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Nowadays the great innovations of medical and scientific science can maintain patients alive, even those that in the past were given no hope to survive. These innovations can prolong the patient’s existence artificially even knowing that they will never regain acceptable health and life conditions. This situation is commonly called over-medication. The definition of cerebral death, since the end of the sixties has allowed for the development of transplant surgery. Before that time, the extracti

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Lord Nrsimhadeva Reciprocates Instantly

By Pankajanghri das

The fact that people just love to hear stories is one reason why some of the Vedic codes were gradually transmitted in story form, like the epic histories Mahabharata and Ramayana and the Puranas. When such stories concern the pastimes of the Lord and His devotees, they are called lilas. Being labeled Lord Nrsimhadeva’s pujari in Mayapur, I have been asked to recount some stories in connection with Him, but unlike the sastras (scriptures), these “lilas” (pastimes) have no auth

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How can I chant with pure love?

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By BB Govinda Swami

Gopa Kumara asked “How can I chant with pure love?” And they said “Well, if you want to chant with love you must know the Srimad Bhagavatam.” This shows that basically Gopa Kumara had travelled through all the levels of the material cosmos. He had even been Brahma but still he has not been scientifically trained in the science of loving Krishna. We can imagine he was even Brahma. But he did not understand the science of Krishna. He even went to Brahman by the power of his ch

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The Material WORLD

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The Bhagavad-gita, chapter two text twenty states:
“For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does he ever cease to be. He is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. He is not slain when the body is slain.”

What is our real identity?

Am I American, Indian, black, white,  Hindu, Jewish, Christian or Buddhist , Muslim etc?
Am I my thoughts?

Who am I?

Hence, in order to realise that inherent and untainted happiness, which indeed he daily experiences when the mind

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By Damodar Das

“Hearing of the holy name gradually promotes one to the stage of hearing about His form, His attributes, His pastimes, and so on, and thus the necessity of the chanting of His glories develops successively. This process is recommended not only for the successful execution of devotional service, but also even for those who are materially attached. According to Sri Sukadeva Gosvami, this way of attaining success is an established fact, concluded not only by him but also by all othe

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“I like the colour of your robes.  They look comfortable,” remarked the assistant at the CAT Scan Unit at Woman’s College Hospital.  I assured the friendly lady that indeed the clothes are great.  I was lying on a bench with my arms positioned over my head, this massive donut-of-a-thing came close.  
 
“Take a breath,” said the unit.  “Now hold.” “Breathe normal.”  Three of those directions I followed as a heat sensation came to me at one point.  I was warmed in the same way at Joseph Brandt
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Bhagavad-gita As It Is - 17.20

TEXT 20
datavyam iti yad danam
diyate 'nupakarine
dese kale ca patre ca
tad danam sattvikam smrtam
SYNONYMS
datavyam—worth giving; iti—thus; yat—that which; danam—charity; diyate—given; anupakarine—to any person irrespective of doing good; dese—in place; kale—in time; ca—also; patre—suitable person; ca—and; tat—that; danam—charity; sattvikam—in the mode of goodness; smrtam—consider.
TRANSLATION
That gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person, and without expectatio
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Putting An End to Courtesy Japa

By Mahatma Das

“Nish, nish, ram, ram, nish, nish, ram, ram.” Prabhupada once imitated how we sometimes chant without focus, without concentration, without proper pronunciation – how we chant when we don’t feel like chanting. You know the mood behind this chanting; “I have to chant but I’d rather be doing something else.” And in our minds we are thinking, “I can’t wait to get these rounds out of the way.” We all do this. And it can get pretty bad. I know devotees who chant rounds while watching fo

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Events
 
By Madhava Smullen 

Two to three thousand devotees are expected to pack out the Art of Living Retreat Center in Boone, North Carolina this weekend for Sadhu Sanga, ISKCON North America’s biggest kirtan retreat.

Registration is currently closed, but those who cannot attend in person will still be able to watch via livestream online at sangalive.com.

Veuwr Kirtans, a next gen devotee-run company from Alachua, Florida will broadcast three individual live feeds.

One of these will be a stationary

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Arts
 
By Madhava Smullen

ISKCON-London’s Radha-Krishna Temple is celebrating the 50th installation anniversary of its presiding Deities Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara this year with a series of events and creative projects.

Among these is the launch on Sunday June 9th, at the Radha-Krishna Temple, of Mantra Lounge Volume 3. Produced by the Temple’s own label Radha Krishna Records, it is inspired by the weekly Mantra Lounge program at Covent Garden.

The album was produced by Jagannath Suta Das, who has

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Receiving by Bhaktimarga Swami


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I’m receiving many calls, and many letters wishing me well with my physical condition of pulmonary embolism.  It’s quite overwhelming, the love I’m feeling that’s coming my way.

More tests, cat-scans and such will allow us to explore more how severe and how curable is the condition.  There is pain, like the all-pervasive discomfort of this world, but with some care, we will try to alleviate as much as possible the symptoms while trying to address the cause.

Amongst the messages I received to
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By Mina Sharma

Around sixty devotees from across Europe and the US have gathered in New Vrajamandala in Spain, to participate in the European Communications Conference running from 27th – 30th May.

Day one of the conference has focused upon ISKCON and the Environment, where there have been exciting presentations from a number of devotees. HG Shaunaka Rsi Dasa spoke about the Vedic Perspective on the Environment, where he discussed the Vedic concepts of Rta (cosmic order) and Rtu (cycles) and

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Congregational Preaching is Very Important

By His Holiness Ramai Swami

I think that congregational preaching is one of the most important forms of preaching in our society. We can trace it back in our Vaisnava tradition from the time of Lord Caitanya when he would go to Srivas Thakura’s house and have kirtana and sit with the other devotees. Lord Caitanya Himself would go to other peoples’ houses and Lord Nityananda also would go with Him. We are already seeing it is growing more and more, and in the future its importance will become more

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Bhagavad-gita As It Is - 17.19

TEXT 19
mudha-grahenatmano yat
pidaya kriyate tapah
parasyotsadanartham va
tat tamasam udahrtam
SYNONYMS
mudha—foolish; grahena—with endeavor; atmanah—of one's own self; yat—which; pidaya—by torture; kriyate—is performed; tapah—penance; parasya—to others; utsadanartham—causing annihilation; va—or; tat—that; tamasam—in the mode of darkness; udahrtam—is said to be.
TRANSLATION
And those penances and austerities which are performed foolishly by means of obstinant self-torture, or to destroy or injure other
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Bhagavad-gita As It Is - 17.19

TEXT 19
mudha-grahenatmano yat
pidaya kriyate tapah
parasyotsadanartham va
tat tamasam udahrtam
SYNONYMS
mudha—foolish; grahena—with endeavor; atmanah—of one's own self; yat—which; pidaya—by torture; kriyate—is performed; tapah—penance; parasya—to others; utsadanartham—causing annihilation; va—or; tat—that; tamasam—in the mode of darkness; udahrtam—is said to be.
TRANSLATION
And those penances and austerities which are performed foolishly by means of obstinant self-torture, or to destroy or injure other
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Activism

World Environment Day (WED) is celebrated on the 5th of June every year, and is the United Nation's principal vehicle for encouraging awareness and action for the protection of our environment. First held in 1974, it has been a flagship campaign for raising awareness on emerging environmental issues from marine pollution, human overpopulation, and global warming, to sustainable consumption and wildlife crime. WED has grown to become a global platform for public outreach, with participation from

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“Connor, we’ll just go for an hour!” on foot, I meant. It turned out to be two hours later before we completed today’s sauntering.  I insisted on staying on level ground.  And the ground and grass, we did fathom, and at intervals, peered at that beauty of a blue sky.

At David Balfour Park, the reservoir is under renovation, with barrier walls making it impossible to peek through.  Some workers happened to be on their coffee break, which was conveniently positioned on the pedestrian path…our p
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"It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching" - St. Francis of Assisi.

Every act of ours sends a message to others. If we come late for a meeting or a class, we are sending a message to others that, "this meeting or class is not very important." If we keep things untidy, we are sending a message across that, "cleanliness is not that important." If someone takes bribe, the message that person sends is, "corruption is normal." If someone keeps criticising others an

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Bhagavad-gita As It Is - 17.18

TEXT 18
satkara-mana-pujartham
tapo dambhena caiva yat
kriyate tad iha proktam
rajasam calam adhruvam
SYNONYMS
satkara—respect; mana—honor; puja-artham—for worship; tapah—austerity; dambhena—with pride; ca—also; eva—certainly; yat—which is; kriyate—performed; tat—that; iha—in this world; proktam—is said; rajasam—in the mode of passion; calam—flickering; adhruvam—temporary.
TRANSLATION
Those ostentatious penances and austerities which are performed in order to gain respect, honor and reverence are said t
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