How can we persevere in bhakti over the years when our transformation becomes gradual and not so easily perceivable?
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Podcast

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How can we be both assertive about getting things done while being sensitive to others’ feelings?
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Podcast

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When we try to help someone by pointing out their mistake and they see it as an attack on them, what can we do?
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Podcast

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Is bhakti materially independent or is it more likely to occur in certain places?
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Podcast

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Can people with an empty stomach practice bhakti – shouldn’t material needs be fulfilled first?
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Podcast

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How can the impatient people of Kali-yuga have the patience to wait for the results of bhakti-yoga?
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Podcast

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When Krishna thrusts his mercy, inconceivably
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Hare KrishnaBy Chaitanya Charan das

An inspiring departure. For many years, Shri Shah had been averse to even visit Vaishnava Seva P’s house, leave alone stay there. Like most fathers, he had had great dreams for his son. When Vaishnava Seva Prabhu had started practicing bhakti, his father had become upset. His anger was not because they were from a Jain background, but because he feared that his son would neglect his career. In his disappointment, he had spoken heated words to, Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s spiritual master, HH Radhanatha Maharaj. He had even threatened to not attend Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s marriage. Continue reading "When Krishna thrusts his mercy, inconceivably
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Kindness
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2010, Radhadesh, Belgium, Lecture)

Another quality that I would like to see in individuals is kindness. Kindness is so important! We want to be on the receiving end of kindness but to be kind is so difficult however this is something that I see as being part of a strong individual. It is something that we all should try to cultivate. I would be so pleased if my disciples would be known for their extraordinary kindness. I think that it would be a real victory because kindness is what really conquers; it is what will truly make a difference.

It is one quality that I really appreciated in Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada as the most exalted but you also see him as a very kind, wise human being. This is what I wish to become. I know and I’ll say it here that I have a sharp side in my nature. I can be quite cutting and it is not my favourite quality in myself. I’m trying to grow out of it and I guess it’s getting a little better. But those who get close to me, they get the brunt of it! It is something to work on. May we all be challenged to grow; this is what is required.

It is not enough just to be a member of ISKCON, just to be here, just to be initiated. It is nice and it is meaningful but I like to compare the vows of initiation to pearls and then tell the story about Krsna who planted pearls and many bushes of pearls grew. I really feel that these vows of initiations should be taken like that, like pearls that must be planted and developed. I’m looking for growth, I’m looking for compassion and kindness in strong individuals.

UK Padayatra receives blessings from Dean of Canterbury Cathedral
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Tourists see unique gathering outside Canterbury Cathedral, UK (2 min video)
Canterbury has seen hundreds of thousands of pilgrims over the centuries.
Ever since Henry II’s soldiers murdered Beckett in the Cathedral, they have paid their respects, and sought redemption for their sins.
But there has never been a gathering quite like the one that tourists and visitors witnessed this week.
For the very first time, Hare Krishna monks have assembled outside the cathedral gates.
Their mission? To let the crowds watching them know, that regardless of the terror attacks that have beset the country this summer, there is more that unites us, than divides us.
Tom Savvides reports.
Interviewees: Mantra Chaitanya Das, Hare Krishna Canterbury; and Very Rev Dr Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/eHS8za

Making Peace with our Body and Mind, Finding Joy in the Self
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Hare KrishnaBy Karnamrita Das

The fact that we are souls having a human experience, doesn’t mean that we can deny the body—we can however, make our body and mind as favorable as possible for spiritual practice. This should be the guiding principle for any introspection, healing, or counseling we undergo. The intern result of such endeavors should be living and acting in the mode or quality of goodness as outlined in the Bhagavad Gita, and being a balanced human being—so helpful for steady sadhana for the long haul of a life. Continue reading "Making Peace with our Body and Mind, Finding Joy in the Self
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When Krishna thrusts his mercy, inconceivably (Reflections on the departure of Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s father)
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Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s father, Shriman C K Shah, left his body on 17-7-17 at 11.03 pm. The day coincided with the disappearance day of Srila Loknath Dasa Goswami and the Brahmotsava of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath.

The auspicious moment of departure

Three years ago, he had started developing dementia. And four months ago, his left side had been paralyzed, which had left him mostly bed-ridden and semi-conscious. He had been on the border of life and death, with no hope of recovery and with the possibility of passing over at any moment.

Thankfully, when that moment came, his family was around him. Vaishnava Seva Prabhu had very much wanted to be by his father’s side during his last moments. He had been concerned that if that time came during the day when he was in surgery, he wouldn’t be able to leave the operation theater with the surgery half-done. And if that moment came at night when he and his wife, Kalindi Mataji, were asleep, then too his father would depart alone. Wanting to prevent that eventuality, he would wake up several times each night just to check his father’s condition.

Fortunately, that moment came when both he and Kalindi Mataji were at home. On the night of 17th July, after Vaishnava Seva Prabhu finished his dinner prasad at around 10.45 pm, he got an intuition that something was wrong. He noticed that his father’s breathing had become slower and more strained than usual. He immediately called Kalindi Mataji and she found that his pulse had gone down to an all-time low. Sensing that the end was near, they both started chanting intensely. Despite being paralyzed, his father, on hearing the kirtan, started moving his leg gently in response to the singing – he had a habit of doing that while hearing kirtans. Slowly, the movement of the leg decreased. And within the next seven minutes, he breathed his last, with the sound of the holy names in his ears.

In addition to the time of departure, even the day of departure had worked out wonderfully. For several months, Kalindi Mataji had been reading scripture to him every night. She had completed reading the full Bhagavad-gita a few days ago and had thereafter started reading the Bhagavatam. Just that very night, she had read the Bhagavatam chapter about Kunti’s prayers, repeating the celebrated namo pankaj nabhaya … (1.8.22) verse thrice in his ears. After completing that chapter, she had started reading the next chapter about Bhishma’s departure. As this chapter describes the ideal way to depart, Shri Shah’s hearing that chapter on his last night was a special blessing.

The buildup to the auspicious departure

Not only was the moment of departure divinely orchestrated, so were the preceding events that laid the setting for this moment.

For many years, Shri Shah had been averse to even visit Vaishnava Seva P’s house, leave alone stay there. Like most fathers, he had had great dreams for his son. When Vaishnava Seva Prabhu had started practicing bhakti, his father had become upset. His anger was not because they were from a Jain background, but because he feared that his son would neglect his career. In his disappointment, he had spoken heated words to, Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s spiritual master, HH Radhanatha Maharaj. He had even threatened to not attend Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s marriage.

Over the years, his heart softened when devotees helped him during his times of need. When he underwent his first cardiac bypass surgery in 1996, several devotees donated blood, and senior devotees such as HH Bhakti Rasamrita Maharaja and Krishna Chandra Prabhu came to see him in the hospital. This touched him deeply and accelerated the transformation of his heart.

Significantly, the seed of that transformation had been sown more than two decades earlier. In the early 70s, he had seen Prabhupada walking on the Juhu beach and had attended three days of Prabhupada’s Cross Maidan program. He had been especially impressed by seeing foreigners practicing bhakti enthusiastically.

After recovering from the bypass surgery, his appreciation for devotees increased, and he started using his influence to assist them. During the early days of Bhaktivedanta Hospital, he asked his friend Mr Damji Anchorwala to sponsor the entire ICU. Additionally, he used his experience in pharmacy to help systematize the hospital’s pharmacy shop.

 

Still, he remained reluctant to visit his son’s house in Mira Road. But in 2014, while he was staying at his residence in Andheri, he started showing signs of dementia. Under the influence of that distressingly degenerative disease, he would sometimes become aggressive. When his family members there found it difficult to calm him during those times, Vaishnava Seva Prabhu offered to take care of him. Dementia had blurred much of Shri Shah’s memory, and along with it had been blurred his unwillingness to live with his son. At Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s residence, which is also the office of ISKCON Desire Tree, the overall devotional atmosphere, as well as the association of the devotees working there, had a soothing effect on him. His aggressiveness subsided, and he grew fond of devotees. When Radhanatha Maharaj visited the ISKCON Desire Tree office, he had sweet, memorable interactions with Maharaj. I had the fortune to be present at that time and I had written about it here: A giant desire tree blesses ISKCON desire tree.

During the months when he was paralyzed, devotees would almost daily bring charnamrita for him. Radhanatha Maharaj visited him once more. He had been taking prasad for over two years and now he was given prasad through a stomach feeding tube. Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna dhun and other devotional kirtans would go on twenty-four hours near him for the last several months of his life, till his last moment.

 

Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s reflections

On the morning after his father’s departure, Vaishnava Seva Prabhu, with his characteristic humility, told me that because of his immaturity in the early days of bhakti, he had alienated his father. He had been hoping to get an opportunity to make amends. His father’s dementia, though it had been difficult for all his family members, had become the means for him to make amends. It that enabled him to serve his father both materially and spiritually: materially by providing the required bodily and medical care, and spiritually by providing a devotional atmosphere.

Vaishnava Seva Prabhu appreciated his wife Kalindi Mataji for extending herself to take care of his father, treating him as if he were her own father. In the early days of Vaishnava Seva P’s marriage, while his father had still been upset with his son, he had sometimes taken out his anger on his daughter-in-law. Yet, she had always remained humble and tolerant, and kept serving him whenever she got the opportunity, especially during his sickness. During his last days, she had rendered many menial services to him, doing whatever was necessary.

Vaishnava Seva Prabhu appreciated his father for having infused within him the drive to achieve. During his school days, he had been apathetic about his studies. But his father had pushed him to study seriously and to pursue a medical career; whatever he had achieved materially, it was primarily due to his father’s motivation. His father had imparted within him the zeal to take initiative, learn new skills and branch out into diverse areas. He had been able to use all these in Krishna’s service through ISKCON desire tree which had started as an audio resource but has now become a multimedia online outreach platform with its flagship Hare Krsna TV reaching over five million viewers.

Concluding thoughts

Seeing the departure of anyone in any situation is sobering, but seeing someone’s departure in a devotional setting is also uplifting. Contemplating how devotees strive to arrange for such a setting for their loved ones deepens our appreciation for devotees. And contemplating how Krishna orchestrates events to arrange such a setting for a soul, even a soul not directly practicing bhakti, boosts our faith in his expert benevolence. Even if things seem to be going wrong, Krishna can inconceivably bring good out of the bad. After all, who could have conceived that dementia might become a blessing that removes one’s blocks to receiving Krishna’s mercy?

Through life and through death, Krishna is present in our hearts, guiding our wanderings. How he orchestrates circumstances to thrust mercy on a soul is demonstrated poignantly through the departure of Shriman C K Shah.

May the Lord that guides all souls take the departed soul to spiritual serenity.

May that Lord guide us all through our life-journey in preparation for our final moment.

May our Lord give us the faith to cooperate with his inscrutable ways and to always live in the light of his guidance.

The post When Krishna thrusts his mercy, inconceivably (Reflections on the departure of Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s father) appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Monday, July 17th, 2017
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Serpent River, Ontario

By the Serpent

There, it was nice on the feet, feeling the moss under them, as well as grass, twigs and stones.  Some spots were wet, some dry.  We were all barefoot, feeling the same sensations underneath in the park at Serpent River, the youth’s annual place to chill after a hectic but elated time in Toronto.

Unique about the river itself is the way it twists—it actually snakes around.  At the end of the rapids, I traditionally dip in and allow the current to give way to the natural water-slide which then pushes you farther into an easy-going whirlpool.

The boys love it.  They took advantage of a canoe left for use.  This is native territory and perhaps the conveyance is shared by those who can appreciate its purpose.  There’s thirty of them (the boys) and then adults to guide and supervise.  I wish there had been a Conscious program for guys like me when I was a young teen.

As usual, I'm not one to wait for everyone to get ready for the next destination.  I mentioned to Kish that I needed to get some more serious walking in than an amble on the moss.

“How long before you pick me up, going westbound?” I asked Kish, the person mainly in charge.

“Oh, about two or three hours.”

“Fine!”

It ended up being five.  By 10:00 p.m. I was ready to ascend those steps in the bus.  But in the meantime, on my five hour walk, I had the pleasure to view the old brittle rock of “the Shield,” as they say.  To be with the white pine and to hear the white-throated sparrow, a bird of the north.  I became oblivious to the traffic sounds along this stretch of the Trans Canada Highway.  It’s the sounds and sights of God that are  there to cherish.

May the Source be with you!

20 km

How can we harmonize ourselves with our situation when say our boss works by opposite principles?
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Podcast

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How can we avoid reinforcing our biases by discussing delicate issues with others who have similar biases?
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Main Dome Chakra Test-Run Installation
- TOVP.org

We have just lifted and temporarily installed the Chakra for the Planetarium Dome for a test run.

The purpose is to confirm the exact measurements of drilling spots and other essential points of contact for a perfect fit. The Chakra has now been taken down and our next report will focus on the permanent installation. Sudarshana Chakra kijaya!!!

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First ever art exhibition conducted by ISKCON Nairobi and a…
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First ever art exhibition conducted by ISKCON Nairobi and a felicitation for 31 devotees (Album with photos)
On July 8th 2017, ISKCON Nairobi’s premises were a hive of activity. Over 800 new faces were exposed to Krishna consciousness via an art exhibition featuring the work of over 360 students from various primary and secondary schools of Nairobi.
The initiative was spearheaded by Sri Gauranga Das and was focused on children between the ages of 10 to 15. The theme of the artwork was on the soul. This was the first time that ISKCON Nairobi conducted this event. The response was very encouraging from all the students who participated in submitting their entries.
21 students from different schools won top prizes as all other entrants received a copy of Srila Prabhupada’s books and T-shirts. Sumptuous prasad was served to all the children and their families.
Present for the award ceremony were the principals and teachers of the various schools, HH Prabhodananda Saraswati Swami, HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami as well as the leaders of ISKCON Nairobi.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kZJihu
—
On July 2nd 2017, ISKCON Nairobi held a small felicitation for over 31 devotees who received awards for successfully completing their Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 1 studies. The devotees had regularly attended study sessions which were held once a week for the past six months facilitated by Sri Gauranga Das.
The ceremony was attended by HH Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami who encouraged the devotees to delve deep into studying the Bhagavatam as per Srila Prabhupada’s desire. The devotees also gave their realizations and shared their experience while going through the 1st Canto systematically.
Photos here: https://goo.gl/umuxav

The “Love’s Lessons” Book. Author: H.G. Bhakti Vijnana…
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The “Love’s Lessons” Book.
Author: H.G. Bhakti Vijnana Goswami.
At the end of last summer, Bhakti Vijnana Maharaj published a new book called “Love’s Lessons”. It became apparent right away that it was going to be the pearl of spiritual literature. On one hand, “Love’s Lessons” permeates right into your heart, ignoring all those mental channels that have been stuffed with media noise and stereotypes. On the other hand, it is very rare to find such a brilliant description of a great personality through the idea behind that personality, rather than the biography.
“Love’s Lessons” – is a collection of stories about one of the greatest sage of India in the 20th century – A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is a deep look at the man who, following his spiritual master’s order, came to the West at an older age and by his own example was able to convince thousands of people from all over the world to take on a higher consciousness path.

The effect of some books can be compared to medication. Such effects can be experienced by reading “Bhagavad Gita” translated by Srila Prabhupada, “Journey Back Home” by Radhanath Swami, “Diary of a Traveling Monk” by Indradyumna Swami, the wonderful pieces by Sacinandana Swami, and by Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj. If we commit to take these medications regularly, with faith and under doctor’s supervision, then the effect can be very dramatic. One’s mind and heart can be cured. The mind quiets down and becomes inspired to serve God. The heart becomes rejuvenated by the interaction with the Source. That is how the spiritual medication works – it transforms lives. Often, we do not even need a lot of time for that to happen. By reading only one chapter, one sentence or sutra, we can experience absolute happiness and purifying pain. Our eyes become watery and we want to read it over and over again, because there is a high chance that something very deep has just permeated into our hearts.

That is what “Love’s Lessons” is about. It is about transformation and how to transform. It talks about crossing the boundaries of the inert material world subduing all the obstacles for the benefit of our souls.

Bhakti Vijnana Goswami:

“I did not get a chance to meet Srila Prabhupada. I have only heard stories about him and associated with those, who met him. But looking back at my life, I can say that he has influenced my life much more than the people whom I met in person. So, this book that you are holding – is my attempt to explain this secret of influence, which, I am confident, has been experienced by many, who have never met Srila Prabhupada.

When I started collecting stories about his life, which were very touching to me, never did I ever imagine that there would someday be a book based on them. I simply enjoyed hearing and sharing those stories with others. Analyzing the stories and trying to imagine being in Srila Prabhupada’s shoes, I was learning about his attitude toward the world, trying to see the internal mechanisms that supported his words and actions, which at times were so paradoxical and unexpected.

It was not until later when I realized that all of that was an essential part of bhakti yoga. Bhakti begins with hearing the stories about love toward God. Namely with hearing: we hear about other beings’ love toward Krishna, the obstacles they overcome for the sake of this love, and the sacrifices they make. By hearing about the great sages, we unwillingly identify ourselves with them and their mood enters our hearts and becomes our reality. The feelings that drive the great sages get transferred to those who hear about their pastimes, just as the feelings of movie or drama characters get transferred to the viewers.”

THE LESSON ON OBTAINING MERCY

We can advance ourselves on the path of devotion only by the mercy of Krishna. Unfortunately, the lazy people of Kali Yuga often confuse “mercy” with “miracle”. Hoping for mercy, they are actually expecting a miracle, and when miracle does not happen, they become disappointed and lose faith in God’s mercy. There is, however, a considerable difference between miracle and mercy. Miracle happens all at once, while Krishna’s unconditional mercy is usually distributed in small, barely noticeable amounts. Krishna gives us a small piece of His mercy and then watches what we are going to do with it. If we appreciate His mercy and accept it with gratitude, Krishna give us a little more, but if we take it for granted, Krishna takes away everything He has given us before. So, it may seem like Krishna gives His mercy only to those who are patient and humble, but that is actually not true: Krishna showers everyone with Him mercy, but only the patient and the humble are able to preserve and grow it.

In his “Renunciation Through Wisdom” book Srila Prabhupada writes: “But because it is impossible to surrender to God in an instant, similarly we should not expect God’s mercy to come to us in an instant. Although certainly both God and even His servants sometimes create miracles, we still should not expect that those miracles would be happening with us. At the same time, we should never have any doubts that God’s mercy can exceed the level of our devotion. There is yet another danger: if we obtain all of God’s mercy at once, that would make us corrupt and fallen, which happens to many yogis who obtain mystical powers. For us, it is way much better to continue performing our duties by serving the Lord, with patience and enthusiasm; and at the end, that will lead to God gifting us with all of His mercy.”

THE LESSON ON TRUST

Srila Prabhupada had an unlimited faith in guru and Krishna – that is an unquestionable fact. One can praise and marvel that, but I think his other quality is way more marvelous – the trust in people, his incompetent and unexperienced but full of enthusiasm disciples and even simple people, who just happened to interact with him somehow. In actuality, his trust in people is part of his faith in guru and Krishna: he knew that Krishna and spiritual master could turn any person into a tool of service toward them. That is exactly what he was aiming at – to turn all and every person into Krishna’s servants to free them from suffering. This strong desire to engage both worthy and unworthy people in the service to Krishna has transformed the hearts of those who interacted with him.

THE LESSON ON HUMILITY AND PATIENCE

Born out of false ego the desire to enjoy, no matter its form, makes everything around us dead, distorting our original purpose, and eventually it slays our consciousness forcing our souls to be born again and again. But the spirit of service fills this slay and boring world with life and gives back natural immortality to our souls. Service is the only way to get rid of the influence of illusion. No matter how hard those prideful people try to comfort themselves with the belief that there are many paths leading to the spiritual kingdom, there is only one path from the material world to the spiritual reality – it is a narrow and thorny path of meekness and humility, and only the most patient ones can successfully complete it.

THE LESSON ON COMPASSION AND TRUTHFULNESS

At times, Srila Prabhupada’s compassion was ruthless and his truthfulness did not fit into the societal norms of good tone. He got it from his spiritual master, who was not afraid of publicly admitting that compassion is based on truth and that lie has nothing to do with it. “This is the reason “Bhagavatam” recommends to start life from scratch: “Intelligent people should get rid of bad association and start communicating with sadhus. There is no doubt that sadhus are capable of killing all the bad qualities of a person’s mind. Because of this ability, communication with sadhus is beneficial for all”. There are many things we can try to hide from sadhus, but a true sadhu will make us confess in everything we are hiding in our hearts. He then takes his knife out. There are no other meanings of the word “sadhu” except this one. He is standing by the sacrifice block with his knife raised up high above. Our lustful desires are like goats. Sadhus come into our lives and compassionately chops off all those desires with a sharp sacrificial knife of word. If a sadhu lies, then he is harmful to us just as an enemy. Sadhu’s lies can only push us to walk the path that leads to enjoyment, but it never to true happiness.”
More photos: http://hkls.ru/en/kniga-uroki-lubvi/

App by Northern European BBT for Bhagavad-gita As It Is. First…
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App by Northern European BBT for Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
First it was eBooks, then an online store for multimedia, now the Northern European BBT has released Bhagavad-gita as it is, the App.
The App is currently available for iPad and iPhone, with an Android version being planned. It contains the full text of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita as it is. You can make notes, use bookmarks and adjust the screen brightness, as well as use day and night themes. You can adjust the font type and size, search the text to find what you need and choose between scrolling or swiping pages.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/S9ynDz
You can download the App in the Apple App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bhagavad-gita-as-it-is/id1080562426

Hare Krishna! Film Successfully Tells the Story of Its Founder
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Hare KrishnaBy Gargs Allard

If one sees this movie for what it is (and is advertised) – the story of the swami who started the Hare Krishna Movement against all odds – then it is an amazing account of spiritual purity, power and accomplishment. The non-devotee, however much he or she may or may not be turned off by Hare Krishna people, has to acknowledge there was certainly something that attracted its followers of the late sixties and early seventies. This film more than aptly shows what that was, or who it was – Srila Prabhupada. Continue reading "Hare Krishna! Film Successfully Tells the Story of Its Founder
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