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WSN March 2016 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats
By Vijaya Dasa
Hare Krsna,
Please accept my humble obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Chowpatti, “the simple temple” inspired by Radhanatha Swami, had a great month in March, distributing over eleven thousand books in Mumbai, an increase of 641%. That’s a nice offering during this 50th anniversary of ISKCON’s founding.
Phoenix, in Mauritius, also had a good month: about 4,000 book points and an increase of 999%. It’s a small island, and the devotees are steadily distributing books to these fortunate islanders year after year.
As I was passing through the Istanbul airport a few days ago, en route to Moscow, I distributed a book to another traveler in transit through Turkey. Turkey doesn’t allow ISKCON to have a temple, though we do have a restaurant. It may have been the first and only book so far distributed in the Istanbul airport, a breakthrough for Turkey.
Your servant,
Vijaya Dasa
For complete results
go to www.SankirtanNewsletter.com (password: wsnhome)
Deadline for scores is the 15th of the next month
WORLD WORLD SANKIR NEWS LETTER
WWW WWW SSS TAN NEWS NEW
WWW WWW SSS SSS NEWSLE NEW
WWW WWW WWW SSSSS NEW NEWS NEW
WWW WORLD WWW SANKIR NEW NEWS NEW
WORLD WORLD SSS TAN NEW LETTER
WWW WWW SAN SSS NEW NEWSL
WW WW KIRTAN NEWSL ETTER
*********************************************************
W O R L D S A N K I R T A N N E W S L E T T E R
*********************************************************
March 2016 4/20/2016
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this page
contains the following results for the month of March 2016.
World Totals Page 2
Monthly Congregation and Weekend Warriors Page 2
Monthly Continents Page 3
Monthly Top Ten Temples by Size Page 3
Monthly Top Ten Temples by Continent Page 4
Monthly Top Teams and Individuals Page 5
Monthly All Countries Page 6
Monthly All Temples Page 7
Monthly All Prabhupada Disciples Page 8
Cumulative Top Ten Countries Page 9
Cumulative Top Ten Temples Page 9
Cumulative Top 50 Individuals Worldwide Page 9
**** Page 2 ****
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* -- OFFERING TO SRILA PRABHUPADA -- *
* *
* During the month of March 2016, 122 temples reported *
* distributing the following number of books: *
* *
* 73,639 Maha-big books *
* 29,817 Big books *
* 35,833 Medium books *
* 142,909 Small books *
* 39,755 Magazines *
* 3,393 BTG subscriptions *
* 953 Full sets *
* *
* 342,311 literatures for the month *
* 1,143,008 literatures year-to-date *
* 523,193,420 literatures worldwide since 1965 *
* *
* All glories to Srila Prabhupada! *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WORLDWIDE BOOK DISTRIBUTION
Total Literatures Distributed
Books (Millions)
16.........................................................................
14X........................................................................
X x
12X.....X..................................................................
X X
10X.....X.x.x.................x............................................
X x X X X x X X _ x _ x
8XX...X.X.X.X...........X.X.X.X.X.X..................................._.X.X
XXX x X X X X x X X X X X X x X X X X
6XXX..X.X.X.X.X.X.......X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.......................x.X.X.X.X.X.X
XXXX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X x x X X X X X X X
4XXXX.X.X.X.X.X.X.....X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X...........x.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X
XXXX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X _ x X X X X X X X X X X X X
2XXXX.X.X.X.X.X.X.x.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X
XXXX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
0XXXX_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X
78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14 15
Getting Top Ten Individuals for March 2016
World Sankirtan Newsletter
CONGREGATIONAL PREACHING
March 2016
Congregation and % M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Weekend Warriors Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 WW Baltimore Jiv Bal USA 4243.00*+112% 2121* 0 2 0 0
2 WW Team ISV Week Sil USA 2531.50*+167% 1210* 1* 0 442* 0
3 WW Toronto WW Tor Can 379.00* +41% 153* 8 79 102 0
4 LA Sastra Dana LA USA 256.00 na 0 40 432 0 0
5 WW Dallas Dal USA 126.75 -17% 24 34* 67* 45 0
6 WW Nairobi WW Nai Ken 101.25 -83% 0 25 38 229 0
7 WW Arkadelphia W Ark USA 14.25*+338% 5* 2 4* 1 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS BY CONTINENT
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS - ASIA
1 Bhagavat Ashraya Mum Ind10144.75*+140% 4544* 80 189* 3529 0
2 HH Radhanatha Sw Mum Ind 6300.00 na 3150 0 0 0 0
3 Hemagiri d Mum Ind 2943.00 -28% 1044 201 375 1866 0
4 Radha Krsna d Mum Ind 2620.25 -18% 1079 142* 318* 645* 0
5 Pavitra Hari d New Ind 2000.00 -22% 1000* 0 0 0 0
6 Nandanandana Gov Tir Ind 1999.50 -1% 767 94 90* 1252* 116
7 Revati Raman d Tir Ind 1937.25 +23% 803 29 40 1129 0
8 Tirtha Krishna d Tir Ind 1930.80 -17% 722 130 120 1108 160*
9 Nava Gauravara d Tir Ind 1696.25 -29% 672 69 47 1039 0
10 Kaunteya Sakha d Tir Ind 1684.50 -14% 707 54 28 810 0
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS - NORTH AMERICA
1 Prema Sankirtan LA USA 2063.75* +50% 485* 740* 193* 993 90
2 Bk Storm LA USA 1901.65* +5% 539 336* 369 1037 439*
3 Bhrgupati d LA USA 1801.50*+772% 353* 634* 405* 1036* 0
4 Nidra dd Den USA 1297.25* +78% 512* 158* 62 337* 0
5 Gauranga Prema d LA USA 1152.25* +29% 219* 366* 663* 67 0
6 Raya Nitai d TBB USA 1142.75 +16% 10 543* 761 797* 0
7 Bk Carlos TBB USA 911.75 -11% 31 399* 505 793* 0
8 Bk Karim TBB USA 901.75*+125% 1 460* 507* 745* 0
9 Bk Joey TBB USA 610.75* +24% 44 200* 451* 389* 0
10 Bk Oscar LA USA 521.00*+999% 97* 127 161 478* 0
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS - CIS
1 Ekacakrapriya d Rov Ukr 1119.00 na 420 144 0 540 0
2 Bk Holodkov Khe Ukr 1086.50*+158% 0 684* 680* 250 0
3 Visnu d Kie Ukr 1030.50 -48% 514 0 4 2 0
4 Acharyaratna d Per Rus 837.00 -1% 383 0 142 0 0
5 Bk Klubkov B. Per Rus 510.50 -15% 9 80 300 1050* 0
6 Sacisuta d Min Bel 465.50*+572% 192* 55* 42 22* 0
7 Murari Gupta d Mos Rus 407.50* +39% 197* 6 15* 0 0
8 Ragalekha dd Eka Rus 361.00*+154% 100 161* 0 0 0
9 Bk Nediak Eugene Dne Ukr 323.75*+535% 62* 0 240* 319* 0
10 Ekacakra d Min Bel 323.00*+228% 120* 0 96 140* 0
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS - EUROPE
1 Krpa Sindhu d Sim Ger 1577.50*+102% 783* 1 21* 0 0
2 Gopal Raya d Swa Wal 1093.50* +66% 417* 81* 357* 0 0
3 Advaita Simha d Sim Ger 937.00*+252% 439* 0 118 0 0
4 Anukampana dd Sim Ger 907.50*+152% 367* 30 287* 0 0
5 Munindra Gana d Sim Ger 678.50*+152% 217* 61 367* 0 0
6 Bk Simon Bha Eng 645.00* +39% 304* 0 74 0 0
7 Bk Nikhil Bha Eng 641.50* +31% 300* 0 83 0 0
8 Mantriraja d Swa Wal 544.00* +42% 212* 6 228* 0 0
9 Jay Gauranga d Rom Ita 504.50*+131% 5 0 989* 0 0
10 Sankirtan d Pra Cze 482.25 +385% 17 447 0 5 0
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS - AUSTRALASIA
1 Ghanashyam Govin Syd Aus 1932.00 +49% 814 186* 80 312 0
2 Urugaya d Syd Aus 626.00* +58% 287* 1 38* 128* 0
3 Bhava Vibhushana Syd Aus 600.50 -18% 255 6 100* 138 0
4 Sriman Nrsimha d Syd Aus 372.50* +85% 174* 0 40* 18* 0
5 Kamsari Sena d Syd Aus 364.00* +48% 138* 4* 107* 122 0
6 Dhira Lalita d Syd Aus 346.75 +12% 146 22* 49* 33 0
7 Hansa d Syd Aus 279.75 -53% 127 5* 0 83 0
8 Govardhana d Syd Aus 252.75 +28% 94 1 94 67* 0
9 Ameyatma d Per Aus 138.70 +26% 35 16* 74 52 27
10 Sahasraswarupa d Per Aus 72.00 -71% 36 0 0 0 0
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS - LATIN AMERICA
1 Ekatvam d Gur USA 75.00 -14% 0 0 80 140* 0
2 Atavi Krishna d Gur Pue 4.50 -83% 0 0 0 18 0
TOP TEN INDIVIDUALS - AFRICA
1 Satyabhama dd Pho Mau 624.75 na 7 0 0 2443 0
2 Akuti dd Pho Mau 624.75 na 7 0 0 2443 0
3 Vinata dd Pho Mau 624.75 na 7 0 0 2443 0
4 Prana Priya dd Pho Mau 624.75 na 7 0 0 2443 0
5 Hindrani dd Pho Mau 356.25 na 0 0 0 1425 0
6 Ruma dd Pho Mau 268.25 na 5 0 0 1033 0
7 Saunaka Rsi d San SA 153.00 na 59 25 10 20 0
8 Raghuvar d Pho Mau 144.00 na 72 0 0 0 0
9 Vrajeswari dd Pho Mau 142.50 na 11 2 52 370 0
10 Nrsimha Caitanya Pho Mau 100.00 na 0 0 0 400 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
**** Page 3 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
MONTHLY CONTINENTS
March 2016
% of M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs Full
Continent (temples) Points World Books Books Books Books Mags Sets
_________________________________________________________________________
1 Asia (23) 129574.10 53% 41011 13387 6672 77008 51362 782
2 North America (19) 43798.05 18% 14063 6467 7115 20533 4835 157
3 CIS (30) 29779.65 12% 8967 4584 8913 11095 314 0
4 Europe (27) 21814.40 9% 6346 2707 8573 7302 3034 4
5 Australasia (4) 6900.65 3% 2389 1183 748 2053 524 7
6 Latin America (13) 6809.50 3% 640 1358 3563 9556 10 0
7 Africa (6) 4545.40 2% 223 131 249 15362 34 3
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN TEMPLES BY SIZE
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
TOP TEN LARGE TEMPLES (41+ devotees)
1 Mumbai-Juhu Ind 20777.00 -34% 8597 531 1845 8518 0
2 Vrindavan Ind 18048.00 -11% 2452 7209 0 23740 0
3 Mumbai-Chowpatty Ind 18002.00*+641% 8434* 598* 211* 1686* 90
4 Pune Ind 15843.05*+117% 5768* 233* 391 13587* 2526
5 Los Angeles USA 14653.50* +9% 3184 3654* 3424 11158* 1300*
6 Tirupati Ind 12561.55 -22% 4336 480 434 6733 8196
7 Moscow Rus 10765.75 +6% 3509 963* 4237* 2665 0
8 New Delhi Ind 9962.70 -49% 1781 1804* 731 10586 15847
9 Bhaktivedanta Mano Eng 3913.75* +33% 1510* 15 1657* 201 0
10 Ujjain Ind 3292.00 -19% 910 820 938 720 30
TOP TEN MEDIUM TEMPLES (21-40 devotees)
1 VV Nagar Ind 8624.00 -9% 1025* 0 245 1326 14688
2 Sydney-North Aus 5269.50* +22% 2175* 401* 562* 950* 0
3 Simhachalam (NJNK) Ger 4568.00*+190% 1966* 92 1088* 0 0
4 Salem Ind 3428.45 -40% 1305 129 379 1281 505
5 New Delhi(Punj.Bag Ind 3231.20 -54% 1000 0 0 0 7676*
6 Chennai Ind 3187.75 -39% 956 445 802 1399 800
7 Denver USA 2904.25* +40% 1026* 273 227 1051 2030*
8 Mexico City Mex 2754.00 -32% 274* 415 2190* 2784 0
9 Minsk Bel 2099.25*+154% 711* 192* 541* 859* 0
10 Perm Rus 1577.50 +18% 464 107 519 1132 0
TOP TEN SMALL TEMPLES (6-20 devotees)
1 Phoenix(MA) Mau 3964.15*+999% 131* 7* 80* 14617* 9*
2 Surat Ind 2555.25 -62% 636 250* 50 2603* 858
3 Silicon Valley(ISV USA 2531.50*+167% 1210* 1* 0 442* 0
4 Swansea Wal 2486.50* +32% 846* 128* 1333* 0 0
5 Bali Ind 2448.00 na 1103 45 154 480 0
6 Rajahmundry Ind 2420.50 -21% 868 294 359 844 0
7 Chicago USA 1916.95 +39% 622* 163 394* 1245* 17
8 Bhopal Ind 1770.00* +17% 770* 179* 31 142 0
9 Curitiba Bra 1279.00 -20% 164 441 681* 678 0
10 Dnepropetrovsk Ukr 1224.50*+498% 254* 22* 776* 1226* 0
TOP TEN MAHA-SMALL TEMPLES (1-5 devotees)
1 Baltimore USA 4243.00*+304% 2121* 0 2 0 0
2 TBB TSKP USA 4187.25 0% 112 1959* 2365 3287* 0
3 Prabhupada Bhavan- Cze 1815.50*+141% 133* 1486* 0 254 0
4 Rovno Ukr 1182.75*+999% 420 180 33 585 0
5 Batticaloa Sri 851.50*+999% 364* 111* 7 36* 0
6 Brahmapur Ind 472.75*+420% 155* 82* 57* 157* 130
7 Hartford USA 464.35* +45% 179* 40* 14 115 42
8 Recife Bra 447.00 -1% 0 0 4 1780 0
9 Bologna Ita 441.50 -60% 175 0 183 0 0
10 Zagreb Cro 207.00 -25% 18 10 0 644 0
**** Page 4 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN TEMPLES BY CONTINENT
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________
TOP TEN TEMPLES - ASIA
1 Mumbai-Juhu Ind 20777.00 +32% 8597 531 1845 8518 0
2 Vrindavan Ind 18048.00 +34% 2452 7209 0 23740 0
3 Mumbai-Chowpatty Ind 18002.00 +999% 8434 598 211 1686 90
4 Pune Ind 15843.05 +226% 5768 233 391 13587 2526
5 Tirupati Ind 12561.55 +17% 4336 480 434 6733 8196
6 New Delhi Ind 9962.70 -23% 1781 1804 731 10586 15847
7 VV Nagar Ind 8624.00 +83% 1025 0 245 1326 14688
8 Salem Ind 3428.45 -10% 1305 129 379 1281 505
9 Ujjain Ind 3292.00 +21% 910 820 938 720 30
10 New Delhi(Punj.Bag Ind 3231.20 -31% 1000 0 0 0 7676
TOP TEN TEMPLES - NORTH AMERICA
1 Los Angeles USA 14653.50 +64% 3184 3654 3424 11158 1300
2 Baltimore USA 4243.00 +506% 2121 0 2 0 0
3 TBB TSKP USA 4187.25 +50% 112 1959 2365 3287 0
4 Denver USA 2904.25 +110% 1026 273 227 1051 2030
5 Silicon Valley(ISV USA 2531.50 +300% 1210 1 0 442 0
6 Chicago USA 1916.95 +108% 622 163 394 1245 17
7 Laguna Beach USA 1102.60 +88% 421 62 19 630 316
8 Sacramento/TYM USA 674.85 +323% 272 41 41 271 16
9 Hillsborough, NC USA 639.85 +43% 107 39 20 1267 601
10 Toronto Can 610.50 +45% 227 25 146 212 11
TOP TEN TEMPLES - CIS
1 Moscow Rus 10765.75 +59% 3509 963 4237 2665 0
2 Kiev Ukr 2918.00 +127% 1186 130 518 628 0
3 Minsk Bel 2099.25 +281% 711 192 541 859 0
4 Perm Rus 1577.50 +77% 464 107 519 1132 0
5 Ekaterinburg Rus 1459.25 +268% 611 186 37 131 0
6 Dnepropetrovsk Ukr 1224.50 +999% 254 22 776 1226 0
7 Izevsk Rus 1219.15 na 245 94 563 1289 314
8 Rovno Ukr 1182.75 +999% 420 180 33 585 0
9 Kherson Ukr 1153.75 +258% 20 693 704 275 0
10 Lutsk Ukr 976.75 na 373 180 6 191 0
TOP TEN TEMPLES - EUROPE
1 Simhachalam (NJNK) Ger 4568.00 +336% 1966 92 1088 0 0
2 Bhaktivedanta Mano Eng 3913.75 +100% 1510 15 1657 201 0
3 Swansea Wal 2486.50 +164% 846 128 1333 0 0
4 Budapest Hun 2262.95 +127% 464 349 1 3323 1547
5 Prabhupada Bhavan- Cze 1815.50 +261% 133 1486 0 254 0
6 London-Soho Eng 1117.25 -40% 222 69 948 521 0
7 New Vrajadham-Hung Hun 1069.40 +21% 199 235 21 1292 1029
8 Zurich Swi 639.75 +141% 167 150 255 113 0
9 Rome Ita 567.50 +357% 27 0 1027 0 0
10 Villa Vrndavana Ita 516.10 +138% 151 0 424 0 21
TOP TEN TEMPLES - AUSTRALASIA
1 Sydney-North Aus 5269.50 +83% 2175 401 562 950 0
2 Auckland Loft New 1152.75 +124% 96 670 20 967 390
3 Perth Aus 267.50 +45% 72 21 160 68 55
4 Wellington New 210.90 +33% 46 91 6 68 79
TOP TEN TEMPLES - LATIN AMERICA
1 Mexico City Mex 2754.00 +2% 274 415 2190 2784 0
2 Curitiba Bra 1279.00 +19% 164 441 681 678 0
3 Santiago Chi 647.25 +42% 5 32 401 1619 0
4 Itajai Bra 481.00 +100% 98 112 0 692 0
5 Recife Bra 447.00 +48% 0 0 4 1780 0
6 Pouso Alegre Bra 391.00 +169% 15 246 0 460 0
7 Guadalajara Mex 337.75 +100% 65 75 90 351 0
8 Cueramaro Mex 238.00 -75% 14 0 110 620 0
9 Gurabo (PR) Pue 79.50 -4% 0 0 80 158 0
10 Natal Bra 69.50 +100% 0 0 0 278 0
TOP TEN TEMPLES - AFRICA
1 Phoenix(MA) Mau 3964.15 +999% 131 7 80 14617 9
2 Nairobi Ken 211.25 -56% 10 55 73 399 0
3 Sandton Sou 174.75 +73% 64 29 12 47 0
4 Kisumu Ken 86.00 na 18 31 0 66 25
5 Mafikeng Sou 78.00 +276% 0 9 77 122 0
6 Pietermaritzburg Sou 31.25 na 0 0 7 111 0
**** Page 5 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TEAM BOOK DISTRIBUTION
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Gaur Lila d Pun Ind 2948.50 na 1468 1 0 46 0
2 Radheshyam d Pun Ind 2500.00 na 0 0 0 10000 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP 50 INDIVIDUALS
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Bhagavat Ashraya Mum Ind10144.75*+140% 4544* 80 189* 3529 0
2 HH Radhanatha Sw Mum Ind 6300.00 na 3150 0 0 0 0
3 Hemagiri d Mum Ind 2943.00 -28% 1044 201 375 1866 0
4 Radha Krsna d Mum Ind 2620.25 -18% 1079 142* 318* 645* 0
5 Prema Sankirtan LA USA 2063.75* +50% 485* 740* 193* 993 90
6 Pavitra Hari d New Ind 2000.00 -22% 1000* 0 0 0 0
7 Nandanandana Gov Tir Ind 1999.50 -1% 767 94 90* 1252* 116
8 Revati Raman d Tir Ind 1937.25 +23% 803 29 40 1129 0
9 Ghanashyam Govin Syd Aus 1932.00 +49% 814 186* 80 312 0
10 Tirtha Krishna d Tir Ind 1930.80 -17% 722 130 120 1108 160*
11 Bk Storm LA USA 1901.65* +5% 539 336* 369 1037 439*
12 Bhrgupati d LA USA 1801.50*+772% 353* 634* 405* 1036* 0
13 Nava Gauravara d Tir Ind 1696.25 -29% 672 69 47 1039 0
14 Kaunteya Sakha d Tir Ind 1684.50 -14% 707 54 28 810 0
15 Krpa Sindhu d Sim Ger 1577.50*+102% 783* 1 21* 0 0
16 Nidra dd Den USA 1297.25* +78% 512* 158* 62 337* 0
17 Vishwambhar Maha Pun Ind 1269.25 na 476 60 82 865 0
18 Nityadham d New Ind 1231.20* 0% 0 0 0 0 7676*
19 Gauranga Prema d LA USA 1152.25* +29% 219* 366* 663* 67 0
20 Raya Nitai d TBB USA 1142.75 +16% 10 543* 761 797* 0
21 Ekacakrapriya d Rov Ukr 1119.00 na 420 144 0 540 0
22 Gopal Raya d Swa Wal 1093.50* +66% 417* 81* 357* 0 0
23 Bk Holodkov Khe Ukr 1086.50*+158% 0 684* 680* 250 0
24 Bk Inderjit Popl Pun Ind 1041.60*+195% 439* 40* 82* 180* 49
25 Visnu d Kie Ukr 1030.50 -48% 514 0 4 2 0
26 Neel Kantha d New Ind 960.00* 0% 0 0 0 0 9600*
27 Advaita Simha d Sim Ger 937.00*+252% 439* 0 118 0 0
28 Sundar Caitanya Mum Ind 924.50 -21% 462* 0 1 0 0
29 Nilacala Narayan Tir Ind 920.40 -24% 0 0 0 0 2478
30 Bk Carlos TBB USA 911.75 -11% 31 399* 505 793* 0
31 Anukampana dd Sim Ger 907.50*+152% 367* 30 287* 0 0
32 Bk Karim TBB USA 901.75*+125% 1 460* 507* 745* 0
33 Srutakirti d Bat Sri 851.50 na 364 111 7 36 0
34 Caitanya Seva d Pun Ind 846.00 na 423 0 0 0 0
35 Acharyaratna d Per Rus 837.00 -1% 383 0 142 0 0
36 Swethadvipa Nara Raj Ind 772.00 -31% 320 42 67 226 0
37 Jagannath d Mum Ind 754.25 -38% 287 0 339* 43 0
38 Advaita Simha d Ujj Ind 725.00 +2% 270 149* 62* 20 0
39 Nitya Mukta d Tir Ind 718.70 -64% 286 23* 27* 420* 52
40 Anirudha Swarup Mum Ind 703.25*+299% 230* 60* 249* 235* 0
41 Munindra Gana d Sim Ger 678.50*+152% 217* 61 367* 0 0
42 Bk Simon Tor Eng 645.00* +39% 304* 0 74 0 0
43 Bk Nikhil Tor Eng 641.50* +31% 300* 0 83 0 0
44 Urugaya d Syd Aus 626.00* +58% 287* 1 38* 128* 0
45 Satyabhama dd Pho Mau 624.75 na 7 0 0 2443 0
46 Akuti dd Pho Mau 624.75 na 7 0 0 2443 0
47 Vinata dd Pho Mau 624.75 na 7 0 0 2443 0
48 Prana Priya dd Pho Mau 624.75 na 7 0 0 2443 0
49 Bk Joey TBB USA 610.75* +24% 44 200* 451* 389* 0
50 Bhava Vibhushana Syd Aus 600.50 -18% 255 6 100* 138 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
**** Page 6 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
ALL COUNTRIES
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Country (Temples) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
________________________________________________________________________
1 India (19) 125106.35 -16% 39295 13189 6511 73979 51362
2 United States (14) 34010.70 -9% 9464 6337 6697 19676 4518
3 Russia, CIS (17) 18822.90 -48% 5617 3019 5783 6588 314
4 Ukraine, CIS (12) 8857.50 +134% 2639 1373 2589 3648 0
5 United Kingdom (3) 7517.50 +24% 2578 212 3938 722 0
6 Australia (2) 5537.00 +86% 2247 422 722 1018 55
7 GermanyAustria (6) 5295.00 na 2224 116 1462 0 0
8 Mauritius 3964.15 +999% 131 7 80 14617 9
9 Hungary (2) 3332.35 +49% 663 584 22 4615 2576
10 Mexico (3) 3329.75 na 353 490 2390 3755 0
11 Brazil (7) 2737.75 -37% 277 835 688 4019 0
12 Indonesia 2448.00 +100% 1103 45 154 480 0
13 Italy (5) 2259.60 +38% 422 0 2827 0 21
14 Belarus, CIS 2099.25 na 711 192 541 859 0
15 Czech Republic 1815.50 +45% 133 1486 0 254 0
16 New Zealand (2) 1363.65 -29% 142 761 26 1035 469
17 Malaysia 1024.25 na 198 0 0 2513 0
18 Sri Lanka 851.50 na 364 111 7 36 0
19 Canada (3) 735.50 -54% 232 31 187 566 11
20 Chile 647.25 -87% 5 32 401 1619 0
21 Switzerland 639.75 +538% 167 150 255 113 0
22 Lithuania (2) 398.00 -52% 85 116 13 422 0
23 Kenya (2) 297.25 -49% 28 86 73 465 25
24 South Africa (3) 284.00 -46% 64 38 96 280 0
25 Croatia 207.00 na 18 10 0 644 0
26 China 144.00 na 51 42 0 0 0
27 Sweden (3) 135.50 na 13 11 39 316 0
28 Norway 107.70 na 32 0 0 0 437
29 Puerto Rico 79.50 na 0 0 80 158 0
30 Romania 59.25 na 7 6 0 157 0
31 Bosnia 47.25 -79% 4 16 17 59 0
32 Suriname 15.25 na 5 1 4 5 10
(%)Change compared
to Mar last year
**** Page 7 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
ALL TEMPLES
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Temples (size) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Mumbai-Juhu (L) Ind 20777.00 -34% 8597 531 1845 8518 0
2 Vrindavan (L) Ind 18048.00 -11% 2452 7209 0 23740 0
3 Mumbai-Chowpatty ( Ind 18002.00*+641% 8434* 598* 211* 1686* 90
4 Pune (L) Ind 15843.05*+117% 5768* 233* 391 13587* 2526
5 Los Angeles (L) USA 14653.50* +9% 3184 3654* 3424 11158* 1300*
6 Tirupati (L) Ind 12561.55 -22% 4336 480 434 6733 8196
7 Moscow (L) Rus 10765.75 +6% 3509 963* 4237* 2665 0
8 New Delhi (L) Ind 9962.70 -49% 1781 1804* 731 10586 15847
9 VV Nagar (M) Ind 8624.00 -9% 1025* 0 245 1326 14688
10 Sydney-North (M) Aus 5269.50* +22% 2175* 401* 562* 950* 0
11 Simhachalam (NJNK) Ger 4568.00*+190% 1966* 92 1088* 0 0
12 Baltimore (MS) USA 4243.00*+304% 2121* 0 2 0 0
13 TBB TSKP (MS) USA 4187.25 0% 112 1959* 2365 3287* 0
14 Phoenix(MA) (S) Mau 3964.15*+999% 131* 7* 80* 14617* 9*
15 Bhaktivedanta Mano Eng 3913.75* +33% 1510* 15 1657* 201 0
16 Salem (M) Ind 3428.45 -40% 1305 129 379 1281 505
17 Ujjain (L) Ind 3292.00 -19% 910 820 938 720 30
18 New Delhi(Punj.Bag Ind 3231.20 -54% 1000 0 0 0 7676*
19 Chennai (M) Ind 3187.75 -39% 956 445 802 1399 800
20 Kiev (L) Ukr 2918.00* +13% 1186 130* 518* 628* 0
21 Denver (M) USA 2904.25* +40% 1026* 273 227 1051 2030*
22 Mexico City (M) Mex 2754.00 -32% 274* 415 2190* 2784 0
23 Surat (S) Ind 2555.25 -62% 636 250* 50 2603* 858
24 Silicon Valley(ISV USA 2531.50*+167% 1210* 1* 0 442* 0
25 Swansea (S) Wal 2486.50* +32% 846* 128* 1333* 0 0
26 Bali (S) Ind 2448.00 na 1103 45 154 480 0
27 Rajahmundry (S) Ind 2420.50 -21% 868 294 359 844 0
28 Budapest (L) Hun 2262.95 +52% 464 349 1 3323* 1547*
29 Minsk (M) Bel 2099.25*+154% 711* 192* 541* 859* 0
30 Chicago (S) USA 1916.95 +39% 622* 163 394* 1245* 17
31 Prabhupada Bhavan- Cze 1815.50*+141% 133* 1486* 0 254 0
32 Bhopal (S) Ind 1770.00* +17% 770* 179* 31 142 0
33 Perm (M) Rus 1577.50 +18% 464 107 519 1132 0
34 Ekaterinburg (M) Rus 1459.25*+145% 611* 186 37 131 0
35 Curitiba (S) Bra 1279.00 -20% 164 441 681* 678 0
36 Dnepropetrovsk (S) Ukr 1224.50*+498% 254* 22* 776* 1226* 0
37 Izevsk (S) Rus 1219.15 na 245 94 563 1289 314
38 Rovno (MS) Ukr 1182.75*+999% 420 180 33 585 0
39 Kherson (S) Ukr 1153.75* +79% 20 693* 704* 275 0
40 Auckland Loft (S) New 1152.75* +12% 96 670* 20 967* 390
41 London-Soho (M) Eng 1117.25 -60% 222 69* 948 521 0
42 Laguna Beach (S) USA 1102.60 +25% 421 62 19 630* 316*
43 New Vrajadham-Hung Hun 1069.40 -19% 199 235 21 1292 1029
44 Kuala Lumpur (M) Mal 1024.25* +86% 198* 0 0 2513* 0
45 Lutsk (S) Ukr 976.75 na 373 180 6 191 0
46 Batticaloa (MS) Sri 851.50*+999% 364* 111* 7 36* 0
47 Kirov (S) Rus 779.00* +89% 164* 74* 333* 842* 0
48 Sacramento/TYM (S) USA 674.85*+182% 272* 41* 41 271* 16
49 Santiago (S) Chi 647.25* -5% 5 32* 401* 1619* 0
50 Hillsborough, NC ( USA 639.85 -5% 107 39 20* 1267* 601*
51 Zurich (S) Swi 639.75* +61% 167* 150 255* 113 0
52 Toronto (S) Can 610.50 -3% 227 25 146 212 11
53 Odessa (S) Ukr 608.50*+622% 206* 29 177* 316* 0
54 Uhta (S) Rus 601.00 na 0 601 0 0 0
55 Rome (S) Ita 567.50*+128% 27* 0 1027* 0 0
56 Dallas (M) USA 564.85 +23% 181 73 132* 177 196*
57 Tyumen (S) Rus 563.25 na 251 5 60 105 0
58 Villa Vrndavana (L Ita 516.10* +58% 151* 0 424 0 21*
59 Itajai (S) Bra 481.00* 0% 98* 112* 0 692* 0
60 Brahmapur (MS) Ind 472.75*+420% 155* 82* 57* 157* 130
61 Hartford (MS) USA 464.35* +45% 179* 40* 14 115 42
62 Milan (M) Ita 455.50 -50% 55 0 691 0 0
63 Vellore (S) Ind 452.75 -27% 172 100* 0 35 0
64 Recife (MS) Bra 447.00 -1% 0 0 4 1780 0
65 Bologna (MS) Ita 441.50 -60% 175 0 183 0 0
66 Ufa (S) Rus 436.25 na 157 12 9 423 0
67 Berlin (S) Ger 435.50 +41% 168 1* 197 0 0
68 Zaporozhye (S) Ukr 417.50 na 70 87 220 322 0
69 Kaliningrad (S) Rus 400.00 na 200 0 0 0 0
70 Pouso Alegre (S) Bra 391.00* +80% 15* 246* 0 460* 0
71 Volzhskiy (S) Rus 353.00 na 0 353 0 0 0
72 Guadalajara (S) Mex 337.75* 0% 65* 75* 90* 351* 0
73 Prabhupada Desh (M Ita 279.00* +47% 14* 0 502* 0 0
74 Kaunas (S) Lit 275.00 -41% 58 76 12* 308 0
75 Perth (S) Aus 267.50 -4% 72 21* 160 68 55
76 Cueramaro (S) Mex 238.00 -83% 14 0 110 620 0
77 Nairobi (S) Ken 211.25 -71% 10 55 73 399 0
78 Wellington (S) New 210.90 -34% 46 91 6 68* 79
79 Zagreb (MS) Cro 207.00 -25% 18 10 0 644 0
80 Leipzig (S) Ger 200.00 -4% 63* 11 126 0 0
81 Magadan (S) Rus 195.00 na 0 195 0 0 0
82 Nellore (M) Ind 187.00 -63% 30 0 10 488 0
83 Kishinev (MS) Ukr 179.00 -93% 41 51 92 0 0
84 Sandton (S) Sou 174.75 -13% 64* 29 12 47 0
85 Abakan (MS) Rus 150.00 na 0 150 0 0 0
86 Nagpur (S) Ind 146.00 -45% 52 23 2* 72 0
87 Amravati (S) Ind 144.40 -82% 48 12* 26 62 16
88 Shanghai (S) Chi 144.00 -97% 51 42 0 0 0
89 Vilnius (S) Lit 123.00 -16% 27 40* 1 114 0
90 Oslo (S) Nor 107.70 -29% 32 0 0 0 437
91 Ryazan (S) Rus 94.00 na 0 94 0 0 0
92 Kisumu (S) Ken 86.00 na 18 31 0 66 25
93 Cologne(Gauradesh) Ger 80.00 -35% 26 10 36 0 0
94 Gurabo (PR) (MS) Pue 79.50 -36% 0 0 80 158 0
95 Novokuznetzk (S) Rus 78.00 na 0 78 0 0 0
96 Mafikeng (S) Sou 78.00* +88% 0 9* 77* 122* 0
97 Montreal (S) Can 74.50 na 0 2 6 278 0
98 Stockholm (M) Swe 71.75* +70% 7* 0 37* 157* 0
99 San Diego (M) USA 69.75 na 14 22 25 29 0
100 Natal (S) Bra 69.50* 0% 0 0 0 278* 0
101 Petrozavodsk (S) Rus 68.00 na 0 68 0 0 0
102 Florianopolis (MS) Bra 66.00* +53% 0 36* 0 120* 0
103 Vinniza (MS) Ukr 60.25*+265% 21* 0 22* 29* 0
104 Almvik (L) Swe 59.25 -46% 6 7* 1 159 0
105 Timisoara (S) Rom 59.25 +1% 7 6 0 157* 0
106 Sevastopol (MS) Ukr 52.00 na 26 0 0 0 0
107 Vancouver (S) Can 50.50 -50% 5 4 35 76* 0
108 Tiraspol (S) Ukr 47.50* +23% 13 0 34* 18* 0
109 Sarajevo (S) Bos 47.25 -5% 4 16* 17* 59 0
110 Kurgan (S) Rus 44.75 na 16 0 25 1 0
111 RupanugaVedicColle USA 43.75 -100% 10 8 30 3 0
112 Prokopievsk (S) Rus 39.00 na 0 39 0 0 0
113 Chernigov (MS) Ukr 37.00*+771% 9* 1 7 58* 0
114 Pietermaritzburg ( Sou 31.25 na 0 0 7 111 0
115 Paramaribo (S) Sur 15.25*+122% 5* 1 4 5* 10
116 Arkadelphia (S) USA 14.25*+338% 5* 2 4* 1 0
117 German Congregatio Ger 8.00* +60% 0 2 12* 0 0
118 Gothenburg (S) Swe 4.50 -36% 0 4 1 0 0
119 Manaus (S) Bra 4.25 -96% 0 0 3 11 0
120 Goloka Dhama (S) Ger 3.50 -36% 1 0 3 0 0
(%)Change compared (*)New high
to monthly average this year
**** Page 8 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
PRABHUPADA DISCIPLES
March 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Prabhupada Disciples Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Bhrgupati d LA USA 1801.50*+772% 353* 634* 405* 1036* 0
2 Nidra dd Den USA 1297.25* +78% 512* 158* 62 337* 0
3 Cakri d Dallas Dal USA 172.65 -32% 68 0 0 117 74*
4 Svavasa d LA USA 144.00 na 72 0 0 0 0
5 Shankar Pandit d Chi USA 140.25*+576% 45* 0 0 201* 0
6 Trai d Bol Ita 45.50 -89% 11 0 47 0 0
7 Cekitana dd Per Aus 27.50*+104% 0 0 50* 10 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
**** Page 9 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN COUNTRIES (CUMULATIVE)
January thru March, 2016
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Country (Temples) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
________________________________________________________________________
1 India (25) 524064.85 -12% 179386 44558 37137 272867 160673
2 United States (25) 131949.50 +24% 39462 24475 25268 57382 14918
3 Russia, CIS (30) 55966.90 -11% 18900 6714 11779 22128 314
4 United Kingdom (3) 20851.00 +30% 7029 504 10845 3466 0
5 Australia (4) 17821.80+130% 7371 831 2212 4406 413
6 Mexico (4) 15461.00+112% 1306 4265 8306 17724 0
7 Ukraine, CIS (15) 15223.50 +22% 5142 1774 3805 5052 0
8 Italy (8) 14392.90 +23% 4120 0 12266 0 85
9 GermanyAustria (7) 10064.10 +25% 3874 613 3406 0 1
10 Hungary (2) 8961.45 +15% 1926 1746 340 10463 5777
(%)Change compared to Jan-Mar 2015
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN TEMPLES (CUMULATIVE)
January thru March, 2016
Points % M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Temples (size) (Months) Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Mayapur (L) Ind 131236.50(2) -2% 54309 10176 12786 24198 0
2 Vrindavan (L) Ind 58538.00(3) +81% 14696 16971 0 48700 0
3 Mumbai-Juhu ( Ind 52238.00(2) -39% 20640 2509 4552 24692 0
4 New Delhi (L) Ind 48865.15(3) -41% 10877 3335 7446 60977 48089
5 Tirupati (L) Ind 44821.85(3) +13% 14828 1792 1625 27995 27316
6 Los Angeles ( USA 41489.40(3) +27% 9628 9456 10420 29202 2669
7 Moscow (L) Rus 31043.75(3) +21% 12029 2259 5960 6987 0
8 Pune (L) Ind 30426.75(3) +23% 12068 491 873 17621 5521
9 Mumbai-Chowpa Ind 22859.45(3) +104% 10489 828 421 3201 275
10 RupanugaVedic USA 21222.30(3) +48% 7434 5207 353 1376 6268
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Mar 2015 last year
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TEAM BOOK DISTRIBUTION (CUMULATIVE)
January thru March, 2016
Points % M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals (Months) Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Puspa Gopa May Ind 26624.75(1) na 10838 340 2095 14245 0
2 Ajit Govin New Ind 6318.75(1) na 0 0 0 25275 0
3 Gaur Lila Pun Ind 2948.50(1) na 1468 1 0 46 0
4 Radheshyam Pun Ind 2500.00(1)*+302% 0 0 0 10000* 0
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Mar 2015 last year
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP 50 INDIVIDUALS (CUMULATIVE)
January thru March, 2016
Points % M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals (Months) Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 s Puspa Go May Ind 26624.75(1) na 10838 340 2095 14245 0
2 Bhagavat A Mum Ind 14366.75(2) +17% 6645 80 229 3529 0
3 Madhusunda New Ind 10360.00(3) +83% 3770 340 2856 4208 0
4 HH Jayapat May Ind 8200.00(2) -40% 4100 0 0 0 0
5 Pavitra Ha New Ind 7150.00(3) na 1600 0 0 15800 0
6 Hemagiri d Mum Ind 7036.25(2) +39% 2406 511 1085 4683 0
7 Tirtha Kri Tir Ind 6556.80(3) -31% 2420 410 404 4158 501
8 Nava Gaura Tir Ind 6463.00(3) na 2459 372 219 4250 10
9 Ananda Kir LA USA 6350.10(3) +21% 1965 979 530 4648 141*
10 s Ajit Gov New Ind 6318.75(1) na 0 0 0 25275 0
11 HH Radhana Mum Ind 6300.00(1) na 3150 0 0 0 0
12 Bk Jay Khu LA USA 6273.20(2) +13% 1758 891 900 5560 262
13 Nandananda Tir Ind 6055.35(3) -23% 2309 287 295 3773 444
14 Radha Krsn Mum Ind 5821.50(2) -53% 2478 263 619 1172 0
15 Gokuleshwa Mum Ind 5612.50(2) +410% 2275 1000 10 230 0
16 Kaunteya S Tir Ind 5602.25(3) na 2128 244 185 4039 0
17 Bk Storm LA USA 5511.85(3) +234% 1649 796 1160 3119* 581*
18 Krishna Bh RVC USA 5443.40(2) +138% 1910 1280 3 408 2399
19 Mayapur Ca May Ind 5437.75(2) +134% 1731 1846 190 139 0
20 Paramesvar RVC USA 5353.25(2) +14% 1731 1458 0 367 3415
21 Keshav Mur New Ind 5350.00(1) -31% 1800 0 0 7000 0
22 Prema Sank LA USA 4812.75(3) +354% 1236 1367 304 3251 90*
23 Nitya Mukt Tir Ind 4725.35(3) +426% 1943 65 75 1721* 786
24 Ghanashyam Syd Aus 4520.50(3) na 1965 302 198 758 0
25 Banamali M May Ind 4251.75(2) na 1504 1050 100 575 0
26 Bipin Biha May Ind 4211.75(2) +4% 1550 230 913 1701 0
27 Narayan Pa Sha Chi 4187.00(2)* na 1570* 160* 0 3548 0
28 Harinam Kr May Ind 3764.75(2) na 1562 26 1082 295 0
29 Nityadham New Ind 3693.60(3) +95% 0 0 0 0 23028*
30 Mahapuran May Ind 3678.00(1) -45% 1520 300 76 1200 0
31 Tirtha Gov May Ind 3585.00(2) +111% 800 626 2352 732 0
32 Revati Ram Tir Ind 3511.25(2) na 1416 97 95 2139 0
33 Gaur Sunda LA USA 3401.10(2) na 1580 160 113 92 16
34 Nilacala N Tir Ind 3347.30(3) na 0 0 0 0 9020
35 Gaur Lila Pun Ind 3326.00(2) na 1659 7 1 2 0
36 Tusta Ram May Ind 3294.50(2) na 1456 206 170 366 0
37 Deva Krsna RVC USA 3258.00(2) +28% 1326 542 0 256 0
38 Kishor Gop May Ind 3153.50(2) +181% 1568 5 20 10 0
39 Raya Nitai TBB USA 3118.25(3) +73% 223 1171 2356 1293 0
40 Visnu d Kie Ukr 3030.50(2) +999% 1514 0 4 2 0
41 Bk Carlos TBB USA 2963.25(3) na 407 812 1792 1765 0
42 s Gaur Lil Pun Ind 2948.50(1) na 1468 1 0 46 0
43 Gauranga P LA USA 2943.75(3) na 463 928 1891 577 0
44 Kamal Naya May Ind 2926.50(2) na 1368 8 30 670 0
45 Patit Uddh May Ind 2906.75(2) -6% 1322 174 158 39 0
46 Neel Kanth New Ind 2880.00(3) -1% 0 0 0 0 28800
47 Gopal Bala May Ind 2827.00(2) na 1276 56 438 0 0
48 Nidra dd Den USA 2758.75(3) +17% 982 353 462 843 0
49 Sahasra Ne New Ind 2753.50(1) na 1049 82 320 1278 940
50 Udar Gour May Ind 2696.00(2) -55% 1348 0 0 0 0
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Mar 2015 last year
Is memory stored in the brain or the soul?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Answer Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Is memory stored in the brain or the soul? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
New North American TOVP Office Opens
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A new office for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium – ISKCON’s upcoming flagship center in Mayapur -- has opened in Alachua, Florida, USA. The office will locally process North American donations, maintain good relationships with donors, and make sure that their contributions are properly managed.
During out-of-body experiences how does the soul stay connected with the body?
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Answer Podcast
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The post During out-of-body experiences how does the soul stay connected with the body? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Sri Balarama’s Rasayatra
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By Deena Bandhu Das Balarama was the second body of Krishna himself and the depth of his real self was like the depth of a million oceans. He came to Vraja from Dvaraka and stayed during the two months of Chaita and Vaishakh to console Sri Nanda, Yasoda and the others. He pleased his sakhas in various ways. There also Balarama gave solace to all the Krishna priyas and charmed his own dear and loving gopis by having lilas with them. At that time Krishna killed Sankhachuda. Then Krishna and Balarama both performed divine lilas with their own lovers and played Holi. Only a learned devotee can describe the beauty of these celestial activities. In Sri Krishna Caitanya Carita Murari Gupta says; "Look at Rama and Krishna who are covered with jewels and suitably dressed for spring time. In a humorous mood they performed their kelis with their own beautiful Vraja ladies. They are gracefully dancing and singing in a delightful mood with their pretty gopis. Continue reading "Sri Balarama’s Rasayatra
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How can we know for sure that the soul exists?
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Answer Podcast
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The post How can we know for sure that the soul exists? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Govindas in Hungary: Hungry in Hungary. (Album with photos)
This…
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Govindas in Hungary: Hungry in Hungary. (Album with photos)
This place is ever-busy!
Kurma das: Maha prasadam sweets from Hungary’s New Vraja farm community are available at the downtown Govindas.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZOkCft
Vitamin B12 deficiency and dementia – a serious and urgent matter
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By Dr. med. Ludwig Jacob
As a medical doctor, Ph.D. and specialist in vegetarian and vegan diets, (I wrote a 500-page medical book quoting over 1400 scientific studies on this), my research and personal experience with the health problems of senior devotees have shown clearly that we urgently need to improve and re-think our eating and health habits. The world-wide devotee community has already a large percentage of cardiovascular diseases and of neuro-degenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson with the high probability of developing an epidemic. One of the easier ways to revert these causes is to increased vitamin B12, which lacking causes high levels of homocysteine in the blood.
The lack of vitamin B12 and too high homocysteine can cause dementia, Alzheimers disease, heart disease, nerve damage, brain shrinkage, stroke, fatigue, memory loss, miscarriage, mental illness, and many more. People who already have Parkinson or dementia urgently need to supplement B12.
The insidious problem with a chronic lack of B12 is that in the early stage there are no or little symptoms and is, therefore, often not treated on time. Once it has done serious damage, it cannot be cured. Please allow me to share some important information about it with you.
How do we get vitamin B12?
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that your body does not produce itself, which means you must get it via your diet or supplements. Milk products contain little B12 and require a lot of B12 for their digestion. After the age of 50, dairy products no longer meet our needs for B12, and supplementation is a must. Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in the elderly. This is because stomach acid decreases as you get older, and stomach acid is essential for your body to absorb vitamin B12.
Vitamin B12 deficiency is prevalent not only among the known risk groups of elderly persons, vegetarians, vegans, pregnant women, and patients with kidney disease or intestinal disorders.
In general, those most at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency include:
• Vegetarians and vegans
• People over 50
• People who regularly use proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or taking metformin
• People with Crohn’s disease, colitis, celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Women with a history of infertility or miscarriage
The NIH, the highest US health authority, recommend that EVERYBODY above 50 should supplement B12 in their diet, as the absorption from food after that age is often insufficient, since it is dependent on intrinsic factors and stomach acid concentration.
How do we test it?
It is a simple blood test. The cheapest way is to test homocysteine, as it shows a lack of active B12. Homocysteine should not be below 12 μmol/L.
If you test B12, the values that are considered normal are often already too low and you may suffer from a lack of active B12! Experts suggest a B12 level of no less than 450 pg/mL.
Oral Vitamin B12 Supplements or injections?
Many people, including the elderly, those with intestinal disorders, vegetarians and vegans, benefit greatly from Vitamin B12 supplements. There is, however, one problem with supplementation, which is the poor absorption rate of oral vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is the largest vitamin molecule known. Because of its large size, it is not easily absorbed. Therefore, oral B12 supplements are often grossly ineffective. This is why vitamin B12 is often given via injection, especially for people with absorption issues. Sublingual (under your tongue) sprays are also effective. You need 500-1000 mcg of B12 orally if you do not absorb it well. For younger, healthy people who absorb well 5-10 mcg of vitamin B12 daily is usually sufficient.
In summary: blood tests show how well you absorb B12 and whether you need B12 orally or intramuscular (a little injection into the muscle, make sure the dose is high enough, e.g.500-1000 mcg).
What can we change to stay healthy?
As confirmed with Dr.Pradyumna at the Vedic Village Clinic, who treat many devotees with neuro-generative diseases, these diseases are connected with the high consumption of paneer and cheese. He is an expert Ayurvedic doctor and named the high dairy consumption, like paneer, as the number one cause for the high rate of neuro-generative diseases in Western devotees. It is a well-established scientific fact that all neuro-degenerative diseases start with these protein deposits in the brain.
Some B12 is found in paneer, but it contains too much methionine which causes high homocysteine. It is proven that high homocysteine increases the risk of Alzheimer 5-fold. In normal population this is often due to high meat consumption, but we can also reach this by a high cheese and milk intake, as usually found in a devotee diet.
Studies show that not only homocysteine is produced by the metabolisation of methionine, but also other methionine metabolites increase damages to the cardiovascular and nervous system.
Cheese and other dairy sources also increase homocysteine in the elderly. In addition, they are loaded with a lot of saturated fatty acids that are known to increase Alzheimer risk.
Unhealthy diet and too little sleep.
It was recently proven that protein deposits in the brain are eliminated during sleep. So a high diet of milk products and little sleep are a fatal combination – a rather typical situation for many devotees. In addition to sufficient intakes of folic acid, Vitamin B6, and mainly B12, omega-3-fatty acids like flax seed oil, freshly ground organic flax seeds, chia seeds or rape seed oil, choline or betaine are also needed. Betain is found in quinoa whilst cholin is found in soya products. It is essential to reduce and normalise the amount of milk protein, especially rich paneer and the combination of dairy and sugar in the diet. Our high consumption of cheese and sugar also add to the cancer burden with strong evidence especially in regard to prostate cancer and breast cancer.
It is not the daily small cup of milk Srila Prabhupada recommended that makes us ill – it is the daily cheese, milk, fat and sugar products that does (such as paneer, cheese srikand, burfi, fried milk sweets etc).
Rates of brain shrinkage may depend on omega-3 fatty acids and B vitamins
A new study reveals that the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA (the kind found in fatty fish like salmon) may determine whether Vitamin B treatment can slow down brain shrinkage. Higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids has previously been linked to larger brain volume in older adults. Researchers from University of Oxford, led by Dr. David Smith, examined data from the VITACOG trial, a 2-year randomised, placebo-controlled trial, examining the effects of Vitamin B treatment on brain shrinkage and memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. People with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA combined above 590 μmol/L or 186 mg/l).) have up to 40% less brain shrinkage if treated with B Vitamins. But in people with low blood levels of omega-3s ((EPA and DHA combined below 390 μmol/L or 123 mg/l)), B Vitamin treatment had no effect on brain atrophy. As noted by the authors, “There was a significant interaction between B vitamin treatment and plasma combined omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) on brain atrophy rates.”
As in old age the conversion of plant omega-3 to long chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA (essential for brain health), you may consider taking a supplement with DHA and EPA from algae.
If homocysteine is already high, B12 alone may not suffice but needs to be combined with choline, good amounts of omega-3-fatty acids, folic acid, and Vitamin B6. For prevention B12 supplementation is usually sufficient and the lack of it is the main reason for increased homocysteine.
Vegetarians can be very healthy, if they get it right!
The Adventist vegetarians are proven in very large and excellent health studies that have run now for decades to be the healthiest and longest living people on the planet. They are a Christian faith group for whom wholesome living expresses their religious conviction that the body must be honoured as God’s temple. The Adventist’s nutritional council recommends a vegetarian diet with plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruit, and moderate quantities of legumes, nuts, and low-fat milk products. Among Adventists it is generally recommended that foods containing sugar, saturated fats, cholesterol, and salt should be eaten on only rare occasions. The consumption of soft drinks, alcohol, coffee, tea, and any other caffeine-containing beverages are not accepted by Adventists. Even the vegetarian Adventists eat very little milk products (an average of 150 ml of milk) and quite a bit of soya. Healthy vegetarian men lived by average more than 13 years longer than other Californian men of the same age group!
The body as a temple of God! Let us take care of it properly, it is part of our service of the Lord.
Final advice off topic: After getting up in the morning drink at least half a liter of warm water. It can save your life. We lose at least 0,5 liter of liquid during the night by breathing and sweating, even more in hot climates. So our circulation dehydrates and our blood thickens. This is the main reason why the risk of stroke and heart attack is three time higher after getting up in the morning.
Dr. med. Ludwig Jacob
If you want to know more scientific facts and details:
B12 deficiency, high homocysteine, the upcoming dementia epidemic
Science and pure observation show that many members of the worldwide devotee community are complicit in this epidemic of neuro-degenerative and cardiovascular diseases. I am a emdical doctor, Ph.D. and specialist in vegetarian and vegan diets. My 500-page book on nutrition and lifestyle has become a bestseller amongst M.D.s, nutritional scientists and naturopaths in Germany. It was edited and lauded by the world-wide leading expert on vegetarian diet, Prof. Claus Leitzmann, an officially elected “living legend” amongst the world-wide elite of nutritional scientists. My book is not based on personal opinion or hearsay but on sound science, over 1400 cited studies and with excellent reviews from experts.
My research and personal experience with devotees disturbingly shows me that we urgently need to improve our eating and health habits. In Mayapur I talked to approx. 30 elderly devotees who were blissfully unaware of the essential need of B12, (including three devotees with Parkinson), the lack of B12 and high homocysteine.
Pathogenesis of Alzheimer and Parkinson are very similar, just in different parts of the brain. So Parkinson presents earlier. Both have the same specific protein deposits. It is clear that all neuro-degenerative diseases start with these protein deposits in the brain.
Studies show that not only homocysteine, which is made by the metabolisation of methionine, but also other methionine metabolites increases damage to the cardiovascular and nervous system. In addition, it brings a lot of saturated fatty acids that are known to increase Alzheimer risk. Also milk and other protein sources can increase homocysteine in the elderly.
Vitamin B12 is a water-soluble vitamin that your body does not produce, which means you must get it via your diet or supplements. Vitamin B12 is essential for the maintenance of your central nervous system, including the conduction of nerve impulses and producing the myelin sheath, which protects and “insulates” your nerves. Vitamin B12 is among the stored vitamins, which is why specific clinical symptoms become only apparent when chronic deficiency is already manifest and pronounced. Chronic Vitamin B12 deficiency can result in irreversible neurological disorders and haematological alterations like microcytic anaemia and pernicious anaemia.
Vitamin B12 deficiency yields only non-specific symptoms which is why it is often not recognised and treated on time. To catch latent shortage persons in risk groups should have their Vitamin B12 levels tested every two to three years. Nitrosative stress is notorious in causing rapid Vitamin B12 depletion. If Vitamin B is known to be deficient it must be supplemented initially in high dosages.
Studies from the USA Framingham trial show nearly 40 percent of the USA population may have suboptimal blood levels of vitamin B12, which is a level low enough to experience neurological symptoms. Another 9 percent were considered deficient in the vitamin, while 16 percent were near deficient. Vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in the elderly. This is because stomach acid decreases as you get older, and stomach acid is essential for your body to absorb Vitamin B12. Many symptoms often attributed to ageing may actually be due to Vitamin B12 deficiency. This includes memory loss, cognitive decline, muscle weakness and more. Low levels were common in young people and the elderly alike.
Why Low Levels of Vitamin B12 Are Often Missed
Most physicians do not routinely test their patients’ Vitamin B12 levels. Levels considered “normal” in the USA may still be too low. Normal ranges of Vitamin B12 in the USA are 200 pg/mL to 1100 pg/mL, even though people at the lower end of this spectrum (between 200 pg/mL and 350 pg/mL) often have symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency. Various studies show that B12 levels below 308 pmol/L more than triple the risk of premature loss of brain volume (brain atrophy) compared with people with B12 levels above 386 pmol/L. In fact, if your levels are below 600 pg/mL, you might be suffering from B12 deficiency. Integrative medicine practitioner Chris Kresser explains, “In Japan and Europe the lower limit for B12 is between 500 to 550 pg/mL, the level associated with psychological and behavioural manifestations such as cognitive decline, dementia and memory loss.”
Experts who specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of B12 deficiencies suggest treating all patients who are symptomatic and have B12 levels less than 450 pg/mL. This is especially true if homocysteine is increased. Low levels can also lead to mental fogginess, memory troubles, muscle weakness, and fatigue, one of the hallmark signs.
Vitamin B12 also plays a role in:
• Proper digestion, food absorption, iron use, carbohydrate and fat metabolism
• Healthy nervous system function
• Promotion of normal nerve growth and development
• Help with regulation of the formation of red blood cells
• Cell formation and longevity
• Proper circulation
• Adrenal hormone production
• Healthy immune system function
• Support of female reproductive health and pregnancy
• Feelings of well-being and mood regulation
• Mental clarity, concentration, memory function
• Physical, emotional, and mental energy
Vitamin B12 Is Crucial for Mental and Cognitive Health
Vitamin B12’s role in brain and mental health is particularly significant and can cause a range of neurological disturbances that mimics depression, dementia and confusion, as well as serious mental illness. B-group vitamins may slow brain shrinkage by as much as seven-fold in brain regions specifically known to be most impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. Among participants taking high doses of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12, blood levels of homocysteine were lowered, as was the associated brain shrinkage — by up to 90 percent.
Oral Vitamin B12 Supplements Are Difficult to Absorb
Many people, including the elderly, those with gut disorders and vegetarians and vegans, could benefit from adding extra vitamin B12 to their diet. There is one problem with supplements however, which is the poor absorption rate of oral Vitamin B12 supplements. Vitamin B12 is the largest vitamin molecule known. Because of its large size it is not easily absorbed passively like most other supplements, making many, if not most, oral B12 supplements grossly ineffective. This is why vitamin B12 is often given via injection, especially for people with absorption issues. Sublingual (under your tongue) sprays are also effective, as they allow the large B12 molecule to be absorbed directly into your bloodstream.
Specifics of treating vitamin B12 deficiency
With gastrointestinal tract impairment (atrophic gastritis, troubled secretion of the intrinsic factor in the stomach, resection of the terminal ileum) it must be checked whether a high dosed oral supplements (e.g. 0,5 – 1 mg per day as sublingual tablets) is sufficient to correct the deficiency or whether intramuscular administration will be required. A high dose of oral substitution can in most instances achieve similar good results as an intramuscular supply. The degree of success should be monitored by laboratory analysis. If the deficit originated in the insufficient intake through food sources and was successfully remedied by high dosed Vitamin B12 administration, a daily dose of 10 μg may already be adequate to subsequently maintain proper levels.
How Hyperhomocysteinemia Leads to Dementia
In hyperhomocysteinemia, homocysteine levels can range from 14 micro-moles/litre all the way up to 100 micro-moles/litre in severe cases. Elevated homocysteine damages endothelial cells that line blood vessels and induces thrombosis that can lead to heart attacks and stroke. Homocysteine produces breaks in DNA and induces apoptosis (a programmed cell suicide) that is a major cause of neuronal death in dementia. Numerous studies offer clues as to the various ways in which high levels of homocysteine induce the vascular and neuronal damage implicated in the development of dementia. Experiments in cell cultures show that homocysteine can directly kill neurones of the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with memory. Cell death was induced by oxidative stress, DNA damage, and apoptosis.
Homocysteine and Brain Shrinkage:
VITACOG is a two-year trial of homocysteine-lowering B-vitamins in individuals over 70 years with mild cognitive impairment. Participants were given either a high dose B-vitamins (0.8 mg folic acid, 0.5 mg vitamin B12 and 20 mg of vitamin B6) or a placebo. Their rate of brain shrinkage was measured by a series of MRI scans. Complete scans were available for 83 placebo and 85 treated individuals. Homocysteine levels fell by 22.5% in treated subjects but increased by 7.7% in those given a placebo.
As in earlier studies, higher homocysteine was associated with a faster rate of brain shrinkage. But brain shrinkage was significantly less (slowed by 30%!) in treated individuals with an initial homocysteine level >9.5 μmol/L. Remarkably, after treating with B vitamins, those with the highest initial homocysteine levels (>13 μmol/L) had a rate of brain shrinkage 53% lower than the placebo group.
In summary, VITACOG shows that a combination of high dose B12, folic acid and B6 significantly slows brain shrinkage in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment and raised homocysteine. The team has now looked in greater detail at brain scans from 156 volunteers who took part in the VITACOG study. Rather than focusing on total brain shrinkage, as reported in 2010, they now looked at shrinkage in different regions of the brain. Of the 156 volunteers that took part in the study, 77 had homocysteine levels greater than 11.06μmol/L. Compared to participants with lower levels, those with higher homocysteine had a faster rate of shrinkage specifically in the parts of the brain known to be affected in Alzheimer’s disease. B vitamin treatment slowed the shrinkage in these particular regions by almost 9-fold (from 5.2% to 0.6%) over the two-year period. In contrast, B vitamin treatment had no effect on participants with lower levels of homocysteine.
Rates of brain atrophy may depend on omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B
A new study reveals that the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA (the kind found in fatty fish like salmon) may determine whether vitamin B treatment can slow brain shrinkage. Higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids had previously been linked to larger brain volume in older adults. Researchers from University of Oxford led by Dr. David Smith examined data from the VITACOG trial, a 2-year randomised, placebo-controlled trial examining the effects of vitamin B treatment on brain shrinkage and memory loss in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. People with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids had up to 40% less brain shrinkage if treated with B vitamins. But in people with low blood levels of omega-3s, B vitamin treatment had no effect on brain atrophy. As noted by the authors, “There was a significant interaction between B vitamin treatment and plasma combined omega-3 fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid) on brain atrophy rates. In subjects with high baseline omega-3 fatty acids (>590 μmol/L = 186 mg/l), B vitamin treatment slowed the mean atrophy rate by 40 percent compared with placebo.
B vitamin treatment had no significant effect on the rate of atrophy among subjects with low baseline omega-3 fatty acids (<390 μmol/L = 123 mg/l). High baseline omega-3 fatty acids were associated with a slower rate of brain atrophy in the B vitamin group but not in the placebo group. It is also suggested that the beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids on brain atrophy may be confined to subjects with good B vitamin status.”
Transforming Lawn into Abundant Food Garden
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Transforming a high maintenance lawn into an abundant food producing system, including building a contour dam and swale. For more information, visit: http://trustnature.com.au
All India Padayatra Returns After Month Long Break.
By Acarya…
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All India Padayatra Returns After Month Long Break.
By Acarya Dasa. The All India padayatra had spent almost a month in Navadipa Mandal. All the padayatris are so fully engaged in walking from one city to another during the year, that they do not have a chance to hear lectures or kathas from senior devotees. The padayatris therefore attended the sravan utsava[1] or festival of hearing in Mayapur which Acarya Dasa said was a “feast for our ears – we eagerly awaited this occasion throughout the year.” The padayatris also attended the Navadvipa Mandal Parikrama and took darsana of the various lilasthalis of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
On March 28th after spending almost a month in Navadvipa Mandal sheltered by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu we were back on India’s streets. The padayatris are full of energy and enthusiasm to continue with our mission of preaching and book distribution all over India. We now have 30 devotees in our party after having begun this leg of the padayatra in ISKCON Chennai. After our month long break we experienced a malfunction with our tractor. When the tractor is not in use, the wheels are removed. Now that we were ready to continue on our journey we had attached the wheels onto the tractor again. After traveling about 10 kilometers the wheels of the tractor came loose and a few of the book cartons that were loaded onto the tractor fell – but by the mercy of the Lord no one was injured and the books were not damaged. We managed to repair the wheels and continued with the journey.
This year the Tamil Nadu branch of the ‘Back to God Magazine (BTG)’ printed 40 000 special issues in the Tamil language in honor of the All India Padayatra. After reading this issue many people became aware of this wonderful padayatra that travels all over India, and our achievements. The magazine interviewed the padayatris, and I being the padayatra leader gave them further details. The magazine featured articles about padayatra, the realizations of the padayatris and the various preaching activities of our party- and on the front cover of the magazine was a picture of our Lordships, Sri Sri Nitai Gaurasundar with the padayatris. There are about 30 000 BTG members in Tamil Nadu, all of whom received a copy of this special issue and our party also distributed 10 000 more issues on our travels. We were very encouraged and happy by the articles featured in the BTG magazine.
Summer has begun and our journey is filled with more hardships. People often wonder who these people are walking in the heat and scorching sun. We walk more than 15 kilometers every day. Sometimes we don’t get good accommodation and we are forced to sleep in the shade of tin roves where it’s very hot. The bulls who carry the ratha sometimes do not get cold water to drink and the padayatris contract ‘prickly heat rash’, an itchy rash of small, raised spots that causes stinging or prickly sensation on the skin. The chances of sun stoke are also high. When we walk the hot wind blows but we are under the full shelter of Guru and Gauranga. We do not care about this body and we leave everything to the Lord – to please the Lord and our spiritual master we carry on with this mission without any hindrance. When Nitai Gaurasundar and Srila Prabhupada are on the ratha, how can we stop? They are our only shelter and They will take care of us, we are fully confident about this. As our Gurudev, Lokanatha Swami says, “A devotee should always be full of enthusiasm, he should be uttsahi (one should always be excited)” So we walk with these words in our hearts and everything becomes easy with his mercy.
Sri Sri Nitai Gaursundar ki…jai!
All India padayatris ki………jai!
Daily Darshan: April 21st, 2016
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Jagad Guru – Hip Hop Style
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A hip hop song by Gaura Klein to celebrate ISKCON 50th anniversary and Srila Prabhupada.
Why We Need to Tell More Stories
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Stories can change your life. Stories define what we believe in and how we navigate life. This article really sums it up well. A video by Jay Shetty (Ghanashyam Das).
A Day with a Monk
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A video featuring an ISKCON monk in Kathmandu, Nepal.
Villa Vrindavana Experience (4 min video)Villa Vrindavana lies…
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Villa Vrindavana Experience (4 min video)
Villa Vrindavana lies on the rolling Tuscan hills of Chianti, in the district of San Casciano Val di Pesa, not far from Florence. The central building was built during the Renaissance and it is surrounded by a large Italian garden and by a park of mostly wooded land spreading out over about 90 acres. The villa was built in the sixteenth century as a residence for noble people. It was designed by the famous architects of that time. Some important personalities lived and stayed here, including Niccolò Machiavelli. After being passed from owner to owner several times, at the beginning of the nineteenth century the historic building became part of the heritage of the Fenzi family, who were important Florentine magnates. They renovated the building and enriched the garden with rare and exotic plants from around the world. During the World War II, the villa was the headquarters of the troops who were fighting in the area and it was also a scene for some clashes. After a long period of decline and neglect, in 1979 Villa Fenzi was taken over by ISKCON, which renamed it after the eternal abode of Krishna. Since then it has been called Villa Vrindavana. Villa Vrindavan Firenze Garden At the beginning Villa Vrindavana hosted a community structure with a mostly monastic vocation, but then the spread in society of the Hare Krishna movement made it open its doors to the public and its social activities. Today Villa Vrindavana is a spiritual place, a point of reference and a seat of worship for a growing number of people. Besides its magnificent Temple Room, Villa Vrindavana also offers large multipurpose rooms where conferences, seminars, courses, and workshops are run. Recently, a large part of the premises has been completely refurbished and today there are a dozen of rooms for guests attending courses and activities, or participating in spiritual retreats organised in the villa.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/9jrrxi
Sravan Kirtan Mela in Bangladesh
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Devaki Devi Dasi: Our this year’s Convention at Rup Sanatan Smriti Tirtha was especially vibrant. Around 4500 practicing devotees assembled from all corners of Bangladesh to attend this transcendental Sravan Kirtan Mela, which began on the 17th of February and concluded on the 20th evening.
We welcomed HH Lokanath Maharaja, HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja, HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja, HG Nitai Priya Prabhu (the wonderful kirtaniya from Ghana), and HG Akincana Krsna Prabhu who is also becoming more and more known for his amazing kirtans, and his good wife. HH Jaya Pataka Maharaja was also expected to attend, but unfortunately he could not participate due to health reasons.
My inspiration to help arrange for such events is the purport of Madya 3, 203, where Srila Prabhupada expresses the following: “If one has the proper means and wealth, he should occasionally invite the devotees of Lord Caitanya who are engaged in preaching all over the world and hold a festival at home simply by distributing prasadam and talking about Krsna during the day and holding congregational chanting for at least three hours in the evening. This procedure must be adopted in all centers of the Krsna consciousness movement.”
We were spending three days swimming in an ocean of nectar, hearing wonderful seminars during the day, and chanting the holy name in the evenings. The devotees were so determined to absorb themselves in the transcendental atmosphere, that they did not even perceive the external inconveniences which were there due to hosting such a large crowd of devotees in very simple facilities. Nowhere else in the world are devotees so eager to hear and chant in the association of sadhus, that they joyfully accept even to most simple and austere conditions without complaining! This is their good fortune, which qualifies them to receive so much mercy…..
Every single morning Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, Radha Madana Mohan and Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra were so gorgeously dressed. The pujaris were endeavoring with devotion and must have been directly inspired by the Lord Himself, which transfered us to Goloka Vrindavan.
As usual I played the role of the hosting mother, overseeing the entire arrangement and welcoming all the devotees and respected sadhus, and trying my best to serve them and tend to their needs. The VIP prasadam was out of this world – such large and unique variety of dishes prepared with love and devotion, and offered to Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohan. The lunch consisted of around 35 to 40 preparations – simply incredible! And each and every dish was so extraordinary and unique in its taste and flavor. Here in Bangladesh we can understand what Srila Prabhupada meant when he said: “The Bengalis are the only ones who know how to eat…!”
The atmosphere was so light and jolly, and everybody was transported to a higher level of happiness.
We concluded the transcendental gathering celebrating Lord Nitayananda’s appearance, with the festivities of Nityananda Katha, abhishek accompanied by sweet kirtans lead by HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja, followed by a sumptious feast. And in the evening we lost ourselves in wonderful kirtan.
At the closing ceremony I offered a little gift to our sadhus in order to conclude the loving exchange. I had been pondering what we could offer to them: something practical, and something typical Bangladeshi. Of course, Bangladesh is famous for its good mrdangas, but such a gift would most likely be more of a burden than of any use. And HH Lokanath Maharaja laughingly agreed with this! Bangladesh is also known to have the best moskito nets. But again, also this idea was not so appealing. I opted for the third idea: Bangladesh is famous for having the best gamchas in the world! Long lasting due to the good quality, and nice colors and designs. So I offered to all our honorable guests a set of gamchas, and especially to HH Lokanath Maharaja and HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja I expressed the hope that every morning while taking bath they may remember us devotees in Bangladesh, and thus we would surely occupy a tiny little corner within their hearts, which will give us hope that they will visit us once again in the near future….! Needless to say, their hearts were charmed, and the assembled devotees were amused. HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja exclaimed to the full audience: “Devaki Mataji is the mother of Bangladesh….! And it’s so nice to have a mother, isn’t it…?!” In his closing words HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja stated: “Our Guru Maharaja has given us Diksa, and Devaki Mataji is making sure that our bhakti lata receives nourishment….” I couldn’t help but remembering the example of a family: the father is the official head of the family. But who runs the show? It’s the mother, who makes sure everyone is cared for…..
Our honorable guests also received a good quality woolen chadar which gave more weight to our humble gift, showing our gratitude for their uplifting and nourishing association.
On the 21st of February many of us took the journey overland to Mayapur…..
Which service is ideal – service according to our nature or service that is the need of the hour?
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Answer Podcast
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When Brahma is a brahmana, why does he make and provide weapons to others?
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Two Devotee Women Coauthor Popular Yoga Book
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Catherine Ghosh: For the first time ever, two women initiated into the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya published a popular book that emphasizes the bhakti tenets in two of the world’s most revered yoga texts: the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras.
Last month, Krishna Kanta Dasi (Catehrine Ghosh) and Braja Sevaki Dasi (Braja Sorensen) released Yoga in the Gita: Krishna and Patanjali—The Bhakti Dimension, with Golden Dragonfly Press. The book illuminates parallels between these two texts in a practical, philosophically rich and entertaining manner, while adhering to the interpretations given to the original Sanskrit texts by ancient yoga tradition itself.
Yoga and the Gita became an Amazon bestseller in its category in the first week! The bookemerged from a series of online articles that Krishna Kanta and Braja Sevaki published in a blog of the same name that they started in 2012 under the prompting of Bob Weisenberg, former yoga editor of Elephant Journal; a popular online magazine. The Yoga in the Gita blog generated hundreds of thousands of views due to a grateful readership of primarily yoga teachers, yoga practitioners, bhaktas and bhaktins. It was due to the repeated requests of the blog’s fans that the book was eventually born.
While yoga studios around the world require that their teachers-in-training study the Bhagavad Gita and Yoga Sutras before becoming officially certified yoga teachers, they often resort to translations of these texts that obscure the valuable bhakti yoga insights originally found in these texts.
Seeking to fill this gap in yoga circles, Krishna Kanta and Braja Sevaki drew from two essential gaudiya translations in their work: Bhagavad Gita As It Is by A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami and Bhagavad Gita: The Beloved Lord’s Secret Love Song, by Graham M. Schweig, also known as Garuda Das, whose work on bhakti theology was authorized by his guru, A. C Bhaktivedanta Swami.
Yoga in the Gita is written in a casual, refreshing style, and designed to broaden the reader’s definition of yoga to incorporate everything from one’s relationship with oneself, with one’s body, and with others, to the relationship one has with the environment and, most essentially, to the Divine: Sri Krishna. In fact, the chapters are delightfully linked by this thread of nourishing our love for Krishna in everything we do.
Krishna Kanta’s and Braja Sevaki’s book accomplishes this with modern and often humorous approaches to self-development, while offering inspirations for living a yogic lifestyle in the 21st century. Divided into three sections, the book makes for a pleasant read: The first is dedicated to the ten definitions of yoga that Krishna gives in the Bhagavad Gita. The second section, Foundations of Yoga, offers an innovative treatment of the yamas and niyamas. The third and last section, Entering an Internal Practice, covers the last six limbs in Patanjali’s astanga yoga system.
In a today’s world where the physical aspect of yoga is over emphasized, Yoga in the Gita promises to elevate the readers’ understanding of yoga as so much more than just body postures and exercises. It is a refreshing and unique look at what yoga is from a bhakti perspective, and how it touches all of us, in so many aspects of our lives.
For a peek into Yoga in the Gita, we invite you visit the Yoga in the Gita Facebook page, and watch the book’s trailer at the following link:
LIVING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AND OUR SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY and IDEAL CHARACTER
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LIVING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE AND OUR SPIRITUAL RESPONSIBILITY: Living spiritual practice means that we experience how Krishna consciousness works in our personal lives. It means knowing what we’re inspired by, and that we’re able to both determine and admit where we fall short—otherwise, how can we be helped? Then we have to believe, or pray to develop the faith, that we can change for the better—because we aren’t our past or poor opinion of ourselves—and are valuable and lovable as souls—spiritual positive self-esteem.
Knowing that we need help and encouragement, and being willing to ask—and pray—for it, is a big step in a successful and joyful life. As it is commonly said, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.” We need to gradually take 100 % responsibility for our lives and yet be open to Krishna’s guidance and see the results of our endeavors as feedback. We both endeavor and pray. We act as if everything depends on us, while knowing that everything depends on the Lord’s mercy.
Our spiritual responsibility is to act with, or pray to act with, faith, devotion, determination, and confidence without attachment to the results, which we know come from Krishna. Practice with prayer makes perfect. Whatever results come we see as, and offer to, Krishna—if we do so we obtain, in Krishna’s words, “unadulterated peace” [BG 5.12]. “In all activities just depend upon Me and work always under My protection. In such devotional service, be fully conscious of Me.” [BG 18.57]
Grand Opening Ceremony of the New U.S. TOVP Office
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On Thursday, April 14th, in conjunction with the auspicious appearance day of Lord Ramachandra, the new U.S. TOVP office celebrated its Grand Opening in Gainesville, Florida. The new office is located in a house donated exclusively for TOVP use by Ambarisa prabhu and will serve as the communications and fundraising headquarters. The celebration also coincides with the formation of the new U.S. non-profit, TOVP Foundation Inc., whose Chairman is Sesa das, also the newly appointed Chairman of the GBC.
The function was attended by several local senior devotees including Sesa das, Alachua Temple President, Mukhya devi dasi, Kirtiraja das, Ramanya das, and several others, along with Ambarisa and Svaha prabhus and TOVP Director of Development and Fundraising, Vraja Vilas das, who came all the way from Mayapur to help organize the opening of the new office.
The Grand Opening schedule included kirtan and greeting of devotees, Sankalpa and Rakshabandhan, a full fire yajna, Purnahuti, coconut breaking, official ribbon cutting and prasadam. These auspicious yajnas were performed for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, the previous acharyas and Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to invoke their blessings and mercy for the successful execution of the TOVP seva not only in the U.S. but all over the world.
It is imperative that within the next several years all ISKCON devotees focus on this project and make it their personal sankalpa to see that the TOVP Grand Opening scheduled for Gaur Purnima 2022 is achieved. For such an important and historic endeavor as this we will individually and collectively be benefited, and will also witness the remarkable effects the TOVP will have on the peoples of the entire world.
“If you build this temple Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur will personally come and take you back to Godhead” – Srila Prabhupada
“This temple is already built. If you don’t do the work someone else will come and take the credit. So you do it and get the credit” – Srila Prabhupada
Please view the video and photos of the event included with this article. For further information about donating in the U.S. or to re-start your previously made pledge go to:
April 21. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa…
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April 21. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada Liked to Take Walks.
Prabhupada liked to take walks. From his doorstep at 94 Bowery he would see directly across the street the Fulton Hotel, a five-storey flophouse. Surrounding him were other lower Manhattan lodging houses whose tenants wandered the sidewalks from early morning until dark. An occasional flock of pigeons would stir and fly from one rooftop to the next, or descend to the street. Traffic was heavy. The Bowery was part of a truck route to and from Brooklyn by way of the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges.
The Bowery sloped gently downhill toward the north. Prabhupada could see signboards, a few scraggly Manhattan trees, and streetlights and traffic signals as far up as Fourth Street. He could see Con Edison with its prominent clock tower, and (if there were no clouds) the top of the Empire State Building on Thirty-fourth Street.
He would walk alone in the morning through the Bowery neighborhood. The month of May that year saw more frequent rains than was normal, and Prabhupada carried an umbrella. Sometimes he walked in the rain. He was not always alone; sometimes he walked with one of his new friends and talked. Sometimes he shopped. Bitter melon, dal, hing, chickpea flour and other specialty foods common in Indian vegetarian cuisine were available in Chinatown’s nearby markets. On leaving the loft, he would walk south a few steps to the corner of Bowery and Hester Street. Turning right on Hester, he would immediately be in Chinatown where the shops, markets, and even the Manhattan Savings Bank were identified by signs lettered in Chinese. Sometimes he would walk one block further south to Canal Street with its Central Asian Food Market and many other streetside fruit and vegetable markets. In the early morning the sidewalks were almost deserted, but as the shops began to open for business the streets became crowded with local workers, shopkeepers, tourists and aimless derelicts. The winding streets of Chinatown were lined with hundreds of small stores. Parked cars lined both sides of the street.
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Photos of Ujjain Kumbh mela
Bhakti Charu Swami
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ISKCON Kumbha Mela Ujjain 2016
Bhakti Charu Swami
April 22 – May 21 The celebration of Kumbh Mela takes place at the four sacred places as per the position of Sun and Jupiter in different zodiac signs. Poorna Kumbh is held at Ujjain once in every 12 years when the zodiac sign Scorpio (Vrishchik Rashi) indicates the presence of Jupiter and Sun. Ujjain is located […]
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ISKCON 50 Meditations: April 21, 2016
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Prabhupada Liked to Take Walks
Hodgepodge institution of various concocted ideas – Hinduism
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This analysis by Śrī Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, supporting the statements of Śrī Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī, depicts the position of the present so-called Hindu religion, which, being predominantly conducted by the Māyāvāda philosophy, has become a hodgepodge institution of various concocted ideas. Māyāvādīs greatly fear the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement and accuse it of spoiling the Hindu religion because it accepts people from all parts of the world and all religious sects and scientifically engages them in the daiva-varṇāśrama-dharma. As we have explained several times, however, we find no such word as “Hindu” in the Vedic literature. The word most probably came from Afghanistan, a predominantly Muslim country, and originally referred to a pass in Afghanistan known as Hindukush, which is still a part of a trade route between India and various Muslim countries.
- CC Adi Lila 12.73 Purport by Srila Prabhupada
- CC Adi Lila 12.73 Purport by Srila Prabhupada
Serving with love and trust
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 September 2013, Johannesburg, South Africa, Home Program)
If we do not have any trust in devotees to guide us, inevitably we will do our own thing. But then how will we proceed? That is why there is a structure. It is not that the guru-disciple relationship is left up to us as individuals; there is an etiquette. So that etiquette tells us certain things which must be done and that sort of limits our independence. So when we do not trust then the etiquette will make up for it.
If we cannot serve with love and trust then at least, we have to serve with more reverence, which is part of respect and that is part of the etiquette. But eventually, we become indebted because our spiritual master will make arrangements for us to improve our life and bring us to increase our Krsna consciousness. When that happens then we become indebted. So then gradually, this etiquette changes into trust.
40th Anniversary of Sri Jagantha, Baladeva, Subhadra & Sri Gaura Nitai
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Balarama Rasayatra and Krsna Vasanta Rasa
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Lord Balarama enjoyed His springtime rasa dance with His cowherd girlfriends. Also, at this time, it is the anniversary of Sri Krishna Vasanta Rasa, the Lord’s springtime rasa lila pastime. Sri Krishna Vasanta rasa takes place on Vaisakha purnima, which is also the time Balarama performs His springtime rasa dance with the gopis.
“In order to keep the gopis in Vrndavana satisfied, Lord Balarama stayed there continually for two months, namely the months of Caitra and Vaisakha. For those two months he kept himself among the gopis and he passed every night with them in the forest of Vrndavana in order to satisfy their desire for conjugal love. Thus Balarama also enjoyed the rasa dance with the gopis during those two months.” (Krsna Book II p.78)
Devotee Caregiving
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Mother Siki Mahiti receives a Lifeline button for emergencies.
By New Vrindaban Communications and Devotee Care Team
Caregiving is an integral part of family life and often has the spouse or parent putting his or her needs on the back burner. Many New Vrindaban devotees have played the role of caregivers and have never been recognized for all their efforts.
We would like to acknowledge these devotees, beginning with Mother Vidya, who was Madhava Gosh Prabhu’s caregiver for over ten years while he was in various stages of disease and deterioration. To care for someone over such a long period of time takes great patience and strength of character.
Mother Vidya has also quietly played a role of keeping in touch with devotees who have left New Vrindaban. This has all been done without compensation or acknowledgment. This shows a true caregivers heart of generosity.
Triyadisha devi also spent the last few years giving care to Vidura Prabhu, while his body slowly dwindled away. She was an ever-faithful companion who never crossed him, though it was sometimes challenging to watch him suffer in silence. At the very end, though not tech savvy, she managed to turn on Srila Prabhupada’s voice, and supported her husband to his very last breath being an example of true servitorship.
Another stalwart in caregiving, Manasa Ganga devi actually had a job caring for the disabled and handicapped over 15 years ago. Around the same time, she also cared for Mother Adhara devi, New Vrindaban’s head seamstress, who had a form of dementia – where she forgot everything except Krsna. To this day, Manasa Ganga is still actively and considerately supporting devotees, listening to their concerns and calming their anxieties.
Advaitacarya Prabhu and his wife Madri devi cared for Maha Yoga, who was institutionalized most of his life. Advaita and Madri took it upon themselves to visit Maha Yoga in Pittsburgh, provide special prasadam, and listen to him talk about Krsna until he recently left his body. They considered it their honor and privilege to have his association.
Lalita Gopi devi is a caregiver who goes above and beyond the call of duty. For over ten years she has assisted Pradyumna Prabhu and Rukmavati devi in caring for their children. She has also cooked for Jaya Murari Prabhu and Varsana Maharaja for years until her other duties consumed her time. Recently, as apartment manager, she put her heart and soul into cleaning up all around the apartments for the pleasure of the devotees. Her over-the-top determination shows a heart of compassion.
Other caregivers include, Lila Suka devi, who is always trying to help others. She has spent many hours assisting Lila, along with Jayasri devi and Gopa, by providing meals and transportation. Gopa has spent many hours sitting and listening to Lila. Behind the scenes these devotees offer their time and energy in caring for others.
Over the years, Patrick and Dharmakala devi have served Jaya Murari Prabhu by doing laundry, delivering meals, giving rides to town and calling or visiting him on a regular basis. These kinds of services give a shut-in devotee the sense that they are valuable gems.
Along with the disciples of Varsana Maharaj, Madri devi, Gaura Shakti’s wife, has continually been a support by organizing meals and cooking for Maharaja. Many other devotees have provided a large variety of services to assure proper health care and healing for Maharaj.
Although the majority of caregivers have been women, Gopisha Prabhu has offered heating pads and special oils to help the soar muscles, of many an ailing devotee. He was also a support for both Madhava Gosh and Vidya, especially in the last few years.
Jasoda Gokularani devi has come from Los Angeles offering caregiving to Sikhi Mahiti, Madhava Gosh and Triyadisha. Her experience in this field has proved very helpful in giving proper and respectful care to devotees.
More recently in late January of this year, Sacimata underwent a hip replacement surgery. While at home recuperating, she had a stark realization of what it feels like to be bedridden. In this mood, she researched various support systems in town and worked to connect devotees to the Senior Center as well as requesting Das and Vrsni from Pittsburgh to install a Lifeline for Mother Sikhi Mahiti. Her aim was to help alleviate the various concerns experienced by devotees living alone and needing extra care.
Sacimata thus was inspired to initiate a new Extended Devotee Care Program in order to facilitate the needs of devotees in New Vrindaban. She and her daughter, Nityananda dasi, will be available by telephone and can assist devotees in receiving their proper care. Sacimata hopes that other community members will also be inspired to care for one another. You can reach Sacimata or Nityananda dasi at their home number, 304-845-1199.
There are many other New Vrindaban devotees who have been involved in giving care. If we wrote the whole list, it would probably include almost every devotee. Most of these community members have helped out of the kindness of their hearts. We cannot thank them enough.
Japa session at Japa Workshop (April 8-10, 2016)
Over the last two years there has been a real shift in the community’s perspective on devotee care, both individually and collectively. The Prabhupada’s House, used as the New Vrindaban Wellness Center, has been refurbished and is now designed to provide proactive and preventative health care and educational programs. This past weekend world famous caregivers Ekavira prabhu and Vraja Lila devi initiated new beginnings by conducting a japa workshop at the Wellness Center for the spiritual well being of all attendees.
Devotee care is also one of the four main areas of focus for the newly formed Village Association. There is a lot of excitement and energy to bring forth new relationships and to create a truly loving, caring family community.
We are ever grateful to Srila Prabhupada who showed by his example the need to compassionately care for the devotees by being das das anudas.
A Devotional Model for Health & Financial Self-Sufficiency
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A Devotional Model for Health & Financial Self-Sufficiency
Part I:
Healthy Devotees, Happy Devotees
AUSADHAM – “I am the healing herb”
Free healthcare program by using Krishna’s natural remedies.
Krishna’s Medicine – Self-Healthcare for devotees
Our greatest assets – devotees
Our health has a crucial influence on a quality of our daily life and efficiency in our devotional service. The reality however is that devotees are often deprived of a proper and consistent healthcare due to either lack of resources or proper knowledge, or simply the cost is beyond their means.
How can we on the practical note take care of devotees’ need for a proper healthcare? Are there any preventive measures devotees can practice daily in the comforts of our homes? How can we provide devotees with affordable or even better, a free healthcare program?
Jayapataka Swami beautifully summarized during the ISKCON Leadership Sanga held in Mayapur in 2014: “ISKCON needs to be a caring organization that provides a family atmosphere based on love and trust, just as Srila Prabhupada instructed. The GBC Devotee Care Committee wants to provide the spiritual, mental, emotional, social, and physical care each ISKCON member deserves as a part and parcel of Lord Krishna.
“How can leaders carry this forward on a personal and institutional level? How can we create devotees who are encouraged, inspired, happy, and empowered to make spiritual advancement and expand Srila Prabhupada’s mission? How can we extend that care so devotees can remain committed to their spiritual lives? The Devotee Care Committee defines success in this regard as the creation and maintenance of a strong, happy, and loving Vaishnava community and a society that recognizes that the devotees themselves are its real assets.”
Krishna – the source of ultimate remedy
Srila Prabhupada’s desire was that our ISKCON society becomes self-sufficient as he has mentioned: “The first necessity is that you should be self-sufficient. That is God’s arrangement.” [Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, Mauritius, Oct.2 1975 ]
Self-sufficiency refers to all aspects of our lives, including healthcare. Rising costs of doctor’s visits and medications unable many devotees to properly care for themselves and their loved ones. At the same time we have become very dependent in our healthcare on modern, synthetic, often too fast, too much, and with many side effects solutions instead of relying more on cures that are in tune with our body building blocks and organic nature.
In the USA, the current condition of public healthcare has led many to seek alternatives. Economic hardships as well as a massive rise in costs for medical treatments have driven many persons, especially families with young children, to seek more cost-effective ways to meet their healthcare needs. This tendency has steadily grown for many years, shown by a report that there have been more visits to alternative healthcare providers than to conventional medical practitioners every year since 1991 (source)
In that scenario, what would be that ultimate remedy for devotees?
Lord Krishna has mentioned in Bhagavad-gita 9.16, “svadhāham aham ausadham” – “I am the healing herb.”
As we know in the past the remedies derived from fresh herbs were sufficient in themselves for treating maladies and improving one’s health. However, due to environmental degradation, soil depletion, and many similar factors, it is necessary to extract the healing potency from thousands of herbs to experience the same remedial force they were originally instilled with.
Essential oils are nothing else like aromatic compounds carefully extracted from the healing plants and herbs. Thus they are 50-70 times more powerful than dry herbs. Being pure extract, the essential oils have incredible power to heal, invigorate, and revive the body and mind; an experience easily available to those who try them. Through careful extraction processes the aromatic compounds of dozens of seeds, barks, roots, flowers, and herbs are harnessed into powerful elixirs for healing the body and mind.
Essential oils have a remarkable symbiotic relationship with the human body and brain. Being organic substances, essential oils are readily assimilated and metabolized by the body much like food nutrients. Rather than causing the disturbances that many foreign substances inflict on the body, essential oils have shown to have powerful healing effects both in contemporary studies and ancient history (provide source). Evidence shows that essential oils have been used as far back as 2,500 BCE, with references to their use both in the Abrahamic texts and the Vedic literature (see Krishna’s entering Dwaraka). In bygone ages the medicinal, therapeutic and spiritual applications for essential oils such as Frankincense, Myrrh, and Sandalwood were well-known. With the reevaluation of modern medicine has come a booming interest in holistic approaches to healthcare and a rediscovery of the profound effects of essential oils.
Essential oils are revolutionizing millions of people’s approach to healthcare, especially in the West. Families and the average individual are not the only ones taking advantage of this shift but also a growing number of allopathic medical practitioners and researchers. To date over 30,000 scientific articles in some of the world’s top medical journals have been published. (source) As the research mounts, more within the medical profession are implementing essential oils into their hospitals and clinics.
In this way the essential oils are used for a wide range of emotional and physical wellness applications. They can be used as single oil at a time or in complex blends. They are comforting and soothing to children and loved ones. They can be applied directly to the skin, inhaled, diffused into the air, and taken internally. They are effective without dangerous side effects and the risk of addiction.
The Ausadham Team
The Ausadham team was established to help every devotee to discover or rather rediscover Krishna’s natural remedies: herbs, in an easy to use form of essential oils.
The rediscovery of these organic healing techniques will provide an alternative to the controversial allopathic model of medicine, thus bringing holistic approaches to wellness into every home. A proliferation of sustainable models of health care, based on what Krishna created for us, will not only impact our bodily vitality but will also provide an opportunity for users to turn their attention back to the real source of healing – the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.
Srila Prabhupada once commented in a newspaper interview, “…physical life, so you must keep yourself fit to execute Krishna consciousness. It is not our desire that you become sick and you cannot chant… our purpose is to chant and we require the physical necessities just to keep ourselves fit…” [New York, July 4, 1976]
By promoting a safe and effective self-care alternative we are helping others not only achieve relief of symptoms but achieve long-term management of health problems.
There are many essential oils available on a market today. Most of them however are synthetic. Those which are pure are still not made equal. The goal of AUSADHAM team is to provide devotees with the access to the highest quality and the purest essential oils available on the market today. These oils are sourced from plants grown and harvested in their natural habitat. Srila Prabhupada often repeated this well-known maxim: “purity is the power.” The state of the art testing procedures made it possible to maintain the unadulterated, original nature of essential oils, and thus guarantee their quality, safety, and efficacy. With great excitement and enthusiasm we are ready to share these superior quality essential oils with others.
Having been blessed by great sadhus and senior Vaishnavas who use these essential oils with great satisfaction, the Ausadham team would like to encourage all devotees to take advantage of them and improve their health.
The goal of Ausadham team is not only to facilitate a medicinal revolution but also to provide an excellent model for individuals in supplementing or replacing their income, contributing even more to devotees’ self-sufficiency. Thus born out of the Ausadham team is the department called Varna Prosperity Network. This initiative is meant to provide the perfect home-based, sattvic business opportunity to all in need. Simple economics shows the potential – the products we promote are highly in demand, they are affordable, and they are incredibly effective. Sharing them is simple, exciting, and rewarding.
The mission of Varna prosperity Network is described in details in the second part of this article.
In conclusion our desire is to see every devotee happy, healthy, and prosperous. Thus we invite you and encourage you to join the Ausadham team. We offer educational seminars, mentoring, and private consultations. For more information, please contact us directly at:
Our contact info is:
Krishnamayi & Surapala
surapala@pamho.net
We hope that by facilitating devotees and offering them this wonderful opportunity we will contribute to 50 anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON institution and celebrate significant improvement on social issues within our society for Srila Prabhupada’s pleasure and benefit of all ISKCON devotees.
We are looking forward for your blessings that our mission becomes successful.
Your valuable feedback that can improve our performance is very much appreciated.
A Devotional Model for Health & Financial Self-Sufficiency
By Surapala dasa
Part II: Varna Prosperity Network – Financial Self-Sufficiency in ISKCON
The need for a change
Since 1980 I have been a member of our continually growing ISKCON family. In these few decades I have experienced difficult moments and joyful years alike. There have been times when I have been warned by other devotees for my own protection and times when I have received a helping hand while in need. In our Krishna conscious society, we alert each other about situations which may cause harm and we are also enthusiastic to share what may benefit us all. As members of ISKCON, it is our duty to help each other in a mood of love and trust. In this spirit I am writing this article about an amazing opportunity which I am considering to be Krishna’s causeless mercy – a gift which is my duty to share.
As a householder myself I have seen ISKCON shift from a residential model with most devotees living in the temples, to where we are now. Some estimates by senior devotees claim that 95% of our society now lives congregationally. Observing this change one must consider the necessity to introduce various aspects of the varnasrama project for the proper function and future prosperity of our society. Now is the time to carefully invest our energies in beneficial change, thus securing that our philosophy remains not only a part of our life but our way of life.
Bhakti yoga is the art of using whatever is available in loving devotional service to Krishna, the Supreme Source. As Srila Prabhupada said, “Our mission is to dovetail everything in the service of Krishna because everything belongs to Krishna.”[Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Gargamuni, Los Angeles, Nov. 22, 1968]
As the science of Krishna consciousness becomes more integrated in our lifestyle, the more our capacity for engagement in Krishna’s service increases. Our occupation, relationships, and assets all become tools for serving Lord Krishna’s interests. Of course, He is supplying us all the necessities for a peaceful and prosperous life. Knowing Krishna to be the ultimate proprietor, we can express our gratitude to Him by utilizing everything in our capacity in His service. As we practice the art of dovetailing everything for Krishna’s service, we are more able to taste the internal peace and joy which comes from sacrificing for His pleasure.
Srila Prabhupada on Wealth: Degradation or Elevation?
Is it a qualification of a devotee to be poor, always battling anxiety about finances?
“Material opulence can be the cause of degradation and also the cause of elevation, according to the purposes for which it is used. If opulence is used for sense gratification it is the cause of degradation, and if used for the service of the Lord it is the cause of elevation.” [Krishna Book Ch.82]
Srila Prabhupada also mentioned, “When a common man becomes opulent, he forgets God; but the more opulent a devotee becomes by the grace of the Lord, the more he becomes attached to the service of the Lord.”[CC.Ad.13.79]
“The only difference is that in materialism one works for sense gratification. The same work, however, can be performed for the satisfaction of Krishna, and that is spiritual activity. If one has sufficient money, he can help in building an office or temple for propagating Krishna consciousness. Or he can help with publications. There are various fields of activity, and one should be interested in such activities. If one cannot sacrifice the results of his activities, the same person can still sacrifice some percentage to propagate Krishna consciousness. This voluntary service to the cause of Krishna consciousness will help one to rise to a higher state of love for God, whereupon one becomes perfect.” [Bg.12.10]
It’s apparent from these quotes that improving personal finances can benefit a devotee by allowing him to sponsor different ISKCON preaching projects or contribute to spiritual initiatives like daiva varnasrama or devotees social welfare, all with ease and free from anxiety.
“Social structure – as originally designed by the Supreme Lord – is meant to provide material welfare and spiritual progress for all members of society. It is this original social structure, varnasrama dharma, sometimes known as daiva varnasrama, which Srila Prabhupada wanted his followers to establish for the benefit of people all over the world.” [“Speaking about Varnasrama” Vol.1]
Varna Prosperity Network – Financial Self-Sufficiency in ISKCON
Today there are many projects in ISKCON which require more financial support, even though an amazing amount of fundraising is in place every day. What if ISKCON devotees united as one in Srila Prabhupada’s family work together? Could we imagine developing an economic network meant to bring prosperity to all members of our society in a Krishna conscious environment – all the while supporting various projects and spreading Krishna’s glories? Is it possible to envision a model where families have enough funds to maintain themselves and offer what is extra to support Lord Caitanya’s mission, even fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s desire to adhere to the dadati principle?
“Whatever one’s income, fifty percent should be spent on behalf of Krishna and His devotees, and this will fulfill the demands of dadäti.” [NI 4]
With the growth of our movement around the world, there is no question of Srila Prahupada’s statement,“We require millions of dollars for developing…” [Srila Prabhupada’s conversation with devotees, New Vrindavan, June 9, 1969] An endless supply of ideas for pleasing Lord Caitanya are manifesting in hundreds of countries, but how to finance all of them? How to help our family households peacefully maintain themselves at the same time?
As ISKCON devotees, the leaders of the Ausadham team are fortunate to have the opportunity to help develop a social-welfare network which can supply natural healthcare and financial stability for devotees. As is the culture among devotees, we want to help each other. Srila Prabhupada once wrote to a disciple, “Now, when we live together, somebody may fall ill. Now, find some future main source of income for our institution…” [SP letter to Brahmananda, San Francisco, Mar. 23, 1969]
Thus born out of the Ausadham team is the department called Varna Prosperity Network (VPN) providing an excellent model for individuals in supplementing or replacing their income. This VPN initiative is meant to provide the perfect home-based, sattvic business opportunity to all in need. Simple economics shows the potential – the products we promote are highly in demand, they are affordable, and they are incredibly effective. Sharing them is simple, exciting, and rewarding.
As members of Srila Prabhupada’s international family, there is no one else who deserves a support system like this than devotees. Srila Prabhupada has given the world the most sublime opportunity – to assist him in the mission of spreading Lord Krishna’s glories. By helping all conditioned souls come back to their original, constitutional positions as eternal servants of God we have a chance to really bring bliss to the world. Those great souls who are contributing to this mission should be provided with only the best. This is the mission of Varna Prosperity Network.
Another aspect of Krishna conscious opportunity involved in this business is outreach. Members of the Ausadham have established a Natural Healing Department in their suburban preaching center; a department which is gaining popularity. Many new people are attracted by educational workshops offered and by developing friendly relationships with such people they quickly become interested in the other activities of the center. Although a young department at the center, the success of attracting several new devotees through this venue is incredibly exciting.
As a concluding message the team would like to ask all devotees who have ever considered using natural medicine, have a passion to share Krishna consciousness with others, and would be interested in supplementing or replacing their income – we offer you an opportunity to change your life and others!
The success of all members and the greater mission of Srila Prabhupada’s movement is the top priority. By enthusiastically providing support, mentoring and tools for growth, Ausadham team will help each devotee achieve their goals. Thus in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON, together we can make a humble offering to educate, facilitate, and push forward the improvement of our society for Lord Krishna’s satisfaction.
For more information on free educational seminars offered on natural medicine, financial self-sufficiency, and more please contact us. We are more than happy to answer questions about any of the above topics.
Our contact info is:
Krishnamayi & Surapala
surapala@pamho.net
Harinam in the Land of rising Sun, Osaka, Japan (Album with…
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Harinam in the Land of rising Sun, Osaka, Japan (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: O Hari-nama! The tips of the toes of Your lotus feet are constantly being worshiped by the glowing radiance emanating from the string of gems know as the Upanisads, the crown jewels of all the Vedas. You are eternally adored by liberated souls such as Narada and Sukadeva. On Hari-nama! I take complete shelter of You. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kChZhr
Is association of nondevotees like the kissing of a snake?
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Answer Podcast
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How can we change our default settings that we don’t know about? – Hindi
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Improving our chanting – Hindi
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Talk at Bhaktivedanta Hospital, Mumbai
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What does everything will be achieved by chanting mean? – Hindi
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