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Events
 
By Madhava Smullen

A fire has caused major damage to Govinda’s restaurant at ISKCON of Tucson, Arizona, depriving the community of its income. The temple has also lost power; however no devotees or Deities were harmed.

The fire originated in the neighboring Tire Shop at 7pm on Tuesday July 2nd, and quickly spread to the back of the Govinda’s property. There, it engulfed and completely destroyed the walk-in, food-storage shed, bathrooms, and altar paraphernalia room, where all the temple Deit

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I Hardly Walked by Bhaktimarga Swami

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I hardly walked.  It's too humid.  To compensate for the loss, I swam 3 kilometres in one of those fabulous springs that the area is known for.  After a lively morning program in Gainesville, one of the members of the facility called "Krishna House," took me to Ichetucknee Springs State Park.  
 
Now, what is so unique about these springs?  Here's what a brochure tells me: "Springs are amazing natural phenomenon where vast underground caves and caverns form to hold water.  They are the window
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"One who has faith in the inconceivable potencies of the Lord has no doubt that God can do anything." - Radhanath Swami, Author and Spiritual leader

The night after the subjugation of the great serpent Kaliya, Lord Krishna and His cowherd friends decided to rest on the banks of the Yamuna river. In the middle of the night, a huge forest fire enveloped them. It appeared that the fire would soon devour all the inhabitants of Vrndavana. As soon as they felt the warmth of the fire, they immediate
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The Temple of Jagannath at Puri

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By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur

The history of the establishment of the great temple in Puri, and the hypocrisy of temple priests as opposed to sincere devotional worship in pure love of God. Written by the Thakur in English, 1871.

There is not a Hindu who has not heard the name of this temple. The old and the young, the male and the female, the Rajah and the ryot, and the weak and the stout, all visit this temple out of a religious curiosity. Three hundred and one miles south-west of the Vice-Reg

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By Madhava Smullen

In an inspiring show of cooperation, six ISKCON-affiliated organizations in the New York area collaborated to put on a hugely successful Rathayatra festival this summer – Brooklyn’s Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir, the Bhakti Center in Manhattan, 26 2nd Avenue, ISKCON of Queens, New Yoga Pitha in the Bronx, and the Yuga Dharma Ashram.

The festival ran from June 7th to 9th, beginning on Friday with two special kirtan events. The first took place in Tompkins Square Park at the

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Now that summer is around the corner, people already have plans for doing some serious summer camping.  At an evening program at the home of Nandini Kishori, there was a sizeable gathering of especially young boys and girls, all of bhakti yoga parents.  I was asked to share stories about my adventurous walks; the most intriguing one was about the grizzly encounter.  There was also the time when a brahmachari and I met up with a black bear, whom, we were not aware, had her cubs nearby.  She was
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Lifestyle

By Madhava Smullen

It’s a mobile “studio” with the words “Ananta Mobile Wellness Solutions” inscribed on the side, next to a logo combining the heart and the brain. Inside is a surprising oasis of peace: bamboo floors and benches, green paint on the walls, plants, soft lighting and comfortable rugs.

If it pulls up to your place of work, you know your attitude to the world is about to be transformed.

Deva Madhava Das, director of the Harmony Collective in Ypsilanti, Michigan was inspired to c

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Ratha Yatra Mela in Mayapur

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It is Lord Jagannath’s festival in Mayapur. In the beautiful Gundicha Mandir offered to Lord lovingly, He is enjoying His Vrindavan Pastimes ! This year a grand Ratha Yatra Mela is put up to attract everyone to festival. Everyday evening, Jagannath Astakam kirtan is sung along with lamp offering . We request everyone to take advantage of this joyful festival and visit Mayapur!

Srila Prabhupada on Ratha Yatra festival:

“I’ll request you to come and see this car festival. There is no expenditure

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Just like Srila Prahbupada comments on the verse.

pṛthivīte āche yata nagarādi grāma
sarvatra pracāra haibe mora nāma

In every town and village my name will be heard and sung. It will be chanted. Prabhupada said, “So that means that there will be devotees everywhere.” In other words, the holy name will find the devotees and the devotees will automatically start to take up devotional service. They are like dry grass until they are touched by this transcendental mercy. Oh yes, it is like an immed

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Fifty years ago, out of his causeless mercy, Srila Prabhupada accepted me as his initiated disciple and wrote me the following letter:

My dear Giriraj,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated July 2, 1969, sent along with your beads. I have chanted on them, and your initiated name is Giriraj. Giriraj is the name of Goverdhan Hill, on which Krishna used to tend His cows. In Vrindaban Goverdhan Hill is worshiped as a representation of Krishna. Sometimes devot

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A Mind Reader? by Bhaktimarga Swami

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Anytime a monastic guest arrives in Toronto, I feel a happy obligation to take him to the Falls, which is a mere hour and a half away.  Sundarlal, from Mauritius, made it here for the first time, and along with our driver, Nanda, we took a trip on what seemed like the first day of summer this year.  
 
Starting on foot near white water with its rushing and roaring, Sundarlal, like all newcomers, became amazed by the elemental power.  While we were observing the majesty, a man from Kentucky, a
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Just Because... by Achyut Gopal Das

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Just because we give good discourses, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we write nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we manage the temple nicely, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we cook nice bhoga, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we start many temples and centers, doesn't mean that we are spiritually advanced. Just because we have completed many projects, doesn't mean that we are sp

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Activism

Devotees of Yuga Dharma Sankirtana Ashram are found chanting and distributing books at New York’s Union Square almost every day. 

One of the leading sankirtana devotees, Kaliya Krishna Das, spotted world-famous author Deepak Chopra walking out of the subway and looking at his phone. He told this to Krishna Prasad Das and Gopal Champu Das, who then went to talk to Mr. Chopra. They both said hello to him. He was very nice to them and told them he had visited many ISKCON temples. One of his favori

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Events

By Amala Prema Dasi

ISKCON Bosnia and Herzegovina is a small organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina that has produced many devotees who, due to post-war recovery of the country and economic challenges, have moved to other countries around the world. Nevertheless, the remaining members do whatever they can to spread the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Prabhupada and give the Holy Name to all the people. 

One such opportunity came their way when the Indian Embassy approached the

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Giriraj Swami read and spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.5.12 during a Skype call with disciples, aspiring disciples, and friends in Mumbai.

“Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaisnava thinking, Vaikuntha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuntha planets the service of another servant is apprec

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July 4th, 2019, on the auspicious Ratha Yatra Day of Lord Jagannath, HG Sacimata devi dasi, disciple of Srila Prabhupada passed away at Swarupganj , in the island of Godrumadvipa. Ratha Yatra day was also her birthday. She joined ISKCON in Kolkata at the age of 16 and gave her heart to Srila Prabhupada & Lord Sri Krishna and was always serving them.
She has been cooking & caring for Lord Jagannath at his ISKCON Temple in Swarupa Ganja since 1991 with her huspand His Grace Sankarshan Prabhu w

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They say two million people attended the big party today at Toronto’s Nathan Philips Square and the parade route along the Lakeshore.  That’s huge.  People were having a good time honouring the champion basketball team, the Raptors.
 
Unfortunately, there were three or four who came to spoil the party, leaving four people injured in a shooting, and others injured in a stabbing.  Not much is known about the offenders as I write this, but arrests were made.  We’ll hear more, I’m sure.  Just 3.2
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When O when will I become a Vaishnava...
Who is humbler than a blade of grass and more tolerant than a tree,
Free from any sense of hatred and animosity.

When O when will I become a Vaishnava...
Who is free from lust and greed,
And from unwanted wants and needs.

When O when will I become a Vaishnava...
Who is free from pride and envy,
And from wrong company.

When O when will I become a Vaishnava...
Who is ready to embrace other's sorrows as one's own,
And not bother about sorrows of one's own.

Whe

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By David Crick

On Saturday 29th June 2019 a charity walk was performed to raise funds for a new electric free food distribution van for the London Food For Life project.

Starting and ending at the present ISKCON-London temple on Soho Street the planned 10 mile route took in traditional London landmarks as well as places associated with the early days of ISKCON in the UK.

Sites visited included 22 Betterton Street, where the original devotees first established themselves; 182 Drury Lane, home of

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“A capable, merciful and attentive person can 
effectively protect surrendered people“

Gajendra, the king of elephants, went for a pleasure trip in the Ritumat Garden in the heavenly Trikuta mountain area. As he was happily sporting there in a lake with his wives and children, suddenly a crocodile
caught his leg. He struggled with all his strength to release himself. Even the demigods were astonished to see this unusual fight. Being helpless, unable to save himself from danger, Gajendra was ex

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