jueves, 25 de agosto de 2011

ISKCON News.com: Jagannath Puri Temple Resists Suggestions On Entry Of Non-Hindus








PLANET ISKCON

 


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"Planet ISKCON" - 45 new articles

  1. H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 26 August 2011--Trapped in Misery By Our Rebellious Attitude--and--How to Get Krishna Conscious Leaders?
  2. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara Prabhu
  3. ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sri Krishna Janmastami 2011
  4. Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.9
  5. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK IN NEW YORK
  6. Vrndavana Vinodini dd, Toronto, Canada: Knowledge vs. Realization
  7. Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Why baby Krsna licks His toe
  8. New Vrndavan, USA: Prayer Request for Kirtanananda Swami
  9. Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Madhava Gosh’s Poetry Anthology
  10. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami
  11. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011
  12. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Monday, August 22nd, 2011
  13. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, August 21st, 2011
  14. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, August 20th, 2011
  15. ISKCON Brampton, Canada: August 28, 2011 - Sunday Feast with His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami
  16. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Friday, August 19th, 2011
  17. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, August 18th, 2011
  18. H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
  19. New Vrndavan, USA: Dham Seva and Radha Gopinath Mandir
  20. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  21. Srila Prabhupada's Letters
  22. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja
  23. Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.8
  24. ISKCON News.com: A Celebration of Cows on Krishna's Birthday
  25. ISKCON News.com: 3000 Flock to Free Lunch by Hare Krishna Devotees in Fiji
  26. ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Darshan
  27. ISKCON News.com: Fulfilling Prabhupada`s Mission
  28. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: NICE NEW YORK DEVOTEE PROJECT
  29. H.H. Sivarama Swami: A meditation from Braja Sevaki on Janmastami
  30. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Giridhari dasa asks whether it is true that only the Paramatma interacts with the jivas of this world
  31. H.H. Sivarama Swami
  32. ISKCON News.com: Manipur Crisis Seeps Into Janmashtami Prayers
  33. Akrura das, Gita Coaching: VYASA PUJA OFFERING
  34. ISKCON News.com: From Poop To Power: Manure, Life and the Bio-fuel Miracle of the Cow
  35. Dandavats.com: 2011 Vyasa Puja-Remembering Srila Prabhupada
  36. Dandavats.com: Vara Maha-laksmi Puja
  37. H.H. Sivarama Swami: Children’s Janmastami in NVD
  38. Dandavats.com: Sri Krishna Janmastami festival ISKCON Baroda report
  39. Dandavats.com: Prayer Request For Kirtanananda Swami
  40. Dandavats.com: ISKCON Las Vegas participates in Nevada's first India's Independence Day Parade and celebration
  41. Yoga of Ecology, Bhakta Chris, USA: Can Jeremy Grantham Profit From Ecological Mayhem
  42. Vraja Kishor, JP: Krishna is the Biggest Cheater?
  43. ISKCON News.com: Vedic Art, Sloka Recitation Competition On Janmasthami
  44. ISKCON News.com: Jagannath Puri Temple Resists Suggestions On Entry Of Non-Hindus
  45. Gouranga TV: Madhava Prabhu – Woodstock 2011 – Finał PWK
  46. More Recent Articles
  47. Search Planet ISKCON
  48. Prior Mailing Archive

H.G. Sankarshan das Adhikari, USA: Friday 26 August 2011--Trapped in Misery By Our Rebellious Attitude--and--How to Get Krishna Conscious Leaders?

A daily broadcast of the Ultimate Self Realization Course Friday 26 August 2011 The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna, and His eternal consort, Srimati Radharani are enjoying transcendental pastimes in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Sri Goloka Vrindavan. They are beckoning us to rejoin them. (Click on photo to see a larger image.) Our Mission: To help everyone awaken their original Krishna consciousness, which is eternal, full of knowledge and full of bliss. Such a global awakening will, in one stroke, solve all the problems of the world society bringing in a new era of unprecedented peace and prosperity for all. May that day, which the world so desperately needs, come very soon. We request you to participate in this mission by reviving your dormant Krishna consciousness and assisting us in spreading this science all over the world. Dedicated with love to ISKCON Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master, and to you, our dear readers. Special Announcement: Connect With Other Members of this Course. Join this Conference: http://groups.google.com/group/sda_students Today's Thought: Trapped in Misery By Our Rebellious Attitude Uploaded from Bhaktivedanta Ashram, Austin, Texas USA Since time immemorial we have been rebelling against the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead by foolishly thinking ourselves to be the Supreme. Because of this rebellious attitude we have trapped ourselves in the miserable cycle of repeated births and deaths. We have foolishly thought that by becoming independent of the Lord we could derive more happiness. But this has been a big mistake. Instead of happiness we have relegated ourselves to the miserable material existence birth after birth. Those who are wise give up their rebellious attitude and attain unlimited happiness through loving service to Lord Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.. Sankarshan Das Adhikari Attain Unlimited Happiness By Serving Krishna http://www.backtohome.com/images/Krishna/Krishna_wth_Flute.JPG Answers by Citing the Vedic Version: Question: How to Get Krishna Conscious Leaders? What way can you find to get the leaders of this world today to understand that the politician par excellence, Lord Krishna, has already laid all the systems in place in the Bhagavad-gita for the perfect society? All the work has already been done. What is so difficult to just follow? In my country a lot of the leaders take oath of office by swearing on Gita. I think that a being like yourself must find a way. You owe it to Lord Krishna, as from your writings I know you have to be ultimately special. Chris S. Answer: Do Your Duty The world's current slate of political leaders are self-serving gross materialists who have no interest in Krishna consciousness. The only way to get Krishna conscious leaders is to make the people in general Krishna conscious by educating them in the science of Krishna. When the majority of the population is Krishna conscious, they will naturally elect Krishna conscious leaders, and this planet will become heaven on earth. Therefore we need people like yourself to step forward and dedicate your entire life for pushing forward the Krishna consciousness movement. Lord Caitanya has ordered us to become gurus by educating everyone in the science of the Bhagavad-gita. Are you ready to do your duty? Sankarshan Das Adhikari Transcendental Resources: Receive the Special Blessings of Krishna Now you too can render the greatest service to the suffering humanity and attract the all-auspicious blessings of Lord Sri Krishna upon yourself and your family by assisting our mission. Lectures and Kirtans in Audio and Video: Link to High Definition Videos Link to Over 1,000 Lecture Audios Lecture-Travel Schedule for 2011 http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/schedule Have Questions or Need Further Guidance? Check out the resources at: http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com or write Sankarshan Das Adhikari at: sda@backtohome.com Get your copy today of the world's greatest self-realization guide book, Bhagavad-gita As It Is available at:http://www.ultimateselfrealization.com/store Know someone who could benefit from this? Forward it to them. Searchable archives of all of course material: http://www.sda-archives.com Receive Thought for the Day as an RSS feed: http://www.backtohome.com/rss.htm Unsubscribe or change your email address Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/Daily_Thought Thought for the Day on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ultimate.Self.Realization Copyright 2005-2011 by Ultimate Self Realization.Com Distribution of this material is encouraged. Simply we request you to acknowledge where it is coming from with a link to our sign up page: http://www.backtohome.com Our records indicate that at requested to be enrolled to receive e-mails from the Ultimate Self Realization Course at: This request was made on: From the following IP address:

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Class - Gangesvara Prabhu

Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.3 - In the age of Kali the predominance of sinful activities allows atheistic doctrines to overshadow the true knowledge of the Vedas (...yatha papena pasanda na hi vedah kalau yuge).

 
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ISKCON Toronto, Canada: Deity Darshan: Sri Krishna Janmastami 2011




 
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Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.9


Hare

rasavesa-parisrastam jahara muralim hareh
hareti kirtita devi vipine keli-lampata

Due to the intense love of Sri Radha, Sri Hari becomes so captivated that His flute falls from His hand. With the desire to enjoy in the forest bowers with Krsna, Radha steals His flute. That goddess is thus famous as Hara.

Jiva Goswami
 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: TOMPKINS SQUARE PARK IN NEW YORK


This is where Srila Prabhupada started harinama in the West.

I just visited this park and the 26 Second Avenue storefront temple - the first temple Srila Prabhupada started in the West.


 
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Vrndavana Vinodini dd, Toronto, Canada: Knowledge vs. Realization

Jnana is defined as knowledge and Vijnana as realized knowledge. It's the difference between intellectually knowing that we are not this body and actually acting on the platform of "I am not this body." Tonight I was speaking to a very senior mentor of mine and in answer to a question he simply said, "You are on the mental platform." Agreed. I'm pretty sure I'm one of those people who is always on the mental platform! But it got me thinking- then where is the stepping stone between jnana and vijnana? As I began reading some excerpts from Srila Prabhupada's letters to various disciples, I felt I received an instantaneous answer:

"Keep on with the practice of writing articles; in the midst of your heavy duties go on writing something glorifying the Lord and put our philosophy into words. Writing articles means to express oneself how he is understanding the whole philosophy. So this writing is necessary for everyone." Letter to Giriraj, August 12, 1971.

In between the little knowledge that is in my head and (one day) the grace of Krsna actually giving me complete realization of that knowledge, is the stepping stone of understanding. We can understand knowledge to different levels but it may not still be completely manifested in our hearts.

Krsna is so merciful. He is always giving hope! Even if something hasn't fully become realized in our hearts, the process of Krsna Consciousness is so powerful that 1. Krsna in one second can give full realization if he wants to and 2. if we sincerely and seriously practice this precious gift of Krsna consciousness, our understanding will mature and one day bloom into the juicy fruit of realization.

 
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Bharatavarsa.net: Bhakti Vikasa Swami: Why baby Krsna licks His toe

Since all the great sages and devotees apply all energy and all activities in the service of the lotus feet of the Lord, there must be some transcendental pleasure in the toes of His lotus feet. The Lord licks His toe to taste the nectar for which the devotees always aspire.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 3.33.4

 
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New Vrndavan, USA: Prayer Request for Kirtanananda Swami

by Vaisnava das

Dear Brijabasis and all Vaisnavas,

PAMHO!  AGTHDG Srila Prabhupada!

I am begging for all the Brijabasis of New Vrindaban, and  Vaisnavas all over the world to put aside any material considerations, criticisms, or judgments, one may have toward Kirtanananda Swami.  Please just remember all the service he has rendered to Srila Prabhupada,and to Sri-Sri Radha-Vrindavan Chandra in his lifetime.

Although some may hold to the beliefs that he hasn’t felt deep remorse for his failings and offenses, I know for a fact that he has.   He has never stopped serving the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, and though some may disagree, he felt that he was reconciled in his heart, and especially since moving to India, was trying to stay true to Prabhupada’s instructions to him, and to serve him in the best way possible. 

In any case, he now probably has only a short time left on the planet.  He is drifting in and out of consciousness, but is mostly unconscious and cannot breathe at all on his own.  One lung is completely collapsed, the other one full of mucous.  They have moved him back to his home at the temple in Ulnasgar as the doctors said there is nothing more they can do at the hospital.

So the devotees there brought him in his bed to see the Deities of Sri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra II, on Janmastami Day.   The devotees are chanting 24/7 near his bedside and there is medical staff with him.

So I am humbly begging everyone to pray to Srimati Radharani to deliver him safely to the Lotus Feet of Sri Krishna, and Srila Prabhupada.

Thank you for hearing my plea, and I pray that you may take it to your hearts.

Hare Krishna

 
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Madhava Ghosh dasa, New Vrndavan, USA: Madhava Gosh’s Poetry Anthology

Executive summary : All the poems that have been posted on this blog are now available  at Madhava Gosh’s Poetry Anthology

Long winded details:  Bhagavad Gita is the Song of God, not the Essay of God. It is poetry, as is much of Sanskrit based scripture.   Sometimes it seems amongst devotees that analyzing it is more important than appreciating it. Of course as devotees we are all struggling to make some advancement and the ideal platform remains as  goals. What are those goals?

“These qualities of a devotee, twenty-six in number, are listed as follows: (1) kind to everyone, (2) does not quarrel with anyone, (3) fixed in the Absolute Truth, (4) equal to everyone, (5) faultless, (6) charitable, (7) mild, (8) clean, (9) simple, (10) benevolent, (11) peaceful, (12) completely attached to Krsna, (13) has no material hankering, (14) meek, (15) steady, (16) self-controlled, (17) does not eat more than required, (18) sane, (19) respectful, (20) humble, (21) grave, (22) compassionate, (23) friendly, (24) poetic, (25) expert, (26) silent. “

Srimad Bhagvatam 4.20.16

Since poetry hasn’t seemed to me to be a lifestyle in ISKCON, I have tried in my own limited way to open a door to it. On writing poetry sites you will hear the same thing over and over again, a variation on, “The best way to learn about writing poetry is to read good poetry.” So I have tried to send out a steady stream of what IMHO is good poetry.

My hope is that those seeing it will at least become comfortable in the  presence of poetry  and it won’t seem alien. Hopefully it will help some come to the platform of writing poetry, or at least making their prose more poetic.

Over the years I have posted a lot of poems, 249 to be exact.  I tried to manually make an index of the titles on a Page on my blog, but there were some quirks in the WordPress word processor so I always seemed to have some difficulty in posting links and eventually the chore of keeping the thing updated slipped a little and in no time I was so far behind I abandoned hope of catching up.

WordPress came out with a new thing. You simply put the shortcode [*archives] in a Page and it automatically lists all the titles in your blog in chronological order. (Actually, it did it also in this post, so I had to insert an extra character in the shortcode (*) to make it not function so if you use this drop the “*”)  That was great  because I wanted to have an easier way to look through older posts without tediously backtracking through a few posts on a screen at a time.

But I also wanted to be able to do it with a  category and periodically sent in requests to WordPress to make it so. No dice. It has become more sophisticated because now you can filter by date, but still no filter for category.

I was able to export all the poems (the Export feature does have a category filter) and popped them into a new blog. Using [*archives] I now have an index solely of  poems. When I post on my blog, I use a Press This to easily it add to the anthology.

So if you are interested in reading some selected poetry, you can at Madhava Gosh’s Poetry Anthology.  The Page with the index can be linked to in the header of this new blog or by clicking here. There is also a link on the Poet’s Poetry page in this blog.

I even made its own Facebook  page as that seems to be the way people view the world anymore. So welcome aboard.


Filed under: News, Ramblings or Whatever
 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami

Matt, Will, Lake, Arti and I all sat at the corner of the temple room to read the chapter, "Devouring the Forest Fire" from the book "Krishna". We each read a paragraph or a few sentences and passed the book on. It was evening and I guess I could say that we were maintaining a legacy of an early ISKCON habit by reading in this way, calming the mind before evening rest.

We pursued discussion after the read, one of which was Krishna's purpose for His advent - saving sincere souls in peril. Another topic was 'the elements' and how they consume our perished bodies. The Vedas speak of partial and complete universal destruction occurring at certain times. Wind, fire, water and earth dissolve everything in sight as they come in massive installments.

We spoke about the earthquake felt by some of us yesterday, a tremour that hit the Richter scale at 5.9.

The chapter "devouring the Forest Fire" is short and has to do with fire being dissolved. Our katha (talks) also ran brief as duties and prior obligations had to be met by each of us. I had yet to put in some clicks (kilometres) for the day. On the street I thought of fire and how I was stuck one day in a room with two other monks more or less held hostage in a hotel room with flames under the floor below and the corridor outside our room engulfed in fumes. We survived. It was a drama.

As I trekked north on Yonge St. rains came, monsoon-like. Thunder clapped something mean and lightening struck in all directions looking as if tearing open the sky. "Lightening and water could kill me tonight," I thought. Dhoti, kurta and chauddar (my robes) were drenched. I was a dripping wet noodle when I returned to the temple. Electricity struck out for a short time.

How much might the elements possess! How powerful is the force of nature. How small and insignificant we are! I then had flashbacks of Mom who would sprinkle holy water throughout the house, with faith, that her few droplets would counter the buckets coming down. Siblings and I, so innocent, observing the excitement of a summer storm or what we perceived as a wrathful God in action.

It was wonderful!

5 KM

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011

Humans - A Disappointing Lot

Alachua/Toronto

Owls were hooting in their trees. Spanish moss dangled from their perches. All else seemed still as I trekked this early darkness. Sesa and wife Madhu Mati shared in dosas and sambar (a south Indian fare) at Anil's place before my leaving for Jacksonville Airport.

At the departure gate a CNN screen revealed the attempted seige by rebels against Gadafi. I was intrigued, concerned and worried all at the same time. What a fighting crazy world! Fellow travellers at the gate sitting at the departure lounge took little or no notice. Perhaps the American public is desensitized. I wondered if people are still in the vacation mode. Their own personalized screens appeared more relevant.

People! People!

I had a look at "The Columbus Dispatch". A comic caption and picture sparked some inner giggles. One bear talks to another while on-looking at two nighttime campers. The bear says to the other, "OK... I'll admit they're kind of cute but I still say their herds need to be thinned."

Another article by writer Kathleen Parker perked up a standard issue I have about people and their use of language. Oh, how pure mantras could use a debut in people's lives! Here's an excerpt from her article:

Scene: An elevator in New York Presbyterian Hospital, where several others and I were temporary hostages of a filthy-mouthed woman who was profanely berating her male companion. His attire (baggy drawers) and insolent disposition seemed to suggest he was her son.

Every other word out of the woman's mouth was a two-word expletive that starts with the word 'mother'... The elevator doors opened and we, the numb majority, were able to escape our too close quarters, but not the diatribe, which continued unabated down the hallway, through the exit and onto the sidewalk...

Her exit and our release were accepted with silent gratitude, but I have been fuming ever since because, though she was gone, she didn't really exit our lives. She managed in those fleeting moments to make a mark, to alter our lives in some way. A vile invader, she made coarse and unlovely a period of time that was not her own. What gave her the right?...

I was in the hospital that day for the birth of my great-niece. There's nothing like following the intimate miracle of childbirth to make one wish for a gentler world...

Good behavior is nothing but good manners, simply consideration of others. Recently out of vogue, manners get hauled out the way most people attend church - at Easter and Christmas time. But manners aren't just gray haired pretension practiced by smug elites on special occasions. They are the daily tithes we willingly surrender to civilization.

And so, agreeing with Kathleen about the reckless direction humans are taking and how it became confirmed by the foul teenage mouths in front of me at Canada Customs. I repeat again, "how pure mantras could do a debut in people's lives!"

The hooting owls sound superior to humans. I wont suggest thinning the herds but some form of education about RESPECT could go a long way.

12 KM

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Monday, August 22nd, 2011

His Day

Alachua, Florida

Anil, wife Vidya, and their tow boys Aravind and Gopal have been overly kind to me. They provided for me the best sleep in months. Now we brave heat again for another worthy visit to the temple - the anniversary of our guru's birth.

I read my poem as an offering of thanks to our master, Srila Prabhupada, entitled "Holy Praises!"

Srila Prabhupada,

Engrossed we were in toasts to boasts
Of Maya, the most of big-time ghosts.

In us you saw the obvious flaw:
We had this awe for the flesh and the raw.

We had this thirst for the very worst.
We were cursed (weak) like a bubble to burst.

To hell we would go, our life was so low.
You then came to show the best course is NO!

But YES to what's true, be fresh and new.
It's bhakti we do for the One who is blue.

Succeeding to endure Maya's overture,
With devotion mature on the track of the pure,

We do once a year lend an open ear
To words we hear that conquer our fear.

Beyond balmy blazes and dreamy dazes,
We hear golden phrases of your holy praises.

We hear the most beautiful words at your Vyasa-puja.

0 km

Bhaktimarga Swami

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Sunday, August 21st, 2011

Final Day

Alachua, Florida

We arrived at 7:30 AM with our two buses at Alachua, the same place from where we started our month's journey. We have gone full circle. Hot and sweaty even after a shower, we trudged our way across the uneven but low grassy lawn to the temple of Krsna Balaram. It's Janmastami, Krishna's birthday, and the atmosphere in the temple was one of, can I say, jollity.

Like all over the world the celebrations of Janmasthami draws millions of people. Here in this relatively remote area of Florida, cars parked outside this tiny temple while their occupants were inside to honour Sri Krishna with kirtan and offerings of flower petals and all the love that goes with them.

That love, or bhakti, kept on rolling for hours on into midnight, the stroke of His birth. And our group of young men and women demonstrated this flow of commitment with their last performance of "The Three Lives of Bharat". As I sat on the side of the stage to the outdoor pavillion executing my usual intermittent narration I could see the actors give it their all before a very responsive audience. Perspiration dripped off their bodies under the intense lights precipitated by the already humid nature factor.

This play has been our consistent project throughout the last month, something that has glued us together as a group forming an harmonious bond. The drama has been a story repeated over with our regular performances telling a story of an ascetic (Bharat), in India caught in a hard place and who then evolved through a succession of three lives and was able to overcome personal handicaps through the mercy of the Supreme. The story from the book Bhagavatam is just ideal for our youth group who individually all have their own personal intersections of life to deal with.

I was proud of the actors being up on the stage with them for the final bow. As the sun seemed to bow at the same time it offered slight relief and was a queue for me to take a 6 kilometre walk in the area along with friend Kevin from buffalo and Anil, a local pharmacist. It was time to get away from crowds before returning to them. In the back road of snake and alligator world. we committed to mantra chanting.

Back again and scoring well on the full day fast, the clock then struck 12 followed by an outburst of devotional emotions. A feast after the fast and a few words with members of "The Mayapuris" a rather successful up and coming kirtan band marked the end of a long but quick day. And then to bed, reminding myself it's His day.

6 Km

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Saturday, August 20th, 2011

Immerse Yourself

Louisiana/Mississippi

We had left arid desert for flat swampy green territory. It's nice to see green again. Diversity of plants has increased. We see cotton fields and towns of black folks. Our bus is diverted from moving on fast freeways to opt for a more direct route on a two lane highway, at least for a time. So you see, small towns with people outside, it's the kind of road you would walk along, what a relief. Here you see homes, gardens, mom and pop shops, kids on bicycles or playing in water.

If the average person today is not subjected to this human element, and is stuck on concrete trapped in a car, there's no wonder that there's cause for frustration and loneliness. On the other hand, we humans don't always score well when we have a chance with interpersonal relationships, even when we try. So here's a perfect escape route, just get into a vehicle, close out the elements, after all it's hot, listen to your radio, float, dream away and avoid hassles. But in reality both scenarios are not ideal. Both lack the grounding effect of spiritually connecting.

After a sticky, hot ride, our buses arrived at New Talavan, a rural Vaisnava community, one hour from New Orleans. An outdoor 'fun fair', as the organizers called it, was staged with a major attraction, being our Bha Ra Ta show. Even local attendees were expressing heat wave grumblings, but once the show of spiritual might, Bha Ra Ta, took off, the calming of minds transpired. The effect of physical, mental, and intellectual preoccupation in divine immersion cannot be underestimated.

0 KM

 
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ISKCON Brampton, Canada: August 28, 2011 - Sunday Feast with His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami



His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami joined the HARE KRSNA movement in 1973 and was initiated by His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, Founder Acharya of ISKCON. He took sanyasa 1984.

HH Bhaktimarga Swami has dedicated his entire life for the spiritual reawakening of all living entities in Canada & Worldwide. As an offering to his guru, Srila Prabhupada, has walked across Canada, a distance of 8,500 kms one way, 3 times (1996, 2003, 2007) and has brought in Krsna Consciousness in many people's life.

With a background in fine arts, Swami also developed a passion for the performing arts. Even in the course of his duties as a monk, he expands his portfolio and manages to take an active role in theatrical productions from epics of ancient Indian origin. Casting, scripting, and directing morality theatre takes him annually to venues from North America to India and Africa.

The program consists of aarti, kirtan (devotional chanting), philosophical discussion and prasadam.

Program Schedule:

11:00am - 11:30am Guru Puja
11:30am - 12:00pm Arati & Kirtan
12:00pm – 12:05pm Narasingadev Prayers
12:05pm - 1:00pm Interactive Discourse by His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami
Sunday school Kids
1:00pm - 1:30pm Tulasi Arati
1:30pm Prasadam (Vegetarian feast)

 
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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Friday, August 19th, 2011

Walking Episode With a Master

Dallas, Texas

Texas is going through a heat wave. It's a dry heat. For two weeks the temperatures were over the 100 degree Fahrenheit mark. At night temperatures have not gone below 80. Drinking mineral water is popular these days for the youth on the bus. On route to Dallas, we try to keep ourselves optimistic in spirit. We reviewed the verse of yesterday, reciting 5.29 from the Gita and reminding ourselves that God owns it all. It's His heat and it's His cold. When we stop driving, for instance, at a Walmart perhaps, our group of 45 sits by the side of the parking lot under the shade of a tree having breakfast. Usually cereal with cold organic milk. I then read to the group from the book, "Memories". Today I read an excerpt by Nischintya.


"Arrived in Hawaii in March and Srila Prabhupada was coming in May. I immediately started to learn everything I could about Hawaii because Prabhupada would regularly ask questions about the place he was visiting. I learned about Hawaii's history, the hotels, the beaches, you name it, I knew it. I thought that on the walk with Prabhupada one day, I'd be able to answer any question he might ask about Hawaii, so on Waikiki beach, I was carefully walking in Srila Prabhupada's actual footsteps. They were leaving an impression in the sand, and I was thinking, 'you don't get an opportunity like this in millions of lifetimes'. And I was also thinking, 'Prabhupada's going to ask a question, I'm going to know the answer. I'm going to be the man.' Suddenly Srila Prabhupada stopped, turned and looked right at me, he was very close. He pointed and said, 'What is that?' I looked over and I had no idea what it was. I was shaking. I felt about one inch tall. In the distance I heard somebody say, 'Prabhupada, that's a device that measures how far a person has walked'. Prabhupada was still looking at me and he said, 'So, they should make a device that tells how far death is, but that they can not do.' Then he turned around and kept walking. I recovered a little, my pride had been completely eliminated and I was ecstatic thinking of Prabhupada's mystic power. He knew I'd learned all about Hawaii. I wanted him to ask a question and I wanted to impress him. I understood that you don't show off to your spiritual master. "

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Thursday, August 18th, 2011

Canon City, You're Awesome

Canon City, Colorado

While the bus was moving at its usual 70 miles per hour the passengers inside enriched their morning by memorizing a verse from the Gita, 5.29. With a hip hop swing to its recitation, the dozen or so boys picked up on learning very quickly the message of the verse, which was referred to often as 'the peace formula'. And here's the verse in Roman transliteration:

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam

sarva-loka-mahesvaram

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam

jnatva mam santim rcchati

The translation worded simply is, "to achieve inner peace one must come to know and apply three things. 1) That God is the enjoyer. 2) God is the owner of all. 3) God is everyone's friend.

This formula is universally applicable.

Time afforded space for walking Canon City. Just off of main street I met Chris. A young maintenance guy who says that Canon City sucks. To say that your own town sucks is rather a common phrase which I have heard ever since I started long distance trekking. When Chris first saw me walking near 12th Street, he saw me through his backview mirror and remarked, "Hare Krishna in Canon City?" I actually heard him say it, and then he came to see me to ask questions. "Is this a condemning kind of faith? What do you believe?" My answer was, "We follow an ancient book called Bhagavad Gita where Krishna speaks to His warrior friend, Arjuna. Arjuna was undergoing a personal crisis to which Krishna addressed encouragement to the spiritual side of life." Chris wanted a picture taken and a book to read about Krishna. He had only seen a Hare Krishna in the movie 'Airplane'

Why does Canon City suck anyways? Chris talked about the negative karma of the place, how 15 out of 18 state penitentiaries are in and around town. If most people here are like Chris, then I can envision a Krishna centre here before long.

As I walked through a park after meeting Chris, a group of young people under the shade set their eyes on this unusual sight, me. To see a monk is rare in these parts. One of the boys shouted out, "You're awesome!" I looked at the group wondering who the remark was directed towards. He said it once again, "You're awesome!" And I threw him a peace sign.

Canon City, if this is a sampling of you, I don't think you suck.

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H.H. Bhaktimarg Swami: Wednesday, August 17th, 2011

Look at the Formula

Denver, Colorado

Making modifications or rearrangements can be so stimulating. With an injured leading actor as part of our reality and with no serious understudy, our bus crew rose up to the occasion. The show had to go on in Denver and so adjustments were absolutely necessary.

The result of such team work paid off. At the same time, I would not say everything was perfect. When certain things need doing, it can be a hard task to pull a young person away from his or her computer or iPod. The curse of technology is upon the human race so it seems.

And so I see the machine obsession everywhere with travel. There is so little foot traffic. Car culture is set for sometime. Despite gas price escalations, there seems to be no true decline in auto motion. We are determined to burn gas.

Adjusting can be a lot of fun though. There cannot be anything more shallow, monotonous, or understimulating than being frozen in routine. While we keep our core values, we might find it necessary to change our approach from time to time. It's as simple as adjusting the thickness and quantity of clothes based on weather conditions.

Perhaps the greatest quality of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, that I admire about him the most, he was staunch about holding on to core principles, but for practicality purposes he would analyze so carefully a situation and then shuffle things around in order to avoid 'getting stuck'.

The mission is that work has to get done. The formula is do what it takes to get it done.

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New Vrndavan, USA: Dham Seva and Radha Gopinath Mandir

by Jamuna dasi

Nestled in a wooded hilltop overlooking the Palace of Gold, and encircled by the New Vrindaban community is a project inspired and developed by Varsana Swami. A conservancy under the care of Dham Seva, this beautiful location is home to many varieties of beautiful trees such as apple, sugar maple, walnut, chestnut, pear, persimmon and sitaphal. It is also frequented by all kinds of natural wildlife.

The centerpiece of the property is a beautiful lake known as Radha Kunda. To the south of Radha Kunda a newly constructed octagonal gazebo is home to the six goswamis of Vrindaban. The presiding deity Radha Gopinath, Who is accompanied by Vrinda Devi and the Asta Shakhis, watches over the land.

In an attempt to glorify the Lord and please Srila Prabhupada, Varsana Swami and the Dham Seva team have initiated the process of design and development for a new temple. Situated directly in line with Radha Kunda the new temple will be 16 by 16 feet wide and approximately 27 feet tall. The temple will house the current presiding deities and will be called Radha Gopinath mandir.

    Expanding the New Vrindavan Experience

There is a consistent thread in the fabric of New Vrindavans' landscape, which originates at Srila Prabhupadas' palace and extends to Radha Kunda and beyond, to Madhuvan, where Srila Prahbupada was pleased to see his vision of village life unfolding. That theme is Lord Nityananda's mercy, which Srila Prabhupada embodied, awarding him the title "Nityananda avesh" (infused with the energy of Lord Nityananda).

Lord Nityananda's personified mercy, Janava devi, had a special esoteric relationship with Radha Gopinath. In the late 16th Century when Janava devi visited Vrindavan she would meditate deeply on the form of Radha Gopinath, Who appeared to Her as She was chanting, sitting on the bank of Radha Kunda, absorbed in the loving mood and service of Ananga Manjari. One day She had the thought that the form of Radha was too small in proportion to Gopinath. That night Gopinath appeared to Her in a dream and told Her Radha was indeed too short. Radha then appeared to Janava in the same dream, affirming the message.

On her return to Bengal, Janava ordered a new deity of Radharani Who was then transported to Vrindaban. The smaller, original Radha was moved to Krsna's right side and assumed the function of Ananga Manjari. The larger deity took Her place.

Guru Bhakti

Devotion to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga is embodied in the spiritual form of Janava devi, Whose ontological form is Ananga Manjari in Krsna's pastimes. Her mercy is essential in the attainment of service to Lord Nityananda, Who alone offers our qualification to access the shelter of Lord Chaitanya, and consequent entrance into the mellows of Vraja.

Srila Prabhupada has consistently expressed his desire for New Vrindaban. He emphasized two specific mandates. New Vrindaban was to be a replica of the land of Krsna's childhood pastimes, Vrindavan India, and was also to demonstrate the practice of simple living and high thinking based on agrarian principles. Dham Seva was formed to promote an agricultural lifestyle integrated with holy places and replica temples, which imbibe the Vrindavan atmosphere.

The construction of Radha Gopinath Mandir will be the first effort towards this goal. Varsana Swami and Gaura Shakti das are requesting devotees to please come forward and offer assistance. Helping to develop and cultivate the holy dham is certainly a great privilege and honor and is a worthwhile cause for one's time, money and labor. Sincere thanks and appreciation are also given to those devotees who have already contributed to the Dham Seva project.

Please feel free to contact either Varsana Swami or Gaura Shakti das if you have any desire to assist in this wonderful project. They can be reached at the following addresses:

Varsana Swami: Varsana_Swami@yahoo.com
Gaura Shakti: gaura.acbsp@gmail.com 304-843-0122

More information can be obtained at www.dhamseva.com
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1970 August 25: "Material life means we remain captive under the bewilderment of Maya. This is the most dangerous condition of life. Intelligent persons therefore try to avoid it under the protection of Krsna and the Spiritual Master."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

 
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Srila Prabhupada's Letters

1967 August 25: "For the unbeliever Krishna and His Name are fictitious, but those who are advanced realize that Krishna consciousness is pure and eternal. Sincere souls are benedicted by the Lord by revelation. Go on chanting with service mood attitude and the Name, Qualities, etc., become revealed as Reality."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja

SPvyasa


Following the exuberance of Sri Krishna's 'birth' day, here are some pictures from Srila Prabhupada's 'birth' day.

 
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Japa Group: Meaning Of The Sixteen Names PT.8


Hare

hyasphutam rayati priti-bharena hari-cestam
gayatiti mata dhirair hara rasa-vicaksanaih

Filled with ecstatic love, Radha sometimes sings the glories of Hari's exploits quietly, and sometimes She sings them aloud. Those who are expert in the secrets of divine sentiments call Her Hara.

Jiva Goswami
 
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ISKCON News.com: A Celebration of Cows on Krishna's Birthday

By Radha Mohan Das for ISKCON News on 25 Aug 2011

The world's largest Janmashtami festival outside of India at Bhaktivedanta Manor attracted more than 60,000 pilgrims on 21st and 22nd August. This year celebrated the launch of the Ahimsa Dairy Foundation, which sells milk from cows that will be retired when their milking days are over and uses bulls to work the land.


 
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ISKCON News.com: 3000 Flock to Free Lunch by Hare Krishna Devotees in Fiji

By Salaseini Vosamana for fijitimes.com on 25 Aug 2011

Devotee and divisional health inspector Rakesh Kumar said the donation marked their respect for Lord Krishna and their love for the people all over the world. "We don't believe in racism and discrimination but we strongly believe in sharing and loving one another', he added.


 
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ISKCON Melbourne, AU: Daily Darshan

25/08/2011
"The Lord's chest is the abode of the goddess of fortune. His moonlike face is the drinking vessel for eyes which hanker after all that is beautiful. His arms are the resting places for the administrative demigods. And His lotus feet are the refuge of pure devotees who never talk or sing of any subject except His Lordship." SB 1.11.26.

I pray that one day we may hanker for ALL that is beautiful rather than the mere shadows of this material world.

Here is today's darshan.

 
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ISKCON News.com: Fulfilling Prabhupada`s Mission

By Indradyumna Swami for www.travelingmonk.com on 25 Aug 2011

"During the final kirtan, I watched a lady rush to our Restaurant Tent from a nearby apartment building in her pajamas and a long robe, her hair in curlers. For a moment I thought the building might be on fire, but a few minutes later she headed back to her apartment armed with two plates of prasadam." Indradumna Swami`s offering on Srila Prabhupada`s appearance day.


 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: NICE NEW YORK DEVOTEE PROJECT

INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES

http://www.sanctuaryguestsuites.com/ics.html

Interfaith Community Services aims to establish "healing centers and retreat centers to care for people in such a way that they may experience a greater awareness of the loving goodness of God and (again) be inspired to a life of service to the Lord."
 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: A meditation from Braja Sevaki on Janmastami

A blackened sky, a dense dark night,
Evil forces strive with might
To sway eternal moves of the Supreme.
A prison cell, hard stone-cold floor,
Chains and locks to bar the door,
The Lord appears to Devaki like a dream.

His majestic form beside her bed,
His cloud-black beauty scattering dread,
Soon Kamsa's terror-reign will end its day.
"This beautiful child I now behold,
Lotus-like eyes, and swathed in gold,"
Said Vasudeva, "Is an answer to our prayers."

Devaki's bliss increased ten-fold,
Full moon beauty to behold;
Demigods appear and offer prayers.
Showering flowers from the sky,
Dark clouds gather, rumbling nigh,
Their mild, soft sounds like those of ocean waves.

A cool, pure breeze begins to blow,
The sacrificial fires glow,
And brahmanas feel peace within their hearts.
Long they've prayed for Kamsa's demise,
And so this day is no surprise,
The Lord's appearance foretold in their charts.

Rivers flow with waters clear,
Birdsongs sweet, caress the ear,
Lotuses and lilies fill the earth.
Swarms of bees chant to and fro,
Thus the sages come to know
The transcendental Lord has taken birth.

She rises quickly, fear comes fast,
Devaki knows His life won't last
while Kamsa's reign continues over all.
Though long she prayed to be the one
to have the Lord come as her son,
Much pain will precede Kamsa's final fall.

She folds her hands in prayer and cries,
"Lord, hide Yourself from evil eyes,
Lest Kamsa should unleash his violent storm.
"Though hidden well within this prison,
Withdraw Yourself from mundane vision,
Reveal to me Your loving two-armed form.

"This affectionate child I long to see,
Thus scorn and spite won't visit me,
And none will know I gave birth to the Lord.
Withdraw Your form and hide Yourself
Beloved child, my only wealth,
Please hear my heart and heed my loving words.

"Though death may flee in fear of You
And sastras words are sure and true,
Still, my child, my fear for You is real.
You are Absolute Truth personified,
The universes' shining light,
But darling child, please trust this fear I feel."

And so by Yogamaya's will,
The Lord's prophesy to fulfil,
Vasudeva took Krishna in his arms.
Yamuna's waters, raging wild,
Parted calmly for this child,
Who was heading towards blissful Vraja-dhama.

There He would live, amongst the cows
In Nanda Maharaja's house,
Where killing demons would bring Him local fame.
But more than this He longed to be,
Close to one special gopi,
Engaged in Their eternal loving game.

 

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami: Giridhari dasa asks whether it is true that only the Paramatma interacts with the jivas of this world

Mate asks about creation, Imi about the spirituality of aromas and Panni about Pope John Paul II.

 
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H.H. Sivarama Swami

One should fix his mind on this original form of Godhead, Krsna. One should not even divert his attention to other forms of the Lord. The Lord has multiforms as Visnu, Narayana, Rama, Varaha, etc., but a devotee should concentrate his mind on the form that was present before Arjuna.

- Srila Prabhupada

 
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ISKCON News.com: Manipur Crisis Seeps Into Janmashtami Prayers

By Khelen Thokchom for The Telegraph on 25 Aug 2011

Scarcity and price rise loom over celebrations though people throng Imphal temples in scores.


 
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Akrura das, Gita Coaching: VYASA PUJA OFFERING

This is 2011 Vyasa Puja offering to Srila Prabhupada by his disciple Badarayana Prabhu, from New York:

Dear Srila Prabhupada,

I am a most fallen, wretched and unfortunate soul, yet I know that your love is all encompassing. It embodies unconditional compassion, acceptance, forgiveness and encouragement. Thus I can continue to go on in hopes of one day being able to attain your favor and thus the grace of Sri Sri Radha Govinda, Radha Shyamasundara, Radha Murlidhara.

I have seen so much that is wonderfully unified in your mission and so much that is marred by divisiveness and fault finding. Those whom I truly admire emphasize the good qualities of all devotees in their endeavors. Sometimes it may be necessary for the mission to point out what appears to be deviations from Srila Prabhupada's directives. However, those that I admire do so with utmost care and caution, always desiring to understand the true intent of the persons in question.

After all, we are dealing with Vaisanavas, who are VERY dear to the Lord. Utmost caution, care and humility is the safe haven. If the message is given in this way, with due respect, then the other parties may have an open heart to hear how they could better serve your mission, Srila Prabhupada.

I pray that you may inspire us all to go deeper and deeper into this mood, so that your mission may remain strong and unified by bonds of love and respect. Then we will have the potency necessary to truly inspire a revolution of consciousness in the impious lives of a misdirected civilization (your words from the Srimad Bhagavatam introduction).

What unified your mission when you were on the planet in your vapu form? The mood was to please you. What pleased you - what did you emphasize - how did YOU spend your time? As Radhanath Swami recently said in a lecture; "when you go into a beautiful building, who inquires: "How wonderful a foundation there is here?" Few people would think of this. Yet without that strong foundation, everything else would not last long at all.

Your spent you time, hours a day, in the pre-dawn darkness, translating and writing your Bhaktivedanta purports. You were instructed by your beloved Guru Maharaj to write books and preach in the English-speaking countries. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said to you: "If you ever get money, print books." You fastidiously followed his directive. After establishing the ISKCON society you devoted you time tirelessly to this endeavor. The BBT grew and expanded.

All over the world devotees were working in different capacities to maintain the temples nicely as outposts to print and distribute your message, the message of the Bhagavat.

The money that came into the BBT was loaned out, $20,000 here, $50,000 there, $5,000 somewhere else - for what? To open and build temples and farm communities  all over the planet.

Your disciple Adi Deva recently told me that the BBT loaned the boldly artistic  and innovative ISKCON F.A.T.E. preaching project $40,000 to get off the ground. The movement was built upon the BBT. It became the strong, solid foundation that everything else rested upon. Who can dispute that?

Ramesvara has direct experience of seeing this happen in real time. He wrote the checks.  Paris temple, New York temple, German temple, on and on. Of course there was the spiritual standard of purity which you demanded of us, and the myriad of projects that were simultaneously being enacted to establish Krsna Consciousness in the western world, such as Deity worship, varnasrama etc....Yet your heart was in the BBT. You said "ISKCON is my body and the BBT is my heart". Profound.

So what does that mean for most devotees, who are unable due to circumstance to directly engage in this aspect of your mission? My realization is that your legacy is up to your followers to ensure. We must, as your followers, see to it that the foundation is always strong and intact.  

If there is a crack we must fix it with great care and attention. So we can inquire from our leaders, "How is this most heartfelt desire of our beloved Srila Prabhupada, being increased and made more wonderful, so the conditioned souls can come in contact with the pure devotee and disciplic succession more and more and more?"  

We must encourage others in leadership positions and otherwise to make this foundation a priority. Not that it must be done like it was 30 years ago. Innovate, get creative and inspired to fulfill Srila Prabhpada's desire of contacting countless souls through his books. Do something small or something big, do anything, and see how the mercy flows. "This is our most important welfare activity", Prabhupada writes, "the greatest gift to human society."

This principle unified the mission previously. Now there are sooooooo many missions. Nothing inherently wrong with that. However if they are not unified by a common thread, which is this strong foundation, then we become a disenfranchised movement.  

Kirtan is now taking the center stage, as it should. It is the yuga dharma.It is all attractive. But kirtan alone, perfect and complete in and of itself being non-different from Lord Krsna, will not be reach its full potential panacea effect against the ills of Kali yuga, without the torchlight of transcendental knowledge to clear away misconceptions. Hearing AND Chanting. The two together, kirtan and transcendental knowledge, are insurmountable super heroes that Kali's forces will not be able to withstand.

Srila Prabhupada, I pray that we all may be encouraged to deepen our commitment to your instructions daily, to working conjointly with love and respect, to perfecting each and every one of our individual visions of service to your mission.  And I pray that we may each take responsibility for the work which you dedicated life and soul for, your Bhaktivedanta purports.

Let us find ways and means to work together to ensure that this distribution of transcendental knowledge in the form of your books is going on in a more wonderful ways, year by year. That was the standard in your time here, and it must be the standard for all time if we are to change the course of history.

Begging to be a small fly on your pen or typewriter in some other universe and a menial insignificant instrument of your mercy,

Badarayana das
New York City
Initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1973. in Denver, Colorado, USA

PS You may visit his links here:


 
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ISKCON News.com: From Poop To Power: Manure, Life and the Bio-fuel Miracle of the Cow



If the selection above is hosted by YouTube then after the video plays there will be several links presented to other videos. ISKCON News Weekly has no control over the selections presented and is not responsible for their contents.
 
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Dandavats.com: 2011 Vyasa Puja-Remembering Srila Prabhupada

By Siddhanta das

It is with pleasure that I can present this latest collection of memories on this auspicious day of Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja. We hope you derive some inspiration in these remembrances of His Divine Grace

Correo Vaishnava

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