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By Bhaktimarga Swami
 
“People, people who need people,
Are the luckiest people in the world…”
 
The above lines, the beginning lyrics to “People,” sung by Barbara Streisand, come to my head on occasion when on foot, on the road—especially after I’ve met some.
 
It is sung by Barbara gloriously, with fullness of voice and feeling. And because the experience of interaction with people can be so meaningful, fulfilling and complete in the course of the day, you just want to sing it out while in
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By Bhaktimarga Swami

Determined, high-soaring and the ultimate team players are what Rupa, Sanatam and I heard and witnessed from the Canada Geese up above.  On that evening trail, when the sun was to bid farewell ’til the next dawn, without exaggeration, we saw thousands.  But surprising to us was the compass we used which revealed they were going into the northerly direction when it’s time to go where it’s warmer.

Also interesting was that the birds’ configurations in flight weren’t prefect
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Advani’s Birthdays

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By Vrajendranandan Das

Respected Maharajas and Prabhus,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On 8th November, 2017 was the 90th birthday of Sri. Lal Krishna Advani, Former Deputy Prime Minister of India and Senior leader of the ruling BJP.

We had the opportunity to get a personal audience with Advani ji and hand over the deities’ Maha Garland, Mahaprasadam and Essence offered to Narasimhadeva. He expressed his sincere gratitude for the blessings of the Lord and r

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By Drutakarma Das

Michael Vara is joined by Michael Cremo who is a member of the History of Science Society, the World Archeological Congress, the Philosophy of Science Association, the European Association of Archaeologists and a research associate in history and philosophy of science for the Bhaktivedanta Institute. After receiving a scholarship to study International Affairs at George Washington University, Michael began to study the ancient histories of India known as the Vedas. In this way

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GBC Proposals AGM 2018

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Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The Annual General Meeting of the ISKCON GBC Society will begin on February 3, 2018. Following the ISKCON GBC Society’s Rules of Order, the GBC Secretariat requests proposals, duly sponsored by TWO GBC members, to be submitted by December 31, 2017. This will allow adequate time for the GBC Deputies to prepare the proposals for presentation at the meeting.

Please follow the format for GBC Proposals, attached as a

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Plant, Plant, Plant

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By HG Vrndavanlila Devi Dasi

“Everyone was sitting in the terminal where Srila Prabhupada was speaking. I walked up to Srila Prabhupada with the big bunch of strawberry bananas. Srila Prabhupada’s eyes opened very wide and said, “These are our bananas?” I said, “Yes Srila Prabhupada I have grown these bananas for you.” He immediately took one and ate it and said, “These are very good and now pass them out to everyone.””

As we read these memories shared by Sanka prabhu about his experiences with

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By Janananda Gosvami

NEW GOKULA FARM – N.S.W. AUSTRALIA

Two hour’s drive from bustling Sydney, nestled in the hills above the Hunter Valley – Australia’s most famous wine growing area. Our farm is situated above what was previously a thriving coal mine. The area became depressed – land prices fell. In the late 80’s ISKCON bought 550 acres of land in this area. Many devotees moved there with big ideas. Like many of our farms, when push comes to shove, there aren’t many around to do the needful.

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2515213937?profile=original
By Bhaktimarga Swami
 
It’s been good being with the Newfoundlanders.  We made awesome contacts with Brad, Josh and Justin who are local.  Paul is from Grand Prairie, and grew up there in a Hutterite community, most of his life.  Tinu is from Kerala, India, born Christian and now exploring a similar consciousness—more expanding perhaps.  It’s all good!
 
There’s the people and then there’s ‘the rock’ itself—the Island.

Hayagriva, Marshall and I trekked to the edge of the continent.  Cape Spear
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By Bhaktimarga Swami
I picked up a pair of new shoes, Ky boots, compliments of Jagannatha Misra.  To acquire them, I took to the GO commuter train.  When going to the ticket wicket, I asked for a Senior’s Day Pass, my first time at taking advantage of reaching 65.  There was some disbelief that I was that age.  The ticket seller doubted.  I reached for my passport, but before I was able to pull it out, she said, “No! No! It’s okay!”


Thanks for the compliment, I thought.
There was also unc
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Success—What it is, and How to get it!

By Karnamrita Das

SUCCESS, WHAT IT IS, AND HOW TO GET IT: To make the claim of today’s title, which might be promised by motivational speakers or writers, I would have to give a universal definition of success. Though I honestly don’t think this is possible, I could do my best to say that in general, success means to be happy—though even here, at different times, people would disagree for various good and bad reasons. In any case, if we can agree for the sake of this blog, that in general people

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By Bhaktimarga Swami
Ontario proclaimed November as Hindu Heritage Month and the celebrations at the Vishnu Temple at Yonge and Hwy. 7 were the venue for this event.  I was invited.  Several mayors were present including those from Richmond Hill and I believe, Markham.  Other dignitaries were also there.  Principle organizer Lajput got up on the stage and mentioned my name twice in the capacity as his guru.  It was flattering.
But in reality, the real boost for me, at this event, was the kir
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By Bhaktimarga Swami
One person I recently met—a year ago—is Gordon Martin of St. John’s, Newfoundland. He’s someone making great changes in his life.  He sent me a poem of his which addresses “Surrender.” 
Here it is.
Surrender Begins
Surrender begins like a fairy tale
in a distant land
Begins as a dream unknown
scares us shitless
Surrender begins
a blanket with nails
letting go no option
Hang on to the known
Even if that known
Is the darkest night
Even if that known
has dragged us throu
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Our Other Family Business: TOVP

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By Svaha Devi Dasi

HG Vaisesika Prabhu has written about book distribution in “Our Family Business.” Closely connected to it, or inseparable from it, is the manifestation of the TOVP as funds from book distribution around the world directly contribute to the TOVP every year. These two heartfelt desires of Srila Prabhupada are intimately connected. This becomes even more evident in the following account from HH Giriraja Swami: In 1971, as a young devotee in Calcutta, I approached Srila Prabhupad

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Living Heroes

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By Rukmini Devi Dasi

“Shoot him,” said the man with the crowbar. Kshudhi felt the cold metal against his skull and chanted Hare Krishna like never before. His nimble nineteenyear old body was tucked under the bed. The other four men with guns hesitated. They attacked the house knowing that a Johannesburg vegetable merchant had kept cash there, but were they ready to kill for it?

Less than two years before, Kshudhi had purchased a copy of Teachings of Lord Chaitanya from a book store in Los Ange

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Faith-Lift

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By Caitanya Caran Das
Once a person prayed to God, “Please give me a flower and a butterfly for my garden”. When he opened his eyes, he found a cactus and a caterpillar instead. He was dismayed and wondered why God had misunderstood his request. “Maybe God has too many people to care for,” he rationalized and decided not to complain. After some time, when he went back to the garden, he found, to his surprise, that the unsightly caterpillar had transformed into a charming butterfly and the thorn
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ISKCON Pakistan celebrated Diwali with a 2-day "ISKCON Diwali Gala Festival" in Karachi.

There were many topics discussed, including “scientific understanding of Bhagavad Gita” by guest speakers Shyamanada Krishna Das from Australia and Shyama Chandra Das from Dubai; sankirtan and “Hawan Yagya for Peace in Pakistan.

Attendants also watched the recently released documentrary on the life of ISKCON Founder Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. BhaktiVedanata Swami Srila Prabhupada, and a performance by Sh

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By Madhava Smullen 

New Orleans is known for its seafood and meat dishes, but the Good Karma Café – only the city’s second vegan eatery – is giving people a taste for prasadam, and could change hearts in the process.

“Prasad is food offered to God,” explains the Café’s website. “We believe that putting loving intentions into food changes its vibration. Prasad is based in Ahimsa, the principle of nonviolence. Our mission is to create a diverse and inclusive community space and work environment s

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Tulsi Salagrama Vivaha

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By Ramai Swami

The marriage of Tulsi with Vishnu/Krishna resembles a traditional wedding. The marriage ceremony is conducted at homes and temples where a fast is observed on the Tulsi Vivaha day until evening when the ceremony begins.

The bride, Tulsi, is clothed with a sari and ornaments including earrings and necklaces. The groom is a murti or picture of Vishnu or Krishna or more frequently a Salagram-sila, who is clothed in a dhoti.

Both Vishnu and Tulsi are bathed and decorated with flowers

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By Madhava Smullen

A new bhakta director and youth preacher at ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai has been taking new devotees and their parents on spiritual retreats together. The results? Deeper relationships, and unfavorable parents becoming favorable to Krishna consciousness and in some cases taking up the path themselves.

Chakravarti Das works with the Mumbai chapter of CHOICE (Center for Heritage of Indian Culture and Education). The program sees devotees renting an apartment near a college, and accommo

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Sri Krishna Rasa Yatra

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anganam anganam antara madhavo
madhavam madhavam cantarenanganah
ittham akalpite mandale madhya-gah
sanjagau venuna devaki-nandanah

“Lord Madhava was situated between each pair of gopis, and a gopi was situated between each pair of His manifestations. And Sri Krishna, the son of Devaki also appeared in the middle of the circle, playing upon His flute and singing.”
– Srimad Bhagavatam 10.33.3, purport

On the full moon night in the autumn season, during Krishna’s eighth year, He enacted His Ras

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