Will God be understood by science in the future?
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Will God be understood by science in the future?
The word “science” originally meant knowledge i.e. to know. When Newton postulated the law of gravity he did not call himself a scientist, he was considered as a natural philosopher. The word “scientist” is an eighteenth-century invention. The word “science” is used in a specific sense today. In science, we look for explanations of natural phenomena. Science has its own limitations when it comes to explaining natural phenomenon. The idea that science will be able to understand God in future is far-fetched. What to speak of understanding God, science cannot understand the origin of even our own emotions. Science may find that some emotions are associated with a specific part of the brain, but science cannot tell, for example, how do these emotions originate in a brain.


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Is Krishna Really Merciful to Me?
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Is Krishna Really Merciful to Me?
HH Sacinandana Swami: Devotees often ask me, “If Krsna is really merciful towards His devotees, why do so many devotees seem to experience misery? I hear in all these lectures that Krsna is so merciful but I don’t experience it – I just had an accident!” Others tell me: “A good friend distanced himself from me,” or “This great devotee is dying from cancer, so how can we make a general statement that Krsna is merciful to His devotees? Maybe He is merciful to Srila Prabhupada, but not to me or those I know…” I would like to address this doubt… Krsna’s mercy towards souls like us – and even for the greatest souls – is that He removes the obstacles we face when we worship Him. However, often we hold on to things that are actually dangerous. For instance, recently a relative of mine, a professor, left his body because of his addiction to alcohol. We used to tell him that drinking is very bad for his liver and that he would soon die if he continues. But he was too attached to the thing that eventually killed him. Often we are no better than this and in these times Krsna’s mercy takes away such obstacles to our devotional service. Out of ignorance we may not find this pleasant but in the long run it is beneficial for us.


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Sri Sri Corastakam (The song about the Thief)
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Sri Sri Corastakam.
(The song about the Thief)
This song by Sri Bilvamangala Thakura expresses the sweet relationship between the devotee and Krsna, who purifies His devotee. It also highlights the special potency of Krsna’s holy name. (1) I offer my obeisances to that foremost of thieves – who is famous in Vraja as the butter-thief and who steals the gopis’ clothes, and who, for those who take shelter of Him, steals the sins which have accrued over many lifetimes. (2) I offer my obeisances to the foremost of thieves – who steals Srimati Radhika’s heart, who steals the dark luster of a fresh raincloud, and who steals all the sins and sufferings of those who take shelter of His feet. (3) He turns His surrendered devotees into paupers and wandering homeless beggars – Aho! Such a fearsome thief has never been seen or heard of in all the three worlds. (4) Mere utterance of His name purges one of a mountain of sins – such an astonishingly wonderful thief I have never seen or heard of anywhere!


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A Devotional Universe
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 17 August 2018, Vrindavan, India, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.1.19)

The personal concept of the universe is very important. It is a devotional universe. Yes, there are demons in the upper regions of the universe and also in these regions. Demons are everywhere. As long as we take shelter we do not need to worry. Someone came to me in anxiety and said, “I have to talk to you very urgently. There is a conspiracy from the reptilians – from the abode of the nagas.” 

We have read in the Srimad Bhagavatam that the nagas are residing on the planetary systems below our planet. There is no religion there, but they have a higher standard of material advancement than we have here. They are the ones who fly around in UFOs and do other such things. Whatever fears we may have about these things only come to the foreground when there is sinfulness. When there is sin on our planet then fear of such beings coming from the lower planetary systems, arise. Fear of ghosts and other such creatures become relevant.

When there is piety then we are protected – we are turning to the Supreme Lord for protection. Bhagavatam is presenting how the Manus and various other personalities who are involved in the administration of the universe, are basically offering us a shelter. So we can just be peaceful instead of being in anxiety. In the modern world there is so much fear; we feel that natural disasters can occur at any time, and diseases can wipe out an entire population. The climate can get hotter and in India it gets even more hot, and the marble will melt. What will we do? 

But the ancestors were not worried. They were simply worshipping and they felt protected. This is how we are meant to live, by worshipping the superiors and giving them due respect. We give due respect to the Manus and in return we become free from anxiety because we know that we are in safe hands. Therefore we understand that the purpose of the entire universe is simply to worship Krsna and that all these superior personalities are worshipping Krsna.  Thus we will also take our natural place of worshipping Krsna, depending on Krsna and serving Krsna. In this way our life will become perfect     

The article " A Devotional Universe " was published on KKSBlog.

Expanding ISKCON to San Francisco
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Satsvarupa Das Goswami: When Swamiji went to San Francisco in January 1967, leaving behind his disciples in New York, we felt bereft. He told us to carry out all the activities we had done together. We tried, but getting up early in the morning, chanting our rounds, going to the temple by 7:00 A.M. and taking turns giving short lectures was all very difficult without Swamiji. Some of us wrote to him complaining and lamenting. He wrote a letter back addressed to all the New York devotees. He said we should not lament. He told us the great secret: service in separation. He called it vani, or associating with the spiritual master by following his instructions. He said that serving the spiritual master in his direct presence (vapuh) was impermanent and “immaterial.”

OCHS celebrates its 20th anniversary at the House of Lords
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By Shaunaka Rishi Das,

The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, the world’s leading Centre for Hindu Studies, celebrated its 20 years at the House of Lords at the River Room, hosted by Lord Dholakia. Lord Dholakia informed the audience of the value of OCHS which is a seat of academic studies with scholars and research capabilities. He highlighted the need to create a bridge between the Mandirs who support Hindu activities and the OCHS which enables knowledge building. He remarked about the poor representation of Hindus in the Parliament. There was a need for authentic independent representation of Hindu values in the British society. Continue reading "OCHS celebrates its 20th anniversary at the House of Lords
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“Overcoming Death through Mercy – A tale of a Silent Book Distributor”
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By Vibhava Krsna Das

This article is not to glorify the material relationship I shared with my father or how he struggled in his life for his family or for that matter even his service to Srila Prabhupada (he would have never liked that) but I wrote this to share with you that this process of Krsna Consciousness works. It works even with the most down-trodden and sinful people like me. Continue reading "“Overcoming Death through Mercy – A tale of a Silent Book Distributor”
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Why can some people readily accept Krishna’s supremacy and some can’t?
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Answer Podcast

 

Transcription :

Transcriber: Dr Suresh Gupta

Edited by: Sharan Shetty

Question: Why can some people readily accept Krishna’s supremacy, and some can’t?

Answer: There are three broad categories of people when it comes to practicing religion: (i) nominal religionists (ii) emotional religionists (iii) rational and emotional religionists.
Nominal religionists are the ones who worship a particular devata because they are born in a particular family or due to a particular situation. There is a religious instinct which is present in everyone and that religious instinct gets expressed according to circumstances. For nominal religionists, that religious instinct neither has an intellectual foundation nor a strong emotional connection, mainly because it is circumstantial. However, later if such people get an intellectual conviction or some emotional experience, then such people are quite open to change. For them religious instinct was there but was circumstantially directed towards a particular devata. There was no personal investment of their own consciousness in that particular object. If they hear the scriptural explanation of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition about how Krishna is God, how Krishna is the source of all gods, then they accept it.

People approach religion for different reasons. Some come due to a sense of cultural belonging. They experience a feeling of connection when they perform aarti with others, see people dress in a traditional way, watch them execute acts of devotion which they have seen their ancestors do. Some may go just to connect with others socially. There are also psychological factors since some people visit a temple simply because they feel good.

The other extreme is where people have a very strong emotional connect with a particular form of worship like worshipping a demigod, or some baba etc. If such people are told that Krishna is God, it shakes the very basis of their connection because they are very much emotionally invested. It is only when they also connect emotionally with some devotee or with something within Krishna bhakti that they may be inspired to change.

A third category is of those who have both emotional and rational connection. Such people are not only emotionally connected with the particular form of worship, but they also have a rational philosophical understanding about it. In such cases, if somebody rationally presents the philosophy to them, they may take it up and change what they are doing. In such cases, the preacher should be sensitive enough and should not hurt them emotionally by blaspheming their present belief or practice.

Srila Prabhupada used to approach people by appreciating them no matter at what stage they were and would connect them to the process of Krishna bhakti. The gap between their present belief and Krishna consciousness can be bridged if our presentation does not strongly challenge their existing belief. Generally, nobody from a broad Hindu tradition will object to that Krishna is God. However, the difficulty arises when they are unable to fathom the higher philosophy about Krishna being the Supreme Personality of Godhead and all the demigods being subordinate to him. That is why, in general it is best not to focus on those aspects, at least initially.

Generally, when people are completely nominal in their early religious practice they may change easily. When people are completely emotional, it is almost impossible to change. If people are somewhat rational and emotional, then it is best to start with the rational aspect. We can talk about existence of soul, reincarnation, about the need to gain knowledge from the Vedas and progressively its practical application in specific scenarios of life. If presentation is not rational, they may become irritated. When we have to take people from where they are to the next level, then we may have to carefully point out the dos and don’ts. Most importantly, give reasons for that. If somebody is rational, it is quite likely that over a period of time, they will come closer to Krishna.

End of transcription.

The post Why can some people readily accept Krishna’s supremacy and some can’t? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Uploaded transcriptions on April 5th 2019
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https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2018/05/bhakti-correlate-raising-energy-higher-chakras-vedic-wisdom//

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2018/05/will-god-understood-science-future-science-modern//

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2018/06/soul-mind-intelligence-false-ego-interact//

https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/2018/07/can-bhakti-wisdom-help-us-become-forgiving//

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Ratha-yatra Evening, March 31, Dallas
Giriraj Swami

“The residents of Vrindavan, including Srimati Radharani, decided to go to Kurukshetra to see Krishna. Krishna—or Jagannatha, His sister Subhadra and brother Balarama went from Dwaraka to Kurukshetra on a chariot. When they got to Kurukshetra the residents of Vrindavan met them and they were filled with ecstatic love to see Krishna again after a long separation. But, Srimati Radharani felt that She could not enjoy serving Krishna the same way at Kurukshetra as She did in Vrindavan. This was because in Kurukshetra Krishna was dressed as a royal prince, there was the clatter of chariots, there were horses and elephants, whereas Vrindavan is a very sweet pastoral place. So Radharani’s mood was. ‘I am the same Radharani and you are the same Krishna but We cannot relish our time together in this opulent kingdom of Kurukshetra so please come back to Vrindavan.’ The eternal spiritual mood of the devotees while pulling the chariot with the ropes is that they are bringing Krishna back to Vrindavan.”

Ratha-yatra Evening

Gita applied Chapter 1 – Duryodhana’s illusion is short-sighted, Arjuna’s illusion is far-sighted
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[Talk at ISKCON Silicon Valley, San Jose, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post Gita applied Chapter 1 – Duryodhana’s illusion is short-sighted, Arjuna’s illusion is far-sighted appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Monday, April 1st, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Another Century

I should have asked for his name.  He was precious.  Connor and I were on a mid-afternoon walk through Rosedale when an elderly gentleman in a trench-coat and hat, and carrying two bags of light groceries, came to a full stop to look at my monk's clothes.

"That must be really warm," he assumed.

"Well, yes it is and walking keeps me warm." I handed him a Walking Monk card.

"Where are you coming from?" he asked.

"From an ashram, a monastery."

"Well, I'm 99, and I'm ready to go (as in leaving this world).  Is there anything I can learn from your place?"

"Surely.  We say that we are not these bodies; that we are spirits, and that we have an obligation to the supreme spirit," I said as I pointed up above us to the blue sky with the odd white cloud.  I told him of our scrumptious food and how he's invited.  We had more exchanges, but of all the sights and sounds Connor and I encountered, in this very settled neighbourhood of gorgeous homes and mature trees, our friend stood out.

He was light-humoured, old and wise, a collectors item.  I'm glad there's still people like him around.  I know his type and could have spent a couple of hours with him.  As I said, he's precious.  I hope he lives another century.   https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvv33FAgjs6/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=wsyr5pmlaqt

May the Source be with him and you!
7 km

Sunday, March 31st, 2019
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Scarborough, Ontario

Wild Mind

Okay!  So I did some pacing in the Toronto temple room before heading out to the ISKCON Scarborough Centre.  It's quite interesting that the Toronto Yoga Show is so popular, and as a result, we are churning out a huge amount of prasadam from our kitchen, and are the most in-demand food booth on site.  Our pot washers are going steady at it in the kitchen.  Plenty of water gets used to the point where only a small amount of H2O made it up the pipe-line for my shower.

In any event, after my shower, I went for the outing to Scarborough to deliver a class in bhakti-yoga from the Gita. From Chapter 10 Verse 8, I spoke some about Krishna's role in relation to other avatars, and how He is the ultimate yogi in addition to being the source of avatars.  Or as many teachers have said, he is the original candle that lights all the other candles.

Incidentally that image of a candle is so profound. In a second class, delivered back at home base in Toronto, I raised the point about being like a candle or flame that is situated in a windless place.  That flame projects high and erect, and so is an excellent metaphor for the mind of a successful yogi, as opposed to a person whose mind is not focused. It is like a flame where a slight breeze by a window causes it to flicker.

An important aspect of training in bhakticonsciousness involves the control of the mind. It is not easy, but at least one who tries to harness it, has a better chance at happiness due to that effort being used to tame the mind which is usually turbulently wild.   https://www.instagram.com/p/BvteBVSADuw/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=10ueqfl529yzn

May the Source be with you!
3 km

Saturday, March 30th, 2019
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Thornhill / Toronto

The Uber Man

Ruben was our Uber driver to get to the Prasher home. From Africa, but now in Toronto, he took a real liking to Connor and I and our lifestyle.  During our conversation, we spoke about books. Ruben seemed rather intelligent, yet admitted that he didn't read big books.

"Well, what's your favourite book?" he asked Connor.

"The book called Bhagavad-gita,” said Connor, and as he said it, I happened to be reading a passage from a copy I had brought with me while sitting in the back seat.

"Here," I said, "is this too big?" as I handed him the book I would read from at the Prasher's.

"No, this isn't too big.  Thanks a lot."

Once we arrived at the new and posh home in Thornhill, we invited Ruben to have a look inside.  The Prashers were only too happy to accommodate him for a few minutes before we began our kirtanchanting.  Ruben was taken to an elaborate altar.  He knew Ganesh and the story of his life.  Ruben was happy and went away with a plate of samosas and sweets, and then our kirtan began.  It was nice.

A trip to the Yoga Show, later, was the second visit for the weekend.  Another of our temple kirtangroups led the chanting and drumming.  I decided to begin a dance.  Surprisingly, those either lying there or seated in the lotus position, got up and began to engage in dancing as well.  Exhibitors and yoga attendees popped over for a look.  I conducted a simple folkish-type set of moves.  I believe it was a very different display for them, not just stretches.  Saturday Night Fever-ish, it was.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BvrOKlwgldJ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=oikow286k1ek

May the Source be with you!
0 km

Friday, March 29th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Walk to Yoga

Stephen, Connor, and myself  headed straight south on Avenue Road to the Yoga Show.  Yes, it was happily on foot that we stepped, and it was very much in a straight line, except for a curve at Queen's Park, and then a clean right at Front Street to get to the Convention Centre.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BvokoHzg2gZ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=xafr76165h3k

The weather was absolutely conducive for the trek. Optimism was in the air.  After all it was Friday night.  We made a few-to-view stops, one was at "The Rising," an inspirational sculpture made of stainless steel, by Zhang Huan.

Okay, so we entered the building with our passes in hand, and in the atmosphere you could hear the chant, "Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya."  It was the sweet voice of Amala Purana, a student of mine, that permeated the spacious area in the hall of tall walls.  People were seated, immersed in the good sound, hearing and chanting.

Then Amala picked up the tempo, with Billy, her husband, on the mrdunga, and Dinanath, on kartals.  I stood up to start the dance.  I was introduced as the monk who walks countries.  Some people responded by raising themselves to the erect position, and then swaying from side to side while singing, "Hare Krishna!"

It was magical.  When the stage event was over, people mingled.  It's uncanny how, over the years, you get to know a lot of folks from the New Age community.  They are a unique and sometimes chic bunch.  It's fun to be in their presence.   https://www.instagram.com/p/Bvmmb43A_i3/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1xmulvmnqd50u

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Thursday, March 28th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Two People

Richard Longley, a well-educated lovely man and journalist, spent two and a half hours with me, asking a few questions.  Of course, he was curious about my long walks, but his real purpose in visiting was to take photos of the temple and restaurant, and view how we are utilizing a space which was once a Methodist Church.

Richard has written a number of articles for "Now" magazine, articles particularly centered on heritage buildings. In any event, he liked what he saw and heard, about us and our space.  He really enjoyed the prasadam, the blessed meal, at Govinda's.  Let's watch for the upcoming article in the "Now."

My day was full, and by the end of it, I had the pleasure of strolling my feet down Yonge Street.  It's always the young on Yonge whom you see, and one of them got interested when he saw my robes.  A conversation, not unlike others I've been involved with, ensued.

"Buddha?" he asked.

"No, Krishna!" I said.

"Christian?"

"No, Krishna!"

"Oh, Hare Krishna!"

"That's right!"

"I've seen you guys."

"Great!  Here's my card.  It has a mantraon it."

"A what?"

"Amantra, and it's for purging, for healing."

"I could use that," he said, "I've just got over a hundred charges laid against me, including theft and insulting an officer."  

That's where the conversation got really interesting.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Wednesday, March 27th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Indoor Ecstasy

Although the weather was just perfect for a stroll, I was confined to our building, the temple.  That is not a bad deal, necessarily, because there are at least four sections of the place where I can conveniently pace back and forth to compensate for an outdoor absence.  I usually chant at that time.   https://www.instagram.com/p/BvkA8ynF6NE/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1tbicusswsist

What kept me pleasantly locked-in today, was the attention I needed to give to people's needs.  I look at that as not a chore, but rather a score.  I see it as opportunity, and it's always a pleasure to help someone.

Today, human needs took the shape of hearing from a person in distress.  A second person was one of those sincere seekers who had that genuine spiritual craving—with questions.  In both cases, with the two individuals, it was necessary for me to practise good listening skills.

Good listening or good hearing is the first of nine devotional activities.  The other eight are listed by the great boy-saint, Prahlad, as chanting, recalling the positive, humbling service, adoring sacred images, praying, acting as servant, befriending God and engaging in sweet surrender.

A good portion of a human's obligation to the world is to cultivate these nine functions of a divine nature, which should bring out the best in an individual.  It is not good enough just to say, "I'm an avid walker."  Building character is a big part of the bhakti-yogalifestyle.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

The Missing Tapes of Mohan prabhu
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By Yugala Kishor Gour das

In the MetaVision period Mohan filmed many Krishna Conscious events, seminars and festivals. He even went on an European Tour, recording different temples and their local activities. All these were recorded on a semi professional system called Sony U-Matic. These tapes can not be played on your normal house VHS and/or Betamax systems, they are simply to big. Measuring 3/4 inch. According to several devotees, whom I have spoken to, this archive ended up on Inish Rath in Northern Ireland, brought there by Tribhuvanath prabhu. Some devotees claim to have seen the tapes there. But they are not there anymore and here is where my search stalls. My request is for anybody who knows the whereabouts of these tapes or knows something of them to contact me. This would be such a great help and very much appreciated. Continue reading "The Missing Tapes of Mohan prabhu
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The View Of An Irish Hare Krishna On ‘What It’s All About’
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By Sarah Keogh

Over this period of Lent we’ve spoken to priests, minister and Senators already, asking them ‘what’s it all about?’ What is the meaning of life? What impact does religion have on a person’s everyday life. Sarah Keogh was joined by Praghosh, who is the representative for ISKCON, the Hare Krishna movement here in Ireland, and he also began the Govinda restaurant chain over 20 years ago. Praghosh explained what the Hare Krishna movement is, and what he believes life is about. Continue reading "The View Of An Irish Hare Krishna On ‘What It’s All About’
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HH Jayapataka Swami Vyasapuja Festival 2019 Invitation!
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This year Vyasapuja festival of HH Jayapataka Swami is special in two ways- being the 70th birthday celebrations -Bhimarata Santi and after a gap of one year of Maharaja’s not present in Mayapur, (2018 Vyasapuja was held in Chennai), this year again Vyasapuja will take place in his home, Sri dham Mayapur. Vyasapuja festival message […]

The post HH Jayapataka Swami Vyasapuja Festival 2019 Invitation! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Don’t let our desire to use something for Krishna become greater than our desire for Krishna
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Don’t let our desire to use something for Krishna become greater than our desire for Krishna (Based on Gita 09.26)
Chaitanya Charan Das: While driving to meet someone special, suppose we get a desire to offer them a special gift. But we get so caught in searching that gift that we lose our way and fail to reach for the meeting. By our mistaken priorities, we end up undermining the very relationship that we wanted to sweeten.


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His Holiness B.B. Govinda Maharaja Speaks About the #Giving TOVP Worldwide Fundraiser
- TOVP.org

This week as we head to the start of the #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser from May 7th (Akshaya Tritiya) until May 17th (Nrsimha Caturdasi), His Holiness B.B. Govinda Maharaja speaks about the importance of the TOVP and participating in this 10 day window of opportunity to make a donation to the project.

The #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser will be an incredible, never before done online event to raise funds, large or small, from every devotee, whether they have already given to the TOVP or not. Ambarisa prabhu will match all donations up to $125,000, thus doubling the income to the TOVP during this fundraising event to help complete the TOVP by 2022.

For more information, go to the TOVP #Giving TOVP Fundraiser page. You can also become a TOVP Ambassador by downloading the flyer from the website page and posting it on the internet, emailing it to your devotee friends and relatives, and posting at your local temple. We want the participation of every ISKCON devotee and congregation member worldwide.

MISSION 22 MARATHON KI JAYA! THINK 22 -> TOVP NOW!

 

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