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Once you were in the body of a very small child
Then you grew up to become a little wild
Your body as a youth showed all this passion
When people carry on in a certain kind of fashion
And then you took the body of a man
Energy went to responsibility as you plan
Before long your body gets old
You then exit to enter another life of gold
The body will perish but you will not
What I tell you is very good food for thought
The soul is immortal... it will persist
It cannot be injured by sword or b
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Arts

In honor of ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, two award-winning film were produced. While Yadubara Das’ film the Hare Krishna! presents Prabhupada’s extraordinary life, an ISKCON Communications Ministry documentary The Joy of Devotion directed by Krisztina Danka (Krishna Lila Dasi) of Karuna Productions picks up where the other film leaves off and captures Prabhupada’s worldwide impact, and gives an overview about what ISKCON is today, featuring dramatic, personal and very inspiring stories of devotee

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Under The Sun by Bhaktimarga Swami

Artiome, my Russian friend for a number of years now, hosted me in his home at Isle Perrot.  It is a gorgeous spot just off the St. Lawrence River where it is particularly wide, and before its waters convert to the Lachine Rapids.  At 5:15 a.m., the sun was just perfect.  The morning sun is always life-giving.  It was in the early hours, at sunrise, that our guru, Prabhupada, took his momentous walks.
 
On intense summer days like these, one has to be careful of over-exposure to that afternoon s
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Lifestyle

By Madhava Smullen

Hidden away in the verdant Sahyadri mountain range in Maharashtra, some ninety kilometers from Mumbai, is Govardhan Ayurveda, a healing center that could change your life. 

Like all Ayurvedic centers, it has roots in ancient tradition. But what sets it apart from other such centers is the unique setting – a spiritual community called Govardhan Eco-Village, which takes you back in time and transports you to a dhama, or holy place, 5,000 years ago. 

Right outside the doors o

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Do you ever watch Mr. Bean? Well, there is one episode that I like where he comes to a hotel and he checks in. He first rings a bell and someone appears from behind the counter and takes him to a room. He wants a cheap one and he is taken to the top of the hotel building and gets into the room. Everything is there and he proceeds to sit. He opens his suitcase and he takes out a drill and then he begins to drill into the wall. Holes in the hotel room’s wall! Then he takes a painting out of his s

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Good Spirit by Bhaktimarga Swami

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This whole spring and summer there’s been a threat of rain about to descend, and it has come, more so than usual, at least in the eastern part of the country. Today was no exception.  The showers came and then the chariot procession was about to begin.  The sun burst through, a light breeze moved in—a miracle from nature.  https://www.facebook.com/prasannatma.dasa/videos/2783643004995683?s=100001647982652&sfns=mo
 
The High Commissioner of India gave me a warm greeting in reciprocation to
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Why follow Caturmasya?

“The real purpose behind the vow taken during these four months is to minimize the quantity of sense gratification. This is not very difficult.”
– Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya Lila 4.169, Purport

In the purport to Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Madhya-lila 4.169, Srila Prabhupada writes that “the Caturmasya period begins in the month of Ashadha (June-July) from the day of Ekadasi called Sayana-ekadasi. The period ends in the month of Kartika (October-November) on the Ekadasi day known as Utthana-eka

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The usual, full, six-hour-allotted time was given for the ride to Montreal.  The local community is all hyped up for the weekend's chariot fest.  The afternoon and early evening time had me occupied in greeting everyone: some congregants, some youths from the Krishna Fest Bus Tour and more.  Everything is positive.

It was the late evening to early morning that became very endearing for me.  With the common insomnia issue I have, and weather that causes clothes to stick to the body with its hu
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Events
 
By Madhava Smullen

A Padayatra program toured Lithuania, a country in Europe’s Baltic region, from June 23rd to 30th this summer, spreading the Holy Names via Harinama Sankirtana and Rathayatra parades.

The program began twenty-five years ago as the literal definition of Padayatra (walking pilgrimage), and later evolved into a bus tour.

This year, forty-five devotees from all over Lithuania participated, with many more joining them in major cities. Special guests included GBC Bhakti Chaitan

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Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all glories to your divine self.

During the renovations the manager named Daniel surprised us all.

We hung a huge picture of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada on the wall where the restaurant area will be. I offered incense often to the picture and prayed silently before the workers would come to start their day’s service.

One morning I found Daniel bowing down in front of Srila Prabhupada’s picture

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I came to the end of the day realizing that I hadn't set foot on the pavement other than a walk over the sidewalk to reach the grass in Avondale Park.  There, along with Connor, we spread out a mat for sitting on and chanting to the public.  I can't believe I did everything today that indoors could offer in a monk’s context, but I did not walk.
 
I did, however, dream of traveling.  Reminisce a bit, would be more accurate.  A couple that I know are contemplating the journey, on wheels, across
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By Yugala Kishor Gour das

Next to my research on the Jaladuta, still ongoing, and the Missing Mohan Tapes, no response, I find myself suddenly involved in another Iskcon piece of heritage. The Radha Krsna Temple Tapes.

These original tapes are basically the master tapes of this historic album, that was produced by George Harrison and engineered by Ken Scott. It released two hit singles The Hare Krsna Mantra and Govinda.

History tells us that the album recordings took place in the famous EMI S

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Three In A Row by Bhaktimarga Swami

Gaura, Ananda and I took to the ravine at Brickworks.  Each time I come here I see new developments.  For instance I saw a switchback—a zig-zag hiking trail that wasn't there before.  It was lined with large limestone slabs which I imagine will hold the trail in place, because on any hillside, such as this one, erosion from water can re-shape the hill's form.  New shrubs and trees have also been planted to check erosion and add to the greenness of the place.  In ten years, we will see a forest t
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Events
By Gandharvika Prema Dasi

For the first time, the Hungarian edition of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is was presented at the Libri bookshop in Budapest. About 60 guests participated at the program, with many standing around the small stage or listening to Sivarama Swami from the bookracks. The turn up well exceeded the expectations. At the end, the spiritual leader of ISKCON Hungary signed copies with personal notes and recommendations.  

The book has been available in translation for many years in

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Events
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Every year, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) organizes the Circular Economy Symposium (CES). During the 3rd Edition of the Circular Economy Symposium this year, ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage (GEV) received the Indian Circular Economy Award in the NGO category. Ganga Narayan Das, Chief Sustainability Officer of GEV received this award from Shri Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog.

The Award Ceremony was conducted during the Inaugural Session of the CES

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For the last five years I have been meditating on giving Kṛṣṇa consciousness to female inmates. Ever since I took the reins of the prison ministry, back in 2009, ninety percent of all inmates who write us are male.

I tried repeatedly to reach chaplains from female institutions—to obtain their permission to place books in their chapel libraries—but unfortunately, chaplains are very hard to reach and my time is always very limited, so I never went far with this project. Over the years, at diff

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Can't Satisfy by Bhaktimarga Swami

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The walking encompassed two treks - one by the Rideau River and the second by the Rideau Canal, which run parallel through the university section of Ottawa.  The majority of the time was spent near the War Memorial, and a short stroll from Chateau Laurier, with participants from Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto.  We had the shelter of shady trees, and our presentation was one of "dance, chant and be happy."
 
Happy we were as crowd pleasers.  Some of us went at it for a full six hours straight,
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KOLKATA: A 6-member Iskcon team met Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday evening to draw his attention to the fact that Iskcon founder Srila Prabhupada’s name had been removed from an arterial road in Vrindavan and replaced with that of another spiritual guru.

After Yogi revoked the renaming order, the team tweeted on Wednesday morning: “Extremely grateful to the honorable CM of UP Sri@myyogiadityanath@UPGovt for promptly resolving the road renaming issue in Vrindavan.” The C

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Nikhilananda Prabhu is one of the unsung heroes of the Krishna consciousness movement. I had the great privilege of his association in the Middle East in 1978-’79. If I had to describe Nikhilananda in two words, it would be “staunchness personified.” This very serious disciple of Srila Prabhupada began his devotional service at a young age.

Nikhilananda das: After the summer of 1972, during which I had seen Srila Prabhupada in Paris and Amsterdam, I had come to the firm conviction that I wante

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