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THE LION HEARTED by Bhaktimarga Swami

 

13698011674?profile=RESIZE_584xPerhaps we could call it “Lions Week” because globally there has been a sensation of the airing of the film, Mahavatar Narasingha about the lion/man avatar.  Aswin Kumar’s animated masterpiece is in theatres worldwide.  I didn’t even know there was a Cineplex complex in the Manual Life Building in our neighbourhood where this epical tale became a screen reality the last few nights.  Tonight was my night. 

 

I received reviews from cities across Canada by our members with high praises.  I ha

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What will happen to me after death?

In the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita Lord Krishna explains this subject to Arjuna in great detail. Arjuna was faced with a situation where, in order to uphold dharma, he had to fight and kill people who were very dear to him, his own relatives and friends. As one might expect, it caused great disturbance to Arjuna, and when he finally saw the people with whom he was going to fight, he lost all composure and began to cry.

Arjuna threw down his bow and told

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13697512086?profile=RESIZE_584xEvery Indian Independence Day invites gratitude, pride, and sober reflection. For devotees, it also invites a distinctly Vaishnava lens. When the young Abhay Charan first met Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in the early 1920s, he was urged to dedicate his life to spreading Lord Caitanya’s message in English. Alongside that charge came a deeper caution, often summarized as, “Politicians will change, but politics will remain.” In other words, even legitimate victories in the civic sphere canno

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13697512070?profile=RESIZE_584xIn late 2024, the African Regional Governing Body (ARGB) was formally established to improve coordination, unify leadership, and enhance the strategic implementation of ISKCON’s mission across the African continent. As a regional extension of the Governing Body Commission (GBC), the ARGB was created to serve Africa’s diverse and expanding yatra through structured collaboration and regionally informed leadership.

Presiding over this newly formed body is Harideva Das, the ARGB’s first Chairperso

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13697511864?profile=RESIZE_584xAcyuta Gopi, the Grammy-nominated kirtan artist, is ushering devotional music into a new era—without compromising its spiritual essence. Her recent feature in Rolling Stone India highlights how she blends traditional heart-centered chanting with storytelling.

Born into a Krishna-conscious family in Brooklyn, she grew with the temple’s rhythms—kartāls, bells, and incense—yet recognized that kirtan holds universal appeal. At events like Poland’s Woodstock Festival, she has witnessed thousands

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13697512058?profile=RESIZE_584xIn a bold push to expand Krishna consciousness across the continent, the ISKCON North American Regional Governing Body (NA-RGB) is championing the 3/35 Vision — an inspiring call to engage 3% of the population in Krishna consciousness by the year 2035. Achieving this ambitious target will require cooperation, strategic planning, and a unified approach across all zones, with equal focus on strengthening existing centers and fostering new projects.

On July 6, devotees from across North America g

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NORM by Bhaktimarga Swami

 

13697511281?profile=RESIZE_584xI completed my trip to British Columbia, and it was Norm who stood out in the end after meeting him a third time.

 

NORM

 

I met a man by the name Norm

 

At the time of a big snowstorm

 

Like most of us, he's no Plato

 

He confessed he'd become a couch potato

 

He'd been clicking that one-eyed monster

 

Switching channels slower then faster

 

His sedentary role made him quite fat

 

With 300 pounds all under his hat

 

One day he accidentally got electrocuted

 

Said it was

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TRAVEL CONTINUED by Bhaktimarga Swami

 

13697509870?profile=RESIZE_584xThough the yesteryear’s fire did damage, some items remained untouched. The school was unscathed.  Also, its apricot tree that experienced an amazing crop of fruit at Saranagati’s centre just off of Rathayatra Lane.  I took advantage of it.  Three of the sweetest were enough to gratify the palate.  I did the same with the choke cherry tree at our host’s home, just as Jaya Govinda and I were about to leave the valley destined for Kamloops.

 

We had a good sadhana together along with other sa

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13697287889?profile=RESIZE_584xA large gathering of enthusiastic attendees standing together for a group moment, reflecting unity and excitement at the event.

13697288073?profile=RESIZE_584xA packed auditorium with people attentively seated, showcasing the huge turnout and interest in the book launch.

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The official launch of the book “Undefeatable Krishna” by Shubha Vilas, with dignitaries unveiling the book on stage.

 

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13695698295?profile=RESIZE_584xBy Mukunda Goswami

The swami arrived in Los Angeles the day before the show and spent the afternoon recuperating from the flight in his apartment on Saturn Street. The following night, we headed down to the studios for our first television appearance. March met us at the door and led us through a warren of corridors to a small room.

“We’re going to start with a warm-up interview so you get used to how the show is run.” She opened the door to a larger room and motioned for us to go in.

There were
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13695698075?profile=RESIZE_584xBy Chintamani dasi

Everyone always wanted Srila Prabhupada to come to their temple, especially if it was Janmashtami and Vyasa puja. We often didn’t know where Srila Prabhupada would go next, sometimes there wasn’t much warning. It was either by a letter or phone call to our Japanese temple that we found out the good news, there had been a change of plans and His Divine Grace would be coming to Japan, along with his newly initiated sannyasis!

Our “temple” was a very small house, as many Japanese
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13695697468?profile=RESIZE_584xThe 4th Annual Color Fest hosted by ISKCON Farmington Hills on July 26th was a vibrant celebration of culture, devotion, and unity, drawing an unprecedented 1,200 participants—the largest turnout in the festival’s history. Each year, attendance has steadily grown, making this event a cherished tradition for the congregation, the local community, and guests from across Michigan.

The festival, held in the temple parking lot, offered a joyful experience of Indian culture, the chanting of the holy

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13695696873?profile=RESIZE_584x is set to host a transformative 10-Day ISKCON Deity Worship Training, a program that has already elevated worship standards in temples around the world. The initiative aims to strengthen and inspire Deity worship practices across North America by making world-class training accessible to as many devotees as possible.

To encourage broad participation, New Vrindaban is offering free accommodations and three prasadam meals daily to all registered participants. The only expense for attendees is t

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13695695473?profile=RESIZE_584xJaya Govinda was generous to take me to Saranagati, the Vaishnava Village set in the mountains in Venables Valley.  We had a jolly and holy time in Burnaby, at the temple, to honour the birthday of Balarama.  This famous brother of Krishna is remembered with pomp and circumstance, and lucky for Jaya and I, we were set to celebrate a second time in the evening in the Valley. 

 

Google was telling us to avoid the main highway and take to the number 7.  That proved nostalgic for me because it

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13694439295?profile=RESIZE_584x is set to host a transformative 10-Day ISKCON Deity Worship Training, a program that has already elevated worship standards in temples around the world. The initiative aims to strengthen and inspire Deity worship practices across North America by making world-class training accessible to as many devotees as possible.

To encourage broad participation, New Vrindaban is offering free accommodations and three prasadam meals daily to all registered participants. The only expense for attendees is t

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13694439494?profile=RESIZE_584xIn a remarkable display of collaboration and devotion, ISKCON Seattle devotees are creating a detailed 3D model of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) as a seva offering to Ambarish Dasa and to share the TOVP’s inspiring vision with the broader community. The model was featured at their Ananda Mela festival.

The project has attracted support from devotees both within and outside Washington State. Each team member has taken on a specific role to ensure the model reflects the beauty and p

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13694439466?profile=RESIZE_584xI just returned from watching Mahavatar Narasimha, and I’m still trembling, not from the surround-sound bass or the action sequences (though those were jaw-dropping), but from the sheer force of devotion that this film unleashed in my heart.

This wasn’t “just another movie.” This was śravaṇam and kīrtanam served on a silver screen with the highest cinematic artistry. From the opening frame to the final credits, the film exuded a level of sincerity and spiritual depth that is almost unheard of

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13694438068?profile=RESIZE_400xWe read from Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto Ten, Chapter Two: “Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Krsna in the Womb.”

TEXT 18

tato jagan-mangalam acyutamsam
  samahitam sura-sutena devi
dadhara sarvatmakam atma-bhutam
  kastha yathananda-karam manastah

SYNONYMS

tatah—thereafter; jagat-mangalam—auspiciousness for all living entities in all the universes of the creation; acyuta-amsam—the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is never bereft of the six opulences, all of which are present in all His plenary

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13694437083?profile=RESIZE_584xThere is nothing that matches seeing and being with an old friend.  At Central Park in the heart of the city of Burnaby, I took a stroll along with Jaya Govinda, a real gentleman of the past, as well as godbrother, Jagadish, who played a major role in my life decision to become a Krishna follower and dedicate my everything to the cause of Krishna.  Back in 1973 I sealed my fate.  Now, fifty-two years later, I am with him going over, “How’s so and so, your health, what’s going on these days?”

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13694190295?profile=RESIZE_584xFood bloggers Alfonso and Jessica recently paid an unexpected visit to the Radha Kalachandji Temple in Dallas to explore its history, art, and spiritual significance. They also enjoyed a delicious vegetarian meal at Kalachani’s Palace, the city’s oldest vegetarian eatery.

In a moment of serendipity, the couple met ISKCON devotee Nityananda Chandra Dasa, who gave them a spontaneous tour of the temple, explaining the Deities, Srila Prabhupada’s journey to the West, and the philosophy of Krishna

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