen in water can supply all humanity’s transportation needs. We learn that in Vedic times, thousands of years ago, robots were powered by hydraulic energy. Obviously this was done using subtle energies not possible to access today. Hydrogen power is at present deemed to be outrageously expensive.

The song to the six Goswamis by Srinivasa Acarya includes the phrase dhiradhira-jana-priyau. This indicates that a self-realized soul is dear to both the genteel and the rogues. This is confirmed in Srimad Bhagavatam (11.7.10) by the words, atma-bhutah saririnam which describe the sadhu as “an object of affection for all embodied beings.”

In the story of King Puranjana we encounter a theme that seems to recur often in the Vedas, namely that there are three levels of consciousness – deep sleep (susupti), dreaming sleep (svapna), and the life of awakening (jagrata) – and that the soul is the witness to all of them. (SB 2.25.44)

In one of his many critiques of Charles Darwin, Prabhupada said Darwin should give us the history of the sun and moon. These are his words: “Can Darwin give us the history of the sun, of the moon, of the sky? Where is the history? There IS history.” (Conversation, 28 June 1975)

(The following article was posted in the “Inner Voice” column of the Hindustan Times, one of India’s largest English language daily newspapers, on 17 July 2004.) ANXIETY IS a bummer. When it strikes, some resort to counselling and others to drugs, legal and illegal. Distress is what nobody wants, like garbage in your bedroom. Wished for or not, feelings of quiet desperation, call it depression, descend on us all. When it’s a daily occurrence enduring for all one’s waking hours, something drastic needs to be done. Switching on the tube, shopping, going to the movies, and bingeing on food or alcohol just don’t get it, not long-term anyway. What we do and the people we see most often affect us. Adages like Shaw’s ‘you are what you eat,’ and ‘A man is known by the company he keeps’ reflect this. The jury’s still out on the ‘heredity versus environment’ debate, and genetic engineering will further confuse things. The foundling baby Karna was raised by a charioteer and displayed extraordinary martial skills in later life, but Patty Hearst, daughter of media magnate William Hearst, lived over two decades in prison because of crimes due to an alliance with the Black Panthers. Association, particularly intimate association — chosen or otherwise — rules us, just as ingesting tablets unknowingly alters behaviour and physiology. One can contract malaria or TB by mosquito sting or by breathing a sick patient’s single bacterium. One scant cell can do great harm; disease knows no mercy. The Bhagawat Purana (7.11.35) says symptoms or tena (behaviour) ullimately determine character, and character is what finally determlnes mental state. Hanging out with the rich, successful, popular, sexy set shreds inner peace to bits. If we model ourselves internally and externally on people we respect, maintaining their values, we unconsciously exhibit their qualities, whatever our everyday life and work circumstances. (The writer is emeritus memberoftlrelSKCONgrmuning bodycornmission)

(This article was posted in the “Meditations” column of the Hindustan Times on 23 December 2002.) IF IT doesn’t work, dump it, blurts the trash culture mantra. Loyalty is pinched these days, especially when it comes to our four legged friends. Krishi go rakshya is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita (18.44). Apart from the Gita’s non-violence messages, the cow, along with many species, requires human protection. But those who serve us may also save us. Check this out. Govinda, the family cow, one day stopped giving milk. Exasperated, Kharagpur agriculturist Dutt said, ‘No milk! You’re useless! Time for you to be taken away’. ‘Taken away, but I’ve been giving milk for 14 years, and the whole Dutt family has drunk it, made it into cheese, yoghurt, butter and ghee every day. Why does he speak like this – is it memory loss or cow-abuse?’ The cow’s doe-like eyes became sad. Just then farmer Dutt started up his tractor. He wanted to go to the lake, and preferred driving to riding Hayagriva his horse. ‘I hope he’s not using that noisy smelly thing just to go for a drive!’ Hayagriva whisked his tail angrily. Something made Dutt change his mind, however, and he set off downhill to the lake on foot. Suddenly, Govinda saw the tractor roll. Farmer Dutt had left the engine running and the machine was following him! Govinda raced. How to warn farmer Dutt? The machine was hurtling behind him. Couldn?t he hear it? It was too late for any warning. She ran across the hill as fast as her hooves would carry her, and bumped straight into him. He lurched sideways two yards, as the roaring tractor just missed them, whizzed past and plunged into the lake. ‘I suppose I’ll keep you now. Govinda, after all you did save my life,’ the cultivator muttered, ‘and Hayagriva is a lot quieter than that awful tractor. I think I’ll ride him around.’ Deer, elephants, spiders, snakes, birds, bees, butterflies, and fish, are called gurus in the Bhagavata (11.7.33-35). One can also learn loyalty from a pet dog and a ‘useless’ cow. People like George Orwell, who wrote the classic Animal Farm in 1945 (now being performed as a stage play in a central Beijing theatre), Walt Kelley (author of cartoon character Pogo Possum), Aesop, and the authors of Hitopadesh and Panchatantra have shown us that stories of thinking, talking animals can teach us all many lessons. Life-long education depends on our protecting cows, observing animals’ behaviour and adhering to shastric wisdom.

A ninety-minute animated feature film on the life Krsna was recently produced in Bollywood. It?s scheduled for release in December 2005. It?s been promoted as ?the perfect answer to parents? prayers.?

It?s a symptom of the age that people buy water (at least in southern California) more than any other supermarket product. They also buy compressed air in electronic, computer and photo stores/shops.

The following is a quote from the Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi 1.19 purport: “Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted the chain of disciplic succession from Madhva Acarya, but the Vaisnavas in His line do not accept the tattva-vadis, who also claim to belong to the Madhva-sampradaya. To distinguish themselves clearly from the tattva-vadi branch of Madhva’s descendants, the Vaisnavas of Bengal prefer to call themselves Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Sri Madhva Acarya is also known as Sri Gaura-purnananda, and therefore the name Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradaya is quite suitable for the disciplic succession of the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Our spiritual master, Om Visnupada Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, accepted initiation in the Madhva-Gaudiya-sampradya.”

Fox Television Network’s half hour documentary, “Did We Land On the Moon?” was broadcast in the United States twice last year during prime time, and was broadcast in non-US countries as well. The film uses systematic analysis of NASA videos and photos, and testimony from insiders and other experts, to purport that the moon landing was hoaxed. It’s a powerfully edited and persuasive production and has special appeal to those who are convinced human beings did not land on the moon, as Srila Prabhupada told us many times.